ESA are being too excessive here. You can't go straight from a massive event to BAM a smaller event almost immediately. What would have made more sense is to implement restrictions. Restrictions to the ammount games companies can spend, restrictions on the ammount of people coming to the event. Even simpler things like mini-train rides around the expo to transport people around quickly could help reduce crowd clutter, with the ammount of money that is spent on the expo hell you could throw in a roller coaster while they're at it for E3's trademark sensory overload. This years huge Wii line was obviously a catalyst for this downsizing. That would be the obvious route to take, see how restrictions go for a year or two and if it isn't viable then you can go for a complete downsize. They haven't been specific on how the downsizing will work and the notion that meetings will be held in hotel rooms around LA sounds a bit ludicrous. However i think there is a negative impact with downsizing. Obviously there is less space for companies, that either means the companies with money to burn will take up all the good meeting rooms and smaller companies are forced into the crappier rooms, if at all allowed to attend the event. Or the event may take place over a longer time to allow every company a chance to obtain media coverage. I'm all for the notion of video games being the main point of any E3, I sure wouldn't want an awesome but low profile game like ICO to slip by without any notice and never end up on store shelves, there is talent out there but companies will not risk the money to make them. If E3 is in someway related to the production of yet another Madden or NBA game then downsizing to highlight the ICO-esque games would be great. At the end of the day E3 is a unique trade expo and will not be bested by any another event. This years gamespot coverage of E3 was astonishing. I'd go for quantity over quality for gaming news any day of the week. I just want to see how games like Bioshock is doing then move onto the next quality game not read on for hours about Bioshock is taking advantage of DX10 graphics or whatever.