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|Zach|
07-30-2006, 01:11 PM
http://next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3538&Itemid=2

Senior industry sources have revealed to Next-Gen.Biz that the E3 industry event, in its present form, has been cancelled for next year and the foreseeable future.

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) shindig has been a staple of game industry life since the mid-1990s. However, we understand the larger exhibitors have jointly decided that the costs of the event do not justify the returns, generally measured in media exposure.

Publishers believe the multi-million dollar budgets would be better spent on more company-focused events that bring attention to their own product lines rather than the industry as a whole.

Well placed sources say the news that larger exhibitors were pulling out had prompted urgent meetings among publishing executives. They decided that, without the support of the larger software publishers and hardware manufacturers, there would be no point in continuing.

ESA president Doug Lowenstein will likely announce the news some time within the next 48 hours, possibly on Monday. It's possible that the ESA will seek to limit the damage by organizing some form of lesser event in May, but it's clear that the days of an industry event attended by all the major publishers, spending big money, are gone.

Calls to ESA staff are not being returned at present.

Demonpenz
07-30-2006, 01:14 PM
maybe they will spend more money on gameplay than pixels and other useless shit

Ultra Peanut
07-30-2006, 05:21 PM
whaaaaaaaaat

No, seriously. The sound I just made cannot be transcribed.

Valiant
07-30-2006, 05:25 PM
I thought the purpose of E3 was so that those game geeks can get to see what real women look like outside of pixels they play with..

Reaper16
07-31-2006, 01:09 AM
But how is the industry going to hype up the console wars on a yearly basis?

Braincase
07-31-2006, 06:01 AM
Somebody get Fatal1ty on the horn and get the real poop!

Talisman
07-31-2006, 04:42 PM
http://www.montereyherald.com/mld/montereyherald/news/politics/15166206.htm

Massive video game trade show to downsize
MAY WONG
Associated Press

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The video game industry's largest annual trade show, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, will be scaled down dramatically next year amid industry desires for a more intimate setting, organizers said Monday.

"This is not a wake or a funeral. It's about changing E3 to meet the modern needs of the industry," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the Entertainment Software Association, the trade group that operates the show.

The glitzy three-day extravaganza in May drew about 60,000 attendees and 400 exhibitors spread across 550,000 square feet of exhibit space. It was almost double the size of the inaugural show 12 years ago and had evolved - as have some other large trade shows - into more of a spectacle than an event conducive for dealmaking and meetings.

"There was a lot of glitter and splashy competition," Lowenstein said. "That's fun for people walking around, but it doesn't emerge as a productive way of three days to conduct business."

After years of consideration, the trade group's 16-member board of directors unanimously approved the overhaul last week, Lowenstein said. Board members include representatives from the biggest players in the industry: Sony Corp., Nintendo Co., Electronic Arts Inc., Microsoft Corp. and THQ Inc.

Details are still being worked out, but some of the known changes are:

_The event will be moved from the Los Angeles Convention Center to a smaller venue yet to be determined, possibly a hotel.

_The usual date in May will be pushed to early July, closer to the holiday season. In recent years, an increasing number of exhibitors were compelled to show off their upcoming products but were unable to present demonstrations that could be played.

_Attendance will be by invitation only. Although the event had always been closed to the general public, almost anyone involved in the industry could previously attend. Attendance is expected in the "thousands" instead of "tens of thousands," Lowenstein said.

_The number of exhibit booths will also be decreased.

The trade show will aim to provide a setting for "high-quality" meetings with media, developers, retailers and other key industry audiences, Lowenstein said.

The new format should also help reduce the costs for participating companies at a time when game development and marketing costs have increased and other video game trade shows have cropped up around the world.

The distribution of video games has also changed dramatically in the past decade.

In the early days of E3, part of the goal was to help expose the growing industry to all the intermediaries in retail distribution, but the consolidation of the retail channel to a few major players such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. or Target Corp., has led to more direct sales instead.

Reaper16
07-31-2006, 05:21 PM
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=10284 - July 31, 2006

ESA Confirms Smaller, More 'Targeted' E3 2007

Following multiple media reports over the weekend indicating that the ESA trade organization, which runs the massive E3 trade organization, would be making an announcement over E3's future, the ESA has now released an official statement on the matter, reprinted in full below:

"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."