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[Gamer79]

I love the all filler no fluff format. E3 had it's day but the last decade or so was a complete joke. Bad Host, Bad actors, at times hilariously bad presentations, tons of game reveals with no gameplay, etc etc. I like the much shorter shows that get to the point and show the goods. E3 at times was laughably bad but it was more of laughing at the show instead of with the show. I like the much cleaner slicker format. Agree or do you miss the old E3 Format? Stuff to remind you how bad/funny E3 was at times:

Just to name a few

 

[BennyBlanco]

nintendo has their format down and has been doing it well for a long time. sony's last 2 state of plays have been good but the rest of them were pretty dire.

overall, e3 in it's prime was way more hype than the shit we get now. actual megaton moments that weren't leaked. guys shaking wiimotes tweaking off coke. the works. i'll always look back on that era fondly.

 

[Sosokrates]

E3 was about 1000x more hype then these soulless short YouTube videos.

 

[Icymanipulator]

E3 hype trains from back in the OG GAF days were always special and usually had me in tears. Some of the best threads I’ve ever been a part of.

That said, just getting to the point is nice too. I like how no frills the new showcases are.

 

[SeraphJan]

No way, the crowd screaming is irreplaceable

 

[Kagey K]

I'm going to disagree. Those cringe moments, the live audience and a world of gamers all tuned in and talking made those shows better.

23 minute tv episodes that are nothing but ads don't do it for me. They feel more like compilation videos and don't engage me at all.

You don't get "you're breathtaking" and drunk Bethesda girl screaming from these videos.

 

[Robb]

To me E3 was better by a mile.

You not only got the big presentations from MS/Sony/Nintendo, but also footage from the show floor, new gameplay demos of loads of upcoming titles, multiplayer events/tournaments, interviews with developers etc. etc.

I still enjoy these smaller showings though.

 

[UltimaKilo]

I have to somewhat agree, but mostly because I like how spread out these events are now. We’re seeing the comeback of TGS and other shows.

 

[Zones]

I am sorry but you can't beat something like this!

 

[remember_spinal]

I don’t like the padding for the big shows, just give me that onslaught of games.

 

[Gobjuduck]

I like games to be shown all in a weekend. Not over months, with huge gaps.

 

[jakinov]

Xbox show nowadays is basically a live version of State of Play and Nintendo Direct. They play a lot of trailers back to back and ocassioanlly have someone talk on stage for a minute or two then more trailers.

IMO the E3 stage and it actually being live with an audinece gives a differnet vibe that's more fun than watch the pre-recorded video that was already filmed days, weeks, months in advance.

I think that people who complain about there being fluff and jsut want straight trailer shouldn't even bother to watch it live and just wait an hour to see a playlist of trailers in it's highest quality.

 

[Kagey K]

I don’t like the padding for the big shows, just give me that onslaught of games.

If that was an onslaught, I'd hate to see what a pelleting looks like.

Jesus the hyperbole.

 

[Aenima]

E3 was built around hype. We got alot CGI trailers, gameplay slices that would look diferent in the final version, and alot of suits hyping they games with BS. It was entertaining, but i rather get multiple State of Play during the years with games showing something that is more faithfull to the release version because most of the stuff shown are 1 year or less away from releasing.

 

[Kagey K]

E3 was built around hype. We got alot CGI trailers, gameplay slices that would look diferent in the final version, and alot of suits hyping they games with BS. It was entertaining, but i rather get multiple State of Play during the years with games showing something that is more faithfull to the release version because most of the stuff shown are 1 year or less away from releasing.

Doubt press X

 

[Jennings]

E3 in it's prime had everything. It was the place to be, a place where stories were made and legends were forged.

Bring them back.

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/we-used-to-have-e3-booth-babes.1624659/

State of Play, Nintendo Direct, and the Xbox Showcase are all watered down experiences that have sucked all the fun out of the events themselves and have turned them into nothing more than gluten free processed feed pellets.

Give me something with heart, with soul, something that makes me wish I were actually there instead of being relegated to watching templated recaps on Youtube.

 

[EDMIX]

Nintendo directs and state of plays.

We all watch E3 from youtube and twitch folks ,remember that.

I don't see how it benefits a developer to have their games announced along side HUNDREDS of other games, only to get lost in the shuffle.

Resident Evil 3 remake reveal on State Of Play was seen by more people then Resident Evil 2's....keep in mind, 3 is expected after 2, yet Resident Evil 2 remake was announced during an E3, lost in the shuffle etc. So I feel for marketing, the State Of Play, Nintendo Direct way is just far better, look at Rockstar.

They show their shit...when THEY feel like showing their fucking games, they don't just wait till hundreds of games are also being shown wasting marketing dollars to be squished into some packed reveal. They reveal alone during a nothing week and become the most talked about thing on the internet.

People might think Sony was crazy to reveal PS5 they way they did, them breaking those records show otherwise. Maybe some bullshit, show everything during E3 isn't as effective as some people might think. Maybe the hype being trickled down during a slow news day to dominate the media cycle is the way to go.

If you have a new IP and you get the choice and have your life savings wrapped up in this, are you going with E3 along Call Of Duty, AC and Final Fantasy reveal? or are you going the State Of Play route knowing only a select few will be there with you and not fucking hundreds?

Remember folks, if you announce alone, all eyes are on you that week, go to E3 and the moment you talk about your game someone funa be like "wtf cares bro, RESIDENT EVIL CODE VERONCIA REMAKE CONFIRMED, damn did you see that sexy female in the trailer too? i'd wreck that bro" lol

(those that know, don't tell em) =)

 

[Azurro]

Of course E3 was more exciting (and many times disappointing) because almost every important announcement was compressed into 3 days a year.

This other format is better because you actually get a chance to focus on the game announcements, rather then it getting lost as a story you have to scroll to get to at IGN and hidden in some gigantic thread here. It's too bad the meme potential has gone way down though.

 

[DenchDeckard]

E3 was way more exciting. Nintendo found their way of doing things and others are copying...as usual.

I personally would prefer Sony and MS to do the big e3 thing and leave Nintendo to do the direct and awesome tree house stuff.

Just my thing though.

 

[EDMIX]

E3 was way more exciting. Nintendo found their way of doing things and others are copying...as usual.

I personally would prefer Sony and MS to do the big e3 thing and leave Nintendo to do the direct and awesome tree house stuff.

Just my thing though.

well...not really. To my understanding, several publishers did that years before Nintendo did that as some teams didn't go to E3, they just put out trailers on Youtube or at the time Gametrailers or something, as in they didn't have an event and just released a trailer. So, if anything its Nintendo thats copying that format, but its silly.....

Putting trailers on youtube wasn't invented by any fucking publisher lol That isn't some trademarked or brand new thing really.

 

[A Most Virtuous Cat]

HELL NO

E3 was much MUCH better. Publishers had a deadline to deliver games/ news. It was an equalizer. Now, everyone is just complacent and we are getting drip feed.

 

[DenchDeckard]

well...not really. To my understanding, several publishers did that years before Nintendo did that as some teams didn't go to E3, they just put out trailers on Youtube or at the time Gametrailers or something, as in they didn't have an event and just released a trailer. So, if anything its Nintendo thats copying that format, but its silly.....

Putting trailers on youtube wasn't invented by any fucking publisher lol That isn't some trademarked or brand new thing really.

No one did anything like a Nintendo direct before them. They literally wrote the rule book for it. The formatting, the delivery, everything. But if you are going to get upset over Nintendo tweaking something and creating something once again then you do you bro lol

 

[Banjo64]

I think Nintendo have the format down. They always get the right blend of showing first party DLC, great indie games, surprise first party announcements and good third party games.

Sony and Microsoft deliver some right hodgepodge garbo.

 

[reksveks]

It's all much of the same personally, I very quickly move on from these streams.

 

[EDMIX]

No one did anything like a Nintendo direct before them. They literally wrote the rule book for it. The formatting, the delivery, everything. But if you are going to get upset over Nintendo tweaking something and creating something once again then you do you bro lol

Nah, they didn't invent putting a trailer on youtube. A few publishers didn't go to E3 and merely put out trailers of their line ups on Gametrailers at the time, Youtube etc. We even fucking have articles of people asking why this publisher or that publisher didn't go to E3's compared to others.

So all they did was invent something called "Nintendo Direct" that is red.....thats as much as anyone can claim as writing a book or inventing something lol They didn't invent youtube bud. Thats like saying Sony invented it, oh its different doe, its called "State Of Play" and itz bLuE so NOT DA SAMEZ /s

Many where already putting their line ups on there instead of going to E3. Saying "oh their music is doe" is irrelevant. Its not saying Rockstar or Ubisoft had the same fucking music or called it a "direct", its saying they've shown their line ups online as oppose to doing an event.

.....thats it.

Its not shocking that many publishers continued this as the cost of ESA went up and relevancy of social media went up.

As far as I can tell, Nintendo didn't make Youtube, they are not the first to debut a trailer on youtube or online or anything of the sort for anyone to even claim someone invented or wrote a book as if online didn't exist before them, this is simply too moot of a point and to obvious to pretend someone needed to show someone else something to know how to make a Youtube post lol

I'm 99.9% most of the industry knows social media exist. The choice to do that was happening long before Nintendo held something called "direct" lol

Can anyone explain why exactly RockStar never show up to E3? - Grand Theft Auto V

For Grand Theft Auto V on the Xbox 360, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "Can anyone explain why exactly RockStar never show up to E3?".

gamefaqs.gamespot.com

Rockstar is not coming to E3 ... again

www.destructoid.com

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Best of both worlds

State of play every two months with a big showcase every year.

I don't care if its in June or September. Showcase doesn't even need to be good every year. I just want consistency.

 

[Ceadeus]

Ah yes, much better, I watch those using my meta quest on my couch. Without any facial reactions. In a dark room, alone.

I don't miss E3 at all

 

[Woffls]

How you gonna' make this argument by posting examples of the best moments in gaming history?

 

[DenchDeckard]

Nah, they didn't invent putting a trailer on youtube. A few publishers didn't go to E3 and merely put out trailers of their line ups on Gametrailers at the time, Youtube etc. We even fucking have articles of people asking why this publisher or that publisher didn't go to E3's compared to others.

So all they did was invent something called "Nintendo Direct" that is red.....thats as much as anyone can claim as writing a book or inventing something lol They didn't invent youtube bud. Thats like saying Sony invented it, oh its different doe, its called "State Of Play" and itz bLuE so NOT DA SAMEZ /s

Many where already putting their line ups on there instead of going to E3. Saying "oh their music is doe" is irrelevant. Its not saying Rockstar or Ubisoft had the same fucking music or called it a "direct", its saying they've shown their line ups online as oppose to doing an event.

.....thats it.

Its not shocking that many publishers continued this as the cost of ESA went up and relevancy of social media went up.

As far as I can tell, Nintendo didn't make Youtube, they are not the first to debut a trailer on youtube or online or anything of the sort for anyone to even claim someone invented or wrote a book as if online didn't exist before them, this is simply too moot of a point and to obvious to pretend someone needed to show someone else something to know how to make a Youtube post lol

I'm 99.9% most of the industry knows social media exist. The choice to do that was happening long before Nintendo held something called "direct" lol

Can anyone explain why exactly RockStar never show up to E3? - Grand Theft Auto V

For Grand Theft Auto V on the Xbox 360, a GameFAQs message board topic titled "Can anyone explain why exactly RockStar never show up to E3?".

gamefaqs.gamespot.com

Rockstar is not coming to E3 ... again

www.destructoid.com

You're invested and missed my point entirely. Go off son!

 

[winjer]

I only care about the trailers.
Not interested in pretensions host and devs wanking on stage.

 

[Griffon]

While old E3 had some fun cringey moments, most of the time it was a boring slog to get to the good content.

I don't want to get my time wasted. Gimme those snappy directs, no looking back.

 

[EDMIX]

I only care about the trailers.
Not interested in pretensions host and devs wanking on stage.

This.

Costly, the devs have to literally interrupt the game development process to make builds and shit. It might have been entertaining, but I don't think it was worth the trade off, even for gamers.

Griffon Agreed. Get me them cliffnotes lol I like the random showings by publishers imho. Maybe Rockstar had a point all these years with just dropping a trailer.

We will all see it on Youtube anyway and maybe that random shotgun marketing approach makes more sense.

 

[Ozzie666]

That Nintendo direct from years ago with the Puppets was pretty much peak directs. Nintendo doesn't seem to put as much effort into them these days. E3 was pretty cool when things weren't spoiled to hell and back. The surprises don't seem to be as common, and the big stuff seems to be announced way to early. We as gamers expect way too much from these things and seem to get constantly disappointed.

 

[supernova8]

I still like the in-person big conferences in the massive convention centers but what the fuck was it with Xbox padding out the entire front row with Xbox staff (or people paid to be there) who would initiate all the cheering? Did Playstation do that too? I don't recall.

Problem now is that we rarely get "bad" or "weird" conferences/livestreams. We just get mind-numbingly boring ones (most of the Xbox ones with no first party stuff but somehow packed with CGI) or "pretty good" ones (Sony SOPs are generally decent or good but still not mindblowing). I don't think there's been an OMFG-level conference/livestream for years.

We haven't had a "TV Sports TV TV TV Sports" or "599 US dollars!" or "just get another job" or "hey we have a product for those dickheads, it's Xbox 360" moment for a while. Everything is so much more tightly controlled which just makes it sterile, boring.

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Honestly? These shows are much better paced than those old E3 shows where you're watching them for 2 hours and only half of it matters.
Those days of showing long gameplay segments is gone.

I'd prefer to have State of Play's like the last 2 (yesterday and the June one) spreadout through the year than a huge ass E3 show and then a quiet year until the next conference.

This isn't the 00's...those shows aren't needed anymore. You don't need to drag all your studios to travel in person to be in the same room only to go up on a stage and talk about a game while showing it. It's a dying format and y'all need to adjust.

 

[anthony2690]

I personally prefer E3, but the last two state of plays have had games that interest me (SF6/TEKKEN8/RE4REMAKE/Ishin etc)

Same with the latest Nintendo direct. (Tales of Symphonia remaster)

I think content of the shows though, is what is important.

As we've had loads of bad state of plays due to the games being shown not being interesting/exciting.

 

[NahaNago]

I keep wanting them to do more with the state of plays and directs since it isn't live. Like make a some shorts like with the puppets, a music video, have a skit, or a well-made video ad that combines all of the content shown in some beautiful cg. Introduce maybe some lore that most folks wouldn't know about, or maybe make it a themed video. Add a little bit of something to make us want to find out what comes next or make us interested in what you will do in the next video.

 

[lostinblue]

The topic starts with presentations on E3 that had problems and were over the top, but there's a reason Apple still does conferences and stream them online and does it well.

I feel if a company only shows things through pre-recorded videos that they release on their channels they're actually blocking most of the feedback from it's creators which can lead to tone deaf behaviour coming from a company instead of getting closer to the consumer by listening a bit. I feel E3 and other shows were great to test some ideas and gather some feedback.

Something like the Wii was forged on E3, word was out, there were queues. There's no better test than hands on.

This said, I also miss the "console stations" we had in stores, you could go into any games store in the late 90's and you could play Gameboy (I don't remember which game), Tekken 3, there were impromptu championships even. Great times. The moment those stopped I actually think Tekken sales decreased. First hand experience and multiplayer engagement was a great vehicle to sell stuff. Probably also helped Street Fighter 2 a lot, people played it on the arcade and wanted to get better at it, so they bought the SNES or Genesis/Mega Driver versions.

 

[octiny]

Definitely prefer old school E3 (not the last couple E3's before pandemic). The vibe, ambiance & hype just made it fascinating the few times I've gone.

The new stream style? Boring.

 

[RoadHazard]

There have been terrible E3 shows, and there have been amazing ones. Overall I still think that format was more exciting though, it was gaming Christmas for a few days every summer.

 

[Portugeezer]

E3 was about the hype.

I do miss those times.

 

[CeeJay]

Good comedy in games is few and far between, but when it comes to E3 we get it in abundance.

In an industry where code is written, run, rewritten and rerun again and again until it works (hopefully) it shows a different side when they do live events. It's not even a case of mocking them for the mistakes, I think it's the opposite, they show they are human like the rest of us and we love them for it. A live event shows that there are real people behind these studios and no matter how big they are, how much money they throw at the event or how much media training they get there is always the chance that things won't go to plan and for a brief moment we get to see something different than we get in every other facet of the games industry.

On top of these hilarious moments we also get to see all the new games that we get with the directs but all concentrated in one place over a short, focused period of time. It's an event that we can put in our diaries, get hyped for and plan our own social events around like we do with big sporting, national or religious events. A live event is just way more exciting than some pre-recorded videos stitched together. When you tune in to watch the E3 showcases you just know that something unscripted or unintended is going to happen on the stage and it can happen to ANY of them.

 

[Arcadialane]

Live with crowds is always better

 

[MarkMe2525]

E3 felt like a real event, State of Play is just another YouTube video.

 

[64bitmodels]

Neither, just upload the individual trailers on YouTube instead of forcing me through a long ass livestream. E3 is too cheesy and state of play/Nintendo direct is too damn long.

 

[Pasta la Vista]

The best part of E3 was watching these out of touch, over-payed execs trip over themselves and act like idiots on stage for the world to see. It was way better and I really miss attending and seeing Downtown LA all decorated up for the occasion. I miss the demos, the spectacle, the food trucks the booth babes.
I worked it a couple years too when I was in QA at Activision in the early 2000s. Highlight of it for me was escorting Stan Lee around with another co-worker and watching booth babes dance.

The videos suck.

 

[kevm3]

E3 was WAY better than these little mini conferences. For one, console manufacturers had competition and had to at least try to outdo each other.

 

[InterMusketeer]

Directs have changed a lot throughout the years. They used to have skits, like with those Henson puppets or Robot Chicken. There were also long sections with developer interviews etc. Even in 2017, Reggie showed up to talk about playing games. In comparison, current day Directs are straight to the point, more of a collection of trailers with minimal breaks in between. It's streamlined, with all of the fat cut. Some of that fat was fun though, and gave Directs their own identity.

Ultimately it comes down to whether you just want to get the announcements as efficiently as possible, or want to enjoy the spectacle around it as well. E3 shows often blow up uninteresting content and announcements to pad the show. There's technical difficulties and everything just takes forever. I think those earlier Directs were a happy medium.

 

[Sub_Level]

E3 from roughly 2014 onwards was putrid feces. There was NOTHING good about them, they even took out the booth babes. There have been bad State of Plays, sure, but they are 20 minutes spread out over the course of a year. Much better.

 

[AJUMP23]

E3 delivered golden moments and megatons. Videos give you none of that.