2007 last year for E3, says Gamecock

GameCock Media Group‘s Mike Wilson, one of the co-founders of the independent game publishing company, believes that alternative events will eventually replace the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). And in an interview with Joystiq, Wilson believes that it could end really soon – 2007 in fact, if he were any more specific.

“I’d say there’s a really good chance this is the last E3. Or anything that’s even remotely related to E3. In fact, we’re planning a funeral service for E3 on the beach Friday night of this event,” said Wilson. Invite only doesn’t seem to be GameCock’s cup of tea, or an effective way of reaching out to the core audience – the gamers – in a fun, interesting, and all-out way. Wilson continues:

There will be alternative [gaming] events popping up and we will be part of those. Hopefully we can help drive creativity and direction of making an event that’s more fun and welcoming than the E3 that needed to die or this, sort of, I don’t know what to call it … the business summit, as it were.

Being an independent entity in a industry that grosses revenues in the hundreds of millions may be daunting, but it appears to look different in GameCock’s eyes. After jokingly commenting on a funeral soon to be held by GameCock behind Hotel California – one that isn’t invite-only (hurray?) – Wilson hinted at why the indies would think E3 Media & Business Summit won’t be as stellar as ESA claims it to be:

It’ll be a combination funeral for E3 and a wake (celebration) for originality, creativity and independent development. We think there’s plenty of stuff to be excited about out there, all original, all from strong independent developers and that’s all the tip of the iceberg. I think there’s a real movement, the pendulum is swinging back I think.

Click on Full Article to read more on Wilson’s opinion of E3 and the new direction of the game industry.

GameCock Media Group‘s Mike Wilson, one of the co-founders of the independent game publishing company, believes that alternative events will eventually replace the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). And in an interview with Joystiq, Wilson believes that it could end really soon – 2007 in fact, if he were any more specific.

“I’d say there’s a really good chance this is the last E3. Or anything that’s even remotely related to E3. In fact, we’re planning a funeral service for E3 on the beach Friday night of this event,” said Wilson. Invite only doesn’t seem to be GameCock’s cup of tea, or an effective way of reaching out to the core audience – the gamers – in a fun, interesting, and all-out way. Wilson continues:

There will be alternative [gaming] events popping up and we will be part of those. Hopefully we can help drive creativity and direction of making an event that’s more fun and welcoming than the E3 that needed to die or this, sort of, I don’t know what to call it … the business summit, as it were.

Being an independent entity in a industry that grosses revenues in the hundreds of millions may be daunting, but it appears to look different in GameCock’s eyes. After jokingly commenting on a funeral soon to be held by GameCock behind Hotel California – one that isn’t invite-only (hurray?) – Wilson hinted at why the indies would think E3 Media & Business Summit won’t be as stellar as ESA claims it to be:

It’ll be a combination funeral for E3 and a wake (celebration) for originality, creativity and independent development. We think there’s plenty of stuff to be excited about out there, all original, all from strong independent developers and that’s all the tip of the iceberg. I think there’s a real movement, the pendulum is swinging back I think.

GameCock’s EIEIO, or the Expo for Interactive Entertainment: Independent and Original, won’t be anything close to what E3 became back in 2005, but it is opening the doors to what GameCock believes is the gaming industry’s new direction for development: independent games, where money is shoveled from third-parties and developers are free to blossom with creativity.

“With more independent money coming into the business, which means, other people can green light things other than the sequel factories that have been running things for the last few years,” said Wilson. Will 2007 be the end of E3 and the beginning of the Era of Indies? We’ll just have to let time run its course and see.

Games expected to be revealed at GameCock’s EIEIO range from MMORPGs to next-gen console titles, and are as follows:

• Fury (PC) – Competitive PVPMMO combines fast-paced gameplay with traditional online RPG elements, developed by Auran. Rumored to be a likely World of Warcraft-killer with unparalleled graphics. Ship date: Fall 2007
• Insecticide (PC and Nintendo DS) – Insects rule a gritty crime world in this high action adventure title from Crackpot Entertainment. Ship date: Fall 2007
• Dementium: The Ward (Nintendo DS) – A shocking survival horror FPS unlike anything seen on a handheld, developed by Renegade Kid. Ship date: Fall 2007
• Hail to the Chimp (Next-gen consoles) – Mayhem erupts as the animal kingdom vies for a new king in this politically fueled party game. Developed by Wideload Games. Ship date: Spring 2008
• Mushroom Men (Nintendo DS and Wii) – Civil war breaks out in a visually stunning fungi world in this action title from Red Fly Studio. Ship date: Fall 2008.
• Dungeon Hero (PC & Xbox 360) – A sword-swinging, close-quarters combat, action-packed portrayal of life in the dungeon from Firefly Studios. Ship date: 2009.

Via Joystiq