So, E3 has closed its doors for another year, and what a week it was! The most common opinion on the showfloor seems to be that this year’s E3 instilled a lot of enthusiasm in the industry, bringing back the sense of fun and joy that comes from writing about videogames. There was so much great stuff there, and I mirror the sentiments of those who say “E3 made me love writing about videogames all over again.”
It’s a shame thatmygood feeling is about to disappear, because I have to reviewDamnation!
Still, it was a great week, and I got to meet all sorts of people, including chaps fromJoystiq,Kotaku, andGayGamer‘s wonderful Flynn de Marco. I also never thought I’d see the day where I was drunkenly singing with my arm around a member of evil publisher Activision, but it happened at E3! Of course, the biggest pleasure of all was working in person with so many Destructoid staff members. It was a privilege, and an inspiration.
Also, videogames happened, and you can hit the jump to find out which ones!
Chester:I was hoofing it at E3 all week, and I played a bunch of stuff… but actually watched more people play games. It’s quite a long list, ranging fromGod of War IIItoDJ Hero, fromGran Turismo PSPtoPixelJunk Shooter, etc. and blah blah blah. Now that I’m home, I’ve had time to fire up someUncharted 2multiplayer beta, and play someRock Band Unpluggedwhile on the toilet.
Sterling:Like Nick, I saw a lot more than I played. However, I got some hands-on withBayonetta(sexiest game of the year),Left 4 Dead 2(zombiest game of the year),Ninja Gaiden 2 Sigma(wobbly-tittiest game of the year),Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days(pretentiously namest game of the year),White Knight Chronicles(Chronicleiest game of the year),MAG(most confusing HUDest game of the year) and a load of other shit I can’t be fucked to remember. I am also playingDamnationfor review now, and it makes me want to hoof.
I am now going to go and sleep in a bed that doesn’t have Samit Sarkar in it, as much as I enjoyed our little bonding nights.
Ross:Not a ton of time for gaming since so much was going on. Still addicted toDemigod, although I’ve become a little disillusioned after running into some seemingly unbeatable character combinations. Tried to get through of more ofARMA2, but I’m absolutely terrible at the game which makes it really difficult. Spent most of the weekend playing in theAionbeta with Gandy, which actually is a very, very solid MMO.
And, of course,Weakest Linkat Chad’s. 🙂
Concelmo:I played every-freakin’-thing in the Nintendo booth at E3. And it wasglorious. 🙂
Other than that, I dabbled in so much stuff at the L.A. Convention Center that I can’t even list them all.Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time,Brutal Legend, andShadow Complexwere some of my favorites.
In my real life, I am playing someMarble Saga: KororinpaandHenry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure. Both are awesome!
Davis:I almost won that game ofThe Weakest Link. So close! Jon Holmes stole the win from me!
I continued the trend of playing way too much over the course of the week, but my favorites wereScribblenauts,Ghostbusters,Brutal Legend,Cave Story Wii, andSin and Punishment 2. I carried my DS along with me and playedKirby Super Star Deluxeduring the tiny bits of free time I had (mostly while standing in lines). I also got to try out a few DSiWare games on Holmes’ DSi, includingPictobits,Art Style: Aquia,Mighty Flip ChampsandDr. Mario Express. Any time I wasn’t writing or asleep, I was playing games. I cost myself some rest that way, but I just couldn’t stop.
Sarkar:Just like everyone else not named “Anthony Burch” or “Ashley Davis,” I felt like I didn’t play nearly as many games as I saw. But here’s what Idoremember playing during a whirlwind week of awesome-tastic fun:Sing Yourself Hoarse Twice in Three Days(thanks, KarE3oke andThe Beatles: Rock Band);PixelJunk Shooter(WANT — the fluid dynamics, and the physics in general, are sweet);Gran Turismo PSP(looks absolutely amazing for a PSP game, and boy, the PSP Go is sexy);Bayonetta(I came);Scratch: The Ultimate DJ(lacks polish at this stage, but it’s definitely fun);Scene It!(Chad kicked all our asses);Brütal Legend(itrocked my face off);Madden NFL 10(awesome); andThe Bigs 2(simple but satisfying fun — thanks, Conrad!).
And now, it’s time to sleep in a bed that doesn’t have Jim Sterling in it. It’s a bittersweet moment.
Razak:Seeing was definitely the name of the game at E3 it seems, but I got in on some action too. I’m not sure how many people got time with it butSplit/Secondwas one of the coolest games I got time with at E3. Driving under a crashing airplane FTW any time of the day. Also playedRed Steel 2(meh),New Super Mario Bros.(awesome),Spirit Tracks(sweet),A Boy and His Blob(adorable),Blur(very rough, but it was pre-Alpha),Cooking Mama 3(same as 1 and 2, but still fun),Aliend vs. Predator(very sweet),Bayonetta(even sweeter) and a handful of other awesome stuff. Oh, and right before E3 I got to tear through some ofPunch-Out!!finally. That game is sick fun.
DMV:As one of the few non-E3 people, I had a lot more relaxed schedule, not having games crammed down my throat. I’m attempting to unlock everything inDynasty Warriors Gundam 2, and that seems like adaunting task right now — but I think I’m up to it. Otherwise, I’ve been making headway inRetro Game Challenge. I also went out to some arcades and got my ass kicked inKung Fu Master,Punch Out, and allother sorts of arcade games. I did do well with the Simpsons arcade game, though!
CTZ:I played the game of E3. It was a hard game.
