Prepping for E3 2006
by Blake Snow 
{ Mar 9th 2006 at 7:00AM }
The E3
2006 festivities in Los Angeles are exactly two months away from today. Though we'll be soliciting specific feedback
and reconnaissance work on behalf of you readers prior to our attendance, what are you most looking forward to this
year at E3? Last year was a big
unveiling of next-gen consoles, so we can expect a lot of hardware refinement from Sony and Nintendo along with more
playable games this year. And let's not forget the portable and PC game scene.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sean DL @ Mar 9th 2006 7:37AM
Pretty much what Nintendo did at E3 2004 with the DS. Have a whole bunch of demos for the Revolution that could possibly be made into games for the system.
Of course Smash Bros. will be playable, but everything else will be just demos, because with a new way to play, you don't want to lock yourself into an idea of a game that won't be out till a year or so later(See Sonic from the DS demo to the real DS game). No price or release date, but that's what the day before the Tokyo Game Show is for.
Oh and the controller shells,It seems like everyone forgot about them. They will be shown off like the second coming of the joystick.
32_Footsteps @ Mar 9th 2006 7:46AM
But only one new console actually appeared at E3 last year. The 360 was there, the Revolution was still the vaguest rumor at that point, and Sony just brought an empty plastic shell that they claimed would look like a PS3. You didn't even have Infinium pretending they were making a console last year.
As for this year, I'm going to predict lots of shallow and worthless gameplay to be rampant, along with plenty of very pretty cutscenes and less impressive in-game graphics. And about 15 titles actually worth playing, five of which any given person won't be able to find.
-al @ Mar 9th 2006 8:04AM
I'm positive this is where we're going to see the next big surprise about the Revolution controller.
You know, I don't recall having been this excited about a console since I heard that Nintendo were making a successor to the NES...
Sense @ Mar 9th 2006 9:01AM
Wow, 32_Footsteps, jaded much?
I think Sony will release some new details about PS3, hopefully a real launch date. I have a feeling we may be seeing a holiday launch in Japan followed by an early Spring 2007 launch in the US. Whenever it launches, expect shortages that make the 360 launch look perfect.
I can't wait to see what Nintendo has to show off. As long as I get a glimpse at new Smash Bros. I'll be happy. Also, expect the US unveiling of the DS Lite (hopefully the Lite will launch the week of E3.)
I'm looking forward to news on all of the 360's second wave of titles: Gears of War, Mass Effect, maybe even a snippet of Halo 3? I'd love to see news of a new exclusive Japanese RPG as well.
I agree with -al (Yankovic?) about the Revolution. It's already making me feel like a kid again. I really hope it delivers.
Anyway, that's what I would like to see.
32_Footsteps @ Mar 9th 2006 9:26AM
Jaded? Maybe. But I figure that E3 2006 is unlikely to be any different from the other five E3s I've attended.
I know personally, there's always at least one good game that is at the show I don't get to mess around with. Last year, it was Guitar Hero. In 2004, it was Katamari Damacy. I generally miss them because there's a fountain of miserable games or videos for things not playable on the floor.
Also, I'm just sick of everyone giving Sony so much credit for what they don't do at E3. The PSP wasn't playable at E3 2004; it was just playing videos behind glass. You didn't even get that much out of the PS3 at last year's show.
Okay, so maybe I'm jaded. But who's fault is that, mine or the companies that screw up so much at E3?
KilgoreTrout XL @ Mar 9th 2006 9:27AM
Sense:
I'm with you on those 360 titles. I want to see what kind of progress has been made. I'm not sure that a single in game screenshot has been released for mass effect either.
But to me, E3 this year is all about one thing- Halo 3. No announcement and it'll be a letdown.
-al @ Mar 9th 2006 9:39AM
Yankovic? I wish.
I do own the 7" of Eat It, if that's any consolation.
benjamin @ Mar 9th 2006 9:53AM
I just want to see what Revolution games will be like. Any kind of demo would be fine with me.
If I could choose, I'd love to see a demo of Atlus' game for the Revolution. Trauma Center for the DS is one of my all time favorite games and I'm excited to see a game like that for the Revolution.
justchris @ Mar 9th 2006 10:25AM
Final designs for the PS3 & Revolution. I expect the mockups Sony & Nintendo have shown us are pretty close, but there'll probably be a few adjustments as they get closer to production.
Yes, I do still believe the PS3 will be released in the US this year. Europe may be pushed back to 2007, but I honestly doubt Sony would miss this holiday season with the PS3. They're a little smarter than that.
Playable games for PS3 & Rev. I expect the new Metal Gear at least, and probably Killzone along with a bunch of other uninteresting crap. At least people will get a chance to actually use the controller.
I expect 3 playable real games for Rev (Super Smash Bros., Mario 128 & Metroid Prime 3) along with anywhere from 5 to 10 playable Touch! Generation games in various stages of production. Some playable DS games, as well as Twilight Princess in it's final stage of development (with or without Rev modifications, I don't expect any, but it's still possible).
Lots of tech demos, movies of planned and upcoming games. More information on Spore. Some polished 360 games, and more information about upcoming 360 releases (specifically Lost Odyssey is what I'm interested in).
More information about Playstation HUB & the Nintendo Virtual Console & WiFi Connect. An actul name for the Revolution, as well as a planned release date (I'm thinking September or October in the US).
Oh yeah, and the end of all life as we know it when Reggie Fils-Aime and J. Allard bump into each other on the show floor, and the entire world is consumed in the vast matter/anti-matter implosion created.
Jameyt @ Mar 9th 2006 11:02AM
More PS3 Movies claiming to be "real games"
More fawning by game journalists over anything Nintendo.
Halo 3 announce.
Gears of War date and gameplay.
Anything from Bioware
Vagabond Artist @ Mar 9th 2006 11:38AM
I am excited to see the Revolution unveiling first and foremost, new DS and PSP titles, then upcoming 360 titles, and lastly, the PS3.
I think that if the PS3 controller design stays then it must be more comfortable to use then we know, but if it changes I don't think there will be many complaints.
All I want to see from SONY is a new Wipeout game for PS3!!!
Rifter @ Mar 9th 2006 12:10PM
Duke Nukem Forever!
Shake it baby!
Maybe some tidbits on Team Fortress 2, as well!
Jago @ Mar 9th 2006 12:36PM
I've been going to E3 since 1999 abd man last year was a stinker. Normally when new hardware is shown at a E3 those are the more exciting shows b/c you get to see what everyone has been secretly doing for the past couple of years.
Sadly however...that wasn't the case. MS blew it (again) by showing playable games that weren't optimized and werem't all that great PLUS they had the 360 burried in the back of their booth. The original Xbox got most of the space in their booth and even then a lot of those games were VERY early in development.
Sony didn't even seem to bother trying to sell the PSP and while there were some fun games for the PS2...all they showed for the PS3 was just trailers.
Nintendo seemed to be the only one really trying to sell their hardware (mainly the DS) with all game stations they had setup right when you walked in...PLUS...they were really pushing the wifi network using Charles Martinet (the voice of Mario, Luigi, Wario, etc.). Of couse lets not forget Zelda: TP which seemed to be the only thing worth waiting 3+ hours in line for.
"I think that if the PS3 controller design stays then it must be more comfortable to use then we know, but if it changes I don't think there will be many complaints.
All I want to see from SONY is a new Wipeout game for PS3!!!"
Who has said it is uncomfortable? I don't think anyone has even held the controller yet so you can't really say its uncomfortable when no has held it.
...and YES!!! I would cry if Sony unveiled a new game in the Wipeout series...and I don't care what people and some critics thought of Wipeout Fusionl, I thought it was a great game (despite occasional draw-in problems.)
Alkaiser @ Mar 9th 2006 1:14PM
Every year I go to E3, the show becomes less and les about the games for me, and more and more about meeting up with my friends who have to work the show.
Like 32 says, there are some fun games sprinkled throughout the show, but they generally aren't the major ones (NO game is worth sitting in a 4-hour line to demo) and they're also generally hidden.
Though, E3 seems to be making some changes this year. No scantily clad booth babes, and this year no students, and they're cracking down a bit on the passes. Maybe this means less attendees clogging the aisles and booths so I can actually get some work done and see some good games this year. Last year I couldn't even come up with a Top 10 games to look forward to.
zenprism @ Mar 9th 2006 1:41PM
Anything PS3 and I'm dying for a new Mario adventure.
Having gone last year, I just hope MSoft doesn't have the coolest titles in the "press only" area again.
Jago @ Mar 9th 2006 1:55PM
"Every year I go to E3, the show becomes less and les about the games for me, and more and more about meeting up with my friends who have to work the show."
Thats been the same for me as well and even more so this year since some friends are working at studios outside CA.
"(NO game is worth sitting in a 4-hour line to demo)"
I beg to differ but that's ok ;-)
"this year no students"
Fat chance of that happening...there might be a "lesser" number of students but there will still be some there. I know I have some friends that are going from my former school (an Art Institute in Southern CA.)
Afroloop @ Mar 9th 2006 2:37PM
I am most looking forward to an announce date for the WoW expansion, not that I actually think it will happen knowing Blizzard but one can dream.
Chazz @ Mar 25th 2006 8:20PM
I've never been able to get to an E3 show but I know this..
Sony will be pushing the PSP, a lot of games will be shown / playable. An announcement about PSP & PS3 link-up and PSP-TV might get shown.
Microsoft will struggle to get attention except for a few very good games.
Nintendo should be the one to watch and rightly so in my opinion as theyve been able to keep so many secrets for such a long time. There was a rumour of a quicker release date for the Rev but now the PS3 has slipped to November, I think Nintendo will ease its schedule (slightly).
Mario 128 may only be shown in a quick video promo but I would say at the very least 2 game demos will be playable. A DS to Rev link-up will be shown as well as the DS game download service for Rev.
It looks like this is going to be an amazing show cant wait.
wammyflammy @ Mar 25th 2006 10:56PM
I have never been 2 an e3 yet and still if i go this year, the only thing ill be looking for is the Rev.
esecially demos of super smash bros, mario 128, and anyother possible zelda titles *wink* take it as a hint =-D