If E3 is market day, with developers and publishers hawking their wares in a hubbub of noise and visual splendour, then GDC is a craft fair. Its a gathering of artists and creators, a chance to put aside business rivalries and to share, not just showcase, talent and techniques that help make games better for everyone. Its also why Satoru Iwatas unveiling of a brand new Zelda title during his keynote speech was such a shock. It wasnt just Nintendo seeking to hog the limelight - the game formed the backbone of what Iwatas presentation was all about but it was perhaps an early sign of the companys shift away from a death-or-glory E3 battle to the special events they host today. With nothing competing for attention, Phantom Hourglasss reveal generated a lot of buzz. Many of the games more controversial mechanics, such as pure stylus control and repeated visits to a central dungeon, had yet to be discussed. Even so, just the look of the game was enough to provoke controversy the game seemed to be aping the look and sailing mechanics of Wind Waker, even though Nintendo had acknowledged how divisive they could be. Phantom Hourglasss surprise debut set a trend of GDC unveilings that some developers found irritating theyd come to share knowledge, not watch trailers. Even so, it remains a novel and memorable reveal for an equally experimental Zelda outing.
