History of the Electronic Entertainment Expo

This is a history of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

Though it was only the first year for E3, the show proved to be the premier event for gaming in the US. The expo received 50,000 attendees.

The event continued to grow and become a common place for the unveiling of new products.

In 1997, E3 was held in Atlanta, Georgia, where some of what would become the most popular first-person shooter games were unveiled. It received 40,000 attendees. One of the world's first offline esports competitions, the Red Annihilation Quake tournament was held at E3 1997.

The event was again held in Atlanta, Georgia. The expo received 70,000 attendees, a 75% increase over the previous year's event.

The event from here on ran usually in Los Angeles, California.

The expo received 45,000 attendees.

It was held in Los Angeles. The expo received 62,000 attendees, a 37.78% increase over the previous year's event.

The expo received 65,000 attendees, an 8.33% increase over the previous year's event.

This was the first time the E3 convention was aired on television and all future conventions were aired on the G4 network until its final E3 broadcast in 2012.

E3 2005 attracted 70,000 attendees, a 7.69% increase over the previous year's event.

E3 2006 saw 60,000 attendees, a 14.29% decline over the previous year's event.

On July 31, 2006, the ESA announced that the expo would be downsized and restructured due to the overwhelming demand from the exhibitors. On October 13, 2006, the new format of the show was detailed. Although E3 was originally envisioned as an expo open only to game industry professionals, it had grown in recent years to include greater numbers of bloggers and attendees who were not perceived to be industry professionals. Many of these persons were excluded from the revised event, as the ESA announced that the new E3 would be by invitation only.

It was originally speculated that because of these changes, independent developers may have been excluded, and subsequently damaged, in preference for larger game companies. But the ESA ultimately provided invitations for independent developers with "The Indie Games Showcase" booth. This was made possible through industry supporters, IndieCade and the International Game Developers Association.

The move was widely criticized by those both within and outside the gaming industry, including by game designer Will Wright.

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