Let's give out some cold hard facts for starters. Sydney and Melbourne residents, who are always quietly confident they will be hosting any event worth turning away from another episode of Arrested Development to attend – are burned. The city of choice is Perth. Well done to our distant friends, Perth is most worthy of hosting such an event. It isn’t a “Holiday Inn function room” shindig either – for three whole days a large selection of exhibitors, from all the biggest names in the industry to our home-grown heroes, will be displaying and marketing their products to you, the all-powerful consumer. This will all go down in the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The recently downsized E3 is the closest comparison to GO3, but try not to assume the worst from the beginning. GO3 will not be strictly a press event (although E3 seemed to be fairly lax on what was defined as "press"). Anyone can attend GO3 for under $20. Featuring over one hundred exhibitors displaying advancements and technologies we’ve never even heard of, GO3 truly is an event for everyone. Featured will be the main Exhibition, from the 30th of March to the 1st of April; the trade conference on the 30th and 31st, and a 600 competitor LAN party. For the creative side of things, GO3 will also play host to the Nullabor Demoparty and Game Development competition. A large community of Australian gaming professionals will be pulling out the big guns for promotion in all areas of gaming.
Getting everyone involved automatically makes the event more enjoyable. However, from a macro industry perspective, GO3 could provide more for Australian gaming than a one-off event. Here at PALGN we support domestic talent, and are always keen to see overseas developers and organisations taking a longer look at what Australia has to offer worldwide gaming. GO3 is indeed that forum – it will openly and extensively provide the absolute latest information to industry professionals and consumers alike. The casual gamer is a force to be reckoned with, and if newcomers are anything like the trusty PALGN staff were many years ago, gaming will become a primary hobby and provide an entirely new professional field.
Video gaming is an industry that dwarfs even film. In Australia’s case, we may not yet be at the forefront of defining gaming history, but GO3 is a confident step in the right direction. That is a key word – confidence. Gone are the days of the reclusive gamer, living out of his parent’s basement eating fried cheese and playing Starcraft. Ok, so I still fit that description, but thankfully with the changing gaming genres and new technology (read: Wii), everyone can get involved and help change the concept of the gamer. GO3 gives Australia ammunition to show the rest of the world that we can still rumble with the greats. A bit touchy-feely, but this is what’s happening with gaming today, and it’s happening right now.
GO3 is the brainchild of David Kazim, who is personally backing the GO3 event with years of event management experience. We can leave it at that for now, because tomorrow PALGN will publish our exclusive interview with Kazim, which will give us even deeper insight into the purpose and goals of GO3. Stay tuned for that one. In the meantime, head on over and check out the official event website, with all kinds of information for both industry figures and gamers alike.
After all the epic discussion and industry perspective, what GO3 can provide is a hell of a good time for the gamers. PALGN will be extensively covering the event from every angle. Best of all, March/April 2007 will mean the Wii and 360 are both in full swing, and it also falls directly amongst the PS3 launch window. The Christmas rush will be over, and it’ll be time to take a long hard look about where each console is headed over the next few years. GO3 is shaping up to be a very impressive show indeed, and PALGN will be on top of all the upcoming news.
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