ECTS Part 1

As I write the annual mating ritual that is ECTS, or the European Computer Trade show, is just kicking off in London. All the major players in the entertainment/electronics sector have gathered here to hawk their wares, hype this years "big thing" and generally make out for three days. It is the No. 2 ranked show in the world, being dwarfed as it is by the giant North American E3 show, but this year the Olympia in London is expected to be thronged at the beginning of September as all the top Fall and Christmas titles are shown off. For one week, I am going to step away from the companies who make the games, and focus on how their great white sharks, and possibly huge white elephants, fared at ECTS.

The big computer trade shows are like a really cool party in two respects: first, they have lots of scantily clad women, in the form of "booth babes" employed by companies to attract people to their stand. Secondly, and most importantly, is that you are perceived to be either "uncool" or in serious trouble if you are not there. The main casualties of this phenomenon in '99 have been 3D Realms, whose Prey has been under development seemingly forever. Having first been started as a Quake-engine based game, it has undergone myriad platform changes and updates in a seemingly vain attempt to keep it cutting edge, but it was again only noticeable by its absence at ECTS, leading many to believe that it has become another victim of obsolescence in the fast-moving technology world.

Also unexpectedly absent, but for a far better reason, were the expected preview copies of Command and Conquer: Tiberian Sun. What is probably the PCs most eagerly awaited release of year was actually finished before the start of the show and developers Westwood were proudly showing off the release version. More as the show develops....

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