E3: The net reacts to the PlayStation and Xbox events
The games themselves took centre stage at E3's press day this year.
Sony and Microsoft competed to claim they had the better exclusives, while the developer giants and indies unleashed a flood of computer-generated animations and live gameplay.
Nintendo will get its moment in the sun later this week - but for now it was all about titles for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Here's what a variety of experts made of the day, based on their posts to the net:
The Xbox press conference
Microsoft focused on THE DAMNED GAMES. Good job!
When they said they were just going to show games they certainly weren't lying: 90 minutes of back-to-back announcements, no executive waffle, no awkward celebrity cameos, no mention of Kinect and only one mention about Xbox TV shows.
I feel sorry for anyone that was playing a Microsoft drinking game during that, because you'd basically still be sober now.
Microsoft is milking the franchise somewhat, with Halo: The Master Chief Collection - the first of the new releases, coming in November 2014 - essentially a re-mastered edition of the first four Halo games on one disc... The bigger deal will be the release of Halo 5: Guardians. But for that you'll have to wait.
One thing to note at this point is that the updated visuals added to Halo 2 appear to be on par, technically speaking, with those of the assets in the Halo: Combat Evolved remake.
In other words, it looks like an Xbox 360 makeover, which may come as a slight disappointment to those who were expecting to see Halo 2 sporting super high-end new-gen visuals.
Microsoft's E3 presentation. Lots of games. Some of them quite interesting, but nothing mind-blowing.
Strong show of games, but a little bit of tech innovation magic was missing.
Xbox light-up wristband still glowing green, hours after the conference. Feel like if I try to remove it, it'll shoot talons into my wrist.
Sony's E3 show was long. Really long. Compared to the other press conferences at E3 2014, it felt like the running time clocked in at about 23 hours.
The PS4-focused event was pretty heavy on games, but not 100% focused the way Microsoft was with the Xbox One this morning... So far, this hasn't been a terribly revolutionary E3 outside of a few bright spots, but Sony performed adequately, narrowly appearing a bit more attractive than Microsoft.
Uncharted 4 is being handled by the duo who directed The Last of Us. There's good reason to be excited for it.
No Last Guardian? Big surprise... to nobody! "In full development", but there's nothing to show. Again. So sad it's laughable.
Sony E3 press: No Last Guardian/Agent/Grand Turismo/God of War. Order 1886/Uncharted pushed to 2015. 2014 looks weak for Sony exclusives.
Ones to watch
Everyone in the Polygon press room reacted in some way when the brief moments of Cuphead's play were shown, and the idea of aping the look of classic animation for a modern game is inspired.
The big reveal at Ubisoft is a great looking multiplayer version of [hostage rescue game] Rainbow Six ;-). Go figure.
No Man's Sky looks like the fulfilment of a promise sci-fi and space exploration games have been making for a long time: a massive universe filled with unique planets players can seamlessly hop between with ease.
Ok I want to play No Man's Sky like yesterday...
I am in awe of the scope and scale of No Man's Sky. Just wow.
Star Wars: Battlefront looks stunning.
People ask me what could possible surprises E3 can still offer. Stuff like that Phantom Dust announcement is right up there. People who didn't experience the first one - ie most everybody - get a look at something new and intriguing, and the five of us who played the original are freaking out at the idea of revisiting the game's ideas.
Ubisoft have revealed a new trailer for Valiant Hearts: The Great War, the forthcoming game set during World War I.
The game is inspired by letters sent by soldiers during the war and if the hopeless, sad tone of the voice over doesn't get you then the quiet piano soundtrack and whimpering dog will. What a refreshing change from all the shooting and explosions usually found at E3.
When you mention more than once how much your game isn't a clone, I'm gonna think you're making a clone.
Ugh. Rainbow Six Siege uses a helpless woman as the flag in its capture the flag-style multiplayer game.
The thing I least look forward to during E3 week: the compounded vitriol and cynicism directed towards blockbuster games. Takes all kinds.
Bioware still hasn't given us anything substantial on the new Mass Effect and now I am crying.
And The Best Game Name of E3 Goes To: Super Ultra Dead Rising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX Plus Alpha, the DLC for Dead Rising 3. Boy, that's a mouthful.
At the end of this busy, super-fun day, I'm way happy I own both an Xbox One and PS4. That's a win! Also NO MAN'S SKY!!!