Overheard@E3: Sleeping on the job

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 16th 2008 at 3:30PM }

"I totally fell asleep during the Sony press conference. Like ... out." -- Another loud-talking middle-aged journalist walking the concourse at the LACC. We wanted to stop and ask him during what part he fell asleep.

Tags: e3-2008, overheard, press-conference, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

thatguy @ Jul 16th 2008 3:36PM

I don't know how, with all the epilepsy inducing flashing lights.

Dirk Dorkelson @ Jul 16th 2008 3:44PM

Yeah, but Jack Tretton is not a good, dynamic public speaker. He kind of talked in a monotone and didn't seem all that excited. It felt like more of a keynote speech to investors than an introduction of cool, new products to consumers. The videos, multimedia and all that looked great, but Tretton was a little boring. Yeah, he could have been a lot worse. At least he wasn't nervous or stuttering, but they might want to think about putting someone else up there next time.

Thr3e2wenty8 @ Jul 16th 2008 3:55PM

"It felt like more of a keynote speech to investors than an introduction of cool, new products to consumers."

Dirk, E3 IS for investors as well as consumer media. That is why each and every speaker goes over the financials.

Dirk Dorkelson @ Jul 16th 2008 4:04PM

I know, but it seems like Nintendo and Microsoft are more aware of the fact that their presentations are watched on G4, as well as on the Internet, by lots of consumers. And they've been able to have somewhat dynamic presentations. Really, I think all Sony needs to do is put a different man or woman up there. Content-wise, I thought the presentation was fine. It was all in the delivery.

Lijik @ Jul 16th 2008 4:57PM

Dirk, can you seriously tell me with a straight face that Nintendo was aware it was being shown on outlets like G4? Because if so what press conference did you watch?

What I saw was 3 people cause cringe-inducing moments with their overselling of how fun Wii Sports was, and then Shiggy jamming out with a guy named Robbie. Drums. It'd be like an episode of Curb your Enthusiasm if it wasn't for the fact that it was completely real.

If anything, Jack Treton's complete apathy was a relief after watching both Microsoft and Nintendo try and oversell how fun some products were.

mr mobius @ Jul 16th 2008 5:42PM

To be fair Sony did have the LBP powerpoint which I thought was unique.

Dirk Dorkelson @ Jul 16th 2008 6:29PM

Look, nobody's perfect. To be honest, I missed most of Nintendo's keynote and was going off what they've done in the past. All I'm saying is Sony could use someone up there who's a bit more of a dynamic speaker. If Tretton did books on tape, I would use them to fall asleep at night. Having him start off the keynote by talking for minutes on end probably wasn't the best move.

GRT @ Jul 17th 2008 11:05AM

I realize I'm in the minority but I preferred Tretton over Mattrick, who was so rehearsed and monotone that I found him a bit creepy, or Dunaway/Fils-Amie, who were over-selling so hard it really turned me off.

Granted none of them were -good- but I actually felt Tretton's more or less 'normal' delivery (he seems to be a pretty monotone guy naturally) was the least bad. :)

WiiFTW @ Jul 16th 2008 3:37PM

I didn't think Sony's was worthy of falling asleep. Though it wasn't terribly exciting what with the lack of gameplay videos. At least they announced remotely interesting games for the people who actually know that E3 exists.

Nintendo's conference was the one most deserving of ZZZs.

browntown @ Jul 16th 2008 3:43PM

Sony spent too much time on the ps2 and psp, pepel went to the show to see the ps3, they shoulda tried to go 30 more minutes and could ahad a gameplay demo.

Bloo @ Jul 16th 2008 3:40PM

That's funny. I fell asleep twice myself watching it on TV yesterday. Yay! I can download movies now! zzzzzzzz

DangerMouse @ Jul 16th 2008 3:59PM

It would've been 10 times better if they said something like, "We're putting up some more PS1 classics in a few weeks", but i can't recall anyone saying that, so the presentation was pretty much meaningless.

Bloo @ Jul 16th 2008 4:07PM

@DangerMouse
Yeah! ANYTHING besides downloadable movies. I bought the PS3 for (besides games) the "ultimate" in HD A/V movie viewing, not crappy compressed downloads. It's like they're shooting themselves in the foot just so they can say "look, you can download movies on our games machine too"!

Lijik @ Jul 16th 2008 4:59PM

To be fair, Microsoft also announced a similar thing with Netflix that was going to happen in the Fall. I think Sony's point with the movies thing was "Oh yeah? Well we can do pretty much the same thing. Right. Now."

Though it was a pretty weak comeback for losing FF13 exclusivity.

Bloo @ Jul 16th 2008 5:27PM

"To be fair, Microsoft also announced a similar thing with Netflix that was going to happen in the Fall."

No, a similar thing would be their movie service which already launched over a year ago.

"I think Sony's point with the movies thing was "Oh yeah? Well we can do pretty much the same thing. Right. Now."

Pretty much the same thing? If you already subscribe to Netflix it's free. It's like a bonus for being a member of both services. I don't see how that's pretty much the same thing.

"Though it was a pretty weak comeback for losing FF13 exclusivity."

The only comeback to that would have been Sony getting a Halo game. At least they made it official that they are working on God of War III. A timeframe of even what year they're hoping it comes out would have been a nice touch.

j.howlett @ Jul 16th 2008 6:10PM

it would have been equal if they had a valve game directly with gabe coming out saying episode 3 day and date with the 360. but in reality halo would come first.

browntown @ Jul 16th 2008 3:40PM

It was like the most entertaining one of the bunch.
Nintendo's was awful, and Microsoft spent most of thei r time on services and casual games, it was terrifying and i wanted to shoot myself.

Figman @ Jul 16th 2008 3:43PM

please do so

browntown @ Jul 16th 2008 5:00PM

^^^^
did i hurt ur little feelings, boo hoo, little xbot. Seems like ur running out of games to play.

CB @ Jul 16th 2008 5:03PM

Wow, a nice though-out comeback!

/sarcasm

Bradley Marriner @ Jul 16th 2008 3:42PM

Stupid Microsoft fan-journalist! Probably doesn't even know what a real gaming system is!!!

LunarAura @ Jul 16th 2008 3:45PM

After all 3 conferences, I don't think anyone knows anymore. :(

xFenixKnightx @ Jul 16th 2008 3:47PM

THIS is why I hate coming here sometimes. Because of stupid comments like this and browntown. Look, we get that your Sonyfanboys but man you have to give props when props are due. Even Fernando or Samfish didn't like the Nintendo conference. I'm glad they arent blind like others around teh internetz.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jul 16th 2008 3:48PM

.....

I so hope that's sarcasm.

DangerMouse @ Jul 16th 2008 3:52PM

I only play the NES, too.

j.howlett @ Jul 16th 2008 3:50PM

i was nodding off during parts of all 3. microsoft really put me to sleep during their music game section though. but i can fall asleep almost anywhere if i'm tired enough. i fell asleep during the lobby scene of the matrix in the theater even though i was excited.

knowthyself @ Jul 16th 2008 3:51PM

Wow fell asleep during the best conference. Musta got one hell of a sleep during the other two.

Eh @ Jul 16th 2008 3:57PM

Now thats a competent employee. A journalist that sleeps during a major press event. So what journalism company do you think his dad owns?

I can understand a regular guest sleeping during a press conference when they arent obligated to pay attention but a journalist? Thats pathetic.

Wes @ Jul 16th 2008 4:32PM

Gamespot

Lord Bowser @ Jul 19th 2008 6:20AM

You're holding gaming journalists to too high standards, Kramer. Not everyone has the same nuanced social etiquette as you.

arrrgh @ Jul 16th 2008 3:59PM

my guess would be all of it.

he fell asleep through all of it.

Mr.ESC @ Jul 16th 2008 4:16PM

Weird I was awake during Nintendo's conference (Waiting for that Kid Icarus trailer that didn't show up) also that making fun of Nintendo in forums and here in Joystiq keep me awake.

In Sony even when Resistance PSP was a shocker for me and MAG premise sounds interesting I couldn't help but snore.Nothing new or exciting there.

Shimrra @ Jul 16th 2008 4:18PM

Not that it was boring it just was alot of what we, as the gaming public, know already. After the MS and Nintendo conference everyone wanted to be WOWed by them.

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 16th 2008 4:47PM

Fenix: ZOMG! NINTENDO PRESS WAS TEH SUXXORS

No. It was OK. It didn't blow me out of the water, but it kicked Microsoft in the nuts. The reason we think it was bad is our high expectations. We expected Nintendo to announce all these IPs coming to the Wii, even though the console still has AT LEAST 3 years of shelf left. Every press event has been pretty bland. Microsoft told us what we already knew (late to their own party again). Nintendo spent their time gloating. Sony lowered PS3 prices, but who didn't see that coming.

Knight Marquise @ Jul 16th 2008 4:59PM

Huh. You and I must have watched completely different press conferences from Nintendo & MS.

Jacksons @ Jul 16th 2008 5:07PM

All I was looking for was one announcement to look forward to. I did not receive one. I was disappointed.

offday @ Jul 16th 2008 5:47PM

I agree with Knight. What the heck were you watching?

Ass Masterson @ Jul 16th 2008 5:08PM

It amazes me how people can be so stupid. E3 doesn't have anything but industry people and journalists. Journalists are retards. They have been on the 'PS3 sucks' bandwagon since day one and, like so many others, mistake pointless cynicism for intelligence. They didn't _want_ to be wowed by anything. So the fact that Sony had the best press conference of all three - in terms of content - completely missed them.

Of course it seemed dull. This type of presentation are meant for an enthusiastic audience of laypeople, not a-hole 'journalists' scraping Cheetoh dust off their iPhones.