45,000 set for E3 2011

Some 45,000 execs from over 200 companies and 80 countries will be attending E3 this year.

That’s comfortably close – but not too close – to the big show’s pre-collapse boom, according to ESA’s VP of industry affairs Rich Taylor.

That seems to be the size and scope of show that has been satisfying for all involved,” he told MCV ahead of next week’s opening.

Right now I think we are at a significantly better spot than we were a few years back when we were smaller and really not as reflective of the dynamic industry.”
He added that the show is still top dog despite the rise of Gamescom and TGS.

E3 is where Kinect and Wii first made their appearance and you’ll see the Wii successor this year. There is a reason folks let loose their big news at this event as opposed to the others, because so much of the world’s attention is focused on E3,” Taylor said.

The others are tremendous shows, but there’s nothing quite like E3.”