At any big gathering there are bound to be a few guests who fail to show up. When a guest doesnft show up for an event as important as E3 questions are bound to be asked as to why. This year has seen the absence of a few titles, and one piece of hardware, has also been particularly conspicuous. A couple of games start the roster, and while we can forgive for the no-show of GTA: Liberty City Stories, it was just announced at the expo after all, the lack of the PSP version of Ridge Racer is hopefully causing to feel a modicum of embarrassment. This game was plastered all over the press when Sony was building up the hype preceding the release of their first hand-held console so its continuing absence is sure to have a few people squirming in their seats.

STALKER has been slipping in and out of the release schedules like a trout trying to escape from the clutches of the Invisible Man. Its non-show at E3 after making an appearance at Game Stars Live in September last year is a puzzling that will do little to assuage the concerns of gamers who have been watching with dismay as this incredibly adventurous take on the joins and Prey on the list of shooters lost in development hell. But while Prey is finally coming to PCs next year Duke Nukem really is taking Forever to make his way back onto the gaming scene. No one expected the surly gunslinger to pop in for a cup of tea this year but it would have been nice to get a glimpse of the direction the game is taking. Maybe there will be an announcement that the developers have decided to switch to the Unreal 3 engine by showfs end, if only to create yet another reason for the games persistent delays.

And while STALKER is in danger of being reclassified as vapourware, just like Duke Nukem Forever, it looks like the gaming console will never be anything more than a spectre. The focal point of a whole heap of and derision, not to mention a few ridiculous lawsuits, the Phantom seems to be destined to be nothing more than a name attached to a decidedly shady business venture. The consolefs makers Infinium Labs have recently filed a report with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that they are $11.5 million short of the funds they need to secure a launch. Will the naysayers be proved right after all?

By Sam Gibson