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
