CES May Be Coming Back!

Now other places are interested in making a trade show. Remember CES, the trade show before E3, is thinking of coming back.

Does the video game industry really need a massive trade show? While the ESA (Entertainment Software Association) and large publishers didn’t seem to think so, the CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) is checking to see if that’s really the case. Yesterday, they announced the formation of an advisory panel, created to explore the necessity and possibility of a “West Coast event in late spring 2007 focused on the gaming and entertainment marketplace.” Is this the Neo-E3 for a new age?As the CEA points out, their trade show, CES (Consumer Electronics Show), was the nation’s largest gaming show until 1994 — the inception of E3. And according to their research, 11% of attendees at the CES 2006 express interest in gaming and gaming products.

“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,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. “Our executive board met yesterday and unanimously asked staff to explore ways that we can help the gaming community.”

Added Shapiro, “The Consumer Electronics Association believes that tradeshows are the most viable means for reaching a market as they serve smaller companies and entrepreneurs who need access to media, buyers and investors. Our board, association and events are committed to growing the industry — in fact nearly 80 percent of our members are companies with annual sales of under $10 million.”

The advisory committee is looking at venues in both Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and has already earned the support (at least for the committee’s formation) of Auravision, Majesco Entertainment, and NCsoft. No indication has been made as to when we should expect to hear the committee report on their findings.

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