Dante Posted October 13, 2006 Posted October 13, 2006 The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today revealed the first details on the new E3 event, which will take place July 11-13, 2007, in Santa Monica, California. The E3 Media and Business Summit will be an invitation-only hotel-based event. More within... In our exclusive interview with ESA president Douglas Lowenstein, he informed us that the details about the new E3 event would be coming soon. Well, those details have arrived even sooner than we thought. Today the ESA revealed that the new E3 Media and Business Summit will be held July 11-13, 2007, in Santa Monica and "will combine the best elements of the former trade show into a business event celebrating the video game industry's present and future." Event booking is expected tol be launched within the next 30 days. ESA members and non-members will have the opportunity to stage major press events, which ESA said will be the "centerpiece" of the new E3, and companies will be able to set up meetings in hotel suites and meeting rooms with media, retailers, developer partners, and others. The event will also feature a daily luncheon conference session with top executives and/or analysts, and a Serious Games showcase will also be present. The ESA is also looking into adding an independent games showcase. The "Into The Pixel" video game art competition and exhibition may also make a return. "By combining suite-based meetings with the software showcase in a controlled and business-like environment, we believe we will successfully fulfill our primary objective of giving high-level media the best of all worlds -- the chance to engage in highly personal, one-on-one dialogue with leading game company executives, as well as the chance to demo games on their own time and to check out offerings from both the best known and emerging game publishers and developers," said Lowenstein. "It will also provide an excellent opportunity for meetings with retailers, developers and other audiences." He continued, "The new E3 is first and foremost about getting business done. When we asked key audiences what they wanted in the new event, we heard that they wanted opportunities for high-level meetings in a business-like setting, to play games, network, and socialize, to see major company offerings while also preserving the sense of discovery that is so much a part of E3, and to hear substantive presentations on the most important issues and trends facing the industry. We believe the event we have shaped will fulfill all those needs." As for the expo element of the show, rather than using a huge convention center as was the case in Los Angeles, the ESA has gotten permission to convert Barker Hangar into "a software showcase where attendees will be able to casually test drive the featured video games planned for the coming holiday season and beyond." At Barker Hangar, companies will be able to showcase their games in "standardized, turnkey displays areas ranging from 100 square feet to 400 square feet. All display areas will be developed by show management to ensure that the venue is staged efficiently." A shuttle bus system will also be provided to facilitate travel to the surrounding hotels and Barker Hangar, as well as to major off-site press conferences (e.g. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo). "The new E3 event will be more personal, efficient and focused, and it will provide the top stakeholders who make games, sell games, and cover games streamlined access to the people and products they most need to see," Lowenstein concluded. www.biz.gamedaily.com
McBacon Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 I like how its now a bit later in the year, July has no games, so lots of annoucements will be nice.
Konfucius Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 I think the new E³ isn't too bad actually. Wasn't E³ originally meant to be more or less like this? After all it's a trade show but it became more and more of a public event over the years and we still have the Games Convention for that
Zechs Merquise Posted October 14, 2006 Posted October 14, 2006 The original E3 became far more 'public' orientated. As long as the big announcements and press events are still in place I'm not too worried. I love E3 as it's a great time for big announcements, but as I'll never go because I live in the UK I'm not too bothered that the big public event is being downsized.
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