E3 vendor cancellations

This effectively puts paid to the rumours that Grand Theft Auto V would be teased at E3 for the first time. It also means that other Rockstar titles expected to appear at E3 – specifically LA Noire and Max Payne 3 – will also be no-shows.

A company representative told CVG that Rockstar didn't have enough time to show as much as they would like in the allotted time at E3. Instead, Rockstar is reportedly planning its own event to showcase its new titles later in the year.

As for Portal 2, the game's developer, Valve, claims it will still be showcased at E3 despite the cancellation of the official event.

Members of the gaming press that planned on attending the Portal 2 event recently received the following cryptic message from Valve:

Dear Subject Name Here,

Aperture Science is pleased to inform you that we have partnered with Valve to announce the gala CANCELLATION of the June 14 Portal 2 event at the Regal Theater. The event will be replaced by a surprise. And even though the cancellation of the event certainly counts as a surprise, we are pleased to further announce that the cancellation of the event is not THE surprise. However, per International treaties regarding the definition of the word "surprise", of which both Aperture Science and Valve are signatories, the time, date and content of the actual surprise will only become available as you experience the surprise.

If you'd like to ask fruitless questions about the E3 Portal 2 surprise or, more fruitfully, schedule an appointment to attend a Portal 2 screening at the Valve booth during E3, please contact Valve's Special Envoy to Surprises, Doug Lombardi.

Thank you for < >

PS: The surprising record scratch is also not the surprise.