World of Warcraft

www.massively.com/2008/05/02/activision-blizzard-bows-out-of-e3/

www.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/breaking-activision-and-vivendi-discontinue-esa-membership/

I would figure due to blizzcon being as big as it is, and blizzard being so cocky.

E3 isn't what it used to be. E3 is a shell of it's former self and really isn't even necessary anymore. In fact, E3 does more to harm companies than to help them now and developers are realising that.

Basically Blizzard would go just to show off an old build of StarCraft 2.

Whoo hoo?

Also, if Blizzard is going to make any major announcements it's going to be at BlizzCon.

They have their own show, why attend another's show and possibly limit the number that attend your show?

Activision are also not attending.. but do remember E3 is not what it once was.

Also blizzcon is running June 28-29 and E3 a few weeks later July 17-19 ... we'll have more then enough blizzard info from blizzcon there wont be much to show/tell at E3.

I think this speaks more to the downfall of E3 than it does to the cocky-ness of Blizzard (which it has as well)

Originally posted by Czzarre

I think this speaks more to the downfall of E3 than it does to the cocky-ness of Blizzard (which it has as well)

 

There's more to it than we know.  Blizzard/Activision have backed out of ESA (Entertainment Software Association) as well.  The rumor is that it has to do with ESA's new President and his direction for ESA and E3.  Blizzard/Activision aren't the only ones that have backed out.  I think the President wants E3 to not just be about games anymore, but other entertainment as well and the gaming industry has started to move away from E3 and started to do their own thing instead.  Blizzcon is only one show.  I think you'll start to see some others as well rather than have one big show that was E3.

Edit:  After a little more research, I think the big thing is that ESA made the decision to tone down E3, lower it's exhibitor fees and increase it's membership dues.  For Blizzard, E3 gave them a chance to show off their stuff, so the expense was worth it, but since E3 has been toned down and Blizzard already has a legal team in place, they really don't need ESA, hence the split.

Article from July 2006 on how ESA and E3 would be changing.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6154982.html

I can see a reason to this, they have there own show Blizcon which is dedicated to all blizzard and it is probably as popular as E3?

this was already discussed in another topic, e3 isnt much long after blizcon so they really dont need to go >_>

plus e3 sucks nowadays, e3 used to be the most hardcore gaming convention... sigh

Blizzcon > E3

 i liked the old game show format better.