E3 Is Officially Dead, Bringing An End To One Of The Industry's Most Iconic Events | MMORPG.com

Comments

• Erinak1 Member UncommonPosts: 207

  December 2023

  To be honest, I'm kinda surprised it went on so long. One thing that often isn't talking about is the associated cost of companies attending, especially mid-range companies. Realistically in the past it was one of the wisest advertising investments, as journalists that would probably never look in their direction would be interested. The problem now, realistically, is that there are just better ways to spend the money in the modern digital sphere. I think the problem largely is down to the fact that by releasing the information directly, companies often can more readily capitalise on it, rather than trying to build up hype at a time when hundreds of other games are trying to do the same thing. There was something special about having a time of year when you'd learn about all the sequels and such at once, there was a lot to look forward to, I do think the way things are generally done now are better for both producer and consumer.

  
• olepi Member EpicPosts: 3,053

  December 2023 edited December 2023

  This happened in my field too. The annual Design Automation Conference (DAC) used to be where chip companies would meet with the software tool makers and see the latest. On one of our later shows, our company had 900 employees come to Las Vegas to staff the event. 

  
  

  (One year it was held in LA, next door to a porno convention. That was interesting ).
  

  
  

  It turned out to be too expensive, and the number of new sales contacts was small. Customers could get the information from the sales force directly, no need to go spend several days at a huge conference.

  
  

  Software companies stopped sending so many people, and some stopped setting up booths completely. The 2020 DAC went virtual and attendance soared.
  

  
  

  DAC isn't dead, but it isn't even close to what it was.
  

  ------------
  2024: 47 years on the Net.
  

  
  
• Tiller Member LegendaryPosts: 11,485

  December 2023 edited December 2023

  So pretty much large AAA publishers help kill it because they weren't getting all the attention they demanded and wanted their own stage so they could be the only star of the show with their shovel-ware shitfests. e3 relied mostly on the funds those AAA publishers brought in to keep going. Pandemic was the nail in the coffin.
  
  Honestly Steam is one of the few places for smaller studios to show off their stuff during nextfest and not be steamrolled by big AAA publishers. I really like that they do this and allows me to see new upcoming Indie games since that is where most of the real creativity seems to be these days.

  

  SWG Bloodfin vet
  

  Elder Jedi/Elder Bounty Hunter

   
  
• HazenXIII Member UncommonPosts: 163

  December 2023

  Glad I got to attend the last one in 2019. It was a great time. Sucks it's going away.
• ValdemarJ Member RarePosts: 1,419

  December 2023

  olepi said:

  This happened in my field too. The annual Design Automation Conference (DAC) used to be where chip companies would meet with the software tool makers and see the latest. On one of our later shows, our company had 900 employees come to Las Vegas to staff the event. 

  
  

  (One year it was held in LA, next door to a porno convention. That was interesting ).
  

  
  

  It turned out to be too expensive, and the number of new sales contacts was small. Customers could get the information from the sales force directly, no need to go spend several days at a huge conference.

  
  

  Software companies stopped sending so many people, and some stopped setting up booths completely. The 2020 DAC went virtual and attendance soared.
  

  
  

  DAC isn't dead, but it isn't even close to what it was.
  

  
  The decline in shows/conferences tracks with my industry as well. We go to very few trade shows or industry conferences and only 1 - 3 people go, whereas we use to bring everyone (about 15 people at the time). They have become more expensive and we're seeing fewer leads off of them compared to a decade ago.
  

  Bring back the Naked Chicken Chalupa!
  
• Vagabondo Member UncommonPosts: 93

  December 2023

  Goodbye past
  
  Looking forward to the future
• DeskMonkey13 Member UncommonPosts: 162

  December 2023

  Hopefully shareholders and stockholders see the writing on the wall.
  
  We're coming for you.
• Valdheim Member RarePosts: 711

  December 2023

  
  

  Erinak1 said:

  
  

  To be honest, I'm kinda surprised it went on so long. One thing that often isn't talking about is the associated cost of companies attending, especially mid-range companies. Realistically in the past it was one of the wisest advertising investments, as journalists that would probably never look in their direction would be interested. The problem now, realistically, is that there are just better ways to spend the money in the modern digital sphere. I think the problem largely is down to the fact that by releasing the information directly, companies often can more readily capitalise on it, rather than trying to build up hype at a time when hundreds of other games are trying to do the same thing. There was something special about having a time of year when you'd learn about all the sequels and such at once, there was a lot to look forward to, I do think the way things are generally done now are better for both producer and consumer.

  
  

  
  
  Logically I'd agree but how is it that Gamescom is still very successful and even broke new records this year when it's the same principle or do I miss something like different funding maybe?
• [Deleted User] Posts: 1,043

  December 2023

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• Scot Member LegendaryPosts: 24,427

  December 2023

  We are moving towards a society where we never leave our homes, so purely for that reason this is a shame.

  
• Erinak1 Member UncommonPosts: 207

  December 2023

  Valdheim said:

  
  

  Erinak1 said:

  
  

  To be honest, I'm kinda surprised it went on so long. One thing that often isn't talking about is the associated cost of companies attending, especially mid-range companies. Realistically in the past it was one of the wisest advertising investments, as journalists that would probably never look in their direction would be interested. The problem now, realistically, is that there are just better ways to spend the money in the modern digital sphere. I think the problem largely is down to the fact that by releasing the information directly, companies often can more readily capitalise on it, rather than trying to build up hype at a time when hundreds of other games are trying to do the same thing. There was something special about having a time of year when you'd learn about all the sequels and such at once, there was a lot to look forward to, I do think the way things are generally done now are better for both producer and consumer.

  
  

  
  
  Logically I'd agree but how is it that Gamescom is still very successful and even broke new records this year when it's the same principle or do I miss something like different funding maybe?

  Gamescom evolved with the times though, and moved away from being purely a trade show. Ultimately as someone else said, E3 was primarily aimed at the industry by the industry, they relied on the big companies paying a lot of money for big booths because E3 never really embraced the consumer aspect in the same way. Both started off as a trade show but Gamescom evolved more into a consumer event, and never relied so heavily on the hype generated by new titles as much as consumers and journalists actually getting to try stuff and that is what funds it, rather than relying on a dozen big AAA companies paying most of the bills. Gamescom is more akin to Blizzcon, just not focused on one company.