The Rumour Mine: WWDC vs. E3, Tekken on iPhone (again), and DIRT

Two major conferences back-to-back - WWDC and E3 in the middle of June - promise plenty of high profile game announcements and tons of news.

While much of the big stuff can be predicted (iPhone HD, anyone?), it's the business deals and unexpected games that make these shows exciting.

Tekken on iPhone - which last appeared in the Rumour Mine in March ahead of Game Developers Conference - is back, this time as a candidate for announcement during E3. It's the rumour that just won't go down. Joining it is Codemasters's well regarded DIRT off-road racing series.

What other games do you think are being prepped for debut during WWDC and/or E3?

iPhone publishers reserving biggest titles for E3, not WWDC

In a fascinating twist of events, a number of iPhone game publishers have expressed intent to show their biggest titles during E3 and not Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference the week before.

Both EA Mobile and Gameloft have privately described their E3 line up as much more substantial than what will be shown during WWDC.

There are two reasons for this: scheduling and media exposure.

Apple dragged on announcing the dates for WWDC, which meant many in the industry believed it would take place after E3. Instead, the company scheduled it the week before. This complicated planning for publishers planning to attend both shows.

With less time to prepare for WWDC and game line ups already cemented for E3, publishers have been eager to focus on E3.

The other element relates to media exposure. Most publishers think they have a better chance of getting more press if they show off big titles during E3. With a variety of publications in attendance, the hope is that major titles can get coverage in magazines and websites who wouldn't show up at WWDC.

Of course, Pocket Gamer will be at both.

Namco Bandai slating Tekken for E3 reveal

Although the publisher has maintained that it has not been developing an iPhone and iPod touch iteration of its popular fighting series, a confidential source has confirmed that Tekken is indeed being worked on and will be unveiled during E3.

Previous claims that the game would debut during Game Developers Conference proved wrong, yet the console-focused E3 seems like a more likely opportunity for such a high profile game to be announced.

In short, the Tekken franchise's console roots and general appeal would make it punctuate the noise of E3 in a way few iPhone games could.

Namco Bandai isn't commenting on the matter, aside from reiterating that it has nothing to announced regarding the Tekken series.

Expect Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu to run an exclusive look at the game ahead of the E3 reveal.

Codemasters contemplating DIRT for iPhone

Nobody does rally racing better than Codemasters and while the amazing Colin McRae Rally series has been laid to rest in favour of the more bombastic off-road racer DIRT, the quality is still unbeatable. That makes the prospect of an iPhone and iPod touch instalment nothing short of tantalising.

It's a certainty that the publisher's underwhelming F1 2009 will get a 2010 follow up (which hopefully references our review for much-needed improvements), but a new iteration of DIRT is a welcome surprise.

The publisher was shopping for developers earlier this year and it appears that work has begun on the game.

Don't expect much more than a single player experience, though, as it seems unlikely that online multiplayer will be offered. Some form of local play might make it in the final release, but just getting the racer up and running on the two portables is the main objective.

There's also talk of an iPad version, though there's no word yet on the likelihood of such a release.