PixlBit

Read how the staff reacted to this year's big show.

Jesse Miller - Features Editor

Schizophrenic.  That’s how I’d describe this year’s E3 now that I’ve had some time to marinate on last week’s events.  Admittedly, I wasn’t nearly as excited for this year’s big event as I had been in previous years.  Even with a new generation looming, and the possibility of new IP finally looming on the horizon, I couldn’t shake the overall apathetic feeling that’s grown in me regarding the future of the console space.  We’re entering a transitional point in the industry, and when change is needed, Sony and Microsoft seemed poised to offer more of the same, while Nintendo continues to do its own thing.

This is how I felt going in. Microsoft’s presser even exacerbated my emotional malaise by showing off games that seemed aimed at that very specific Call of Duty audience.  I’m not saying that the Call of Duty Audience isn’t important – they are, and I actually enjoy those types of games – but we’ve reached a level of market saturation that isn’t sustainable. Titan Fall piqued my interest a bit, but even that was more academic than anything else; I’m fascinated with how it will play, but I have a hard time rousing any real interest in actually playing it.  The rest of Microsoft’s presser was forgettable, aside from clarifications regarding their arguably anti-consumer policies regarding used games, consistent internet connection, and a price point that ensured I wouldn’t be buying the machine anytime close to launch.

My original feelings had been validated.  Ubisoft and EA didn’t show me anything that would change my mind.  More Assassin’s Creed, more Need for Speed, more FIFA, more Madden, more on games I am interested in, but have already seen plenty of coverage on, like Watch Dogs (admittedly, Ubisoft also snuck in a reveal of “The Division” which looks like a game I could get behind).

Then Sony took the stage and provided one of the most back loaded pressers I have seen – which is completely crazy when you think of the sheer amount of “wow” information that was presented in the last fifteen minutes.  Up until that point, it was fairly unimpressive.  We’d already seen most of these games at the reveal, but once Sony stated that it would be on the other side of the DRM and used game line, I felt a glimmer of hope.  Then they dropped the price – boom goes the dynamite. 

It was enough to drive me straight over to Amazon to secure my day one box – something I wasn’t planning on doing this generation.

Then Nintendo.  As underwhelming as their presentation was initially, I amazingly became more interested in their showing the more time passed.  Microsoft and Sony showed games whose names escape me, but I can’t even begin to explain how excited I am that the Blue Bomber is finally in a Smash Bros. game.  My positive feelings concerning Nintendo crystallized when I saw them in motion at the Best Buy event.  Is Nintendo playing me on nostalgia?  Yeah, but I’m okay with that.  It’s nice to feel like a kid again sometimes.

So from general apathy, to depression, to elation, to disappointment, to hopeful.  That was E3 for me.  Who needs a drink?