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28 years later, Final Fantasy 8’s wonderfully awkward E3 reveal has hit the internet – please enjoy Square and EA execs desperately trying to stall for Squall for 7 minutes straight
A video of Final Fantasy VIII's original E3 reveal from 1998 has resurfaced online, showing executives from Square and EA awkwardly filling time on stage as they waited for the game's protagonist, Squall, to make his expected appearance. The footage has amused fans nearly three decades on, offering a nostalgic and unintentionally comic glimpse into the clunky live demonstrations and corporate stage presence typical of games industry events in the late 1990s.
The clip reportedly runs for around seven minutes, with representatives from both companies visibly struggling to stretch out their presentation before the game's big reveal moment. The resurfaced footage has been circulating among gaming communities online, who have highlighted its awkward charm as a reminder of how far game marketing and E3-style showcases have evolved since Final Fantasy VIII's original release.
In short
- Old Final Fantasy VIII E3 reveal video from 1998 resurfaces online.
- Square and EA executives seen awkwardly stalling for around seven minutes.
- Footage amuses fans as a nostalgic, unintentionally funny throwback.
Explained simply
Final Fantasy VIII is a video game released by Japanese company Square in 1998, and it was one of the most eagerly anticipated gaming releases of that era. The game follows Squall, a young soldier, through a cinematic story that was considered ambitious and innovative for a video game at the time.
E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo) is the video game industry's primary annual event for major announcements and product showcases. During the late 1990s, companies presented their biggest games through live stage demonstrations before audiences, with company executives attempting to create dramatic moments and build excitement, though these presentations often encountered technical difficulties and awkward pauses.
Video footage from E3 presentations of this era has become valued by gaming communities as a historical record of how the industry operated before modern presentation standards became established. Such materials illustrate the significant evolution of professional techniques and marketing approaches in gaming over the past three decades.