The ESA announced that registration for E3 is now open and that many exhibitors who didn’t attend last year’s show — like Activision Blizzard — will return for 2009.

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Today the Entertainment Software Association announced that registration is now open for the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo. “With robust exhibitor sales high attendee interest and strong commitments from multiple industry sectors we are going to ensure the full excitement and energy of this industry is on display” said ESA CEO Michael D. Gallagher in a statement.

According to the press release floor space is “selling fast” and companies who skipped out on last year’s show — like Activision Blizzard Atlus Bethesda Softworks Majesco and Warner Bros. Interactive — will be attending this year.

The expectation is that this year’s event will be like the shows that occurred in 2006 and the years prior — a huge spectacle held at the Los Angeles Convention Center filled with ostentatious booths loud music scantily-clad models and tens of thousands of attendees. In 2007 E3 became invite-only and was reduced to about 5000 attendees in meeting rooms held at various Santa Monica hotels. Last year the convention returned to the L.A. Convention Center; however with fewer attendees exhibitors and announcements it was thought to be the most dismal E3 ever.

My very first E3 was 2007’s event and I also attended last year’s lackluster show. When sharing this fact I was often told that I had not really experienced E3. I’m not really sure what that means but I’ll be looking forward to this year’s show to find out. E3 2009 will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from June 2-4.

Read below for the full press release:

ESA Continues Momentum as 2009 E3 Expo Exhibitor List Grows

Registration Now Open; Show Floor Space Selling Fast

Washington DC – February 2 2009 – The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today released additional details about the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) including opening attendee registration and media credentialing. Individuals seeking to determine their eligibility or requesting media credentialing can now do so at www.e3expo.com. The 2009 E3 Expo is open to all credentialed international and U.S.-based media industry analysts retailers developers and business partners.

“The 2009 E3 Expo will be the preeminent North American computer and video game event” said Michael D. Gallagher CEO of the ESA which represents U.S. computer and video game publishers and owner of the Electronic Entertainment Exposition. “With robust exhibitor sales high attendee interest and strong commitments from multiple industry sectors we are going to ensure the full excitement and energy of this industry is on display.”

To be admitted as an industry professional attendees must submit two pieces of direct and current industry identification such as a company credit card paycheck stub or W-2 form. Individuals who cannot provide such documentation will not be permitted to attend.

Exhibit space is avc56ailable for both ESA members and non-members alike. Companies involved in console PC online and mobile game publishing and developing qualified business partners as well as makers of video game hardware and peripherals can exhibit. The 2009 event is being produced by IDG World Expo; companies interested in exhibiting should contact IDG World Expo at (877) 216-6264.

Exhibit floor space is selling quickly with a number of major video game industry and business partners already reserving space. A full list of current exhibitors is located on www.e3expo.com but it includes:

* Activision Blizzard Inc.
* Atari Inc.
* Atlus U.S.A. Inc.
* Bethesda Softworks LLC
* Capcom Entertainment Inc.
* Disney Interactive Studios Inc.
* Eidos Interactive
* Electronic Arts Inc.
* Epic Games Inc.
* 505 Games
* IndieCade
* KOEI Corporation
* Konami Digital Entertainment Inc.
* LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC
* Majesco Entertainment Company
* Microsoft Corporation
* Midway Games Inc.
* MTV Games
* Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
* Nintendo of America Inc.
* Rebellion
* Sega of America Inc.
* Serious Games
* Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
* Sony Online Entertainment LLC
* Square Enix Inc.
* Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.
* THQ Inc.
* Ubisoft Entertainment
* Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.

Additional details including hotel and travel accommodations will be forthcoming in the next few weeks and will be available at www.e3expo.com. If you are a member of the press and interested in attending please contact media@e3expo.com with any additional questions.

The ESA urged attendees and interested individuals to follow the E3 Expo’s developments on its official Facebook presence (http://tinyurl.com/btx835) or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/e3expo.

The Entertainment Software Association is the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of companies publishing interactive games for video game consoles handheld devices personal computers and the Internet. The ESA offers services to interactive entertainment software publishers including a global anti-piracy program owning the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) business and consumer research federal and state government relations First Amendment and intellectual property protection efforts. For more information please visit www.theESA.com.

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Do you think E3 returning to the size and spectacle it once was will benefit gamers and the industry? What did I really miss in the E3s before 2007?

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