Rumor: Did LucasArts Just Bolt From The ESA, Too?

Rumor, breaking, e3, esa, lucasarts, top

Did LucasArts Just Bolt From The ESA, Too?

LUCASARTS The Entertainment Software Association confirmed late last week that two of its members—Activision and Vivendi Games—were no longer with organization, after they decided to "discontinue their membership." The pair were just two of the publishers who opted to bail on E3 this year, showing potential signs of discontent with the ESA and its annual show. They may not be the only ones.

Today, it would appear that another publisher may be joining Activision and Vivendi as a former ESA member, as GamePolitics points out that LucasArts is no longer listed as one of its members, a recent and unannounced change. The official E3 Summit web site still lists LucasArts as a participating company. We have a request in with the publisher to learn more about their ESA status and will update when we hear back.

ESA Members

6:40 PM on Thu May 8 2008
By Michael McWhertor
1,676 views
15 comments

Comments

D2point0 at 06:58 PM on 05/08/08
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What the hell is going on?
el.sand.bag at 06:58 PM on 05/08/08
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No more E3 lol
BigWeather at 07:02 PM on 05/08/08
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Ruh-roh.

It is kind of a shame what was done to E3. Yeah, it was increasingly a circus and maybe I didn't see it when it got really bad (having only gone to a couple in the late 90s), but the industry is poorer without it. It was spectacle, and generated excitement.

Not only does the new E3 lack some of that, but it shifted some of the garbage into GDC. GDC was a much quieter affair back then compared to what I've heard from recent attendees.

Heck, even TGS seemed to have a little less luster this year. Sure, much of that may have been due to coming off of a pre-launch of Wii / PS3 the previous year, but still...

I guess if the ESA isn't putting as much into E3 as in the past some of the impetus to remain a member disappeared. Still sad to see, but if a customer doesn't feel like its needs are being met by the organization you can hardly blame them for leaving.
Jericho114 at 07:04 PM on 05/08/08
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Ever since they started clothing the booth babes, it's been an uncontrollable downward spiral. I say go for it, to all the companies standing together until we get our half naked babes back!
Joetimek at 07:09 PM on 05/08/08
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Hey, maybe Vivendi (bought up Sierra) and LucasArts can go back to making niche adventure games and not have to churn out commercially-friendly crap. Playable crap, but crap nonetheless.
WDYC at 07:10 PM on 05/08/08
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Well the charm of E3 is gone since they decided its private. So let it die and create a new pissing contest, I'm dead serious, I want a megaevent that hypes me for games so much that I won't sleep for more than an hour a day thinking about the games.
Clushje at 07:20 PM on 05/08/08
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@Jericho114: They were definitely the sexy, sexy glue that held the expo together.
Asper at 07:23 PM on 05/08/08
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I'm not sure what the ramifications of all of these people jumping ship could actually add up to. Brian and Leigh's piece was definitely enlightening, but I'm wondering if this is essentially a wait-and-see (Indian tribe John Dorian is a member of) situation.
I_fit_in at 07:28 PM on 05/08/08
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@Clushje: Just how sexy is sexy, sexy glue?
Americo at 07:34 PM on 05/08/08
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Oh no, the PTA is disbanding!
Azriel77 at 07:55 PM on 05/08/08
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The old E3 was exciting because it was BIG! Exciting! and EVERYONE wanted to be a part of it. Last E3 was abysmal, Clothed booth babes, press only, missing companies, NO NEW GAMES!, etc..etc. Some people who went said that they were probably not going to bother going to E3 this year. We really need to bring back the old E3 with all its magachaos madness.
Nirolak at 08:28 PM on 05/08/08
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Connectedness Index: 52

You know, the thing that concerns me isn't E3, but rather that to my knowledge the ESA is the only political lobbying group that represents the video game industry. If E3 dissolves we just have more private trade shows, but if the ESA dissolves the government might come crashing down with absurd regulation upon the gaming industry. Unless Vivendi and Activision truly think that the ESA is incapable of lobbying for them I don't see why they would want that to happen, nor Lucas Arts if they have left as well.
Replica23 at 09:19 PM on 05/08/08
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@Nirolak: "You know, the thing that concerns me isn't E3, but rather that to my knowledge the ESA is the only political lobbying group that represents the video game industry."

Perhaps some companies are not happy with how the ESA functions or how it represents themselves or the industry. Regardless of why they bailed out, the dismemberment of E3 sapped a lot of the hype and allure from the video game industry. A better question might be to ask how a large software publisher currently benefits from ESA membership? Surely they have enough money to pay for their own lobbying? Activision, for example, might feel they can accomplish more on their own. And they're probably right.

Times change.
hk458 at 03:18 AM on 05/09/08
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Mabye They Realized How Useless The ESA Is.

Why Pay To Be Part OF E3 When Most Companies Have Their Own Gamers Days

Its Cheaper And Their Games Get More Press Time
Zunnoab at 06:33 PM on 05/10/08
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Personally I paid more attention to gaming press around E3. It was exciting to read about. Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm surprised with the gaming industry booming they aren't embracing it.