More than 62,000 industry professionals from more than 80 countries gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the ninth annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo), the world’s premier interactive entertainment trade show. According to the show’s owner, the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), approximately 400 exhibitors showcased thousands of software titles, including more than 1,350 never-before-seen computer and video game related products, occupying 520,000 net square feet of exhibit space.

Exhibitors reported 83 percent of these products will be found on store shelves this holiday season.

"The 62,000 industry insiders who attended this year’s E3Expo were treated to a preview of thousands of new products that are part of the amazing revolution that is games — products that continually push the boundaries of entertainment and will provide millions of consumers with countless hours of enjoyment in the coming months," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the IDSA, the trade association that represents U.S. computer and video game publishers. "We are pleased that E3Expo was once again able to provide the worldwide interactive entertainment community with the premier venue at which to do business, learn about the latest products, and make new contacts, and we are already looking forward to the show’s tenth anniversary next year."

For the first time ever, the IDSA provided consumers an opportunity to experience the exclusive trade-only event through E3Insider, a new web site.

The site offered the public an insider’s look at the newest game titles and related peripherals through exclusive booth photos, video clips, interviews and stories. E3Insider logged in more than 98,000 unique users over its three-day debut.

This year’s show included an educational conference and workshop program featuring a faculty of more than 100 of the industry’s most accomplished leaders. E3Expo 2004 is scheduled for the week of May 12, 2004, in Los Angeles.

E3Expo is owned by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet.