E3 is cancelled

[Ed Oscuro]

Oh bugger (http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/30/e3-canceled-for-next-year-and-beyond/).

I imagine many won't miss it, but I had always hoped to go see it one day.

[RetroYoungen]

:eek 2:

Wh... what? Is this real, or some kind of joke?

[Mayhem]

Well it's not being cancelled as such, just the format changed to reduce the number of people attending and costs to the publishers...

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

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154897.html

[GameNinja]

Oh my. Gone is the excitement of refreshing ign for snippets of new game information. Gone are the days of E3 magazine special issues.

Oh well. Maybe now there will be smaller game shows in different areas of the country rather than one big one.

E3 you will be missed.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

That flat out sucks. E3 is that one gaming event that you look forword to every year. I bet EA was one of the main deciding companies here, the asshats. Too bad I never got to go.

[Promophile]

*In Colbert Voice*

NoooooooooOoooooooo!

[Emuaust]

Your Fucking got to be kidding, Ive spent the last three years
working a shit job to move up the ladder so my new boss will
actually send me to it next year and this happens, hmm time
to get that rifle down me thinks :angry: :angry:

In all honesty though, wouldnt you rather see these company's
not waste there money here and offer either better/more or cheaper
software?

[njiska]

Look E3 is not gone. As was pointed out earlier in this thread, but ignored, is that the ESA is looking at how to downsize the event. Remember it's a tradeshow first and foremost.

In 48 hours we will know for certain what is going to happen, but the complete cancellation of E3 seems highly unlikely.

[zerohero]

It's cause Sony is mad.

[PapaStu]

Doh!

Oh well... it happens. The whole convention circuit has been shrinking more and more these last few years. I'd expect it to slow up for a few years and then pick back up again.

[THATinkjar]

Okay, this doesn't bother me that much. Despite the excellent coverage that we have become accustomed to, a lot still gets lost in the madness that is E3. We're still playing catch-up many months later. If the show is to downsize a tad, the press can actually spend more time playing the games, forming better impressions for us to read - and perhaps the developers will benefit from this, as well.

More is less, and all that.

And for those of us who can't attend, it'll certainly be easier to digest all of the news, previews, videos, etc. And, as Joystiq points out, shows like GDC might take on a bigger role, which would be rather good. Rather than one gigantic show each year, we'll have two or three to keep us on something of a drip feed. I like the thought of that, personally.

[Griking]

Meh

Hopefully this is a sign of less hype / more action by developers. Personally I was sick of all of the magazines wasting an issue or more every year on the show. All it was was a rehash of things we'd already knew.

[MarkMan]

Well that being said, I'm still planning on attending this year.

I wonder how exactly things are going to change. I'll wait for official word.

[lordnikon]

I sure hope they do some restructuring. I think the first order of business would be to prevent GameStop cashiers from attending an INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW.

I wonder how many times a print/digital magazine press employee has to wait in line to test out a game, because 4 "retail clerks" are drinking moutain dew and oogling at some Viking Clothed booth babe.

[Bratwurst]

I sure hope they do some restructuring. I think the first order of business would be to prevent GameStop cashiers from attending an INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW.

I wonder how many times a print/digital magazine press employee has to wait in line to test out a game, because 4 "retail clerks" are drinking moutain dew and oogling at some Viking Clothed booth babe.

I share these sentiments. As I recall there was an issue with underage kids getting into the show as well, just an overall volume of people who have no business being there. I'm sure the line at the Wii booth last time was a major contributor to this restructuring/absolution.

[Fighter17]

My friend told me these ideas in order to make E3 save money:

"Too expensive? Try these solutions:

-Get rid of the whores, we don't even get a blowjob.
-Stop paying celebrities to go.
-Stop bribing journalists.
-Spend on the show, not the parties.
-Open it to the public. You're trying to show your products to the PUBLIC. Right?
-Entrance fees: public $5. Journalists $10. Celebrities $20,000.
-Make the next one in NY, so I actually give a damn."

[DonMarco]

Your "friend" is an idiot.

[sirhansirhan]

Your "friend" is an idiot.

Funny, I was thinking the same thing.

[GrayFox]

I hope they make E3 smaller. Shrink that shit now.

We don't need everyone in the fucking world going to E3 every year to clog up the lines/games/booths so actual journalists can't effectively get their job done.

I'm cool with people going, but they seriously need to scale it down.

Mr. ILoveMadden/Halo/GTA from GameStop can stay home.


http://www.soulshine.ca/images/features/superchick.jpg
These guys don't need to be there.

[Lothars]

I think if anything this will be a good thing for everyone involved

It will make it better in the long run

[Half Japanese]

I sure hope they do some restructuring. I think the first order of business would be to prevent GameStop cashiers from attending an INDUSTRY TRADE SHOW.

I wonder how many times a print/digital magazine press employee has to wait in line to test out a game, because 4 "retail clerks" are drinking moutain dew and oogling at some Viking Clothed booth babe.

I share these sentiments. As I recall there was an issue with underage kids getting into the show as well, just an overall volume of people who have no business being there. I'm sure the line at the Wii booth last time was a major contributor to this restructuring/absolution.

My first thoughts on this were along those same lines. I wrote for a super-shitty little-ass fansite a couple years ago that was lucky to get out 3 updates a week between a dozen or so volunteer writers and 3 guys I wrote with went. There really isn't a point in people like that clogging up lines.

As far as the "allow the public," do you realize how stupid an idea that is? Making the lines ten times longer so the only shots we get from the gaming media are taken over the shoulder of some acne-scarred fanboy? I think it's a great idea weeding out those that don't really belong there.

[AlphaNerd01]

"Aw man, E3 '06 is during my final exams, I'll just go next year..."

...KKKKKKKHHHHHAAAAAAAANNNNN!!!!!!.....

Ok, just had to get that out. Anyway, I'm going to wait for more news to react fairly. I just needed to say that, since I really was planning on going this year, but literally couldn't make it.

[DogP]

At least we won't have to worry about CGE cancelling because of E3... I'm much sadder that there isn't a CGE this year than I am about there not being an E3 next year ;) . Companies are still gonna get the word out on their new products, so I dunno... not a big deal to me :P.

DogP

[Ed Oscuro]

In all honesty though, wouldnt you rather see these company's not waste there money here and offer either better/more or cheaper software?
Okay, why is it that any time the word "savings" is mentioned people think that this is going to transfer into cheaper games? IT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN. Any savings the company is going to pass onto themselves and their shareholders (if any).

[Push Upstairs]

I hope there will still be booth babes.

[BZero]

OMG OMG OMG The beginning of The Great Crash v2.0!

http://www.spillegal.no/forum/style_emoticons/default/francis.gif

[blissfulnoise]

The E3 was always about spectacle. Since the very beginning. I’ve got pictures of the Killer Instinct dancers to prove it.

While, yes, it has gotten exponentially more and more out of hand over the years, I doubt that element will be going away with any revisions to the format.

I think the main contributor here isn't that it's too expensive, or too gaudy. It's simply that there are better and more efficient means to get information out these days.

First party webcasts of keynotes. Minute by minute updates on the show floor on the big three's websites (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft). Podcasts from the floor.

Combine this with television, like Microsoft using MTV to officially launch the 360 and media elements like G4, Spike, and even major media networks (CNN, MSNBC) to cover gaming events, and spending many millions of dollars on a giant pavilion in LA just seems to be fiscally irresponsible (heh).

I see E3 going in one of three directions:

E3 will sell itself as more of a gaming party than a trade show event and be more about the spectacle than ever before. Companies can elect to participate or not to unveil new products, demo existing ones, and generally give it self a big pat on the back while doing Tequila shots off of a models stomach.

Or E3 will become a more dyed in the wool trade show event. Crack down on participation and attendance. And, ultimately, lose some of it's relevance as companies will elect to debut new product in a more glamorous fashion (e.g. Viral Marketing, or the MTV route) to create more hype.

Or EA and Sony will get over their respective hissy fits and nothing will change and they’ll be right back for E3 2007.

[Oobgarm]

As much as I've enjoyed attending the 2 years I've gone, it's always too crowded and it's tough to see what you want in many cases.

I think that the companies at E3 know that it's more than a trade show for 'industry professionals'. That's why there are booth babes, ridiculous swag, celebrity endorsements/appearances, and other displays that show they're trying to lure the GAMER instead. One look at Tecmo's booth and their stage show is a clear sign at who they're trying to impress at the show.

The media circus also kinda makes it tough for everyone else. Not knocking those who do work in media, mind you, but there are just SO MANY of them. And not all from reputable news sources, either. Does Jim's Nintendo fansite deserve to have 4 of its staff members attend? Probably not.

Then again, neither does anyone below the corporate level in retail. Granted, my first E3 attendance was thanks to my position at GameStop, but there really weren't any restrictions at that time.

My solutions to make E3 better:

1. All news conferences in one day(Monday), not make them terribly long affairs. Announce the new stuff, give everyone an idea as to your vision for the year. That's all.

That will allow more time for...

2. Media only the first 2 show days (Tues/Wed.) with slightly extended hours. That way, they get 2 days to cover everything without fighting with everyone else, particularly those who are the 'exhibits only' crowd(mostly those who don't really 'need' to be there based on their creds).

3. All other qualified attendees the last 2 days(Thurs/Fri.) on regular hours. Media can attend, but no video cameras, etc. clogging up the floor.

4. Scale the exhibits back. There's so much crap on the show floor by means of extravagant displays and stuff, there isn't as much room for the games. Put the focus back on the games themselves. Quit paying disinterested females to model at your booth-let the games do the modelling. They're the star of the event, anyway. And, as cool as it was, we didn't need a real half-pipe for skaters like Tony Hawk to skate on since he has a new game in development.

5. Enforce limited attendance. Exhibitors and employees of/help for said exhibitors, journalistic media, and corporate reps for retail companies. That should cover it if you want to go by their terms. You're still going to get people there who don't really need to be, but it will cut back the crowd immensely and make the ESA and the representing companies happy.

[MarkMan]

Looks like it's official.

I've gone every year since I turned 18. So 2007 would be my 8th year(assuming I can go).

I hope it doesn't change for the worse. :(

[s1lence]

That sucks, I was really hoping to go to the show. If its downsized I'm guessing I won't be able to get in. Oh well...

[Juganawt]

Could this be anything to do with Sony?

I mean last year (2005), Xbox 360 was very open and told us everything about their machine before any next gen hardware hit the market.

Later in the year Nintendo show off an amazingly different controller for their "Nintendo Revolution" to shocked audiences.

Roll on 2006. Microsoft show off their new Live Anywhere stuff along with upcoming games to riotous applause from the audience.

Nintendo shows us the Wii in the flesh for the first time ever and gets riotous applause from it's original features.

Then comes Sony showing off their PS3 for the first time........ to generally uninterested, unhappy pundits.
Stealing everything decent from both of their competitors and slapping an outrageous price tag on the front of it all, Sony became the laughing stock of this year's show.

Perhaps Sony have now turned round and said "Fuck you, they all laughed at us last time, we aren't showing up again"?

[Juganawt]

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.

The ESA is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. ESA members collectively account for more than 90 percent of the $7 billion in entertainment software sales in the U.S. in 2005, and billions more in export sales of entertainment software. For more information about the ESA, please visit www.theESA.com.

[videogameoverdose]

During this years E3, I was informed about a possible move to Las Vegas in 2007 by the Xbox crew. (still hush-hush) ;)
I didn't see how my Xbox source could think that at the time, since a new contract was signed two years ago and had plenty of years left on it.
The contract was for the use of the Los Angeles Convention Center for E3, but no contracts are signed by the exhibitors.
Exhibitors are free to come and go as they please.

This cancellation of E3 affects the company I work for.
We're losing $8,000,000.000! Yah, that's 8 million US dollars!!! @_@
Not to mention the trickle down effect that will cause hardship to thousands of sub-contractors and tourist trade related people.

Will Sony do like they do in Japan?
Have their own "invite only" hotel show?

Trade show means exactly as it's name implies.

But come on, how many of us have been back stage for a killer concert of some big name band? :rocker:
Getting in to E3 is the same type of deal, that's what made it so cool....What would you have done to get in to E3?????
As far as retail people getting in....YOU would, if YOU could!!

For those in the biz, it was a place to meet the faces you only knew by phone or emails and to showcase the companies latest and greatest, it was all about showing off.
The exhibitors did that very well!!

I believe any serious wholesale buyer, corporate honcho or media personalities who wanted to try out the latest console or software, only had to ask and would be given top priority and would have been invited to whatever companies facility to try it, or to the Thursday night E3 party.
There were priority bagdes availible at E3 for such people.

I heard Sony made the fuss...and when your the big boy on the block, you're the shot caller.

I'm glad I got my 18 yr old son in this year, (as an official guest of the show contractor) the whole E3 expierence will be something he'll never forget!

Cost too much money for the payoff???
The video game industry generates over $7,000,000,000.00!!!
Yah!! OVER 7 billion dollars yearly!!! and it keeps going up!!

IMO, Sony got pissed because of the lack of interest, compared to Wii and 360, but at the price of the PS3, why would anyone want one, no really??? O_O
Can anybody remember the other consoles that came out of the gate at the same or close to MSRP that Sony wants for the PS3.
How well did they do?
Were there enough consoles sold to support the cost of R & D for new games from third party companies?

I all ready have a kick ass, upgradable gaming system.....My PC!
How come games for my PC cost less than the same games on consoles?
Could it be the licensing cost? greed?
Consoles are made to sell software, software is made to support consoles. If the balance is upset by the high cost of either one, the system will die.

I'm Sony bashing!!! :angry: greedy :(
Thi$ i$ America, the dollar i$ king.

BLAH, Blah, blah......

I'm done!

Las Vegas 2007/08???

[lordnikon]

Cost too much money for the payoff???
The video game industry generates over $7,000,000,000.00!!!
Yah!! OVER 7 billion dollars yearly!!! and it keeps going up!!
Oh yea, right, these companies are just swimming in money arn't they.

You have to look at net profit.

MS lost over 4 BILLION (dr evil face) dollars, on the original Xbox. Each quarter that went by, hundreds of millions of dollars were lost. They still havn't been able to turn a profit. They just keep dumping money down the drain hoping to suck up marketshare. One of the big reasons MS dropped the Xbox so fast, and accelerated the Next Generation timetable, is because their stockholders were getting really pissed off.

The cost to develop a game on the Xbox is around 1.8 million dollars, and on the PS2 about 850,000 dollars. Shin Onozawa, a managing director of game software with Bandai stated that costs could skyrocket as high as 9 million dollars on average to develop a Next Generation title.

The video game industry is extremly competative, and the costs in technology and man hours to develop these games is enormous.

Big companies like Sony SHOULD be making cuts to save money. Just look at Nintendo. They make smarter business decisions with their products. During the latter part of this generation Nintendo has actually been turning a profit on each GameCube console sold.

Sony for instance is about to take a massive financial hit with the Playstation 3. They are going to be losing barrels of cash. Sony's future depends on the PS3 and Blue Ray. There are billions of dollars here at stake. It's not just sony saying the event is counter productive, it is other high profile companies as well. If big name companies are complaining about the rising costs of E3, then the little guys must be dying.

[Ed Oscuro]

OMG OMG OMG The beginning of The Great Crash v2.0!
Of course! The last crash was characterized by reckless spending and a failure for big companies to focus on releasing top-notch products (while simultaneously unable to keep small publishers from swamping stores with crap games).

Obviously, scaling back E3, scaling back expenditures that don't provide the expected return, and focusing on the big titles fits right in with that pattern! Wait...oh, I guess it doesn't.

[MarkMan]

But turns out he was right. ESA prez Doug Lowenstein has come clean with details on what the sleeker, slimmer E3 2007 will look like:

• First of all, a name change. It's no longer just E3. It's the E3 Media Festival!

• Next year's show will indeed be held in July. This date change is designed to give publishers more time to work on Christmas products before showing them.

• Los Angeles Convention Center, the venue no longer! The ESA plans for E3 2007 to take place in two local hotels. All press events will happen in suites and conference rooms.

• Since it's all apparently being held in a couple Holiday Inns now, obviously, this implies drastically reduced attendance. In fact, a maximum of 5,000 people are expected to attend, compared to E3's current attendance list of 60,000.

[Cav]

Having attended E3 from 2000-2005 all I can say is this is going to be much better for the industry. E3 became a big bloated joke of a show, and I flat out told my boss I refused to go to this year's show. I don't regret it for a second.

"Hello, my grandson works at GameStop. That makes me an industry person."

"But of course. Here's your free badge. Be sure to do your best to add to the clusterfuck in the hallways, too."

It's a shame they couldn't solve the all-too-obvious problem before it came to this.

[THATinkjar]

E3 Media Festival! LOL Wow, what a dumb name...

The change of date, however, is good. July is always a dry time, and this should keep us going nicely.

[Crazycarl]

wow, I'm happy I went to the last one (first time). That was one of my favorite trips. I'm kinda wondering though if they are going to let game design students in still.

[Oobgarm]

But turns out he was right. ESA prez Doug Lowenstein has come clean with details on what the sleeker, slimmer E3 2007 will look like:

• First of all, a name change. It's no longer just E3. It's the E3 Media Festival!

• Next year's show will indeed be held in July. This date change is designed to give publishers more time to work on Christmas products before showing them.

• Los Angeles Convention Center, the venue no longer! The ESA plans for E3 2007 to take place in two local hotels. All press events will happen in suites and conference rooms.

• Since it's all apparently being held in a couple Holiday Inns now, obviously, this implies drastically reduced attendance. In fact, a maximum of 5,000 people are expected to attend, compared to E3's current attendance list of 60,000.

It's invite-only now, I read on Kotaku (http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/top/new-e3-by-invitation-only-191196.php).

[njiska]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/images/2006/20060731.jpg

[rbudrick]

My friend told me these ideas in order to make E3 save money:

"Too expensive? Try these solutions:

-Get rid of the whores, we don't even get a blowjob.
-Stop paying celebrities to go.
-Stop bribing journalists.
-Spend on the show, not the parties.
-Open it to the public. You're trying to show your products to the PUBLIC. Right?
-Entrance fees: public $5. Journalists $10. Celebrities $20,000.
-Make the next one in NY, so I actually give a damn."


Your "friend" is an idiot.

No, he's not. Everything he said is true. If you think your favorite magazine writers aren't bribed with trips to Hawaii, hookers, and other "gifts" you are WRONG. it is a very common practice in the industry to pump up shitty games.

I gather that's the only thing you were contesting? Because I can't possibly imagine you thinking the other things won't work, as much as showgoers like all of them to be there.

The NY thing, eh, but ok.

-Rob

[MegaDrive20XX]

themagic-box.com reports:

ESA president Douglas Lowenstein confirmed that next year's E3 will be moved from May to July, the event will no longer be held at the LA Convention Center, instead it will take place inside hotel conference rooms in the city. The size of the event will be significantly reduced from 60,000 to 5000 attendees, and targeting people from the industry. The reason is to give publishers more time to polish their holiday releases, and allow exhibitors to present their products / messages to specific targets. 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."

[Haoie]

I first saw this floating around half a week ago, figured it was a hoax.

Maybe not?

[sirhansirhan]

My friend told me these ideas in order to make E3 save money:

"Too expensive? Try these solutions:

-Get rid of the whores, we don't even get a blowjob.
-Stop paying celebrities to go.
-Stop bribing journalists.
-Spend on the show, not the parties.
-Open it to the public. You're trying to show your products to the PUBLIC. Right?
-Entrance fees: public $5. Journalists $10. Celebrities $20,000.
-Make the next one in NY, so I actually give a damn."


Your "friend" is an idiot.

No, he's not. Everything he said is true. If you think your favorite magazine writers aren't bribed with trips to Hawaii, hookers, and other "gifts" you are WRONG. it is a very common practice in the industry to pump up shitty games.

I gather that's the only thing you were contesting? Because I can't possibly imagine you thinking the other things won't work, as much as showgoers like all of them to be there.

The NY thing, eh, but ok.

-Rob

No, no; he is an idiot. It's his stance on the media's role in the event that makes him one. Charge journalists to enter? Open it to the public? What the hell does he think the event is for? What the hell do you think it is for? Granted, the purpose of E3 isn't just to show new stuff to the media, but it is a huge aspect, and the media is how the public sees it. Take this site as a sample--it has far more members involved in the industry than almost any other video game forum, and yet, how many people were excited about stuff they read on GameSpot et al. as opposed to being excited about stuff that they saw first hand or heard about from a friend who saw it first hand? For every member of the media in attendance, millions of people can hear the reportage; for every regular gameplayer in attendance, maybe a couple dozen people will hear their opinions. Do the math.