The European games industry is preparing for its ECTS 2001 trade show.
On September 1, ECTS 2001 will open its doors to thousands of visitors. Although the show remains the biggest trade event for Europe, this year’s event will be marked by the absence of big names including Sony and Nintendo, who will hold their own trade events.
The industry is still eager for more details regarding the launch of the next-generation consoles, the Xbox and the GameCube. Although E3 was rich with announcements, Microsoft and Nintendo still have a lot to reveal regarding their plans.
Given the Sony and Nintendo’s absence, the crowd will assault the Microsoft stand in the hope of obtaining new information or seeing new games for the Xbox. After a disappointing showing at E3 and a series of rumors regarding possible delays, Microsoft will have a good occasion to show the Xbox in its best light and to woo the developer community.
Despite Sony and Nintendo’s absence, the Japanese console manufacturers will be battling with Microsoft from a distance. Nintendo will be particularly interested in Microsoft’s plans, as the launch of the GameCube will conflict directly with the Xbox. Furthermore, Nintendo has gathered a lot of (admittedly intangible) momentum behind the GameCube thanks to the impressive software unveiled at E3.
Some heavyweight publishers such as EA, Activision and Vivendi Universal Interactive Publishing will also be absent from the show. Critics claim that ECTS follows E3 too closely, resulting in little real news. Many publishers also see ECTS as an unnecessary expense given the industry’s current restructuring phase.
Although these criticisms are justified, the disaffection around ECTS is a concern for the European gaming industry as a whole. If publishers continue to ignore the show, the overall quality of the event will degrade and will result in a downward spiral.
The European gaming market is growing each year and it needs a trade showcase. Furthermore, the show is still a great opportunity for networking, notably for foreign companies wishing to break into Europe and/or to seek out partners.
