The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is an annual event when game companies show off their new games as well as announcing previously unknown ones. Before the actual show, the console makers traditionally hold a pre-E3 conference where they unveil long-awaited games, show off new footage of known ones, and present many playable demos on the show floor. For an industry where big companies usually keep everything quiet, E3 is a time to show off everything you've got in an attempt to out-do your rivals. No-one must underestimate the imoprtance of E3, its few days are the biggest and most important of the gaming calendar.

This years show will take place in the Los Angeles Convention Center from Wednesday 22nd May to Friday 24th , with Nintendos pre-E3 conference taking place at 3:30 GMT on the Tuesday .

Nintendo will be showing off new footage of big games at the conference, like Mario Sunshine, Zelda, Metroid Prime, Starfox Adventures and Eternal Darkness. Playable versions of these big games will be available on the show floor, note this is the first time Mario Sunshine and Zelda will be in playable form for games journalists, so expectations are high.

But of course we'll be seeing a few surprises at the conference, what they could be is anybodys guess. We know that we'll be seeing new footage and details of games that so far little has been reveiled of, like Wario World, Mario Golf and Mario Tennis. As for new games, less is expected than normal because of the high amount of big existing games present. Playable versions of Mario, Zelda and Metroid Prime would be enough to keep most people happy, and new games could lessen the attention big ones get. Something Nintendo certainly don't want.

So here's a list of what to expect from Nintendo and its 2nd-parties:

1080: White Storm - video
Animal Crossing - playable
Donkey Kong Racing - video
Doshin the Giant - video + playable
Eternal Darkness - video + playable
Kameo: Elements of Power - video + possible playable
Kirby Tilt 'n' Tumble 2 - video
Legend of Zelda - video + playable
Mario Golf - video + possibly playable
Mario Party 4 - video + possibly playable
Mario Tennis - video + possibly playable
Metroid Prime - video + playable
Pichu Bros. Party Panic - video (possible)
Star Fox Adventures - video + playable
Super Mario Sunshine - video + playable
Wario World - video

Please note that with Nintendo being Nintendo, unexpected games could well show up.

As for the 3rd-party offerings, here is a list of what to expect:

Acclaim

Aggressive Inline
All-Star Baseball 2003
Dave Mirra BMX 3
Turok: Evolution
Vexx
ZooCube

Activision

Kelly Slater's Pro Surfer
Minority Report
Rally Fusion: Race of Champions
Shaun Murray’s Pro Wakeboarder
Tony Hawks Pro Skater 4
True Crime: Streets of LA (possible)
X-Men: The Next Dimension
X-Men: Wolverine's Revenge

Capcom

Resident Evil Zero
Auto Modellista (possibly)
Also, expect footage of the Resident Evil remakes

Crave

Mace Griffin Bounty Hunter
UFC: Throwdown
Whirl Tour

Electronic Arts

2002 FIFA World Cup
F1 2002
Freekstyle
Galidor: Defenders of the Outer Dimension
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
James Bond 007 NightFire
Knockout Kings 2003
Madden NFL 2003
Medal of Honor Frontline (possible)
NASCAR Thunder 2003
NBA Live 2003
NCAA Football 2003
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2
NHL 2003
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger

Encore

Dragon's Lair 3D

Infogrames

Big Air Freestlye
Backyard Football
Dungeons & Dragons Heroes
Godzilla: Destroy all Monsters Melee
Nickelodeon Party Blast

Kemco

Batman: Dark Tomorrow
Egg Mania Eggstreme Madness

LucasArts

Gladius
RTX Red Rock
Star Wars: Bounty Hunter
Star Wars: Clone Wars

Majesco

Black & Bruised
BloodRayne
Bomberman Generations
Rolling (possible)
Totaled!

Midway

Defender
Dr. Muto
FireBlade
Freaky Flyers
Gravity Games Bike: Street Vert Dirt
MLB SlugFest 2003
Mortal Kombat: Dark Alliance
NFL Blitz 2003
RedCard Soccer 2003
NHL Hitz 2003

Namco
Namco Museum
Pac-Man Fever
Soul Calibur II (possible)
Starfox flying shooter* tentative title (possible)

Rockstar Games

Conflict: Desert Storm (PS2, Xbox, GC)
Duke Nukem Advance (GBA)
Midnight Club 2 (PS2)
Smuggler's Run: Warzones (GC)
Spec Ops: Airborne Division (PS)

Sega

Beach Spikers
F-Zero GC* tentative title (possible)
NBA 2K3
NCAA College Football 2K3
NFL 2K3
NHL 2K3
Phantasy Star Online Episode 1&2
Super Monkey Ball 2

Sierra

The Hobbit

Simon & Schuster

Darkened Skye
Outlaw Golf (possible)

Squaresoft

Final Fantasy (possible)

TDK Interactive

Robotech: Battlecry
Shrek Extra Large
Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis

THQ

Battlebots
Hot Wheels Velocity X
Jimmy Neutron
Monsters Inc.
MX Superfly
Rocket Power Beach Bandits
Rugrats Royal Ransom
Scooby Doo! Night of 100 Frights
SpongeBob Flying Dutchman
Tetris Worlds
Toxic Grind
WWE WrestleMania X8

Ubi Soft

Evolution Worlds
Rocky (possible)
Worms Blast
XIII


Again, remember that these 3rd-parties could well show up with a load of unexpected games.

Please note that Gamecube Europe will not be at the actual show but with some of the best and most dedicated News Editors around, we'll make sure that Cube-Europe will be your essential source for all E3 coverage.