E3 gets a name change, a date change, and a cut in head count. Really, its just different.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA)'s Doug Lowenstein has laid to rest all rumors around E3. The once great E3 with a head count of roughly 60,000 people will be known as the E3 Media Festival with a head count around 5,000.
The convention center used by E3 in the past will no longer be utilized for this event:
These new venues are smaller and require less $$$ to be shelled for the event. That translates directly to head count. Bring the event to 5,000 is more realistic for the smaller sizes...and probably make the local Fire Departments happier when it comes to laws and maximum capacities.
Overall, what you have is truely a "festival" and not a media frenzy event of the year. The reduced cost means that development studios will probably have to look elsewhere for massive promotions for their new games.
I'd expect to see smaller investments by companies like EA, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, and other big movers and shakers. Perhaps venue's closer to the home offices of these companies; maybe international events in Europe and Asia? It is hard to tell at this point, but I'm sure over the course of the next three quarters we'll see if those big companies start planning smaller events to showcase their products.
Last big news? The E3 Media Festival is Invite Only. In order to keep a head count of 5,000 the population will be controlled by invitations.
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA)'s Doug Lowenstein has laid to rest all rumors around E3. The once great E3 with a head count of roughly 60,000 people will be known as the E3 Media Festival with a head count around 5,000.
The convention center used by E3 in the past will no longer be utilized for this event:
The smaller version, tentatively titled the E3 Media Festival, could occupy suites and conference rooms at two Los Angeles hotels with a target attendance of about 5,000, said Doug Lowenstein, president of the ESA, which voted to make the change Wednesday.This new event will take place in July, presumably to give developers more time to prepare their products and ready them for the Holiday season. The venue change means that two hotel lobbys will be used for the "festival" and press events will be held in conference rooms or suits within the hotels.
These new venues are smaller and require less $$$ to be shelled for the event. That translates directly to head count. Bring the event to 5,000 is more realistic for the smaller sizes...and probably make the local Fire Departments happier when it comes to laws and maximum capacities.
Overall, what you have is truely a "festival" and not a media frenzy event of the year. The reduced cost means that development studios will probably have to look elsewhere for massive promotions for their new games.
I'd expect to see smaller investments by companies like EA, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, and other big movers and shakers. Perhaps venue's closer to the home offices of these companies; maybe international events in Europe and Asia? It is hard to tell at this point, but I'm sure over the course of the next three quarters we'll see if those big companies start planning smaller events to showcase their products.
Last big news? The E3 Media Festival is Invite Only. In order to keep a head count of 5,000 the population will be controlled by invitations.
