E3 2007 - A Horse of A Different Color

Despite the smaller size and scope, there's still going to be a lot of games news coming down the pipe this week: the E3 Media and Business Summit 2007 kicks off soon. The big news starts with Microsoft's press conference on Tuesday, but already journalists are on the ground getting stories in order. E3 predictions are available from 1up and Gamespot's editorial team, while Eurogamer has a piece from their newsletter describing what's different about this year's E3. Not everyone is going this year that went last year because of those differences, and it will make for a wholly changed experience. "While a number of the publishers GameSpot contacted said they would consider participating in next year's E3 (some on the condition that the format is further tweaked), multiple representatives said they didn't believe there would be an E3 at all next year. Gamecock is even referencing that notion in its EIEIO event, which will cap off with a funeral service for the ESA's long-standing trade show. 'We're going to have some fun on the beach and say good-bye to the magical beast of yore that was E3,' Wilson said. 'I'd say there's a fair chance there won't be a show called E3 anything next year, which is why we're saying farewell to it on the beach. But I can't wait to see what emerges.'"

Comments

The Real action is at the GDC

[dave1791]

The thing with E3 was that gamers drooled over it and dreamed of going. How many webcomics have sported subplots about sneaking into E3? The new format seems about making journalists happy and giving a press conference venue. So it is strictly a PR venue. If you want to read the heartbeat of the gaming industry, the GDC is the place to be. That's where devs talk to each other.

Re:The Real action is at the GDC

[ofcourseyouare]

Good point. But my question about E3 is this -- when will Sony, MS and the developers of games for their platforms sit down and say something like this: "we're selling expensive consoles, with expensive games to match; we're being being thrashed by Nintendo, selling lower cost (and often) semi-casual games; we had the most famous industry event in the world outside the film business, attracting massive press and throngs of hardcore fans -- okay it cost a bit, but the PR value was huge... and we decided to just shut it down?!? And replace it with a bunch of low key meetings in Santa Monica!?!?! What were we thinking... or were we thinking at all..."

Time will tell of course, but I think in a few years time they may well try to revive E3, and find it's not so easy to get a media event like that back, once you've thrown it away.

I think closing E3 reflects clouded thinking of the same kind that got the PS3 into its current mess -- assuming the fans will always be there and will always buy, regardless of treatment/ marketing/ price, etc.