We all know that E3 is not what it used to be. What was once one of the show pieces of the American gaming industry has now rapidly shrunk in size and, of late, has been getting all the smaller. Both developers and publishers have been announcing their lack of participation in this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo, most notably Vivendi Games and Activision, but now they have been joined in this sudden exodus by LucasArts. Not only that, but Vivendi Games and Activision have also withdrawn from the ESA (Entertainment Software Association), as well as not participating in any E3 related activities. LucasArts, despite its decision to remain part of the ESA, will not be appearing at this year’s E3.This has, not surprisingly, upset many gamers who feel that the rapidly shrinking E3 is depriving North American gamers of a centralized meeting place, as many developers have simply started hosting their own individual trade shows.

This lack of good feeling directed at these companies was also echoed by the VP of Corporate Communcations at EA, Jeff Brown, who wasinterviewed by Gameindustry.biz during an event hosted at EA’s Canada Branch. During this interview, Mr. Brown told Gameindustry.biz why he felt the behavior of Vivendi and Activision prompted such behavior. “An unfortunate lack of leadership,” said Mr. Brown. “They’re a big company and we feel that when you’re a big company you’ve got a responsibility to consumers to work on policy issues which are very, very important to consumers. And the best way to do that is with an industry consensus. That’s the way it’s been done with the ESA in the US, and with ELSPA in the UK.”

Mr. Brown was also recorded as saying that the ESA should make overtures to its remaining members to prevent other companies from following the path taken by Activision and Vivendi. Mr. Brown stated his opinion for the record in this way: “There [are] always tensions inside these organizations, but for the most part it works," he insisted. "So it was sad to see them step away from that responsibility. We hope that others don’t do that, but I think that the on us is on the ESA to prove that membership in it is good for the company and good for consumers. And I think we’re going to see the ESA redouble its efforts to prove that."

Despite the withdrawing of Activision and Vivendi from E3, Mr. Brown still believed that there was still plenty of interest in E3. “EA is 100 per cent committed (to E3),” he continued, “there’s Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, THQ, Disney, a bunch of others – and I assume all the others are still locked into it. Activision Vivendi is going to be doing an event of some description in Los Angeles at the same time, so there’s still critical mass. Everyone’s going to be in Los Angeles this summer and it’s hard to imagine it isn’t going to be a successful event."

This year’s E3 will take place from July 15-17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.