Mr. Taylor maintains that over the years, the exponential growth of the event contributed to what was considered as a departure from its initial purpose. While many could argue that the change in attendance policy is ultimately more beneficial to the gaming business as a whole, the exclusive nature of the new policy was considered a harsh tactic, where the smaller gaming publishers and developers were concerned. Those smaller publishing entities had grown to rely upon the mass-market benefits of the event. In addition, now that the stricter attendance status of the event has been instituted, the City of Los Angeles will no longer experience the sizeable financial gain from the prior event’s huge influx of gamers and industry employees.

While it was never the ESA’s intention to exclude smaller websites and bloggers from the E3 according to a list of “qualifications,” Mr. Taylor indicated that the exclusive attendance policy was instituted in order to support returning to the initial purpose of the show. The imposed limitations coincide with relation to the business model that E3 was always intended to be. In addition, the reality is that there is not enough room in order to include everyone who may wish to attend, while preserving a business-like atmosphere. At present, with the new policy in place, there are at least 4,000+ attendees, which is a huge crowd to accommodate, in any case.

The invitation-only policy has, according to Mr. Taylor, made it more possible for E3 to serve the needs of its contributors, and to effectively become more of what it was originally conceptualized to be, which was a professional and efficient environment for suite based meetings between media and other leading game industry professionals.

Mr. Taylor indicated that the most recent changes for the Expo presentation this year were developed in response to feedback received from the event held in Santa Monica last year. Changes in this year’s event will involve shorter distances between meetings, as the convention center can serve as a much more centralized location and atmosphere. This year, with an eye toward a more efficient layout design, the event will include a suite based, personalized theme. There are specific spaces for meetings, and exhibitors, in addition to hotels within walking distance, including access to a showroom type of pavilion for the new games. This presents a much more visually updated format, with an orderly framework, in contrast to the former “giant floor of games,” as was the case for E3’s 2006 and events of prior years.

Rather than allow companies to establish their own level of presence through the size of a booth, the conference organizers this year have made precise efforts to include everyone involved as equally as possible, so that the purpose of the event will be kept pristine. It was considered that in this way, the conference has a better chance of providing more of the type of experience that it was intended for.