Games named

Electronics Times, Sept 21, 1998

Semi-naked models, 99% of them female, revealed more than new games at ECTS. Lots of titles and sequels got far fewer nods of appreciation than the molls.

Konami's Metal Gear Solid was a big hit and, to a lesser extent, Castlevania 64 garnered interest. Core's Tomb Raider 3 was not as popular as the model hired to portray game heroine Lara Croft. Nintendo relied on the colour Gameboy and Zelda 64 to pull in the crowds, but the stand was badly laid out and cramped, offering mainly old titles.

The Sony stand was impressive, but maybe Tekken 3 only pulled in the punters wanting to compare the original Japanese against the English version release, which is not as good as it should have been - slower and featuring squished graphics.

The frenzy over Sega's Dreamcast console did not materialise. The company's decision to pitch camp at a nearby hotel, and not in Olympia alongside 1200 other products, annoyed people and only a few at their trade show were even allowed a look at the console!

No new frontiers were boldly reached. Of course un-originality will not stop a title being a commercial hit, but it does very little to raise levels of trade excitement.

"Intel and Bill Gates are after global domination through PCs and CE palmtops."