Stormplay Ц The Future of Video Games: Volume 2

Written by Matt Swider on July 20, 2002

Stormplay Ц The Future of Video Games: Volume 2: On location at E3, the place all gamers want to be!

According to Stormplay and NextGenVideos.com, the future of videogames has arrived, and by looking at the current situation they are by all means correct. In the last year we have seen two new consoles debut and the library of a third grow to a tremendous portion. With competition on the rise, the videogame market has been filled with some exciting developments as demonstrated this year at E3. While this expo has always been a key week for the gaming industry each year, 2002 held more thrills and buzzes than previously seen making it almost too easy for some titles to become overlooked. Like every year, the event is only open to the retailers or media within the industry. This leaves those gaming fans at home constantly surfing the web for updates and flipping through the latest print magazines for highlights. With the large-scale selection at E3 this year and the fact that diehard gamers are unable to attend, Stormplay and NextGenVideos.com did up with the next best thing in creating a DVD jam packed with footage from the show.

It takes a good sum of money to be able to travel to LA each year to be present at E3 and more to spend while down there. However for a mere $20 along with any available DVD player, gamers everywhere can experience the same excitement minus the expenses and hassle. Although nothing can compare to experiencing E3 with your own two feet on the showfloor, Stormplay Ц The Future of Videogames: Volume 2 gives the finest virtual seat in the house making it the next best thing to actually being there. One of the greatest parts is that the entire DVD appeals to the fans of each console out there in providing excellent footage of software for Sony Playstation 2, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube. So, no matter which system you own or plan to buy in the future, satisfaction is delivered with the DVD's triple-console selection.

Within the substantial 3.5-hour span that the DVD spends at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, gamers will witness a total of 120 different videogame titles shot. In addition, select games will feature interviews with publishers, developers, and public relations specialists all narrating the information of their work as they demonstrate what can be done on screen. Although quality isn't as sharp during these instances where the camera is on the showfloor as opposed to just running precomposed trailer, it gives some great insight and reveals much more about the game. Here, you can see things that you won't be able to comprehend from still shots or text on any site or magazine, making the DVD's worth of utmost value to gamers looking forward to the games of the remains months of this year and the start of next.

Other than the extensive game footage for each system and handful of interviews to go along, this DVD also gives gamers a glimpse into the press conferences of each first party as well as an overview of why producers from the company feel their console has all the advantages. The soundtrack to the DVD can be enhanced using Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and has been provided exclusively for the video by a innovative group called Digital:Newage. In a separate interview, the group explains that they're purely out to supply videogames with quality soundtracks, which is something they feel needs to come into focus within the market.

No videogame based DVD is complete without booth babes, and The Future of Videogames: Volume 2 has some of the best babes in the biz. While the beginning segment provides just enough booth babe coverage to suit our needs, the focus clearly stays on videogames without losing track like some other cameras and cameramen tend to do at these shows.

If you're looking forward to the upcoming videogame year as much as Gaming Target, Stormplay and NextGenVideos.com seem to have the answer that produce more anticipation, wrapped up in a nice little package. The DVD is extensive to say the least and provides gamers who own one of the three consoles with enough coverage to crave the future releases of their favorite titles. Although there are no official U.S. retailers carrying the DVD right now, be sure to check out Stormplay to see when and where you can pick it up in the future. When stores get them in though, we'll be certain to let you all know with an update.