Exhibitor List for E3 Smaller than Expected

[fitbabits]

Computer & Video Games (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=162454) is reporting that just 32 companies have confirmed as exhibitors for this year's E3 - over 360 fewer than last year.

A "complete" list of publishers and developers attending the newly slimmed-down E3 have been made available to press, and as expected the numbers fall far short of previous expos.

Just 32 companies (yes, you read that right) are listed for this year's event, which will take place in Santa Monica in July. Attendees include (deep breath) 1C Company, Activision, Akella, Atari, Atlus, Disney Interactive Studios, Capcom, Codemasters, Crave Entertainment, Eidos, Electronic Arts, Konami, LucasArts, Majesco, Microsoft, Midway, Namco Bandai Games, NCsoft, Nintendo, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Online Entertainment, Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, THQ, Ubisoft, Vivendi Games, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Most of the big players seem to be there but it's a big way off last year's exhibitor list which exceeded 400. There are also only two independent developers listed, id Software and Foundation 9 Entertainment, which is disappointing seeing as one of the biggest reasons for the down-scale was to give smaller devs a chance in the spotlight.
This kinda annoys me, actually. Not that there's hundreds fewer exhibitors, though. What annoys me is that some people seem to be knocking the folks behind E3 for delivering on what they promised after last year's E3 - a smaller, more focused event. Is it disappointing that there are only two indie developers there? Sure, but let's not write the event off before it's even begun.

[archon]

Wonder if id will bother showing their new game or if they'll just wimp out and show ET: Quake Wars.

[Codicier]

No Bioware?

Maybe that's a good thing. Means they've got more time to work on Mass Effect. (Crosses fingers for May release).

[fitbabits]

No Bioware?

Maybe that's a good thing. Means they've got more time to work on Mass Effect. (Crosses fingers for May release).
Psst, I'm hearing that Mass Effect may well be 'delayed' till September. Sorry.

[Gorvi]

With the way the industry is now, is E3 even needed anymore?

[Codicier]

Psst, I'm hearing that Mass Effect may well be 'delayed' till September. Sorry.

You can't bring me down Scotsman! I know of your deceptive ways!

EDIT: *Looks at sidebar on website* Awwwww :(

[bapenguin]

Well I'll be going to this, regardless if the list is smaller. From what I hear, and from what info I can gather from the official site the show itself isn't going to be the main focus. But rather the individual events these companies have planned.

I'll be curious to see how things will play out, if anything its going to be quite a bit more intimate, so we should be able to get MORE information and more ACCURATE information from the show.

[Heretic Machine]

Meh, this skimmed down E3 bullshit doesn't interest me. Should they of cut back on the circus that was last year? Sure, but you don't need to trim out companies to do that, just make it clear that a half-pipe with live skate boarders isn't something you need to show off your game.

[speeder]

Is LucasArts releasing any games this year?

[Spigot]

Meh, this skimmed down E3 bullshit doesn't interest me. Should they of cut back on the circus that was last year? Sure, but you don't need to trim out companies to do that, just make it clear that a half-pipe with live skate boarders isn't something you need to show off your game.See, that's what I thought they were doing. I didn't realize they were cutting back on devs. I thought it was the hoopla and insanity (not to mention the hundreds and hundreds of people who technically aren't supposed to be at the show) that they were trying to get rid of.

That said, I'll keep my eyes peeled. E3 is something I perennially didn't get excited about until after it started and then it all depended on what kind of news came out. Last year's was one of the first E3's that had me glued to my computer, awaiting updates, since it started out with that awesome Nintendo press conference and went from there.

Not a lot that I'm really on the edge of my seat about this year. It is kind of sad that Kentia Hall seems to be gone (I don't really concider id to be an indy publisher, though I guess it technically is). I like hearing about the wierd peripherals and odd games that lurk down there most of all.

[bean19]

With the way the industry is now, is E3 even needed anymore?

What way is that?

[fitbabits]

What way is that?
I think he's getting at the fact there's so many different trade shows these days - E3 has become sort of irrelevant.

[bean19]

Psst, I'm hearing that Mass Effect may well be 'delayed' till September. Sorry.

Well that would really, really suck. Microsoft seemed like they were trying to do more timely releases instead of loading up the fall (when I can't afford all those games at once).

Mass Effect is the kind of game that would do well in it's own release month anyway. It needs to build word-of-mouth and get to be the center piece of every videogame magazine review for the month it debuts instead of being a half-page somewhere in the magazine that focuses on Halo 3.

Very disappointing if they've chosen to do that. . . not only because it is not friendly to consumers but because it is ultimately a stupid marketing decision made by people that don't understand the market.

[bean19]

I think he's getting at the fact there's so many different trade shows these days - E3 has become sort of irrelevant.

I hope not. I got to go to the last E3 ever and it was fantastic. Even in previous years, May was always fun to look forward to because E3 meant huge gaming news. Every company seems to have it's big E3 announcements that really place the "big games of the fall" on my radar.

[fitbabits]

Well that would really, really suck. Microsoft seemed like they were trying to do more timely releases instead of loading up the fall (when I can't afford all those games at once).

Mass Effect is the kind of game that would do well in it's own release month anyway. It needs to build word-of-mouth and get to be the center piece of every videogame magazine review for the month it debuts instead of being a half-page somewhere in the magazine that focuses on Halo 3.

Very disappointing if they've chosen to do that. . . not only because it is not friendly to consumers but because it is ultimately a stupid marketing decision made by people that don't understand the market.
To be fair, though, maybe they had two options - release an unpolished/unfinished product in May and suffer the consequences, or release a polished/finished product in September. What would you rather have?

[bean19]

To be fair, though, maybe they had two options - release an unpolished/unfinished product in May and suffer the consequences, or release a polished/finished product in September. What would you rather have?

A finshed/polished game to play in the summer. . . CAKE AND EAT IT TOO!

Blue Dragon is showing an August release date now too. . . it looks like there won't be dick to play on the 360 for 4 months. LAME.

[Gorvi]

I think he's getting at the fact there's so many different trade shows these days - E3 has become sort of irrelevant.
That's part of it, but I'm just also thinking (as someone who's never been mind you) that a trade show for a software based industry is antiquated, especially when it's meant to be exclusively for the press. That's just my feeling though as an outsider looking in.

[Royal Fool]

Psst, I'm hearing that Mass Effect may well be 'delayed' till September. Sorry.
I never expected it to make it out this summer anyway.

Blue Dragon is showing an August release date now too. . . it looks like there won't be dick to play on the 360 for 4 months. LAME.
You could always check out the back catalogue? :p

[Dr.Finger]

I think its smart for the indie devs to skip this one, even if its slimmed down. Honestly, what indie game will be able to get much press in the face of Halo 3, GTA4 and Mario Galaxy? Have smaller events that really show off your product.

[bean19]

You could always check out the back catalogue? :p

That is an answer for a lot of people, but I've beaten the back catalogue pretty thoroughly. I'll do some of that, and having a summer job and summer things to do will help, but it is still annoying.

I get through my summers fine. My annoyance stems from the fall crush. . . I can't ever afford all the games that come out in the fall so inevitably there are "must-have" titles that I DON'T have until months later. This usually works out in my favor as I rent and beat many of them instead of purchasing them. However, I still hate it because it is just so stupid. . . it makes me want to strangle the marketing guys who only see that games sell better between September and January without thinking about the fact that there new IP games will not get any attention during that release schedule.

Sorry. You have probably read this rant from me or someone else already. It's frequently bitched about enough.

[Johan]

I agree with Perigon that the "circus" atmosphere should have been cut back, but having such a diminished developer presence is sad. Trim out the extraneous garbage, not the actual companies!

I also agree with bapenguin that more information will be available in a slimmed down environment, BUT that will be information on a much narrower list of titles/topics, so it's a definite trade-off and I'm not sure I like that trade.

[Buddha Lotus]

I know I sound like a broken record.. but is Blizzard EVER going to release something new?

[Gorvi]

I know I sound like a broken record.. but is Blizzard EVER going to release something new?
They need to do Diablo 3 for consoles. My wife would be the happiest woman in the world.

[Royal Fool]

I know I sound like a broken record.. but is Blizzard EVER going to release something new?
No.1234567

[Phanto]

I think he's getting at the fact there's so many different trade shows these days - E3 has become sort of irrelevant.

Yeah, after it was trimmed. One of my dreams was to assist to this motherf*cking event and now I will have to wait and see how it turns out for reconsider in going at some point in the future.
E3 was the place were almost all the great and important announce were given of every major video game maker.

[Mashidar]

Well does MS need any major releases in the next few months really? It does not seem like Sony really has anything big going in the next few months so why not save the big titles until they are needed the most?

Regarding E3 though, I always got pumped up to hear the news that came out of E3. Never got to go to a show, always wanted to. But now that things have changed I guess I'm just interested to see how this years event turns out.

[Phanto]

They need to do Diablo 3 for consoles. My wife would be the happiest woman in the world.

Did Blizzard make Diablo 1 for the PS1?

[bapenguin]

I think its smart for the indie devs to skip this one, even if its slimmed down. Honestly, what indie game will be able to get much press in the face of Halo 3, GTA4 and Mario Galaxy? Have smaller events that really show off your product.

There is actually an entire day and showcase devoted just to indie devs. No word on which ones are going to be there, but there's definitley more than what's lsited here.

[bapenguin]

No Bioware?

Maybe that's a good thing. Means they've got more time to work on Mass Effect. (Crosses fingers for May release).

The show isn't till July (not May like before). So perhaps a June release like originally rumored.

[Gorvi]

Did Blizzard make Diablo 1 for the PS1?
It was ported to the PS1 by Climax and published by EA. Her and I played the hell (no pun intended) out of that game back around when it came out.

[Beelzebud]

Notice the people that turned E3 into such a Lollapalooza style event are the same people that haven't really done shit for the industry in years:

God Games and 3D Realms.

[Mashidar]

It was ported to the PS1 by Climax and published by EA. Her and I played the hell (no pun intended) out of that game back around when it came out.

One of my best friends and I played the hell out of Diablo 1 on the Ps1 as well. We both worked for Blockbuster Video at the time so we would close the store, go to his house afterwards and stay up till 6am working on the levels. Good times had by all. Heck I even still have my Diablo 1 for the PS1 somewhere around here.

[Gorvi]

One of my best friends and I played the hell out of Diablo 1 on the Ps1 as well. We both worked for Blockbuster Video at the time so we would close the store, go to his house afterwards and stay up till 6am working on the levels. Good times had by all. Heck I even still have my Diablo 1 for the PS1 somewhere around here.
Oh, we have it too. Hell, we even still have our save files with the characters we made laying around somewhere. :)

[Phanto]

Notice the people that turned E3 into such a Lollapalooza style event are the same people that haven't really done shit for the industry in years:

God Games and 3D Realms.
I don't know why but those brand names sound so sad...

[Klade]

My understanding of E3 was that it was created to allow game developers to do business with other folks in the industry and get investors etc. The list of devs reads like the top 32 largest folks in the industry and thus the ones least likely to need any more investment etc.

So E3 was cut down because it was just a big publicity event and now its just a small publicity event. I always wanted to go to E3 and never could. Now I want to go to PAX and still can't.

[Codicier]

The show isn't till July (not May like before). So perhaps a June release like originally rumored.

But the sidebar in the CVG link has a story about Mass Effect being delayed until September as I noted above.

I hope it's not a case of being pushed back for something other than development (release timing or other bullshit like that). If it needs more time then fine, but if it's just being moved because some idiot thinks it'll sell better... :mad:

[Valkyrist]

This kinda annoys me, actually. Not that there's hundreds fewer exhibitors, though. What annoys me is that some people seem to be knocking the folks behind E3 for delivering on what they promised after last year's E3 - a smaller, more focused event. Is it disappointing that there are only two indie developers there? Sure, but let's not write the event off before it's even begun.
Fitabits, we're "knocking" the folks behind E3 for delivering what THEY want, not what we want. They tried to fix something that wasn't broken, and now we've gone from E3 being THE biggest thing in the gaming world, to barely a blip on the radar.

It's like going to McDonald's, ordering a burger, and the kid behind the counter says, "Oh I'm sorry, we stopped making burgers. We only sell tofu and salads now. Would you like a celery stick?"

E3 is dead. And they intentionally did it to themselves. I'd rather they just stop it completely at this point, and let someone else (PAX maybe?) pick up the torch.

Edit:

To explain a bit better. Think of E3 as a giant magazine ad. That's all it really was. I don't know about its original intent, but that's what it has been for many years now. The so-called circus is just advertising. Was it over the top, yeah, I'll agree to that. As sad as I was when they banned booth-babes, I understood why.

But they fail to understand their own place in the great workings of the gaming world.

Devs great and small would spend large sums of money to advertise themselves at E3 every year. Someone in an eariler post talked about all the people who technicly weren't supposed to be there...that's just ass-backwards. The end-goal of E3 should have been to one day be open to the public. It's a giant advertising convention...you WANT as many people as possible to see it.

And don't say it wasn't just a giant advertisment convention. Devs are perfectly capable of making announcements on their webpages, or in various interviews, any day of the year. But they saved them for E3 because they were well aware of the millions of eyes that were watching this single place. That's a marketer's wet dream come true. They released videos, made keynotes, suprise announcements, etc to create hype and get gamers and the media talking about their product.

But now E3 had its reigns pulled in. Limited attendance. Limited flare/circus. Limited eyes to see their advertising of their products. And so many companies aren't bothering this year, as is apparent by that small list.

It's kinda like commercials on the superbowl. Original, funny, extravagent...all because they know they have a massive audience to see it. And then you get the local used-car salesmen commercials at 2AM during re-runs of "Friends", that no one is going to see or care about.

[Dr.Finger]

Fitabits, we're "knocking" the folks behind E3 for delivering what THEY want, not what we want. They tried to fix something that wasn't broken, and now we've gone from E3 being THE biggest thing in the gaming world, to barely a blip on the radar.

It's like going to McDonald's, ordering a burger, and the kid behind the counter says, "Oh I'm sorry, we stopped making burgers. We only sell tofu and salads now. Would you like a celery stick?"

E3 is dead. And they intentionally did it to themselves. I'd rather they just stop it completely at this point, and let someone else (PAX maybe?) pick up the torch.Except companies were spending the equivalent of an entire game budget every year to allow the assistant afternoon manager of a Gamestop in Port St. Lucie to play Saint's Row a few weeks before it drops. E3 as we knew it ended because the publishers said they wouldn't attend anymore unless changes were made. So they limited it to the media and people with real influence on what gets bought and saved a ton of money in the process. Events like PAX have picked up the slack in terms of public participation (which is odd considering E3 was closed to the public) but the real, original purpose of E3 was to sell games to retailers and give the media a first peek. It will do a better job of that now than they did the past 3 years.

[Dag-Sabot]

What's wrong with advertising directly to gamers? After all they're the end consumer. Why not let the assistant manager of whatsa mc whoosits play? Why does the industry refuse to fart unless its spun through a media filter first? They should embrace their bill paying public not the mooching media.

[Valkyrist]

Except companies were spending the equivalent of an entire game budget every year to allow the assistant afternoon manager of a Gamestop in Port St. Lucie to play Saint's Row a few weeks before it drops. E3 as we knew it ended because the publishers said they wouldn't attend anymore unless changes were made. So they limited it to the media and people with real influence on what gets bought and saved a ton of money in the process. Events like PAX have picked up the slack in terms of public participation (which is odd considering E3 was closed to the public) but the real, original purpose of E3 was to sell games to retailers and give the media a first peek. It will do a better job of that now than they did the past 3 years.

Both agree and dissagree with you.

The purpose was to sell games. Not just to devs or retailers. To us, the consumers too. I highly doubt booth-babes and half-pipes are going to convince some gamestop corporate bigwig to buy more copies of a game. Those things are there to get the consumer's attention.

I dissagree with your notion that the publishers/devs demanded THIS kind of change. If that were so, then we wouldn't see this drastic of a dip in attendance. Now I wouldn't find it unthinkable if they had wanted some restrictions (again, like banning booth-babes).

But remember the entire point I was trying to make: E3 was an advertising convention.

The devs and publishers want people to see their product. With the "new E3", that's much harder. So many are just not even attending. Why bother?

And again, it will not do better at distributing info. At least not as a whole. If you look at the list above, it's pretty much the big-dogs of the gaming industry. Please believe me when I tell you that NONE of those companies have a problem getting their newest games talked about or advertised. E3 will help, no doubt, but is definitely not necessary.

It will be the medium and small gaming companies that get hurt. It was hard enough to get funding for E3 in the past. But now it's not even worth the investment, because of such a small viewing audience.

And on top of everything, E3 had recieved almost a cult-status in the gaming world. It became holyground to us, our own Mecca. That mental-status itself kept E3 rolling, and important. Now instead of threads like "ZOMG I CAN'T WAIT FOR E3!!!one" we have discussions like this one, where we're questioning its validity to exist. Essentially, they put out their own fire.

That's kinda why I wish they'd just stop completely. Let other conventions take over. It'll take a unbelieveable E3 this year to rekindle that fire. And with all 3 systems already out, I think there's going to be a shortage of excitement compared to last year.

[Valkyrist]

What's wrong with advertising directly to gamers? After all they're the end consumer. Why not let the assistant manager of whatsa mc whoosits play? Why does the industry refuse to fart unless its spun through a media filter first? They should embrace their bill paying public not the mooching media.
That's exactly why I've been digging PAX these last few years. I think they've got a good thing going that keeps getting better.

[KingGorilla]

I think we will all really miss the innovation from Kensha Hall. Some scrubs from a little place called Harmonix got their name out there.

[mister_slim]

What's wrong with advertising directly to gamers? After all they're the end consumer. Why not let the assistant manager of whatsa mc whoosits play? Why does the industry refuse to fart unless its spun through a media filter first? They should embrace their bill paying public not the mooching media.
Well, that's where downloadable demos and videos come in. Why bother having this giant expensive event when you can just let my download the demo and try it myself? I don't really care what the GameSpot or GameStop guy says anyway, so publisher X can save money and better communicate with me at the same time.