Kotaku
Some E3 invites went out via email earlier today, with eagle-eyed visitors to the official site noticing that the current list of participating companies for the 2008 show is much leaner than last year's. Missing from the E3 line up are notable (and huge) publishers like Activision, Atlus, Bethesda Softworks, Majesco, NCsoft, Vivendi Games and Warner Bros. Interactive. Yes, Activision will not be in attendance at E3 this year, as it tells Gaming Nexus that "for business reasons Activision has decided not to participate in any official E3 activities."
That could easily be perceived as a blow to the ESA run show, as the biggest North American publisher sits out the premiere video game exhibition. After moving from the Los Angeles Convention Center to various locations spread out across Santa Monica, it's limping back to its former home. It's unknown if the glitz and grime of its former incarnation will return, but we're thankful that it won't follow the format of E3 2007.
Please note that the statement says "official" E3 activities, leaving the publisher open to hold its own event during or near the show, as publisher Gamecock did last year. Activision obviously has plenty of wares to show, but may feel like the current E3 isn't in its best interests for financial or media attention reasons.
We contacted Activision reps to find out more but were given the same official response.
Activision officially out of E3 [Gaming Nexus]
Comments
Is it because E3 became a tight-wad?
No booth babes?, No loud music?, Invites only?.
Wasn't it only a couple years ago when big dogs like Activision and Vivendi paid top dollars for the best spot/sq ft?
What? Business reasons? That can't possibly be because they don't have any cash after the amount of cash they hurled this year.
That blows. I want to see some Fallout 3 damnit!
Uh, how about the obvious: they're tits-deep in a massive multi billion dollar merger and don't have time to plan anything?
I'm sitting out E3 this year as well for business reasons. I have no gaming business and I'm poor.
E3 is not as hot as it use to be, wait isn't E3 dead, isn't called something else now?
E3 is slowly degenerating into E for All
So is this the flower on the grave of E3?
K everyone, wait, before you explode into cacophony, just wait.
Simply because these companies have opted not to pay the ESA a crapload of money to show off their games in a room at the Los Angeles Convention center doesn't mean they won't be showing off their games during the E3 expo. It just means they'll be showing off their games privately, in hotel suites or conference rooms elsewhere. Their games will still get coverage, but they won't be a part of the E3 EXCRUCIATING EVENT EXPERIENCE.
So relax.
@ban_hammer: I'm confused with you. I recall E3 dying, something called E for All, and then I think E3 came back...or maybe not.
It's a big mess...and then the developers and publishers don't even want to go anymore, making it a bigger mess.
Whatever. I don't mind there not being a show. Just make the announcements and reveals year round.
@glibby:
That has nothing to do with it. They're stll planning a press event for that same time.
@Atheist Jew:
But that means more work! You know how people feel about doing more work.
Anyway, I understand no Vivendi, but no Atlus?! Have they already released all their games for 2008 or something?
This doesn't bode well for E3.
@Atheist Jew:im cool with that, since only some people from the media can gain access, and i only want them to anounce their games
no fancy booth is ok to the common gamer
however the thing is that then the point of the event will blur, and the E3 as we know it can disapear
and thats gentlemen is a problem
Anyone have a list of what Activision has on board for relase this year? That might explain a lot... but I'm admittedly too lazy to go look myself.
@Grey Gecko: *that
No Atlus?
God Dammit.
Does this mean nothing on Brutal Legend? Honestly, that's the only game from either side of the Vivendi-Activision merger that I give a damn about.
@SpishackCola:
I think you're missing the point. None of these companies will be officially attending E3, but they will still be present in Los Angeles during the same time frame, showing off their games to journalists, probably by appointment.
I'm sure Atlus will have some games to show us!
@Grey Gecko: E3, as an important industry event, died 2 years ago.
@LittleBigPlaneteer: Really? Is there a press release on that, or is it based on kotaku's speculation regarding the word 'official'?
Someone should make a note to check at some point whether Activision make an appearance at this year's PAX and/or Games Convention. If it turns out that Activision are bowing out of E3 to focus on others, then that'll speak volumes for how publishers have started to view E3 as.
E3 used to be the prime time event of the industry, but after the one-up contest between the publishers got out of control, it's understandable why the ESA cut back on it. Then again, that same action effectively knackered E3 - And gave the spotlight to the various conferences around the world.
The suits & press will be in LA, but the players will most likely end up in Seattle, Leipzig & Tokyo. This year will be interesting to see which way the industry's attention goes.
It's becoming pretty obvious that turning E3 into an exclusive event was a HUGE mistake.
Aw, no Atlus.
= \
I understand the reasons why E3 was closed to the public and made into an industry insider event, but at the same time, I can't help but feel the repercussions of this move had an unintended effect: it simply marginalized E3's importance to the entire industry.
It's okay, I don't need to see videos of three new GHs, Tony Hawk 18, and a Treyarch-developed CoD.
I already know all of the above will likely suck.
No Bethesda is sad, though. I, too, wanted to see some Fallout 3 goodness. :(
@Atheist Jew: Ah, that puts my mind to rest.
Does this mean no blizzard at e3? Not that they tend to do much in the way of announcements for the event.
@karasu is my homeboy: So the question is: When E3 came back from the dead did it return as a brainless brain eating zombie or did someone cast life 3 or revive on it?
@ocalot: People complained that it's not what it was, but I never went anyway, so it's the same to me. A fuck ton of news, announcements, screen shots, videos, hype, etc. Hate to be an asshole but I don't really care if the press doesn't enjoy it as much, I still get my news :D
@Atheist Jew:
I suck at conveying a joking tone over the internet sorry :( That first part was meant to be a joke.
I hope Atlus pulls out something wicked this summer. Maybe another Ogre Battle *drools*
@Atheist Jew:yeah i know, and it saddens me
but there is hope, if only E for all recived enought attention
@JimElNino: I don't think E3 could be what it once was anyway since when you tend to kill something and bring it back the amount of possibility for change is tremendous. Anyway I am willing to bet that the common gamer doesn't care what goes on at E3 since in the end the amount of news, announcements and media that they get is the same.
E3 died a long time ago sure it might have been crazy but when they changed the format they showed the world that they were not needed. The fans enjoyed the carnival that was E3 but without it other exposures came out to the fans and media in other ways that were bother cheaper and more effective. Lets face it they can get all the promotion they need of a game now by just giving a little information directly to the fans via blogs.
Yeah, well we can all agree now that E3 is pretty much owned.
I'm glad I went to the final true E3 which was back in 06.
The "New" E3 is pointless to begin with. Bring back the good ol' days of booth babies and games.
E3 is pretty much garbage now. This doesn't surprise me one bit. The only "business reason" why they aren't showing up is because it's a bad business decision to pay for a now crappy event.
Am I the only one who misses the old E3? I miss the good ol' Nintendo booths, girls, etc. Everyone, please pardon my cynicism. I'm just sad.
The reason E3 and E for All are dead (and why Activision and such aren't going)is simple:
PA Expo. That's where all the major game developers are going. I mean, even if you're one of the madmen that doesn't like Penny Arcade, you have to acknowledge that they were the best Gaming Expo last year, hands down.
I have a feeling the Activision half of Activision Blizzard will likely adopt something like Blizzcon so they get all the spotlight for a cheaper price. If this continues and more places drop out though I'm thinking E3 might become more of an event where the three console makers show off their wares while most of the other studios hold private events as console makers generally get the most press at E3.
RIP E3
I don't think it has anything to do with money for the show, really. It makes a LOT more sense to have your own event, show off your games when YOU'RE ready (not when E3 happens) and do it in an environment where attention and care can be given to each piece of software, rather than having journalists be overwhelmed with things to play and see.
Ahh the E3, I remember it well.
[lordargent.com]
/This was right across from the convention center. We parked 2 blocks away for $20
I'm gonna say it has a lot to do with Jamie Kennedy fucking up E3 for Activision last year.
[www.gametrailers.com]
Ah well. E3 isn't for gamers anymore, and Activision seems bound to get the knee-jerk hate parade anyway if what I've read on here is any indication of the overall gaming community. Besides like Atheist Jew was saying, they're bound to just show their wares somewhere else anyway, probably around that time.
@SpishackCola: Square Enix owns both the rights to Ogre Battle and the developer that made the series. If a new Ogre Battle were to come out, it would have to come from them. Given Square Enix's track record as an extremely conservative company, I'd say it's pretty unlikely. Which makes me sad because I loved Ogre Battle 64. I could maybe see them put Ogre Battle onto the DS, but they'd probably have to go back to 2D in that case.
Come to think of it, E3 is also sitting out E3 "for business reasons" this year also.
I'm probably missing something huge but I don't believe Activision actually has anything interesting announced for the future.
@SpishackCola:
No apologies necessary, the internet is fundamentally incapable of expressing certain things!
@Grey Gecko:
The closest thing America has to the old E3 is PAX, I guess. I've yet to attend a PAX, but I would put forth that PAX is even more special and awesome than E3 ever was, because it's gamers meeting gamers submersed in gamer culture, oh and also some companies set up their crap to be played on the expo floor. E3 was very much a marketing event, more for the various publishers to show off their massive penises/booths and try to one up each other with snappy comments and thinly veiled contempt.
But PAX is different, I hear!
@Atheist Jew: I'm gonna try and make it to my first PAX this year. I have no excuse not to, living as close as I do.
Wow. Fallout 3 was going to be the big reason I planned move my schedule around to make it to E3. Now, though...I dunno.
@karasu is my homeboy: oh that sounds right, may be thats why activision didn't bother this year