In this week's edition of the MMO Story Hour, Jess Lebow recounts some tales of E3 past. Next week, the gaming world will try to recapture that former show when we all gather in Los Angeles (including on site reporting from MMORPG.com), but before we go back to it again, Lebow took the time to look back and share his favorite stories.

The first time I went to the show, we were in the early stages for Guild Wars. There was very little game play, really only the basics for three of the classes. We did have good art, and the characters looked fantastic. But the game design was still being iterated and the sound design had only just begun.

We spent two straight weeks working 16+ hours a day, getting the demo ready for the show. Now, it wasn’t just the people on the show floor who were going to see and play the game for the first time. The founders at ArenaNet had too big of balls to do something so small. So instead of doing a controlled demo to a limited number of press and game industry professionals, we instead planned to release the game to the world for a weekend preview.

Read it all here.

I'm looking forward that event, expecially to get to know more about Square Enix' plans on their new secret MMO!

The founders at ArenaNet had too big of balls to do something so small.

 

I get what you're saying but the phrasing was so awkward it broke the smoothness of reading and I had to try a few times to get back in to it.

Anyways, I hope E3 ends up being what you want.  I've heard PAX is pretty much where it's at these days though.  (and due to circumstances beyond my control, I won't be able to go this year... next year tho!)

Ah... happy memories

...and no Michael Shanks head! So you guys have to discuss the actual article this week =)

    I like when this particular guy does articles..It feels like im getting a tour behind the scenes where most gamers dont tread...MMORPG has a solid,talented writer here and needs to involve him more in doing articles etc....

Nicely done......BLEEEHHHHHHHHH

The cartoon head looks nothing like Michael Shanks.  I'm disappointed.

I have to say it:

Bleh.... Bleh. Bleh.

That is all. :D

nice read :D, hope E3 will be better this year.

Originally posted by Samhael

The founders at ArenaNet had too big of balls to do something so small.

 

I get what you're saying but the phrasing was so awkward it broke the smoothness of reading and I had to try a few times to get back in to it.

Anyways, I hope E3 ends up being what you want.  I've heard PAX is pretty much where it's at these days though.  (and due to circumstances beyond my control, I won't be able to go this year... next year tho!)

 

Are they even letting in normal people these days?

I remember hearing about a lot of companies pulling out of E3, companies like Lucas Arts, which surpised me.  They pulled out because of costs, which I'm assuming it's the price E3 charges the companies to attend or set up a booth?  Why would E3 organizers make the fees so high that companies would start not attending?  Or when we talk about costs are we talking about the price of setting up an E3 booth with all the swag or whatever each company sets up for its audience?

I perticipated in the "E3 for all" event. Even in it's unpolished state I knew ArenaNet had a good game. Little did I know that ti would take away over two years of my life. :) 

BTW is ArenaNet still not attending E3 this year?

Ah, come on. They made those cartoony heads just so that people wouldn't post Michael Shanks' picture? BLEH.

Well, too bad we barely have any significant gaming events in my country. I have to keep myself happy by hearing from other people's experiences.

Oh how I remember Guild Wars' first weekend stress test, that really worked out well.

I wish we could bring E3 back to its former glory

I get to go to my frist E3 this year... I cannot wait, It will be so much fun.

I am thinking of posting information about my trip after E3 next week.   I think it would be fun to get someone that is new to the gaming industry views on E3.  (intern level builder here)

What do you guys think?

Nice story. I was unaware it dropped that low.

Originally posted by m240gulf

I remember hearing about a lot of companies pulling out of E3, companies like Lucas Arts, which surpised me.  They pulled out because of costs, which I'm assuming it's the price E3 charges the companies to attend or set up a booth?  Why would E3 organizers make the fees so high that companies would start not attending?  Or when we talk about costs are we talking about the price of setting up an E3 booth with all the swag or whatever each company sets up for its audience?

At its height, a crappy booth in the second to best hall could run a company upwards of $30,000... And that was if you dodged unions and painted the sucker yourself ;)

I hear GDC is the place to go now. I've been wanting to attend an E3 or PAX but they are never in my area. Come on guys, come to the Lou! For those that don't know, I meant St. Louis.