Not many great things are remembered from the 2008 E3 press conference, but, we've learned, when Jack Tretton promises something, you can take it to the bank.
What good is E3 hype if none of it comes true?
To get you ready for this E3, we've subjected ourselves to re-living the major press conferences of last year's big show. We've pulled all of the predictions, promises and other verbal constructions Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony used to get you excited about their console.
And we've seen what became of all those thrilling statements.
Sony, your promises are being checked today.
Background: The Sony press briefing occurred on July 15, 2008 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. This showcase lasted more than 90 minutes.
To Start With….
Jack Tretton, president of Sony Computer Entertainment of America: "As many of you have already written, 2008 is the year of the PS3."
Verdict: Subjective. You sort it out.
Resistance 2 Will Be Fantastic
Ted Price, president and CEO of Insomniac Games describes Resistance 2's campaign, promises eight-player co-op, competitive modes and community features: "Bottom line, Resistance 2 offers more than any shooter in 2008."
Verdict: The features were accurate. The rest is also for you to decide.
Gaming Will Be Huge In 2008
Tretton: "NPD has been estimating that the gaming industry revenue will soar as high as $23 billion in 2008."
Verdict: Not Jack's fault nor research group NPD's that the figure NPD wound up calculating for the year was $21 billion.
PS3 Gaming Discounts Coming
Tretton announced that Resistance, MotorStorm, Warhawk, Call of Duty 3, Fight Night Round 3, Need For Speed Carbon, Rainbow Six Vegas, Assassin's Creed, Oblivion, Ninja Gaiden would all be sold as greatest hits games at discount for the holiday.
Verdict: True.
Buzz Coming
Tretton announced the impending launches of Buzz on PSP and Buzz PS3 for September, along with downloadable packs.
Verdict: Yep, this happened.
And For The PS2…
Tretton said a Lego Batman PS2 would arrive in the fall for 149 dollars.
Verdict: Yes, he got this too. Impressed yet?
One Log-In For All
Tretton: Starting this fall, all PlayStation users will have a single sign-on so no matter where they sign in. All their PlayStation information will go with them.
Verdict: Yep.
More On Clank, Soon
Brian Allgeier, lead designer on Ratchet & Clank, discussing the surprise announcement of a downloadable summer sequel: "Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty will give more information about Clank's disappearance."
Verdict: Well, yeah. But not that much more information.
Booty In The Summer
Tretton says the new Ratchet is coming this summer.
Verdict: Jack doesn't flub predictions like these.
PSN Has The Following…
A PSN trailer reel shows Ratchet and Clank Quest for Booty, Crash Commando, Fat Princess, PixelJunk Eden, Pain Amusement Park, Flower, Siren Blood Curse, Ragdoll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic.
Verdict: And wouldn't you know it? All these games except Fat Princess are now out.
GTTV - Not The Keighley Version - Is Coming
Tretton: Polyphony Digital is launching the pay per view distribution of GTTV [Gran Turismo TV] and Gran Turismo Prologue with a wide variety of content .. this content will be available starting August 1 via Gran Turismo 5 Prologue.
Verdict: On target.
Home Will Be Fantastic
Tretton: I absolutely assure you that when PlayStation Home is publicly available through our expanded beta program your patience will more then be rewarded"… he then mentioned commitments from Ubisoft, EA, Activision, LucasArts, Nike support… and says we can play Warhawk and Uncharted spaces… and a demo reel showed am Uncharted space, a Resistance space with Chimera in tanks, Warhawk.
Verdict: To the outside eye, it may appear that Tretton slipped here. After all, we haven't yet seen a LucasArts space and the Resistance one is only going live this week. But, hey, that's pretty good!
Movie Store Coming Today
Tretton hyped the launch - that day - of the PlayStation Network Video store. "This content is portable after you download it to your ps3 you can transport it to your PSP as well."
Tretton: True.
And A New PSP…. Bundle
Tretton: Starting in October, we'll be launching our family friendly Ratchet and Clank Size Matters entertainment pack.
Verdict: Accurate, of course.
Resistance Retribution Coming
A trailer shows Resistance Retribution for Spring 2009.
Verdict: But it came out in mid-March. That's winter. Liars.
PSP Has The Following Games
PSP reel of highlights "for this and next year" - Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Madden NFL 09, Loco Roco 2, NBA09 The Inside, Super Stardust Portable, Lego Batman The Video Game, Patapon 2, Buzz Master Quiz, Valkyria Chronicles.
Verdict : Finally! A flub. Sort of. Valkyria Chronicles would be coming to PS3, not PSP. Wrong reel!
PS3 Getting Life
Tretton: "We're set to deliver an entirely new experience that ill allow fans to see worldwide news in real time through a network-connected PS3 and TV in their living room with live news, weather and live webcam feed. We call it Life with PlayStation, it will be available by the end of the month…"
Verdict: He implied July. It launched in September.
MMOs Coming To PS3
Tretton mentions The Agency, Free Realms and DC Universe Online as coming to PS3
Verdict: Could be true. Just hasn't happened yet.
New PS3…. SKU
Tretton: "Starting in September we will launch 80GB PS3 that has the same functionality as the 40GB PS3. And we're giving consumers twice the storage capacity for the same price… $399.99."
Verdict: True. Always-true-Tretton, we call him.
PS3's 2008 Line-Up Has This…
PS3 lineup reel beings playing as Tretton says it "will actualize what I've been saying here today, that 2008 is the year of PlayStation 3." It shows Little Big Planet, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift, Metal Gear Solid , Quantum of Solace, SOCOM Confrontation, Ghostbusters The Video Game, Soul Calibur IV, Resistance 2, The Agency, Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Mirror's Edge, Resident Evil 5, SingStar, Guitar Hero World Tour, NBA 09 The Inside, Buzz Quiz TV, Killzone 2, Fallout 3 and others not named.
Verdict: Mostly on target. But… the Agency? That didn't come out in 2008.
Kratos Is En Route After The Holidays
Tretton: "Yes it's true, God of War III is coming to PlayStation 3." Says InFamous and MAG are post-holiday as well.
Verdict: We shall see. They certainly didn't come out early.
Note: Sony did not mention the upcoming screen tweak that would bring us the PSP 3000. They hit all their other big upcoming news.
To Sum Up....Wow. We are humbled by the accuracy of Mr. Jack Tretton. We'd almost give him and Sony an A. Except... almost none of these were big guesses that were hard-to-believe, were they? Microsoft reached a little further, got a couple more wrong.... That evens out. Sony, you get a B.
This feature will be back in a year. Please stay tuned.