MS unveils E3 Live plan

Microsoft plans to repeat its trick of beaming E3 into your living rooms next week, promising that high-definition trailers and playable game demos will be among the treats that form part of its second annual "E3: Bringing It Home" selection on Xbox Live Marketplace.

Last year's E3 offering included a playable demo of Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, and while the platform holder isn't confirming which games will be offered in playable form this year, it has identified some of those that will be covered by a range of "trailers, themes, gamer pictures and demos" - including Assassin's Creed, BioShock and Project Gotham Racing 4.

The other name-checked titles are Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation, Blue Dragon, Burnout Paradise, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, FIFA 08, Guitar Hero III, Lost Odyssey, Madden 08, NCAA Football 08, Need For Speed: ProStreet, The Simpsons, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 and WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008.

The release of assets on Live will take place between Tuesday, 10th July and Friday, 13th July. The company's pre-E3 press conference, held on 10th July at 8.30pm PDT (or 4.30am BST on Wednesday, 11th July for you), will be offered as a high-definition video download during that period, but won't be simulcast on Live. (Do you like the word simulcast? We're thinking of using it more often. Also: caribou.)

Anyway, Microsoft says that you should keep an eye on its E3 Marketplace Ticker for more information on things as they emerge. And of course don't be surprised to see games missing from the above list emerge in some form as well. We're sure there's something that's not on there. Something to do with gnomes.