Article Taken From gamesindustry.biz
Article Written By ellie gibson

The Entertainment Software Association has confirmed that the E3 Expo will no longer continue to be the biggest event in the games industry calendar, revealing that a "more intimate" event is now planned.

In an official statement, ESA president Doug Lowenstein said: "The world of interactive entertainment has changed since E3 Expo was created 12 years ago. At that time we were focused on establishing the industry and securing orders for the holiday season.

"Over the years, it has become clear that we need a more intimate program, including higher quality, more personal dialogue with the worldwide media, developers, retailers and other key industry audiences."

From now on, the focus for E3 will be on "targeted, personalised meetings and activities", according to the ESA, with further plans to be announced soon.

It's been confirmed that the show will still take place in Los Angeles, but the emphasis will be on press events and small meetings between media, retail and development. Although publishers will still have the opportunity to demo their products, the ESA has stated that next year's show "will not feature the large trade show environment of previous years."

According to Lowenstein, E3 will remain "an important event for the industry", and the ESA remains committed to maintaining "that sense of excitement and interest" - with an emphasis on productivity.

Following the growth of major events such as the Leipzig Games Convention and the Tokyo Game Show, Lowenstein said, "It is no longer necessary or efficient to have a single industry ‘mega-show’.

"By refocusing on a highly-targeted event, we think we can do a better job serving our members and the industry as a whole."

The ESA has pledged to reveal further details of the revamped E3 Expo in the coming months.

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Article Taken From gamesindustry.biz
Article Written By ellie gibson

A senior industry source has told GamesIndustry.biz that next year's E3 expo is in jeopardy because publishing giant Electronic Arts has taken a stand over rising event costs.

The source, who did not wish to be named, claimed that EA has been meeting with show organisers the Entertainment Software Association in a bid to drive prices down.

Rumours that major industry players are pulling out of E3, resulting in a massive downsize for the show, began to emerge last week via trade publication MCV. The ESA has yet to offer comment on the rumours, but an official statement is expected within the next 24 hours.

The suggestion that EA is leading the move away from E3 is not entirely surprising. Speaking to GI.biz at this year's show, senior executives expressed concern over the value of the event - suggesting they had chosen not to show many key products there because it is no longer the correct venue for that type of unveiling.

Other industry sources have told GI.biz that major publishers are planning to place more focus on retail shows - as retailers are also turning away from E3.

EA had yet to respond to requests for comment at the time of writing.

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Article Taken From gamesindustry.biz
Article Written By ellie gibson

Senior industry sources have confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz that the E3 expo will return in a different form next year, following a unanimous vote by US publishers.

One source told GI.biz that the board of the Entertainment Software Association discusses whether E3 is still offering an effective arena to showcase games each year.

This year, many of the publishers who hold seats on the board requested that an alternative be found to continuing with the show in its present form. ESA president Doug Lowenstein presented a new proposal - and it was unanimously approved by the board.

Another source confirmed that the ESA is set to announce full details of the new show format shortly, with a statement expected later this evening.

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The Board would never allow E3 to be a low profile event, The revenue that the exhibition generates must be staggering when you think how much Sony etc. pay for those stands...

Thanks for the ingo G.J. Cole, as always you have your finger on the pulse of the games industry...

Cheers,

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To be honest i'm a little bit gutted by this annoucement. It seems that because one or two of the big players stole all the limelight at this years E3 the rest of them have decided to spit their dummies out and start crying.

Maybe each publisher/developer will have there own show now, but to cancel E3 I think is a very bad move.

Look at the amount of press coverage for this event, I mean even Newsround (kids news program on BBC 1) broadcast live from the event this year.

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Article Taken From gamesindustry.biz
Article Written By ellie gibson

Entertainment Software Association president Doug Lowenstein has revealed the first details of what visitors can expect from next year's E3 - including a new name, a new venue and a new date.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Lowenstein said that the event will be known as the E3 Media Festival from now on. He did not discuss whether this means other types of media will also be on show.

Around 5000 people are expected to attend, a dramatic drop from the 60,000 visitors who were at this year's E3. According to Lowenstein, this is in a bid to meet the needs of exhibitors who felt the event had become too big: "Some companies were frustrated because E3 was such a huge, sweeping event it became increasingly difficult to get their messages out."

Next year's show will be held in July, rather than May as is traditional. It appears that the date change is designed to give publishers more time to work on products slated for a Christmas release.

And finally, E3 will no longer take place in the Los Angeles Convention Center - instead, the ESA plans to use two hotels, holding press events and meetings in suites and conference rooms.

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I just don't think it will stick... We will have to wait and see but I remember they did something simular with the Games Show they hold in the U.K. (Forget the name now - but went every year) and they moved the event from the Alexandra Palace to Earls Court (or the other way round) and made it more exclusive but I was still able to get tickets under a false company name...

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Article Taken From gamesindustry.biz
Article Written By ellie gibson

Nintendo has become the first of the three platform holders to confirm involvement in next year's E3, with Microsoft and Sony yet to make a firm commitment to the reborn expo.

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz, Nintendo UK PR manager Rob Saunders said, "I can confirm that Nintendo will be involved in the E3 expo next year."

However, details of just how big a presence Nintendo intends to have at the newly-formed event have yet to be revealed.

Microsoft's stance is less clear, with a spokesperson from the company's UK office telling GI.biz, "We're supportive of the move ESA has taken. It's still early days, and we're not in a position to talk about what Microsoft will be doing in regards to next year's E3, but we'll be making an announcement nearer the time."

David Wilson, head of SCEE PR, was unwilling to offer any kind of commitment, stating, "We generally view E3 as a 'US' show. That isn't to devalue or deny its significance to us, it's just that because it's based in the US: SCEA 'own' it."

Wilson added that further comment would only be forthcoming once SCEA had confirmed its position.

The move to reformat E3 as a much smaller event was confirmed by ESA president Doug Lowenstein earlier today.

He confirmed that next year's show – which has held the games industry in its thrall for the past 12 years - will be retitled the E3 Media Festival for 2007, and is slated to take place in July as opposed to the traditional May timing.

However, as the cross-spectrum first reactions from the platform holders show, the impact to the entire industry of losing the event is still unclear. Greater clarity is expected towards the end of the week as the US arms of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft all make their official comments regarding the move.

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Article Written By ellie gibson

Electronic Arts has confirmed its support for the reborn E3 expo, with communications boss Simon Smith-Wright telling GamesIndustry.biz that the move is likely to have a positive impact on other trade events.

"EA supports ESA's decision regarding the show," Smith-Wright said.

"The new event will be less disruptive to development schedules and a smaller more intimate show in LA is likely to result in further support for regional events such as Leipzig, China Joy, the Tokyo Game Show and other events around the world."

According to claims made by a senior industry source, it was EA who led the charge to reformat E3 as a smaller scale event - but comments made by Smith-Wright would suggest that this was not the case.

"Every year ESA's board discusses the cost and efficacy of E3. Many members questioned the efficacy of the show and asked to look at alternatives," he stated.

"When Doug Lowenstein offered an alternative, the board voted to accept."

So far, EA is one of only a few industry players to come out in support of the move. Both NCsoft and Nintendo have confirmed their commitment, but the majority of UK publishers have remained silent on the issue.

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Article Written By ellie gibson

UK publishers clammed up today as the shock of E3's effective demise sinks in, with almost all of the biggest players refusing to offer comment without deferring to their US offices.

Major third party publishers such as THQ, Sega, Vivendi and Ubisoft are on lockdown, refusing to reveal anything about how the companies view ESA's move or whether or not they will be involved in E3's future.

Comments are expected before the end of the week - once the UK offices have talked to their US counterparts. Many publishers have said there is still much confusion over exactly how the new E3 will take shape, and how they plan to react accordingly.

Some of those GI.biz spoke to were prepared to comment, but only off the record - with one very senior executive observing that E3 is likely to be mourned more by retailers than publishers.

"As a retailer, it's the first chance you get to see everything," the source stated.

"As a publisher, all I really need to see are retailers and they're based around London. Our PR message ensures that the key people see our games anyway, whether it be via online or the press."

Another executive at a major third-party publisher told GI.biz: "I very much doubt we would ever pull out of E3."

However, the source applauded the move for change. "The show was reaching its pinnacle, and getting as big as it could get. It would be good to see it moved around," he said.

"Now Leipzig's coming along, and more and more people are going, everywhere you look. People are definitely taking Leipzig more seriously. But I think there's room for two," the source added.

As for the big three, Nintendo is the only platform holder to have confirmed an appearance at the new event so far, with both Microsoft and Sony remaining non-committal.

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