It looks like the ESA is trying to
resurrect the old school style E3 of yore (OK, pre-2006 E3) by opening up registration a bit more and allowing people to shell out $400 to attend the event if they are not part of the game industry in some remote way. They're also allowing non-ESA members to setup shop at the show which means that Activision-Blizzard will be in the house.
Of course this will be tempered by the current economic climate. I'm not sure we'll see a huge over the top show when companies have been laying off people at pace recently. I'm not sure if companies will be able to justify huge extravagant booths when they've had to terminate most of the people who work the booths.
I know Cyril will disagree with me but it's nice to see the industry trying to create a little noise for itself. I do wish they had a media only day before they opened it to the public and a public open house on Saturday but this is a step in the right direction.
