As we ramp up for E3 2009, check out this full-page promo for the very first E3, in 1995. The ad captures a time when the games industry was full of hope. Gamers were salivating over a whopping five major consoles, only three of which would turn out to be total abortions. Baseball games were hot, as a prolonged MLB strike stoked America's love of labor disputes. Best of all, we were shooting clowns. Will this year's E3 measure up? Only time will tell. But no, it won't.

Check out more great retro game ads.