Last 
week’s E3 conference was a celebratory look at the growth that’s expected to come in the gaming industry’s near future. This week, though, it’s back to the present — and its harsh realities.
Retail sales of video game hardware and software were down 25 percent in May, according to The NPD Group. Total software sales — combining console, portable games and PC titles sold at retail — were down 44 percent compared to last year to $187.6 million.
Video 
game publishers and developers have spent the better part of this week at E3 trying to wow the often-jaded gamer with new installments of favorite franchises, games they’ve never heard of before and plenty of sizzle reels.
They’ve done a pretty good job, too, judging by feedback on gaming forums.
Sony 
was E3’s big winner in large part because of the company’s decision to price the PlayStation 4 at $399, a full $100 cheaper than Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox One.
But the man in charge of Xbox maintains Microsoft is offering an incredible deal.
While 
the video game industry was optimistic going into E3, the investment community was a bit more skeptical.
Certainly, the introduction of new consoles would give shares of the sector a boost, but would it be enough to bring back the glory days? Analysts were uncertain. But as E3 draws to a close, some of those industry observers have become more optimistic about the next 12 months and beyond.
The 
epic saga of Duke Nukem has taken another unexpected twist.
3D Realms, the creator of the iconic gaming character, is suing Gearbox Software, saying it is due $2 million in royalties over sales of Duke Nukem Forever.
While 
the Wii U hasn’t lived up to sales expectations and some important video game publishers have severely pulled back their support of the company, Nintendo’s global CEO isn’t looking to shift blame.
Unlike many executives who might obfuscate the issue with corporate doublespeak or finger-pointing, Satoru Iwata is blunt in his assessment of the company’s recent troubles.
The 
video-game industry’s annual E3 trade show is much like a carnival. And to get a true sense of the barely controlled chaos, you need to look past the game booths and crowded show floor.
This year, Nintendo offered people who were unable to attend the show (which is the vast majority of the gaming population) the opportunity to play demos of the unreleased games at more than 100 Best Buy locations around the country. That gave fans a bite of the smorgasbord.
E3 is a constantly moving, nearly organic being. Capturing all of the show’s eccentricities is impossible, but here are a few snapshots of the industry’s annual party-trade show.
The 
main event at this year’s E3 may be the slugfest between Sony and Microsoft, but the undercard is pretty interesting, too.
Ouya, the forthcoming Android-based console that raised millions on Kickstarter, has gotten into a feud with the Entertainment Software Association, the host of the show – one that has been steadily escalating and may or may not have included a call to the Los Angeles police department.
There 
are a lot of really, really great games, hardware and accessories on display at E3 this year.
Then there’s this stuff.
Technology wasn’t exactly polite at this year’s show — both Sony and Microsoft had notable problems at their respective press conferences — but it sure got weird. Poke around the strange little corners of E3 and you’ll find all sorts of bizarre bits, such as these five:
The 
PlayStation 4 represents more than just the next generation of gaming for Sony. It could be the flag bearer for the next generation of the 67-year-old company itself.
Sony CEO Kaz Hirai (who formerly ran the PlayStation division) has made it clear that he sees the console as one of the tentpole units that will lead the company back to prosperity. And early indications are that it plans to do that by changing the closed gate philosophy Sony has clung to for so long.
Chris Morris: Journalist 