Held in the Los Angeles Convention Centre this week, E3, or the Electronic Entertainment Expo, attracted more than 200 computer, technology and video game publishers and developers who displayed their wares for the coming year.
Despite being a trade-only event, an estimated 40,000 people visited the three-day show.
Considered the top event for the video game industry, console makers Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony as well as major publishers including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft and Activision pull out all the stops with massive stands and the obligatory “booth babes” to attract visitors to them.
Video games have enjoyed rapid growth and annual sales are now worth more than cinema box office receipts.
According to the Entertainment Software Association (owners of E3), US sales grew 22.9 per cent in 2008 to $11.7 billion; 68 per cent of US households play video games and 40 per cent of game players are women.
