The press conferences are over. You’ve read all the information, watched all the trailers and made jokes about the matriarchal parents of people who favour different systems to you. In the largely imaginary battle for gamers’ hearts and minds, who stands as the victor?
Microsoft, as promised, showed of nothing but games. No services, no TV, no sports – just games. Mostly though, it was all stuff we expected. We knew there’d be a new Crackdown. We expected Halo 2 remastered, and it’s nice we’re getting all four of the main Halo games on one disc. Sunset Overdrive looks pretty neat. Aside from Platinum Games’ Xbox One exclusive though, there was nothing really surprising.
EA showed how they’re an iterative publisher, by not just iterating on its games, but by iterating on its entire conference. It was essentially the same as last years, with a new number on the end.
Ubisoft, though enthusiastic, failed to wow or surprise as well. Rainbow Six: Siege was the only new reveal of any worth, but it fails for not being Beyond Good and Evil 2.
Sony showed its love of indies as expected, along with a couple of neat trailers and a not-so-surprising next gen GTA V reveal. Uncharted 4 looks nice, but it’s in-engine, and not in-game, so we have no idea what it’ll end up looking like when it’s actual gameplay.
The E3 conference madness is over. Who do you think won? What game shave impressed you, what titles have disappointed? Did you see anything that surprised, enlightened or enchanted?
Last Updated: June 10, 2014
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 10, 2014 at 11:03
In a nutshell, Sony WON the GOLD!
I was impressed with Microsoft’s conference. The back-to-basics approach definitely won me over, and therefore I award them a Silver medal. The worst so far has to be Ubisoft and EA. Their conferences were dreadfully dull, and it pains me because I’m usually impressed with what Ubisoft showcases. This was without a doubt their worst E3 in years. EA on the other hand doesn’t even try any more. It’s all “sports sports sports pew pew pew”.
Therefore, Bronze is up for grabs…. mmmm… I’ll just give it to us, the gamers.
Yay we won Bronze at E3!!
DrKiller
June 10, 2014 at 11:11
Where can we collect the prize? I’m assuming you organising like free food and stuff as well? 😉
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
June 10, 2014 at 11:51
Free bananas 🙂
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
June 10, 2014 at 11:50
Not to mention that all the multiplatform games were shown using the PS4 😉
Skyblue
June 10, 2014 at 21:28
Nah dude, I was not impressed by Sony’s conference either when I finally watched it today but I will agree that they had the best of a bad year for gaming in general. There was nothing that screamed “play me now you fucking sad gamer bitch whore” this year as The Division did last year and I’m not going to pay extra to play TLOU again in +/- 20% better resolution and slightly upgraded textures.
PS. Lets be honest, the premise for The Division looks phenomenal but UBI will fuck us in the ass just like they always do. They are the Molyneux of publishers and FUCK THEM.
The Lost Guardian
June 10, 2014 at 11:04
Nintendo hasn’t even had thier showing yet…
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
June 10, 2014 at 11:10
CAMMAAAN. Be serious. It’s Youtube video, not a press conference.
The Lost Guardian
June 10, 2014 at 11:11
Hey! If Ninty announces X release date + Zelda U , I would honestly consider them the winner,word
Kromas
June 10, 2014 at 11:13
Here … have more Pokemon and have more Mario and Zelda while we are at it. Not exactly a game changer.
The Lost Guardian
June 10, 2014 at 11:14
You underestimate the power of Zelda young Anakin
DrKiller
June 10, 2014 at 11:11
What’s “nintendo”? 😛
The Lost Guardian
June 10, 2014 at 11:13
lol Your avatar might give you a clue,Dr
HvR - THE Average GAmer
June 10, 2014 at 11:18
They already posted it on Youtube
The Lost Guardian
June 10, 2014 at 11:18
Yeah well Mass Effect sux!
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2014 at 11:29
Ooooooof
Dutch Matrix
June 10, 2014 at 11:37
Well, your Mama sucks!
Shit! Sorry. I thought this was the Call of Duty article.
The Lost Guardian
June 10, 2014 at 11:45
That hurts!…..You lucky this isn’t the CoD article , else I would’ve rain down the wrath of a million angry tweets
CAE9872
June 10, 2014 at 12:02
No you would not – you would call in the SWAT team based on his IP address. Get into 21st Century man…woman…thing…
Dutch Matrix
June 10, 2014 at 12:10
Dutch Matrix fears no man/swat team! Have you not seen Commando?
CAE9872
June 10, 2014 at 12:19
http://article.wn.com/view/2014/04/24/Disgruntled_Call_of_Duty_gamer_sends_70man_SWAT_team_to_oppo/
Brenz
June 10, 2014 at 11:37
Problem with Nintendo is they will announce a new 3DS Pokemon and a new Mario spin off most likely, or a better battery for the tablet.
They wont announce a new shiny fresh Zelda (even though is fucking Zelda, cmon guys, new ideas please), and they wont announce a Pokemon “mmo” styled game that all the fans want.
silverscorpio
June 10, 2014 at 11:07
Sony. Grim Fandango remake announcement did it for me.
HvR - THE Average GAmer
June 10, 2014 at 11:20
If they throw in a Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle Remake I might actually go and buy a PS4.
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2014 at 11:30
Grim is a start,if it sells well enough who knows
Jonah Cash
June 10, 2014 at 12:23
Whoever brings out a Full Throttle remake would have my cash before the thing even enters this country!! Hell I would buy 5 of them if that would help them to make it!! One of my top 5 games ever!!
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2014 at 11:29
Cant wait
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 10, 2014 at 11:07
…
Brady miaau
June 10, 2014 at 11:08
Yeah, that is what they did in the old days
…
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2014 at 11:30
Yeah not much to do here today is there 😛
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 10, 2014 at 11:38
Good point. I hadn’t thought of that.
Kromas
June 10, 2014 at 11:10
EA just for the 2.5 seconds of ME mentions. 😛
Also DA and BF:Hardline (can’t wait to play tonight).
Edit: Oh crap and Star Wars!
Honorable mention for the sweet sweet Rise of TR reveal in the middle of really boring games.
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
June 10, 2014 at 11:14
GAMERS won.
Seriously,it was SONY
Pieter Kruger
June 10, 2014 at 11:16
The Halo Master Chief HD remake edition trumps all other remakes, EVER! Master Chief finished the E3 fight by stumping Sony to the ground! Also, Ori should appeal to most Sony Indie fans not? So MS brought Crackdown 3, Phantom Dust and Scalebound while Sony only showed Bloodborne as new AAA IP’s?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 10, 2014 at 11:17
Banana Jim will now translate Pieter Kruger: “I masterchief every morning to alleviate stress”.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 10, 2014 at 11:19
Keep it safe, wear a helmet.
Jonah Cash
June 10, 2014 at 12:26
Hahahaha!! I just laughed from the bottom of my stomach!! Thank you man!!
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 10, 2014 at 11:17
You know the 3rd game in a series isn’t new IP right?
Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)
June 10, 2014 at 11:18
Shhhhhhhhhhhh Xbots forgot what a “new IP” is ever since MS dropped core in 2009 to go casual and chase the Wii’s pot of gold
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 10, 2014 at 11:19
Mmmmmmm that Kinect dollars!!!
Pieter Kruger
June 10, 2014 at 11:24
Caught me, tried to sneak that one in!
The Lost Guardian
June 10, 2014 at 11:19
Crackdown AND Phantom Dust is not new ip….
CAE9872
June 10, 2014 at 12:22
The Halo remakes are indeed a very generous collection! But is it enough to sell consoles to what are pretty much people who have lived and breathed Halo already – and I count myself in that. If you have never tried them before, its a no brainer…but if you already have its a more difficult sell.
Darren Peach
June 10, 2014 at 15:13
I admit, I enjoyed the last Halo game. But, I have never seen the appeal of the series. I guess you can put it down to either love or hate.
Guest
June 11, 2014 at 06:11
PS4 games not on Xbox One revealed at E3 2014: LittleBigPlanet 3, Entwined, Bloodborne, The Talos Principle, Let It Die, Rachet & Clank, Infamous sidestory, Kingdom Under Fire 2 and tons of indie games. No Man’s Land, Grim Fandango, and ABZU timed exclusive.
Are you delusional? Bloodborne, Infamous, and Ratchet & Clank are all AAAs in terms of budget and staff size.
HvR - THE Average GAmer
June 10, 2014 at 11:21
I’m sure Ubisoft used laugh tracks and EA used “whoooooooo whoooooo” tracks during their press conferences.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 10, 2014 at 11:23
The rent-a-crowd was strong in both conferences.
silverscorpio
June 10, 2014 at 11:25
Then Nintendo will need professional mourners if they ever have a proper conference again.
Ryanza
June 10, 2014 at 11:32
That’s just the American Hollywood culture. In the UK they clap, in Hollywood they laugh when told to laugh. In RSA, vuvuzela and a seizure in the chair, are you dieing or laughing and what is that sound.
Ryanza
June 10, 2014 at 11:24
Microsoft played it way to safe. Microsoft fucked up so bad last year that this year, no console talk, no tv talk, no kinect talk, no DRM talk, just Call of Duty, Forza, Halo, dedicated servers. Microsoft E3 101.
Sony spoke about their optional camera. Sony spoke about an optional, streaming to another tv, box. Sony spoke about the console. Sony showed good games.
So Sony won just because they mentioned GTA. I’m a GTA fan and I am a fan of new IP’s that look good, oh, and just give me something new to shoot at, then I will be happy.
chuckdaly
June 11, 2014 at 04:50
You should actually rewatch Microsoft”s 2013 E3 presentation. It was very good.
Guest
June 11, 2014 at 05:43
Other than the part where he announced the price and the room went dead silent with a few boos, with the DRM and mandatory kinect policies lingering in the air?
chuckdaly
June 11, 2014 at 15:36
Sorry buddy, but there was no DRM mentioned during the E3 press conference.
Ryanza
June 11, 2014 at 17:31
He or she, said, lingering in the air, meaning that before E3 2013 Microsoft announced DRM and mandatory Kinect. So at E3, all the games shown had this big DRM sign in front of every title. Plus the focus on TV was not cool.
Xbox and the start of Xbox 360, was all gaming focused. Then half way through Xbox 360 the focus shifted towards Xbox Live with the NXE dashboard. The focus on Kinect I still don’t understand.
So if you look at their focus on the dashboard by setting up the selling of stuff, the focus on Xbox live to sell you stuff and the focus on Kinect to see what they can sell you. Then you will understand why so much ram is used to run the Xbox One, why the Xbox One has less gaming power, and why you don’t see a lot of new original games from Microsoft. Look at what they did to Rare.
The nail in the coffin for Microsoft at E3 2013 was getting Cd Projekt Red, who is very much anti DRM, to promote their DRM free game on a DRM filled console.
So when Xbox One was announced I was like, no. E3 2013 I was like, hell no. E3 2014 I was like, haha no.
Pieter Kruger
June 10, 2014 at 11:26
So GTA V a Sony exclusive then? cough cough!
Tauriq Moosa
June 10, 2014 at 11:29
No. Confirmed for PC and Xbox One.
Kensei Seraph
June 10, 2014 at 12:16
Not sure if taunting or serious.
CAE9872
June 10, 2014 at 12:20
No appears as though its on PC and One
Tauriq Moosa
June 10, 2014 at 12:31
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=gta+v+confirmed+for+pc+and+xbox
Wrathful_Badger
June 10, 2014 at 17:21
Srs
HvR - THE Average GAmer
June 10, 2014 at 11:29
CoD was what I expected. Sounds cool on paper but in the end it is normal plain old CoD with powered farts.
Surprised about BF Hardline, got me intrigued close enough to CS for nostalgia enough new designs to keep it interesting. Far Cry 4 seems to have the right amount insanity to keep me interested.
Brenz
June 10, 2014 at 11:30
Microsoft improved on their previous cluster fucks of the past.
Sony in general gave a better performance, although a bit off the track at times, the clear winner.
Fuck EA.
Ubisoft as expected.
Overall no amazing surprises really, pretty standard with a few interesting things thrown in.
I nod with approval, but Im not blown away.
Tauriq Moosa
June 10, 2014 at 11:32
My concern of getting a next gen console. That’s what won. Yay for future games and Uncharted. Yay. We’re all winners
HvR - THE Average GAmer
June 10, 2014 at 11:34
Biggest losers during E3 so far is Ted and Brian trying to get in shape by klapping it with their Kinects and the terrible out of work dancers hired by Ubisoft to dance with their Iphones
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2014 at 11:36
The Masterbaters (thanks @rincethis:disqus) probably went to bed early. For all their glorius power and nay saying in regards with consoles, consoles are alive and well.
So many games for either side. Plus XBOX fans gets their HALO,PS fans gets their Uncharted. Everyone got what they wanted, except poor Umar and by extension me.
Spathi
June 10, 2014 at 11:49
So if Umar isn’t happy, you don’t get what you want from him? :O
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2014 at 11:52
Crap, I never thought of asking to begin with.
Consumer of Little Rabbits
June 10, 2014 at 11:42
As predicted in my ludicrously crass tweets during my waking hours, Sony won. What does get me is how hard the xbone fanboys are praising MS. 180 after 180 and above and beyond that not even a show off for the kinect? Im sorry but you cant launch a product and in 12 months its nowhere to be seen. I have a feeling Sony is going to take the fall release and xmas 2014. If microsoft carries on in this fashion I’m fairly certain they will refocus their efforts on to the bro and casual market. I see no redemption for them
Hammersteyn
June 10, 2014 at 11:55
I loved how they defended the abuse, then after they praised MS for not being abused and now it’s like they pretend MS never planned to abuse them
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
June 10, 2014 at 12:13
We all predicted this March 2013. Not even Patcher could get it wrong 😛
Kensei Seraph
June 10, 2014 at 12:13
They appear to be using the ‘helicopter’ business model.
As you can see in the below gif, enough 180° rotations can give incredible lift.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/HelicopterSwashPlate_Flat.gif
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
June 10, 2014 at 12:14
They should have called it the Infinite with the Windows 8 logo.
Kensei Seraph
June 10, 2014 at 12:26
Pretty sure that between Mario Kart 8 and Disney Infinity that would be a lawsuit waiting to happen.
Consumer of Little Rabbits
June 10, 2014 at 14:01
you sir win the internet for today
Viking Of Science
June 10, 2014 at 11:42
Master Race member here.
I was omst impressed by Sony’s conference. They showed some gameplay I wanted to see, Revealed Gameplay of MKX and seriously, That Grim Fandago reveal!
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
June 10, 2014 at 11:44
ROCKSTEADY WON.
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
June 10, 2014 at 12:16
NETHER REALM STUDIOS was also up there.
Consumer of Little Rabbits
June 10, 2014 at 14:02
dat MK vid. Yoh.
Wrathful_Badger
June 10, 2014 at 17:23
All From Software had to do was show that MIyazaki was directing Bloodborne and they instantly won.
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
June 10, 2014 at 11:45
WHERE IS NINTENDO?
Viking Of Science
June 10, 2014 at 11:48
They have their own Nintendo Direct thing this year…. later this week I think….
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
June 10, 2014 at 12:11
Later today. 18:00 SA time.
Viking Of Science
June 10, 2014 at 12:46
Thanks Geoff!
Tauriq Moosa
June 10, 2014 at 12:32
Who? #Trolling #Runsaway
J_Joestar
June 10, 2014 at 16:35
they aren’t doing the “traditional” press conference like other companies. they have a digital “Nintendo Direct”-style presentation later today and then various livestreams as well as a Smash Bros tournament.
Axon1988
June 10, 2014 at 12:06
I think Farcry 4 is a little disappointing. It really looks like FC3 with a couple of new toys thrown in, in a different world. Unless they have added some more things which we might get to see a bit later on.
The one that surprised me the most was The Siege, it looks like it could be loads of fun with mates.
And then I got major Fallout vibes from the division’s latest trailers. Which is not a bad things.
CAE9872
June 10, 2014 at 12:11
The Division looked awesome – pity its from Ubisoft so may end up looking worse by the time it is released.
Halo Collection is one great collection for anyone who hasnt tried them before; and for those of us obsessed with the Chief *holds up hand*
Destiny starting to make us understand its universe – although could be argued it Halo to some extension.
No racing games except Forza Horizon 2…and The Crew.
And hey look at that – no Last Guardian…
Winner = Sony
Loser = No one
Best Game I Saw = The Division – sorry and Bloodborne (edit one)…edit two and entwined!!!
hairyknees
June 10, 2014 at 12:14
Sony won, their conference had freaking everything and more O_O
Brendyn Zachary
June 10, 2014 at 12:31
Gamers won E3
Tauriq Moosa
June 10, 2014 at 12:33
All I care about is a new Mario.
Because difference, diversity, new ideas are always bad.
I think the previous sentence is actually Nintendo’s motto.
Morne Nell
June 10, 2014 at 12:48
Sony won again, micro floppy showed a lot of games that is meant for both platforms and also PC. Sony showed exclusives
fred
June 10, 2014 at 13:09
BATMAN won
Alessandro Barbosa
June 10, 2014 at 13:28
Also thought the Ubisoft presser was stale, especially with all their best gameplay taking place at other conferences.
But apparently, I “had to be there” 😛
Milesh Bhana
June 10, 2014 at 13:54
Honestly this was a minor spanner in the works for me.
I was just about ready to leave MS and get a PS4. But now I’m less certain of that decision.
Love the Forza series and Horizon 2 is singing’ my song. And Sunset Overdrive is pretty much the only new IP that got my attention.
Playstation TV looks really handy, seems like a better option than getting a Vita to stream my games to the other TV.
All the other new games I’m keen on are multiplatform/sequels to stuff i like (not a complaint).
So I’d give the lot (MS, Sony, Ubi, EA) props for getting me excited for the next-gen and having my wallet ready for an upgrade.
Darren Peach
June 10, 2014 at 15:17
As a owner of the PS4, I looked on with a little envy….at release of the Consoles 6 months ago. XBox looked cool because it had Forza. 6 months later it still only has Forza. That should tell you something.
Milesh Bhana
June 10, 2014 at 15:47
about 80% of what I’m keen on is multiplatform anyway, and i like the XBONE controller more.
Darren Peach
June 10, 2014 at 14:38
Playstation owned. I watched all three and they were on the ball.
cookiemonster
June 10, 2014 at 15:02
I’m new to xbox,……….so I enjoyed that tremendously.
derp
June 10, 2014 at 16:14
How I enjoyed the EA section:
Watched the Bioware section
Turned off afterwards
Aussious
June 10, 2014 at 17:11
Bioware fans lost…
Charl van der Merwe
June 12, 2014 at 11:48
Dragon age Inquisition? lol are you blind and /or deaf ?
Sk3tz0
June 10, 2014 at 17:28
Everything look all nice and sparkly as it would for such an event.. We’ll just have to see if the games are as they were promised when release comes.
Ricardo Harvey
June 11, 2014 at 09:45
Only thing E3 did for me was make me more aware that its for “AMERICA! F@C! YEA” both sony and ms benefits kinda push for America only, tv shows, beta access, cloud gaming, cloud power etc
FallenBeard
June 13, 2014 at 18:22
Nintendo won. Easily.