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Retailers Check Out New Holiday Season Videogames at E-3 Expo

Aired May 23, 2002 - 12:43   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: We are still months away from Christmas, and that's when we call in the E-3. Retailers checking out the new videogames and gadgets for the holiday season. That expo under way in L.A. And James Hattori is having a whole lot of fun. Hey, James, hello.

JAMES HATTORI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Bill. You know, the weather in L.A. is very much like Christmas right now, so we are all getting in the holiday mood. A long time away.

Actually, a lot of the games coming out right now are not even coming out this year, some of them are a year away, but they are still previewing them. But let's take a look at some pictures across the convention floor here. There are 60,000 people expected at E-3 this year, 1,000 different products, 450 vendors. It runs through tomorrow.

It's all about software, though. Games. In fact, companies that produce games are doing so well on average, they are outperforming the Nasdaq stock index. So that gives you an idea of how well games are selling, $9 billion last year, perhaps $11 billion next year.

One big trend is online game that is allowing gamers to play each other from different locations over the Internet. Not only on consoles like X-box, and PlayStation 2 and GameCube, but also on the PC. One game that's done very well in the past is Everquest. A new version of that is coming out. It's a massive, multi-player game, which means thousands of players can play over the Internet against each other at the same time. It's sort of a medieval community, with dragons. The average players goes online for 20 hours a week, believe it or not, and we talked to one of the executives who tells us what the appeal of that kind of community game is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCOTT MCDANIEL, SONY ONLINE: Well, why do people go on vacation to far away countries? Because it is something different, something new to explore. So in our world, there are thousands of landscapes and scenic vistas for people to explore. Plus, there's also the social element. Everquest is unique in the gaming environment, because it is very much a team-oriented game play.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HATTORI: Just some of the titles you can look forward to for your console games this fall, leading up to Christmas, a number of "Star Wars" games, of course, based on the "Attack of the Clones." Super Mario is back, the new version of that. The Legend of Zelda, another oldy but goody. And on the X-Box, new titles like Panzer Dragoon.

Bill, all the kids will be asking for those under their Christmas trees in the stockings this year.

HEMMER: Panzer Lagoon (sic), was that?

HATTORI: Panzer Dragoon. You ride on a dragon and you shoot. I tried it; it's a lot of fun. Amazing graphics.

HEMMER: And clearly, I have a lot of catching up to do in this category. Thank you, James.

HATTORI: Yeah, you and me both.

HEMMER: Enjoy E-3. James Hattori in L.A.

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