There are moments in gaming history that will remain in gamers’ hearts and minds forever. These moments are so iconic or resonate with people so much that while they don’t always think about it, it will return to them, and a flood of emotions will join them. Over the weekend, it was revealed to fans that the legendary Nintendo E3 2004 press conference turned 20 years old. This was when the Electronic Entertainment Expo was held in May, not June as it would for most of its life. But even 20 years later, you can remember and cherish the incredible moments that event held.
For example, this was the event that brought Reggie Fils-Aime to our screens for years to come! His legendary line about “who he was” and what Nintendo was going to do sent fun shockwaves throughout the industry. Why? He wasn’t the “typical executive” with a suit and tie. He was a gamer, and he was someone who knew how to connect with fans in a way that others couldn’t.
That’s just the start of what this event did. Not only did it announce several games for the Nintendo Gamecube that would become iconic, but it would also unveil the future via the Nintendo DS. This is important because the DS is the best-selling platform that Nintendo has ever produced. While some feel the Nintendo Switch could catch up to it, it still remains the top dog for now. It’s easy to forget that there was a time when there was both a console market and a handheld market. But with the revealing of the Nintendo DS, it highlighted that Nintendo would dominate it for years to come, even with rival Sony trying to cut in on it all.
As if all of that wasn’t enough, the press conference showcased an even more distant future, as they revealed The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess, a game that would drop in late 2006 as the launch title for the Nintendo Wii! The game is still praised by many as one of the best in the legendary franchise, and the Wii would go on to sell over 100 million units. Oh, and that reveal showcased creator Shigeru Miyamoto coming out with the Master Sword and Hylian Shield, much to the joy of gamers.
Twenty years have passed since then, and Nintendo isn’t what it was back then. However, it’s still around, it’s still kicking butt and making games, and that’s what matters.
If you wish to watch the entire Nintendo E3 2004 event, you can check it out via the video below!
