E3 attendance drops to 38 companies (News)

GamePro staff, GamePro (online)

22/05/2008 09:50:00

The Entertainment Software Association revealed the E3 2008 exhibitor list on Tuesday, underscoring how insignificant and small the once-great video game conference has become in light of the internet and remote press events as announcement platforms.

According to the ESA, more than 400 game companies attended E3 2006, often referred to as the greatest E3 in terms of both size and pageantry. This year only 39 exhibitors will be present, slightly up from 33 on hand in 2007, the inaugural year of the expo's miniaturisation.

In July 2006, shortly after several publishers voiced concern over the rising costs of the ballooning show, erstwhile ESA president Doug Lowenstein said: "It is no longer necessary or efficient to have a single industry 'mega-show.' By refocusing on a highly targeted event [in 2007 and beyond], we think we can do a better job serving our members and the industry as a whole..."

Notable exhibitors this year include Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Electronic Arts, Capcom, Konami, Atari, Eidos, MTV Games, Namco/Bandai, Sega, Take-Two, Square Enix, and THQ. Activision, Lucas Arts, Atlus, and NCsoft will not be attending, though Activision has confirmed it will host a media event the night before the show begins.

E3 2008 exhibitor list:

1UP Network

Akella

Atari Inc.

Bethesda Softworks

CAPCOM Entertainment, Inc.

Codemasters

Crave Entertainment

D3Publisher of America

Deep Silver

Disney Interactive Studios

Eidos, Inc.

Electronic Arts

Fox Interactive Media

Jagex Ltd.

Konami Digital Entertainment

Majesco Entertainment

Microsoft Corporation

Midway Games, Inc.

MTV Games

NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.

Natsume

Nintendo of America Inc.

Novint Technologies, Inc.

Nyko Technologies

Rebellion

SEGA of America

Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.

Sony Online Entertainment Inc.

Southpeak Interactive

Square Enix Inc.

Take-Two Interactive

Tecmo

THQ, Inc.

Toshiba America Information Systems

Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.

Valve Software

Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment

Xeed Games