Early this week I blogged about how the down-sizing of E3 would provoke a rush of competing events, all marketing themselves as bold new alternatives. Well, here's another one. A company named Lunar Tide Communications has just announced the patriotic-sounding America's VideoGame Expo - or VGXPO as they've catchily shortened it to - due to take place from October 27-29 at the Valley Forge Convention Center, Philadelphia.
"What the industry needs now is something that can be used to showcase products, promote game makers and celebrate the rich history of the industry directly with consumers," exclaims the press release. And later, there's this stirring speech from game industry veteran Bill Kunkel:
"It's time for a show that's about games and the people who play them, and not just a giant party where everyone's showing off their best pre-rendered video and earning kudos for best booth babes. It's time for an event where the smallest developers are considered just as important as the big publishers, and both groups get to show their wares directly to consumers and receive direct feedback from those same consumers. In short, it's time for a show like VGXPO."
At this point I imagine he was hoisted onto the shoulders of cheering gamers and carried into a beautiful ochre sunset.
UPDATE: Still mourning E3? Gamesradar.com has compiled a detailed history of the event for your reminiscence pleasure.
