More than 70,000 industry professionals from 79 countries gathered at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo), the world’s premier interactive entertainment trade show. According to the show’s owner,
the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), approximately 400 exhibitors occupied 547,000 net square feet of exhibit space and displayed more than 5,000 computer and video game products — 1,000 of which made their debut. Exhibitors reported 80 percent of the 5,000 products will be found on store shelves by the 2005 holiday season.

"E3Expo has consistently been the exclusive venue to launch the products and showcase the groundbreaking innovations that shape interactive entertainment," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade association that represents U.S. computer and video game publishers and owns E3Expo. "E3Expo has once again delivered the latest industry advances, across thousands of feet of exhibit space where attendees conduct business, showcase the newest products, network and connect with industry leaders."

This year, the ESA also brought back the first-ever official Web site exclusively dedicated to delivering a live E3Expo experience directly to the general public — E3Insider (www.e3insider.com). The third annual site opened its virtual doors to visitors and received more than 100 million hits during its first three days live. E3Insider provided consumers with a virtual tour of E3Expo. With the brand-new features, the
gamer had unlimited access to the never-before-seen games and products, show floor, backstage and other restricted areas of the LACC.

The E3Expo educational conference and workshop program sold out this year. The program featured a faculty of more than 175 of the industry’s leading experts who shared their advice, experience and insight with attendees. E3Expo 2006 is scheduled for May 10 – 12, 2006 in Los Angeles.