While the videogames industry may have thought itself quite recession-proof, it's by no means viral proof. Square is scaling back its E3 presence.
This is no thanks to the "worldwide spread" of the H1N1 flu. Joining them in this are Capcom and Koei after the Japanese Government has advised against overseas travel.
"A limited number of executives/employees from Square Enix's headquarters in Japan will be attending E3 this year, given the recent worldwide spread of H1N1 flu," said Square Enix.
Koei gives a similar reasoning behind its decision to cull the number of attendees, saying the "current nature of and concern over the influenza A" puts them off. Not to worry though, expendable Canadians from their North American offices will be able to swell the numbers back up a bit.
Disaster though for Capcom fans, with their decision to reduce the number flocking to E3 it means there will be no showing of Dead Rising 2. This isn’t such a bad thing they admit because there wasn’t anything ‘hands-on’ to play with anyway.
What's ESA, the organisers for E3, got to say about all this? "The 2009 E3 Expo is progressing as planned. Public health officials are taking all appropriate steps and we continue to follow their direction on all measures". Phew, well that's a load off.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz
