That's what it comes down to. I've been less excited for E3 overall because seeing a newly announced game is one thing, but being the reality of playing said games are where my true excitement comes from. That excitement fades with every delay announcement or distant target date. I still believe games should be only shown when most of the content can be played and it's months out from going gold. A selfish request as I don't claim to understand the stage of development, but we have evidence that it can be done. It's to a point now where if a game has a distant release date following multiple delays I end up missing the release.
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62% of games from E3 2015 press conferences still unreleased.
- Thread starter mocoworm
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That's what it comes down to. I've been less excited for E3 overall because seeing a newly announced game is one thing, but being the reality of playing said games are where my true excitement comes from. That excitement fades with every delay announcement or distant target date. I still believe games should be only shown when most of the content can be played and it's months out from going gold. A selfish request as I don't claim to understand the stage of development, but we have evidence that it can be done. It's to a point now where if a game has a distant release date following multiple delays I end up missing the release.
LordRaptor
Member
I think there's an argument to be made that as games are taking longer to make and fewer titles are being released but there's some egos at play that nobody wants to have a shorter conference and be perceived as lesser than competitors, they're just dragging out whatever they have at whatever stage of development its in to fill a time slot.
arhra
Member
The article has Gears UE listed as previously announced, but prior to E3 it was merely leaks and speculation, E3 was the official announcement, and it went on to release in August.
It's also missing Rare Replay entirely, which was also announced last E3 and released last August.
I can't remember the announcement schedules of all the games listed, but given those two issues I wouldn't trust the rest of the data without double-checking it all.
It's also missing Rare Replay entirely, which was also announced last E3 and released last August.
I can't remember the announcement schedules of all the games listed, but given those two issues I wouldn't trust the rest of the data without double-checking it all.
yanipheonu
Member
I actually find it funny that we're getting percentages for unreleased games, what a weirdly specific thing to do. Especially when it's entirely possible there are the odd secret game or last-minute dropped game that will make getting down to a 62% entirely pointless.
Interesting article. And this is why unless I see a release date most games I see at E3 Im assuming are far away from release.
Also puts the whole who 'wins' E3 into sharp contrast if you're showing games or bullshot trailers a year or two years out that's not a win that's bullshit.
I'd preferably like an E3 that only showed games coming this year, but then neither Sony or MS would have much to show.
Also puts the whole who 'wins' E3 into sharp contrast if you're showing games or bullshot trailers a year or two years out that's not a win that's bullshit.
I'd preferably like an E3 that only showed games coming this year, but then neither Sony or MS would have much to show.
LukasTaves
Member
Uncharted 4, R&C launched this year? That quote says only one exclusive launched in 2015.
Edit: Uc4 launched this year. R&C too.
LordRaptor
Member
How were Fable Legends, Phantom Dust, Scalebound and Crackdown?
You should work on your reading comprehension before trying to do console warrior bs.
LordRaptor
Member
These were titles shown at E3 2 years ago, 2 of which are from studios that have been shut down in the meantime.
It's not "console wars" to point out that MS shouldn't be getting praise for not participating in E3 bait-and-switch empty promise shenanigans.
More_Badass
Member
Game development takes time. Years. To expect E3 reveals to be released within a year is a very unrealistic outlook
More that people need to stop feeling that they need to be hyped and excited for something from the moment of announcement to release. It's okay to forget about games. That's the whole point of trailers, and press previews, and what not. Developers certainly aren't expecting you to be remember; they're keeping their heads down and working on their game, often in silence until they're ready to reveal something new
Joegrine_TT
Member
That was the problem. And they came out and said they will only show games near complete that will be release a few months after E3.
Don't believe the hype! That's why when everyone was crying that Nintendo's E3 sucked, I was happy not just to watch their entertaining direct and tournaments, but to see great games I would be playing soon.
Not that I wasn't excited to see TLG or to learn about Shenmue, but as far as all the hyperbole goes, I don't really care, I just want to play. Still, it's not like there weren't any releases this year.
Not that I wasn't excited to see TLG or to learn about Shenmue, but as far as all the hyperbole goes, I don't really care, I just want to play. Still, it's not like there weren't any releases this year.
Mihael Mello Keehl
Banned
Damn shame... oh well. People mainly care of Hype anyways.
I would be willing to bet that this negativity is a minority opinion, and shared mostly by enthusiasts. Its a bit disappointing to see a game that you really want but can't play for a while, but early announcements don't stop current games from releasing. I also like knowing what's coming in the future. Downgrades/bullshots and such aren't necessarily a side effect of early announcements, they would happen anyway from certain companies.
More_Badass
Member
Do you think they anticipated that those games would be canceled when they were showing the game? That's not an empty promise, that's called not being able to predict the future
How is a game being cancelled the same thing as showing a game and releasing it 2 years later?
LordRaptor
Member
In the case of Phantom Dust specifically, the devs working on the game didn't know it was going to be announced, had nothing prepared, and the trailer shown was nothing to do with them and the first time they saw it was at E3 along with everyone else.
That is to my mind a frankly appalling state of affairs.
MarkMclovin
Member
Pretty much.
I learned long ago to not get swept in it all and just watch the train crash from the sidelines. I'll get interested in a game after it's release, not years before. I mean, people are already saying they are losing sleep over E3 announcements. I can't tell if it's taking the piss or not but, why?
Dreadnought
Member
Nothing is keeping them from announcing a game whenever they want. It's most likely traditional at this point to do it at or near E3.
Chû Totoro
Member
Because nowadays people are buying hype instead of anything else.
Problem is that hype can come and go really fast. And if your product value is mostly tied to the hype it had/has then it can easily be irrelevant again... and brand suffer a lot from this.
Problem is that hype can come and go really fast. And if your product value is mostly tied to the hype it had/has then it can easily be irrelevant again... and brand suffer a lot from this.
Why? This for sure happens a lot more than you think. The publisher announcing a title with a CG trailer does no harm.
sono
Gold Member
Mod or not I respectfully disagree. I think you are considering only the practical aspect.
This forum is full of members who are dedicated gamers. New game announcements and the future potential of what can come out is part of the enjoyment of our hobby. Equally when games are cancelled or dont live up to expectations expect those dedicated people to comment on that.
Additionally, if a company uses future game potential as part of its marketing strategy (what else is E3 about ?) but then does not deliver either at all or in a timely fashion there is a brand and trust aspects to consider too. i.e if they dont deliver on some promises what else do they say about whats next that you can still trust ?
More_Badass
Member
Sure, but that has nothing to do with the fact that games being cancelled after their reveal isn't some kind of betrayal or empty promises. At the time, the plan is that those games are happening. They don't showcase games that they expect they're going to cancel.
2014 is going to be stacked!
2015 is going to be stacked!
2016 is going to be stacked!
2017 is going to be stacked!
This whole generation of consoles has been a pretty huge letdown so far. Other than Witcher 3 (and maybe UC4, Bloodborne and some gems on the Wii U), it's been a real snooze fest.
2015 is going to be stacked!
2016 is going to be stacked!
2017 is going to be stacked!
This whole generation of consoles has been a pretty huge letdown so far. Other than Witcher 3 (and maybe UC4, Bloodborne and some gems on the Wii U), it's been a real snooze fest.
storafötter
Member
My memory might be hazy but I feel like it has always been this way. Developer cycles are longer these days but E3 has always had fake trailers to induce hype for incomplete games.
However it might as well been just because I was a Nintendo fanboy. All those Zelda trailers and no release in sight
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However it might as well been just because I was a Nintendo fanboy. All those Zelda trailers and no release in sight
.rayman1900
Member
It is not for nothing the legends will speak of 2016 as the Year of Dreams in term of video games announcements 
More_Badass
Member
Of course what one considers timely fashion might not be realistic. Smaller indie games take a year or two to make. Some take 3 or 4 years. Just indie games. A year after release isn't a timely fashion for a big budget, big scope AAA game. Maybe not even 2 years. That kind of speedy turnaround should probably be cause for concern, rather than excitement
I got excited as anyone else when a cool intriguing game gets announced at E3, excited by that reveal and what the game could be like in the future, but it's completely unrealistic to be remain hyped for something perpetually. Even the developers making the game don't expect you to be excited and hyped for their game constantly. That's why they schedule press tours and such, to say "Hey, look, yes, we're still working on this. Look at the progress we've made, dev's going fine", and then they go silent again for a few months. They're not expecting you to be hyped for two or three years straight.
sono
Gold Member
Agreed, however is it also about percentages. If significantly more than half of what is announced is either very delayed or cancelled I would say that there is an element of brand and customer loyalty risk which is not being properly considered.
Stereogatari
Banned
Is there are a rule on when games announced at E3 should come out? The expectation is that games announced at E3 are big projects for release in the far flung future.
I don't think the vast majority of consumers care. I doubt many even think about when games release versus their announcement unless IGN/GS write an article on it or something.
And no, there's no rule. A lot of us in the hobby put blame on the companies when we can't control ourselves.
It's hard to keep a secret these days. For more impact, you want the game, the big E3 reveal, to be a surprise though. So I think it makes sense a lot of times for things to get revealed early on, probably at the first E3 where it's possible to show something cool. At the same time, games take more than a year and some change to be made.
Even if you're not trying to reveal it that early, the other option is to just sit and wait. Sometimes that's good, sometimes less so. Sometimes it might be more beneficial to get the hype train rolling early, and let people kinda psych themselves up for a while, idk.
That's the way I'd expect it all to work anyway.
Even if you're not trying to reveal it that early, the other option is to just sit and wait. Sometimes that's good, sometimes less so. Sometimes it might be more beneficial to get the hype train rolling early, and let people kinda psych themselves up for a while, idk.
That's the way I'd expect it all to work anyway.
ThatStupidLion
Member
just because its E3 doesn't mean a company needs to change how it announces and releases games... nintendo in general has a more consistent record of playing its cards at the last minute. ie. announce a game and release it soon after. where as the other companies typically will anounce very far in ahead of schedule.. it's always been this way. sure there are exceptions but as a rule of thumb... this is pretty standard knowledge already.
LordRaptor
Member
A publisher not liasing with the studio making a game about how that game is to be initially presented to the public is in my opinion pretty indicative of a publisher with a bad working relationship with a studio working on a troubled project.
I don't believe E3 is the correct venue to announce titles that have not yet reached their first vertical slice milestone; for games that are design feature complete on paper and its just a question of the time and resources to make enough levels / map out the world / integrate assets etc (and these are costly and time consuming things to do) an E3 announcement or carefully edited gameplay from that first vertical slice is entirely appropriate.
Something like announcing a an elevator pitch for an old abandoned IP while a studio is in pre-production? Or announcing a Kickstarter?
No, I don't think the first exposure to the world should be an executive on stage, a trademarked logo and whatever mood art Blur Studios could throw together.
e: and I don't think I've ever seen a single Indie Title showcased at E3 that hasn't met the basic requirements of a proof of concept design / code / aesthetic before being demonstrated.
uncleniccius
Member
Games very often get announced at e3 for launch in the fall a year later. This is completely unsurprising.
Familienoberhauptvogel
Banned
Except 2 of those released in 2016 which is not the specifically mentioned "that calendar year"
that it's getting worse as well?
More_Badass
Member
Oh, sure, indie devs have skin in the game. They don't have other big franchises to fall back on if their game doesn't do well. A badly received devut could end up being their last game. So they must have something tangible to show, especially if this is the first time they're revealing their first project.
A big publisher showing off a sequel or even a new IP from an established studio doesn't have that all-or-nothing risk.
cireza
Member
Hum. Not sure why you are saying this ?
My point is that they always give a good focus on games that they deliver within a year. This is why I am looking forward to MS conference : I know that we will see games coming pretty soon.
This does not mean that we don't get to see games to be released in more than a year.
ThoughtsOfSpeaking
Banned
This is why I don't understand how E3 is the "Gamers Christmas". Dunno about Christmas round your way but I always get gifts at mine, not windowshop.
E3 is one big advert. Which is great as it's an advert for things I'm interested in, but nothing to get excited about.
E3 is one big advert. Which is great as it's an advert for things I'm interested in, but nothing to get excited about.
ElRenoRaven
Member
Yup. That's just one reason I really quit paying attention to E3. It's also another reason this gen has been pretty much a joke for me. It's been all hype and remasters with an occasional game worth a shit actually getting released.