E3 is Finished

[Diff-chan]

James, you forget that municipalities bend over backwards to accomodate events such as this. Even in a city like LA, 75,000 noobs in one week is a lot. The city also has a job to represent the hoteliers, policemen, etc. who would lose out big time from this.

I would bet dollars to doughnuts that this is all because Sony is still reeling from one of the worst shows ever. The more I think about it the more I think E3 is not going anywhere.

[JefmcC]

So, if they don't want to do E3 anymore, a court can tell them "Yes, you MUST put on this trade show or face huge fines!!!!!" ?

I'm sure E3 or something like it isn't going to end. I think the convention gives them more exposure than they think (i.e. internet exposure). I would bet it would only take one year (maybe two) without an E3 for the industry to rethink that they need something like this.

[Diff-chan]

So, if they don't want to do E3 anymore, a court can tell them "Yes, you MUST put on this trade show or face huge fines!!!!!" ?

If the ESA signed a deal with the city/LACC, yes.

The use of the word "rights" is kind of weird (unless there was an agreement), as I read it its just that LA isnt going to let the ESA pack up and run.

[JefmcC]

If the ESA signed a deal with the city/LACC, yes.

The use of the word "rights" is kind of weird (unless there was an agreement), as I read it its just that LA isnt going to let the ESA pack up and run.

Of course if they signed a contract that says they will do the show for X number of years, they they should live up to that.

I've never been to an E3 (don't care to anymore either) but from what I understand it's become more of a circus every year. Maybe they should get it back to being a truely "trade only" event and less of a free for all party? I know the parties are for schmoozing and such, but they ought to do E3 within a reasonable budget.

Scale it back, enforce the non-industry policy, stick to budget.

[1CCOSA]

Just a little more on this, according to this article E3 to be smaller "more intimate" and chances of an average gamer getting in are "slim to none."

http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/31/e3-for...asses-no-more/

E3 for the Masses No More
Posted Jul 31st 2006 5:28PM by TMZ Staff
Filed under: Life Style

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today that the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) will "evolve" into a smaller more intimate program. In layman's terms, the average gamers chances of getting into the exhibition that has defined the video game industry for the past 12 years is now slim to none.

E3 typically draws more then 60,000 attendees, each clamoring to visit the approximately 400 booths in a quest to gather as many free t-shirts and demo disks as their corporate logo-plastered bags could handle.

The new and improved E3Expo will take shape over the next few months. It will focus on press events and small meetings with media, retail and development.

So as gamers across the nation drown their sorrows in a Halo tournament or World of Warcraft orge battle, video game companies will be restructuring their plans for the upcoming year.

I attended E3 2002. I went representing Shmups under an exhibits only pass (from our former host Gamespy). Sure, not a lot to cover in that vein outside of R-TYPE III GBA, Robotech GBA, and Contra SS but I prepared a report on my experience (back then the the site was backlogged badly so was never able to print it, posted to the forum while I was there)

My fave moments:

*Got to see Miyamoto up close quite a few times (he was just about to sign my friend's E3 book before his bodyguards whisked him to a meeting )

*Got to meet Mr. T and got a deluxe autographed B&W photo from him for free

*Was able to get a review copy of Skygunner from an Atlus USA rep (no, not the retail demo, but the full game in a white CD slip case and plain printed CD)

*My top picks were Prime, Fusion, Sunshine, SS, and Panzer Orta. Getting to experience them months in advance was really neat.

*Helped Jonathan Dudlak take some shots of Prime's grappling beam

*Seeing a KCEJ rep laughing after just barely missing a perfect score on SS's snow stage as a U.S. rep egged him on was really funny

*Charles Martinet using a CGI Mario face to MST bits from some random TV shows. Fave part was seeing Mario riff an argument scene from Days of our Lives as attendees watched and laughed. Before Miyamoto came out to greet the crowd Martinet yelled "Poppa!"

Shame it's being scaled back and it really hurt not being able to go this year (especially wanted to try the Wii). I can definitely understand them wanting to tighten up a bit since it is so easy to attend (my friend was able to go since he was a Walmart employee, one day a SCEA rep gave him a ton of promo material and praised him and Walmart for being so good to Sony as a whole, lol) But it was a wonderful experience and I'm at least glad I could go just once.

[Frogacuda]

So the real question now is how much media will be able to go. bahn and I were kinda discussing wether or not this is an attempt to curb costs, or an attempt to control the flow of information so that stuff like the negative buzz surrounding PS3 doesn't happen. I hope we can still get in next year.

This last year they made it a lot harder for the average guy to get in, but even then most of the people there were people with generic "exhibits only" passes including a lot of people that have nothing to do with the game indusry. So they could conceivably scale it back a lot before having to boot small media outlets or independent developers or the like. But then excluding those people could be the goal.

[Diff-chan]

Probably not, Got Next is 2nd rate.

[Frogacuda]

That would hurt my feelings if I thought you actually read what I write there.

Actually, no it wouldn't. You're right, GN is a middle-sized fan site with above average QC and nothing more. Great for an amateur effort, but not compared to the pros. Not hugely important in the grand scheme of things, but not irrelevant either. In theory the idea of E3 is to get people talking, so you'd think it would be good to include as much media as possible, but we'll see.

[Diff-chan]

That would hurt my feelings if I thought you actually read what I write there.

Actually, no it wouldn't. You're right, GN is a middle-sized fan site with above average QC and nothing more. Not hugely important in the grand scheme of things, but not irrelevant either. In theory the idea of E3 is to get people talking, so you'd think it would be good to include as much media as possible, but we'll see.

That mode of thought is kind of what got them into this mess...

I dunno. Ive read some people in the industry (like, really in it - programmers and stuff) and they talk about the GDC like the convention that E3 should be. GDC is more closed and insular than E3, much more so. I wouldnt be surprised if thats what they are going for.

[Frogacuda]

That mode of thought is kind of what got them into this mess...

I dunno. Ive read some people in the industry (like, really in it - programmers and stuff) and they talk about the GDC like the convention that E3 should be. GDC is more closed and insular than E3, much more so. I wouldnt be surprised if thats what they are going for.

GDC's purpose is very different than E3's. E3 is essentially a marketing venture on the grandest order. GDC is pretty much irrelevant as far as the public is concerned. I think they still want E3 to be big for the guy sitting at home, but without the same costs of the physical event.