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The Death of E3 As We Know It
It looks like 2006 may have been the last year for the massive media circus of the Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) that descends on the Los Angeles Convention Centre every spring.
“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.” (link)
It seems speculation is running rampant on the ‘why’ of the whole deal but the general consensus among gamers and industry media is that the four major players (Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and EA) universally decided to withdraw their support from the event in the form of a large-scale conference catering to tend of thousands of attendees. While the event is slated to continue as a number of more intimate mini-conferences, this is essentially the death of an event that I’ve dreamed about every spring since I was fourteen years old.
I was lucky enough to attend E3 2005 with my friends Ian Maclachlan and Alex Peake, which was one of the most fun trips of my life and I was looking forward to being able to go back in the future. There’s a small set of photos available here, but admittedly there are probably more photos with the hookers than there should be.
They’ve nailed down. The new format basically ensures that not only will I not be able to attend in the future but it really won’t be worth attending for fringe industry enthusiasts such as myself. Hell, if nothing else, I guess I can get my ass across the Pacific top the Tokyo Game Show like that lucky punk James Everett.