Rumors of new videogame expo in ’07

NOV. 2 | As the Entertainment Software Assn. plans to drastically transform its behemoth E3 Expo into a much more exclusive and tidy E3 Media and Business Summit for 2007, International Data Group could be angling to fill the E3 vacuum.

According to a GameSpot News report on Nov. 1, Michael Krouse, VP of convention sales for the L.A. Convention and Visitors Bureau, distributed a memorandum to bureau members stating that IDG will produce a new 30,000-plus attendee videogame exposition at the Los Angeles Convention Center Oct. 18-20, 2007.

Associate VP of media relations for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Carol Martinez declined to comment or provide VB with a copy of the memo. Howard Sholkin, IDG’s director of communications and marketing programs, told VB there was nothing he could say at this time regarding reports about a show for 2007. A GamePro executive would not confirm or deny plans for a GamePro Expo.

IDG is no stranger to game conventions, having produced the first E3 in 1995 for ESA’s precursor, the Interactive Digital Software Assn. IDG publishes GamePro magazine, an influential and long-time cross-platform publication.

Whether the same game publishers who balked at funding another traditional E3 will bankroll ESA’s Media and Business Summit as well as an additional trade show produced by IDG is unknown.