E3 Is Probably Dead, But Konami's Disastrous 2010 Conference Will Live In Our Minds Forever

thegamer.com:

E3 conferences are usually lavish affairs, with massive stages, dazzling light shows, and A-list celebrity presenters. But in 2010, Konami was operating on a different wavelength altogether. Its weirdly low budget conference took place in a small, dark theatre somewhere in LA, and has since become notorious for being the most cringe-worthy event in E3 history. That's definitely true, but there's also something charming about how comically bad it is.

Watching it back, the lack of atmosphere in the room is stifling. Between presentations, the camera hangs on the dingy, cheap-looking stage with only the deafening sound of journalists shuffling in their seats to fill the space. The red drapes make it feel like being trapped in the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks. If a small man in a red suit started dancing across the stage and talking backwards, it wouldn't seem out of place—though it would certainly break the tension in the room.

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I know public speaking is tough, but some of the hosts look like they're being held at gunpoint. They fluff their lines, glance nervously off-stage, and lean too close to the mic, filling the PA system with ear-shredding static. Jokes fall flat, the scripted banter is unconvincing, and the audience seems completely disinterested—not helped by the fact that the games on display are almost all completely mediocre. It's a disaster, but a funny one.

Let's pick out some highlights. In a presentation still referenced to this day, developer Tak Fujii—who has since left Konami—takes to the stage to introduce fantasy RPG Ninety-Nine Nights 2. Things start badly when he has to encourage the reluctant audience to clap for the game's logo. He then