I like the old E3 as a press and public event I think you need a E3 that is typically for business people and a E3 that for press and public.

I always used to think The Game developers conference to be the business one and E3 to be the press conference.

Ether way I think there is a value having a huge media event to help saturate games into the general public more. Its nice for us in the games industry every now and then to wave our arms up and down.

I guess since no one at ESA is thinking clearly. E3 could go back to the way it was easy. Simply call Starbucks, Walmart, MTV, Vh1, Target, etc. So they can fund the show. Heck when i attended the show there was starbucks trash all over the place because they have a corner in the staples center tapped with the nectar so many enjoy. GET THEM TO FUND THE SHOW. or have them sponsor companies, if game companies cant afford to pony up the cash. EA would shell out back then so much green to have the whole front floor. all the swag and things people hand out make them pay more to do that, most of it ends up on the ground anyways. Having E3 like it was back in the day is needed maybe on a different month thats better for the industry because the rushing of a "demo" that most likely doesnt get into the actual game is worthless and the dev teams could be spending time on the actual game.

Atvi Blizz pulling out that is a shame but i bet they would come back if there was a plan to have the show operate more smoothly. And LucasArts pulling out Pfff.. who really cares at this point what they are doing. They have forced pushed that company into the ground x10 and not in a "we're setting a strong foundation sort of way". Barf on them.

The industry would do some good to have E3 back!

If CEOs want to talk shop, they should go to GDC. The old E3 was great -- yes, it was crazy -- but new games need the publicity of a grand event like that. E3 should not be an event for CEOs to forge deals, but to sell us on upcoming titles. 5 mil is nothing to EA for an annual event that publicizes their portfolio for the upcoming holiday season.

I have to admit, I loved the format of E3 this year. It was easy to get around, people were almost always willing to do interviews since most publisher meetings were held in rooms rather than on the show floor, I didn't have to compete for time with tens of thousands of people who weren't there to actually get any work done... I just felt far more productive than usual.

heres an idea for big companies... BUDGET YOURSELF. there is no reason to have coorporate sponsors paying for the show. I have gone to E3 since the 2nd show in LA, and each year companies spent more and more on their areas, to outdo the guy next to them. If they are tired of spending 5mil on the event, they should cut down the bling factor. This is the companies fault [EA, ACTivision, Nintendo....] not the shows.

So the big names complain that it is too expensive, then they complain it isn't like it used to be. WTF. Make up your minds. And I do not believe for a second that $5

They want to put out a good show, but they don't want an ever-escalating arms race of 'outdo the other guy or look like a loser'.

Makes sense, it's just hard to make work without the ESA enforcing rules and limitations that ALL publishers agree on.

You guys realize that there are other shows with some of the vibe of the old e3...China Joy, GCDC....ya know. Big noise. Half naked chicks. Don't for a second think this is not going on.

The industry just doesnt want to do that kind of show in LA where costs are so high. It is cheaper to do it in Shanghai.

Why not just make several days of the show for biz only... and several days open to the public, sell tickets, sell games, allow sponsors.
That way the show organizers make money from tickets, not from charging ridiculous prices for floor space, Make the floor space cheap, and relatively similar sized floor spaces.
Publishers can get some cash back from selling games and merch. And knowing they dont have to build massive displays.
And on the biz only days... it plenty quiet enough to conduct business meetings.
Vompanies also need to learn how to budget themselves.... no one really cares how flashy the booth is... only how good the games are.
Many a time I wished a booth just had some bean bags and some cold water, rather than some huge pyrotechnic color video display.
Let common sense rule.

Here's another vote for "old" E3. One year they did a press day and that worked out really well. The crowds weren't so bad and you get a lot of stuff done. The other days it was the wild and crazy show that I've always enjoyed.

The old slogan was "Where Business Gets Fun." The fun has been noticeably lacking as of late.

I think "Anonymous" has a good suggestion. The E3 should be split to have some days of the event be for businesses only, and then have part of it available for the general public. Maybe have the weekdays be for the business executives, and then have the weekend open for the public. The weekend event could have all the flair of the Expo of old, with people dressing up in costumes, contests, etc. The media would likely be more attracted to the weekend event. Ticket sales and merchandise purchases from the general public would sufficiently subsidize the costs of the event, and there would be less hassle having the event happen in one week, rather than splitting it into two separate events that happen months apart.