Ten Ton Hammer - Taking MMO Gamers to the Next Level!

By Matt Wilson, Director of Development, Sony Online Entertainment Seattle

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Jim Lee got a great response from the crowd with his one-armed push-up.

Welcome Agents!

First day at E3 2008 and although the yearly gaming convention is back at the Los Angeles Convention Center (after a short stint in Santa Monica last year), it’s still a much smaller event than years past, and you can definitely feel the difference.  As opposed to the 30 or 40 thousand industry folks, there are only about two thousand people attending this year.  The good news is that Sony Online Entertainment is still showcasing a great line up of titles and our show floor booth and media suite are the same size as Sony Computer Entertainment’s, Microsoft, Capcom, etc.  At the new E3 everybody is equal. *smiles*

A scene from the trailer of DCUO.

Offshoot from the convention center, the first official day of E3, Sony Computer Entertainment held their annual press conference briefing and we got to attend!  Some big announcements we made, including the unveiling of the first game play footage for SOE Austin’s title in development, DC Universe™ Online.  Jim Lee, who is the executive creative director of DCUO, took the stage for the presentation and impressed everyone in the Shrine Auditorium (known for hosting the Oscars) with his best one-handed push up Jack Palance impression. DCUO seemed to make a stellar impression on the audience and the trailer looks fantastic.  

SCEA’s Little Big Planet looked incredible as well and was used brilliantly to make the normally dull business of yearly reports a fun thing to watch.  

The SOE Booth has smoothies!

The Agency™ made a few appearances at the beginning and end of the press event as well and it was great to see some of our spy action footage on the 60+ flat screens wallpapering the stage… although some folks thought we were making a bull riding simulator based on the brand new ParaGON field office footage that was shown. *winks*  Lead designer, Hal Milton and I, have tackled a bunch of press and video interviews with a number of different media outlets and publications so far, and day two brings even more.  You should track how big the circles under our eyes grow as the next couple of days play out.  More on The Agency and the SOE booth tomorrow…

BTW: I forgot to mention we have smoothies in our booth.  Nectar of the gods!

‘Till tomorrow Agents!

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(Editor's Note: You can see all of Matt's E3 blogs by clicking here!)