ESA can save "soulless" E3 - Moore

By Games Industry.biz Published 25 July, 2008

"There are important meetings ahead."

Peter Moore, president of EA Sports, has said that he's confident with the help of publishers the Entertainment Software Association can save the flagging E3 show, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

Describing this year's event as "soulless", Moore revealed Electronic Arts has meetings scheduled with the ESA to address the problems of the event which has been heavily criticised by attendees and the press.

"There was a palpable sense of frustration at the structure and logistics from all participants, from publishers like ourselves to the working press and financial analysts," wrote Moore in his blog.

"Soulless and lacking an epicentre, the fragmented layout gave no indication whatsoever that we are the fastest growing entertainment medium in the world. While I am not sure I want to revert back to the old days of excess and one-upmanship, I do know that this format isn’t working."

Moore suggests that the ESA needs to invite videogames players to help inject passion back to the show.

"We're confident that we can work with the ESA to make this right. There are important meetings ahead that we think will be substantive and be productive in finding the right path forward "

"Let's invite the community. With the right planning, involving our biggest fans in E3 would bring back some of the raw passion the event has lost," he said.

"Whether it's E3, or whether it's in our forums, my belief is bringing in the fans helps us to create better games and bring new ideas to the market."

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Comments (8) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Doctor_What #1 4 years ago

    Surely it's the content that makes E3? The vast majority of the world is never anywhere near the show, so what we get to see is the material that's made public - announcements and videos. This year there weren't many of them compared to a couple of years ago. Is that the fault of the show or the publishers?

  • Tomo #2 4 years ago

    ...

    /looks left and right

    BOOTH BABES!

    /wasn't me




    ... ..

  • Moz #3 4 years ago

    @Doctor_What, I'm sure that is a factor but when are devs going to make their big reveals at E3 a show only populated by jernos or Leipzig where there will be loads of hardcore games enthusiasts who'll add to the media reports with their own blogs and forum posts.

  • aldo_14 #4 4 years ago

    "I'll go make my own E3, with hookers and blackjack!

    In fact, forget the E3 and the blackjack."
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/08 @ 10:54

  • Mr_Brown #5 4 years ago

    This is the biggest mistake they could make. Inviting gamers to E3 will just increase problems and destory the whole premise of the show. Wasn't the imediate problem with journalists and attendees was the incredibly long lines and gain access to games. Throwing gamers into the mix is just going make that even worse, even if the show is still downsized to takle this. Also its going to increase cost as well. Along with this, it means less journalists will go, meaning less access to games through the media, meaning the gamers that don't go get less coverage.

    The real problem here is not the audience, but the content of the show. Developers and publishers need to be encouraged to make big announcment and show off new software at the show and to put on a specticle. They need to encouraged to spend money on publicising their product on the show, but without expense going out of control. If this goes ahead, I predict the next E3 could be the last, it will be a disaster and publishers and developers just won't want to bother going again. I can't really blame them ether.

  • sneetch #6 4 years ago

    I think they need to stop addressing their presentations to a room of a couple of hundred journalists and address them to the larger internet community. I think, this was the biggest problem, I see Nintendo and others saying that it wasn't the right place or audience to reveal certain information. Now that is the problem they should fix.

    I watched the presentations live on IGN LiveWire and so, no doubt, did tens of thousands more. More people than could ever fit in E3. I'd recommend they set up official E3 "TV" channels that broadcast smaller presentations and allow people to show the games rather than just inviting a few thousand more people. That way more people could actually see the games again. If publishers and developers could book a slot to demo their products and be confident that their message will reach a larger audience then it could reduce their costs and entice them to attend once again.

    That said, a few thousand more people there wouldn't harm it and would definitely add to the sense of spectacle again.
    Edited by 1 at 25/07/08 @ 12:23

  • the_mtfr #7 4 years ago

    When I see ESA or EA I get constipated. For me ESA means I cannot download some nice abandonware from Abandonia. Fucking money lickers.

  • Connobi #8 4 years ago

    E3 sucked donkeys this year. It used to be about massive announcements, rounds of applause when seeing new games & stuff. This year, god it was like being in church. Awkward pauses, late & restained applauses, & bugger all of interest! :o)

    Apologies to all you church goers out there.