No E3 for 2007 (or ever?)

panzerkwpanzerkw New York City
edited August 2006 in Gaming
It looks like E3 ain't producing the kind of media exposure the big game publishers are wanting, causing them to pull their support for E3 next year.

http://next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3538&Itemid=2

"The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) shindig has been a staple of game industry life since the mid-1990s. However, we understand the larger exhibitors have jointly decided that the costs of the event do not justify the returns, generally measured in media exposure.

Publishers believe the multi-million dollar budgets would be better spent on more company-focused events that bring attention to their own product lines rather than the industry as a whole.

Well placed sources say the news that larger exhibitors were pulling out had prompted urgent meetings among publishing executives. They decided that, without the support of the larger software publishers and hardware manufacturers, there would be no point in continuing.

ESA president Doug Lowenstein will likely announce the news some time within the next 48 hours, possibly on Monday. It's likely that the ESA will seek to limit the damage by organizing some form of lesser event in May, possibly even with the E3 brand, but this will be no more than a fig-leaf. The days of an industry event attended by all the major publishers, spending big money, are gone.

Calls to ESA staff are not being returned at present."

Comments

  • edited July 2006
    I could have sworn E3 was only doing better in attendance as the years progressed. Go figure.

    There's always PAX though.
  • DeanoDeano Leicestershire, England
    edited July 2006
    yeah i read about this, but nintendo are thinking of doing their own show, thats if they don't already. as for microsot and sony, i haven't got a clue about them. And there always TGS :D
  • SlickSlick Upstate New York
    edited August 2006
    I will have to agree with the companies. I remember about 3 years ago it seemed like E3 was this huge thing, and it was in the local paper, and on the local news chanels and all kinds of stuff, then for the past two years I havent heard a thing about it and usually passes by me, until a friend points out some sick game video I have to watch that was just released at E3.
  • GargGarg Purveyor of Lincoln Nightmares Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    This is weird, because the last couple of years I've noticed much more coverage in national news sources. :scratch:

    I mean, the BBC ran a story yesterday about the conference slimming down. You'd think that'd be a sign that people cared...
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    Starting rumors makes for good publicity. I'll believe it when I (don't?) see it.
  • CBCB Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ Der Millionendorf- Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    The failure of E3, is that it's invite-only attendance. It's like an exclusive club of gamers that get to go to this thing, and just like any other secret club, it's bound to get ignored.

    When little boys hang a sign on their club house saying 'no girls allowed!', what happens?

    the girls care for a little while, and even try to get let in at first, but soon, they don't care about the club anymore, and stop listening to anything that they say.
  • LincLinc Owner Detroit Icrontian
    edited August 2006
  • BuddyJBuddyJ Dept. of Propaganda OKC Icrontian
    edited August 2006
    I dub the new one "E3/2."
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