No more E3?

[Dillweedshake]

E3 Cancelled?
The world's largest videogame convention may be no more.
by IGN Staff


July 30, 2006 - According to a report at Next-Generation, E3 2006 may have been the last Electronic Entertainment Expo ever, at least as we know it.

While no official announcement from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) -- the foundation that organizes E3 -- has been made as of yet, the buzz around the videogame industry this weekend is that E3 is no more.

The reasons for the change are mostly economic. As Next-Generation reports, "the larger exhibitors have jointly decided that the costs of the event do not justify the returns, generally measured in media exposure." Larger companies such as Electronic Arts, Activision, and Midway have long organized their own individual gamer days for the press to see and play their upcoming titles. E3 is often much more hectic and overwhelming than individual events, so it looks like the larger publishers are questioning the value of displaying their wares on the jam-packed floors of the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC).

There are rumblings that the trade show may go on in a different form. The new show would be vastly reduced in scope and scale, and move from its current location at the massive LACC to a smaller venue.

An official press announcement with more details is expected to hit the wire tomorrow. IGN will bring you more on this surprising story as we hear it.

I remember them saying something like this last year,so who knows?

[pached]

E3 is going from a huge trade show to a smaller downsized developer's conference. Perhaps it's for the better.

[L3e]

Wow, that sucks! I think one of the main problems they were having is that there were just way to many people there. From what I was hearing, it sounded like there were way to many exibitors and normal people (like people who work at game rental places) in the mix. And when there are that many people there the it's hard for the media to get their job done. Just look at that line to play the Nintendo Wii, do you think a reporter has time to wait all day in one line?

They should just make it so that only exhibitors (and strictly only people that are actually working at the show) and media can attend and there should be strict guidlines on what the exhibitors can do so they don't get in the way of the media.

Also, I wonder what Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony think about it. They are really the ones that matter the most. If EA, Activision, and others would rather put on their own events, it would be different, but I think it would still be E3.

[L3e]

This article seems a lot more understandable and accurate:

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060730-7382.html

[Danzego]

Ya know, it's funny, because it's companies like Activision and EA (in particular) that turned E3 into the bloated mess it became. Sure, it's not their fault that everyone and their grandmother can get in, but I'm talking more the real issue here: the carnival, complete with giant booths, flashing lights, loud displays (meant to drown out everyone else around them), barkers trying to get you over to their booths.....so on and so forth.

It's very simple: to address the crowds, the ESA needs to address that themselves. As for the exhibitors, take responsibility and downsize your own displays to a respectable level. Get rid of the stage shows, the smoke machines, the live bands, and all that other crap that has absolutely NOTHING to do with games. They'll have the show they want and they can even take credit for getting it back to what it's supposed to be about (even though they don't want to take responsibility for it becoming what it has).

That's just my two cents, though. What do I know?

[L3e]

Here is the official press release. No more big expo, but they are still going to have it. It is just going to be smaller meetings and conferences.

To better address the needs of today's global computer and video game industry, the 2007 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo) is evolving into a more intimate event focused on targeted, personalized meetings and activities, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today.

“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.”

The new E3Expo will take shape over the next several months. As currently envisioned, it will still take place in Los Angeles, described by ESA as a “great and supportive partner helping to build E3.” It will focus on press events and small meetings with media, retail, development, and other key sectors. While there will be opportunities for game demonstrations, E3Expo 2007 will not feature the large trade show environment of previous years.

“E3Expo remains an important event for the industry and we want to keep that sense of excitement and interest, ensuring that the human and financial resources crucial to its success can be deployed productively to create an exciting new format to meet the needs of the industry. The new event ensures that there will be an effective and more efficient way for companies to get information to media, consumers, and others,” said Lowenstein.

Additionally, the evolution of the video game industry into a vibrant and expanding global market has led to the creation of major events in different regions, such as the Games Convention in Leipzig, the Tokyo Game Show, and company-specific events held by Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, and others around the world. As a result, Lowenstein said, “It is no longer necessary or efficient to have a single industry ‘mega-show'. By refocusing on a highly-targeted event, we think we can do a better job serving our members and the industry as a whole, and our members are energized about creating this new E3.”

Additional details about the new E3Expo event will be forthcoming in the next few months.

[XCBrian]

No doubt it's better for the press, but the gamers who manage to sneak in every year (or atleast looked forward to doing so) have little to no chance of getting in now.

[Triple H]

BOO! i was going to go to LA to E3 07 dammit I think that sucks that e3 is no more they should reconcider