Is the E3 convention heading in the right direction?
This years Electronic and Entertainment Expo concluded recently and the industry was put on its ear with the likes of the Legend of Zelda, Agents of Mayhem and Mafia 3.In a time where companies have decided to pass on E3 this year, the convention had one of its better showings and in my opinion, anytime Nintendo can leave the industry speechless, its good for the industry!
Attending E3 is a right of passage for the “video game journalist” community. However it feels like people who get to attend complain about going to the convention to partake in what the everyday gamer doesn’t get to.
People feel it would be a good idea to allow the general public into the convention and that was the plan with E3 Live this year. E3 Live was going to be the option for the public to see what E3 is all about. It appears that Live wasn’t the answer to E3 that the industry wanted as there were negative reports from attendees. Accounts ranged from not caring for the amount of games available and the lack of industry mainstays. It would appear that E3 Live felt like the redheaded stepchild to the main show floor and not too many of the who’s who wanted to bother with it. The masses jumped on the tickets when they were available online
Each company does their best to show off at E3 and how they actually do that is totally up to them. It could be showing off their games but it usually is giving out a lot of free stuff. The Swag of E3 is something that everyone who attends wants, no matter what it is. This years E3 Swag that it appears everyone wants is the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild powder blue t-shirt and collectable coin. I was able to grab a coin and shirt, as were a lot of other people.
If you head over to eBay, you’ll see that there are several people selling some of the top “Swag” at E3. Items range from the Legend of Zelda swag to Mafia 3 shirts to South Park: The Fractured but Whole stuff. Personally I like to hang onto all my swag but everyone is different. Then there are items being sold online that the only way you could get them the first time was to work at a booth at E3. Nintendo drawstring bags and water bottles appear to be hot sellers. Nothing is stopping these people from selling their stuff but some of this stuff was online before the convention was even over.
With companies like Wargaming, Disney, and Activision choosing not to attend E3 this year, it brings up the question of does it feel that E3 has lost some of its luster in the last few years? However, being able to attend the last four E3’s, this years felt like one of the better conventions I’ve been able to attend. It might have felt like the show had less to offer or booths to see but the heavy hitters did what they do best, show off no matter what!
Talk of E3 on the decline has been thrown about in the past and like in the past that has been exaggerated. You just have to look to Nintendo to see that being left for dead could be a good thing. This mentality lowers expectations and when the company does hit a home run, like this year, everyone takes notice!
