E3 for me is that wonderful time of the year where I spend a bunch of time watching streams and making a list of games I’ll never buy. As for sports games, I like to think of it as the best they’ll look, because on that stage they always look better than they do in my console. Except for the part when they bring out a random pro to demo something they’ve never done before, you know, like playing NBA 2K with PlayStation Move controllers. I may seem down on E3, but it’s really like Christmas for gamers – until the realization that some of the games you’re interested in won’t be coming out for two years or more.

E3 2015, to me, sets the table for the coming year of sports titles. It wasn’t always this way, since EA’s PGA game used to hit before the show, but this year is different. Getting gameplay impressions of and more information about what’s on the horizon is key for me, and I do think that there’s a lot to be excited about. How will EA’s return to golf after two years pan out? How has Madden changed from last year, in practice? Will NBA Live take serious steps forward?

There’s also the element of surprise that comes with every E3. Could someone else step up to the plate for baseball in 2016 other than Sony? (No, RBI Baseball doesn’t count.) Could this be the year that a football game tries to challenge Madden, with or without licensing? Could another retro franchise make a return to the modern era? Even if none of these happen, it’s fun to think about… and that’s really why E3 is such a special event for me every year.

It’s about the possibilities, as well as the new information that we see and read.

The question that could really be asked is “What does the EA Sports section of their press conference mean for you?”

After all, Electronic Arts is the only publisher that really spends any significant time catering to the sports gaming enthusiast during E3. The beauty of video games is that it’s “high school opposite day” all of the time; the jocks (sports game fans) are the outsiders and are generally looked down upon. Sports presentations are met with the same blank stares by the majority of media (and gamers) that occur during the financial reports. Publishers are aware of this, so when showing the newest sports titles only the most bombastic moments of the sport seem like they’re presented.

As a result, most presentations satisfy no one. They’re not particularly engaging to the non-sports fan and they don’t really delve into the minutiae of the games for the dedicated people. While I’m definitely happy to see some sports representation, E3 leaves me generally feeling underwhelmed.

I find that I’m struggling a bit with this question. In the context of sports games, I find that E3 2015 means very little outside of jostling with fans for space at the demo kiosks in EA’s hot, overcrowded booth. Most of the details are usually out in the wild by the time E3 rolls around, and outside of a few nice sizzle reels and some breathless hype, there isn’t a lot to be gleaned from what is shown.

On the other hand, E3 for me is like Christmas. I get to tear off the wrapping paper on all the new sports sims, see all the rookies in action, and say to myself, “This is it! This is totally the year! These sports sims are finally going to nail everything and I’m going to be so happy.” In that regard, E3 is even more exciting than that moment when they show up in the mail and I pop them into my Xbox or PlayStation. E3 holds both the promise of what’s to come and the tantalizing excitement of actually getting to play them for myself.

It’s for that reason that I find myself overhyping E3, imagining that this is the year that all my hopes and dreams come true. NHL 15 is a particularly egregious example of me setting my expectations too high. I just have to sit back, digest the news as it comes in, and examine it with the most critical eye possible.

But damn, I can’t wait to get some hands-on time with Madden 16. I guess I never learn.

For me, E3 means the end of the gaming season and the start of the scouting season. This is usually the time when my attention shifts from the current yearly releases. I pore through all the information from the press conferences and news items I can find looking for clues on features and game play changes.

Its always fun for me to daydream about how I will adapt to, and utilize, the new options against human opponents. This is also the time to hope for polish of the features that already exist. I always wonder if this is the year more of that real world magic will find its way into some of my favorite plays. Will they build out a way to turn an end zone fade into a real battle for the ball? Can the hand fighting and positional struggle of a one on one go route be translated to code? It may be wishful thinking to get excited about these long shot concepts; but we are a few short months from a new gaming season and anything is still possible.

E3 acts as the true-kickoff to the sports gaming season. With nearly all of the yearly sports titles now releasing in a six week period, from late August to early October, E3 is placed perfectly for rolling out first trailers and big announcements.

The impact of E3 though in recent years has waned, as has the anticipation many, including myself, feel for the event. Consumers are justifiably skeptical of any outlandish claims being made – the fault of the publishers for embellishing and failing to fulfill promises over the years – and the actual show floor has become largely irrelevant for insight. There’s a reason why NHL 15 won all sorts of awards last year. No one gets a true sense of the games from playing specially-built slices in a controlled but uncomfortable environment.

Still we all hope for something special. A surprise game announcement or a new innovative feature being revealed is tantalizingly plausible even if unlikely. Some year another of those will happen. It’s that hope of something better for the genre that gets everyone to tune in to the press conferences, and pay attention to any news related to the games.