E3-2008 posts

E3 2009: First Mass Effect 2 screenshots released

by John Callaham Jun 1st 2009 @ 8:00PM

It's a big E3 for BioWare as they show off Mass Effect 2 to the public for the first time. Today BioWare and the game's publisher Electronic Arts released the first in-game screenshots from the sci-fi RPG sequel (previous visuals were from concept artwork) and we have launched our Mass Effect 2 gallery with those shots

As we have reported on before, Mass Effect 2 is due out in the first quarter of 2010 for the PC and other platforms. It once again features one of our favorite game characters Commander Shepard who, at least by checking out the screenshots, is not dead as the first teaser trailer for the game tried to imply.

Gallery: Mass Effect 2 Screenshots

Filed under: RPG, Screenshots, Mass Effect Series

E3 2009: Press conference schedule for Monday

by John Callaham Jun 1st 2009 @ 11:30AM

Today is a busy day for Big Download. Even though E3 2009 doesn't open it's doors until noon PT on Tuesday we have three big press conferences to attend in and around downtown LA. Here's our schedule for today:

Microsoft: While this is technically a Xbox 360 press conference, Microsoft usually has one or two PC game announcements as well during their conference. They will begin their conference at 10:25 am PT (1:25 ET)

Electronic Arts: They are one of the biggest PC game publishers and we suspect that EA will have a couple of PC game related announcements to make today. Their press conference begins at 2 pm PT (5 pm ET)

Ubisoft: Finally, Ubisoft puts themselves out for the press at 5 pm PT (8 pm ET). Again, Ubisoft will likely have some PC game announcements but we are going mainly because The Soup's Joel McHale is hosting.

Filed under: Culture

E3 2009 coming June 2-4; invite-only format gone but will booth babes return?

by John Callaham Oct 20th 2008 @ 8:15PM

For the past two years the Entertainment Software Association has made its annual trade show, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, a smaller invite-only event for the media rather than a massive trade show with large exhibits and booth babes. The result was a show that, while good for journalists to quietly check out upcoming releases, fell flat as a way for the game industry to promote themselves and their upcoming games.

Last month rumors began to surface that E3 2009 could be open to the public. Tonight, on G4TV's X-Play TV show it was revealed that the event would return to the LA Convention Center and while it still technically won't be open to the public the TV show stated that it won't be invite-only either. Apparently the show will be returning to its larger trade show roots which should allow the event to also return to its larger attendance numbers of around 60,000 people or so.

The dates for the show have also been confirmed; it will be held June 2-4 which is a month earlier than the invite-only format's July dates but still a few weeks later than the old trade show version's May dates. It's currently unknown if IDG World Expo, who has helped the ESA run the two previous invite-only events, will return for the new expanded show. More info on the new E3 is expected to be revealed tomorrow morning.

Update: Newsweek is reporting that E3 2009 will in fact open its doors to the public on June 5-6 and that the attendance will actually be capped at around 40,000 attendees which is less than what Penny Arcade Expo had at its event last August. Again more news is coming tomorrow.

Filed under: Biz, Culture

Will E3 2009 be open to the public? [UPDATE]

by John Callaham Sep 3rd 2008 @ 12:30PM

If you ask pretty much everyone, the 2008 edition of the invite-only E3 Media and Business Summit was a huge letdown. Many people have been wondering for years why the owners of E3, the Entertainment Software Association, don't make the show open to the public like the Tokyo Game Show does.

Well, Kotaku is reporting through unnamed sources that a proposal for a public E3 has now been put forward to the ESA's board for consideration. Of course, even if this is true it sounds like such an idea is in the very early stages and could be vetoed for another fomat. However if it goes though that would likely be the last we will hear of the E for All Expo (both E3 and E for All are organized by IDG World Expo). A public E3 could also affect both exhibitor and attendee interest in Penny Arcade Expo which has surged in attendance and importance in the game industry following the switch to an invite only E3 in 2006.

Update: Big Download contacted the ESA for comment and received this response from its senior VP Rich Taylor: "As we do every year, the ESA solicits feedback and direction from exhibitors and attendees on how best to adapt and evolve the E3 Media & Business Summit to ensure it meets their needs. Each element of the Summit is opened for discussion and that process is ongoing to execute a productive and efficient experience. Regarding today's published reports, the ESA does not comment on rumors and speculation and will make an announcement about the details and logistics of the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit at the appropriate time."

Filed under: Biz, Culture

Will Wright: E3 "feels like a zombie"

by John Callaham Aug 29th 2008 @ 9:30AM

You can add Sims and Spore creator Will Wright to the growing number of game industry professionals who are critical of the current "invite only" version of E3. In fact Wright states in a chat for Gamesindustry.biz, "the real E3 died a couple of years ago" and adds, "It almost feels like a zombie at this point; it's the walking dead."

While E3 may not be trying to eat any brains yet, Wright does feel that, "Right now we're in this kind of dicey, do we have an event, what event is it, which one do we go to?" type of situation. He knows that the old E3 was getting too expensive but the invite only event doesn't seems to be any better. Wright feels E3 is currently "struggling for an identity".The event's organizers, the Entertainment Software Association, have announced that a 2009 event is coming but no dates, locations or format have been announced.

Filed under: Biz

Ed Boon: E3 needs "excitement" of Leipzig

by David Craddock Aug 7th 2008 @ 4:00PM

While some such as this particular Big Download writer prefer the downsized E3 Media & Business Summit compared to the raucous, chaotic E3s of old, venerable Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon is the latest to criticize the ailing trade show. Falling more in the vein of constructive criticism, Boons feels the excitement surrounding the Leipzig show would do well to re-invigorate E3, which has drawn much criticism.

Boon confessed that E3 has always been a lot of work for developers, but was also enjoyable as well. "It was something we would look at and get excited about because you see the competition's games - and when you see all that stuff you walk away excited about the industry. I didn't get that this year," Boon said to GamesIndustry.biz. Getting caught up in the excitement of seeing new and innovative titles was lacking this year due to many announcements already being made and a smaller attendance from developers and publishers.

Leipzig still has plenty of excitement according to Boon. "When you see people, and where the crowds are going, I think you get a good pulse as to what's exciting in those shows." Boon postulates that injecting E3 with some Leipzig-level excitement might return the trade show to its former level of glitz and spectacle.

Filed under: Biz, Culture

BigCast 005 -- Should Have Been Lost Edition

by Xav de Matos Aug 1st 2008 @ 11:00AM

That's right kids! The BigCast returns after a short hiatus. Dubbed "The Episode We Should Have Thrown Out," episode 005 is riddled with tech problems due to the addition of (what was supposed to be) an awesome new microphone -- which picked up every little noise in the room! While we were going to throw this one out to keep with our growing audio quality, some of you have emailed us requesting to hear it. So, keep in mind the audio quality in this episode is so bad it can fall in a well and die -- that said we hope you enjoy it!

For tech and time reasons the news portion of this episode has been cut (it was the worst sounding portion of the show anyway) but listen as BigCast regulars Xav, Kyle and Steven Wong chitchat about all things E3.

It's a little late to the party but let's be honest, it's only a party until the BigCast arrives. This ... is the BigCast!

Note: Come back on Monday for BigCast Episode 006! That's right, no need to wait a week for the next edition. You'll get another shot of BigCast love Monday afternoon with better audio quality. We swear!

Question? Round-Table Idea? Email us: podcast [at] bigdownload [dot] com

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Hosts: Xav de Matos, Kyle Horner and Steven Wong

Produced by Xav de Matos

Music: Intro/Outro: "Am I Awake" by They Might Be Giants. Bridge: "Gedgetron" by Gazaar

Continue reading BigCast 005 -- Should Have Been Lost Edition

Filed under: Podcasts

Joystiq reveals their E3 2008 award winners

by John Callaham Jul 31st 2008 @ 1:00PM

E3 2008 may seem like a distant memory (a really painful distant memory but we digress) but our mothership Joystiq has finally gotten together to name their picks for the best (and the worst) games they got to see at the nearly vacant LA Convention Center earlier this month.

Will your favorite game be among those cited by the team at Joystiq as one of their award winners? What surprises do the awards have in store for you. There's only one way to find out. Check out their picks for the E3 awards for 2008 right now.

Filed under: Culture, Meta BD

ESA releases 2008 annual report

by John Callaham Jul 31st 2008 @ 9:00AM

You might know the Entertainment Software Association for their efforts in organizing E3 but the video/PC game industry association is a lot more. This week the ESA released their annual report where the group went over all of what they do for the game industry.

The 37 page document (in PDF format) is quite extensive with the ESA going over its efforts in court to prevent laws that might restrict the sales of games for their content. It also covers topics like their fights to prevent game piracy, their research into who plays video games, their support of the Entertainment Software Ratings Board and more. One rather glaring omission from the report is that the ESA lost five members (Activison and Vivendi Games, now Activision Blizzard, LucasArts, id Software and Crave Entertainment) during the past few months (to be fair it also gained three members in its fiscal 2008 year; Epic Games, MTV Games and Codemasters)

[Via Joystiq]

Filed under: Biz

Game Critics Awards name 2008 Best of E3 award nominees

by John Callaham Jul 30th 2008 @ 11:00AM

Even though it has been called by many who attended the worst E3 ever held, that hasn't stopped the Game Critics Awards from naming their picks for the nominees for their annual Best of E3 award. The awards, picked by a group of mainstream and game oriented journalists (including Chris Grant of our sister site Joystiq) had three games that will appear on the PC platform named as Best in Show (Fallout 3, Mirror's Edge and Spore).

The nominations for Best PC Game are Spore, Dragon Age: Origins, Warhammer Online, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II and Left 4 Dead. Indeed Valve's upcoming zombie shooter got three more nominations (Best Original Game, Best Action Game and Best Online Multiplayer Game). You can go to the Game Critics Awards' web site for all the nominees; the winners will be named on August 5.

Filed under: Contests, Culture, Mirror's Edge

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