backtop

Print 17 comment(s) - last by Trisped.. on Aug 2 at 6:35 PM
E3 has annually drawn thousands of journalists, retailers, exhibitors and others -- not anymore

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is the biggest and most popular convention designed specifically for video games.  It is the event where game publishers announce new products while new games and consoles are available for testing.  The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the organization that hosts E3, announced the convention will convert from a trade show with over 50,000 attendees to an "intimate event."  E3 2006, which took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center in May had almost 60,000 attendees with 450 exhibitors.  Game demonstrations will still be present at future shows, but without the large, flashy booths that were present at the past E3 shows.  According to the official press release from the ESA:

“The world of interactive entertainment has changed since E3Expo was created 12 years ago.  At that time we were focused on establishing the industry and securing orders for the holiday season,” said Douglas Lowenstein, President of the ESA, the trade association representing U.S. computer and video game publishers and the owner of E3Expo.  “Over the years, it has become clear that we need a more intimate program, including higher quality, more personal dialogue with the worldwide media, developers, retailers and other key industry audiences.”

Microsoft, Sony, THQ, and Electronic Arts were among a handful of companies that wanted to see a change in the way E3 was presented.  Companies with larger booths spend millions to rent floor space, put together booths, and transport and house employees in Los Angeles for the event.

Although E3 2007 will remain in Los Angeles, it will move to a much smaller venue, with a hotel being a likely candidate.  The date of the event will also be changed from May to early July, so that exhibitors will be able to present better demonstrations.  Details about more modifications will be revealed in the next several months.  The new format is expected to lower costs for the companies that attend E3.  Next year's event will also be called the "E3 Media Festival."

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
RIP E3
By 05SilverGT on 8/1/2006 11:01:16 AM , Rating: 3
Nothing like helping to kill the one show that gets gamers excited.




RE: RIP E3
By segagenesis on 8/1/2006 11:12:48 AM , Rating: 3
One show got gamers excited? Is the average gamer that easily swoon? I don't think I will be missing it, since one trade show is not going to influence what I will be buying. Sure, you can put up a glitzy display that has blinking lights and the kitchen sink... but in the end it comes down to putting money where your mouth is and having something decent. Hey, wasn't that Prey game first shown at E3 in 1997?


RE: RIP E3
By rushfan2006 on 8/1/2006 12:25:46 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
One show got gamers excited? Is the average gamer that easily swoon?


First I don't think coverage will change, if anything coverage will be BETTER because of this change, so I don't think there is any concern over that.

But yes gamers get excited over E3 -- at least the older gamers do. I guess that's the difference younger games hate reading things, and they don't care much about a game beyond glitzy graphics, soundtracks and possibly if their is a celebrity endorsement. While the game industry IMHO , especially for the PC market, has been rather stale the past couple years -- I still look forward to e3 coverage to see (and as of late "hope") what is worth getting excited for.

I've been following the e3 coverage since the first show 12 years ago...will kinda feel weird to not have the glitz in next years coverage but hopefully the content improves (along with the games).



RE: RIP E3
By segagenesis on 8/1/2006 12:46:57 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
But yes gamers get excited over E3 -- at least the older gamers do. I guess that's the difference younger games hate reading things, and they don't care much about a game beyond glitzy graphics, soundtracks and possibly if their is a celebrity endorsement.


I'm hoping thats worded backwards because some Atari 2600 games have more gameplay depth than some of the stuff I've seen lately. I certainly care that game has the kind of gameplay that would have me want to play it more than a few hours rather than playing a graphics demo.


RE: RIP E3
By rushfan2006 on 8/1/2006 2:12:52 PM , Rating: 2
No its worded correctly, your comment actually supports my point. If you enjoyed Atari 2600 games back in the 80's and think they had more depth back then than some games today do...I'd call that more of an "older gamer" comment (I'm horrible at wording things), than something a younger gamer would say. So yeah it's worded fine.


RE: RIP E3
By Tuor on 8/1/2006 2:30:07 PM , Rating: 2
I'm an "older gamer" (37) and I could care less about E3. To me, it just acted as a glorified PR event that Devs and Publishers spent way too much money and attention on. Instead, E3 should be about making business connections: it should be a trade show for industry insiders, not a show-the-public event, which it had essentially become.

I'm glad this has happened. Maybe Devs will focus more on getting their game out the door instead of worrying about having something to show for E3.


RE: RIP E3
By jjunos on 8/1/2006 1:45:02 PM , Rating: 2
Agreed on all points.

Especially in the last few years, it seems to be more of quantity versus quality on the type of coverage you get. I'd be much happier with a ton of less 'kids who work at gamespot', and more real gaming journalists.

...errr....if there's such a thing as a 'gaming' journalist ;)


Not sure what to think
By IMPoor on 8/1/2006 11:06:51 AM , Rating: 2
Is this good for the attendess or is it only good for the exhibitors? It seems like this will only serve as a way to save the exhibitors money since they no longer need to have elaborate booths to draw attention to them. It may also be good for the smaller guys trying to break into the market because now they are not over-shadowed by a company that can afford to spend one million on a booth. But I thought that was part of the major draw for the attendees. It seems like they are no longer catoring to the general public and trying to make it more of a industry only event. Maybe thats what it was intended to be all along.




RE: Not sure what to think
By nowayout99 on 8/1/2006 11:37:23 AM , Rating: 2
Depends on who the "attendees" are. E3 was supposed to be a press/trade show. But fanboys, GameStop cashiers, and all-around nobodies were getting in and causing big congestion. Those with legit reasons for being there are stuck waiting behind long lines in the muck.

The change was a long time coming. At least this way, media coverage and business can be accomplished much more efficiently. It was never meant to be for the fans.

But I think there should be shows for the fans too. It would be great if shows like PAX take off someday.


RE: Not sure what to think
By rushfan2006 on 8/1/2006 12:31:57 PM , Rating: 2
I agree, I think it was, for lack of a better word, 'retarded' that you could gain entry for such weak premises as "Oh I host my own website that reviews games and consoles" or "I work at gamestop"...etc. Sadly I use those two examples because I know people who really did get into past E3's on those premises.

So yeah I hope this new change means the end of that crap.


RE: Not sure what to think
By johnsonx on 8/1/2006 1:28:46 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
make it more of a industry only event. Maybe thats what it was intended to be all along.


Hammer, meet nail head.


The change
By mpeny on 8/1/2006 2:32:54 PM , Rating: 3
The change happened because "Microsoft, Sony, THQ, and Electronic Arts" got schooled by Nintendo and Wii hype. MS and Sony where irked that their money could not compete with the Nintendo Hype machine. So they threatened to pullout on the next E3. The committee decided to cave in and change the format of the convention.

Good or bad? More focused is always good, but you may get less press coverage when you get less exiting presentation.

This is a convention. You are supoosed to impress the industry and press.




RE: The change
By Xavian on 8/1/2006 8:30:13 PM , Rating: 2
that is probably exactly what happened. In one E3 Nintendo managed to turn from 'washed-out third place', to 'in the running for leader of the market'.

Sony and Microsoft didn't like being completely outclassed by the Wii and so they complained and threatened to stop going to E3. The result? a smaller E3 where even if something is awesome no-one from the public will be able to experience it.


E3Expo?
By OddTSi on 8/1/2006 2:22:23 PM , Rating: 2
Electronic Entertainment Expo Expo? Time to pull out some money from an ATM machine to buy me a new LCD display before my ADD disorder kicks in and I move on to something else.




RE: E3Expo?
By ssvegeta1010 on 8/1/2006 4:04:04 PM , Rating: 2
Don't forget your PIN number to use at the ATM machine. ;)


Too bad
By UsernameX on 8/1/2006 11:15:37 AM , Rating: 2
While it may be good for the smaller guys... it was almost like going to an amusement park. It was interesting and fun to play the new games and consoles. While it's not something that I can't live without, it was still a fun event... even better the year before with the girls =)




Good
By Trisped on 8/2/2006 6:35:05 PM , Rating: 2
E3 was suppose to be a traid show, not the gaming party it has been turning into. If you want a gaming party you should probably go to PAX (from Penny-Arcade). Personally I want something more like the early PC trade shows where people would go around talking about all the cools things they did and asking how others did their cool stuff. Maybe I am just weird though...




"Well, we didn't have anyone in line that got shot waiting for our system." -- Nintendo of America Vice President Perrin Kaplan









botimage
Copyright 2012 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki