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| E3 Expo - Day One Report |
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| by Jason "Rodzilla" Rodzik |
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| Posted on May 19, 2005 |
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Prior to the expo floor opening, ESA President Douglas Lowenstein briefed the media in attendance on the current state of the industry. After his welcome to E3's "9th year in Atlanta," which was quickly corrected to Los Angeles, the perpetual issue of the lack of power in various locations was addressed. Lowenstein moved on to debunk the common myth that the gaming industry is larger than Hollywood, and stated that the gaming industry is indeed bigger than box office sales, but that's similar to comparing apples to Xboxes.
Lowenstein stated that software sales may be able to surpass Hollywood in the near future, but that as of 2004 the film industry grossed $45 billion while the gaming industry grossed $28 billion. He did state that the industry is poised to surge past the music industry, and is expected to gross $55 billion in 2008 compared to the estimated $33 billion of the music industry.
In order for the gaming industry to continue to succeed and to be able to dominate all other forms of entertainment, Lowenstein stated that six different issues need to be dominated:
- Broader audiences
- Passion of the Christ was able to become one of the highest grossing movies of all time by finding the market of people willing to watch a movie with a strong Christian basis and delivering the content to that group.
- Women have a sense of "gamer shame," and the current market is doing nothing to help eliminate this issue.
- Mature-rated game trap - There's no reason for developers to shy away from creating mature rated games, but thinking that only M rated games will sell is misreading the market.
- More compelling game experiences
- The holy grail of games should be games that have a lasting impact on a person. A game that keeps someone up at night, wondering if they did the right thing, is an amazing achievement.
- Games should become topics of conversation. People should discuss games with each other in casual conversation, as they currently do with movies and TV.
- More accessible and easier to play
- Nobody likes dying over, and over, and over again. People shouldn't have to buy 200-page books to finish a game.
- More games of shorter length with a cheaper price should be made. 60% of all Americans are more willing to buy cheaper, shorter games.
- New financing models - New sources of financing are needed other than the current model of primarily publishers.
- Continue to develop niche markets - Need more focus on online and mobile games.
- Overcome cultural resistance and fear
- Do not disrespect parents' concerns just because the constitution can be used as a shield. It is fair to ask if just because something pushes the envelope if it is necessary.
- Satire - What if books came out after video games did? Books would be regarded as crude, requiring people to isolate themselves to read simple dry words on a page.
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