E3 2012: Sea of Mediocrity? No big surprises, but should there be?

OXCGN:

"Disappointment abounds.

That’s the sentiment I see repeated all over the place about E3 2012, and specifically, with the possible exception of Ubisoft, the big conferences.

Often it is a case of announcements that were hoped for not appearing, like the next gen (despite the fact it was stated there would be no next gen announced) or the fact that we knew most of the announcements going in.

Or, in the case of the Wii U, a feeling scepticism or, in the case of the PS Vita, a stunned “where are the games and price cut”?

There were very few surprises.

A “sea of mediocrity” as one commenter put it.

But does this mean E3 2012 is a big disappointment?"

[Proeliator]

I agree... such an underwhelming e3.

[Patriots_Pride]

Hell it was so boring that even CNN mentioned it.

http://edition.cnn.com/vide...

[gaminoz]

It's hard to get too disappointed when there are so many really great looking games.

But yeah, the conferences were pretty ordinary from what I saw.

[BadCircuit]

I agree with the author. There's no reason why E3 should be all about new announcements that shake the gaming world.

We have just got used to big tech etc. announcements

There are plenty of good games there and the new Ips like Last of Us and Watch Dogs are looking great, as are 'rebooted' games like Tomb Raider and AC3

[DeusExer]

I agree too with the author. MS and Sony are waiting until next year to reveal the next gen consoles.

While its been underwhelming in terms of announcements of sequels, they are still promising looking games.

Just because they are sequels doesn't mean they are unoriginal. Its the chance for reworking and refinement.

But original IPs seem to be the shining light so far. Watch Dogs for example, has everyone talking.

[gaminoz]

That's right. Thinking out of the box and testing new ideas can make awesome games still on our current gen systems.

It's not all about power and that. It's about thinking through gameplay styles and ideas too.

[BadCircuit]

To be honest I don't have the cash for a new console.

I was hoping that the PS Vita would get a price drop though...maybe at Christmas?

But then there are so many great games again!

[FarCryLover182]

Just have the new consoles in mind (imagine they are coming next fall) and just save $20 here and there and put into a "next gen console jar" and by the time they are out, you will be amazed and you will have enough!

[Khordchange]

did the big three think we were going to be happen showing games we already knew about?

[xXxSeTTriPxXx]

the gaming press killed all the surprises.how ubi kept a potential goty in watch dogs a secret is beyond my feeble comprehension.

[BadCircuit]

Great point....It's so hard not to have things leaked these days that it should be regarded as a major success if there is ANY surprise!!!!

[mayberry]

IMHO, if this e3 was the first e3 of this gen, people wouldnt call it "mediocre" at all! Seems us "gamers" have gotten a little spoiled rotten concerning games and systems!
I wonder if MS had A massivly bigger showing, with say... 10-15 new IP'S, would people say things like, (need new consoles), (this gen is over), etc... even if ms's games were below the spit and polish of a SONY exclusive. what I'm getting at is... ms could produce that many titles but dont... and didnt, so people are "forced" to look at SONY, which I think kills people to have to do!
I was an early ps3 buyer and have my launch 60G ps3 and a slim 360, but seems when it is the other way around(early 360 adopter now later ps3 owner), its like pulling teeth to get people to embrace sony's games for how cool they are! just enjoy da games people!

[Eske]

The summary seems pretty spot on from what I'm seeing. The omissions are notable (Wii U price? Vita price drop & software?). And if there's a theme of this years E3, it's definitely AAA games borrowing from each other liberally and shamelessly. Splinter Cell and Hitman have enemy tagging like RDR. Dishonored looks like the love child of about 4 different games. Heck, Hitman even has "eagle vision" now! And everyone is trying to pull aspects from call of duty.

But that doesn't mean the titles can't look good. Hitman still looks solid. Splinter cell looks pretty slick. Dishonored looks amazing. And there are a lot of smaller titles looking great.

The show's had it's ups and downs, but there's good stuff to be pulled from it.

[turnerdc]

Splinter Cell's enemy tagging is very similar and an evolution of the enemy tagging in the previous Splinter Cell game (Conviction). Conviction came out before RDR.

[DivineAssault]

It had to be.. They showed what they could with out spilling the beans on the next E3 where nx gen will be revealed

If u think about it, only the conferences were bad.. There was a TON of games on the floor that will be previewed & many are coming this year

[Dragonopolis]

Everyone is holding back this year at E3. Nintendo probably saw what was going on and decided to play the game too. Looks like TGS this year is going to be the E3 everyone wanted.

[BadCircuit]

Or E3 next year...