Expo 2009

The Eurogamer Expo is officially over. We'd like to thank everyone who came along, every developer and publisher who contributed their time, games and career advice to attendees, and all the people who made it possible to have two such enjoyable shows in one week. You can bet it's an exercise we'll repeat.

Before we completely wrap up our coverage for the year, I thought we should have one last word with Eurogamer's managing director Rupert Loman, who has spent so much of the last two years making these events work, and get his thoughts on what went down, and what we can expect for the future.

They chilled on Sunday. Read more...

NVIDIA used the London leg of the Eurogamer Expo to show off its 3D technology, available now for PCs, in a series of packed sessions. Batman: Arkham Asylum and Need for Speed: SHIFT running in big-screen 3D took centre stage, but there was also an amazing demonstration of 3D photography using a new Fuji camera.

Although 3D is the latest fad in cinemas, NVIDIA representative Ben predicted that gaming PCs would be the real beachhead for 3D entertainment. "Gaming is where 3D will become very popular first," he said, but admitted that in order to do that, it would need one thing above all others: game support.

To that end, NVIDIA has ensured back-compatibility with some 400 titles, including mega-hits World of Warcraft and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. But it was newer games made specifically for 3D vision, with extra effects, that the company wanted to highlight at the Expo. Read more...

The last and biggest day of the Eurogamer Expo 2009 is underway in London, with 2175 visitors stampeding past reception in the first hour this morning.

Johnathan Salisbury, 26, from London, was first in line, and had been since 5am. He arrived just 10 minutes before Alex Hamlin, 21, from France but living in London. The pair had been "talking about games" for six hours, they told us.

For their outrageous punctuality they were each awarded a copy of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, as was a third, mysterious queuer. The queue was also subjected to a bout of shouting, as were the Leeds EG Expo 2009 attendees. London, we have to say, was louder. Well done! Read more...

Ubisoft will be showing 15 minutes of exclusive Splinter Cell: Conviction footage this afternoon at the Eurogamer Expo.

The demonstration will take place during the Ask Eurogamer Session at 4.30pm. That can be found on the top floor of the Old Billingsgate building.

Following the Splinter Cell demo, Eurogamer editor Tom Bramwell and dep ed Ellie Gibson will be hosting the talk, fielding questions from attendees about this website you're reading and the industry on which it commentates. Read more...

Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario, has been romping around the London Eurogamer Expo this afternoon

Following a stint on the PA system, Martinet, lead by EGTV's Johnny Minkley, roamed the vast Old Billingsgate venue.

"Hello, it's-a me, it's-a Mario," said Martinet, in the voice, unaware this was going to be transcribed. "Wahoo!" Read more...

Can't make it down to the Eurogamer Expo tomorrow? Well, obviously we'll miss you, but it doesn't mean you should miss out on Quantic Dream talking Heavy Rain and Valve showcasing Left 4 Dead 2.

That's because Eurogamer's intrepid, publicity-shy deputy editor Ellie Gibson will be live from the Developer Sessions tomorrow bringing you news of whatever transpires.

Quantic Dream's David Cage is first at midday. He will be showing off Heavy Rain in his own inimitable style, and outlining his ambition for this most ambitious of PS3 adventure games, due out in early 2010. Read more...

Black Rock Studios' Nick Baynes has just finished showing off Split/Second in the first of the Developer Sessions at the Eurogamer Expo in London, and gave the crowd a sneaky live demo of the Docks level in the process.

Game director Baynes began by talking about the history of the studio, which used to be known as Climax Racing and pumped out games in the ATV Fury and MotoGP series. He even namechecked the developer's very first game, a Korean localisation of FA Premier League STARS by EA. "I'm going to get that off the screen really quickly, actually."

Then Disney bought the company out in 2007 and they got to work on the excellent Pure, recipient of 8/10 on Eurogamer, but the parallel team headed up by Baynes wanted to get into street racing, so went off in search of a USP. They settled on the idea of changing the environment while you race. Read more...

London's Eurogamer Expo 2009 has begun in flying form, with over 2000 people entering in just over an hour.

The queues this morning for the Old Billingsgate building were clearly visible from London Bridge, except by editor Tom, who forgot his glasses and barely knew which way he was going.

One attendee, Luca Calabrese, was dressed as none other than Bill from Left 4 Dead. "Bill's kind of a badass to be fair," he said, in-between posing for pictures. Read more...

The Eurogamer Expo 2009 has landed in London and the queues outside the Old Billingsgate building on the Thames are immense. At the front stood Josh, 19, a student from Bristol. He woke up at 5am today to ensure he was in line at 8am, a whole three hours before the show.

For his dedication, Josh has bagged a brand new PSPgo, courtesy of Sony. He also received a t-shirt and copy of the brilliant Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, although he appeared to pass that to his friend. Chivalrous as well as punctual: a real catch.

"It's over 9000 out of 10," said Josh, describing his excitement for the EG Expo 2009. "It's a great opportunity to play all the new games. We read press previews all the time, now we get a chance to try them." Read more...

Following two excellent days in Leeds earlier this week, the Eurogamer Expo has travelled saaarf and pitched itself on the banks of the Thames for two days in London.

The show runs from 11am to 8pm at Old Billingsgate, and although we've sold out of tickets in advance, we've decided to try and squeeze a few more of you in - so tickets will be available on the door from 1pm for any latecomers, priced £6.

What's going on, you say? Well, you evidently didn't read that thing I wrote the other day. Here's the short version: your first chance to play loads of games you can't buy yet, people presenting their games to the public in special Developer Sessions, and a full-blown GamesIndustry.biz Career Fair. Read more...

The Leeds half of the Eurogamer Expo 2009 has finished, and I jolly well hope everybody that turned up enjoyed their sneak preview of the world's biggest upcoming games. Here, however, I turn the microphone on the people whose games you were playing: the exhibitors brave enough to lay bare their unfinished products for all to fondle. You may have bumped in to one or two of them.

Ben Walker, SEGA, senior product manager - Aliens vs. Predator

"You can be quite detached sometimes from the audience. Having the ability to show quality code to a hardcore audience and getting their response - that's the best barometer for any game. Everyone loves Alien vs. Predator, it's the first multiplayer showing we've done. It seems to be one of the most popular games here if not the most. Absolutely brilliant, really couldn't have asked for more." Read more...

Mario has been spotted bouncing around the Eurogamer Expo, which has opened for a second day in the centre of Leeds.

Mario, also known as Ryan McGill, 22, dressed as the iconic plumber for "a dare". He wore a red jumper, dungarees, white gloves and a Mario-style hat. "A lot of people asked me to dress as him," he confessed to Eurogamer. "I had the costume, I didn't want to chicken out."

McGill, seen lingering around New Super Mario Bros. Wii, is actually here to see Left 4 Dead 2 and SAW. He's a "big fan" of Valve's work, as many Eurogamer Expo 2009 attendees appear to be. Read more...

It's day two of the Eurogamer Expo 2009 in Leeds aaaand it's the same face at the front of the long queue!

David Tweedle, 29, from Widnes, even admitted giving other people a chance to lead the line. He only arrived two hours early today.

"One day isn't enough to see everything," explained Tweedle, who was given 4200 Microsoft Points (£35.70/€48.85) by Eurogamer for his dedication/to get lost. "It's best over two days to see all the dev talks and games." Read more...