Swine flu scare gives Capcom Japan second thoughts in attending E3

The E3 festivities is encountering huge blockage because of the swine flu virus that has since in recent months swamped numerous nations in fears, with 8,829 cases of it around the world. As there are only a couple of weeks left before the big E3 fest starts, attendees worldwide are double checking the list of participants in fear of the said virus.

E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, is an annual trade show for the computer and video games industry. It is sponsored and presented by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA).

But despite its great impact and influence to the computer and video games industry, Capcom Japan–a multinational company long-dedicated for the manufacturing and distribution of computer games–is seriously reconsidering its attendance to the E3 fest.

Capcom said that its Japanese arm is unsure of attending the said event especially after famed Capcom producer Keiji Inafune cancels his appearance at the Nordic Game expo in Sweden, also because of the flu scare.

It said its office is still uncertain of sending Capcom representatives to Los Angeles, United States–where E3 would be held. The United States currently has 4,714 cases of N1H1, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

But Capcom is quick to point out that the company will have a representative from their US and UK offices, even if its Japan representatives would fail to attend the event.

“The show is in Los Angeles and we have offices in America, so E3 is still on,” a Capcom representative said.

The E3 organizers, meanwhile, said that the even would still go on in spite of the swine flu scare sweeping the nation. Activision, Eidos and Ubisoft have reconfirmed their attendance to E3.

Swine flu virus, officially known as H1N1 virus after a petition from the hog industry saying it “swine flu” brands all hog products as carrier of the said virus, is a special mix of genetic material, which most researchers said are “one of a kind and never-before-seen.”

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