X

Stormtroopers, hip-hop and video games: EA Play at E3 2017

The 2017 Electronic Entertainment Expo is off to a bang. Here's what it was like to attend the first fan event, EA Play.

Josh Miller
ea-play-2017-7106-001
1 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

For the first time ever, the 2017 Electronic Entertainment Expo is open to the public. First stop for fans? Electronic Arts' EA Play, which was less press conference, more celebration of gaming.

ea-play-e3-2017-7123-003
2 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

EA did have a press conference, though, and it started off with a boom -- a drumline marched in to beat a warm welcome for Madden 18, and its new story mode co-starring Mahershala Ali ("Moonlight," "House of Cards.")

ea-play-e3-2017-7255-012
3 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Speaking of marches: Stormtroopers!

ea-play-e3-2017-7271-013
4 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

This particular Star Wars Imperial Platoon is here to celebrate Star Wars Battlefront II, and it's led by Janina Gavankar, an actress who'll be playing the lead role. She's an Imperial agent who wields blaster rifles and flies TIE fighters with equal aplomb.

ea-play-e3-2017-7277-014
5 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

If she looks familiar, perhaps you've seen her in "True Blood" or "The League," or heard her voice in Halo 5: Guardians.

ea-play-e3-2017-7314-016
6 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

In one of the game's early missions, she takes down Corellian Corvettes and even a Mon Calamari battle cruiser in a skirmish at an Imperial shipyard.

ea-play-e3-2017-7191-007
7 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

The last 30 minutes of the press conference were all about Star Wars Battlefront II. These pods were filled with players demonstrating the game's giant multiplayer battles live.

ea-play-e3-2017-6973-003
8 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Outside the venue, however, lines of fans are beginning to form.

ea-play-e3-2017-6990-004
9 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Security is tight: metal detectors, bomb-sniffing dogs...

ea-play-e3-2017-7372-006
10 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Stormtroopers, of course...

ea-play-e3-2017-7440-001
11 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

...and a giant Titan, the intelligent robot suits from Titanfall 2, overseeing the festivities.

ea-play-e3-2017-7400-012
12 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

It's a life-size Titan, all right.

ea-play-e3-2017-7023-007
13 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

EA's DJ spins some hip-hop, trance, and -- yes -- a little bit of Taylor Swift.

ea-play-e3-2017-7353-004
14 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

The lines are long.

ea-play-e3-2017-7361-005
15 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Really long. Particularly if you want to play Battlefront 2.

ea-play-e3-2017-7343-003
16 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Thankfully, there's some entertainment from the Madden drumline...

ea-play-e3-2017-7413-013
17 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

...and Janina is happy to sign your Star Wars Battlefront II poster. 

ea-play-e3-2017-7014-006
18 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Some attendees take photos with the EA Play sign inside.

ea-play-e3-2017-7392-010
19 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

For some, it's a family affair.

ea-play-e3-2017-7388-009
20 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

EA brought some fancy autos to celebrate Need for Speed: Payback.

ea-play-e3-2017-7420-014
21 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Food trucks help keep fans refreshed -- at $12 per burger or a crazy $4 per can of soda. Monster energy drinks are free, though.

ea-play-e3-2017-7398-011
22 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

Less of a line if you want to play EA Sports titles.

ea-play-e3-2017-7335-002
23 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

What's this guy doing? Not sure, but he seems to fit.

ea-play-e3-2017-6958-001
24 of 24 Josh Miller/CNET

One last pic from EA Play. We'll be back next year!

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos