If this were a regular year...

**Woody** · 05-17-2007

If this were a regular year I would have just gotten back from E3 a few days ago. I'd still be sweating as I talked about upcoming gaming hotness while picking through my swag bag to show off the various goodies. But, this isn't a regular year. E3 is dead and those events that are rushing to fill its place just aren't.

The new "E3" is a series of meetings that one must be invited to. But, as I understand it, each company has a limited number of invitations they can offer. This clips the wings of smaller sites like mine. We're passed over so that "news" sources with a larger readership draw can be invited. In this way their invitations aren't wasted.

Ultimately, I'm fine without the swag. And E3 had gotten far too big for its britches. It was no longer catering to pure industry professionals, merchants, journalists, etc. And it certainly wasn't supporting smaller gaming entities anymore. It had become a bloated noise machine with one booth trying to outdo the next who was trying to outdo the next.

Beyond that, the event pushed developers to whip up a version of the game that was playable on the floor, in most cases far before the release date. That crunch often caused games to be delivered in a state that got the product slammed by game "journalists" who ignored the process completely.

Even with all the flaws though, I miss it. That blinking, noisy press of gaming goodness is gone for me. Other conventions might hint at it, but it's not going to be the same again. I guess that leaves me to find a new gaming Mecca. I'm open to suggestions.

lakoda · 05-18-2007

I don't know if it is the same type of thing, but I think I can empathize.

When GenCon changed venues from Milwaukee to Indianapolis it was never the same for me. The con hasn't changed too much, to grew a lot but that is good for it. But when it was in Milwaukee I was an hour away and have family in walking distance to the hall - it was cheap to attend (for me) and it was like "these are my people". Now I just feel lost in it. I still enjoy it but it isn't the same. Change is good and bad and all ya have are the memories.

05-17-2007
Woody Owner/Artist GU Admin Join Date: Sep 2003 Fwang: 9,782"	If this were a regular year... If this were a regular year I would have just gotten back from E3 a few days ago. I'd still be sweating as I talked about upcoming gaming hotness while picking through my swag bag to show off the various goodies. But, this isn't a regular year. E3 is dead and those events that are rushing to fill its place just aren't. The new "E3" is a series of meetings that one must be invited to. But, as I understand it, each company has a limited number of invitations they can offer. This clips the wings of smaller sites like mine. We're passed over so that "news" sources with a larger readership draw can be invited. In this way their invitations aren't wasted. Ultimately, I'm fine without the swag. And E3 had gotten far too big for its britches. It was no longer catering to pure industry professionals, merchants, journalists, etc. And it certainly wasn't supporting smaller gaming entities anymore. It had become a bloated noise machine with one booth trying to outdo the next who was trying to outdo the next. Beyond that, the event pushed developers to whip up a version of the game that was playable on the floor, in most cases far before the release date. That crunch often caused games to be delivered in a state that got the product slammed by game "journalists" who ignored the process completely. Even with all the flaws though, I miss it. That blinking, noisy press of gaming goodness is gone for me. Other conventions might hint at it, but it's not going to be the same again. I guess that leaves me to find a new gaming Mecca. I'm open to suggestions.

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05-18-2007
lakoda a fool in sheeps clothing Join Date: Jul 2006 Fwang: 672" Location: Sun Prairie, WI	I don't know if it is the same type of thing, but I think I can empathize. When GenCon changed venues from Milwaukee to Indianapolis it was never the same for me. The con hasn't changed too much, to grew a lot but that is good for it. But when it was in Milwaukee I was an hour away and have family in walking distance to the hall - it was cheap to attend (for me) and it was like "these are my people". Now I just feel lost in it. I still enjoy it but it isn't the same. Change is good and bad and all ya have are the memories.
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