Pachter: E3 Headed for Extinction
Pachter: E3 Headed for Extinction
July 21, 2008
On Saturday I wrote in my Joystiq column that E3 is dead.
This is my strongly-formed impression based on the sorry state of last week's show at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Calling the LACC "quiet as a college library during summer," Wedbush-Morgan analyst Michael Pachter raises similar concerns.
Pachter recaps the show in a note issued this morning:
The show was small in scope, and the spectacle of E3 is dead. The Los Angeles Convention Center concourse was as quiet as a college library during summer, with little to attract media attention. The main game display area was similar in size to a school cafeteria (as compared to filling the entire convention center)...
E3 is headed for extinction, unless the publishers and console manufacturers wake up to the fact that nobody cares about the show anymore... [the] show is ill-timed, coming after most major holiday announcements are out, and landing during [SEC-mandated] “quiet period” for most of the companies... The lack of a spectacle will likely keep media away in the future, the lack of surprises will keep retailers away, and the lack of interaction with management will likely keep investors away...
We strongly believe that E3 should be held no later than early June (when companies can meet with investors and when some “secrets” have yet to be revealed), and believe that the spectacle should be restored by increasing the size of the show space.
Pachter goes on to say that game publishers made a mistake by insisting on a smaller show in order to save money:
This is the second year of the new, slimmed-down E3 format demanded by the Entertainment Software
Association’s membership in order to control the significant costs incurred for prior E3 events. We believe that the smaller scale is a mistake, and believe that the media attention attracted by prior shows had far greater value than most of the ESA’s members appreciated.
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Posted 02/09/10 at 11:45am
gellymatos: Gay marriage was the only accurate belief of ours you mentioned. We are against it or don't really have a position on the...
gellymatos: Gay marriage was the only accurate belief of ours you mentioned. We are against it or don't really have a position on the...
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:45am
Valdearg: In fact, the leaders of the Catholic church will often encourage discriminatory behavior, despite the fact that you say that's not what the church teaches.
Valdearg: In fact, the leaders of the Catholic church will often encourage discriminatory behavior, despite the fact that you say that's not what the church teaches.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:44am
Valdearg: Because, lets be honest. Despite the fact that you attribute most of the Catholic Offenses towards homosexuals to people misunderstanding the church's stance on homosexuality, the Church itself RARELY condemns those opposing gay equality.
Valdearg: Because, lets be honest. Despite the fact that you attribute most of the Catholic Offenses towards homosexuals to people misunderstanding the church's stance on homosexuality, the Church itself RARELY condemns those opposing gay equality.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:43am
Valdearg: And I mean also making sure that their followers understand that its OK to be gay, and that they all deserve the same rights as everyone else. Until that happens, they will always be on the wrong side of the issue and will always be an enemy.
Valdearg: And I mean also making sure that their followers understand that its OK to be gay, and that they all deserve the same rights as everyone else. Until that happens, they will always be on the wrong side of the issue and will always be an enemy.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:40am
Valdearg: Here's the thing, though. Until the Catholic Church expresses clear and unambiguous support for absolutely EVERY form of Gay Equality, including Marriage Equality, Employment Non-Discrimination, and military service, they are not for equality.
Valdearg: Here's the thing, though. Until the Catholic Church expresses clear and unambiguous support for absolutely EVERY form of Gay Equality, including Marriage Equality, Employment Non-Discrimination, and military service, they are not for equality.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:38am
gellymatos: ...position in this issue. No major side really likes us.
gellymatos: ...position in this issue. No major side really likes us.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:37am
gellymatos: Never said we were on your side. We just aren't for hate or persecution against gays either. We aren't really in the best...
gellymatos: Never said we were on your side. We just aren't for hate or persecution against gays either. We aren't really in the best...
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:37am
Valdearg: Now, if the Pope came out and said: "Hey, guys.. Cut it out, and let the gays marry" I'll first have to check to make sure I'm not dead, but after that, I might reassess the situation.
Valdearg: Now, if the Pope came out and said: "Hey, guys.. Cut it out, and let the gays marry" I'll first have to check to make sure I'm not dead, but after that, I might reassess the situation.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:35am
Valdearg: I mean, I can appreciate the fact that the majority of you guys don't want all gays to die, but don't try to convince me you are on our side. The Catholic church is squarely on the side of Marriage Discrimination, not Equality.
Valdearg: I mean, I can appreciate the fact that the majority of you guys don't want all gays to die, but don't try to convince me you are on our side. The Catholic church is squarely on the side of Marriage Discrimination, not Equality.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:34am
Valdearg: Caps were meant for emphasis. I'm not actually yelling at you. I'm just laughing because you just tried to tell me that the Catholic Church believes in Homosexual Equality.
Valdearg: Caps were meant for emphasis. I'm not actually yelling at you. I'm just laughing because you just tried to tell me that the Catholic Church believes in Homosexual Equality.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:33am
Valdearg: @Gelly: YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN MARRIAGE EQUALITY. Lol...
Valdearg: @Gelly: YOU DON'T BELIEVE IN MARRIAGE EQUALITY. Lol...
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:31am
gellymatos: Wrong. Let's test you then. What exactly are our beliefs?
gellymatos: Wrong. Let's test you then. What exactly are our beliefs?
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:30am
Valdearg: Unfortunately, the Catholic Church doesn't fall under that. Their beliefs are the exact opposite of equality for Homosexuals.
Valdearg: Unfortunately, the Catholic Church doesn't fall under that. Their beliefs are the exact opposite of equality for Homosexuals.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:28am
Valdearg: @Gelly: I'm well aware of that. Which is why I said the "Religious Right." I acknowledge and appreciate the few Christian churches that believe in the Gay Right's movement, as long as it's the WHOLE thing, even up to marriage equality.
Valdearg: @Gelly: I'm well aware of that. Which is why I said the "Religious Right." I acknowledge and appreciate the few Christian churches that believe in the Gay Right's movement, as long as it's the WHOLE thing, even up to marriage equality.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:28am
gellymatos: You act as though all of us religious people are in the same, large group.
gellymatos: You act as though all of us religious people are in the same, large group.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:27am
Valdearg: The absolute LAST thing the Religious Right wants is to have the Government acknowledge that the gay lifestyle is just as equal and acceptable as the straight lifestyle. It goes against EVERYTHING they believe.
Valdearg: The absolute LAST thing the Religious Right wants is to have the Government acknowledge that the gay lifestyle is just as equal and acceptable as the straight lifestyle. It goes against EVERYTHING they believe.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:27am
gellymatos: Then look at another picture then. Not all religious groups have the same beliefs on gay rights.
gellymatos: Then look at another picture then. Not all religious groups have the same beliefs on gay rights.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:25am
Valdearg: Therefore, they will try to find any and all ways to slow the inevitable march of equality. Even admirable laws that protect gays from employer discrimination and violent hate fueled attacks are seen as affronts to their beliefs.
Valdearg: Therefore, they will try to find any and all ways to slow the inevitable march of equality. Even admirable laws that protect gays from employer discrimination and violent hate fueled attacks are seen as affronts to their beliefs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:24am
Valdearg: Again, you have to look at the bigger picture. Every political victory that the Gay rights movement scores marches them one step closer to being considered "equal" to everyone else. The religious right doesn't want that. It threatens their beliefs.
Valdearg: Again, you have to look at the bigger picture. Every political victory that the Gay rights movement scores marches them one step closer to being considered "equal" to everyone else. The religious right doesn't want that. It threatens their beliefs.
Posted 02/09/10 at 11:23am
gellymatos: ...paranoid, as lawyers, that the language of the law may do so. But like I said, paranoid.
gellymatos: ...paranoid, as lawyers, that the language of the law may do so. But like I said, paranoid.
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Comments
[the] show is ill-timed, coming after most major holiday announcements are out, and landing during [SEC-mandated] “quiet period” for most of the companies...
You know, I've seen mention of this part before, and it just makes me wonder if the geniuses responsible for killing E3 still have their jobs. You'd think it'd be common sense that you wouldn't hold the big trade show for your business during a period where you're in any way restricted in your business dealings.
It's probably worse than the whole "pay five million dollars to move from a location that your return to a year later anyways" thing.
-Gray17
I would have too say based off the new from multiple Game new websites and Gametrailers.com this E3 was lamer than a dead horse. This used to be my favorite time of year and I was severly let down a lot of titles I was looking forward to seeing didn't even make it there (Alan Wake, Aliens: Colonial Marines, Bungies Title, ect.)
Hopefully things change for next year.
Oh yeah and Techland wasn't there and they look like they are going to have some really kick ass games coming out, where was my Dead Island and WarHound?
Spot on. The kinds of press and hype prior E3s garnered were worth more than however many millions the giants spent on their booths. You can't buy the kind of spectacle E3 provided by yourself, no matter who you are.
They really do need to bring back the old E3 or it will just become another boring tradeshow nobody cares about.
PAX has effectively taken its place as the show for gamers. While big announcements may still be made at E3, PAX is where the gamer goes (or wishes they can go) to celebrate gaming culture these days. ++ to the idea that it was a mistake to 86 the booth babes. Say what you will about their relevance, but it seems people care less and less about E3 now.
E3 happened?
I could not agree more with Pachter's assessment. As an attendee of the "classic" E3 up until 2006, the ESA really lost sight of the PR and societal splash value of the old event. Yes it was expensive, glitzy, opulent and over the top at times, but THAT gets attention. This members-only BS only hurts the industry (and I am saying that as a jilted small timer who doesn't have the "privilege" of being invited to the new E3). Either bring back the classic format or forget it - attend GDC, PAX, ION, TGS, etc. and leave the lame marketing and deal making efforts to the execs and their closed door meetings.
E3 was a huge disappointment. How sad it was to be there!
I understand it costs a lot of money for the developers to put together those great displays/booths that we were used to... and yes, this IS a trade show (no consumers).
...but let's be honest, there were thousands of consumers getting into the show in years past
...and THAT WAS GREAT!
E3 was not just about us, trade people, not just about meeting retailers and media people... it was about the GAMERS!
They got in and they were excited about the games! Remember people waiting for 3 hours to see Nintendo's Wii before it launched???
It was this excitement that got people (gamers) to write, blog and tell their friends! It was this excitement that SOLD CONSOLES and GAMES!
Bring Old E3 back... extend it through the weekend and let the consumers pay admission to, once again, get excited about E3.
This is 2 bad, i was planning on going to E3 before everything went to hell. Guess I missed the party...
Personally, if the issue is cost, I think it would be much better for the ESA members if E3 were opened to the public (like TGS) and the fee for the public helped subsidise those costs. That way they get more people seeing how awesome their stuff is (making marketing via word-of-mouth), bringing back the highs of the old E3, and they get to deal with cost issues.
What was so bad about this year's E3? I found the show to be very manageable. It is a TRADE SHOW people! If any of you have been to a real trade show you'd know that they are about work, about seeing products, not a loud festival filled with booth babes, fan boys and a carnival atmopshere.
You want the fun, go to Comic-Con. That's a convention. This is a TRADE SHOW!
REALLY? - I have to disagree. E3 is a VIDEO GAME trade show. And that distinction alone makes it different. As someone who has been to the last 3 normal E3s, I can say, there is an aura throughout the place; an aura of excitement. People want to know everything. Think about the long lines for the Wii a couple years back. If the Wii DIDN'T always have long lines, people would have just "meh"ed and moved on. But there was a hype created that was created by all the people NOT working at Nintendo. That is the soul of E3 - the excitement that everyone brings to the table. I agree that the boothbabes aren't necessary. They're fun, sure, but not worth the money that they cost; maybe if they knew about the games, they'd make for a more entertaining interview.... but that's a big IF.
The Video Game industry is different than any other industry, from the way it came about, to the way it has evolved since. But all-in-all, it as an industry driven by the lowest common denominator: FUN. And if the industry people aren't having fun, then there is no point.
I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head. Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area. If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?
But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself. Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children. Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story. Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age. The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself. Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head. Not gonna happen. Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.
The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status). In a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent. The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me. Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time. It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?
Thanks good job;
Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because these guys have done nothing travesti or little and need to start saving costs. and dizi izle
YES.
Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!
Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?
Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.
But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.