Gamertell

At least one game company is re-embracing the rogue, indy - dare I say, ‘80s Atari - spirit of videogames this year. If you watched any G4 coverage this week, you saw this company’s employees a few times, dressed as chickens and roosters, guzzling brews and even parading a few booth babes at its offsite pseudo-E3 gathering, E.I.E.I.O. (Expo for Interactive Entertainment Independent and Original) Fun Fest 2007, an event that happened to take place the same time as E3, featured videogames as well as a skateboard ramp and strippers.

The company is Gamecock and they make crazy games (Hail to the Chimp, Dungeon Hero and Mushroom Men) and are even having a funeral procession for E3 2007 on the last day of the expo (July 13, 2007). Sure, it’s a bit of a publicity stunt but, considering the companies and gamers that think this might be the end of E3 (or the beginning of its slow and painful demise), the funeral has the potential of being the most symbolic event f E3 2007 week. (It’s also on Friday the 13th. Coincidence!?)

The funeral and wake - which they are calling the “E3 Funeral and Wake (celebration) of Originality” - are starting at 4:20 pm. at the Hotel California (Santa Monica, CA). It sounds like a raucous event with “merriment and musical accompaniment” on the 20-25 minute walk. From the press release:

“Join your friends, colleagues, and unemployed-booth-babes-in-mourning, for a final goodbye to the magical beast that was E3, and a wholehearted welcoming for the resurgence of independence, originality, and creativity to come. Very special guest eulogies (if you think you have something to say, please let us know), music, and good times, flavored with Gamecock’s own secret sauce.”

The procession will end around 5 p.m. at the On the Waterfront Cafe in Venice Beach. I’m assuming this is a press only invitation to attend but they didn’t specify and don’t seem like the types to care if you just show up.

If you go, send plenty of pictures. ;)

Site [Gamecock]