The Entertainment Software Association trade body has confirmed that the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit will take place from July 15 – 17, 2008, at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) as a smaller trade-only event.
Who can attend?
A representative from the trade association noted: “Companies involved in console, PC, online, and mobile game publishing and developing, as well as makers of video game hardware and peripherals will be eligible to participate. Attendance at all events, meetings, and demonstrations will be by invitation only.”
The Entertainment Software Association expects about 4000 people from the media, retail, development and financial communities, with invitations determined by participating companies and not by the ESA. Those companies will provide lists to the ESA as to who to invite.
It appears that the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit expo is significantly decreasing in size for this year and they don’t appear to have any incentive to make it any different for the following year 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit expo either. Unfortunately the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit expo will most likely be key personnel on an invite only basis. At this years 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit expo, there is not expected to be any kind of public exhibitions.
“The intent of this show is to be a business-to-business opportunity and it isn’t centered or focused on general consumers.”
“The ESA said with early RSVPs they were going to meet their attendance expectation of 4,000 individuals. They also released the full roster of exhibitors currently scheduled to participate, including: 1UP Network; Akella; Atari Inc.; Bethesda Softworks; Capcom USA Inc.; Crave Entertainment; Codemasters; D3Publisher of America; Deep Silver; Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.; Electronic Arts; Eidos Interactive; IGN.com; Indie Games; Jagex, Ltd.; Konami Digital Entertainment; LucasArts; Majesco Entertainment Company; Microsoft Corporation; Midway Games, Inc.; MTV Games; Namco Bandai Games America, Inc.; Natsume, Inc.; Nintendo of America Inc.; Novint Technologies, Inc.; Nyko Technologies; Powered by Game Spy; Rebellion; SEGA of America, Inc.; Serious Games Initiative; Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.; Sony Online Entertainment Inc.; Southpeak Games; Square Enix USA; Take-Two Interactive; Tecmo; THQ Inc.; Toshiba America Information Systems; Ubisoft Entertainment Inc.; Valve Software; and, Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment Inc. Organizers said they are expecting additional companies to sign-on.”
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