San Diego Comic Con kicks off July 23

San Diego Comic Con kicks off July 23

Video games have had an increasing presence at the ever-growing San Diego Comic-Con, and 2009 is no different, with several high profile publishers and developers showing their wares to thousands of fans in this three-day event.  A couple of things to keep an eye on:

Pushing Original IP

Video games will continue its push of original IP with the masses, knowing that one great hit (Assassin’s Creed) can make up for a few sales misses (Mirror’s Edge).

Games like Dante’s Inferno (God of War clone) and Brutal Legend (a genuinely funny game by influential developer Tim Schafer) are natural fits for the Comic-Con audience, and you can expect massive crowds around these two new IPs that are scheduled for 2009 release.

Sexy librarian/sex godess Bayonetta is also garnering some pre-show buzz.  Her sultry look combined with the warm place Sega has in many geek hearts (myself included) should make this an easy win.

Hollywood Dominates… Again

Hollywood has seen massive benefit from getting close with comic book fans, and the dividends have paid off with last summer’s huge Iron Man and The Dark Knight box office takes (let’s not talk about Watchmen, okay?).

This year is even more exciting as James Cameron has promised to show the first scenes from Avatar, a movie that has tremendous buzz as much for its 12 years in production as its potential to break new ground in the 3D arena.

And where there is a blockbuster, there is an average video game waiting to take advantage.  Look for Avatar: The Video Game and G.I. Joe to occupy a few minutes time on the show floor.

We’re Jealous

If you’re attending the show, it doesn’t have to be just about watching movie clips, playing video games and, oh yeah, reading comic books.

Publishers have a few choice happenings to indulge your geek appetite, from limited edition lithograph giveways (EA booth, any day, from 11 a.m. to noon) to game-related panels (try the Assassin’s Creed II Hollywood panel on Thursday, 1:45 p.m., Room 6A).

While you do that, don’t mind us – we’ll be ogling the real-life Bayonetta Thursday and Friday and Sega’s booth.  Game of the show!

[More on Comic-Con 2009 Video Game Preview at GameDaily] {link no longer active}