I LOVED IT. NO QUESTION. IT WAS GODLY. WORDS CANNOT DESCIBE.

Well, maybe they can.

So, basically, the day went like this. We got to the convention center at about 10:30, and because I had special all access passes (which I didn't actually see all that well, my uncle held onto them for the most part). As we neared the doors, due to the amount of people in line, it became clear that we were going to have to wait some time to get in. However, after showing our passes to a security guard, we were able to score an escort right into the show room. My first reaction to everything was simply NOISE. You cannot hear anything that anyone says without them yelling to you, it is really that loud. We started out focusing on the perimeter of the show room, starting at the EA booth. Upon entrance, it was clear that this was not just a booth, but pretty much a theater. A (what I would say) 10 foot tall screen circled the entirity of the booth, with cuts in it for people to get in and out of. On this screen were various traliers of all their new games, most notewothy was the new Madden game, Madden NFL 2006, which seem to not stop running. Everytime I looked up it seemed that it was there. From here, we made our way to the Namco booth, as I suddenly had the desire to find out if Katamari Damacy II would be shown. To my great joy, a giant poster of The Prince pushing a Katamari with the words "We love you Katamari" (or something to that extent) under it was hanging from the ceiling. I was overjoyed, knowing that I would find said game here. However, I was out of luck, for there was no KDII to be found. After this failure, it was time to hit the big booths, after a few glances along the way at various other booths, citing differnet styles. I then found myself at the extremely chic looking Sony booth. Inside, more or less, was another theater comprised this time of around 50 PSPs mounted to the wall, all showing traliers of movies like Hollow Man, and games such as Metal Gear AC!D 2, which's style looks to be better than the first, graphics and playwise. I found myself enthralled looking upon a few of the large screens showing looping traliers of new games like Killzone 2 for the PS3, which blew me away so much that I stayed to watch it twice. Other games, such as The Killing Day and I-8 were also extremly visually impressive, as I-8 seems to be the PS3 and Sony's answer to Resident Evil 4. It also looked to combine The Suffering to a degree as well as Call Of Duty, for some reason. Other titles that looked extremely impressive were the new MS Gundam game, and what really blew me away for the shear humor of it was the trailer for Metal Gear Solid 4. After Snake Eater, and seeing the graphics, I knew the Kojima would bring us something even more impressive for the PS3. However, the MGS4 appeared to only be rendered in PS2 graphics, but still, I found the tralier to be quite humorous. It gave no details on the actual game, but still made me hungry for more. I also was lucky enough, after a what seemed like eternal wait, to see the new Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Tralier, which was was wooing at when it ended. I was EXTREMELY happy to find out that we, for once, as americans, would recive a release at the exact same time. I then waited longer again to see the trailer for Final Fantasy XII, which before E3 I truly had no desire to play. After the teaser, I really feel like it is going to be a great game. The only other teaser I really wanted to see was the Kingdom Hearts II trailer, but unfortunatly I did not have time to see it.

Moving on, we made a beeline to the Xbox booth. My first instinct when I got in was the start raving, as Microsoft's booths are all too often, as I have heard, full of beep-boop music. Various game for the 360 caught my eye right off the bat, such as Perfect Dark Zero. Now, when I heard that Joanna Dark would be returning to the systems about 5 years ago, I expected a lot. But when I began to watch the teaser, I must say that I was severely dissapointed. Apart from the gameplay, which looked flat out boring, the graphics seemed extremely incomplete. The only part of the game reallly looking done were to cobblestones on the ground in the desert level that I saw. Lighting effects looked a lot more advanced than in most games, but the enviroment purely looked like it was not done. Hopefully this will be remedied by the time that it is released. Other games also caught my eye, such as Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, only for the fact that for some reason a guy was riding a BMX bike in it. Odd. Also, Kameo: Elements of Power also looks somewhat intresting. Another game that I found pretty cool was a sword fighter which switched from 3rd to an odd first person mode, where you're shield was in the normal FPS gun spot. I did not catch the name though, but if you know it, post below. After squeezing in a few seconds of playing a version of Burnout 3, which I'm guessing was only there to entertain, we moved on to the Nintendo booth.

As I entered the booth, I realized that it was not as crowded. After thinking about it, I instantly remembered one thing: New Zelda. So, it was a little easier to get around. Most of the Nintendo booth was full of lukewarm DS games, which I didn't pay a lot of attention to. Overexposure was the correct word to describe the theme of the booth, as Nintendogs seemed to be running the booth. Early demos of it impressed me somewhat, as I would place it on the grounds of an advanced Tamagotchi. I would be hard pressed to think that it will do well in the US, but nonetheless I think that I will be picking it up when it comes out. I, thank god, was able to see the one Gamecube title that I knew I needed to see more of: Killer 7. I must say that the game looks a lot better in person, and plays really differently. You spend a vast majority of the time finding out the best and fastest way to kill all of your enemies, which I liked. It certainly isn't a game for everyone, but really is one for me. As far as the actual Game Boy Micro goes, I did see one from about 20 feet away in some kind of case. I was impressed by the shear size of it, but will not be buying one, as my original GBA is still great. I did not get a chance to see the Revolution, and from the looks of things, it did not appear to even be on the show room floor. I also did not get a chance to see the new Zelda trailer, for upon asking the wait time i was told flat out "A couple of hours, dude." As I knew I had to be going, I left the Nintendo area, feeling somewhat defeated, but knowing that I could catch the trailer online somewhere at somepoint.

So all in all, for me E3 2005 was an overwhelming success, and enabled me to really get a look at a lot of new technology which we will see over next year or so. I'm really anxious at this point to get my hands on a lot of the stuff, mainly just as being completed. And a big nagging question remains: How much of the next gen stuff that I was pre rendered? Only time, and this next year, will tell.

Wow. That was a lot to read. I'm just glad that I didn't have to type all of that, lol. I wish I could've gone. It seems like it would be a blast. Thanks for sharing your personal experience.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Opeth Wow. That was a lot to read. I'm just glad that I didn't have to type all of that, lol. I wish I could've gone. It seems like it would be a blast. Thanks for sharing your personal experience.

Absolutely. I promised that everyone would hear how good of a time that I had. Didn't take that long to type, but I do have a cramp in my arm now.

Cheers~

WHY THE HECK DIDN'T YOU BRING A CAMERA!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scorpion WHY THE HECK DIDN'T YOU BRING A CAMERA!

Not allowed in, sadly. Unless you were press, which apperently requied a lot of paperwork and some stickers for your clothing.

Oi. E3 should be strictly press-only.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyper Oi. E3 should be strictly press-only.

DON'T BE JELOUS.

Even though I know you aren't.

Not jealous at all. From what I've heard, repeated trips to E3 are more of a hassle than a pleasurable experience. Suprised it wasn't bad the first time.

The overall expericance justifies anything that could have and did go wrong, imo.

That was a pretty descriptive review of E3 Velvet. It was almost like watching a movie.....with words

The experience of walking around a crowded and noisy convention center seeing things you could have just by visiting Gamespot.com?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyper The experience of walking around a crowded and noisy convention center seeing things you could have just by visiting Gamespot.com?

Yes.

Interesting, and a good read, I'm quite bored right now.

Question. Did they have a release date for the PS3 hanging anywhere, or on a screen, perhaps?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shade Question. Did they have a release date for the PS3 hanging anywhere, or on a screen, perhaps?

Not sure if they had a poster or not, but I've read on Gamespot and IGN that they will be releasing the Playstation 3 in 2006. I'm not sure if what Q1 or Q2

how about those e3 honeies they look fly

Morgan Webb said PS3's out in Spring 2006. ;o

Anyhow, I hate you even more now, Velvet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alastor Morgan Webb said PS3's out in Spring 2006.

And we all know Morgan is never wrong.




....Seriously. I <3 her.

And I heard mutterings from a rather large man with glasses to another person in the Sony booth that a Q1 date is eminent.

If you don't mind my asking, how exactly did you get in?

Sounds **** impressive from how you described it, Velvy... I ought to start my own ****ty 'zine for a few weeks sometime just so I can get in

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majesty If you don't mind my asking, how exactly did you get in? I ought to start my own ****ty 'zine for a few weeks sometime just so I can get in

1. Through my uncle, as I do his website and he works in video games

2. That would most likely work, btw.

PLEASE BREAK IT INTO MORE PARAGRAPHS SO IT'S ACTUALLY MORE READABLE. ARGH.

by the way, experiences*