We couldn't help noticing that yesterday's E3 2009 press release the ESA included quotes from two of the most prominent video game industry critics of the 2008 expo.
Both John Riccitiello of Electronic Arts and Laurent Detoc of Ubisoft USA run ESA member companies, so their harsh criticisms of this year's show certainly stung the ESA. It is significant that they are on board with the new format.
Then and now, here's what Riccitiello and Detoc had to say about E3:
Riccitiello:
(July, 2008) I hate E3 like this. Either we need to go back to the old E3, or we'll have to have our own private events.
(yesterday) The E3 Expo will be the pre-eminent North American gaming show next year. The new, larger event is better for industry leaders and for serious gamers.
Detoc:
(July, 2008) E3 this year is terrible. The world used to come to E3. Now it's like a pipe-fitters show in the basement.
(yesterday) The video game business will be twice as big in 2009 as it was in 2006 when we had the last real E3 Expo - so get ready for some fireworks! The changes made will ensure that the 2009 E3 Expo conveys the best of what makes us proud as entertainment leaders.
Comments
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
How can it be the largest game expo in the country when they cap attendance at 10k. Pax this year had 56k+ and is second in geek/gaming conventions only to Comic con International in San Diego. Almost makes e3 sound like a bad joke.
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
I think this is a step in the right direction. I went to E3 about 10 years ago (give or take a couple of years). It wasn't open to the public yet, but my manager had gotten a VIP pass, and he wasn't interested in games, so he passed it on to me.
It was like heaven on earth. All of these games all over the place, free play, it was like the worlds biggest arcade for free, along with booth babes. I shot maybe two rolls of Lara Croft on a motocycle. I even got a FFVII T-shirt (and an E3 hat my wife wears to this very day). To top it off, Pizza Hut Express being eaten while sitting on the floor.
However, by opening the show to the public, you lose something, I don't know what. The important thing is that while it is closed to the public, it needs to still be open to ME.
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
i think most companys are at e3 for 1 consumer advertiseing and then 2 the press. having a press only event cannot get as much data as a open event as in whos doing well in the publics view and what is gathering the most public attention
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
It seems that I've barely heard anything positive about the way E3 has covered attendance since they started the new policy. You figure after just one year they'd learn... eh. Not like i'll be going anyway.
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
Eh... these comments are /way/ too pre-emptive right now, especially since the show isn't going to be public. But I guess when you lead a big company you have a responsibility to trumpet with your mouth cause that alone can build something up from failure to success. But I don't follow that hype anymore. I've been betrayed one too many times.
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"They were retarded hairless pink bunnies, all of them. Except Shigeru Myamoto and... well, the good ones were just too /rare/ to be worth bothering about." - Mason Hornblower on the extinction of the human race
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Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
while it's true that E3 wont be public, anyone can get in. All you have to be able to do is prove that you've got some connection to the gaming industry. I know a girl who got a free press pass because she wrote a gaming blog.
not public, but not exactly restricted either.
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
Awesome, both Riccitiello and Detoc seem to have gotten what they wanted, a bigger, grander E3 where many many people are invited.
They wanted bigger, they got bigger, and now they've changed thier criticism to praise. Nice to see!
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
Exhibitions like PAX are going to prevail because real gamers go there instead of journalists and game company big wigs.
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
yeah, PAX is a little different.
At E3, game companies come together to show off what they're working on, with a guarantee of having the entire world hear about it, because of the journalists attending. It's funded by the game companies as a form of advertising.
PAX on the other hand is a paid-for-by-attendees event, with an almost 100% consumer attendance. It's more of a festival. It's cheaper for the game companies to attend, which gives them the ability to spend more money on thier presentation.
I see no reason both shouldn't co-exist. They've both got a reason to.
Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
DarkSaber, I believe so.
@the article: DUH! Of course it is going to be better if they are sliding back to the old format. They screwed up the whole industry by closing the doors, but myguess is that they are going to be messing something up still... and I don't mean something minor.
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Re: GameCo CEOs Who Trashed E3 2008 Now Singing a Different Tune
I'm probably wrong, but didn't EA heavily criticise the old-style E3 towards the end of its time as well? I'm sure EA complained that all the peacocking at the old-style E3 was detracting from trying to present upcoming games to the public or something, and that they welcomed a downsizing of the event.
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