E3 possibly finished
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[quote name='KingDox']Who is losing money on the event ? Don't tickets cost something like 300 bucks ? Also everytime I've been there the place is packed. And the booths are sometimes larger then my freaking house. Plus the companies are spending money on after parties and freebies.
If the companies where really hard up for money why wouldn't they cut back on promotion and have smaller booths or not show up at all ?
I figured that e3 expo was factored into the price of producing a game. Every company has money designated for promotion in their budget.
Also E3 is the largest convention here in LA, the city would have a fit if it went away. I'm sure the city and the people who run e3 would be able to find an agreement to keep the event alive.
I think this story is BS.[/QUOTE]
Only a small fraction of attendees at these events pay to get in. (The technical term is sucker.) I've been attending CES since 1983 and have never paid a penny to get in. Likewise for Comdex and E3. If you make it in as press there is even a nice lunch and snacks to be had in a designated press lounge along with places to connect your laptop and file stories with your publication.
There will continue to be events for the press. They'll just be done in a more cost effective manner.
If the companies where really hard up for money why wouldn't they cut back on promotion and have smaller booths or not show up at all ?
I figured that e3 expo was factored into the price of producing a game. Every company has money designated for promotion in their budget.
Also E3 is the largest convention here in LA, the city would have a fit if it went away. I'm sure the city and the people who run e3 would be able to find an agreement to keep the event alive.
I think this story is BS.[/QUOTE]
Only a small fraction of attendees at these events pay to get in. (The technical term is sucker.) I've been attending CES since 1983 and have never paid a penny to get in. Likewise for Comdex and E3. If you make it in as press there is even a nice lunch and snacks to be had in a designated press lounge along with places to connect your laptop and file stories with your publication.
There will continue to be events for the press. They'll just be done in a more cost effective manner.
[quote name='Michaellvortega']I want E3 to go back to Las Vegas[/QUOTE]
E3 was never in Las Vegas. The lock on convention space in Las Vegas is how E3 came to exist in the first place. By no small coincidence, Sheldon Adelson, the guy most responsible for starting Comdex is also a major owner of convention space in Las Vegas. He controlled a big chunk of the LVCC and completely owns the Sands CC and the adjoining Venetian Hotel and Resort. (He sold off Comdex in 1995 for close to $900 million. Suckers!)
CES got started as a cheap show for that industry because they took a calendar slot that was nearly unsellable, the week after New Year's. Comdex took advantage of another slot that also hard to book, mid-November. By the mid-90s, finding an open timeslot at the LVCC that didn't cost more than the game industry could accept was impossible. Los Angeles was trying hard to draw more convention business (it would help if our convention certer weren't a short walk from our Skid Row) and a good percentage of the industry was comfortably close to LA.
E3 was never in Las Vegas. The lock on convention space in Las Vegas is how E3 came to exist in the first place. By no small coincidence, Sheldon Adelson, the guy most responsible for starting Comdex is also a major owner of convention space in Las Vegas. He controlled a big chunk of the LVCC and completely owns the Sands CC and the adjoining Venetian Hotel and Resort. (He sold off Comdex in 1995 for close to $900 million. Suckers!)
CES got started as a cheap show for that industry because they took a calendar slot that was nearly unsellable, the week after New Year's. Comdex took advantage of another slot that also hard to book, mid-November. By the mid-90s, finding an open timeslot at the LVCC that didn't cost more than the game industry could accept was impossible. Los Angeles was trying hard to draw more convention business (it would help if our convention certer weren't a short walk from our Skid Row) and a good percentage of the industry was comfortably close to LA.
If you never got to E3, you really didn't miss much.
To simulate the experience, take a handheld game system and load a game you've never played before. Then put a big metal pot on top of your head, big enough so you can play the game under the pot. Then, have a friend or enemy bang on the pot with spoons until you have a blinding headache.
For added detail, you can place on the inside of the pot a photo of a bikini model who would never give you the time of day if she wasn't being paid.
That is the E3 experience.
To simulate the experience, take a handheld game system and load a game you've never played before. Then put a big metal pot on top of your head, big enough so you can play the game under the pot. Then, have a friend or enemy bang on the pot with spoons until you have a blinding headache.
For added detail, you can place on the inside of the pot a photo of a bikini model who would never give you the time of day if she wasn't being paid.
That is the E3 experience.
soonersfan60
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The tickets are free for retailers, and most other people can figure out ways around paying to get in. No one will cut back on space/freebies/etc. because they feel it would imply weakness to do so. It's like an arms race.
[quote name='KingDox']Who is losing money on the event ? Don't tickets cost something like 300 bucks ? Also everytime I've been there the place is packed. And the booths are sometimes larger then my freaking house. Plus the companies are spending money on after parties and freebies.
If the companies where really hard up for money why wouldn't they cut back on promotion and have smaller booths or not show up at all ?
I figured that e3 expo was factored into the price of producing a game. Every company has money designated for promotion in their budget.
Also E3 is the largest convention here in LA, the city would have a fit if it went away. I'm sure the city and the people who run e3 would be able to find an agreement to keep the event alive.
I think this story is BS.[/quote]
[quote name='KingDox']Who is losing money on the event ? Don't tickets cost something like 300 bucks ? Also everytime I've been there the place is packed. And the booths are sometimes larger then my freaking house. Plus the companies are spending money on after parties and freebies.
If the companies where really hard up for money why wouldn't they cut back on promotion and have smaller booths or not show up at all ?
I figured that e3 expo was factored into the price of producing a game. Every company has money designated for promotion in their budget.
Also E3 is the largest convention here in LA, the city would have a fit if it went away. I'm sure the city and the people who run e3 would be able to find an agreement to keep the event alive.
I think this story is BS.[/quote]
lordxixor101
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The one thing that E3 had going for it was that the entire industry agreed this was the biggest show in the United States for the video game business. So, everyone was their with their best stuff.
For the big companies and the big games, I doubt this is a big deal. The PS3 would still be being panned right now for their price. Nintendo would have shown off the Wii at some point and the hype would be on. But, I really wonder about smaller games.
I can't think of an example off hand (so, this could be a non issue), but I have to think there were several games that got attention at E3 and then managed to sell well because of it. Where is a smaller game from a smaller company going to get exposure if E3 isn't there (or it isn't the same).
For the big companies and the big games, I doubt this is a big deal. The PS3 would still be being panned right now for their price. Nintendo would have shown off the Wii at some point and the hype would be on. But, I really wonder about smaller games.
I can't think of an example off hand (so, this could be a non issue), but I have to think there were several games that got attention at E3 and then managed to sell well because of it. Where is a smaller game from a smaller company going to get exposure if E3 isn't there (or it isn't the same).
[quote name='lordxixor101']I can't think of an example off hand (so, this could be a non issue), but I have to think there were several games that got attention at E3 and then managed to sell well because of it.[/quote]
Guitar Hero was the baby of the 2005 show. I'm sure all of the coverage and positive write-ups helped pull it above the radar.
Guitar Hero was the baby of the 2005 show. I'm sure all of the coverage and positive write-ups helped pull it above the radar.
Mookyjooky
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[quote name='Strell']I am seriously going to try and go next year (can't this year).
If anyone else wants to join me, let me know. Or we could at least meet up.[/quote]
I'm going.
If anyone else wants to join me, let me know. Or we could at least meet up.[/quote]
I'm going.
[quote name='Mookyjooky']I'm going. [/QUOTE]
Awesome.
First I will see if your chin really can cut roast, like I believe it can.
Then I can punch you in the face with said chin-cut roast.
It will be good times had by all.
At any rate, if I end up there next year, we'll meet up, along with any other willing CAGs.
[/QUOTE]Awesome.
First I will see if your chin really can cut roast, like I believe it can.
Then I can punch you in the face with said chin-cut roast.
It will be good times had by all.
At any rate, if I end up there next year, we'll meet up, along with any other willing CAGs.
[quote name='lordxixor101']The one thing that E3 had going for it was that the entire industry agreed this was the biggest show in the United States for the video game business. So, everyone was their with their best stuff.
For the big companies and the big games, I doubt this is a big deal. The PS3 would still be being panned right now for their price. Nintendo would have shown off the Wii at some point and the hype would be on. But, I really wonder about smaller games.
I can't think of an example off hand (so, this could be a non issue), but I have to think there were several games that got attention at E3 and then managed to sell well because of it. Where is a smaller game from a smaller company going to get exposure if E3 isn't there (or it isn't the same).[/QUOTE]
First, be sure you have a good game. Get a cross section of opinions from people who have never seen it during development.
There is this building in West Los Angeles where this cable channel called G4 produces most of their original programming. They're always looking for something to provide real airtime rather than coming up with more skits for filler. In the Southern California area there are also many magazine publishers, many of whose publications cover video games. Provide review copies of the product to them and indicate the availability of your designers and other staff for interviews.
Go north to San Francisco area. Repeat.
for what it costs to do E3 you can give the individual news outlet a lot of attention. No product has ever needed E3 as a make or break publicity event.
For the big companies and the big games, I doubt this is a big deal. The PS3 would still be being panned right now for their price. Nintendo would have shown off the Wii at some point and the hype would be on. But, I really wonder about smaller games.
I can't think of an example off hand (so, this could be a non issue), but I have to think there were several games that got attention at E3 and then managed to sell well because of it. Where is a smaller game from a smaller company going to get exposure if E3 isn't there (or it isn't the same).[/QUOTE]
First, be sure you have a good game. Get a cross section of opinions from people who have never seen it during development.
There is this building in West Los Angeles where this cable channel called G4 produces most of their original programming. They're always looking for something to provide real airtime rather than coming up with more skits for filler. In the Southern California area there are also many magazine publishers, many of whose publications cover video games. Provide review copies of the product to them and indicate the availability of your designers and other staff for interviews.
Go north to San Francisco area. Repeat.
for what it costs to do E3 you can give the individual news outlet a lot of attention. No product has ever needed E3 as a make or break publicity event.
Michaellvortega
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Maybe the Ps3 caused massive damage to E3s weak piont. On a side note if E3 is canceled we should just show up anways for CAGCON 07
This went into the wrong thread. Wrong meaning it petered out quickly compared to this thread.
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This isn't a game industry issue. It's a trade show industry issue.
This stuff is way expensive. I know the guy whose company designed and built the Nokia N*gage booth for the 2004 E3. That sucker cost approx. $2.5 million dollars. Just the booth, not the space it occupied. A reusable version would be more expensive and would also have to be stored and shipped to events, which are not that frequent. Factor in all of the costs of E3 and Nokia easily sunk over $5 million into that year, and for what?
And Nokia's was far from the most expensive booth. They may have been in the top 15 but towards the bottom of that list. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo could easily have spent over $10 million each, including their press conferences.
For a vastly lesser amount of cash they can stage their own event near their HQ. All the personnel get to sleep in their own beds at home. The press and other attendees are solely those chosen by them rather than by the E3 gatekeepers. A big company can do it on their campus and dazzle without much elaborate building. A smaller company can make do with a hotel ballroom.
It's so much less expensive yet so effective it makes the shows from the old days like Comdex laughable. Comdex and shows like it long outlived their original purpose. Comdex stood for Computer Dealer Expo. It was a place to see a bunch of different products and place orders back in the day when there were a zillion independent computer stores that weren't building their own machines. By the early 90s the bulk of brand name computer sales were occurring by phone or through a short list of national retail chains. If the buyers for a dozen chains account for 70% of your business, it's far better to bring them to you, singly or in a group, and just sell tot he guys who matter.
It is little different for video games, especially in the era of the web and broadband. Once you've dealt personally with Best Buy, Wal-mart, Target, Circuit City, TRU, and a few others, everybody who is left doesn't amount to much. You can spend ten million impressing Mom & Pop store owners from Podunk or spend just a million showing that critical handful of big chain buyers a good time.
Events for the press mean a larger crowd but the math still applies. You can reach most of the guys who matter for a fraction of the cost.
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This isn't a game industry issue. It's a trade show industry issue.
This stuff is way expensive. I know the guy whose company designed and built the Nokia N*gage booth for the 2004 E3. That sucker cost approx. $2.5 million dollars. Just the booth, not the space it occupied. A reusable version would be more expensive and would also have to be stored and shipped to events, which are not that frequent. Factor in all of the costs of E3 and Nokia easily sunk over $5 million into that year, and for what?
And Nokia's was far from the most expensive booth. They may have been in the top 15 but towards the bottom of that list. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo could easily have spent over $10 million each, including their press conferences.
For a vastly lesser amount of cash they can stage their own event near their HQ. All the personnel get to sleep in their own beds at home. The press and other attendees are solely those chosen by them rather than by the E3 gatekeepers. A big company can do it on their campus and dazzle without much elaborate building. A smaller company can make do with a hotel ballroom.
It's so much less expensive yet so effective it makes the shows from the old days like Comdex laughable. Comdex and shows like it long outlived their original purpose. Comdex stood for Computer Dealer Expo. It was a place to see a bunch of different products and place orders back in the day when there were a zillion independent computer stores that weren't building their own machines. By the early 90s the bulk of brand name computer sales were occurring by phone or through a short list of national retail chains. If the buyers for a dozen chains account for 70% of your business, it's far better to bring them to you, singly or in a group, and just sell tot he guys who matter.
It is little different for video games, especially in the era of the web and broadband. Once you've dealt personally with Best Buy, Wal-mart, Target, Circuit City, TRU, and a few others, everybody who is left doesn't amount to much. You can spend ten million impressing Mom & Pop store owners from Podunk or spend just a million showing that critical handful of big chain buyers a good time.
Events for the press mean a larger crowd but the math still applies. You can reach most of the guys who matter for a fraction of the cost.
[quote name='thehighlight']PAX is Penny Arcade Expo.
All of this is bittersweet for me. Oh well.[/QUOTE]
Oh jesus... I must be the only one who thinks Penny Arcade is meh... Cheapassgamer does more for the gaming community, IMO, than PA.
EDIT: Considering Microsoft reused their booth from last year I have my doubts that they sank as much money into this year's effort. Even Sony's booth felt familiar.
All of this is bittersweet for me. Oh well.[/QUOTE]
Oh jesus... I must be the only one who thinks Penny Arcade is meh... Cheapassgamer does more for the gaming community, IMO, than PA.
EDIT: Considering Microsoft reused their booth from last year I have my doubts that they sank as much money into this year's effort. Even Sony's booth felt familiar.
Michaellvortega
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[quote name='daphatty']Oh jesus... I must be the only one who thinks Penny Arcade is meh... Cheapassgamer does more for the gaming community, IMO, than PA.
EDIT: Considering Microsoft reused their booth from last year I have my doubts that they sank as much money into this year's effort. Even Sony's booth felt familiar.[/QUOTE]
Finally! Someone that agrees that PA suxors. Yeah they have a funny comic every once in a while. But some nerds praise those dudes as if they where the 2nd coming of the lord(not of the rings) or something. Two thumbs up to you my good man.
EDIT: Considering Microsoft reused their booth from last year I have my doubts that they sank as much money into this year's effort. Even Sony's booth felt familiar.[/QUOTE]
Finally! Someone that agrees that PA suxors. Yeah they have a funny comic every once in a while. But some nerds praise those dudes as if they where the 2nd coming of the lord(not of the rings) or something. Two thumbs up to you my good man.
bread's done