E3 cancelled for next year and beyond [update 4]
by Conrad Quilty-Harper 
{ Jul 30th 2006 at 2:30PM }
Next-Gen has the scoop: Doug Lowenstein, the president of the Entertainment Software Association is expected to announce within the next 48 hours that E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, the definitive video games show, has been cancelled. Industry sources have told Next-Gen that the reasoning behind this move is primarily one of cost versus return. Publishers aren't getting the media attention that they expect from the large amounts of cash that they're putting down to exhibit at the show.
Apparently publishers believe that the multi-million dollar budgets allocated to E3 would be better used on smaller, specific shows where publishers get all the limelight. There's the possibility of a smaller show taking place in May next year, but as Next-Gen puts it, "it's clear that the days of an industry event attended by all the major publishers, spending big money, are gone."
Check out our commentary on the cancellation at the continued link below.
Joystiq's good, the bad and the ugly commentary on E3's cancellation.
First up, the good.
- Our jobs get easier. During E3, the Joystiq team churned out 100 posts a day over the duration of the event, but there were probably still things that we missed. If there are multiple shows throughout the year, we'll be able to cover events in more detail and breadth.
- You, the reader, get a much more even flow of information. As one of the team members that didn't attend the show, I had a hard job keeping up with the flow of content. Now that E3 is gone, I can look forward to consuming my gaming news in smaller, easier to digest chunks.
- More access to the public? E3 was not accessible to the public, and was a strictly over-18 trade and press show. Hopefully future shows will split the show between press/trade exclusive days and open-access days so regular consumers can try out the latest games and hardware.
- A cooler atmosphere. E3 is was a very stressful place to be, with every booth being designed to be as loud and as bright as possible in order to attract as much attention as possible. Now that E3 is gone, publishers and developers won't have to spend so much money hiring dancers and huge booths. In other words, the games will have a chance to shine through.
- Worldwide game shows, not just L.A? Due to the expected fragmentation that the E3 cancellation is expected to bring, we can probably expect more regional shows designed to target individual demographics in different countries.
- More focus on indies? Independent developers either couldn't attend E3 due to the high cost, or if they did, they were drowned out by the big publishers and their massive booths.
- Less excitement? Like a little kid waiting for Christmas, E3 excited gamers the world across. They knew that come early May, they'd be reading about the games they'd be playing for the next year. The separate, publisher exclusive shows expected after E3 will probably mean less of this Christmas kid excitement. Or, the same excitement, but in smaller doses throughout the year.
- Our jobs get harder. Journalists and people covering the games industry will have to travel further and more often in order to cover the gaming industry. That could mean that smaller events get less coverage as the press prioritize their travel budgets.
- No more "big three" faceoff. One of the most entertaining parts of E3 was watching Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo try to one up each other.
- Lots more "big three" faceoffs. Imagine a world with Nintendo Space World, Sony SUPER EVENT, and MS X-event. Doesn't sound too appealing does it?
- Gamespot states that this is merely a downsizing and relocation. That effectively means the same thing as a cancellation. Next year's E3 will be a shadow of a memory of previous E3s. If the ESA doesn't manage to get the big guys back on board, another organizer will step in within the next 18 months with a show that will take E3's crown as the king of gaming trade shows.
- Don't expect any major gaming trade shows to take place next year. If the Gamestars Live/ECTS fiasco in the UK in 2004 was anything to go by, we can expect very little in the way of trade shows next year. 2008 will feature a lot of smaller, developer orientated shows, and by 2009/10 we'll be booking our tickets to go to E3's replacement.
- In the short term, GDC is going to get big, very big. As the next biggest American gaming show after E3, expect a lot of next year's big gaming news to come out of San Fransisco.
[Update #2: added the "bad" commentary. Stay tuned for miscellaneous "ugly" commentary.]
[Update #3: added the "ugly" commentary.]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Ben @ Jul 30th 2006 2:33PM
what!?!?!??!?!
Occasio @ Jul 30th 2006 2:33PM
Holy Ish. Where is the industry goin???
Dan @ Jul 30th 2006 2:34PM
I don't believe it.
Blink @ Jul 30th 2006 2:34PM
...as if it wasn't bad enough that I missed out on this year, the first year that I had the chance to go, because of the #$%&ing age restrictions from insurance and statistics. Damnit, I had tickets in hand and everything, and I ended up missing the best E3 for a decade, and now THIS? Now I don't get to go to E3 at all?
Man, this really blows.
supadude5000 @ Jul 30th 2006 2:34PM
So yeah...what the crap.
junkie @ Jul 30th 2006 2:35PM
http://metalgearno.ytmnd.com/
Keyser @ Jul 30th 2006 2:36PM
KHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Keyser @ Jul 30th 2006 2:37PM
KKHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Bryan S. @ Jul 30th 2006 2:37PM
That reallly realllllyyy sucks.
But I guess the ydo have a point on the media not paying attention to them.
I guess we'll have to take this punch to the stomach once again.
Radix Radicoon @ Jul 30th 2006 2:38PM
I want to cry ;_;
Mike @ Jul 30th 2006 2:40PM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nate @ Jul 30th 2006 2:41PM
It's like cancelling Christmas!
cringer8 @ Jul 30th 2006 2:43PM
Well, it was a great first/last E3 to be at.
What a disappointment. I hope the money they (large companies) will save ends up going to good use. I don't think this is going to save the gaming media/retail any money, though. Now they'll have to pick and choose from smaller events (which will probably be overpriced) and the media hype will be harder to build up. This move hurts everyone (eventually). Damn...
Fladam @ Jul 30th 2006 2:43PM
This is the first time I wish it was April 1.
Prolink @ Jul 30th 2006 2:44PM
It's possibly because in this last E3, Nintendo stole the show. And now there are companies not happy with that as even at TGS Nintendo had such a strong presence, and no one wants to pay money for marketing to have it all stolen by another company again and again.
Hiro Protagonist @ Jul 30th 2006 2:44PM
I'm fine with it.
Hopefully this will spawn a certain Nintendo show...
I really don't see much of a problem.
Armin @ Jul 30th 2006 2:44PM
I don't believe it. Publishers not getting enough attention? Come on, that's bull.
sonofnone @ Jul 30th 2006 2:45PM
w o w.
wow. That's a shocker. I guess it makes sense cash-wise and all, but that definately came out of left field. It's hard for me to remember a time as a gamer that E3 did exist. The whole expo has been such a staple of the industry for so long. I know I'm definately gonna miss all the hubub around May each year. It's cool that they're planning on doing some smaller shows, but it just won't be the same.
Rest in Peace E3...you'll be sorely missed.
Nerdtacular @ Jul 30th 2006 2:46PM
"...the best E3 for a decade..."
Eh, other than Wii, e306 it wasn't that much better than any other e3 I've been to. And Wii was crowded as hell. Swag was rare. Best games were all closed-door viewings. The parties were much more exclusive and rarer this year, too.
I felt like many of the people I was dealing were just going through the motions. It's like when you throw a party: usually everyone has fun but you, the organizer. Most people are working to promote their product or deal in media coverage, which means they are working. It's rare to have more than an hour to actually see or play anything for your own personal taste...unless you are just a videogame enthusiast who somehow got into e3.
If the cost v. returns are low then maybe its for the best. Boy will I miss being on my feet for three days straight, surrounded by a fat fanboys, body odor, and bitchy booth babes.
Seabass @ Jul 30th 2006 2:48PM
Horseshit.
I don't believe it. There's no way the largest annual gaming expo ever is going to suddenly vanish. No fucking way.
Night Elve @ Jul 30th 2006 2:48PM
=(
Shadowstorm @ Jul 30th 2006 2:49PM
No E3? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Wow. This is unbelievable.
Cameron @ Jul 30th 2006 2:50PM
The best thing to possibly come out of this is the creation of smaller shows among the big 3 and maybe a 4th US show for 3rd parties and smaller, independent devs. Nintendo does their thing for 1st/2nd party stuff(Like a Spaceworld), and the same sort of thing for MSFT/Sony. Then maybe 3rd parties and the related showcase/propose their stuff for the various consoles and systems.
Hopefully whatever alternative offers an organized presentation. Yes, E3 is a crazy time of the year, but it is all centralized in one location. Having too many shows may or may not be a good thing.
ResidentGamer.com @ Jul 30th 2006 2:52PM
This would be a major shock. But I'll wait until they make an official announcement before I believe its true.
supadude5000 @ Jul 30th 2006 2:52PM
I can see where they are coming from and there are some pros to this (no insane disappointments a la Sony's Conference and maybe finally a steady flow of gaming news throughout the whole year), but it's still as though they've taken away our Super Bowl.
I understand it...but I still hate it.
Hopefully E3 won't be cancelled forever and become a bi-annual event or something.
mykie @ Jul 30th 2006 2:54PM
Are people STILL pissed off that Nintendo owned E3 '06?
Birki69 @ Jul 30th 2006 2:55PM
i don't believe it, but if this would be real, i'd say it's a good thing. Because every year after e3 all the gaming news repeat the e3 news for weeks, because most publishers tend to get all the news out the door at e3 to generate buzz, but the weeks after there is very little going on. So if your obsessed with gaming you know all the announcements after about 1 day after e3 and spend the next 2 weeks reading everything over and over again. if there is no e3, publishers will give out informations in smaller portions or some might just do it like apple, and have anticipated events on their own, if they have to announce something big.
Zelda Master @ Jul 30th 2006 2:56PM
Am I dreaming? E3, the biggest expo in gaming, cancelled? Someone tell me this is a cruel, late April Fool's Day joke.
Blake @ Jul 30th 2006 3:00PM
Hmm, that's to bad. I had been hoping to go sometime over the next couple years. Ah well, Il live.
Shadowstorm @ Jul 30th 2006 3:03PM
http://mcvuk.com/newsitem.php?id=24196
"No one at the ESA was available for comment."
It says @ Mcvuk that there was no one at the ESA that was available for comment ... so it's not official yet.
supadude5000 @ Jul 30th 2006 3:03PM
Wow...I just read GameStop's article on this...and it didn't piss me off, it made me want this to happen. Why? Because I think Joystiq and Next-Gen aren't relaying the whole message here.
E3 is only canceled in its present form.
ESA wants to make it smaller, more productive, and more focus. This means less booth babes, less pounding music and lights, and a higher standard across the board since this will now keep Joe Schmoe that just works at an EB on the weekends from taking up time, space, and in turn money.
So yeah, ESA sounds like its making E3 BETTER!
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154897.html
JauntyHat @ Jul 30th 2006 3:03PM
I seriously had to check if today somehow changed to April 1st again....
WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
supadude5000 @ Jul 30th 2006 3:05PM
Errg...meant Gamespot...wish there was a way to edit crap here
parma @ Jul 30th 2006 3:07PM
sweet, ESA is more than welcome at McCormick Place. we have about 2million+ NSF if they want to sponsor a midwest show.
Lambda @ Jul 30th 2006 3:10PM
Man. Maybe the big 3'll make up a new convention for all 3 companies.
dsub @ Jul 30th 2006 3:10PM
what the hell? I'm with some of the others in that I'm finding this hard to believe.
Not getting there money's worth in media exposure? Are you fucking kidding me?!?! For those 3-4 days in May EVERY SINGLE YEAR. The ENTIRE eyes of the ENTIRE gaming industry are focused on that one event. Every magazine, every blog, every industry insider, every developer, every publisher...virtually any media outlet that is even involved with video games in the slightest way is at this event. Microsoft had a record amount of downloads on XBOX Live! during those 4 days, E3 is the only time of year I actually watch G4. How can they complain that they aren't getting enough media expousure? The entire media is there reporting!!!
This has GOT to be false. What these publishers have to realize is that this a period of time in which all eyes are on Sony, MS and Nintendo because of the launch of new consoles. Next year, all the attention will be on publishers and developers because we'll all be interested in new games, rather than new consoles. This is BS.
Vazel @ Jul 30th 2006 3:10PM
E3 is honestly the only thing i looked forward to each year in my shitty life. I really loved the media blitz. Found it so exciting.
digitalFrequency @ Jul 30th 2006 3:11PM
guess PAX'll be the expo to hit up while this all tides down?
i don't like the idea of having multiple expos for publishers separately especially if i was a reporter not to mention the chances of having to high tail it to another state for activisions expo then to washington for the nintendo expo, etc.
i would've preferred a longer e3 that spotlights specific publishers on certain days, however, i think that's how e3 ran anyway...
but as a non-journalist, it might be good cuz maybe they'll have an expo of some sort in atlanta.
i don't know much about journalism so maybe it is that much better to have these publishers have expos all over the country and such... e3 seemed really crowded too so that'd be a negatory for the jolly journalist, but other than that, yeah... well i'll just leave it at that.
this year's e3 would've been nice to goto though... if at least to see the nintendo press conference (or keynote whatever its called) pre-e3, i thought they presented themselves really well in that. i haven't had a chance to look at the sony conference speech though... so i won't say if nintendo outdid sony in terms of their presentations.
benjamin @ Jul 30th 2006 3:17PM
Before I started reading Joystiq and other gaming sites faithfully I used to get my gaming news from the mainstream media. In fact, I heard about Joystiq when it was named best source for videogame news by Forbes.com
It was only then that I ever heard of E3. With that in mind I think they are justified in thier belief that they don't get enough media coverage to continue to show in its current form.
Nicholas @ Jul 30th 2006 3:17PM
i am really crying...
e3 is just a great show......
Phil @ Jul 30th 2006 3:18PM
I work for a big video game company and I must say that this could be a major shock but at the same time it opens up some doors. All our work is concentrated toward making an E3 build of whatever games we are working on, but with no more specific date we can expect less pressure on devs to make a build for E3. This means a company like EA, Ubisoft, or Square-Enix, could instead put up a specific show at a date of their choice to present their titles.
E3 is great but it tends to cause companies to be even more competitive for coverage to a point where the only thing we get from E3 is "That MGS4 trailer was awsome! Man Halo 3 is coming to the 360! Wowzerz!". And everyone ends up missing out on whatever the press had to say about the games they actually PLAYED.
With smaller shows you can expect more coverage of the games themselves rather than just the event. We'll see.
icemorebutts @ Jul 30th 2006 3:20PM
Well, if it's true, I have no reason to live.
you BROKE my E3!!!!
i'm sooo sorry
georgedakota @ Jul 30th 2006 3:21PM
it seems shitty now but i think they will make another show with less money put into it or something. really all we need is games not big budget sets. honestly the thing that pisses me off at e3 are these game trailers like halo 3 and others(ea is guilty) of just showing fmv cutscenes. hell the entire ps3 lineup was guilty of that. i just want to see gameplay shots!
Dakara @ Jul 30th 2006 3:23PM
It's not that they don't get enough attention or exsposure, it's because most of them make shoddy games we don't want to buy.
dsub @ Jul 30th 2006 3:23PM
Gamespot is reporting otherwise...
They're saying that the ESA is just supposed announce that the event is being "downsized" a bit for next year. Hmmm...I find that easier to believe than an outright cancellation...
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154897.html
Mr. Khan @ Jul 30th 2006 3:24PM
Holy, Holy, Holy
This is totally not good for the industry
E3 brought EVERYONE together, and allowed cross-company exploration
Say, the people from The official Nintendo, PS, and Xbox mags would be exposed to things from OTHER COMPANIES for once (i get tired of reading the same old, self-aggrandizing shit in each respective mag)
Also, while this will be better economically for Internet Coverage, this= bad for magazines, because now, instead of paying for 1 set of plane tickets to go to LA for the week, now they have to pay to fly, well, everywhere, if they want to get good coverage.
Plus, its friggin' E3, how the hell could they take this away?!!?
striderhayasa @ Jul 30th 2006 3:25PM
@ blink
Hey dude, I was supposed to go to the 06 e3 too. I went in 2001 and loved it. 06 was the year to go and I got screwed by someone that was supposed to be a friend and then he lied about it. Originally he said he didn't have the money (he was supposed to keep me posted on the registration process, which he didn't, since he's been to e3 at least 3 times before)but then later he said he just blew it off because he didn't see the point. Aren't friends great...
I remember when the E3 show was the summer CES. The winter CES show used to have a few surprises too. Considering that the contract to host e3 in LA until 2012 was renewed not that long ago, we'll see how this news turns out.
Robert Summa @ Jul 30th 2006 3:29PM
No media attention? Are they joking?
When I was in L.A. for E3, EVERY television station mentioned E3. Even Access Hollywood or one of those lame celeb shows had a correspondant there.
E3, I felt, was covered by much of the mainstream media, so I'm not sure what they mean media attention.
Part of me wonders if publishers were pissed Nintendo got all the attention and now they're backlashing in some sort of Elementary school way.
your_sanity @ Jul 30th 2006 3:36PM
sweet mercy...i just died a little bit more...
frodomoss @ Jul 30th 2006 3:36PM
OH GOD NO!... at least theres the possibility of PAX...