Sunday, July 13, 2008

A Video Gamer's "Christmas in July"

Despite being virtually unknown to most of the mainstream public, the Electronic Entertainment Exposition (appropriately dubbed E3) is something video game aficionados the world over greatly anticipate. Not only do the major video game console manufacturers hold press conferences where they proudly display their latest wares and upcoming games, but all major game developers also showcase demos and video trailers of their products, as well. Despite a massive downsizing in the conference in recent years, the decision to move the conference to mid-summer has truly made E3 into a video gamer’s “Christmas in July.”

While I personally won’t be attending the festivities (and, as such, won’t be writing extensively about the event as various other video game websites are doing), I’m still anxiously anticipating the new game announcements, demo impressions, and – courtesy of the internet – videos of the various press conferences held by Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. It also provides a great insight into the “culture” of video games, making it an invaluable tool for anyone interested in understanding more about the video game industry and video gamers themselves. As far as this video gamer is concerned, E3 really is the closest thing you’ll ever find to a Rosetta stone. Merry Christmas, indeed…

No comments: