The table below shows total positive purchase interest (definitely or probably interested in buying the title) for games that garnered at least 30 percent on this metric and will be released at least a month from now.  For most of these twelve titles, either a trailer was released or gameplay was demoed in some form at E3. But interestingly, there were not massive spikes in consumer interest in purchasing these titles from pre- to post-E3. Most moved up or down 1-2 percent at most, which is well within the margin of error. In other words, games that already tugged at gamers’ hearts held on.

E3, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony Buzz, May 24 – June 6, 2009

Microsoft kicked-off the excitement with a pre-expo press conference on Monday, announcing the new Project Natal, a hands-free motion sensing device for Xbox 360, and the upcoming The Beatles: Rock Band game. Even with an on-stage appearance by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to endorse the new Rock Band title, Project Natal overshadowed all other announcements, generating 12% of E3 discussion.

Not to be outdone, Nintendo and Sony each held press conferences on the first official day of E3, revealing major upcoming products of their own. Nintendo unveiled a new Vitality Sensor for Wii, but consumers more heavily discuss two upcoming games for the ever-popular Mario franchise, New Super Mario Bros. Wii and Mario Galaxy 2. In fact, New Super Mario Bros. Wii beats out other highly anticipated titles like God of War III for PS3 and Metal Gear Solid for Xbox 360 in buzz volume. Consumers also heavily discuss the PSP Go!, the new handheld gaming device officially unveiled by Sony on Tuesday. The new device makes up 11% of all E3 buzz, coming a close second behind the heavily discussed Project Natal in hardware-related discussion.

With a bevy of announcements expected from press conferences of the major players in the gaming industry, what are gaming enthusiasts discussing prior to the show? Even though most gamers agree that new developments for existing hardware is cool, console enthusiasts are more focused on what the future holds for upcoming games. One week before the conference, upcoming titles were mentioned in just over half of all E3 discussion, while the new PSP Go! and anticipated Xbox 360 motion sensor each garner less than 10% of E3 buzz. Unveilings are expected to occur for a long list of titles, but prior to the expo, games generating the most buzz include Gran Turismo 5 for PS3, Mass Effect 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4 + Oxide for Xbox 360, and Legend of Zelda: Spirit Track for Nintendo DS.