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[ClosingADoor]

I think this is just who EA are, they'll never put on a really good conference when they're so obsessed with "youtube personalities" and having so much time dedicated to sports games that the average E3 viewer isn't really that interested in. Also for such a big publisher they never really seem to have much to show.

- Battlefront 2
- NFS Payback
- Anthem
- FIFA 18
- Madden NFL 18
- NBA Live
- A Way Out
- Battlefield 1 DLC
- Sims stuff (although not in the conference I think)

I don't really know what the expectations are if this is not much to show. All things outside of Anthem that will release within a year also.

Time dedicated to sport is because a ton of people care. FIFA is one of the best selling videogames year after year.

 

[-Pyromaniac-]

The need for unfunny people to try to be funny and scripts clearly written by marketing departments are absolutely embarrassing for sure.

That woman above started off iffy but I think she was ok once she got going. "Gold" is a bit of a stretch but I guess anyone can look like gold by just sounding normal coming after the string of clowns she came after.

She was solid though.

 

[Yautja_Warrior]

Whatever it was, it was definitely worth all of it for that Battlefront 2 showing, amazing. That game has gone straight on my list for game of the show.

I've got a feeling it will be a hard choice to pick a winner by the time E3 is over.

 

[Chessr]

Janina looked so god damn fine so it was worth watching

 

[CloudWolf]

The cringey stuff is pretty much the only enjoyable thing about the E3. Game announcements and trailers can also be released online, marketeers and exces trying to be cool and falling hard can't.

 

[Rookhelm]

Janina was great, don't know what some of you guys watched. Her sneering at the crowd at the beginning like she was part of the Empire was a little off, but whatever...drop in the bucket. The only reason her segment might have sounded "fake" was because it was rehearsed and probably most of her lines were scripted...but they're all like that. She was professional and enthusiastic.


Then you get guys like that Jesse guy on the NFS segment. Trying to sound off the cuff, then the moment he loses his place, it goes downhill and he forgets where he is. "I got my boy here"....ugh.

 

[down 2 orth]

It's such an intense moment for whoever is on stage that unless they are dropping a bombshell, its hard to focus on what they are talking about. All I can see is:

-Someone shitting their pants

or

-Someone ego tripping

 

[PsionBolt]

Many have answered "because marketing", "suits selling to suits", and so on, but I'm not satisfied by that answer. It only leads to the next question: why is this stuff what suits want to see, and/or why do other suits think it is?

I mean, these people aren't unaware of how they appear, presumably. They're successful business people, so they are either decently aware or they pay people to be aware for them. In light of that, there must be something pressing them in this direction very strongly.

It feels like tradition has to be the largest factor. Old people tell middle-aged people how business works, and middle-aged people peddle it back to different old people for fear of the consequences of doing otherwise. That's the only logic I can come up with; conservatism / "playing it safe".

 

[Ambient80]

I'll take her over Aisha Tyler anyday, she's the definition of the word cringe.

I liked her on 24 and Friends but that's about it.

Nooo, I’m definitely gonna miss Aisha Tyler this year ((((

 

[Auto-Reply]

What is a E3 conference without cringe?

It's a boring trailershow with real life announcer.
It's a huge waste of time and space and they (the people in the industry) know it, that's why they try to get the youtube people in on it, even if it is a cringe show and is not having the effect they hope it would have, because the marketing effect of an E3 has diminished heavilly over the years. It's a print magazine relic.

There will a time when it's completely irrellevant and then the only thing lost will be the cringe!

Do not complain about the cringe, cherish it!

 

[Alebrije]

They are just ejecutives Thant think because they have high rank jobs can do anything.

 

[Michael Armbrust]

I enjoy the cringe. These shows are supposed to be fun, not robotic.

 

[fleshrender]

I'd prefer it if people just did well pre-recorded/produced streams like Nintendo (not live streams!)

 

[RPGam3r]

Many have answered "because marketing", "suits selling to suits", and so on, but I'm not satisfied by that answer. It only leads to the next question: why is this stuff what suits want to see, and/or why do other suits think it is?

I mean, these people aren't unaware of how they appear, presumably. They're successful business people, so they are either decently aware or they pay people to be aware for them. In light of that, there must be something pressing them in this direction very strongly.

It feels like tradition has to be the largest factor. Old people tell middle-aged people how business works, and middle-aged people peddle it back to different old people for fear of the consequences of doing otherwise. That's the only logic I can come up with; conservatism / "playing it safe".

Or... or maybe the people making the show are just having fun with it? There are plenty of "successful business people" that aren't sticks in the mud.

 

[ebullientprism]

The only person I liked in that entire show was the Brothers director. He actually felt genuine.

Rest were either cringey or boring.

 

[Arkam]

Part being older and not understanding a world filled with people buying fidgets and part thinking that 'safe' is a path to success.

 

[nekkid]

Why do we overuse the word cringe?

Literally.

 

[Atomski]

I see a lot of people agreeing with this, and the meme is funny, but I don't buy it.

There are countless examples of products/services targeted at kids that hook that demo, most of which have execs calling the shots.

Examples?

 

[TTOOLL]

Because they try the "new cool thing" every year and damn, do they fail. It's amazing though, I try to watch every single year.

 

[killatopak]

Correct term for what?

for 'youtubers'. If you don't like the term then what's the appropriate one? Entertainers?

 

[DontBeThatGuy]

I tend to mostly ignore anything that isn't the big 3 for conferences, to soften the blow.

 

[Rookhelm]

for 'youtubers'. If you don't like the term then what's the appropriate one? Entertainers?

I don't think he was questioning the term itself, but just lamenting that youtubers are the new cool thing

 

[blue_phazon]

for 'youtubers'. If you don't like the term then what's the appropriate one? Entertainers?

Isn't is called 'Content Creator'?

 

[Shaanyboi]

It's corporate executives (and occasionally a developer not used to speaking in-front of crowds of thousands) trying to act cool for the kids while selling their brand.

E3 conferences should be used as the baseline of 'cringe'

It's also the only thing that makes these shows worth sitting through. You don't need five minutes preamble about how so-and-so developer is changing gaming itself with this "compelling, cinematic new venture" all for a cg trailer for a cover shooter. But their desperate self-serious sales pitch is what makes it hilarious. Remember the motherfucker introducing Infamous Second Son with a 5 minute long stuttery speech about police brutality and the right to protest? All for his fucking superhero game?

 

[george_us]

I'll take her over Aisha Tyler anyday, she's the definition of the word cringe.

I liked her on 24 and Friends but that's about it.

Aisha is usually the best thing about Ubi's conferences.

 

[RPGam3r]

Examples?

Any kids show/network (Nickelodeon), movies targeted at tweens (shiny vamps), some of the largest cloths outlets (AE/abercrombie), and on the gaming side I would look no further than CoD.

I mean basically most large time honored thing that kids can buy into has execs somewhere in the chain making decisions.

If I were to think of exceptions I would look towards things like indie punk rock or youtubers. Things usually started by individuals and not being published by a company.

 

[Exploratory]

Polygon seems really excited about Janina Gavankar:

https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/10/15776590/e3-2017-janina-gavankar-ea-play-battlefront-2

GAF, not so much lol.

I was excited too. Just in a different way.

 

[LordOfLore]

EA tried it with a drumming band

SE had the orchestra at the concert live score the new trailer.

 

[Moreche]

The fact that they're using YouTube celebs speaks volumes to me.
They should be kept away from anything that's live.

 

[LiK]

Because the planners are out of touch. The YouTubers segment was full of stupid. Also, I don't get some of the comments here. It's like people are trying to create a thread backlash.

 

[Mascot]

Aisha is usually the best thing about Ubi's conferences.

She's usually the best thing about the whole of E3.

Vale, Aisha.

 

[Y2Kev]

Well, I think a few things:

1. The majority of each publisher's output is not aimed at the "core" gamer audience, so regardless of what they did, most gamers are typing furiously away going, "BORING. MADDEN BORING. NEED FOR SPEED BORING." etc. So they're already starting from behind.

2. These press conferences are the one time a year the publishers get attention from mainstream press outlets, so they do try and put on a very "professional" looking show. These are not that different from the shows that Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, etc. put on a CES. Extremely corny, flashy, and exaggerated.

3. Everyone still takes this very seriously, and hence you get long speeches about the science of "play" and the famous Sony dramatic guy about police surveillance or whatever.

So basically you can't satisfy the core audience regardless of what you do, but you can at least try and appear slick so that the reporter covering the event as his 9th level beat can follow along and get it.

I don't understand why Andrew Wilson kept saying "playing, and creating, and sharing" like he was on to something but I bet someone in the audience was like yessss this will help me write my article.

 

[Nia]

Those moments are part of what makes E3 what it is. I consider it entertainment. I knew I was in for a good time with EA when they started with that drum performance. Nintendo limits such moments with their Directs, and that's fine, but I wouldn't want the rest of E3 to become as sterile. The unintentional humor is part of the fun.

 

[Joeku]

I don't understand why Andrew Wilson kept saying "playing, and creating, and sharing" like he was on to something but I bet someone in the audience was like yessss this will help me write my article.

Also, "Play, Create, Share" is a Sony thing. That they took that and slightly adjusted it is very odd.

 

[PeakPointMatrix]

Why do people complain about every little thing? Eh? Did you pay for watching E3 stuff? Sometimes things are bad, sometimes good. Some people like the ill-advised comedy and some don't.

Just enjoy whatever you can enjoy, you'll be happier with life that way.

I like this post.

 

[Exploratory]

No but seriously there are people who didn't like the Star Wars woman? She was great. Brothers developer showing A Way Out was great. Star Wars 30 minute demo was too long but the game looked great. They handled sports as best they could. I laughed a few times during their presentation which is all you could hope for.

That YouTubers teleprompter broke during his segment for NFS. Boo hoo. So cringe /s.

Cringe is overused as fuck nowadays and even more so people seem to have the hardest time watching something that isn't exactly to their preference. OH ITS SO CRINGE I CAN'T WATCH.

Really? Society must be difficult to get through on a daily basis.

 

[Fou-Lu]

EA this year wasn't good, but it was no where near as bad as last year or other past conferences. It was inoffensive and kind of boring, but very little of it was full on 'cringey'. I feel like thanks to Sony's conference last year we might see better conferences this year, but I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch.

 

[Joeku]

Cringe is overused as fuck nowadays and even more so people seem to have the hardest time watching something that isn't exactly to their preference. OH ITS SO CRINGE I CAN'T WATCH.

Not that the word isn't overused, but E3 press conferences are absolutely rife with cringe-inducing moments. Like someone else said, if you can't use E3 flubs as a baseline for cringe, what can you use?

 

[mave198]

Needed some Jamie Kennedy.

 

[Servbot24]

Why do we overuse the word cringe?

You put together a frequently socially awkward userbase along with out of touch executives trying to be hip, and the reality is that there are genuinely going to be some uncomfortable interactions. Cringe is a legit word that just happens to be often applicable in games and internet culture.

 

[Fess]

Because live conferences are sooo much better than prerecorded events. It's hype guys!!11 /s

EDIT: Most of the cringe from last night's conference came from the many mistakes they made, as well as having """personalities""" there to read off of a teleprompter. Suderland did a great job even though it was live at least.

I don't think stiff teleprompter awkwardness is cringey, I had more issues with the Madden story mocap talk where a bunch of casual looking guys talked about the mocap process and one guy who was clearly full of himself completely took over the conversation and barely let anyone else open their mouth. I don't know if he was a celebrity or something but that segment was way too long and there was too much of that annoying guy who thought he was the coolest guy on the planet.
The segment with the Star Wars Battlefront 2 girl was cute and all but I'm not sure what was her deal but she didn't connect at all with me, it became a bit cringey for sure, eventually I just wanted her to stop talking and show me the game.

I'm usually a positive guy when it comes to these presentations but those two segments got on my nerves.


In general I think the "cringe" comes from people that don't act natural and tries to be cool or funny but can't pull that off.

 

[PhantomThief]

Hi we are company X! Look at this amazing visceral new product we have on offer, it's so good it's almost life changing!

Won't you preorder our new product so you can be part of our marketing machine?

It's SO cool!

Spoiler

It's because of Marketing speech.

 

[whitemex88]

this was the first image that popped into my head when i read the Thread Title

 

[BumblebeeCody]

I always hated the fake acting.

4 people in a game doing a mission,
Bellend 1: Hey guys. Gonna go right flank.
Bellend 2: Sure. I'll lead the rest to the left flank. Mouse, are you watching?
Bellend 3: All eyes above the target Bellend 2.
Bellend 4(most likely the token female): OK guys, ready to roll.

* Bellend 1, 2 and 4 burst through the door *

Gameplay shows player perspective from Bellend 2.

Bellend 2 walks into the breached room and slowly looks around the room surveying the area.

Then some big shootout

Everyone sucks.


I really hate this gamer acting crap. I wanna seee the offesnsive language, loud distorted rap song coming through the mic and people just going in guns blazing swearing.

 

[Kaelan]

It's corporate executives (and occasionally a developer not used to speaking in-front of crowds of thousands) trying to act cool for the kids while selling their brand.

E3 conferences should be used as the baseline of 'cringe'

It's also the only thing that makes these shows worth sitting through. You don't need five minutes preamble about how so-and-so developer is changing gaming itself with this "compelling, cinematic new venture" all for a cg trailer for a cover shooter. But their desperate self-serious sales pitch is what makes it hilarious. Remember the motherfucker introducing Infamous Second Son with a 5 minute long stuttery speech about police brutality and the right to protest? All for his fucking superhero game?

I'm crying holy shit, I remember that. Freaking classic

 

[ClosingADoor]

I really hate this gamer acting crap. I wanna seee the offesnsive language, loud distorted rap song coming through the mic and people just going in guns blazing swearing.

Yeah... that is not going to happen when you got retailers and mainstream press watching.

 

[Rookhelm]

anyone have a link to the Infamous bald guy moment? Don't think I ever saw that one.

 

[Raging Spaniard]

Because they want to "win" E3 and the way executives think about that is like a show where you need more than just games, its entertainment! Celebrities! Laughs! Tense moments! Its show business and they want to please a wide audience, not just GAF.

 

[Strangelove77]

Would it even really be a gaming/tech conference without cringe?
Can you imagine one of these conferences without cringe? Not for me.

Gaming needs the cringe and cringe needs gaming. They're inseparable.

 

[mrklaw]

It can be fun to spot the years themes

2015 was the cloud
2015 was the year of experiences
2016 was content
2017 is shaping up to be influencers and deep learning