On July 27th, we will release a robust Madden NFL 11 demo, featuring full 5 minute quarters, Indianapolis Colts vs. New York Jets (as voted by the fans), full GameFlow integration, the ability to create offensive and defensive game plans, and more.

Below are a few additional details on the demo:

• Release date: July 27th on both Xbox LIVE and PSN
• Teams: Colts vs. Jets
• Stadium: Jets Stadium, East Rutherford NJ – 1:00pm, clear
• Full 5 minute quarters
• All 4 skill levels selectable – Rookie, Pro, All-Pro, All-Madden
• The option to build both an offensive and defensive gameplans

o Unlock “Master Strategist” achievement/trophy in the retail game

• GameFlow or Conventional play call selectable
• CoachSpeak audio and text overlays
• Coaching Tips
• Audio presentation:

o Play-by-play (Gus Johnson), commentary (Cris Collinsworth)
o Stadium music
o Team specific chants – J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets!

• Share with friends and earn an exclusive Madden Ultimate Team card that is redeemed with full version

While I soaked up the sun at Myrtle Beach this week, the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo kicked off in Los Angeles, revealing lots of gaming goodies to the masses. You’re probably well aware of the big ones, but some announcements may have slipped through the cracks. Here’s a brief rundown of the E3 info that you may want—or even need—to know.

Microsoft’s Kinect

Once called Project Natal, Microsoft’s Kinect camera doohickey promises unparalleled control using your entire body. The games and demos shown at E3 this year looked more promising than the obviously-fake stuff shown when “Natal” was revealed last year. The unit is available for pre-order from major retailers and will set you back $150.

Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo revealed their newest handheld console, the 3DS, which looks an awful lot like a DS with a slight makeover. Bigger than a DSi, but smaller than the DSi XL, the 3DS uses a 16:9 screen on the top capable of displaying gameplay in 3D. A slider to the right of the screen allows players to set the level of 3D, turning it off altogether at the lowest setting. The bottom screen is almost identical to that found on the DS: a 4:3 touch screen. The system’s graphical horsepower seems a bit stronger than the GameCube’s guts, but maybe not as powerful as the Wii. No word on a release date or price, but I bet it’ll launch next spring at or around $199—definitely no higher.

Xbox Live Summer of Arcade

Yep, Microsoft is doing another Summer of Arcade promo, releasing five top-tier XBLA games in a row. The first is called Limbo, which was a finalist for the IFG Awards, and is a side-scrolling adventure game with a unique visual scheme and incredibly deep physics model. Next up is Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, which is an isometric action game not unlike Diablo. Then we have Monday Night Combat, which takes the gameplay aesthetics of games like Unreal Tournament and ports them to XBLA in a slick, glossy package. Next to last is Hydro Thunder Hurricane, a new game in the classic Midway water-racing series. Last, but certainly not least, is Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, a new 2D “Metroidvania” style Castlevania adventure featuring insane 6-player co-op.

PlayStation Move

Remember Sony’s new motion controller, the PlayStation Move? I didn’t either, but then Sony revealed more info at E3, including pricing. The primary Move controller will cost $49.99, which isn’t bad at all, but the Navigator—basically the PS3′s version of the Wii Nunchuck—will set you back an extra $29.99. You’ll also need a PlayStation Eye camera, which is another $39.99, bringing your initial total to roughly $120. Add in extra Move and Navigator controllers and you’re looking at a small fortune, so here’s hoping the Move-enabled games are worth it.

If you’re interested in purchasing the new design, you won’t have to wait long–they’re en route to retailers as I type this. The new design should be available in a store near you this week. Crazy, eh?

You can see the usual Xbox 360 box art banner above. Say goodbye, dear readers, because Microsoft is preparing to replace it. With what? you ask.

Behold! This is the dawn of a new era, of a bold new direction, of oh let’s face it this is kind of lame. But there you have it, folks. If you check out the Amazon pages for Kane and Lynch 2 or Mafia II you can see the new banner in action (although the latter game only shows the new art on the Collector’s Edition for some strange reason). Let us know what you think.

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 console demo and PC beta will feature Port Valdez, a new vehicle focused map where up to 24 players (32 on PC) will compete against each other as either the US or Russian armies in the game’s Rush multiplayer mode. Players will have access to five land and three air vehicles where the Russian side can use everything in their arsenal including Main Battle Tanks as well as the fast-moving Quad Bikes and Mobile Armored AA. The fight will also be packed with plenty of infantry combat fought alongside the waterline towards a great oil industrial landscape in the Alaskan mountains.
Have you played the demo?  What did you think about it?  Leave a comment.

According to the keyboard-clacking monkeys at Kotaku, the Dreamcast classic Sonic Adventure may be coming to Xbox Live Arcade in the near future. A port of the game that some consider to be the last decent Sonic title popped up on the gaming press incarnation of XBL on PartnerNet, but was promptly removed when word began to spread. Sega remains silent on the issue.

What say you? I’m not afraid to drag out my Dreamcast and fire up Sonic Adventure whenever I’m in the mood, so this news doesn’t light any fires in my mind. You readers, however, might be jumping for joy at this news for all I know. If so, looks like Microsoft and Sega are about to hook you up. If not, well, there’s always Modern Warfare 2 to keep you busy.

Not much to see here, but at least developer Remedy Games isn’t holding out anymore. The use of light in particular is very well done, and I for one can’t wait to see more. The story is said to be of a Twin Peaks sort (i.e. creepy and weird), following a writer and many strange occurrences in a small town. I wish writers’ lives were really so intriguing.

Enter Game Room, a free downloadable virtual arcade (say that three times fast) for Xbox 360 and PC. Players will be able to arrange arcade cabinets in their own personal space and show off their custom arcade to friends on Xbox Live or Games for Windows Live. Avatars will explore these spaces and tackle arcade classics like Centipede, Tempest, Gravitar, and many more.

Game Room titles will come with their own achievements and online leaderboards, which is great incentive for you youngins to check out games you might otherwise never touch. Gamers can purchase these titles for 240 MS Points for play on one console, or pay 400 space bucks to play on both Xbox 360 and PC. Also, a pay-for-play option will be available, which will cost 40 points. Fifty cents is a bit pricey, seeing as most of the announced titles cost a measly quarter back in the good ol’ days.

So folks, are you excited? Does this seem like a cool idea, or is Game Room doomed to fail as hard as Home’s arcade (or PlayStation Home in general)? I’m all about old-school gaming, so I’m excited to see some titles previously unreleased on Xbox Live get some love, like Pitfall! or Battlezone. And, hey: achievements! I’m not an achievement junkie, but I’ll gladly play through Crystal Castles again if it’ll boost my crappy gamerscore a wee bit.

When Nintendo Power announced the upcoming Mega Man 10 for WiiWare, they neglected to mention that the retro 8-bit sequel will also grace Xbox Live and PlayStation Network. Makes sense, given that it is a Nintendo publication.

Anyhoo, I just thought you XBL and PSN folks would like to know. If you’re hankering for more punishing old-school gameplay that makes Demon’s Souls look like a Disney game, but you don’t have a Wii, Capcom still has you covered. Capcom has plenty of Sheep Man to go around.