Revitalizing The Videogame Trade Show

Thanks to GamesTM for its feature discussing the current state of the videogame trade show. Although shows such as this year's E3 were more exciting, the article argues: "The likes of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the European Computer Trade Show (ECTS) and the Tokyo Game Show have recently been accused of being dull, predictable or lacking substance. Last year, there was no ground-breaking news, no earth-shattering games (only updates of ones we already knew about), and some companies didn't even turn up." Simon Byron of Barrington Harvey makes the point: "In this media-savvy world, information is readily accessible, so of course there are fewer opportunities to be surprised - which is what I think is at the heart of most people's criticisms of trade shows." In light of our previous coverage of trade show significance, how do you see videogame trade shows evolving?

Comments

Internet

[MMeldrum]

..that's the main "problem".

In the days of the SNES and the Megadrive we'd have to wait around 2 months (by the time it's written up and printed) for news in games magazines.

These days we get the latest news within hours/days on gaming sites. (And on slashdot we even get repeats. ;) )

Re:Internet

[iocat]

I think the bigger problem is that the people who've been writing these articles have been going to E3 ten years running -- it's bound to get a bit dull (to them) after a while. I remember last year (E3 2003) which was a *DULL* show, I saw a friend give a pass to a 17-year-old kid. I ran into the kid outside later and he was practically orgasmic and almost unable to speak... "I saw MIYAMOTO! I saw HALF LIFE 2! I SAW TONY HAWK! Dude he said Hi to me, I thought I was going to *push* right there!"

I don't even know what the frick "push" means in that context, but it did give a new perspective on E3 being considered dull. It's dull if you're a jaded journalist or gamer who grew up on 8- and 16-bit gaming. If you're 17, or a new gamer, there's nothing dull about it.

Lack of risks

[MMaestro]

Another 'problem' stems from the videogames themselves. Game companies don't like to change their formulas by much, so you end up with remakes of previous games over and over. Do this enough and anything less than radical seems like boring news in a market where everyone copies one another.

Easy.

[torpor]

Get the 'rock star' factor back.

Trade-show rules should be relaxed a little... this little fascist state that gets created in "Exhibit Hall X" is tiring, and after a day of it any sane person is -exhausted- ... too many companies, all with their little 'individual idea of cool', in too many little boxes, row upon row.

Bring back some of the party factor. There is no identity at trade shows - there needs to be one.

Imagine if someone with a little rock star factor hosted the show, and there was actual stunts and PR capers worth having news written about ... everything that does happen at these events is really contrived and culturally uninteresting ... a big press-release factory and little else.