Los Angeles - With the Entertainment Software Association's (ESA) announcement this week that it will bring an expanded E3 event to downtown Los Angeles next year, the future of partner IDG World Expo's consumer-friendly E for All event could be in doubt, GameDaily reported. "We want to thank all of our E for All partners for their support, and we encourage E for All exhibitors to participate in the E3 new event, which we believe will meet their needs as well as those of the industry at large," IDG CEO Mary Dolaher told GameDaily. "IDG World Expo is very pleased to be partnering with the ESA on E3 and continuing to play a central role in that important industry event. We look forward to furthering our contribution to the success of the video game community."

Washington - The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a trade group of U.S. video game developers and publishers, announced on Wednesday that it will host an "expanded" Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at its former home in the Los Angeles Convention Center next year, after experimenting with a smaller event over the past two years. Next year's E3 "will welcome all qualified computer and video game industry audiences, including international and U.S.-based media, analysts, retailers, developers and business partners to preview the latest in interactive entertainment and technology," the ESA said.

Washington - The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the video game industry trade group that organized the annual E3 convention that was recently downsized and received some negative reviews this year, has confirmed that it will hold the event in 2009 and said changes may be made to suit its members, GameSpot reports. Noted game analyst Michael Pachter's review of last weekend's E3 was that the event is "headed for extinction." "As we do every year, we're beginning the process of surveying exhibitors and attendees to determine potential changes to the Summit," an ESA spokesperson told GameSpot. "Once this is completed and shared with the ESA's Board of Directors, we will make an announcement about the specifics of the 2009 E3 Media & Business Summit, which will occur."

Los Angeles - Noted game industry analyst Michael Pachter, of Wedbush Morgan Securities, has given his review of this year's E3 convention -- which this year returned to the downtown Los Angeles Convention Center, albeit in its much-scaled-down form -- proclaiming that the event is "headed for extinction."

Los Angeles - It cost the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) more than $5 million to move its mammoth E3 video game trade show from the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown to Santa Monica last year, which, when combined with the decreased profits from the downsized event, also led the ESA to substantially increase its membership dues, according to IRS documents obtained by Kotaku.

Los Angeles - LucasArts, the video game development arm of director George Lucas' Lucasfilm, has followed Activision and Vivendi in leaving the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), the video game industry trade group that produces the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Next-Gen reported. However, unlike Activision and Vivendi, LucasArts will still participate in this year's E3.

Los Angeles - Video game publishers Activision (NASD: ATVI) and Vivendi Games have discontinued their memberships in the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) industry trade group, and will also not be attending this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) trade show, GameDaily reports.

Washington - The Entertainment Software Association (ESA), a U.S. video game industry trade group, announced on Tuesday that it has scheduled the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit for July 15-17. Next year will figure as the second year of the significantly downsized version of E3, a change that came after game publishers saw costs associated with the previously massive event skyrocket.

Santa Monica, Calif. - Harmonix, the game developer unit of MTV Networks, announced this week that The Who's album "Who's Next" will be the first full-length album available as a digitally-distributed game level for its "Rock Band" interactive music game. The company also announced that it hired actor and producer Steven Van Zandt to head a music advisory board for the game, which will also feature tracks from The Ramones, Black Sabbath, Rush, Nirvana, Metallica and The Strokes. "Rock Band" is slated for release in the fall for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Santa Monica - Disney Interactive Studios this week previewed 10 forthcoming game titles, and announced details of its planned "DGamer" online community for the Nintendo DS at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. DGamer will allow Disney game players to create personal avatars, and chat and trade game items using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. The service will be included free in every Disney game for the DS from May 2008. The company also previewed titles including "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian"; "Turok"; "Spectrobes II"; "High School Musical: Sing It!"; "Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour"; "Power Rangers: Super Legends"; "Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey"; and "Enchanted."

Santa Monica, Calif. - Korean game developer NCsoft said this week that it has signed a deal with Sony Computer Entertainment, to create several online games for the PlayStation 3 and PSP that will be accessible through the PlayStation Network. While NCsoft -- whose titles include "City of Heroes" and "Guild Wars" -- did not provide many details, the games will include both existing NCsoft franchises and new intellectual property.