KUCHING: Video gamers here are excited about the new video games released at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2019 in Los Angeles, California, USA earlier this week.
E3 is a premier trade event for the video game industry held annually since 1995. This year marked the 24th year of the expo; it was held from June 11 to 13.
Every year, different video games are introduced to the gaming industry by big companies including Nintendo, Electronic Arts (EA), Sega, Microsoft, Sony, Ubisoft and Betheda Softworks. Between 40,000 and 60,000 people attend the expo every year.
Shane Noel, 21, a student and video gamer from Kuching, told New Sarawak Tribune that he assumed this year’s E3 was mind blowing based on the the few highlights he saw on Youtube live stream.
“Not only did we get to see Keanu Reeves in the anticipated new game, ‘CyberPunk 2077’ from the famous game developer CD Projekt Red, we were also surprised to see him on stage announcing the game to the fans in the hall. We were also teased about the new upcoming X-Box console.
“Apart from that, the game developers unveiled many new games with some gameplay that answered many of the gamer fans’ questions
“For instance, gamers were shown the latest gameplay footage for the new Ubisoft game ‘Watch Dogs Legion’, known for its “you can play as anyone” set-up which was considered revolutionary in the gaming industry,” he revealed.
Joel Kyle, 21, another student and video gamer, applauded the big games such as Halo Infinite, Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, FIFA 20, Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers revealed by companies such as Microsoft, Square Enix, EA and Nintendo.
A gamer since he was eight years old, Joel added, “I love all the new games, announced dates, released gameplays.
“But the one I am most excited about is a direct sequel to ‘The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ which was confirmed by Nintendo and is now in development.
“Another game is ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ which was expected to be released in the market in late 2019.
“But Nintendo’s Yoshiaki Koizumi has announced that it will be released on March 20, 2020.”
Asked what was in store for non-gamers if they were to attend this expo in the future, Joel replied, “There are a lot of convention booths set up by game developer companies and technology companies where non-gamers can experience the tech revealed by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) for the new graphic cards.”
Joel added, “I was actually sad when I heard that Sony would not be attending the expo this year. The company had always been attending the expo in previous years and revealing new games for the generation.
“I know next year’s E3 (2020) will be a bigger and meaningful expo because the exhibitors will be introducing next generation technologies.”
For Awangku Afiq Syahmi, 21, another student and gamer, this year’s expo was among the best so far as some of the games featured Hollywood actors as part of their character ensembles.