E3 2012 Draws to an End


Once again, the show comes to an end. The consoles have been unplugged, the booths disassembled, shipping crates packed and floors swept clean. Booth babes have moved on to their next assignment and game developers head back to the grindstone, to pour sweat and tears into that upcoming release you've just got so hyped up about...

In total, according to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), 45,700 video game industry professionals, investor analysts, journalists, and retailers from 103 countries attended this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 2012) in Los Angeles. And I would guess they would know; they own it. What can't be accurately counted is the number of people who have... and still will... watched live or recorded video coverage on television and the Internet.

A show this big carries a loft of economic lift around with it. E3 2012 resulted in an estimated 30,000 total hotel room nights and generated nearly $40 million in revenue for the city of Los Angeles.

"E3 2012 focused and harnessed the passion, energy, and excitement for video games and propelled our industry into the global spotlight. Thanks to our members and exhibitors' remarkable vision, billions of consumers watched and learned about our industry and this incredible intersection of creativity, technology, and content. The world's top publishers, developers, and stakeholders converged at E3 to unveil the latest global trends and most exciting new products for the year ahead. We look forward to building on this great momentum for 2013."
- Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of the ESA

Typically, there is a banner hanging over the door as you leave on the last day of E3 announcing the dates for the expo the coming year. This year, there was no such banner. I've read that the Los Angeles Convention Center will be under construction next year and, as such, E3 will have to be held somewhere else. Actually, I have even read that New Orleans is in the running. Personally, I think New Orleans would be an excellent choice - and the city could definitely use the economic lift that a show as large as E3 can provide. For now, we simply have to wait; ESA has stated it will announce dates - and a host-city for E3 2013 - in the coming weeks.