Support NeoGAF

[midnightguy]

How did the Summer CES in Chicago (usually in June I think) of the 1980s and early 1990s compare to E3 which started in 1995 ?

Ive never been to an E3 but I did goto Summer CES in 1992 and 1993 during the
Genesis - Turbo - SNES era where I saw the debut of SNES Street Fighter 2, the SegaCD, the TurboDuo, SNES Donkey Kong Country, among other things. it was pretty awesome.

then Summer CES moved to Philly, unless I am mistaken, where it became irrelevant for videogames, and then either the next year or year after, E3 came into being, in 1995.


for those of you who have been to Summer CES in Chicago (where many famous things happened like Nintendo's betrayal of Sony over the CD-ROM) and also E3 in Atlanta and/or LA, how does Summer CES compare to E3 ? if they can be compared.

 

[fugimax]

Basically CES just started shunning video game companies is how I remember it. There was such a competition for space as the consumer electronic market grew, the gaming companies kind of got the shaft in terms of space, etc.

When the video game market began growing like crazy, though, to the point where it could support it's own show, E3 was started. Again, if I remember correctly, the first couple E3's were tame...but since then it's grown into a FFA.

Since I never went to CES, the only thing I remember about news coming out of it was seeing it in Nintendo Power all the time. They'd have the latest news from CES. I believe, generally, announcements were much more tame and less grandious.

 

[Brandon F]

I REALLY dug playing that Sonic rollerball arcade game at CES'94.

Completely shat myself when I witnessed the unveiling of Mario All-stars, Nintendo was pimping the hell out of it, dozens of demo stations. On the flipside a VERY early english rendition of FF6 US, was only shown on a single kiosk tucked FAR FAR back in Square's meager section. Yoshi's stupid Safari and that lame Mario/Wario mouse-based game were getting guffah's and FF6 was totally invisible. THAT assuredly will never happen again.

The Metal Combat demo I played immediately sold me on a Super Scope 6 though. Stunt Race FX was a completely different beast at E3 than the final project turned out...completely different.

Shame I didn't wait 3+hours to witness the "Starfox Experience" or whetever. I was curious the whole show about what Nintendo was showing off in that giant dome structure. Always generated a crowd, did anyone see it?

 

[AbeFroman]

I always liked the Summer CES as it was far more low key than the winter one in Vegas.

You are right, the summer show marked some fairly big announcements - Ultra 64 arcade technology and Atari Jaguar to name a few more.

I really didn't notice a huge difference between CES and E3...always lots to see and many, many parties to attend. Chicago was a great town for that. Much better than Atlanta or LA I think.

 

[midnightguy]

a VERY early english rendition of FF6 US, was only shown on a single kiosk tucked FAR FAR back in Square's meager section.

OMFG, I remember that, I remember that! only a single kiosk of FF6, and it was kinda put back far away from most everything. I think I played it too

 

[madara]

Summer Ces were amazing shows there their own right. I had so many great times. Unveiling of snes was best show I ever been to including 3 E3s. I still have that mario with me video around here somewhere(one where you get jump in SMW with mario)