E3 2010: The Best and Worst of Sony's Press Conference

Sony wrapped up the first-party press-conference trifecta today. Let's pick out a few things that happened today and comment on them!

Compensating for anything? Sony's stage was the biggest and flashiest of the big three's press conferences. "Check out this stage -- I feel like I'm in a U2 concert." - Jack Tretton, President and CEO of SCEA

Pretty sure they can't take credit for this: The tagline "3D World...Created by Sony" -- wasn't the world in 3D before Sony was even born?

What do we call these games now? If Killzone 3 is a 3D shooter, and...say, R-Type is a 2D shooter, what do we call the 3D-but-not-3D shooters (like Killzone 2) that we're playing now?

I'm all in: Killzone 3 looks absolutely amazing -- the depth perception is almost surreal. It's going to be hard to go back to 3D-but-not-3D shooters after seeing this demo.

Dilemma: Many high-profile third-party games (Crysis 2, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, etc.) are going 3D on the PS3. I used to play multiplatform titles on the 360 for the Achievements, but after seeing these 3D demos, I may have to learn to love Trophies.

The all-star cast you never knew you wanted: Ratchet, Jak, Sly, Bentley, Clank, and Daxter join forces in Heroes on the Move (working title) for the PS Move. I hope it's a legitimately good action-platform title worthy of the attached names, but Sony classifies it as a family game, so...probably not.

PlayStation pitchman/comedian Kevin Butler taking funny jabs at the competition: "Am I crazy or did I just see 100 French acrobats the other day?" (in reference to Microsoft's Cirque du Soleil show for the Kinect), "We can box...with important features like arms and necks" (Wii Sports).

Can't go to E3? PlayStation Home has a virtual replica of Sony's booth that you can walk around in to check out the games.

Beyond platforming: I can't wait to see all the unique games Little Big Planet 2 players will be able to create with the new tools. Possible genres mentioned: real-time strategy, puzzle, racing, tower defense, shooters....

Hypocritical: PlayStation Plus offers early access to downloads and demos, discounts, exclusive content...but regardless of what you get, how can Sony bash Xbox Live Gold in the same breath while promoting Plus when both are basically "pay us $50 a year for a better online" services?

So that's why Valve cancelled last night's Portal 2 event: Sony snagged them to debut the game at their press conference. Wonder what Sony had to do/pay to make that happen?

Oh, those Japanese developers: Why does every other Japanese-based trailer have vague, meaningless statements? From Final Fantasy 14's video: "It is an age when myths become reality"...doesn't that describe most video games? "Salvation lies in the echoes of the past"...what?

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-JIdpHuLKY"

What's more exciting? Learning that Twisted Metal is coming to PS3 or that David Jaffe's Eat, Sleep, Play studio is handling the development? (The instant Jaffe stopped working on the series, it went down the crapper: see Twisted Metal 3 and 4.)

Press conference photos courtesy of the PlayStation Blog.

Tags: twisted metal, Killzone 2, Wii Sports, Final Fantasy 14, E3 2010, Crysis 2, R-Type, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Portal 2, Killzone 3, Heroes on the Move, Little Big Planet 2, Twisted Metal 3, Twisted Metal 4

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Lance Darnell

June 15, 2010

Kevin Butler was a great breath of fresh air. Every company should have someone like him to make fun of the competition.

So is Portal 2 a PS3 exclusive?

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Toby Davis

I look forward to another good twisted metal finally ..

Tim Larkin

Sony shouldn't make jokes about the competition. It shows that they are afraid, as they should be.

Sony offered free games "for the duration of the subscription".

The Valve announcement was the most exciting one, because it was new.

The Nuke Mode in Twisted Metal looked cool, but otherwise, the gameplay looked like a PSN game. Maybe Jaffe was working on Calling All Cars 2, and then modded it for the E3 demo?

@Lance No. Portal 2 is multi-platform. But, Gabe promised that the PS3 version would be the best one. If that happens, expect a 2 year delay.

Randy Snow

The new TM didn't look that impressive. But it probably going to be worked over.

Cameron Pershall

I thought the Kevin Butler bit was awful. It felt like one of those '90s PSAs where hopelessly uncool adults try to rap about staying off drugs.

Bryan Glynn

June 16, 2010

Where in the bloody hell was The Last Guardian?

Jonathan Sutyak

You didn't even mention season two of The Tester or the new PSP marketing campaign with Marcus! I'm surprised they are wasting money on both of those. It might be worth investing in making a PSP 2 instead of pouring more money into the 5-year old handheld. Although Sony's press conference was the most fun to watch, none of the big three impressed me. However, not being there I can't judge the 3D games Sony showed off. Thus far though I have not been a fan of 3D games or movies.

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Michael Bradley

Didn't David Jaffe recently flat-out deny that Twisted Metal was the project he was working on? If so, I understand that keeping the identity of your next game a secret is important, but lying about it? Jeez.

Also, the Final Fantasy franchise is just getting annoying. They can basically make a new RPG every 3-4 years, take out cid and the chocobos, and name it anything but Final Fantasy at this point....Ugh.