The lack of e3

GauntletWizard

E3 held a special place in everyone's hearts. I doubt anyone here ever went, but I know e3 affected us all profusely. The coverage, from all the people, more than just the press, but the crazy fanboys with blogs. The showmanship. The false promises. The booth babes. Even with the more closed atmosphere, we'll still see all the previews, but we'll never see all the crazy booths, the speculation, the swag that e3 means in all our hearts. The internet, while great, will never match up to the awe and wonder of real displays and real interviews and meeting random artists and programmers and marketers that made up so much of the show.

I have to say, PAX has, as predicted, stepped up to the plate a bunch: They're planning on having much more in the way of exhibition next year, and while we've not seen it yet, I get the feeling from the enforcer forums that a lot of companies are calling about getting last minute time in this year for PAX.

Speaking of which, Rym and Scott: My parents have a guest house out here, and you're welcome to come out and stay for PAX weekend next year. Heck, if you want to, it's free that weekend this year. I'd be happy to host you guys for the weekend and chauffeur you to and from the con.

Kiey

I've been to E3 twice, in 2004 and 2005. I was there reporting for an anime/videogame website I was working for at the time. So I had a legit press pass. What I've noticed is that a lot of people are talking about how videogame fanboys were able to get press passes and that's what clogged up the show. That's bs and totally not the reason, although they are close. There were way too many fanboys but they weren't getting in with media passes, they got in with exhibit only passes.

See that's sorta the secret of E3. If you pay like $300 or $400 you can get this exhibit only pass that lets you on the floor. Now the two times I went, all you saw were exhibit only passes. There was the occasional media pass, but those were even out numbered by vendor passes. The problem was that the people that run E3 got greedy by selling these exhibit only passes, and even at their high price people were still willing to pay it, and it backfired, overcrowded the expo and made companies not want to be apart of it.

Even though E3 has been a pain in the ass, I look forward to going to the next one because of all these changes they are making. I think it will really make it easier for press to actually do their job. Plus the 2005 E3 was probably the best weekend I ever had. I stood behind Miyamoto in an elevator! It's hard to top that.

crowe

E3 was nice, kind of like Christmas in May, but I think ultimately it's for the best. At the very least, it'll reduce the strain on the gaming press and we'll (hopefully) get some better, more regular, more reliable coverage of how games are shaping up.

PAX, on the other hand, is going to be an awesome time, both this year and in forthcoming ones. I can't wait for it!

GreatTeacherMacRoss