Once the premiere trade show for the video game industry, E3 is taking a stab at its former glory after downsizing in recent years.
E3 2009 has 70 listed vendors so far -- more than twice the number that attended in 2008. Activision, Bethesda Softworks (creator of Fallout 3), Vivendi Games and Warner Bros. Software are among the returning vendors that didn't attend last year, Kotaku reports.
Other changes include a relaxed registration instead of the invite-only procedure of the last two years and the reinstatement of "booth babes" -- models who draw as much criticism for infantilizing the medium as they do eyeballs.
In 2006, the Entertainment Software Association razed E3 and erected two shows in its place. The "E3Expo" catered entirely to industry professionals and was attended on an invite-only basis, while "E for All" was intended specifically for gamers. However, neither was able to match the success of the original show, particularly after Activision and Vivendi pulled out last year. E3 has been declared dead several times.
Really though, the success or failure of E3 comes down to the games. Most people who follow the show don't attend; they're the gamers that are simply tuning in to blogs and websites to find out what surprises are in store for the coming year.
If publishers and developers are indeed returning to E3 en masse, and they bring their latest wares with them, the show will find success with or without booth babes.
