Electronic Entertainment Expo 1995
| Electronic Entertainment Expo 1995 | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Multi-genre |
| Begins | May 11, 1995 |
| Ends | May 13, 1995 |
| Venue | Los Angeles Convention Center |
| Location(s) | Los Angeles, California |
| Country | United States |
| Next event | E3 1996 |
| Attendance | 50,000 |
| Organized by | Entertainment Software Association |
| Filing status | Non-profit |
The Electronic Entertainment Expo 1995, commonly known as E3 1995, was the first Electronic Entertainment Expo held. The event took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 11-13, 1995, with 50,000 total attendees.[1]
Highlights of the 1995 show include Sony's announcement of the PlayStation's release date and pricing, Sega's surprise launch of the Sega Saturn, and Nintendo's showcase of the Virtual Boy console.[1][2]
Exhibitions
Nintendo
The Virtual Boy, Nintendo's intermediary console released between the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and the Nintendo 64, was showcased prominently.[2] The Nintendo 64, then known as the Ultra 64, was presented in a near-final state of development.[3] Games on display included Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, EarthBound, and Killer Instinct.[4]
Sega
Prior to E3 1995, the Sega Saturn had already released in Japan, and was slated for a September 2, 1995 American release.[5] On the first day of E3 1995, Sega CEO Tom Kalinske gave a keynote presentation in which he revealed the Saturn's release price of US$399, and described the features of the console. Kalinske also revealed that, due to "high consumer demand",[6] Sega had already shipped 30,000 Saturns to Toys "R" Us, Babbage's, Electronics Boutique, and Software Etc. for immediate release.[7]
Sony
Sony announced the price and release date for the then-upcoming PlayStation.[8] Prior to Sony's keynote conference, Sega announced the US$399 retail price for the newly-released Sega Saturn; capitalizing on the opportunity, SCEA President Steve Race made a single, brief statement at Sony's conference: "$299". The audience cheered as Race walked away from the podium.[9]
List of notable exhibitors
This is a list of major video game exhibitors who made appearances at E3 1995.[4]
List of games
This is a list of notable titles that appeared at E3 1995.[4]
References
- 1 2 Patterson, Patrick (2015-05-12). "This Week in Gaming History: How E3 1995 changed gaming forever". syfygames.com. Retrieved 2017-06-17.
- 1 2 Plante, Chris (2010-10-13). "Remembering Virtual Boy 15 Years Later". ugo.com. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ↑ "E3 1995". Video Gaming Central. 1995-05-15. Retrieved 2017-06-11 – via gamebits.net.
- 1 2 3 "Game Zero E3 Coverage". gamezero.com. 1995. Retrieved 2017-06-09.
- ↑ "Let the games begin: Sega Saturn hits retail shelves across the nation Sept. 2; Japanese sales already put Sega on top of the charts.". Business Wire. 1995-03-09. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ↑ Cifaldi, Frank (May 11, 2010). "This Day in History: Sega Announces Surprise Saturn Launch". 1UP.com. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ↑ Kent 2001, p. 516.
- ↑ Severino, Anthony (2013-06-09). "Sony’s Biggest E3 Announcements Ever". playstationlifestyle.net. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
- ↑ Stuart, Keith (2015-05-14). "Sega Saturn: how one decision destroyed PlayStation's greatest rival". theguardian.com. Retrieved 2017-06-11.
Bibliography
- Kent, Steven L. (2001). The Ultimate History of Video Games: The Story Behind the Craze that Touched our Lives and Changed the World. Roseville, California: Prima Publishing. ISBN 0-7615-3643-4.