Later this afternoon I’ll be hopping on a plane to Los Angeles, Calif., to attend the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the massive video game conference. Now E3 used to be a giant, chaotic extravaganza filled with video games, elaborate displays and the ever-present booth babes who lured people into exhibitor areas. In 2007, the conference scaled down to a more sedate, business-like format. Then companies began to bail on the conference.

This year, E3 is loosening up a little bit but it’s not a complete return to the days of yore. GameDaily spoke with Micahel Gallagher, the head of the Entertainment Software Association, the group responsible for E3. Gallagher explained that while this year’s E3 is larger than the last two shows, it’s still not the same beast as previous conferences. For one thing, the public isn’t allowed into the conference — only industry professionals and members of the media have access to the show. While this comes as a disappointment to video game junkies who are itching to play unreleased games, it makes life much easier for the professionals and reporters who need access to developers and products. It’s hard to report on a new game if there’s a line of two hundred people to play it.