Gen Con So Cal so canceled

Would-be successor to Electronic Entertainment Expo pulls plug on West Coast event in light of competing shows, flat attendance, waning exhibitor interest.

When it was revealed that the Electronic Entertainment Expo was going to be dramatically downsized for 2007, a number of conventions both existing and new stepped up to fill the void. One of the first to put its name in the hat was Gen Con So Cal, a fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure game convention that was looking to expand into the world of video games and planned to occupy E3's former home, the Los Angeles Convention Center.

However, Gen Con organizers last week announced that they were taking the So Cal event out of the running to be the heir to E3, canceling the event because it "was not likely to grow and expand without immense effort and expense." Specific reasons for the cancellation included an increase in the number of competing Southern California-based conventions, flat attendance figures, and key exhibitors withdrawing some of their support for the show.

While Gen Con didn't name names, the competition referenced is almost certainly IDG's E for All Expo (formerly known as the GamePro Expo), which is scheduled to be held in the Los Angeles Convention Center October 18-20. Sources with the City of Los Angeles told GameSpot that Gen Con had tentatively secured the venue for early November. Last November, the two groups had been in talks to merge their events.

98 Comments

  • GrlGmr

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 11:19 am PT

    I concur with Alunanite. Penny Arcade Expo is the symbolic heir to E3, and it's open to everyone, not just industry and retail reps. I've attended the last two years, and last year the attendance was almost 20,000 for the 3 days it lasts. This year they're moving from Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue to the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, the largest in the state. It's a blast!

    http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/

    Here's some of the pics I took from last year:

    http://s10.photobucket.com/albums/a126/Arklier/PAX/

  • smurfa1

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:34 am PT

    MSE369 said:
    nothin could ever replace E3

    No, you're right.

  • JLCrogue

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 10:08 am PT

    Bring it to Northern Kahlifornia instead.

    Nor Cal > So Cal

  • sabru8

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:51 am PT

    oh well the E3 is where it's at.

  • mwa

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 9:23 am PT

    why not california? that's like complaining that CES is done in vegas

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:13 am PT

    What about Europe?

  • The_Dude1212

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 8:04 am PT

    I also agree with quietguy, but what about us Canucks?

  • Iffy350

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:58 am PT

    I agree with quietguy. It begs the question. Why the hech in California?

  • quietguy

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 7:12 am PT

    God. Wished they do it in NY or even in Wisconsin instead of all the time in Cali.

  • V_Zarnold_N

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 5:56 am PT

    chrisdojo playa42018 said:
    Wish something would happen somewhere besides California.


    heh, word. yeah.... me too

  • AndyRaeside

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 5:47 am PT

    I wish I could have went to the likes of E3 during the height of the Sega and Nintendo Mascot / Console wars.

    Bet the place would have been buzzing back then. The sound of 16 Bit music ringing in your ears... Would have been awesome.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 5:47 am PT

    playa42018 said:
    Wish something would happen somewhere besides California.



    heh, word.

  • playa42018

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:40 am PT

    Wish something would happen somewhere besides California.

  • Media_geek20

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:34 am PT

    Damn, I was planning to go to that this year.

  • Lizasaur

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:15 am PT

    wait, is it just the the So Cal Gen-Con getting cancelled. I live in Indy and Gen-Con is also held here every year. I never went cuz im not a D&D guy, but when i heard about them making space for showing off games i got really really excited. I hope The Indy one hasnt been cancelled too.

  • ZeroTae

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 3:11 am PT

    I just wish that i could go to E3 before it happened...

  • Doolum

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 2:23 am PT

    Merge the vents and they have better chance for success.,Do it alone and you die for sure.I'll miss E3

  • Doolum

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 2:23 am PT

    Merge the vents and they have better chance for success.,Do it alone and you die for sure.I'll miss E3

  • ketsuatama

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 1:17 am PT

    Existence of sites like this negates the need to a whiz-bang expo; however, the atmosphere created by live events far outstrip what I can get here!

  • MSE369

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 12:29 am PT

    nothin could ever replace E3

  • Deathwing13

    Posted Jan 30, 2007 12:01 am PT

    I regret not being able to go to E3 in the past. And now with the cancellation of GenCon...that's a real shame.

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 10:50 pm PT

    As for the booth babes. Well, you can see better-looking babes in magazines, and on the net (well, plus to a greater degree, if you get at what I'm saying! Hehe), go to see them at the motorsport events, and etc. Hey! Why not go to the beaches and see them in bikinis for free? LOL!

    There are also plenty of other conventions like Comic-con, and the exclusive annual ones for the babe-driven magazines, and magazines with babes in them. Come on! Don't despair! It's not the end of life! Why are companies still "selling women"? Nono, I'm not talking about the prostitutes thing, in case you're trying to moderate me! Otherwise the world would stop spinning!

  • chaosmakerX

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 10:48 pm PT

    This sucks, one of my life long dreams (going to E3) just got crushed. All these years I lived like 30 minuets away from the LA convention center and I never went, I just watched coverage on G4. Now I regret it soooooooooooooo much. I was slightly dissapointed when I first heard that they were changing E3, but now this NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

  • lawsond

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 10:44 pm PT

    Who Cares? There is so much info out there, we don't need big game expos. There are so many now that I can't even keep track as to which comes next. I used to be excited for E3...but now, why bother. If there's something not happening here in the US in the next couple weeks, it will be in another country.
    Then, we all watch the videos of a game, get excited, play the game, realize it wasn't what it was hyped to be, wait for new games, watch videos, get excited, play the games...etc...
    I've finally given up on all the hype..
    maybe it's because I'm finally getting "mature" and "grown up"...it's about time, I'm married for crying out loud!

  • Sir_Crocidile

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 10:15 pm PT

    *sigh* I should have gone to E3 last year when I had the chance. . .oh well, that's life.

  • Max_Hydrogen

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 10:04 pm PT

    What a shame. I never even got to go to E3.

  • ObiKKa

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 9:54 pm PT

    I'm glad that E3 has changed, because I understood why the big publishers wanted it to happen - so that they, and many other publishers & developers can enter there at a much cheaper price, like no booth babes, huge or even little video booths with decorations running up to millions of dollars, or whatever. It is huge wastage to those critical shops in the game industry, and it's not up to you whether you want the old E3 back or not. Game development costs have increased, too. Do you want great & polished, or fairly good but enjoyable games? Then shut up, put up, and deal with it. It is THESE very developers that are the backbone of the games that you buy!

  • funnymario

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 9:43 pm PT

    Never heard of it.

  • Glordit

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 9:11 pm PT

    What is it??

  • smoothn00dle

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 8:50 pm PT

    @McHOTTy That is one thing I like about Brisbane, Australia. Fine Weather and Real Boobs.

  • TRH4469

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 8:39 pm PT

    who cares

  • McH0TTY

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 8:23 pm PT

    The Reason Y all these game conventions r held in Southern California is Because; This is the best Damn place to live In. Sure theres alot of illegal imigrants here, and Yes most of the girls here have fake boobs, but ist not about that, its about, The damn beautiful Weather, The California Sun,The Moutains, The Beach, The Surfing, The Fake Boobs. Southern Cal has the Best weather in the nation, Chicago is Cold, Windy and Snowy, New York is Rainy and Chilly and always wintry. If You can get past the Bums and all the traffic, You will Find that Souther California is The Place Live. P.S GO SC!!!! d(o_-)b

  • princegee4

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 7:50 pm PT

    wat.........1st E3 and now they ended this one...that is rubish

  • epormada

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 7:40 pm PT

    "was not likely to grow and expand without immense effort and expense."
    Duh! Thats why they downsized E3 in the first place!

  • gtrslinger

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 7:39 pm PT

    lame....simply lame

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 6:43 pm PT

    oh well, it was worth a try for them

  • shizwill03

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 6:24 pm PT

    ....probably because most are held on the WEST COAST. Make a show on the East Coast or at least Midwest for god sakes.

  • louis_smith

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 6:11 pm PT

    Blah...So, I wonder if then Gen-Con thing was meant for the Public Not like E3...Boohoo!!! Well i guess, if they predict such things, then so Be it!! E3 should have been a event for the Video Gaming Community..not the Video gaming Money. I wouldn't Mind paying 20-25 bucks to attend E3..not paying some 250-to 300 if your not in the Industry. Which sucks, I guess I got Lucky that time I was a student. These Folks gotta learn how to read Comment Boxes in these sites..i know they have Free time..lol..

  • Alunanite

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 5:56 pm PT

    Everyone knows PAX is the new E3 anyway. Its getting close to E3 numbers in attendance and its always a blast. Besides, its in August which means developers won't rush product as much to get a crappy demo out in time.

  • da_real_deal

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 5:55 pm PT

    no..................................................................wait a sec, didnt we already kno that e3 was dead??!..........................ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! lol

  • Sandro909

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 5:11 pm PT

    WTF!?

  • manifestus

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 5:07 pm PT

    SonicNinja976
    I Still Don't Understand Why E3 Is Gone.

    Because they decided to cancel the event. Also, it basically become less and less useful for the video game industry in general (which was the focal point of the expo to begin with).

  • gta11

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:59 pm PT

    Lol, oh well

  • darth-revan

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    MrPMPisBeefy "Heck maybe the Japanese will bring TGS over here. :-P "

    theres a reason its called the Tokyo Games Show......

  • blowmestudios

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:28 pm PT

    why have any conventions in just one place? i mean if all these shows would tour the states with entrance fees those events would explode with gamers. bring the euipment or rent it with a rented building simple as that.

  • MrPMPisBeefy

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:13 pm PT

    "Frags-o-Plenty - This bites. We have no E3, but there are always those bloody presidential elections every few years. This country needs to get its priorities straight.

    I'm deciding if I'm being sarcastic on that."

    Hahaha, you made me laugh pretty hard with that comment. Another Expo will eventually take the place of E3. All we can do is wait. Heck maybe the Japanese will bring TGS over here. :-P

  • SonicNinja976

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:07 pm PT

    I Still Don't Understand Why E3 Is Gone.

  • henry_the_horse

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:05 pm PT

    Maybe they should move it out of California if they no longer can get good attendance out of that state. I'd go to these events if they were in my neighborhood. But I don't think they're going to move it to the mid-west any time soon. haha

  • IpodHero176

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:05 pm PT

    Oh well.

  • rbop

    Posted Jan 29, 2007 4:04 pm PT

    I don't think that E3 needed to end the way it did. Maybe it needed some retooling, but c'mon... look at what we're left with. E3 was great for electronics in general.

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