As the summer days begin, gamers know that one of the biggest events for them is about to happen. The Electronic Entertainment Expo (or E3) showcases nearly everything the gaming industry has to offer with world premiers and demos galore. Now, what can you expect from E3 every year? While it generally remains the same throughout each year, from time to time companies really spice things up with the way their present their new content.
All the trailers...
Each company will showcase their new upcoming games with a certain kind of trailer. Many of the games presented at the press conferences are shown by teaser trailers, which means it gives the smallest glimpse of a game, probably not even gameplay, but something for gamers to know what game a company is working on. Following that are typically cinematic trailers that show what the game will be like. These kinds of trailers typically just give background on what the game will be like or what new additions are in it. Generally, these don't represent what the game will play like, but it is always great to see how beautiful they can make their game look. Now the most notorious trailer is the gameplay trailers, within these are varying kinds of gameplay whether it resembles multiplayer, the campaign, or just quick shots of what players can expect from their point of view.
The reason these trailers are the most notorious is because while they represent what you will actually be playing with, it either isn't the best representation or the final product is very different. Graphics will change and mechanics will also differ from trailer to demo to final product.
...followed by countless demos...
Demos are the grounds on which gamers get to either see a game come to life or get to play the game themselves. Demos follow the same structure as trailers in that they themselves have varying ways in which it is presented. The typical demo is one that gamers themselves can actually play and these typically give players a very limited view on what the game will be like. Sometimes demos are set up for one person to play, or they can be used for a whole group to play together. Stage demos though are hit and miss. They are presented sometimes in unique ways, but the generic stage demo is scripted gameplay that is great to watch but seems too far-fetched at times. Like the gameplay trailers, they sometimes give a false representation of what the final product of the game will actually be. This can be again graphics, user interface, and other gameplay mechanics.
...and battling press conferences...
The big debate over Xbox and Playstation derives itself from each of their press conferences. While they aren't the only ones to have a conference and make big announcements, but they are the backbone of all the games we play so they each try to outdo one another and attempt to make their console seem superior. With all press conferences there will be awkward moments, boring reveals, and childish humor, but for all of those, great announcements are made and fantastic games are shown (even if they do trick us). Following Xbox and Playstation's conferences will be Nintendo's, Ubisoft's, and EA's conferences that typically announce games or new interfaces that act as a means to get a better experience their games. A lot of the games at the expo are not all shown at the press conferences so people outside the expo will have to find other means of experiencing the gameplay.
...games galore...
Games are very present at E3 because, well, that's what the whole experience is about. Games are presented as a whole product, demo,trailer, even just an announcement. Many of the games shown will typically come out within the year, but sometimes we are teased and have to wait multiple E3s for a game to come out. Really big games typically follow a teaser announcement one E3, then a trailer of sorts the next, and maybe a demo for the third. Others game though are announced and then we learn that they are delayed so we just have to wait more and see more teasers for the game, I'm looking at you "Mass Effect: Andronema," but the excitement still persists
...and of course, cosplay!
While an overlooked aspect of E3, many of the attendees that come dressed up as their favorite game characters and peruse the expo while everyone else just looks in awe in their amazing outfit...or their OK outfit. A small thing that is done by both gamers and the companies alike.
E3 this year will be from June 14-16 and is bound to be one of the most anticipated and exciting one yet. The pre-announcements for all the upcoming games and rumored mechanics are bound to make an appearance and leave a huge impact on the gaming world.
