WTF is Wrong With E3
Do you hear that? Those are the final gasps of life for the show formally known as E3. Say what you will – it was expensive, it was loud, it was a bitch to work, but you know what? It worked.
E3 was our Superbowl. It was our prom and our chance to remind the world that our industry is fueled by creative individuals and by loyal fans.
This year’s E3 from all reports and my experience felt more like a glorified swap meet than a trade show for a multi-billion dollar industry. Thank God for excellent coverage by G4, Gametrailers TV, IGN and Gamespot, it nearly made me forget the failed abortion that that E3 has become.
The role of a trade show is to be the medium for publicity, sales and business. E3 continues to deteriorate to a point where the ESA expects the publicity, sales and business to be the medium to promote the show. Who’s working for who? I don’t fault any company for pulling out of the ESA and saying enough is enough. We don’t need this show, but many of us miss it. It used to be a beautiful cacophony of light and sound. There used to be REAL news, big announcements and booth babes!
There used to be fun.
There used to be parties – BIG PARTIES!
What was the news this year? Netflix + Xbox360 = meh. Okay – mild enthusiasm for less interaction with the outside world.
Gears of War 2 = murder boner! Looks pretty but this was announced in Game Informer a long time ago.
Dead Space is coming together nicely.
Fallout 3 could have shown better, but will be an epic purchase. Fallout 3 may be the only game I’m truly hyped up to play. Why did the devs choose a ridiculously boring section of gameplay to demo on such an important stage as the Xbox E3 presentation. When life gives you an opportunity to show off why you should be “Game of the Show” than you’d better bring your “A” game. I understand why you want to show off the finer elements of a game, but where’s the money shot? NEGATIVE KUDOS to the publicist on that one. It’s the PR’s job to educate devs and marketing folks on what is going to kill with the press and fans alike.
The Gears of War 2 trailer is far more effective and has a nice payoff at the end and leaves you wanting more KUDOS Epic!
More to come on E3!
-HypeGeist
July 20, 2008 at 7:15 pm
I was quite happy with the FFIII for Xbox news… but the best thing is that Microsoft pulled the Bungee announcement in order to keep their press conf to 90 minutes…
No words.