More E3 Chaos Ensues

[GameBanshee News]

The big news of today is the exodus of publishers from E3, as well as the note that Activision-Blizzard isn't just not coming to E3, it's leaving ESA wholesale. The total list of notables not coming now reads (though there is some confusion about several of these, so consider most of these unconfirmed): Activision-Blizzard, Atlus, Foundation 9, Majesco, WBIENCSoft, Her Interactive and id Software. Kotaku is reporting the ESA head is now taking heat.

Only NCSoft had returned calls about the decision as of press time, saying that their decision to not attend E3 this year, the first time they won't in the company's history, was due to the development cycle of their games and in no way reflects on the ESA or it's leadership.

But several industry sources who wish to remain anonymous say Gallagher is in part to blame for issues surrounding this year's E3.

Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter also believes that the drop-outs are spurred by decisions made by Gallagher, who he says is less knowledgeable and sophisticated than his predecessor, Doug Lowenstein.

"Lowenstein was a very savvy industry veteran who paid attention to the goings-on in the industry and cared what the community had to say," Pachter said. "The new person.. whose name completely escapes me because I've never met him or heard from him, is far less knowledgeable and sophisticated about this industry than Doug was and is going to make some rookie mistakes."

"Doug used to be a very visible spokesperson in congress... when you'd get these [things like] Barack Obama saying videogames are corrupting our youth or MADD saying that Take-Two should pull GTA off t he shelves, you would hear Lowenstein immediately shoot back. I would guess that Activision doesn't perceive the same value from the ESA as they did under Doug's leadership. I criticize [Gallagher's] lack of drive to learn about the industry."

[DesR85]

If a lot of issues occur because of this Gallagher guy, why not just replace him?

[Proulxe]

Just my two cents, since I'm not not too familiar with the subject, but to me, this article blaming Gallagher is like someone blaming solely Bush for the war in Iraq. I mean, you don't quit an association like that just because the new head guy isn't quite as charismatic as the last one.

There are other motivations behind this move, some we'll end up figuring out, some we never will.

[DesR85]

I doubt the article is blaming his lack of charisma as the reason for leaving. When an organisation is riddled with problems, it is not surprising that the head always gets the blame for it. Most of the time, it's always true, especially when the leader is weak.

Last year's E3 was poorly organised, Japanese developers felt they weren't treated properly in the past, not standing up to the politicians or interest groups when they unload blatant criticisms and other issues not mentioned in the article. I'm not surprised that he will end up in the hot seat sooner or later.