E3 Downsized?

[Jeremy]

GameSpot has learned that tomorrow the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) will announce changes to the format and scale of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the game industry event that typically draws in excess of 60,000 attendees and includes over 400 exhibitors.

On July 28, the Web site of UK trade magazine MCV reported discussions had taken place between the ESA and E3 exhibitors that addressed the future of the annual trade show. GameSpot spoke with informed game industry sources late Friday and Saturday and learned that the show would radically shrink in size and move from its usual Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) venue to a smaller location.

Sources said that rather than fill the 540,000 square feet of the cavernous LACC, the show will take place at a location that would support exhibitors in meeting room space only, with companies showing their wares to a select group of attendees numbering in the hundreds rather than thousands.

One reason behind the downsizing of the show can be attributed to the dollar cost of the event to exhibitors, including the demands on companies to assign large numbers of staff to focus on the show, expenses associated with travel to the show, and the added expense to polish game builds and demos to be shown to attendees.

While the largest of E3 exhibitors could support their own marketing and promotion of upcoming games, the smaller companies which rely on the attention that E3 generates may have no recourse other than to market their games independently. But a smaller E3 would impact more than the game industry: the local hotel and related entertainment and service industries in Los Angeles take in more than $50 million during E3--the estimated amount attendees and businesses spend over the course of the three-day event.

One source added that the new format of the show may actually result in a more productive environment to demo games to the media, although they stopped short of full disclosure: "My lips are sealed until after the weekend," the source said.

An official statement from the ESA outlining the changes will be released on Monday, numerous sources said. E-mails to the ESA for comment were not returned at press time.

Source.

Well sweeties, here's how I look at it.

Less money = less people = more coverage.

Anybody would like to discuss?

 

[Arcanine]

https://www.gamespot.com/news/6154935.html
https://www.gamespot.com/news/6154961.html

I say we beat the crap out of Sony, Microsoft, EA and THQ. They were the ones pushing the idea of a downsize.

The way I look at it, it's not really going to change anything. About the only thing that's going to change is you won't see all the flashy stuff going on at E3 (well, whatever it'll be called in 07). It's not like Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft won't come out with new news there, or new games spit out there. As long as that doesn't change then I'm fine.
But I like the name "E3", they shouldn't change it...

 

[Jeremy]

Then that means we won't have the most important [distr]a[c]traction, the booth babes! ;0; </straight>
XD

Darn those American companies, and Japanese company. >>

So what they going to call it now?

 

[Arcanine]

I don't think they've come up with a name yet. I guess we'll hear more about it down the road.
But who knows, maybe it'll be better.
But I liked the big flashy stuff at E3. XD

https://www.gamespot.com/news/6155038.html

 

[TRIFORCE89]

I don't think they've come up with a name yet. I guess we'll hear more about it down the road.
But who knows, maybe it'll be better.
But I liked the big flashy stuff at E3. XD

https://www.gamespot.com/news/6155038.html

They came up with a name. I mentioned it. But my post didn't go through. @@

Let's see if I can remember what I wrote. Umm...

It went from E3 to E3Expo to E3 Media Festival in the span of two days.

I guess they realized that E3Expo would be Electronic Entertainment Expo Expo which is a little redundant and would technically make it E4. XD So, now it's the E3 Media Festival!

As much as I will miss the big flashy grandness that was the E3 of yesteryear, this is probably for the best. I love the fact that it'll take place during July now. I think developer's might've felt a bit rushed to get a prodcut presentable for a May when they might be releasing it in November. A few extra months should be beneficial.

It just feels weird to me that it won't be in a convention centre anymore, but rather two hotels within their conference centres and suites. O_o

But, smaller lines (no more EBGames and GameSpot employees XD) because it's mostly just the big boys of the media who get to attend (no more fansites, blogs, or indie-media T_T;), should result in quicker coverage for us, as well as more hands on time for them - resulting in greater coverage for us.

I'll miss the flashyness, but if it's what the developers want then it's probably for the best.

Let's hope that SpaceWorld comes back.