Summer E3: Biggest games show ever

This summer's show is expected to break all records for attendees and exhibitors, with popular hotels booked up months ago. From Wednesday June 18 through Friday June 20, our Computer Gaming World-sponsored games channel will be carrying daily reports from the show floor, filed by a team of four reporters covering the show from the UK gamer's point of view.

Two big themes will dominate E3 - the battle between console and PC, and the ever growing importance of online gaming. The games executives will be trying to get a sense of how far the Playstation and N64 have eaten into the core games market, with reports suggesting that console games will outsell PC titles this year. The other big theme is online and Internet. Just as the Internet has dominated every computer trade fair over the last few years, with every new product offering some kind of Internet angle, now it is the turn of the games industry - with everyone looking to see if extra bucks can be squeezed out of popular game brands by adding an online dimension. E3 will also see the launch of a series of online games that have been built from the ground-up for the Internet.

Other show highlights will include a big game launch on DVD in the shape of Accolade's Jack Nicklaus Golf, Microsoft making their biggest push yet into the games industry, and new launches from all major publishers. Don't miss our comprehensive and exclusive coverage throughout the show.