The showroom floor at the 1997 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Atlanta.

Screenshot from Activision's Apocalypse.

It's easy to blame the heat on meteorological twists, but I'm betting part of June's temperature soar was caused by the 1997 Electronic Entertainment Exposition (E3) where the best of the best CD-ROM and electronic platform developers spent three days sweltering in Southern hospitality.

The event packed over 37,000 individuals into the Georgia World Congress Center and Georgia Dome. The Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) claimed that 486 exhibiting companies filled a space equivalent to 35 football fields with over 1,500 new titles.

Extravagant Parties
An exciting industry, E3 extends beyond the convention center as gaming companies opened up their wallets to throw celebrity packed parties. Bruce Willis of the animated cartoon series Bruno the Kid invited a sea of humanity to his favorite restaurant, Planet Hollywood, to promote the release of Activision's new platform title, Apocalypse, starring the great man himself with rock-diva turned villain Poe.

Not to be outdone, Sony PlayStation teased retailers and some of us fortunate press folks with giant character cutouts surrounding a party which took place under a full Georgia moon that even outshone the phenomenal fireworks display. Entertainment that evening was provided by Soul Asylum.

Amazing Games
Party antics aside, we were there for the games and we did not leave disappointed. Here's a quick peek at some of the titles guaranteed to have animation fans taking out loans on their limited edition Looney Tunes chess sets.

Developer Titus avoids DC Comics current costume mishap, working instead with the Warner Bros. cartoon folks on Superman for Game Boy, Nintendo 64 and PlayStation. Players become the man of steel in order to stop Lex Luthor from using the LexoSkel 5000 to take over the world. Featuring stunning 3D environments, various fight levels and rescue operations this is a game to look for later this year.

Disney Interactive was all of a titter over the success of their latest character to hit the big money, Hercules. Joining the Hercules Print Activity Center, The Hercules Animated Storybook teaches children reading and vocabulary skills. Each of these titles is for Windows/Macintosh play and retails around $20. If they haven't had enough of the big guy, young players can take on the role of Hercules while defeating monsters, defending Mount Olympus from the Titans and beating the heck out of Hades in the Hercules action game. Containing video game-style action with 10 levels of game play, three different worlds, hidden areas and secret power-ups, this program is for ages 8 and older at a retail of $39.95.

Virgin Interactive is also capitalizing on the success of Disney's Hercules. Available for the Sony PlayStation, players can jump into 10 levels of action, sophisticated side-scrolling and 3D technologies. Now when Herc cuts off the Hydra's heads, you'll even get sprayed by the green blood!