We were very excited when we first got word that Konami would be making a special, “first annual”, Pre-E3 show. Usually, when something like this occurs, you can pretty much expect some awesome announcements. Konami then followed up their save the date with an official invite which led us to the Sony Pictures Studio in Culver City, CA. The event was to take place in the studio’s new commissary and, upon arriving, we were greeted by various PR folks and got a chance to sample the open bar menu.
Proceeding into the commissary room blocked off for the event, Konami had several kiosks running various upcoming titles. We were very excited to get our hands on a kiosk running Silent Hill: Downpour or perhaps even an early build of one of the upcoming remastered packs. Unfortunately, those were not there. Instead, we had games like Burgertime and SkullGirls which, while fine games in their own rights, just lacked a certain pizazz one would expect from a “first annual Pre-E3 show”.
After some wrangling about to hook up to the event’s network connection, we were told the press briefing would begin at 5pm so we gathered around one of the tables next to the podium and waited. At about 5pm, Jay from Konami PR took the helm at the podium and said a few words. Then he began a presentation on multiple monitors around the area. We were, in fact, seeing a pre-recorded press briefing. The press briefing itself was a mixed bag.
On one hand, we were treated to interesting tidbits on Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, the upcoming Silent Hill title, and even a look at their upcoming NeverDead in which the player controls an immortal character able to lose limbs and continue on fighting until they can re-attach them. We also learned about the upcoming re-mastered collections of the Silent Hill games, Metal Gear Solid titles, and even the Zone of Enders games.
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On the other hand, there was no big reveal or killer-app announcement to be found at all. There was an especially lengthy, pre-recorded segment featuring Hideo Kojima talking about his “gaming lifestyle” ideal where gamers can take games from one platform to another at will – “Transfarring” he coined it. Even his announcing a new game engine for future titles that he could not talk about seemed over-shadowed by the lack of a killer-app game for the show. Everyone in the room was just waiting for Kojima to crack and give us some insight into the next Metal Gear title or even his brand-new IP, but it never came. Kojima re-iterated that he would not be making an appearance at this E3 and would be returning next year with more information.
Even a cool looking teaser bit for a new Contra game was not enough to save this event for us.
While we are ever-so appreciative of the folks handling the event for sending us an invite and setting everything up, I can’t help but wonder why Konami did not wait just one more year to get the big scoop on the new Castlevania and Metal Gear titles. It seems like perhaps they were going to have something revealed but maybe at the last minute pulled it? I can’t say for certain on that point.
The fact that they made such a big deal about the Pre-E3 show seemed to be self-defeating by its very nature. For the to go through all the trouble to put the event on, one would think they were prepping us for some big reveal – was just not the case this time.
Do I think they should do this event again next year? Absolutely! Especially if they have the big announcements expected.
