E3 2005: Revenge of the movie

News - Sam's Episode III 'hangover' bites...

Today's the second day of E3. We'd expect things to be in full swing now. The initial confusion of the first day will have abated somewhat, letting attendees get on with the business of finding out what will be the next best things in gaming entertainment. Game fans will be anticipating what may be in store for today's show. But today is also a big day for another type of fan, although in this particular case the two passions tend to show up in the same person with an unusual regularity.

It's because of Star War Episode III that many folk who are following E3 will be doing so with slightly less sleep then they are used to. But as the majority won't have caught the movie at last night's midnight opening screenings there will be a strong tug felt by many as the day progresses. E3 faces a strong threat today. And it is a force so strong that not even booth babes dressed in slave costumes will be able to keep hordes of excited fans from fleeing the tyranny of the LACC and making a dash for the nearest cinema. The release of Revenge of Sith is guaranteed to account for millions of dollars, pounds, euros, etc in lost productivity as Star Wars fans all around the globe down tools so they can see that last ever Star Wars film for the last time. This effect is sure to be keenly felt at the expo today.

Canny exhibitors will debut spacey-type games while others may be able to catch a bit of a breather, if the crowds do indeed thin out today. And the hype and attraction of the announcements and revelations at E3 will also face the Empire on the myriad of forums and chat rooms that will be discussing their thoughts on Episode III rather than what they think of the 'body' animations in Dead or Alive 4. Of course, unless the film's a real stinker, the thrill of Star Wars will add a spring to the step of those guilty of having succumbed to the dark side.