Electronic Entertainment Expo Extinct.

Well, not exactly, but the show has definitely taken a hit. It's no longer the massive event that gamers looked forward to every year, even if it was invite only, and many gamers weren't able to go. But it was definitely something we all looked forward to during the year. Usually it marked the busiest time span for new screenshots, videos, and previews for all the upcoming games.

However, last years show was a huge disappointment. The lack of M-Rated games being shown, and the toning down of the shows trademark attractions (most notably the Booth Babes) really put a damper on the excitement factor. Some of the games expected to be the biggest hits at the show weren't displayed at all, including Killzone 2, and Resident Evil 5.

The news was broke here that the show would be downsized to a more confined show, featuring only the gaming press. The show will now be almost exclusively a news cow for the bigger news sites and magazines. Also note how major developers have pulled support for the Expo, showing that the chances of the next E3, or whatever it is, having a booth dedicated to Metal Gear Solid 4 are slim.

Don't get me wrong, we're still going to get a bunch of news during the Expo, but not to the same effect as before. Eventually, E3 will be one of those things we gamers remember as a happier time. And, heaven forbid I (we) actually get into the field of game journalism, we will only wonder how much cheaper E3 would be compared to the travel expenses to go to multiple Expos for different developers, just to get the same coverage one could get in one location.

H.