The Games Convention in Leipzig was not just about great upcoming titles from SCEE, there were also plenty of third party highlights.
Judging from the long queues at the Games Convention in Leipzig, German gamers were keen to get their hands on the latest action games. Mirror's Edge was especially popular, with a constant stream of visitors snaking around a mini-skyscraper to get their hands on the highly anticipated free-running game from EA DICE.
Also attracting plenty of attention, following the phenomenal success of its predecessors, was Call of Duty: World at War. The stage, with its foliage and rusting barrels, was in stark contrast to its neighbour, which housed Quantum of Solace, the latest James Bond Game. A troupe of Bond girls and a gleaming Aston Martin were on hand to lure gamers, not to mention the opportunity to play the first level of the game.
From a literary and film icon to a gaming legend, Lara Croft's latest outing, Tomb Raider: Underworld, seemed to impress. And with Fallout 3, Street Fighter IV, Dead Space and Resident Evil 5 also on display, the next year promises to be an exciting one for action fans.
The roof of the Leipzig Convention Centre struggled to keep a lid on the noise as the sound of gunfire was accompanied by rock and roll music, as budding rock bands and guitar heroes took to the stage. Both Rock Band and Guitar Hero World Tour were both playable, with the latter available in themed soundproof booths for visitors to rock out in. Both games attracted huge crowds, with Foo Fighters and Weezer seeming popular choices.
As would be expected in Europe, FIFA 09 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 were big draws, and both EA and Konami were keen to score first in their annual battle for the fans' approval. Last season, both sides were evenly matched, and the effort that has clearly gone into their latest instalments can only be good for gamers, whatever their allegiances.
Overall, the Games Convention in Leipzig was a superb demonstration of what PlayStation fans can look forward to in the coming months. It confirmed that PLAYSTATION 3 continues to attract the cream of third party developers to complement a growing list of stunning first party titles
Leipzig awaits
Futuremark Announces Shattered Horizon
