E3 2008 critics line up behind E3 2009

Details on E3 2009 are here. It's no longer a "summit." It's officiall an "expo" again. It's bigger -- almost as big as it was back in 2006 -- but still no public allowed in (so this prediction was wrong). However, ESA president Mike Gallgher tells me the booths won't be quite as big as they used to be and they're keeping the suites for press and investors to do private meetings, which were perhaps the one good part of E3 2008.

Apparently it was very important to the ESA to make clear that the people who didn't like this year's downsized and dour E3 are pleased about the changes:

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello in July: "I hate E3 like this."
John Riccitiello in the ESA's press release announcing the new E3: "The E3 Expo will be the pre-eminent North American gaming show next year. The new, larger event is better for industry leaders and for serious gamers."

Ubisoft North America President Laurent Detoc in July: "E3 this year is terrible. The world used to come to E3. Now it's like a pipe-fitters show in the basement."
Laurent Detoc in the ESA's press release announcing the new E3: "The video game business will be twice as big in 2009 as it was in 2006 when we had the last real E3 Expo - so get ready for some fireworks! The changes made will ensure that the 2009 E3 Expo conveys the best of what makes us proud as entertainment leaders."

Still remaining to be seen: Will the publishers that dropped out of the ESA this past year, including Activision Blizzard and LucasArts, be part of E3 next year? Gallagher took pains to make clear that non-members are invited to participate.