My comment on the BC article still stands, however:
This was not smart on the ESA's part at all. If they are going to discuss downsizing, relocation, restructuring, whatever of E3, they should just say it in a press release on Monday, and not let all these rumors fly for 24 hrs. Really dumb move.Although the ESA calls this an "evolution" of the show, I am sure many gamers will be crying foul. The fact is, we don't know exactly what E3 2007 will be yet — that remains to be seen. So lets just wait until we hear more info from the ESA. Who knows, it might get more accomplished with less fluff than ever before.
GameSpot is now reporting that E3 will be moved to July. This is a great idea. It is the slowest part of the year for the industry, and would allow developers more time to work on games (instead of rushing them).
According to GameSpot, Lowenstein has revealed to the Wall Street Journal that E3 will be known as the "E3 Media Festival." It has also come to light that the show will not be held in the L.A. Convention Center, but in a number of hotels, with around 5,000 people.
I am not sure what these changes are going to do to the industry, nor am I sure I have an opinion on such a smaller show just yet. This is such a shock to the system.
The press release holds much close to the vest, saying that "additional details about the new E3Expo event will be forthcoming in the next few months." So lets just wait and see what the ESA tells us. For now, all we know is that E3 "is evolving into a more intimate event focused on targeted, personalized meetings and activities."
I see this as only a good thing. Many people have predicted that E3 was getting too big for its own good. The show does not serve the purpose it once did, because the industry is not as small as it was when E3 started.
Less glitz and more focus on the games is just fine with me. Gears of War was not shown on the show floor this year, and I think they accomplished what they wanted to. Smaller developers could actually have a win-win with this new format, as they would not be drowned out as easily as before.
I am sure more news will be out soon, but until then, can we keep the gossip to a minimum, please? Substantiated information is being unveiled as we speak.
Article comments
1 - Ryan
I just have to say that this is a joke. E3 has always been about the fans, 60,000 of them, and cutting it down to 3-4,000 is beyond hilarious. I couldn't even believe my eyes as I read about the change (or cancellation, in my opinion) of E3. I work with a gaming website and have attended E3 for the past three years and now no longer want to go. It's going to be held in a hangar??? Come on. Much of the excitement is having it be in the LA Convention Center with many different halls and conference rooms for both media and fans. Having it held in a hangar in Santa Monica is just ridiculous. Who makes up the gaming industry, I ask you. Closing it to everyone, even though I'm still invited, is excluding the most important people and turning E3 into a country club meeting. Where is the fun in that? Where is the fun of the mass amount of media and showrooms. E3 can and has been personal, as I have had many quiet meetings with software developers above the brilliant show floor that wasn't located in some abandoned hangar. The point is, the people who make E3 happen want it all to themselves. In essence, we're seeing a display of obvious selfishness. I refuse to go.
2 - Ken Edwards
About the fans? Funny, I always thought E3 was a trade show.
3 - Matt Paprocki
Calling game journalists "fans" is part of the reason this entire situation happened in the first place.