Min-E3: Phenomenally large companies ... itty bitty space

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 30th 2007 at 10:35PM }

The Electronic Software Association (ESA) has been tight on information about the new Min-E3, but details of the new E3 reinvention are starting to seep out, the latest bit being an apparent map of attendee booths at the Barker Hanger in Santa Monica. On initial viewing of the map, seeing Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft each being crammed into a 20' x 20' (6 meters squared) booth, all we can think is Genie from Aladdin saying, "Phenomenal cosmic power -- in a itty bitty living space." Yes, laugh it up, it's worth a chuckle.

For those who have no idea about the amount of space these company's booths occupied in the past, let's just say you used to be able to find a quiet corner to take a booth babe for a snog. These were sprawling complexes, not booths that could fit in your dining room. It's going to be different for sure. As you can see from the map, many companies took two mini 100-square-foot booth spaces for just a little extra space.

All this hanger layout reveals is that everything that's going down is happening at the hotels. The booths don't have enough room for demos and will probably end up just being a spot for invitees to schedule meetings at the respective company's hotel suite. Oh well, guess no booth babes at the hangar. Maybe it'll be like Australia and the publishers will have hookers at the hotel?

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Tags: Barker Hanger, e3, min-e3, santa monica

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Frankie @ Apr 30th 2007 10:48PM

I love that movie.

hvnlysoldr @ Apr 30th 2007 10:53PM

Was it Being John Malkovich?

warren @ Apr 30th 2007 10:54PM

what movie is it

StevO @ Apr 30th 2007 11:07PM

that map wants to make me cry..its so sad looking ='(

SID SPACE @ Apr 30th 2007 11:10PM

Yes that is from "Being John Malkovich".

ch0rx @ Apr 30th 2007 11:13PM

HAHAHAHA! YOU GOT US ESA! I will admit, I was taken by this Min-E3 for quite some time, but you stepped overboard with this, I knew you guys wouldn't ruin the best time of the year!!!

... right?

menuka @ Apr 30th 2007 11:34PM

If I can recall...wasn't the point of min-E3 to allow smaller developers to show there games to the press a lot easier?

Do I smell failure at Santa Monica?

thecactusman17 @ Apr 30th 2007 11:34PM

The pic is from Being Jon Malkovic, but who can accurately identify the source of the quote in the headline (starting with "phenomenally")?

Hint: Thy made at least two games off of it for 16 bit consoles.

Andrew Hsieh @ May 1st 2007 1:00AM

. . . they even put it in the article, guys. Make up a real question worth asking ):

rip @ May 1st 2007 2:52AM

On the plus side, this is about 5 min. where I live (and Activision peeps are about 200ft. or so from Barker).

On the negative side, traffic on Ocean Park Blvd. and Centinela Ave. is going to be even more of a bitch. Hundreds of people driving Sebring convertible rent-a-cars, staring at a Tom-Tom instead of the road...

Dark-Pen @ May 1st 2007 6:10AM

....you made out with a booth babe? Did people ever make out with boob babes AT these expositions?

velocitystrike @ May 1st 2007 7:20AM

I love that Electronic Arts is right next to the Big 3. Next they'll be announcing a new console or something ludicrous like that^^

Catprog @ May 1st 2007 7:22AM

What year is the 'occupied in the past' link from?

Shortt Sirket @ May 1st 2007 8:08AM

Duh, it is totally Aladdin.

Alex @ May 1st 2007 8:49AM

It will be a just a show, Companies will be talking and showing videos (except Sony who'll give a powerpoint presentation) to the press and the end. I still think its going to be exciting, what I loved about the old E3 was what games were announced anyway, not how much fun a journalist had playing a demo while I sat my ass home studying for exams

kip @ May 1st 2007 8:50AM

PHENOMENAL COSMIC POWERS!! (itty bitty living space)

That'd be Robin Williams as the genie in Aladdin.

kip @ May 1st 2007 8:52AM

oops, didn't realize that was in the article, I just read the headline and immediately recognized it...

Jeff @ May 1st 2007 10:55AM

I think the point of all this is that all of the real action at E3 took place "behind closed doors". That's where the in-development games and top-secret stuff was shown. The show floor itself was really just a useless circus sideshow - that wasn't where all the real newsworthy stuff happened. It happened at the press conferences and in little offices deep inside the convention center.

So this is the real E3 right here. I don't know if this strategy is going to work overall, but I can tell you that what they've done makes a lot of sense. It's not going to be as much fun for the press or outside watchers, but then E3 was never intended for them in the first place. This was always supposed to be a trade show where deals got done. The press only came later.

JimyD @ May 1st 2007 11:18AM

Someone shrank Kentia Hall!

Aberu @ May 1st 2007 11:59AM

This event was redesigned in an effort to help the developer community in not forcin them to spend all their money and time on showboating their games before they are done. This is a good thing. Yet it's always touted as a bad thing around here with catch phrases like "min-e3".

Triforceowner @ May 1st 2007 4:27PM

I think the point of Min-E3 is to have less show and more product. Keeping that in mind, I would say this does a fine job of showing off products without big shows by limiting the space, but is it worth it once you limit the space? (i.e. limit how many can play demos at one time or how many can view a video)