e3 video game hardware

Okay, let’s talk about E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Man, that brings back memories. It used to be THE place to see all the hot new gaming hardware and software. I remember back in the day, I’d spend weeks getting ready, making sure I had enough room on my DVR to record all the press conferences. I went ahead and planned my whole trip.

My first step was always figuring out which companies were gonna show what. I scoured gaming forums, websites and blogs, you name it. This was to see which new consoles, controllers, VR headsets, anything cool, was gonna be unveiled. I remember one year, I got a tip that a major company was gonna demo a brand-new motion controller, so I made sure to schedule my time around that.

Then came the practical stuff. I booked my flight to Los Angeles, where E3 was usually held. I remember that one year I stayed a bit further away from the LA Convention Center to save some cash, and then used the train to get back and forth. I remember I was walking around looking for the cheapest hotels, which wasn’t easy, let me tell you!

• I packed my bags, mostly with t-shirts because it’s always hot in LA.
• I always brought a portable charger ’cause your phone battery would die real quick with all the photos and videos.
• And of course, I packed my trusty notebook and pen to jot down all my impressions of the new gear.

Once I was there, it was a rush. I walked the show floor, checking out every booth. I vividly remember trying out a new racing wheel and pedal setup one year – it was so realistic, I almost crashed for real! I also played early versions of games on the upcoming consoles, which was always a highlight.

I always made sure to attend the big press conferences. I remember that one year I was there to see a new AMD APU, the Ryzen 3 3200G. Those were massive events, with flashing lights and booming music, and seeing the new hardware revealed live was just incredible.

By the end of each E3, I was exhausted but so happy. I gathered tons of info, wrote a bunch of blog posts about my experiences, and shared my thoughts with other gamers online. That one year, I spent hours every night writing up my thoughts. I created some great content, I was really proud of it.

The End of an Era

Sadly, it’s all gone now. They officially canceled E3 last year, which is a real shame. I guess the world changed, with COVID and companies doing their own online events and stuff. But man, those were some good times. Now, the biggest one is Gamescom in Germany. I guess I need to brush up on my German and start saving for that flight! It’s just not the same, you know? E3 was special.