E3 Officially Dead?

[ThaGenecyst]

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.

http://next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3538&Itemid=2

[DickDalewood]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Wow... that's a pretty big deal I'd say.

[TJdaSportsGuy]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Huge, indeed. I DO like each individual company having their own events to showcase the new games. EA has pretty much nailed this practice, with events such as the Madden Community day, etc.

If there are any journalists reading this that have actually been to and covered an E3, wasn't it pretty much getting to the point where you couldn't effectively cover it anymore anyway, with how big it got?

[Cebby]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Well that sucks. E3 has been something to look foward to for a while, and now it's just over like that.

[MachoMyers]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Well that sucks. E3 has been something to look foward to for a while, and now it's just over like that.

Agreed, this is disappointing news, especially for the smaller developers.

[Spongedaddy]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Wow. WHile it might make sense financially for the big companies individually this hurts the industry as a whole IMO.

[Ice Cream Truck]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

...Seriously?

Or is this a rumor? I don't feel like clicking the link.

Oh well. I only care much about it when a new console is coming out anyway (PS2 and 360 presentations were boring to me this year).

[CaptainZombie]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

From IGN:

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/721/721953p1.html

E3 Cancelled?
The world's largest videogame convention may be no more.
by IGN Staff
July 30, 2006 - According to a report at Next-Generation, E3 2005 may have been the last Electronic Entertainment Expo ever, at least as we know it.

While no official announcement from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) -- the foundation that organizes E3 -- has been made as of yet, the buzz around the videogame industry this weekend is that E3 is no more.

The reasons for the change are mostly economic. As Next-Generation reports, "the larger exhibitors have jointly decided that the costs of the event do not justify the returns, generally measured in media exposure." Larger companies such as Electronic Arts, Activision, and Midway have long organized their own individual gamer days for the press to see and play their upcoming titles. E3 is often much more hectic and overwhelming than individual events, so it looks like the larger publishers are questioning the value of displaying their wares on the jam-packed floors of the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC).

There are rumblings that the trade show may go on in a different form. The new show would be vastly reduced in scope and scale, and move from its current location at the massive LACC to a smaller venue.

An official press announcement with more details is expected to hit the wire tomorrow. IGN will bring you more on this surprising story as we hear it.


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If this is true, I think that it won't affect big companies like MS, Nintendo, SONY, EA, etc. since they have their own events in the fall anyways X06 (MS), Tokyo Game Show (Sony), Can't remeber Nintendo's, and EA has a show.

I think it is sad to see this show have to change formats in the future. Even though many didn't attend E3, it was the time when we looked forward to console price drops + the announcement of new game titles, and we would get to see the progress of titles.

[SPTO]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Wow and I thought this was one of the more viably economical trade shows around. You know you're doing well when CNBC does a whole week long series of reports at E3.

If this is true then it's a damn shame.

[Brian_OS]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Glad I got to go before it died... RIP E3

[Cyros]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

Glad I got to go before it died... RIP E3

Wish I'd been able to go. *sigh*

[aholbert32]

E3 Cancelled?

Maybe this is old news but I'm shocked.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/30/e3-canceled-for-next-year-and-beyond/

[Flawless]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

ESA announces evolution of E3 Expo for 2007

http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=12597078

...

[DaveDQ]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

As a publisher, you are looking at the money it takes to have a presence at these events, and if it's worth it or not. Obviously, it's not. With video over the internet becoming the norm these days, nothing is sacred. The moment you announce something, it's old news.

The idea of keeping it more private, will most likely help publishers in keeping a tight lid on things and making what they want made available only subject to folks like IGN etc.

So, I suppose you can look at it as a stiff hand to the consumer who is wanting to get a glimpse of what's to come in gaming, but I'm sure IGN and the like will be loving it.

[USF11]

Re: E3 Officially Dead?

After sony got creamed in the past 2 E3's I would expect them to pull out. Everytime they open up their mouths in public they hurt their creditability.