Zzz...3

I've been critical of the Electronic Entertainment Expo for many years now.  It lacks the focus of GDC or the compartmentalization of Gamescom.  It also feels very dated compared to newer internet-based forms of promotion like Nintendo Direct.  When it comes to the whole loot box controversy, the ESA (the show organizers) have done a bang-up job of alienated both their contributors and the people they are supposed to be representing.  All this and more has steadily eroded the value of having E3.  Sony isn't there anymore.  Activision decided not to go as well.  An ever growing number of leaks stole a lot of the show's thunder, and various games coverage outlets are finding it increasingly difficult to justify going when pretty much everything of relevance is available on the internet.

It's certainly a lot cheaper not to attend.  When you consider things like hotel fees, taxi rides, plane tickets and the cost of being at the event, the bills add up to a lot of money very quickly.  Considering all the funds, time and effort companies like Bethesda, Microsoft, Square-Enix and Ubisoft dump into their presentations, it doesn't seem worth the hour or so each of them lasts.  Preparing for E3 is hard on development studios too in that they are often asked by publishers to put together a flashy demo that can take months of work, devouring resources perhaps better spent on finishing the actual game.

For awhile I felt like (even though the show itself had become boring) the stuff surrounding E3 continued to be interesting mostly because of the snark, cring, memes and so on.  Even that source of amusement though has faded in recent years.  Perhaps video game companies are becoming more self-conscious?  Of course, it's not all bad...Last Oasis had some neat visuals...as a Heroes of Might and Magic fan, Songs of Conquest looks enticing...I guess one could also argue that it's still an opportunity for industry veterans to hang out and swap "war stories"...although, I got to say when the biggest thing to come out of a video game expo is a surprise appearance by Keanu Reeves, then it might be time pull the plug.