Daily Debate: What Are Your All-Time Favorite Moments from E3?
Posted on December 14 2023 by Kristen G. Rosario
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) recently announced that the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) would be no more. Those who have been keeping up with what’s been going on at the ESA knew this was coming. We’ve all been bracing for the worst for quite a while now, but it still hurts hearing this announcement. Many of us grew up with E3 as our “Christmas in June,” since it was always a treat to see what the video game industry would be unveiling next. However, instead of mourning the loss of this iconic event, let us look back fondly on what the show provided for us in the over-two-and-a-half decades it was around.
As we are the go-to source for all of your Zelda needs, I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up the official reveal of Twilight Princess during Nintendo’s press conference at E3 2004. Fans had been wanting a shift back to a darker tone since the release of The Wind Waker, and this surely seemed a step in the right direction from the looks of the initial reveal trailer. The moment just after the trailer aired is just as iconic, as Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto came out of the shadows wielding the Master Sword and Hylian Shield.
Speaking of iconic moments, not all of them were known for being legendary; some were rather awkward. Take the showcase of Skyward Sword back during the Nintendo press event for E3 2010. While it was such an absolute joy to see a new 3D Zelda title over four years after Twilight Princess‘ release, the live presentation did not go exactly as planned due to the motion controls malfunctioning on stage during its gameplay demonstration. This was apparently due to all of the electronic devices in the theater, which caused interference with the Wii remote signals.
Looking at the video game spectrum outside of Zelda reveals, there was a lot shown at E3 over the years. The “Price Heard Around the World” where, during Sony’s E3 1995 keynote, the first PlayStation console’s price was revealed in such a way that it caused Sega to have to take a step back. How about more recently when both Shenmue III and Final Fantasy VII Remake were revealed in the exact same Sony press conference at E3 2015? And, of course, who can forget the moment that set sail a million Nintendo memes with the Wii Fit live presentation at E3 2007? Nothing screams an all-time E3 moment quite like then-Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé proclaiming, “My body is ready.”
What are your all-time favorite moments from E3? Are there any moments that stand out to you the most? If you went to an E3, was there anything that you can never forget seeing in-person? Let us know in the comments below!
Kristen G. Rosario is an Editor who joined Zelda Dungeon back in September of 2015. His current goal is to become a full-time video game journalist, hoping to eventually gain a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. While he pursues that dream, he not only takes care of his adorable dachshund Angel, but also helps run a YouTube channel with his brother. The Zelda series is a quest he hasn’t fully completed yet, but hopes to get there one day.
