E3 Back to Being Big and Bodacious
Over the past few years as the American and global economies stumbled, consumers suddenly were tight with their shrinking disposable income and several entertainment sectors slumped.
Once considered recession proof, the computer and video gaming industry finally felt the effects of the world-wide economic downturn. Sales are down 11-percent this year and holiday sales last year didn’t hit projected targets.
The most important and significant event in the industry, E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, kicks off this week at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Even though sales may be off for publishers and developers, experts and companies alike are feeling a cautious sort of optimism heading into the show.
Closed to the public, an estimated 45,000 retail buyers, journalists, industry experts and others will make this E3 event the largest attended since the vaunted days of the late '90s when over 70,000 attended the week-long show. Not bad for an industry looking to make a comeback.
With sales down 11-percent so far this year, all the big game manufacturers – Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo – will unveil motion-control inputs and 3-D systems. The buzz and glitz surrounding these unveilings will undoubtedly be the talk of the show.
But it’s always about the games.
Hot titles sure to draw a lot of attention at E3 include Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light, Vanquish, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Star Wars: The Clone Wars Adventures, and DC Universe Online.
All of the games will be on display along with a star-studded array of events, parties and one-upsmanship. Technorati will be on hand at E3 and will send updates and dispatches with the latest and greatest in video game news.
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