Electronic Entertainment Expo

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, E3 is a huge exposition on the gaming industry that is held yearly. E3-2000 took place last week in the Los Angeles Convention Center, from May 11 to May 13. Developers, both hardware and software, and publishers gather for three whole days of gaming goodness. They show their latest wares in booths, usually highly decorated and life-size models and booth babes (scantily dressed women used to advertise the goods and grab the attention of the geeks all gathered there). Some say the booth babes are the best part of the show, I disagree. I get real booty :)

In any case, the latest high-tech developments in games is displayed. This year, it included Playstation 2, the X-box, the next-generation Nintendo system, and several PC games. Highlights of the show included the Blizzard booth (Warcraft 3, Diablo 2, those guys always get attention) and Bungie (working on Oni and Halo, two spectacular looking games). The laughing stock was probably John Romero, whose Daikatana beta was crap beyond imagination (I have it), and it seems Ion Storm will be doomed unless Anachronox and Deus Ex pulls through. Microsoft pulled a surprise by unveiling MechWarrior 4, which is looking good.

This is by no means an in-depth article on the pros and cons of the now nearly defunct Electronic Entertainment Exposition, it is simply my personal view on the subject.

For those of you caught unawares by this, the big three (Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) have decided that they no longer wish to pour all of their efforts into the gaming convention, and instead are heavily considering holding their own independant showcasings.

This is, in my humble opinion, a poor move for the sake of the gamers. E3 was an opportunity for the public to see the companies products held up against one another. It is one thing for Sony to glorify itself when no competition is nearby. It is far different to see multiple next-gen articles side-by-side.

Microsoft and Sony both complain that time restraints prevent proper preparation of good games for the show, so many are overlooked. Boo fuckitty hoo for you. It isn't as though the convention sneaks up, unexpected every year. Poor planning leads to poor preparation.

I don't deny that multi-million dollar boothes are\ inneficient. That money should be used for more wide-spread advertisement. However, no one forces you to deck the place out in chrome, platinum, and lasers.

Focus more on the product and less on the presentation, and the cost won't be such an issue.

I agree, however, that far too many people showed up under the guise of being reporters. The invitation-only status of future expos is likely a wise move. This will cut atendance from 30,000 to about 5,000, which allows actual reporters and industry analysts to better understand the situation.

My biggest problem with the current moves is the independant conventions that will probably be held by EA, M-soft, etc... This will allow the companies to make every game (including the intensely bad ones) appear to radiate pure awsomosity. There will be mass confusion because all games will seem to be "gotta-buy" titles.

I am no industry expert. I don't attend E3, because trained professionals do so and tell me what they saw. Perhaps if the gaming community had been slightly more reasonable, we wouldn't be here anyway.