E3 Organizers Announce Exhibit Space Sell-Out

Organizers of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) have announced that they have sold out of exhibit space for the 2006 event, having sold more than 540,000 net square feet of space covering all five exhibit halls at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 2006 event, overseen by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), will host more than 400 exhibitors covering space equivalent to 4,650 Olympic swimming pools. Now in its twelfth year, the expo will take place on May 10-12 for exhibits and on May 9-11 for 34 conference and workshop sessions, led by a panel of more than 175 industry leaders. "As the global computer and video game industry enters an important creative and technological transition, the early sell out of E3Expo affirms the critical importance of this event," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA. "As the first place to see the most anticipated next generation hardware and software titles, and the best place to learn about the industry through its unrivaled conference program, E3Expo 2006 will offer attendees an unparalleled view of the business of games." This year’s event is likely to be particularly notable due to the promised first playable demonstration of Nintendo’s Revolution console, and possibly also the PlayStation 3 (although this has not been confirmed by Sony). The 2006 event is also notable for being the first to allow early access hours on the first day for journalists only and also for appearing to try to cut back on oft-maligned 'booth babes'. Further information on the expo can be found at www.e3expo.com and its consumer news source www.e3insider.com.