Since 1995 E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) has remained the premier stage for gaming announcements and demonstrations. While most of the time it’s a place where publishers and manufacturers converge to show what’s next for gaming, poor preparation sometimes leads to downright embarrassing moments. Given its 19 years of history, there are many moments to remember, some better than others.

We’ve decided to look back at these moments to recall why E3 can be exciting, funny, and oh so disappointing all at the same time.

The Good

PlayStation Cremates Sega in First E3 (E3 1995)

Back in 1995 the definition of a big announcement was quite different than it is today. That’s because during that year the first E3 ever was held, and there previously was no big stage for companies to make their announcements.

Sega would take the stage and announce that the Sega Saturn would launch “tomorrow”, a surprise given publishers and developers were told it would come out later in the year. After digging themselves a small hole, Sony would walk up on stage and announce that the PlayStation would be arriving soon for $299, a full $100 less than the Saturn. The audience roared and at that single moment the gaming landscape was changed forever.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Shows the Future of the Action Adventure Genre (E3 2009)

There have been hundreds if not thousands of gameplay demonstrations at E3 over the years, but very few as impactful as Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. In just a short amount of time the world was given a glimpse into what would become the golden standard for action adventure, a formula that dozens of AAA games would follow.

Sony had a strong E3 2009, but indisputably stole the show with Uncharted 2. The game would release just a few months later and would win the overwhelming majority of 2009’s game of the year awards.

Kevin Butler Brings Energy to PlayStation (E3 2010)

Sony has always come across as a bit mechanical, but Jerry Lambert under the moniker Kevin Butler changed that in 2010 when he walked on stage and delivered a charismatic performance full of energy and quality laughs. It was like watching Sony’s marketing transform in an instant, becoming aware of what its demographic actually likes.

Lambert would go on to be featured in several commercials that gamers regard as some of Sony’s best until a huge dispute between both parties a couple years over his appearance in a commercial with the Nintendo Wii.

Reggie Fils-Aime Introduces Himself and Twilight Princess (E3 2004)

When Reggie took the stage during Nintendo’s E3 2004 Press Conference, few knew who he was. By the end of the show, Nintendo fans were gung-ho about the brand more than ever before.

Reggie would say, “he with the best games wins”, going on to show several huge upcoming games. Among those games was The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. It looked good. So good, in fact, that the audience exploded with room-shaking cheers at the end of the demonstration when Shigeru Miyamoto walked on stage with a sword and shield. It was so loud that an E3 crowd hasn’t matched it during the last decade despite a large number of attendees allowed into the press conferences.

Reggie’s body was ready.

Final Fantasy XIII On Xbox 360 Preludes Multiplatform Avalanche (E3 2008)

While Square Enix was never technically “exclusive” to PlayStation, several of its most successful games were only on PlayStation such as the award-winning Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X. So when Microsoft showed a trailer for Final Fantasy XIII during its 2008 Press Conference, it shocked many gamers and weakened Sony’s exclusive franchise list.

This multiplatform move was one of the first of many which would soon follow, including Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid.

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