It’s an E3 month…but technically, it isn’t. This year’s gaming extravaganza was put on hold due The Happening, a worldwide catastrophe of literally viral proportions that ended an unbroken run of two decades. Love it or hate it, E3 in it prime was magnificent: A beast of gaming news, reveals and fandom that served as the Wrestlemania of this industry.
Even if the world hadn’t been dropped by the ultimate play of a Global no-scope Covid-19 kill, E3 in its 2020 form was still looking to be a husk of its former self, a pale imitation of the show that had become a legend in the 2000s and reached a glorious high in the 2010s before it all came tumbling down like a house of cards in an industrial fan factory.
The E3 that many of us grew up with, that so many people around the world yearned to one day visit…is no more. But that doesn’t mean that it can’t live again! As a brand name, the power behind that trio of vowels is unmatched. Other gaming shows may be bigger and better, but E3 still has a certain sense of mythical awesomeness attached to it that made it the premiere event on the gaming calendar.
Situated right in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, having a week of unrestrained gaming joy was a sight to behold back then. So here’s the scene: The almighty F5 key stands before you, you slap it with gusto and you’re given a blank canvas on which to reimagine the show. What do you do? How do you restore it to its legendary state?
I’ve got a few ideas: For one, keep it open to the public. There’s more than enough room in the Los Angeles Convention Center for fans, industry and media, much like what you see at Gamescom. Two: Get the big players back on the showfloor, or at least have them as close to the LACC as is physically possible. Three: Use Geoff as a ramp for the local skateboarders outside, for maximum entertainment.
These are good ideas dammit! I’m curious though, what would you do if you were handed the keys to the LACC? How would you restore E3 to its golden days? And most importantly, would you let a drunk Jamie Kennedy lead a game reveal panel again?
Or would you allow Konami to host a cringe-fest again?
Sound off below, and tell us how you’d run the show of shows.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Critical Hit as an organisation.
Last Updated: June 19, 2020
Pariah
June 19, 2020 at 10:48
I’d remove the “re” from “reboot”. Go digital. Let the world in. This is 2020, not 1920.
Caveshen Rajman
June 19, 2020 at 10:55
Wasn’t E3 already rebooted into some bizarre hybrid of Hollywood and Videogames recently?
I’d do what Pariah said – straight digital.
Daniel Hallinan
June 19, 2020 at 11:05
I think seperating the event into three separate organisms may help.
First, Open Media. Digital only. A library of trailers and digital presentations that can be released and streamed directly to the internet, with a schedule for various companies and publishers.
Second, Live Presentation. Contains dev playthroughs and discussions over upcoming products, including live streams. Physical presence at a dedicated venue and / or can be streamed, unless it’s a private media meeting for future publication.
Third, Open Floor. General display of games being played, with hands on experience, as well as casual discussion with on-floor devs. Physical presence at a dedicated venue, BUT has a strong online component, where streaming allows others to watch other people playing. Dedicated site or twitch management, organising dozens (if not more) of simultanious streams into categories sorted by genre, publisher, developer.
Public access switches to online. Press get access to private online streams / trailers, as well as invitations to Live Presentations (pubic and private).
Finally, a “Geoff ramp” feels like it would only be good for one or two skates before, while a Darryn Ramp feels like a sturdier investment.
Pariah
June 19, 2020 at 11:05
It’s funny because I was thinking along the lines of the Blizzcon virtual ticket for going straight digital, but your idea basically mimics Blizzcon as a whole. Could work, honestly. I think going straight digital is much cheaper to sustain for everyone involved, but your way would maintain that venue hype and prestige that people love. The strong focus on the digital component and the streamers/streaming is key though.
Daniel Hallinan
June 19, 2020 at 11:16
Yeah, going 100% digital is *definitely* the cheaper way to do it, and likely the most immediate way to carry over the intent of the exhibition.
But, I feel that there is something of value when it comes to the press and dev relationship that gets lost in digital. Being able to talk to a dev or press in person is very different to talking to one (or multiple) digitally. The experience is more shared, less personal and unique. More guarded and filtered, less casual and expressive. And that carries over to how the press write about it.
Essentially, I think the consumer experience should be wholly carried over to digital (as I don’t think anything of value will be lost), while the press experience can retain that physical interaction, if able.
Pariah
June 19, 2020 at 11:24
There’s also the hype factor which doesn’t translate into digital well. It’s there in some degree, like with Twitch chat, but it’s not comparable to the energy at a live venue.
So yeah I think I’m in agreement with you.
The D
June 19, 2020 at 11:15
I’m more of a half-pipe than a ramp, TBH
Daniel Hallinan
June 19, 2020 at 11:24
Definitely the one with batman art graffiti’d everywhere. With gundams for “bookends”.
Llama In The Rift
June 19, 2020 at 11:05
Leave E3 to developers and programmers that understand what games are about and not Celebrity’s or Youtube personality’s with their cringe comedy.
But yeah, i agree with Pariah….Digital is better, for everybody that has some sort of internet connection at least, well mostly for us who cant afford to travel over seas for a week long Expo.
MechMachine
June 19, 2020 at 12:08
Just hit the reset button man, then smoke a fat blunt man.
Skyblue
June 20, 2020 at 18:28
I don’t really care how they do it but they better bring back Keanu Reeves if they do. I loved that cameo of his.