(Credit: CNET)The J.K. Rowling's "Book of Spells" aims to bring a magical book to life on the PlayStation 3 via augmented reality, but is it really a "reading experience?"

by Scott Stein, CNET

LOS ANGELES--Call it a toy, call it an experience, but I'm not sure you should call it a book. The J.K. Rowling-created "Book of Spells," the launch title for Sony's Wonderbook platform announced at E3 2012, was originally touted during the kickoff Sony press conference as being a way to bring reading to life.

I had a chance to check out the Wonderbook at Sony's E3 booth, and I'm not sure reading really entered that much into the equation. It is, however, a fun augmented-reality toy with some beautiful animations.

(Credit: James Martin)Surprise, surprise: new technologies and one of the best uses of the Kinect I've ever seen made Madden one of the stars of the show.

by Scott Stein, CNET

Normally, a new version of EA Sports' Madden Football is an E3 non-event. Not so at E3 2012: in fact, it became a sort of poster-child for future-forward gaming.

Admittedly, the second-screen Madden prototypes on Xbox SmartGlass shown briefly at Microsoft's press conference aren't real (yet), but Madden 13 does feature integrated Kinect features and completely new player physics, dubbed Infinity Engine. (more...)

New Super Mario Bros. UWii U, we hardly know you.

Of all the companies showcasing new games and hardware at the E3 video game convention this week, none face as much pressure as Nintendo. The once -mighty Wii may have left an indelible mark on the game industry by broadening the very definition of a gamer, but it's been on a downhill slide for years now. After toiling away in its top-selling shadow, Microsoft and Sony's more mature consoles are now proving their worth in terms of sheer staying power, trouncing the Wii on the charts month after month. (more...)

Due out next spring, the game bridges the gap between the 2009 film and its upcoming sequel

Star Trek

by Randy Nelson, Tecca

The idea of a video game based on the classic sci-fi series Star Trek is nothing new; In fact, they've been produced since the early 1970s. What makes the new Star Trek game from Namco Bandai — due on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC in early 2013 — different is its third-person shooter gameplay and, as we saw during a theater presentation at E3 2012, its two-player cooperative aspect. (more...)

by Samuel Axon, Tecca

SimCity

SimCity is one of the most venerable franchises in gaming, in part because the creative attraction of controlling every aspect of a bustling town appeals to just about everybody. It's been a while since the last iteration of the series though, and a fresh take simply called SimCity will arrive on Windows PCs in February of 2013. We got a behind-the-scenes look at the game at the E3 video game industry convention in Los Angeles, so here's a look at its two most intriguing features: multiplayer and the "GlassBox simulation engine."

Enjoy epic PvP battles, help other players in public dungeons, and explore the living world of Tamriel

by Barb Dybwad, Tecca

It's difficult to imagine a more appropriate game franchise for adaptation into a massively multiplayer role-playing game than the beloved Elder Scrolls universe — so when Zenimax Online Studios and Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls Online last month, that sound you heard was the collective cries of joy of millions of rabid fans celebrating. At E3 2012 this year we had a chance to get a first look at the game courtesy of its game director, MMO veteran Matt Firor.

A tough E3 for Nintendo?Underwhelmed by Nintendo's showing at its E3 press conference yesterday? You're not the only one.

Nintendo shares fell 1.6% in early trading following the high-profile event, where the company unveiled a slew of new games for its upcoming Wii U console. It's the latest blow in what's been a difficult year for the under-pressure company, which has seen sales of its once-proud Wii and DS consoles decline sharply in the face of hot competition from Sony's Playstation 3, Microsoft's Xbox 360, and Apple's range of mobile devices. Back in April the Tokyo-based firm posted its first annual loss for decades, and overall has lost 15% of its value so far this year.