Kotaku
The Entertainment Software Association confirmed the weekend's speculation today, E3 is a changing.
The new E3 will be a more intimate affair that focuses on "press events and small meetings with media, retail, development, and other key sectors," according to Doug Lowenstein.
He goes on to say that while there will be opportunities for game demonstrations, E3Expo 2007 will not feature the large trade show environment of previous years.
Ouch.
Worse still, Lowenstein seems to be saying that the industry and those covering will have to rely on other events to gather and disseminate informaiton.
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."
The new E3 is going to get exactly one chance to prove it's worth going to. If E307 doesn't impress I doubt many mainstream journalists will return. Hit the jump for the full press release.
Washington, DC (July 31, 2006) - 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.
Comments
Why is it when spokespeople drop a bomb with disappointing news, they always wrap it up with a crazy, unrealistic lie, like "Everyone is stoked about this new E3!"
How can anyone be 'energized' about this? This is reminiscient of so many "you're going to LOVE your new higher property tax!" speeches.
Great. First Japan decides to make stuff you can only import to get (special consoles, special bundles, awesome video games, etc...). Then the biggest video game event of the year leaves the US, and the next closest thing we have is TGS or the Leipzig convention (PAX isn't there yet). I think the next horrible thing that will happen to US gamers is every major 3rd party studio here gets bought out by EA.
Well this certainly suck, but it just make business sense. As an exemple, some companies have to hire people full-time just to coordinate the event. While nobody will cry over a major publisher losing one salary worth of money, it is quite easy to see why they may not see the event as profitable.
On a side note, I was quite depressed by the coverage over at Next-Gen.biz, apparently, the editor was more concerned about protecting his right to the "scoop" over "Some gullible journalists" and the so-called exactitude of his information than simply reporting said information to the readers. Apparently, all the fuss is about using the sentence "End of E3" or "Evolution of E3. Pitiful.
I mean its just sad, you can compare this to the death of christmas.
The real loss is not being able to see all of games and products in side-by-side comparisons.
The beauty of the event was that once a year ever company had toput up or shut up(not that there wasn't plenty of smoke 'n mirrors). Now there will be very little reason for any company to blow the minds of everyone who wants to see what is next.
This probably won't change things too much. Devs are still going to spend a butt-ton on money for parties during the watered down show in an effort to keep people interested. Just how for E3 2006 they said they were going to be stricter with application requirements and still let register jockeys in.
First you say, "Worse still, Lowenstein seems to be saying that the industry
and those covering will have to rely on other events to gather and disseminate
information."
Which seems OK. It sounds like he is saying this isn't the place to gather gaming news.
Then you say, "If E307 doesn't impress I doubt many mainstream journalists will return."
Which is what it sounds like Lowenstein wants.
What exactly is a mainstream journalist in the video gaming sense?
You doubt many mainstream journalists will return to E3? What are
we talking here? CNN, MSNB, FOX NEWS? Or are we talking about a
gaming blog like Kotaku? Is Kotaku full of mainstream journalists?
Aren't there enough shows done independently by the game companies
themselves that cover what they want these video game news sites to
see? The past three or so years it seems like one special report on all of
these gaming websites has been what free crap they got from all of the booths.
That's hard hitting stuff right there.
Seriously, is Sony now running ESA, because this is just stupidity. I love how they're saying there are other big game conventions to go to, so there's no need for a huge E3. Yeah, but there isn't one in the US, you are the gaming convention for the States.
But what will happen to all the crazy crap in Kentia hall?
Seems like I'm the only person in the world that's happy about this. To most people who can't make it to E3, this just means you're going to get information with a lot less drama and delay. For people who are able to go, it'll mean a lot less work and a lot less stress. After a few years working in the industry, E3 just stresses me out. There's so much pressure attached to it, I'm glad it's gone. If it means that companies take the money they spend on their E3 booths to fly journalists out to their small press events, amen to that - I never want to work on E3-related projects again in my life.
New E3 my ass....this just blows
I blame Sony.
^ That was a joke. I hope you understood it and laughed. :P
Thats just retarded. Now someone else will have to make a mega show. How else are we supposed to leanr about next gen stuff and be able to play it.
"I blame sony"
SONY pulled out? Just because of all that video of everybody avoiding SONY to line up for the Wii demo? They got all cranky over that little episode?
Adam, when I say mainstream journalists I don't mean sites like Kotaku. I mean major news stations and newspapers. I mean CNN, ABC, CBS, New York Times, AP, Reuters, Rocky Mountain News, Wall Street Journal.
I should have linked to my post from earlier today where I said this isn't really going to effect the game sites, blogs or game mags nearly as much as it will the rest. The main reason I'm worried is because my fulltime job is covering games for the Rocky Mountain News and this could have a huge impact on how I am able to do that job.
Well, that was the problem, Altima. Unless you're a dev, you *weren't* supposed to be able to play it there. And if you were, you'd come back from E3 every year bitching about how there was no opportunity to play or even see the games, and too many opportunities to have your ears blown out and boobs shaken in your face.
Don't get me wrong...I'm all about "Up with Boobs!" during every other time of year, but E3 either isn't the place for free inflatable crap and cosplayers or it isn't the place to try to have meetings.
This step is the right one. I'm sure if the ESA is out of the business of fan conventions, someone else will step in to give you the chance to wait in long lines to play games and get inflatable crap. But thank goodness, I won't have to be crunching to get a build done for that.
Ok, so E3 gets broken into three seperate shows, one for each of the big 3 (ie, X06 for Microsoft), while the actual E3 show has all three present in a smaller fashion along with a few stragglers. Doesn't bother me a bit.
It'll just place more emphasis on the individual shows and cut down on the annoying-ass fanboyism over which console "won" the one big show of the year.
"This will be better. Companies can spend more money on game development instead of the 2 million we charge for 4 feet for floor space"-ESA
Mascott-That really is the funniest part of the whole thing. When the average game cost 20+ million to develop how is saving 2 million gonna help anyone?
My boss just asked me why I am crying like a little girl...then he stuck his lolipop in my hair.
Wow. If Lowenstein spun any harder, he'd drill himself right into the ground.
Oh... Now this is THE REAL END of the Booth Babes...
And the only place where we can see Miyamoto crossdressed as Link, flirting during Nintendogs presentation... and of course...THE REGGIE DANCE!...
And what about RIIIIIIIIIGDE RACERRRRRR
Those were the moments that made E3 so big.
Oh, wait a second, there were games too? Really?
Sony hit the ESA in its weakpoint for massive damage.
I don't understand the logic behind this.
Are they trying to make it more credible?
Are they trying to give video games another image?
Or maybe someone is loosing money off the old formula. Now that I think of it. It's gotta be something concerning money. It always is.
I guess they figure real gamers can't wander the entire conference center without passing out from exhaustion...and when combined with the new Wii controller, they were probably fearful of heart attacks from overexertion.
Gotcha, crecente.
Thanks.
This is just like the drinking age. Right before I can participate, it changes on me!
E3 is dead. Long live E3.
Why is everyone so sad about this? This is the best news ever. E3 has been a farce for a few years now, filled with fanboys who clog up the aisles as they run around trying to get schwag. A four-hour wait to play on the Wii is a joke, a sign that too many non-industry types had gotten in.
I've covered the event three times and I can say that all the flash and dazzle just makes it that much harder to get the information out. Why should journalists have to wait for some rude kid to get his own impressions of a game? If anything, this should improve the coverage that the individual games can get.
The other crucial element is that the development teams don't have to worry about an E3 build. Just let them worry about making the final game, not some demo level.
Don't cry about the carnival being over. It was overblown anyway.
What's wrong with them do they want blood too, They want it to be a black tie event and Hors d'Oeuvres and Champagne Long gown's Diamonds on every dame and a fat waller in every man's pokcet
To be honest I'm neither overly surprised about the downsize nor overly upset about it. In a lot of ways E3 was too much - from a gamers perspective. It was an overblown hype machine and they knew it.
Both Ethan and I posted our complete thoughts about it on Flicker Gaming (click my name), but that's the essence.
"The other crucial element is that the development teams don't have to worry about an E3 build. Just let them worry about making the final game, not some demo level."
Absolutely! This is great news! I was wondering when this will finally have to be scaled back. It should of happened sooner.
If I didn't go to E3 I wouldn't have gotten a neat little golden ticket that enabled me to join this site ^^
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