Post by SaHD Gamer on Jun 17, 2014 13:15:54 GMT -5
It's been awhile, but I've been busy. Now that another E3 is done, it seems like a good time for me to rant about its relevance. It's a topic I've suggested for XGR, but was met with "It is." I guess it's not a topic for discussion if the head guy doesn't want to hear the other side. Anyway...
I think in most ways, E3 is quickly becoming less and less important. Nintendo hasn't even had a conference for the past two years! Information spreads so quickly nowadays that I see very little need to cram so many things into those few days. Even big reveals like the PS4 and Xbox One weren't done at E3. They made their own conferences so they didn't have to share the spotlight. Given the amount of leaks there are, it's even harder to keep your juicy reveals intact for each company's conference.
While I'm not the biggest fan of Nintendo, they have a great idea with their Nintendo Directs. No need to filter their info through the media, just show it directly to the consumer, since they matter most. It's funny that the least online-focused company is using their online service to show games and news to people directly. I see no reason why Microsoft and Sony can't do the same. I'm also sure the third party companies could have theirs on the systems, or just post them for the media sites to share, or hell, even on Youtube. I'm sure that's one of the reasons a lot of companies didn't seem to have big news at E3... they just told people at different times instead of announcing things way to early, so they have something to show.
For the most part, there's no real need to have the media at E3. Yeah, they see the presentations live, applaud, and play the games on the floor, but there's no real reason to limit it to media. PAX, while I dislike it for other reasons, has the right idea in letting the layman come to experience something similar. Considering how many consoles are connected to the internet, there's no reason not to have those same demos not available for everyone to try. Even this year, when Battlefield: Hardline was revealed to be playable on the floor, they also announced the beta for some people sitting at home. That's a huge step in the right direction, and I hope more companies follow suit. The best option for them is to get the demos into the hands of the people that matter, the consumer.
Now, I'm not all 'doom and gloom' for E3. It still does have some useful functions. Having a big spectacle once a year pulls a lot of attention from the masses towards video games. It's a nice focus for the industry. It's also good for people to gather and see and experience things they might not normally. Seeing Miyamoto try out the Oculus Rift might not have happened if not for E3. Also, Nintendo's pre-made E3 2014 presentation, made with the help of Robot Chicken, was really good. So E3 does still have a place, but I feel its importance is being overrated by a lot of people.
I think in most ways, E3 is quickly becoming less and less important. Nintendo hasn't even had a conference for the past two years! Information spreads so quickly nowadays that I see very little need to cram so many things into those few days. Even big reveals like the PS4 and Xbox One weren't done at E3. They made their own conferences so they didn't have to share the spotlight. Given the amount of leaks there are, it's even harder to keep your juicy reveals intact for each company's conference.
While I'm not the biggest fan of Nintendo, they have a great idea with their Nintendo Directs. No need to filter their info through the media, just show it directly to the consumer, since they matter most. It's funny that the least online-focused company is using their online service to show games and news to people directly. I see no reason why Microsoft and Sony can't do the same. I'm also sure the third party companies could have theirs on the systems, or just post them for the media sites to share, or hell, even on Youtube. I'm sure that's one of the reasons a lot of companies didn't seem to have big news at E3... they just told people at different times instead of announcing things way to early, so they have something to show.
For the most part, there's no real need to have the media at E3. Yeah, they see the presentations live, applaud, and play the games on the floor, but there's no real reason to limit it to media. PAX, while I dislike it for other reasons, has the right idea in letting the layman come to experience something similar. Considering how many consoles are connected to the internet, there's no reason not to have those same demos not available for everyone to try. Even this year, when Battlefield: Hardline was revealed to be playable on the floor, they also announced the beta for some people sitting at home. That's a huge step in the right direction, and I hope more companies follow suit. The best option for them is to get the demos into the hands of the people that matter, the consumer.
Now, I'm not all 'doom and gloom' for E3. It still does have some useful functions. Having a big spectacle once a year pulls a lot of attention from the masses towards video games. It's a nice focus for the industry. It's also good for people to gather and see and experience things they might not normally. Seeing Miyamoto try out the Oculus Rift might not have happened if not for E3. Also, Nintendo's pre-made E3 2014 presentation, made with the help of Robot Chicken, was really good. So E3 does still have a place, but I feel its importance is being overrated by a lot of people.