The first salvo was fired by Electronic Arts’ CEO John Riccitiello and it hit E3 where it really hurts. San Francisco Chronicle quotes him as saying:
"I hate E3 like this. Either we need to go back to the old E3, or we’ll have to have our own private events."
And, before there was any chance of recovery, the show was blasted once again. This time the statement-cannonball came from Laurent Detoc, US top man and gunner at Ubisoft:
"E3 this year is terrible. The world used to come to E3. Now it’s like a pipe-fitters show in the basement."
Sega was also thinking of charging the E3 line, but it settled to firing a few shot about “we need to add some more flash to the show”.
All in all, the ESA (the organization behind the E3 event) needs to think again its show next year. Right now it ma be gathering feedback from participant and a brainstorm is on its way.