NEWS - Monday, August 14, 2006
Consumer Electronics Association To Replace E3
The Consumer Electronics Association has formed an advisory committee to explore the possibility of a new gaming tradeshow for late spring 2007, the slot formerly filled by E3. The committee will be lead by CEA executives Karen Chupka, senior vice president of events and conferences, and Dan Cole, vice president of business development. Companies that have voiced their support for the committee's formation include Auravision, Majesco Entertainment and NCsoft. Karen Chupka said: "We enjoy creating new marketing opportunities for this category. With the growth in online PC gaming and the rush to HD gaming, we see an opportunity to create a fresh event aimed at this market. We already have commitments from three companies in this area to provide us advice on a new event in late spring 2007." "A major goal of this advisory committee is to generate gaming community feedback on how best to meet the needs of the industry," she added. "As long as there is desire and commitment, we are ready to service this community and will begin looking at venues in Las Vegas and Los Angeles and for appropriate partners. Should the committee recommend we move forward, we would design an event which is consistent with CES quality." The company already organises its own International Consumer Electronics Show, which was the largest gaming show in the United States until E3 was formed in 1994. Onver 2,700 companies and exhibitors regularly appear at CES, and the majority of these are active in the games industry. Gary Shapiro, CEA's president and CEO, said: "Since ESA decided to eliminate the E3 event in its known format, we have been deluged with inquiries on whether we could fill the tradeshow needs of smaller video entertainment companies. Our executive board met and unanimously asked staff to explore ways that we can help the gaming community." "The Consumer Electronics Association believes that tradeshows are the most viable means for reacing a market as they serve smaller companies and entrepreneurs who need access to media, buyers and investors," he adds. "Our board, association and events are commited to growing the industry - in fact nearly 80 per cent of our members are companies with annual sales of under $10 million."Source: http://www.instockmagazine.co.uk/
