Activision Blizzard ditches E3 and the ESA
by Mike Schramm 
May 2nd 2008 at 3:00PM
Just in case you missed it when the news came out a few days ago, Activision Blizzard has apparently announced that they're not showing up at E3 this year. And hot on the heels of that information came the news that both Activision and Vivendi have pulled out of the ESA, an organization that acts as the main trade association for the videogame industry.What does this mean for us as Blizzard fans? Not much -- not only is Blizzard already running their own E3-like conventions (Blizzcon and WWI), but Activision Blizzard is apparently planning to hold a press conference on the first night of the show anyway. Blizzard's properties have enough gusto on their own to get press with or without inclusion in a big event like E3, and it's Activision's other properties that might have to worry about exposure.
As for the ESA news, who knows -- Activision Blizzard's pullout might mean a big shakeup in the way the videogame industry as a whole is represented, or (if no other companies choose to leave the ESA) it may not mean much at all. Time will tell.
Filed under: WoW Social Conventions, Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wildbinx May 2nd 2008 4:06PM
as someone who is involved in the inner-workings of other trade shows i can tell you how pissed E3 probably is. that was a huge exhibitor and draw to the show. ouch!
Charlie Taylor May 2nd 2008 3:27PM
E3 isn't much of an event these days anyway, so it's no big deal.
Nick May 2nd 2008 3:48PM
!st
I bet E3 pissed off Actibliz!!
makishima May 2nd 2008 3:59PM
"1st to fail!" There I fixed your comment
Kalis May 2nd 2008 5:40PM
I'm fairly certain (since I was an employee) that Vivendi wasn't there last year, either.
Xin May 2nd 2008 3:32PM
o well
ash May 2nd 2008 4:21PM
I remember reading last year about how E3 has been losing popularity and importance. Whether this was merited or a reflection of only some in the industry venting that still means some people aren't happy. If I remember right, last year they moved the venue to a more secluded location and made it invite only. Don't know if that is continuing this year, though.
idburns May 2nd 2008 4:42PM
I remember reading the same thing, E3 is a dying breed.
mattyt17 May 2nd 2008 5:23PM
E3 was turned into a trade-only show a few years back and closed to the public. Since then it's been loosing press momentum and honestly is now one of the shittiest industry shows. No Big Deal there...
The ESA thing is the scary part
Suzaku May 2nd 2008 6:21PM
Actually, it started out as a trade-only show. Over time, more people just started getting in, and the developers starting making a bigger show out of it, to the point that celebs would be brought in, massive booths were erected, and mass mayhem insued.
Developers expressed some discontent over the transition from private industry-related gathering into a public spectacle, and just last year (not a "few years ago"), the ESA reformated it back to being a standard invite-only trade show for the industry and media.
A lot of developers have started to get away from E3 in favor of their own shows, and with Blizzard's Blizzcon convention and Worldwide Invitational, they still have places to showcase their stuff to the public.
Rasnarok May 2nd 2008 6:09PM
I have no idea what you're smoking if you think WWI is anything like E3.
Nick May 2nd 2008 6:22PM
I think E3 "jumped the shark" when they stopped letting the general public access the event.
What's the point of a developer showcasing their titles to just the media?
They shot themselvs in the foot imnsfho.
Nick May 2nd 2008 6:34PM
@10
I remember Novalogic not allowing the general public access to their area, only press and industry folks.
On the one hand I can see them not wanting to deal with a "spectacle". Subjectively however, I would think that it helps to sell games.
For some developers however, e3 might not have been able to meet their needs. Would blizzard have been able to put on a show like Blizzcon2 at e3? I highly doubt it.
Tatiyanna May 2nd 2008 6:41PM
The pullout and the notice of a Press Announcement means only one thing....
WoTLK will be released that day. There I said it first.
BenMS May 3rd 2008 1:19AM
No. But they will probably announce the date of release.
Mattivc May 2nd 2008 6:44PM
Activision Blizzard is probly doing the same thing Apple has done. Drop out of the big conventions and make your own. So i think we can expect a even bigger Blizzcon next time.
chilisizzle May 2nd 2008 7:34PM
As of now Blizz is still going to be at Comic-con which is more wide-reaching and important than E3 ever was
Qix May 2nd 2008 7:49PM
Obviously, a lot of other people care, seeing the comments here. But, having only been to one major gaming show like this, I dont really care about E3. The only major game show ive been to is TGS, last year, and it was lame. Sure, it was neat seeing videos of the new game, metal gear, etc... But it was a 4 hour line to BUY a t-shirt from Square. And similar lines to play anything not at Microsoft's booth. (Halo 3 was about 2 weeks from being out and already in the crackdown beta). I ended up not actually playing a single game, did not buy a single thing. The best part was, being in Japan, the cosplay. But since I have not been following anime recently (Last good show I saw was Kenshin), I only recognized half of that (and half of those were Final Fantasy!). Very disappointing. Since I just moved up to Oregon, I hope PAX is as fun as I hear.