E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo – run by the Entertainment Software Association, ESA) hasn’t been what it was.  I’ve been hearing that for since 2003 from hard-core gamers - it’s way too commercial and too large. 

Well, Gaming Nexus reported last week that Activision will not be at any official 2008 E3 activities.  The ESA confirmed to GameDaily that Activision and Vivendi Games (which Activision is merging with – see below) are no longer a member of the ESA as well.  That’s a major blow.  Major, major, major.

I can’t help but think that the gamers’ prediction 4-5 years ago is coming to pass…that E3 is not relevant.  One gamer said that new games are previewed over the net now anyway.  Outside of the “spectacle” of the large crowds, loud music and bright lights, why would any developer/publisher/relevant third party come?  Indeed, developers/publishers complained that the event had been getting expensive and not conducive to making business deals, since E3 was overly crowded and didn’t allow exhibitors the ability to properly get out their message. 

Well, E3 is making amends, having scaled back the number of participants and moved back to a single location, among other things.  However, other trade shows have been quickly taking E3’s dominance, like GDC (Game Developers Conference).

 Merger

Vivendi, the French conglomerate is acquiring a controlling stake, 52%, in Activision, to combine its Vivendi Games (which owns Blizzard Entertainment and its mega MMORPG game, World of Warcraft) into Activision to create Activision Blizzard. 

Also, here’s Jamie Kennedy’s performance at Activision’s press conference at 2007’s E3.  Not that good.  Thanks to Joystiq.com.