E3 1995

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E3 1995
Date: 1995-05-111995-05-13
Location: Los Angeles Convention Center, 1201 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, California 90015, United States

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The Electronic Entertainment Expo 1995 (E3 1995) was the first E3 event to take place.

E3 came into existence following the gaming industry's growing dissatisfaction with CES. While CES was happy to host gaming companies, preferential treatment was given to electronics giants, with video games relegated to outside tents away from the main hall. With the industry becoming larger and more elaborate with each passing year, a decision was made to run a gaming-specific convention in the spring. The major players still attended Winter CES 1995 (in January 1995), but big plans (namely the US launches of the Sega Saturn and PlayStation were not publicly discussed), and combined with the rainy weather that year, made for a less exciting atmosphere than in previous CES conventions.

CES was a bi-annual event at this point in time, and 1995 would be the year its "summer" expo would be pulled due to declining visitor numbers. E3 could be a considered a replacement for this, as gaming companies typically had products to show (or at least announce) in anticipation of the following Christmas season.

E3 1995 is infamous as it marks the surprise US launch of the Sega Saturn, and an immediate scramble to reduce the console's price to compete with the PlayStation, which announced a $299 price tag just hours later. Meanwhile much of the show itself contined to be dominated by the Sega 32X, which the Saturn would make obsolete.

Contents

Products featured

Saturn

While the console had been out in Japan since November 1994, very few Sega Saturns were on show at Winter CES 1995 in January. This time, the Saturn was positioned front and centre of Sega's marketing, not least because of its unexpected release date on the first day of E3 itself.

While Sega had plenty of playable games on show (as many were finished and were now available at retail), far fewer third-party games were available to play as Western developers were (until that point) expecting the console's release in September. Many Saturn games were announced (or appeared in promotional material) but were not strictly visible on the show floor.

Sega

Absolute Entertainment

Acclaim Entertainment

Accolade

Activision

American Laser Games

American Softworks

Atlus

BMG Interactive Entertainment

Capcom

Crystal Dynamics

Cyberdreams

Data East

Digital Pictures

Electronic Arts

Empire Interactive

Gremlin Interactive

Human

I-Motion

Interplay

Jaleco

JVC

Koei

Konami

Maxis

Namco

Ocean Software

Philips

Playmates Interactive Entertainment

ReadySoft

Rocket Science Games

Sales Curve Interactive

Scavenger

Time Warner Interactive

Ubi Soft

Viacom New Media

Virgin Interactive Entertainment

Williams Entertainment

Unsorted

32X

Having pushed the system at Winter CES 1995, few new 32X games were announced or shown at E3, with many just being updated demos of what had been seen at the earlier event (although some had been released within the four month gap). Many of these would be cancelled or moved to the Saturn in the months that followed.

Mega Drive

Similarly to the 32X, Sega's Mega Drive lineup was very similar to Winter CES 1995, its stand-out new title being Vectorman. Much of the gaming press were starting to write off 16-bit formats, but the likes of Earthworm Jim 2 and Mortal Kombat 3 continued to draw interest.

Sega

Acclaim Entertainment

Accolade

American Softworks

Catapult

Disney

Electronic Arts

Hi-Tech Expressions

Infogrames

Interplay

JVC

Konami

Namco

Ocean Software

Parker Brothers

Playmates Interactive Entertainment

THQ

Time Warner Interactive

Titus

U.S. Gold

Viacom New Media

Virgin Interactive Entertainment

Williams Entertainment

Unsorted

Mega-CD

The Mega-CD offerings at the show were almost identical to Winter CES 1995, as both Sega and third-parties began moving development to the Saturn.

Mega-CD 32X

While several Mega-CD 32X games had been announced at Winter CES 1995, almost all of them had been cancelled in favour of the Saturn. Only Sega was talking about the platform at E3, and only in the context of games that had already been announced.

Sega

Game Gear

Game Gear development was passed its peak in May 1995, but many companies were still happy to support the platform, particularly THQ which after striking a deal with Electronic Arts, announced a wave of handheld ports of older console titles.

Windows PC

At a press event the day before Winter CES 1995, Tom Kalinske claimed, on stage, that Sega of America could not port Sonic the Hedgehog to Pentium-class PCs[67]. Four months later, a port of the more advanced Sonic the Hedgehog CD was on show at E3, heralding what would be the start of Sega publishing older Mega Drive, Mega-CD (and later Saturn) titles to the platform.

Arcade

Floor plan

Magazine articles

Main article: E3 1995/Magazine articles.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 21
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 Sega Magazin, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 78
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 19
  4. 4.0 4.1 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 56
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 8
  6. 6.0 6.1 Gamers, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 54
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 66
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 65
  9. 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 9.23 9.24 9.25 9.26 9.27 9.28 9.29 9.30 9.31 9.32 9.33 9.34 9.35 9.36 9.37 9.38 9.39 9.40 9.41 9.42 9.43 9.44 9.45 9.46 9.47 9.48 9.49 9.50 9.51 9.52 9.53 9.54 9.55 9.56 9.57 9.58 9.59 9.60 9.61 9.62 9.63 9.64 9.65 9.66 9.67 9.68 9.69 9.70 9.71 9.72 9.73 9.74 9.75 9.76 9.77 9.78 9.79 9.80 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 31
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 67
  11. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 22
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 63
  13. 13.0 13.1 Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 10
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 GamePro, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 62
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 GamePro, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 60
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 10
  17. 17.0 17.1 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 64
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 18.6 18.7 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 62
  19. 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 19.15 19.16 19.17 19.18 19.19 19.20 19.21 19.22 19.23 19.24 19.25 Gamers, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 56
  20. 20.00 20.01 20.02 20.03 20.04 20.05 20.06 20.07 20.08 20.09 20.10 20.11 Mega Fun, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-21), page 9
  21. Press release: 1995-05-10: ACCLAIM OBTAINS RIGHTS TO 'MYST' FOR SEGA SATURN
  22. 22.00 22.01 22.02 22.03 22.04 22.05 22.06 22.07 22.08 22.09 22.10 22.11 22.12 22.13 22.14 22.15 22.16 22.17 22.18 22.19 22.20 22.21 22.22 22.23 22.24 22.25 22.26 22.27 22.28 22.29 22.30 22.31 22.32 22.33 22.34 22.35 22.36 22.37 22.38 22.39 22.40 22.41 22.42 22.43 22.44 22.45 22.46 22.47 22.48 22.49 22.50 22.51 22.52 22.53 22.54 22.55 22.56 22.57 22.58 22.59 22.60 22.61 22.62 Sega Magazin, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 87
  23. 23.0 23.1 Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 13
  24. Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 14
  25. 25.0 25.1 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 16
  26. 26.00 26.01 26.02 26.03 26.04 26.05 26.06 26.07 26.08 26.09 26.10 26.11 26.12 26.13 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 12
  27. 27.0 27.1 Mega Fun, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-21), page 12
  28. 28.00 28.01 28.02 28.03 28.04 28.05 28.06 28.07 28.08 28.09 28.10 28.11 28.12 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 9
  29. 29.00 29.01 29.02 29.03 29.04 29.05 29.06 29.07 29.08 29.09 29.10 29.11 29.12 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 14
  30. 30.00 30.01 30.02 30.03 30.04 30.05 30.06 30.07 30.08 30.09 30.10 30.11 30.12 30.13 30.14 30.15 30.16 Gamers, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 57
  31. 31.0 31.1 31.2 31.3 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 68
  32. 32.0 32.1 32.2 32.3 32.4 32.5 32.6 GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 20
  33. 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 33.4 33.5 33.6 33.7 33.8 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 15
  34. 34.0 34.1 34.2 Play Time, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-07), page 17
  35. 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 35.5 35.6 35.7 35.8 35.9 GamePro, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 61
  36. Mega Fun, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-21), page 20
  37. 37.00 37.01 37.02 37.03 37.04 37.05 37.06 37.07 37.08 37.09 37.10 37.11 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 11
  38. 38.00 38.01 38.02 38.03 38.04 38.05 38.06 38.07 38.08 38.09 38.10 38.11 38.12 38.13 38.14 38.15 38.16 38.17 38.18 38.19 38.20 38.21 38.22 38.23 38.24 38.25 38.26 38.27 38.28 38.29 Gamers, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 58
  39. 39.0 39.1 Computer & Video Games, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-09), page 7
  40. 40.0 40.1 Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 20
  41. 41.00 41.01 41.02 41.03 41.04 41.05 41.06 41.07 41.08 41.09 41.10 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 16
  42. Computer & Video Games, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-09), page 8
  43. 43.0 43.1 Mega Fun, "07/95" (DE; 1995-06-21), page 14
  44. 44.00 44.01 44.02 44.03 44.04 44.05 44.06 44.07 44.08 44.09 44.10 44.11 44.12 44.13 44.14 44.15 44.16 GamePro, "August 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 40
  45. 45.0 45.1 GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 24
  46. 46.00 46.01 46.02 46.03 46.04 46.05 46.06 46.07 46.08 46.09 46.10 46.11 46.12 46.13 46.14 46.15 46.16 Gamers, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 55
  47. 47.00 47.01 47.02 47.03 47.04 47.05 47.06 47.07 47.08 47.09 47.10 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 25
  48. 48.00 48.01 48.02 48.03 48.04 48.05 48.06 48.07 48.08 48.09 48.10 48.11 48.12 48.13 48.14 48.15 Sega Magazin, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 77
  49. 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 49.5 49.6 49.7 GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 25
  50. Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 21
  51. 51.0 51.1 51.2 GamePro, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-0x-xx), page 63
  52. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 26
  53. 53.00 53.01 53.02 53.03 53.04 53.05 53.06 53.07 53.08 53.09 53.10 53.11 53.12 53.13 53.14 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 12
  54. 54.0 54.1 54.2 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 71
  55. 55.0 55.1 55.2 55.3 55.4 55.5 Sega Magazin, "Juli 1995" (DE; 1995-06-14), page 76
  56. GamePro, "August 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 37
  57. 57.0 57.1 57.2 57.3 57.4 57.5 57.6 57.7 57.8 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 69
  58. 58.00 58.01 58.02 58.03 58.04 58.05 58.06 58.07 58.08 58.09 58.10 58.11 58.12 58.13 58.14 58.15 58.16 58.17 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 9
  59. 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 59.4 59.5 59.6 59.7 GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 7: July 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 27
  60. 60.0 60.1 60.2 60.3 Player One, "Juin 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 70
  61. 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 61.4 61.5 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 10
  62. 62.0 62.1 62.2 62.3 62.4 62.5 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 11
  63. 63.00 63.01 63.02 63.03 63.04 63.05 63.06 63.07 63.08 63.09 63.10 63.11 63.12 63.13 63.14 Video Games, "7/95" (DE; 1995-06-28), page 13
  64. Sega Magazine, "July 1995" (UK; 1995-06-15), page 18
  65. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "July 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 60
  66. 66.0 66.1 66.2 66.3 66.4 Mean Machines Sega, "August 1995" (UK; 1995-06-26), page 18
  67. GameFan, "Volume 3, Issue 3: March 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 106


Trade events attended by Sega in the United States
"Arcade"
American Coin Machine Exposition (ACME) 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96
(A)MOA Expo / Amusement Expo 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 ... 75 ... 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13
International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) 95 ... 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 22
"Home"
Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 21
International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Summer 83 | Summer 86 | Winter 87 | Summer 87 | Winter 88 | Summer 88 | Winter 89 | Summer 89 | Winter 90 | Summer 90 | Winter 91 | Summer 91 | Winter 92 | Summer 92 | Winter 93 | Summer 93 | Winter 94 | Summer 94 | CES 1995 | 12
SIGGRAPH 93 | 94 | 95