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MMOs, eye-popping graphics were the hallmarks of 2003 E3

By Michael Lafferty

 

E3 2003 - A look back

 

In the days before the Los Angeles event, there is excitement, curiosity, and the eagerness that only anticipation can foster. During the event, there is a weariness that begins to cast a pall over the wonderment, and one cannot help but cringe a little at the schedule that crams as much as possible into three short days. After the event, there is relief, coupled with longing to actually play the games one saw. And, of course, the anticipation begins to build all over again at the prospect of the games, which are coming soon to a platform nearby.

 

The show is a lot of different things to different people. That it remains an assault on the majority of the senses is a constant that makes the experience so special. It is a carnival ride that thrills, teases, tantalizes and thoroughly entertains.

 

Celebrities are seen floating the floor or at booths. Some are gawked at; others are merely noted as footnotes to the event where the real stars are, the games.

 

When looking back, several things come to mind about the 2003 E3 in Los Angeles. First, and foremost, was the graphical quality of the games coming out. There is an uncanny sense of realism to these fantasy worlds that boggles the mind, pops the eyes and drops the jaw. The attention to detail is fantastic. Skirting around the bottom of armored breastplates that rise slightly when a spell is cast or footprints left across a snow-covered vale. Separate light sources dance off armor, showing the intricate detailing of the piece and reflecting glare back into the environment.

 

Massively multiplayer games were a big part of this year’s E3. The industry, while increasingly heading in that direction, took some giant strides forward. The easy player interfaces, the attention to skill trees, tactical combat and personal development, the depth of story and general gameplay and the overall look of the games were stunning. Being a fan of MMOs, this latest E3 was like turning a child loose in an overstocked candy store and saying, ‘what do you want?’ It was hard to know where to look next and equally hard to focus on a title, as opposed to running maniacally through the halls to try everything.

 

Star Wars Galaxies, Horizons, Exarch all look amazing and like a great deal of fun. But the ones that really stood out, from the demos, were Lineage II, Mythica, World of Warcraft and – though the release date is a long ways off – Middle-earth Online.

 

A fan of MMOs? Let’s amend that. I am a HUGE fan of the genre, and while I like other styles of games, the opportunity of immersing oneself in the interactive waters of highly imaginative worlds wins hands down as the vehicle of choice.

 

First-person shooters have also undergone some changes. The rag-doll effect has seemingly popped up in every title, and bullet-time, once confined to games like Max Payne, has also made marked inroads into the genre. No longer are players simply tasked to react and do so quickly – you can actually slow the pace of the game and think your way through the mayhem of a battle against, seemingly, overwhelming forces.

 

As far as booths were concerned, kudos again to EA. The sports games’ display at the entrance to South Hall was certainly stunning. Nintendo’s crisp, clean look was also a welcomed respite from the chaos without the enclosure. The games were prominently displayed, and the opportunities for demonstrations and gameplay were numerous.

 

If there was any downside to E3, it would have been the number of games that were based on movies or television shows. This year certainly seemed to hold more of those than in years past. But with the graphical quality of the games on display, one thing does remain certain – the coming year will continue the stellar growth of the industry and game players will have plenty to keep them occupied, and entertained.