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E3 may have lacked that stunning surprise, but the show was solid across the videogame landscape
No major surprises at 10th anniversary show
Computers were set outside in the hallways, boxed up and ready to ship. The giant screens were blank, no longer projecting a montage of colors and images, blurring one into the next, trying to outshine all competitors. The speakers, which assaulted the ears with a cacophony of music and dialogue, were silent.
When the dust finally settles from the 2004 edition of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, otherwise known as E3, and all are able to breathe normally again, collect their thoughts and reflect, there is bound to be some disappointment.
In retrospect, while the show had a host of quality titles, and the promise of an exciting year in the realm of videogaming, what the event lacked were those top surprise titles that were unveiled and became the talk of the show. Just one look at the GameZone selections for top performers will tell you that. All are followed by a number, indicating that these titles were part of the franchise of games – Battlefield 2, Resident Evil 4, Half-Life 2, Halo 2, Metal Gear Solid 3, all great performers, all franchise players.
Not exactly unexpected.
The show began with Microsoft’s press conference on Monday night. The company took a shot at Sony. The next morning Sony took a few soft shots back by throwing out sales figures. Nintendo followed by taking shots at both Microsoft and Sony. But in spite of all the posturing, there was one overall theme – it’s all about the games. The Nintendo DS and Sony PSP are built to deliver great games. These handhelds will clearly test the abilities of developers who will now have options previous unequaled in the platform – from the graphical quality, to the full-stereo sound and wireless multiplayer gaming.
The show kicked off Wednesday morning with the flash, bright lights, loud sound and packed crowds one would expect. But the numbers seemed to drop off slightly in the following days – perhaps a testament to the lack of that truly monumental title.
We all knew that Halo 2 was coming, that Half-Life 2 was on the way. Some of the publishers gave early looks to their roster of E3 titles, saving only a few for viewing at the show. Some of those were pleasant surprises, like Vivendi Universal’s F.E.A.R. The publishers are making no secret of their progressive campaign to expand their online communities.
The world of massively multiplayer games will see more big-name titles released in the coming months than ever before, but this is not the only area of focus. Shooter titles, sports titles, strategy gaming and online community forums linked to them all will give players unprecedented online access and entertainment value.
And when thinking about the next-generation of platforms, not only will the PSP and DS appeal to players, but the Tapwave Zodiac, the Phantom and the DISCover (as well as the ApeXtreme) will create more confusion and opportunities for the console gaming fan. Being able to play your favorite PC game in a console setting will be a solid option, but players who crave the superior graphics of the PC monitor will not be left out. The HDTV factor will make certain that console games are capable of rendering the high-quality graphics.
Nvidia and ATI graphics cards are pushing the envelope further than before, opening the door for a host of graphical goodness for both serious and casual gamers. If unspectacular in terms of a big surprise, E3 2004 was certainly a solid show and promises good things for videogame fans.
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