IDG attempting to salvage E for All

[Doctor Setebos]

You may have heard nasty rumors saying that Microsoft, Sony, and EA have all pulled out of the upcoming E for All expo. Well, IDG tells Next Gen (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6996&Itemid=2) that those rumors are more than likely almost certainly more or less not true. Kinda.

Some major game makers, however, in fact won't be in attendance as exhibitors, namely console manufacturers Sony Computer Entertainment and Microsoft. These omissions have cast doubt on the event even before its inaugural launch.

But Dolaher explains that even though a company isn't announced as an exhibitor, they may attend in some shape or form as a sponsor. For example, Microsoft is the sponsor for the World Series of Video Games competition that will be held at E for All. IDG is also currently in talks with Sony about its presence, although nothing yet is set in stone.So, some companies won't be there, but they will actually be there, kinda, but not really in the capacity you might expect. So, are they really there? Or not? Sounds like a lot of damage control to me.

[Psykoboy2]

There was a point when I was interested in going to this. Then I went to PAX.

[Sl1pstream]

For the small percentage of people who don't read Penny-Arcade:

http://www.penny-arcade.com/e4_expensive.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1289/1267651117_85917360d8.jpg

So, some companies won't be there, but they will actually be there, kinda, but not really in the capacity you might expect. So, are they really there? Or not? Sounds like a lot of damage control to me.

That actually sounds like that Pinocchio scene from the last Shrek movie.

[MegaChops]

total damage control. essentially it'll be "microsoft/sony/etc won't be here so you won't be able to play or view any of their upcoming games...but you'll see their logo slapped on a few things..."

this will be the first and last year for this thing.

[Roc Ingersol]

yeah... if Microsoft doesn't have a booth with Halo 3, then who cares if their corporate logo is on the World Series of Video Games banners?

(which is, itself, all sorts of lame. the 'world series...' thing, not corporate sponsorships. those are cash-tastic.)

[Rirath]

Who really cares? Waiting for TGS news, myself.

[AgtFox]

yeah... if Microsoft doesn't have a booth with Halo 3, then who cares if their corporate logo is on the World Series of Video Games banners?
Considering it is supposedly in October, chances are since Halo 3 is already going to be out that no one will care anyway.

[Roc Ingersol]

That was just an example, but thanks for missing the point.

[AgtFox]

That was just an example, but thanks for missing the point.
I'm not missing the point, I'm more trying to point out how late and stupid this whole E for All thing is. It will probably crumble before the actual event even happens.

Microsoft and Sony will have most of their major games out by the time the event even happens. Why spend the big $$$ to rent a space at the LA Convention Center (one of the reasons companies made a stink about E3 in the first place, along with the need to have to buy food from the Convention Center which was hugely expensive)?

[bapenguin]

I know...lets have an event that's just like the previous event that failed at the same exact spot!

Yeah...E 4 All is pointless. PAX is all we need for this kind of expo.

[Telefrog]

E for Empty?

[KingGorilla]

Was anyone really thinking that E for All would be a success? And again, why is this sort of shit anywhere but Vegas?

[Roc Ingersol]

Microsoft and Sony will have most of their major games out by the time the event even happens.
It occurs to me that there are quite a few buyable titles that aren't shipping in October. A few off the top of my 'probably wind up buying list': Mass Effect, CoD4, Mercenaries 2, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed, Ace Combat 6 ... hell, HL: Orange Box will probably slip to November.

My guess is that their backing out has less to do with crappy marketing value due to the calendar (something they'd have known when they signed up), and more to do with the marketing value of a ghost-town, because this thing isn't materializing.

[lockwoodx]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1289/1267651117_85917360d8.jpg





I'd rather see her boobs

[silv]

Off topic, but lockwoodx do you really think that bioshock's DRM is a rootkit?

[AgtFox]

It occurs to me that there are quite a few buyable titles that aren't shipping in October. A few off the top of my 'probably wind up buying list': Mass Effect, CoD4, Mercenaries 2, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed, Ace Combat 6 ... hell, HL: Orange Box will probably slip to November.
There are quite a few, but I was honing in on Microsoft and Sony. Granted, we don't know when Uncharted is coming, but the only things both companies have coming out 1st party are: Mass Effect (Nov. 20th), Ratchet & Clank Future/Eye of Judgement (Oct. 23rd). The other games you listed off are from 3rd parties that may or may not be at E for All.

I think we're on the same wavelength, we're just taking different paths on it :D

[Doctor Setebos]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1289/1267651117_85917360d8.jpgWhat the hell IS that? Is that a piece of glass on her shirt that lets you see the girl's bra? Or is it some kind of TV? :confused:

[Sl1pstream]

It's a tv. They have tv's built in to the front of their shirts. It was horrible.

[Kwatsu]

What... was showing on the TVs? Or was the spectacle just too bad to watch them that long?

[Fartacus]

Was anyone really thinking that E for All would be a success? And again, why is this sort of shit anywhere but Vegas?

No joke. If it was in Vegas, there's no question I'd go. Even if the expo sucked, I'd have a great time.

[DangerousDaze]

The term "E for all" has a different and completely illegal meaning over here in the UK. It's just so 90's anyway.