game girl advance: E3's Not the Only Show in Town

Google GGA:

extras

Links

www.flickr.com

More photos in game girl advance

Thank You for Donating!

If you'd like to help keep GGA afloat, we thank you!

follow miyukijane at http://twitter.com

Syndicate this site (XML)

Mascot by Penny Arcade!

Entry

Print this post

August 02, 2006

E3's Not the Only Show in Town

So, by now you've heard the announcement that E3's cancelled, and you're not invited back to the "new and improved" version. Everyone has their own theories and opinions on the matter, but what I'm not hearing (at least not in the sources I'm reading, anyway), is the speculation about the other game shows.

What about Leipzig? Most Americans probably don't know or care, but it's Europe's biggest game show, and it's open to the public. Officially open to the public. It's also five times larger than E3 (they're estimating 300,000 attendees this year, whereas E3 had about 60,000). Obviously, the "big four" can't go and say "this is the last Leipzig" before showing up, but I'd bet real money that we hear a cancellation announcement after it's over. After all, if they're out to save money, why would they cancel E3 and still do Leipzig?

Then there's the Tokyo Game Show, which has been rumored before to be on shaky ground. Sure, without the big American companies, the Tokyo show could go on, but if it was on shaky ground to begin with, wouldn't knocking out four pillars bring it to the ground?

I've heard some talk that "GDC is getting pretty big, though," or that some other show might "take over" the reigns, much as E3 did 12 years ago from the CES. However, I dont' see that as likely, as that would just require the same investment in a different convention hall.

No, the days of the big industry show are soon to be over.

If you haven't been to one of these big spectacle shows, now's the time to do it. You've still got two international shows left. What are you waiting for?

Posted by bowler at August 02, 2006 12:25 PM | TrackBack

Comments

i wish i could go to Leipzig! Seems like a fun time.

Posted by: jane

on August 4, 2006 04:03 PM

E3 was scary this year. I can stand still and do nothing but still get tired. I almost knocked a guy upside the head for trying to cut me in the Super Mario Galaxy line, and that's when I knew that this thing had gotten out of hand.

I'm all for a change of pace, and I'm due a vacation anyway. It's too late to plan Leipzig, but who's up for the Tokyo Game Show connecting/departing from San Francisco?

Posted by: T. Holbrook Walker

on August 5, 2006 08:47 PM

Wow, I'm really going. Just thought I'd share, and thanks for the idea.

Posted by: T. Holbrook Walker

on August 18, 2006 10:19 PM

Sorry to post so late.

I don't think the Games Convention in Leipzig will be cancelled. There are always rumours about moving the GC to Cologne or Berlin, but I've heard none about a cancellation so far.

"why would they cancel E3 and still do Leipzig" -- I guess the industry regards the GC as the more "useful" event nowadays, at least that's what some EA-guy told me. The GC features a developer conference (gcdc-germany.com) with stars like Will Wright or Molyneux attending, a closed E3-like business center open only to the industry and press, the huge showfloor open to the public, a case modding competition, the opening concert with symphonic game music and many cultural events like pop concerts or cosplay-meetings throughout the city of Leipzig.

It would be really sad and a tremendous financial loss for the whole region, so I hope it won't get cancelled any time soon.

Anyway, if you're interested, you may watch a (very amateurish) video we made last year. Sorry that it's all in German, folks, but I hope you can at least "feel the atmosphere".
http://d-frag.de/media/gc2005.avi

Posted by: matthias

on August 21, 2006 04:09 PM

Posted by: kuwang

on September 19, 2006 12:57 AM