Categories: Originals

Thousand New Products Debut At E3

More than 1,000 computer and video games and related products will make their debut at the 11th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo 2005 (E3Expo) May 18 – 20, according to exhibitor survey data released today by the show’s owner, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The show, which is completely sold out, will host more than 400 of the world’s leading interactive entertainment companies in more than 540,000 net square feet of exhibit space at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC).

“The more than one thousand products debuting at E3Expo 2005 are examples of the innovation and creativity that will drive industry growth in the coming year,” said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade association that represents U.S. computer and video game publishers and owns E3Expo.

The trade-only show is the premiere product launching pad for the global interactive entertainment industry. According to a separate ESA consumer survey, 90 percent of gamers say they’ve heard of E3Expo and 50 percent say they rely on news and other information generated by the show to learn more about games and other products they plan to purchase. The E3Expo exhibitor survey results also show that consumers will not have to wait long to buy the products previewed at the event, as more than 4,000 (81 percent) of all products shown will be available on store shelves this holiday season. While consumers cannot attend E3Expo 2005, they can visit the show virtually through E3Insider (www.e3insider.com), the show’s official consumer Web site featuring exclusive coverage of the show, including news updates, fan cams and photos.

Overall, more than 5,000 products will be shown at E3Expo 2005. The nearly 300 exhibitors who participated in the survey were asked to provide details of what they consider to be their top-ten products at the event. According to survey respondents, top-ten titles at E3Expo 2005 will fall into the following categories:

Action/Adventure games (19 percent);

Role Playing games (13 percent);

Sports/Driving/Racing games (11 percent);

Child/Family games (6 percent);

Strategy games (5 percent);

Simulation games (4 percent);

Educational/Edutainment games (3 percent);

Arcade games (3 percent);

Other games (4 percent).

E3Expo’s “First Looks” program will specifically spotlight products showing for the first time ever at E3Expo. Participating “First Looks” exhibitors will be designated in the E3Expo exhibit guide, the E3Expo Show Daily, the official E3Expo Web site (www.e3expo.com) and on the exhibit floor, beginning May 18.

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