2017 marks the year E3 became an event for the public, and to further solidify that, the ESA (Electronic Software Association) announced they are are working with Geoff Keighley of the game awards to bring a two-day special guest panel and conversation event starting June 13, 2017.
“It’s an honour to partner with the video game industry and ESA to add this exciting new element to the E3 consumer experience,” said Geoff Keighley, producer, E3 Coliseum in an ESA press release. “We are working around the clock to produce programming that will give fans unprecedented access to the biggest games and news from E3 and celebrate this industry’s importance to entertainment culture.”
The event is being dubbed “The E3 Coliseum” and will be held at The Novo at L.A. Live (the area in which most E3 events take place just outside of the L.A. Convention Center). The idea is to be a celebration of video games, speakers will discuss video games, their role in popular culture, and their influences. Panels will include individuals from music, TV, film, and gaming industries, with publishers like Activision, Bethesda Softworks, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Xbox, and Square Enix hosting. Fans will be able to ask questions to the panellist, and view live streams of the panels themselves via Facebook.
“The E3 Coliseum adds rocket fuel to E3’s position as the pre-eminent global event for the video game industry,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO, Entertainment Software Association, the trade association that represents the US video game industry and owns and produces E3. “We are incredibly proud to give the most exciting voices in video games a unique opportunity to connect directly with fans and create a platform celebrating the role video games have in shaping popular culture.”
