Retail MUST go to E3

The UK games trade needs to attend E3 this year, says show host the ESA.

The organiser has told MCV it plans to dramatically ramp up last year’s number of international attendees as it establishes E3 as an event not just for North America.

Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are all expected to flesh out their Q4 hardware plans at E3 2010.

And ESA says that any retailer wishing to stock these items simply can’t afford to miss the LA-based expo, which takes place from Tuesday, June 15th to Thursday, June 17th.

We were happy with our international attendees last year, but we now want even more people from overseas,” ESA senior VP of communication and research Richard Taylor told MCV.

E3 last year was, by any measurement, a smash. E3 in 2010 will be the epicentre of what is going on in the video games industry around the globe. The world watches E3 to see what’s coming next.”

The E3 Retailer Lounge is returning and will grow for this year’s event, Taylor added.

In the lounge they can evaluate orders and attend one-on-one meetings and escape the hustle of the showfloor,” he said. We had this last year, and we expect that to be even more popular come June.

But the main appeal will be what the exhibitors display on the show floor.

If any retailer has an interest in featuring a new games product on their shelves or online environments, then they need to be in Los Angeles in June to see it first hand. That’s the real draw.”

41,000 flocked to the show in 2009 – and the ESA expects more this year.

Attendance levels will be to capacity,” added Taylor. Hotels are going to be full. If you want to attend the event, then get on the internet, talk to the travel agents and get your plans in order as soon as you can.”