Min-E3: Even the PR guys don't have a clue what's happening
Min-E3 is a conundrum, wrapped in an enigma, with little to no information getting out at the moment. The approx. 4,000 journalists invited to the event -- a secret selection process made entirely by publishers and not the ESA -- know the general location of where to go in Santa Monica those days in July, but that's it, no further information. That story will come out soon enough, but this is about the PR agencies.Tom Ohle of Evolve PR has written in his personal blog about the legitimate issues faced by smaller companies in this post -"real" -E3 landscape. Without delving into "inside baseball" territory, the old E3 was a general free for all, for better and for worse, but it did get a lot of attention. Reports about Min-E3's shrinkage have a certain level of spin to them, it's not that exhibitors don't want to go -- the new Min-E3 is designed more or less to keep them out. The same scenario that happened to the invite-only journalists is being played out with the exhibitors.
Ohle writes, "The event will still allow the industry's biggest publishers to showcase their wares, while effectively cutting the legs out from the rest of the industry ... think of every small company that spent a massive portion of their marketing and PR budget on a booth in Kentia, just so they could get to the one event that allowed them to show their products to a ton of media and retail buyers."
Despite the small size of this Min-E3, companies still want to be there because they know everyone attending this time around is an actual vetted journalist or someone that can give them media attention. Ohle points out that GDC is of increased importance, but that's a development-focused gathering, and people were already complaining this year about the media attention it received. PAX and E for All "both do a good job of appealing to the fanboys" because they're consumer focused, but those aren't for press. Leipzig and Tokyo are great, but even major US media outlets can't converge on those locations due to cost. The key thing to remember about these 4,000 journalists invited to Min-E3 is that the number sounds like a lot of coverage, but those aren't just Americans, that's global -- and they aren't all gaming sites. A portion of media outlets going are MSM, which means they may produce a paltry four or five pieces during their time (and in all probability focusing entirely on Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo).
As Ohle speaks to in his post, PR agencies didn't have a clue what was going on with min-E3 until very recently -- and there's still a lot of questions. From the major agencies we've spoken to here at Joystiq, who cover a majority of third party publishers, they are getting their materials together now for min-E3. A general feeling of confusion is pervasive among PR agencies. E3 was where PR agencies showed their clients why they spend thousands of dollars on them annually, the last thing the agencies want is to go into min-E3 half-blind and have no decent press coverage to show their clients after. That's how agencies lose clients and die.
There is a chance that Gamecock will produce a Kentia Hall type of space close to the sprawling Min-E3, which encompasses a airplane hanger and numerous hotels spread across miles. The ESA is still keeping their cards close to the chest and by all accounts the press, PR and, in some cases, publishers have no idea what's going on for this min-E3.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
alan @ Apr 29th 2007 2:07PM
i hope they still show off new tech and games though becuase i want to see mario in action, or GTA 4 or even newe peripherals...i hope this doesnt suck
Triforceowner @ Apr 29th 2007 2:09PM
Does anyone have a list of game conferences, their dates, and who is covering them? Without "real" E3 I'm lost.
sheppy @ Apr 29th 2007 2:26PM
The major ones now are
Game Developers Conference (although I think this one should NOT cater to the public)
E3 (and gamecocks little "fuck the machine" fest)
X07 (Germany)
E for Everyone (run by Gamepro, I believe)
PAX
Tokyo Game Show
Those are the major ones and one is Xbox exclusive.
Mr Khan @ Apr 29th 2007 2:39PM
@ sheppy
If you want to delve into the realm of the exclusive, you forget Nintendo World/Space World, but i don't know if that's going down this year, plus Liepzig Games Convention
I'm disgusted by this smaller E3 though, the carnival atmosphere of the old E3 was what made it so great, this seems so sterile, professional, and "exclusive" (in a bad sense of the word)
Otter @ Apr 29th 2007 2:52PM
Is Joystiq invited? I mean if they don't invite you guys it really shows how out of touch the publishers are.
jay @ Apr 29th 2007 3:18PM
Hold on guys I'll go get E3 working again
WillTheSecond @ Apr 29th 2007 4:13PM
"Is Joystiq invited? I mean if they don't invite you guys it really shows how out of touch the publishers are."
They certainly should, if they haven't that would be a tad moronic.
Now, this might just be my suspicions, but doesn't this like awfully like the big boys (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony and the major third parties) are trying to steal the show from smaller companies? It wouldn't be the first time media companies have been backstabbing towards their smaller competitors.
nick @ Apr 29th 2007 4:21PM
We used to attend E3 every year, and this year we're not attending. I fear this may be the least interesting E3 in years. Less publishers/developers, less press, no consumers. It's the beginning of what is possibly the end of the road for E3, assuming it continues in it's present state.
GDC and PAX are now the primary shows on our radar for the U.S.
Alex @ Apr 29th 2007 4:49PM
Poor small developers, what chance do they have to ever grow if the reinvention of the biggest exposition in the industry excludes them out of it?
Geoff Gibson @ Apr 30th 2007 5:08PM
Can't wait for E for All. I know Nintendo is going to have a major presence there so it should at the very least be a lot of fun. I already bought my tickets.
I think it will be better than E3. E3 was great but it was still mainly for press.
Muu @ May 1st 2007 9:03AM
Who cares about the small developers anyway? Numbers already show that most consumers don't look at anything beyond sequels and super-high profile releases. If it's any good the reviews will show it in time, and then I can grab them once they're being tossed out the store for $20 a pop. THEN they can go to the next E3 with the super-charged sequel and make the dough.