Spring Break
Good Game
Is E3 Dead?
Fernando Dutra
Issue date: 8/31/07 Section: Focus
The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has been a cornerstone of the video game industry since 1998, providing what could be seen as the video game industry's answer to Hollywood's self-absorbed gala of movie premieres. E3 had over-the-top signs, booth babes and, most importantly, major announcements from game companies who revealed their best-kept secrets at the event (for example, the Wii console and the PSP were officially unveiled at E3). A summer drought of games could be temporarily overlooked during E3 because of the glut of information that poured from it. After the event gamers would yearn for what was to come later in the holiday season or in the years to come. As a result, E3 became the video game event for the mainstream media.
This carnival of gaming came to a screeching halt in 2006, when the organization that ran E3 announced that 2007 would have the expo in a stripped-down form, focusing instead on the developers and the games, not the bloated and pricey show it had become. The event would be press only and would be spread out across Los Angeles. Many thought this spelled disaster for the future of E3 and also left gamers and the press asking the question, "Is E3 dead?"
The short answer to that question is, yes, E3 is dead. After watching an exhausting amount of footage from the new E3 (hey, it was the summer and there was nothing good out for the Wii or PS3), the environment is much more relaxed. Gaming companies like Electronic Arts, Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Nintendo expressed their satisfaction with the event, saying that the event was much more affordable for them. However, these companies also made the point that if they ever wanted to put together their own press conference, they could do so easily, meaning any important announcements could be made at their own events rather than sharing the limelight with other companies.
Nothing incredible was unveiled at E3, and the press conferences for the big three (Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft) were lackluster at best. Peter Moore, former corporate vice president of Microsoft, didn't even receive the tiniest smattering of applause when he unveiled the Halo 3 limited edition Xbox 360 (the response was more along the lines of "Another 360? What are they thinking?"). Hardcore gamers were upset over Nintendo's focus on casual gaming, specifically with regards to "Wii Fit," a "Wii Sports"-like title that measures a person's body mass index and helps them exercise with a "Wii balance board." Sony continued to promote "LittleBigPlanet" and "Home" for the Playstation 3, with only a "Killzone 2" video montage being unveiled.
E3 simply seemed like an opportunity for developers to give the press hands-on demonstrations of upcoming titles with nothing really new being announced. Since developers simply peddled their wares and kept major announcements close to their chests, E3 was relegated to a standard showcase for gaming. It's hard to go from one extreme (extravagant gaudiness) to another (simplistic presentations), but hopefully the future will find E3 aiming for a median point, something that other developers will actually want to take part in and make it the sensation it once was. If it remains in its current form then yes, E3 is dead.
This carnival of gaming came to a screeching halt in 2006, when the organization that ran E3 announced that 2007 would have the expo in a stripped-down form, focusing instead on the developers and the games, not the bloated and pricey show it had become. The event would be press only and would be spread out across Los Angeles. Many thought this spelled disaster for the future of E3 and also left gamers and the press asking the question, "Is E3 dead?"
The short answer to that question is, yes, E3 is dead. After watching an exhausting amount of footage from the new E3 (hey, it was the summer and there was nothing good out for the Wii or PS3), the environment is much more relaxed. Gaming companies like Electronic Arts, Sony, Microsoft, Ubisoft, and Nintendo expressed their satisfaction with the event, saying that the event was much more affordable for them. However, these companies also made the point that if they ever wanted to put together their own press conference, they could do so easily, meaning any important announcements could be made at their own events rather than sharing the limelight with other companies.
Nothing incredible was unveiled at E3, and the press conferences for the big three (Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft) were lackluster at best. Peter Moore, former corporate vice president of Microsoft, didn't even receive the tiniest smattering of applause when he unveiled the Halo 3 limited edition Xbox 360 (the response was more along the lines of "Another 360? What are they thinking?"). Hardcore gamers were upset over Nintendo's focus on casual gaming, specifically with regards to "Wii Fit," a "Wii Sports"-like title that measures a person's body mass index and helps them exercise with a "Wii balance board." Sony continued to promote "LittleBigPlanet" and "Home" for the Playstation 3, with only a "Killzone 2" video montage being unveiled.
E3 simply seemed like an opportunity for developers to give the press hands-on demonstrations of upcoming titles with nothing really new being announced. Since developers simply peddled their wares and kept major announcements close to their chests, E3 was relegated to a standard showcase for gaming. It's hard to go from one extreme (extravagant gaudiness) to another (simplistic presentations), but hopefully the future will find E3 aiming for a median point, something that other developers will actually want to take part in and make it the sensation it once was. If it remains in its current form then yes, E3 is dead.
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