[Professor S]

That all makes sense, DM, but I'm looking more at the big picture. I'm looking at a legislature drooling at the idea of regulating video games and using them a scapegoat for just about any social disorder or malady. I'm looking at an industry that is also prime to dominate traditional media entertainment in the next 10 years.

Whether publishers want to sell or compete is irrelevant. E3 was good for the entire industry and was a sole source of mainstream buzz and attention for it.

But like I said, I still see E3 existing, but under a different name. Economic competition won't allow for such an important event not to exist. Big name publishers are still going to want to push their products at the expense of others. Now, instead of a large convention where all could join (even if at a lower level of exposure), you'll probably just see the giants still pump all the same money for more recognition, and create even more of a gaming ghetto for the smaller houses.