It came, then went away so soon. For three short days many video gamers were in a state of bliss. From Thursday, May 28, to Saturday, May 30, the gaming event of the year took place in Atlanta. E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is the largest entertainment software trade show in the United States. This is where new products and software is displayed for the public to set their wanting eyes on, to get a feel for what will soon be on the market. E3 has grown substantially over the years. Began in 1995, last year's E3 blossomed to cover the area of 35 football fields and showcasing 1,500 titles. This year is even larger, offering the public a glimpse of 1,600 titles from assorted video game makers.
And if the trends continue, some of these 1,600 titles won't be directed at serious gamers. Many will attempt to get their product to the majority of people - those who don't play electronic games regularly. E3 has attracted not only gaming press coverage, but mainstream press, such as Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Newsweek, the New York Times, the LA Times, and the Boston Herald. This convention has propelled the electronic gaming industry into America's culture for the time being. Executives at E3 said the industry will generate more than $6 billion in sales in the U.S. alone.
As stated before, many game producers are aiming at the gaming-illiterate majority. For example, one of the top selling games currently isn't a traditional computer game. Deer Hunter, relatively cheap at $20, isn't going to impress and entertain everyone, but to those who enjoy and are familiar with deer hunting, this game may fill a void when hunting is out of season. Games that everyone knows are also becoming more common. Sports, especially golf, gambling, and previous board games are quite popular with the public. As the gaming industry expands even further, there will be even a wider variety of games, possibly something for everyone.
Computer Gaming News' bi-monthly question: What aspects of games attract you to play them? For more information on E3, head on over to E3 News http://www.e3news.com, brought to you by GameSpot, or Yahoo at http://www.yahoo.com/Recreation/Games/ Computer_Games/Events/Electronic_Entertainment_Expo/.
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