Since 1995 the Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, has been the home to surprising reveals, big announcements and huge disappointments in gaming industry. The biggest publishers and manufacturers are present at the event to show us what’s next for gaming, but poor preparation or choices can lead them to embarrassing moments.
With less than two weeks until E3 kicks off for the 20th time, let us remember ten of the most memorable moments in its history. Moments that gave us goose bumps, made us proud of being gamers or drop our jaws, and for which we are looking for this year.
10. Sony announces the PlayStation’s Price (1995)
At the first edition of E3, SEGA needed to impress the crowd, after SEGA CD and 32X failed to sell as much as they expected. Therefore, at SEGA Keynote it was announced that their new console SEGA Saturn was already available in stores for $399.
But, shortly after this, Sony stole the show when Steve Race took the stage at Sony’s Keynote to announce the release date for Sony’s PlayStation. The big shocker came when he announced that the PlayStation’s price will be $299, a move that killed Sega Saturn ($100 cheaper for a superior product) and marked the beginning of Sony’s reign over the gaming industry.
9. „Project Natal” Reveal (2009)
In 2009 we knew that Microsoft and Sony will reveal their motion controls to go up against Nintendo’s Wii and address to casual people. Microsoft’s move was the Kinect, known then as „Project Natal”, an innovative device that promised us the possibility of playing video games without a controller in our hands.
The device caught the attention of everybody with the demos that were presented, and convinced us that „we are the controller”. Also, Milo’s tech demo was an interesting experience that could be implemented sometime in the future. Unfortunately Kinect failed to deliver Microsoft’s promises, but the hopes are still there.
8. Kevin Butler’s message to all gamers (2010)
Sony was always smart with their commercials, but Kevin Butler character took gaming advertising to a new level. Unfortunately, in time the relationship between „Kevin Butler” and Sony has soured, but he remains in E3’s history with one of the absolute greatest speeches in this industry.
Kevin Butler delivered a powerful message addressed to all gamers, which gave me goose bumps: „And though we may pledge fanboy allegiances to different flags, deep down inside we all serve one master, one king and His name is Gaming. FOREVER MAY HE REIGN!”.
7. Nintendo Wii revolution (2005)
In 2005 Nintendo promised us a revolution and they delivered it with their new console, the Nintendo Wii. Despite all the jokes made with the console’s name, the Wii was a big surprise at E3 taking Nintendo back to the top of the gaming industry. Everybody was surprised by Nintendo’s strategy of switching the focus on delivering content to the core gamers to focus on the casual audience.
6. GTA IV for Xbox 360 and Exclusive DLCs (2006)
Microsoft managed to go head-to-head with Sony with their console, when Peter Moore announced that Grand Theft Auto IV will be released on Xbox 360 at the same date with PS3’s version.
Not only that, Microsoft managed to make a deal with Rockstar Games for GTA IV’s DLCs, which were for a year exclusive for Xbox 360. Also, Peter Moore’s tattoo of GTA IV logo on his forearm was a great moment.
5. Gabe Newell’s appearance on Sony’s stage (2010)
Another Sony’s greatest moments at E3 was when Valve’s Gabe Newell came on their stage to announce that Portal 2 would be coming to the PS3. This came after Gabe Newell’s critics at the address of Sony’s console, stating that it is „a waste of everybody’s time” and that they should cancel it and start over.
He swallowed his pride and promised that Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 would be the best console version and it would support a co-op mode with the PC version. A huge victory for Sony, wasn’t it?
4. Final Fantasy XIII for the Xbox 360 (2008)
Final Fantasy series was one of Sony’s biggest franchises for their video game consoles and because of that it was a real shocking moment when Microsoft revealed that Final Fantasy XIII will be launched on Xbox 360 too. It was a huge blow for Sony’s fanboys who turned against a game they’d once cherished about.
The announcement was the starting point for multiplatform strategy, followed by Metal Gear Solid and Mass Effect from Microsoft’s side.
3. Nintendo DS’ unveiling (2004)
In 2004 Ninendo had a great E3 Press Conference, where the Reggienator was born. (Do you remember these words: „My name is Reggie. I’m about kicking ass, I’m about taking names, and we’re about making games.”?)
At their conference they unveiled Nintendo DS, a device that have changed the handheld gaming. Offering a double-screen experience, touchscreen, wireless connectivity and backward compatibility with Game Boy Advance’s cartridges, Nintendo DS received an outburst of clapping from the audience and made it the second best selling console in the history. (after Sony’s PlayStation 2)
2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2004)
Nintendo had their moments at E3, but the greatest one was back in 2004 when they announced Zelda’s return in The Legend of Zelda: Twiliht Princess. With an epic trailer of the game and heart-pounding music they made grown men from the audience to cry and to scream because of their uncontrollable excitement.
And when Shigeru Miyamoto walked on stage with the Master Sword and the Hylian Shield, the audience exploded with room-shaking cheers. That moment was one of the E3 greatest reactions ever.
1. Sony drops the mic with PlayStation 4 (2013)
The biggest moment in the history of E3 happened last year when Jack Tretton put another nail in Microsoft’s coffin, after Xbox One’s policies made the gamers to speak with fury about Microsoft’s new console. Jack Tretton announced that PlayStation 4 will support used games and will not need an internet connection to use the console.
At the end of the conference when it was announced the price for the PS4, which was $100 dollars cheaper than the Xbox One’s price, Sony dropped the mic and won the E3!
These is my top ten most memorable moments in E3′s History and I hope that after this year’s edition, I will have to modify the list. Don’t forget that this year, E3 will take place this year from June 10th to June 12th and that the Press Conferences will be held a day earlier.