Gamertell

Recently we published a story about a rumor regarding E3 going public. We followed up the article with a retraction when we found out that the rumor was false. It did bring up an interesting debate issue: Whether or not E3 going public would really have an effect with the gaming industry.

Honestly it really wouldn’t matter. The entertainment industry is built on information and hype. Public or not, the information would get out to the public. It’s just a question of how quickly the word would actually get to the public. With E3 public, anyone who is able to go to the convention would get instant access to information on the upcoming “next best thing.” Without the convention going public, it’s a matter of seeing what the press shows the public.

Some people complain about press coverage, since they tend to focus on the familiar stuff (big name franchises or big name producers/production teams). Then again the press is paying attention to what the majority of their viewers or readers are interested in. With press now it is more a matter of business than a matter of the information. The higher the ratings (TV), circulation rate (print) or readership views (online media) the more ad revenue a press outlet stands to make. So the media outlets will play to the interests of their audience.

Sometimes, because of this, different games will get shut out or stories on the games will be given less prominence. Games that would normally be good for the mainstream may only achieve cult status. What would people want to hear about more: the new Final Fantasy/Medal of Honor/Call of Duty/Kill Zone/Halo/[insert other hi-powered franchises here] or some new game that was developed by a relatively unknown production team and company that offers little, if any, innovative effects, gameplay possibilities, etc.? That’s what most media outlets have to ask themselves. Online media tends to be a bit freer with their choices on what to run because of the fact that they get more random demographics coming to them for information. Some of them are more interested in the potentially obscure games.

While it really doesn’t matter if the convention goes public, we have to look at the information. If it goes public there’s is a more immediate sense of information getting to the public and in some cases it’s firsthand. However, if the convention stays closed, the information would still get out to the public and that is what will make or break a game shown at the convention, the information and the hype.

E3 - Open, Closed or Who Really Cares?

• E3 should open its doors, let the people flow
• Keep those E3 doors closed
• It doesn’t matter whether E3 goes public or not

Read [Gamertell] Also Read [Gamertell]