MTV Multiplayer » Direct From … San Diego: Comic-Con Is The New E3

Direct From … San Diego: Comic-Con Is The New E3

Posted by Patrick Klepek on 7/31/08 at 4:55 pm.

I’ve been attending E3 for more than a decade, but this year marked my first Comic-Con.

Games, like movie and TV before it, have continued to become a bigger deal at Comic-Con every year. Towards the end of the show, it struck me — this is where the old E3 should end up.

Merging with Comic-Con would allow gaming to become part of the spectacle that was so desirable at the once-mammoth E3. It would fill the growing need for a public showing, giving companies a rare chance to meet one-on-one with their hardcore fans.

It makes perfect sense!

The only people lamenting the “death” of E3 are the ones who secretly loved having massive projection screens displaying massive trailers at them from every possible direction, waiting more than an hour to play whatever new game Nintendo was showing and collecting free t-shirts. E3 2007 and 2008 may have been smaller affairs, but the opportunity to meet with people and play games was much more efficient than in years past. Isn’t that the point?

E3 was a circus. Comic-Con’s the same. It’s ridiculous and only for the diehard, unless you have an enormous patience for moving through large, unmovable crowds, you just might begin screaming in the middle of the exhibit hall.

Developers have openly discussed their favoritism for the July timetable. Isn’t it nicely coincidental that Comic-Con has traditionally taken place the week after E3 itself? It makes for a nightmarish sleeping schedule for anyone (read: me) who was covering both events, but logistically, it’s an easier timetable for developers and publishers, and doesn’t require games to support an event themselves.

And isn’t it a little telling when Sony Online Entertainment decides to hold the first hands-on of “DC Universe Online” the week after E3? Sign of the times.

Hollywood has figured out how important it is to evangelize their loyal fans at events like Comic-Con, but gaming’s been slow to catch on. One publisher, however, knows what’s up: Capcom. The “Mega Man” publisher’s booth was completely packed all four days of the show, thanks to a running “Street Fighter IV” tournament and kiosks showing much of their upcoming lineup, including “Mega Man 9,” “Dark Void” and others.

Microsoft, Midway, Bungie and others were smart, too, holding panels for their upcoming blockbusters and strolling out their headline creative talent. The major announcements had already been made at E3, though, which is something the companies could learn from for next year — you need to bring something exclusive with you! The gaming panels were full of non-surprises.

Covering the old E3 was a mess for the press. Comic-Con is just as bad, possibly worse, and I certainly don’t wish for the “new” E3 to disappear and become rolled into Comic-Con. But if people want the circus to return, there’s no reason for E3 to be it — there’s already a circus in town that’s hungry for more.

I’m making it official: Comic-Con is the new E3. Are you with me?

Filed Under: Comic Con '08, E3, Gaming In SF