'E3 Cancelled?' Rumours Scotched Inside

Changes planned to ensure a more “closed-door” event.

Posted by Staff
'E3 Cancelled?' Rumours Scotched Inside
‘E3 finished’ claimed a report on website Next-Gen.biz late last night (Sunday) going on to say that ‘the spectacle that has held the industry in thrall for 12 years is at an end.’

The report continued: “The decision by big manufacturers and publishers to walk away has left ESA in damage-control mode. As we reported yesterday, E3, in its present form, is dead.”

Well, it turns out when one decides to check the facts, this is simply not the case, but why let facts get in the way of a good scoop, eh, Next-Gen?

While SPOnG waits for the official line from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) it seems that there are plans afoot to change E3 into much more of a 'closed-door' event, which is great news for proper games journalists and industry execs who want to make the annual trip to LA to get the information/interviews/deals they require sorted out quickly and efficiently.

It’s bad news for the legions of fanboys and sixteen-year-old CEOs who have stormed the event in ever greater numbers over the last few years, which has led directly to the event becoming the massively over-crowded, cash-burning spectacle it is today.

MCV quotes a 'senior industry insider' who sums up the situation well: "Costs have been getting out of hand. We're talking double digit millions for some of us. But that's not just floorspace, of course - it's build, parties, hotels, flights. Security, particularly, has become a massive cost."

E3, 11 years old in 2006, has simply become far too popular for the good of the legitimate games industry execs and hacks who really need to be there.

SPOnG will bring you the official line from the ESA as soon as we have it.

Comments

LUPOS 31 Jul 2006 16:01
1/4
Thanks for the memories fellows, I'm certainly glad i got to see it before this regretible but necesary downsizeing.

While i understand the resoning behind it i can't help but feel like christmas has been taken away :/

On the upside my company and others like it should have a slightly easier time getting some attention at a smaller show... id rather not go at all then have to set up in kentai (sp?).
Joji 31 Jul 2006 18:31
2/4
Its really gonna get downsized because the reps want cheaper, smaller venues, where the booth babes are once again welcome, and can also offer private lap dances round the back if you will. Lol.

I'll miss it, but its all about the games. You could show them at a supermarket and I'd still have a look.
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SorelissLarethian 31 Jul 2006 22:17
3/4
Can you imagine how much it costs for companies like EA, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft etc. to put a show like that ? If you add to the equation the fact that it gets bigger every year...

It does feel bad... but it was inevitable with costs rising like that that one day some of the biggest companies would pull the plug.

Hopefully part of the resources will fund more games (it does seam to cost a fortune to make almost cinematic quality games).
YenRug 1 Aug 2006 12:28
4/4
OK, let me get this straight, the big extravaganza type display on a huge show floor is gone, replaced by small meetings between publishers/developers and the press behind closed doors. Next-Gen state that E3, in it's current form is dead.

They're right then, aren't they? So why is SPONG claiming that Next-Gen are skewing facts to make up headlines? A little bit bitter, guys, that someone else got the jump on a big news-story? Afraid it sounds like it, to me.
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