The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has given some details about the new format for E3. As you will recall after the last E3 in May plans were announced that it would be changing into a "more intimate event".

First change is the location. Gone is the Los Angeles Convention Center- E3 will now be in Barker Hangar, a 40,000 square foot property in Santa Monica, California. Only 16,000 square feet will be sold to exhibitors and they will be limited to between 100-400 sq. feet- no more mega booths taking up an entire side of the hall. Attendees will also have access to hotel suites and meeting rooms in various hotels in the area.

E3 will now be held July 11 to 13. This change was made partially to give developers a bit more time to have playable demos ready.

No information was given regarding keynotes by "The Big Three" (Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft) but it is expected they will continue going by indications in the press release.

The event will be invite only and open to both members and non-members of the ESA. "The new E3 event will be more personal, efficient, and focused, and it will provide the top stakeholders who make games, sell games, and cover games streamlined access to the people and products they most need to see," ESA president Doug Lowenstein said.

A number of lunchtime panels and executive presentations are also planned for the event as well as a serious games component.

"By combining suite-based meetings with the software showcase in a controlled and business-like environment," Lowenstein said, "we believe we will successfully fulfill our primary objective of giving high-level media the best of all worlds--the chance to engage in highly personal, one-on-one dialogue with leading game company executives, as well as the chance to demo games on their own time."

Bookings for the next E3 are expected to start within the next 30 days.