Will Wright calls E3 a walking corpse

by Kevin Kelly { Aug 29th 2008 at 6:00AM }

The latest bandwagon that people seem to be hopping onto is the "Let's bash E3" express. We've had our own prognosticator proclaiming that the video game expo is past its prime, and now Will Wright is joining in by delivering a couple of swift kicks to the ribs. Then he backed over it a few times with his car before driving to his giant Scrooge McDuck pool of money and diving in.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, he calls the ailing conference "the walking dead" and says that the recently slenderized version of E3 from last month was "such an abrupt end to what was E3..." At least he could have bought it flowers or something while he was busy pronouncing it to be a living corpse. The nerve of some people.

We're just about to get some shuteye before launching into the crazy realm of PAX 2008, and we'll see if E3 does indeed look like a zombie in comparison. Maybe all it needs is a little makeup.

[Thanks, Jonah]

Tags: E3, e3-2008, PAX, Spore, Will-Wright

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

NvM @ Aug 29th 2008 6:25AM

ZombiE3.
I officially just coined the term.

Maverick Saturn @ Aug 29th 2008 6:50AM

Walking corpse? Yeah, the term is zombie :S

tooPrime @ Aug 29th 2008 7:10AM

Okay genuine question here, What is the problem with E3? Before the show was a debacle and it was difficult for game journalist to play games and such so they couldn't tell us about it. And now it is boring? For who? The people at the show? Who cares about the people at the show, they are game journalist and developers whining about their entertainment as they play the latest games and have booze filled afterparties? Are you for real on that deal? (sorry I felt like dropping that) All I've ever liked at E3 are the press conferences (which people said were sub-par, I'll say I've watch quite a few, I think they were average if not better in some spots) and select demos of games I'm interested in, plus the ramblings of people I respect about what new games are cool. E3 can be boring and provide me that, so who cares about what Will Wright or anyone else thinks about it. Not bashing Will Wright or anything, I'm just saying the people at the shows personal enjoyment in irrelevant to what the purpose of the show is, business meeting and the showing of hot new games. Maybe you could argue it needs to be moved up on the calendar but in its current form it serves it's purpose better than before.

Bluebrake @ Aug 29th 2008 2:25PM

Those are good points. From the perspective of you and I reading Joystiq in our living rooms, things really haven't changed that much. The information comes out of E3 just as it always did. And even if it didn't, it's not like that info would *stop* -- it would just be spread out more through the year. Publishers aren't going to stop making announcements because the old venue is gone.

There is an argument to be made, though, that the spectacle of E3 served an important purpose in getting people -- both consumers and investors -- excited about the industry. When your top trade show is a dismal basement affair, that doesn't inspire confidence in the industry. There may be a tangible financial benefit to having a big, flashy show.

Rez @ Aug 29th 2008 7:20AM

'At least he could of bought'

God that's ugly. So chavish.

tentaclesex @ Aug 29th 2008 9:36AM

Seriously, what the hell?

j.howlett @ Aug 29th 2008 1:36PM

bought = payed for

j.howlett @ Aug 29th 2008 7:40AM

maybe will wright should come up with something constructive instead of giving keynotes at comiccn. i think E3 has a timing problem. it should go back to may or even april. i saw to many companies say this is or game but just wait till comicon to see the cool stuff. i miss the booth babes and spectacle, but it's a self fulfilling death when they say E3 isn't so important i'll wait till the event a week later then go to germany in a month.

Metal_Gear @ Aug 29th 2008 7:42AM

I think it was the lackluster confrences.
Sony are spreading their announcements over E3, GC and TGS. M$ announced FF13, though it was a big announcement, it isn't a new game. Nintendo went with 'why should we make more games? WE ARE RICH!'

GC08 was worse, Sony made some bigish announcements, a lot of them being slightly more exciting than E3s. M$ didn't bother, and I am not sure with Nintendo, TGS should be huge as it is the last chance to showcase before Xmas as far as I know.

deaftly @ Aug 29th 2008 11:12AM

Heh awesome, you used dollar sign's as an "s". So fucking awesome.

Metal_Gear @ Aug 29th 2008 11:50AM

Yes, yes I did.

Mr Khan @ Aug 29th 2008 12:12PM

Nintendo was a no-show at Liepzig, and will be at TGS by all appearances.

Which basically means that PAX is the only show Nintendo even cares about anymore. E3 is no longer for the core, and the other shows they don't even care about

TrojanGuy @ Aug 29th 2008 2:13PM

It's only fair to say $ony then, isn't it? Or is Sony not in it for the money?

pdos @ Aug 29th 2008 4:24PM

Why is everyone blaming the E3 guys? Isn't it the developers fault that they have crap all to show us at their own press conferences?

It would be like me writing erotic childrens novels and wondering why nobody turns up to my book signing.

Albanian_Killa @ Aug 29th 2008 8:32AM

He's right. E3 is a walking corpse. They removed the "HUGE" feeling of E3. They got rid of the booth babes. They got rid of the huge spaces. Now, so many publishers are leaving the ESA meaning less and less games make it to E3. The ESA needs to put a little more effort into E3 to make it much bigger, not smaller.

Psaakyrn @ Aug 29th 2008 10:37AM

The problem is 2 fold:
a) E3 developed a reputation for something it was never meant to be.
b) People don't like what E3 is meant to be.

Now, PAX is build to be what E3 had previously become, and people like it, there's a slight difference between the two.

Mr Khan @ Aug 29th 2008 12:14PM

You're right. There is a growing mistaken belief that old E3 (or "cool" E3) was open to the public, and that new E3 is not

That being said, I preferred the old E3. Seemed more of a thrill even from a reader's standpoint. But a new plan is needed to put the thrill back

Jonah Falcon @ Aug 29th 2008 10:39AM

I remember that E3 (with the Age of Mythology banner). It was my first E3. Good times.

Oh, and Kevin? If you're going to thank me, at least hyperlink my name to:

http://www.gamestooge.com/2008/08/29/will-wright-e3-is-the-walking-dead/

I made such a funny pic to go with the story.