E3 2012: A Prep Post
By gamer_152 4 Comments
So we’re less than a day away from E3, and while every year I know there are people who feel a little jaded about the whole experience, I can’t help but be excited. At the best we’ll get some great game demos and announcements from the show, and at the worst we’ll still have an event that acts as a platform for some of Giant Bomb’s best podcasts of the year. That being said there are a few things you should keep in mind if you’re following the conference and using the site.
Using the Site
It’s pinned to the top of the boards, but please, if you’re going to use the forums during E3 take a look at the mod team’s “E3 2012 and You” topic. Knowing how these things go I’m sure we’ll still get plenty of duplicate threads posted in the forums, things posted in the wrong places, and maybe even a message or two from people about why us locking their E3 blog posts is a great injustice, but all we can do is put the message out there. If you see anyone posting things in the wrong place or creating duplicate threads, don’t hesitate to contact the mod team. If you want to see Giant Bomb's general plan for coverage of the event then I also suggest you check you Jeff's article "And This Is E3", and generally keep an eye on the site and the Twitter feeds of the staff.
What Won't Be There
On the topic of the press conferences specifically, please remember the following points if you want to avoid disappointment:
- Valve are attending the event but will not be announcing anything new there. (source)
- Microsoft will not be announcing any new Xbox hardware this year. (source)
- Sony will not be announcing a PS4 this year. (source)
That doesn't mean we can't see some really awesome stuff, but remember not to spend the press conferences waiting for the console manufacturers to unveil a shiny new box or Gabe Newell to stride out on stage with Half-Life 3 in his hands.
When Things Will Happen
If you need to know when exactly everything is going down and you're on the east coast or west coast of the U.S., or in the UK like me, please follow the handy guide below, although be aware that the press conferences may not start bang on time.
| Press Conference | Pacific Time (PDT) | Eastern Time (EDT) | UK Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | June 4th- 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | June 4th- 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | June 4th- 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. |
| EA | June 4th- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | June 4th- 4:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. | June 4th- 9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. |
| Ubisoft | June 4th- 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | June 4th- 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. | June 4th- 11:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. |
| Sony | June 4th- 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | June 4th- 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. | June 5th- 2:00 a.m. - 3:30 a.m. |
| Nintendo | June 5th- 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. | June 5th- 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. | June 5th- 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Where To Watch Things
Nintendo and EA will be live-streaming press conferences from their sites, Ubisoft will be streaming theirs from their YouTube channel, Microsoft will be streaming theirs over Xbox LIVE, and Sony will be streaming from multiple places online and on Playstation Home. However, Gamespot, Gametrailers, and G4TV will be streaming all the press conferences, as well as plenty of other coverage of the event, so I recommend them. I also recommend that wherever you pick to watch the event, have at least one backup stream in mind in case that one gets a little choppy, this is a live event with a lot of viewers and will be prone to technical issues.
All Aboard The Hype Train
I guess all that remains now is to say I hope we all enjoy the show, and good or bad I look forward to some memorable moments in the days ahead.
-Gamer_152