E3 2017 showcases the latest in tech and gaming

Global Business

IMAGE DISTRIBUTED FOR ACTIVISION – A general view of atmosphere during E3 2017 at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, in Los Angeles, Calif. (Photo by Colin Young-Wolff/Invision for Activision/AP Images)

If there’s one thing you can count on at E3, it’s the press. For years, this event in Los Angeles, has attracted headlines on blogs, tech sites and in the mainstream media. 

This year, it was even bigger. 

CGTN’s Phil Lavelle reports.

Los Angeles is regarded as home to the video games industry in the western world. By some estimates, video games make more than Hollywood does. So it was little surprise that lines to get in were round the block. People are fascinated by the industry. 

But also, because fans had a big treat. For the first time, rather than watching (and envying) the thousands of journalists invited in and getting their news from them, this year, E3’s organisers decided to invite the public in. 

From early morning each day, video game fans snaked round the block – sometimes twice around – in the hope of getting in. Around twenty thousand of them got the chance. 

Inside, they were treated to the latest and greatest this industry has to offer. From Microsoft’s new X Box One X console to South Park (yep, even South Park had them salivating). Irritated journalists, used to walking straight into unveilings, found themselves having to wait to try out new games alongside eager fans. 

There was so much to see that fitting it all in was the real challenge. Three days is not that much time. 

As for next year, E3 has shown that it is growing bigger than ever. But there were grumbles from some show exhibitors that seeing on paper that 20,000 extra people would be attending was very different to having them there. Many found it difficult to cope with the numbers. At times, it felt like the Convention Center couldn’t cope with the crowds. And signs saying “line full” were a common site. 

Will E3 be back next year? Of course. Without a doubt. 

Will it be as big? Sure. 

Will there be as many attendees? Who knows. Some have suggested to organizers that this event is expanded by two days to give the media and public separate days to experience all this show has to offer. 

But one thing you can count on – there’ll be just as much buzz once again.