Yes, E3 Had Some Good Moments
So, as you’re probably aware by now, E3 is pretty much buried for this year. A lack of interest, combined with the ESA’s ridiculous push for higher booth prices and greediness by letting in a public audience, pretty much killed any chance of its return — at least, for now.
But while the show’s demise was a long time coming, it did generate some good memories over the years. So, being in the nostalgic state that I am, I decided to share some of my personal favorite moments from years past, moments that stuck with me because, hey, they were damn cool.
Shigeru Miyamoto with Sword and Shield!
Nintendo’s E3 showcase was awesome. Not only did everyone get a cool bookbag (which I still have), but we also got a “mature” Zelda game like everyone wanted — The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.
But to further make the point, Shigeru Miyamoto came out with a frickin’ sword and shield to send the crowd out to the show wildly happy and yearning Zelda goodness. This is how you close out a press conference.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone Unveil a New South Park Game On Their Terms
The fact that Ubisoft got Trey Parker and Matt Stone to work on another South Park game past The Stick of Truth was really something. But the fact they convinced the duo to come out and reveal the game themselves? Alongside Aisha Tyler? It was something else.
Trey and Matt didn’t hold back either. Along with talking about the stupidity of the weird-looking mics, they discussed the game and didn’t hold back on the frank language. Amazing.
Normally, you see people that can’t just be themselves during press conferences. But Trey and Matt are forever. Now…when does Casa Bonita open again?
Kevin Butler Owns E3
Yes, we know that he’s not really “Kevin Butler.” In fact, the guy playing him lost the gig by advertising a tire commercial involving a Wii. But for one magic moment, we believed in Kevin Butler. We just did.
And he delivered a motivational speech that got us excited for games again, as scripted as it may be. Sony truly delivered with him and, honestly, we really miss him. Especially nowadays, when Sony can’t really get its act together when it comes to taking care of gamers.
Bless ya, Kevin. Bless ya.
The One Two Three Punch From Sony During E3 2015
Sony found a great deal of success with its E3 2015 showcase, by hitting us with not one, not two, but three long-awaited surprises.
The first was The Last Guardian, which hadn’t been seen in years and was finally given a proper release window. It certainly lived up to our expectations, and got the press conference off to the right foot.
But then…Final Fantasy VII Remake? Hang on, it was happening?! I’m not even a die-hard Final Fantasy fan and I got revved up for whatever was being offered here, even if it was just technically part one. Who cares, it was awesome to see.
And just when we thought we were finished…Yu Suzuki announced a Kickstarter program for…Shenmue III. At this point, me and my friends in the audience were going nuts. Sony had hit us with three amazing announcements that really made the show for us. More like this please and less like “here’s whatever Project Q is”.
How Does a Game Win E3 Without Even Being There?!
2000 will always be remembered as a key year for E3, and it was all due to the incredible hype of a game that wasn’t even on the show floor — Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
The PS2 title had a trailer initially shown that got people excited, in spite of the fact that the game wasn’t at Konami’s booth. But for every hour on the hour, it would show off the trailer and immediately gather a crowd. Each time. Even to those who had seen it dozens of times before. It was mesmerizing to say the least.
The final game lived up to the hype, as did some of the other Metal Gear games that followed. But part deux will always win the hype train, just because it can.
How Can You Not Mention Keanu?
“You’re breathtaking!”
I mean, what else needs to be said?
“$299.”
Finally, let’s talk about one of the key moments in 1995 when Sony truly solidified its place in the game industry.
Sega had just announced that the Sega Saturn was available that day, in an effort to get a jump on the PlayStation console from Sony. But all it took during their press briefing was one simple word to show that it wasn’t concerned.
“$299.”
That’s it. A lower price point that made the system end up being worth the wait. And the rest…is history.
Have a good week, all!
