E3 returns to LA

Organizers schedule 2008 event for July 15-17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, but say the show of old is not coming back.

Though some naysayers predicted at the end of the 2007 E3 Media and Business Summit that there would be no 2008 event, the Entertainment Software Association today announced that its flagship trade show would indeed be returning next year.

Not only will the 2008 E3 Media and Business Summit take place July 15-17, but it will also be returning to its old stomping grounds. After a fling in nearby Santa Monica, the ESA is returning E3 to Los Angeles, specifically to the Los Angeles Convention Center, the cavernous home of the gigantic spectacle that used to be the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Despite the change in venue, the 2008 show will remain a smaller-scale show. The ESA has said that once again the event will be an invite-only affair, and while the group didn't specifically address whether or not there would be an exhibit show floor, it did say the summit "will not feature the large trade show environment of previous years." Instead the show will focus on press events and business meetings.

Some aspects of the old E3 are expected to make their return. ESA president Michael Gallagher skipped the traditional state-of-the-industry address last year because he was still playing catchup, having just been appointed to his position two months prior to the event. At the time, an ESA representative said Gallagher would be delivering such a speech at the 2008 event. The E3 conference program, a series of lectures and panels on emerging industry concerns and other topics, was also scuttled last year, but the ESA today hinted it would be returning in some form.

"Our program of high-level meetings, networking and personal dialogue, and industry-shaping panel discussions will capture the explosive growth we have seen in 2007 and lay the foundation for the 2008 video game marketplace," Gallagher said in a statement.

As in previous years, both ESA member and nonmember companies will be able to participate in the show.

131 Comments

  • metalkid9

    Posted Jun 19, 2008 8:56 am PT

    without the people there would be no business!!!

  • blindsided82

    Posted Feb 25, 2008 11:03 pm PT

    E3 was not made for the people. Sheesh. People got too complacent and took it for granted that just any goofball that worked at a Best Buy or Gamestop could go and nerd out, standing in lines for God knows how long, and ogling the completely unnecessary booth babes. All this clogged the floors and detracted from the true goal: to create a place for those actually involved in the process of making and marketing games (and no, this doesn't include your average store clerk with little-to-no experience in making games, and all the other off-the-street-gamer-Joes) to meet with the big, small, and up-and-coming in the industry, and show off their wares for the next year. It was somewhere for the little guy to get the chance to meet with the big guy and show off what otherwise would have been overlooked. It was for the people who actually have some control over what gets sold, marketed, etc., to get excited and call their attention to what they will be pushing for over the next year.
    Unfortunately, for whatever reason, at one point the E3 people laxed who was and wasn't able to come in thinking it would be no big deal most likely to draw attention to their event, and at first it wasn't too big a deal. Over the years however, it took off and eventually got totally out of control and started becoming a hassle to those there to conduct their business and try to do what they came there to do. Soon it was less about the developers, big, small, and up-and-coming getting their businesses, marketers, and other developers and industry names, seeing what the future held and trading ideas for what possibilities the future of the industry held, and more about booth babes and "who can make the flashier, gaudier, and more effects laden presentation?" This, in my view anyway, stunted the true purpose and probably made it hell for the people actually there for a real reason, rather than the throngs of guys who called in sick for work to get painted up and don their old "Legend of Zelda" t-shirt that doesn't fit quite like it used to, and yell at whatever random camera happened to be filming the proceedings.
    What happened last year was an important step back to refocus what E3 was meant for. They will undoubtedly start *slowly* increasing it year to year to still make it something exciting, though avoiding letting it get out of hand as it eventually did two years ago. Should the average Joe have the right to get all ticked off? Sure, why not? It's E3's own fault for letting them get a taste for it to only take it away. They should have been more responsible in the first place and kept it more restricted in who could and couldn't attend, but oh well. What's happened has happened, and all we can do is move forward. Stop complaining, and just be happy that there are people willing to make concessions for those now "left out", making events like "E for Everyone" (or maybe it's "E for All". I can't remember". They don't have to, but they do anyway, so be happy. Myself? I'm perfectly happy just watching all the highlights on G4. (and no, I'm not one of the industry people who is part of the "exclusive few" invited. Just a very opinionated outsider)

  • KooerThnYu

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 8:50 pm PT

    E3 for the People!!!
    NOT the corporations!

  • KooerThnYu

    Posted Jan 28, 2008 8:48 pm PT

    this is total bullcrap
    I actualy could have gone this year and now once again the little guy is being shoved around, told he doesn't belong, and to keep his nose out of it.
    E3 was something made for the people, and yes they press i'll admit. But the people who are buying your games want some hands on or at least some oppinions from people who have played, not just the person who wrote the article your reading.
    ctg867, you are a moron. Obviously you are one of these people who thinks that they deserve the best and first dibs just like all the others who kissed a** to get invited to something. Something that is a great experience and wonderful thing for said "diehard fans" you seem to look down on.

  • The_DRAG0N

    Posted Dec 24, 2007 5:58 pm PT

    They should have never left in the first place.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Dec 22, 2007 2:26 pm PT

    At least everything will be in one place again!

  • reddog00

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 10:51 am PT

    Man this sucks! The public again has to go by invite only previews and reviews on whether or not a game is worthy! That is a crock of you know what! They had a great format allowing public access but screwed up everything with invite only malarkey. What a drag!!!

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Dec 21, 2007 2:48 am PT

    wish that they never changed it in the first place, it was fine the way it was

  • MadGamer132

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 2:20 pm PT

    that's good for the people who like the "old' and "hate' the "new". SHUT UP.

  • Xoonaka

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 11:19 am PT

    @ctg867

    ...but there's no such thing as "high quality news" when it comes to gaming. The most you can hope for is a ton of information, quickly. There's not a single unbiased source for news out there, and on top of it all, everyone always leaves something out causing you to have to go to at least three or four different sites to get full info. Before it was open to anyone in the industry, and now it's only open to the press. Before all dev houses could get in and show off their stuff no matter their size... now, only the big boys can play. There's nothing good about this change. Shuffling the press around like cattle from pointless speech to pointless speech and giving less and less hands on time with games... I just would prefer bigger showroom, less meetings. At least then I can get a real idea from regular people what the deal is on games I don't get to touch.

  • edhc44

    Posted Dec 20, 2007 4:45 am PT

    BORING!

  • Simba_Dude

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 10:46 pm PT

    I hope they bring back the old E3. I remember wanting to go to it but wasn't old enough so me and a bunch of friends were planning to go when we all hit the legal age which was 2007 but a few months beforehand we find out how they slaughtered the show and our dreams of going :/

  • Vishvanath

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 5:48 pm PT

    Bring back Kojima's E3!

  • doomdiver_16

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 3:04 pm PT

    Awesome! my birthday is 16th July so lots of new infos on games surrounding my birthday! Shame the old E3 isn't coming back though, I suppose it may be better this way for some though.

  • bladeleaper25

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 2:36 pm PT

    InterpolWilco,the fact the this could be the most profitable year in gaming history has nothing to do with the new stripped down version of E3 but more to do with the fact that we are in a year where all the new generation of consoles were available to us and they were finally churning out some worthwhile games,games like Bioshock,Metroid Prime 3,Halo 3,Assassin's Creed,God Of War 2 among heaps others,it was just a really good year for gaming,sure the press got better info on the games they wanted to report on but in the end it's the consumer's that determine how well something sells.

  • ctg867

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 2:31 pm PT

    I think it's a good idea. These events should be press only, that's why there is an E4, which is for regular people. I think all the fanboys out there need to have some patience and wait to play the next Mario or next Metal Gear or next Halo or what ever until an event that is public or until the game releases. Otherwise everybody else suffers because the news coverage is that much harder to get, because there's a bunch of stinky, sweaty people everywhere hogging up all the space and game displays.

    Keep it press only, keep is scaled, keep the press events, keep the high quality news coming. Forget the diehard so called "fans" that have ruined the event for years.

  • 02sfraser

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 2:10 pm PT

    its nice to see it return to LA but still keeping it small. E3 was always look at us big developers and ignore the small ones. Also it took all the main focus of other evetns such as Liepzig and TGS

  • okassar

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 1:59 pm PT

    GOD DANGIT!!!!!!!!!When will ANY gaming event come to Chicago,there are alot of gamers up here and it's the perfect city for something like that.

  • Valkyrionmagna

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    Let's hope they show us worth wild games next year, like they did this year. E32008 don't disappoint us.

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 11:52 am PT

    Now lets hope the booth babes return in 2009.

  • FraserAlexander

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 11:00 am PT

    who gives a crap unless it's in your city? people in LA are too busy gang-bagnin', porno-making, drive-bying, sushi-eating, car-crashing, and late-drinking anyway.

  • InterpolWilco

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 9:36 am PT

    I keep seeing people saying "make it open to the public again" - THAT THOUGHT IS WHY E3 IS NOW THE WAY IT IS!!!

    And Donut, E3 2007 was completely stripped down, but this might be the most profitable year in the history of gaming, which now makes more money than the movie industry.

    And more most people that had been going to E3, no one was really all that surprised that the ESA made it what it is. We have E for All, is that not enough?

  • Ebisch

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 9:31 am PT

    Meh, doesn't effect me.

  • BigDaveyDogz

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 9:15 am PT

    Bring an open E3 to the Jacob Javits Center in NYC and then we'll talk.

  • FireNForget

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 8:15 am PT

    Does this news matter anymore? (Unless you're a journalist).

  • FstBrk342

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 7:47 am PT

    booo

  • Razzi65

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 7:44 am PT

    e07 was'nt bad... every thing was there wht v wanted 2 c..

  • pimpinnations23

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 7:08 am PT

    E3 INVITATION ONLY DAM I THOUGHT I WAS GOING..........

  • matt_dangelo

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 6:45 am PT

    well i liked e3 07 i dont see what was so bad...those conferences were great and showed what all gamers wanted to see..plenty of games for the platforms they have..i dont seewhy people freak out about these game shows..personaly we got so many..the GDC, the GC, E3, the TGS, plus everybody has their own thing like Sony GamersDay, Nintendo hasa day, Microsoft's X07 etc stuff, even publishers havethere own days like Ubisoft's Ubidays, EA has one, i mean jeez, lets organize it a little better huh?

  • NA3D

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 6:13 am PT

    I hate to say it, but Trooper has a good point... Either way, I at least have a game studio now, haha. Won't bother scoring an invite till 2009. Too much to work on. I would prefer the old E3 over this though. They should have kept E3 (It is an Electronic Entertainment Expo, not a Gaming Press Release Event.), and have another event for the news, press released, and other stuff.

    What could we call it... Press Released Of Gaming, Prog... I like it... or Press Releases About Gaming Underground Event, then it is Prague, then they can hold it in Prague for all I care. As long as we get our press releases, and get our E3. Either way, the old E3 should say, and have another event the week before for the industry new release event(INRE, or add Game at the start, then GINRE...).

  • Raghall

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 5:45 am PT

    invite only? Man that bites.... I was wanting to go some day....

  • vahid_xbox_360

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 5:11 am PT

    "Dear DonutTrooper "this year,s E3 was cool , if you got problem with your A** then it,s your problem.LA is the best place for this stuff.

  • vahid_xbox_360

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 5:10 am PT

    "Dear DonutTrooper "this year,s E3 was cool , if you got problem with your A** then it,s your problem.LA is the best place for this stuff.

  • vahid_xbox_360

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 5:07 am PT

    cool , LA is the best place for this stuff.

  • DonutTrooper

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 4:25 am PT

    Less people coming to E3=less people to go and write blogs, news stories, anything to get people excited=less people hyped for games=LESS SALES.

    For the past 7 years (If you recall the timeline of the Bush Administration), this country has started to make less and less sense. I honestly thought we were going to see a better E3 '08, because everyone hated this year's.

    But no, I've had enough. It's my unchanging belief that this country has finally lost its mind, and this is the final straw. Canadian gamers; welcome me in.

  • Echo_One

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 3:43 am PT

    $$$ >>> Fans GG

  • LORDLINCOLN_06

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 3:36 am PT

    im supposed to be level 9 then i turn to level 1 wats happening here.................................wat hapen to **** oh i mean gamespot?
    f

  • Pandemic-7

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 1:46 am PT

    I was able to go a few times, in 2002-2006. It was pretty crazy, 2002 was a trip, GC and Xbox had just come out and the PS2 big stuff was coming out, it was by far one of the best because it was my first and one of the most exciting considering the circumstances. I kinda miss the old one, this new one just doesnt carry the buzz of the old one but then again I'm not part of the media and I could only imagine how annoying it would be when youre trying to get some work done there.

  • Night117

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 1:46 am PT

    Take that biatches! (E3 organisers) Now ya run off back 2 what made youse great and the developers better go back to LACC or E3 is doomed and dead and the U.S. will be a nobody in the gaming industry in terms of expos. Japan, Germany and Spain will take over, and what a bummer that'd be! No one demos games, release trailers or present 'best-of' awards like E3 does.

  • ognen

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 1:11 am PT

    Great... I'm looking forward to E32008

  • M-ManLA

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 1:01 am PT

    I'm just waiting for E for all Games to come back. I didn't go this year because all of the developers wasn't going to be there, but next year could be a different story.

  • the64freak

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 12:37 am PT

    rofl, they switched back ~
    Who knows, maby they will switch back to the old format ~
    they might open the 'invites' abit more also ;p

  • ImSwordMan

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 11:47 pm PT

    I miss the old e3 I'm old enough to go now, if it wasn't invite only.
    Also COME TO SF!
    SF>LA!

  • blackace

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 10:35 pm PT

    Well, the old E3 didn't let "everyone" come it. It let developers, exhibitor, press, PR, celebrities and vendors and business associates come it. It was very hard for online gaming press people to get in the show aftera few years. They kept making it harder and harder. Now the E3 is by invitation only. So almost no one will be there. lol

  • Myugenjin

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 10:28 pm PT

    Lol big, i honestly dont see why these organizations/company's dont hire ppl like you to handle things. It would make sense considering we gamers are the buyers of such properties and thus we are the most important audience they could ever have. God D*** ESA!!!

  • WizengamotX

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 10:24 pm PT

    I'm liking this. It means more previews for us. I never was able to actually visit E3 in person, and with these private meetings, you'll get higher quality footage and interviews. Cheers to 2008!

  • bigcr47

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 10:16 pm PT

    why dont they just make a new show and call it "Super electronic expo" and let everyone come in and see what developers have in store, like the old e3?

  • JEFF_FTW_4EVER

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 9:20 pm PT

    BOOOOOOOOOOOO!

  • rouge-ninja14

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 9:12 pm PT

    "Instead the show will focus on press events and business meetings." Lame

  • halosniper52

    Posted Dec 18, 2007 8:40 pm PT

    I wish it was as big as it use to be

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