IDG Entertainment is sending word that instead of August, this year's E for All Expo has been moved to October. This news should serve as a relief for those worried the the event may conflict with PAX's own schedule for 2008.

Details are in the full article. Just click the "read more" link below.

All the analysts agree: E3 got too big for itself that it eventually collapsed. The E3 Media and Business Summit coming this July and E for All this October are simple spin offs from the normally huge gathering of gamers, media, developers, publishers and even investors, and neither even sound the least bit sizeable anymore.

 

What forced the Electronic Entertainment Expo to break itself down to two separate events? In the fifth episode of the Bonus Round for GameTrailers TV, Geoff Keighley spoke with Wedbush Morgan's analyst Michael Pachter, IDG World Expo's CEO Mary Dolaher, and Electronic Arts' Director of Corporate Communications Tammy Schachter.

 

Michael Pachter was a fan of E3 for years. In fact, he probably does miss the booth babes as much as Keighley says he does. Pachter has been through the most recent of the ESA's Consumer Electronics Show spin-off, and particularly noted his aggravation with just how big it had become.

Click on Full Article to see Pachter's insights into E3 and its downfall.

We know about our last report about E For All Expo">IDG Entertainment's E For All ticket prices, but this report from Next-Generation has a different price listing. But that's probably because Next-Gen says these prices are for "advanced registration." Probably the "advanced ticket sales" they have yet to announce (well, it's announced NOW).

Anyway, here's what next-Gen says the price is for the early bird to catch the worm:

• 1-day pass, Thursday/Friday: US$ 45.00
• 1-day pass, Saturday/Sunday: US$ 60.00
• Full four-day pass: US$ 90.00

Compared to US$ 110.00 for four days when purchased at the gate, being an early worm does cut those costs down. A penny saved... more games to buy later on.

 

Gamasutra received details on IDG Entertainment's E For All (can we get to calling it E4 sooner or later? Saves on the keystrokes) that shows how the post-E3 is shaping up to the legacy of its predecessor. Never did the phrase "Meet the new boss; same as the old boss" ring any more true: heading up E For All for IDG is Mary Dolaher, previously operations head for E3.

And to that, as so far as Gamasutra had received updated info from IDG (as of March 6), E For All shall feature (subject to change):

• Currently, Sony's and Nintendo's booth presences in E For All, while considerable, will actually be a tad or two smaller than their E3 presence, because the main show floor is limited to the LA Convention Center's South Hall (nothing mentioned for Microsoft; we assume that IDG is still receiving details from Redmond about that)
  
• Other booths include Future Publishing, G4, DirecTV, and the World Series of Video Games Tournament.
• Noise caps are being enforced: nothing above 85 decibels, just like in previous E3.
• Also like in previous E3s: "family friendly fare" that prohibits full or partial nudity, "including live models" and "bathing suit bottoms." No booty calls here either.

"A Game Developers Conference in China is long overdue," said Hugo Shong, President and CEO of IDG Asia. "At long last, there will be an opportunity for Asian and Western game makers to discover everything that the Chinese game market has to offer."

Yes folks, the GDC is coming to China. CMP Technology, the people behind the GDC, have partnered with IDG to produce GDC China. The inaugural event, featuring content programmed by an advisory board consisting of local Chinese developers who share a commitment to promote and support their country's game industry, is set to take place August 27 to 29 in Shanghai.

The most telling difference between GDC China and the original GDC is that GDC China will be produced "by China, for China," offering unique learning, sharing and networking opportunities for the Chinese market, and those looking for a vertical reach into that market.

"GDC is about connecting the worldwide game development community, but it has become more and more apparent to us that certain markets require a unique, specialized experience," said Meggan Scavio, Senior Conference Manager of CMP's Game Developers Conference. "The local developers on the GDC China advisory board hope to make that experience a reality and give the burgeoning Chinese market an infusion of creative ideas and strategic partnerships."