E3 Coming Back Big In 2009 [Slashdot]

[DP ServBot]

Newsweek reports that next year's E3 will be expanding its attendance cap to 40,000 in an attempt to return as the premiere large-scale gaming expo. E3 scaled back its operations over the last few years, leading some to speculate that it was outliving its usefulness. This year, according to E3's organizers, we can "expect a boat load of press conferences on Monday during the day and on Tuesday morning." Newsweek also claims E3 will be opening to the public for the first time, allowing fans inside for the last two days of the event. However, G4's coverage says that while the vetting process for attendees will be eased, the event still won't be open to the public. An official announcement will be made tomorrow by the Entertainment Software Association.http://games.slashdot.org/slashdot-it.pl?from=rss&op=image&style=h0&sid=08/10/21/0234244 (http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/10/21/0234244&from=rss)
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[calthaer]

E3 is of no real concern to the general gaming public. PAX FTW - they allow people to come to that who aren't already in the back pockets of the game companies.

[Sniderman]

Yup, E3 *was* the event to attend. But they screwed the pooch and they have become obsolete and unneeded by the gaming public.

[jjgames]

Am I in the minority here in thinking people will jump back to E3 in no time? The major publishers all make huge announcements at E3 with their conferences (even the last two years when the show sucked). I think gamers will show up on the weekend when it is open to the public and industry people will still enjoy the old E3 before that.

The publishers can setup the same booth and reach actual gamers and industry people for the same price. I think E3 will do pretty well with this new format.

[swlovinist]

I think that E3 will never come back to the days of yesteryear. With PAX in the back yard of Microsoft and Nintendo, I dont see E3 being that big of deal anymore. Personally going to PAX the last two years, I see that as the future of Public game presentations.

[heybtbm]

I'm confused.

I thought E3 was downsized because it's what the publishers wanted. They didn't want to spend so much money every year for the huge spectacle that E3 had become.

Why would that have changed? I'm guessing the publishers still don't want to spend tons of money. Just because E3's organizers want it bigger, doesn't mean it'll happen. The whole thing reeks of desperation.

[jjgames]

I'm confused.

I thought E3 was downsized because it's what the publishers wanted. They didn't want to spend so much money every year for the huge spectacle that E3 had become.

Why would that have changed? I'm guessing the publishers still don't want to spend tons of money. Just because E3's organizers want it bigger, doesn't mean it'll happen. The whole thing reeks of desperation.

Good question. My guess is it is based upon the types of people attending E3. It was supposed to be for the media and retail stores. It is cheaper reaching those audiences with small company specific events.

Reaching consumers on the other hand can't really be done in small events as easily because consumers won't travel as far or spend as much to get to them. Having huge events like PAX make more sense.

I think E3 is trying (desperately) to get some of those consumers for the weekend so the publishers can spend the same amount setting up the booths and reach media and retailers during the week and then consumers on the weekend. At least I think that is the plan. It might not work but lots of publishers went to PAX this year so they are not opposed to doing shows.

[murdoc rose]

I wouldn't say e3 is important but if it was public and close might be worth going to

[Bojay1997]

Good question. My guess is it is based upon the types of people attending E3. It was supposed to be for the media and retail stores. It is cheaper reaching those audiences with small company specific events.

Reaching consumers on the other hand can't really be done in small events as easily because consumers won't travel as far or spend as much to get to them. Having huge events like PAX make more sense.

I think E3 is trying (desperately) to get some of those consumers for the weekend so the publishers can spend the same amount setting up the booths and reach media and retailers during the week and then consumers on the weekend. At least I think that is the plan. It might not work but lots of publishers went to PAX this year so they are not opposed to doing shows.

The problem with your argument is that it won't be open to the public. That was speculation from the article. The official announcement makes it clear that it will be like the old E3, open to trade and press with the old credential requirements (which admittedly didn't really prevent people from lying to get in), but limited to 40,000 people. I think that E3 will never be what it once was, particularly since there are just fewer video game developers and publishers out there and many of them are already committed to other venues to announce their new products.