LADYDRAGON.COM - Nearly 1,000 Never-Before-Seen Interactive Games and Products to Debut at E3Expo 2004

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Tuesday May 04, 2004

Nearly 1,000 Never-Before-Seen Interactive Games and Products to Debut at E3Expo 2004

New Exhibitor Survey Offers First Look at E3Expo 2004 Products

Approximately 1,000 of the nearly 5,000 computer and video game products to be displayed at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3Expo) have never been seen before, according to data released today from the E3Expo 2004 Exhibitor Survey by the show's owner, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). Exhibitors also report that nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of all products at the tenth anniversary show will be in stores in time for the 2004 holiday season.

"The interactive entertainment industry and its products have made tremendous advances since the launch of E3Expo ten years ago -- whether it be technologically, economically, artistically or in terms of just plain fun -- and the popularity of games has increased along with those achievements," said Douglas Lowenstein, president of the ESA, the trade association that represents U.S. computer and video game publishers and owns E3Expo. "One thing that hasn't changed over the past decade is that E3Expo is the best place in the world to 'see what's next' for the industry and to get a first look at the game products that consumers will soon be buying, playing and talking about."

Ninety-four percent of all exhibitors responded to the survey, which asked participants to detail the products they will be showing at E3Expo 2004. The survey results indicate that about 40% of products displayed will be for video game consoles, while about one-third will be for personal computers. Specifically, of all products, including software, hardware and accessories, that will be showing at E3Expo 2004:

-- 40.3 percent will be for video game consoles;

-- 30.7 percent will be for personal computers;

-- 18.4 percent will be for PDAs, wireless phones and other;

-- 6.8 percent will be for handheld game devices;

-- 3.8 percent will be for online/internet games.

Exhibitors also reported that they will be showing games of all types, with the most titles falling into the action and adventure, educational and edutainment, and sports and driving genres. According to survey respondents, titles showing at E3Expo 2004 will fall into these categories:

-- Action/Adventure games (26.6 percent);

-- Educational/Edutainment games (15.8 percent);

-- Sports/Driving/Racing games (12.5 percent);

-- Role Playing games (7.3 percent);

-- Child/Family games (7.1 percent);

-- Strategy games (6.3 percent);

-- Arcade games (4.9 percent);

-- Simulation games (3.7 percent);

-- Other games (15.8 percent).

E3Expo's "First Looks" program will specifically spotlight those products that are being shown 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 website (www.e3expo.com) and on the exhibit floor beginning May 12.

Though the show is open only to industry professionals, consumers can get a look at these and other products through E3Expo's "virtual gateway,"

www.e3insider.com.

More than 400 of the world's top interactive entertainment companies will convene for the tenth anniversary E3Expo, which will occupy more than 525,000 sq. feet of exhibit space at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) from May 12th to May 14th. Over the past decade, E3Expo has hosted exhibitors in a total of more than 4.5 million square feet of floor space, approximately 520 times the length of the Golden Gate Bridge.

E3Expo is the world's premier trade show for computer and video games and related products. The show, now in its tenth year, is owned by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.e3expo.com