E3 Vs. QuakeCon: The Future of Game Events
August 20, 2008 12:05
Conventions have been a part of the gaming industry dating back to when the Consumer Electronics Show started to include consoles back in the early 1980s. Today, with events like E3, Leipzig, Game Developers Conference and various developer-centric events like BlizzCon and QuakeCon, the spectacle of showing off the latest and greatest games and hardware can be a bigger deal than the actual product itself.
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, was the paramount event for anyone and anything related to the game industry during the late 1990s and the first several years of the new millennium. As of late, however, E3 has become what many consider to be a hollow, underwhelming shadow of its former self. Gone are the days of engulfing the entire Los Angeles Convention Center, with crowded halls, bags of swag bursting at the seams and developer booths that seemingly went on for miles. Even if the content and presentations were below expectations, E3 as a whole was still exciting enough to squash most cries of dissent. This year, those who attended were treated to a pint-sized exhibition hall (which by some estimates was smaller than Microsoft's 2006 booth alone), speeches given to half-empty rooms and an overall boring experience. The general consensus among those who went to E3 2008 was clear: The ball has officially been dropped by the Entertainment Software Association (read our interview with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot for more on that subject).
I will openly admit that the only E3 I have attended was this year's. However, when so many people from different disciplines of the game industry come out and say E3 needs to change, it's easy to see the writing on the wall. A lack of substance combined with a lack of glamour and hype led to possibly the worst E3 to date. If the event wants to see the next decade, a balance needs to be struck between the glorious days of old and the potentially disastrous years to come. E3 is not the only convention to suffer, although it is by far the best example. CES has also been fairly lackluster in recent memory. However, CES is also much bigger than game development because it covers virtually all categories of consumer electronics. Nowadays, it seems as though GDC is the only worthwhile show in America that covers virtually all the bases. What is a fanboy to do?
There are some events we can still look forward to whose purpose is much more focused than their bigger brothers. Events like BlizzCon and QuakeCon are now bigger than ever, and serve as the stage on which Blizzard and id Software, respectively can show their wares to the public. Not only do these events display hardware and software, but they combine the show floor with the competitive gaming arena, bringing thousands of gamers from across the world together for several days of sweaty, smelly, energy drink-fueled fun.
The last two events I have covered for Tom's Games were QuakeCon and E3, and I can say without a doubt in my mind that QuakeCon was a better overall experience. Even when I take myself out of the equation as an id fanboy, QuakeCon offered up everything that E3 did, and so much more. A vast majority of the games announced at E3 are either far from release or unappealing to the masses. Sure, there were some gems, like Stormrise, Project Origin, Red Alert 3 and Crysis: Warhead, but overall, the press conferences, booths and meetings were a letdown. Virtually every game talked about or shown off at QuakeCon could be considered above average, so in my mind, one developer managed to completely trump most of the announcements made at E3. Combine this with a 3,000 seat LAN party, several tournaments and a Corvette giveaway, and it's pretty clear who the winner is.
QuakeCon was a blast, and is virtually every year. However, we can't forget about BlizzCon 2008. With Diablo III, StarCraft II and World of WarCraft's new expansion pack, Wrath of the Lich King, all slated to make appearances, along with the usual tournaments and other goodies, developer-run conventions are back in a big way. Unless Nvision 2008 can come in and save the day, more developers may start to follow the path that id and Blizzard started so many years ago.
E3 used to be the only convention that mattered in the gaming industry. Now, especially over the last two years, it seems to be the complete opposite. However, E3 is not beyond saving. Should it take a similar approach to QuakeCon and Nvision, by opening its doors to the general public? Should E3 2009 include some sort of tournament and BYOC arena to help show off the latest games? Maybe, but E3 was a massive success without adding any of those elements before. My advice to the ESA: move E3 back to May where it belongs, and make it bigger. Perhaps not as big as the hallway-choking days of old, but it needs to be expanded beyond one exhibition hall and a handful of private meeting rooms. Oh, and some better swag is always a plus.
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