E For All detailed

Earlier today, the E For All Expo announced that Nintendo would be its flagship exhibitor, putting one of the first pieces of the puzzle together for gamers wondering what to expect from the inaugural show.

Executive vice president of IDG World Expo Mary Dolaher is organizing the E For All Expo and divulged a few more details about the open-to-the-public show to GameSpot earlier today. Dolaher has plenty of experience to draw on in coordinating E For All, having worked on the Electronic Entertainment Expo since its inception.

First and foremost, Dolaher revealed ticket prices for the show, which runs October 18-21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, former home of the Electronic Entertainment Expo. Single-day passes for Thursday and Friday will cost gamers $50 each, while admission on Saturday or Sunday will run $75. A full pass for all four days will also be available for $110. Dolaher said there might be a number of different promotions that could change the final price for customers.

As for what gamers can expect once they're through the front doors, Dolaher said attendees will get a chance to try out the big-name holiday releases in a finished state, participate in tournaments, and even add games to their collection from retailers in Kentia Hall. It obviously won't be just Nintendo at the show either. Dolaher said she has contracts underway with a number of Entertainment Software Association members, but doesn't want to name names until details are finalized.

IDG isn't looking to re-create E3 with the event, however. While there may be some news coming from the event, Dolaher said the press conferences, keynote addresses, and big announcements that have marked previous E3s won't be present at E For All. The show floor will also be more interactive, with less of a focus on elaborate, attention-getting booths.

"When you look at a trade-only event like E3, you might have a booth that was constructed for $10 million because it was primarily focused on investors, retailers, and media," said Dolaher. "One of my first years at E3, we had consumers that were trying to tear the signs off an exhibit booth because they wanted the logo so badly. You really need to control what you design and it has to be about the product. It's not about whether you have laser light shows going on."

One thing that looks to recall previous E3 shows is the amount of local promotion surrounding the event. Dolaher said that the group is "overtaking" the city with subway ads, bus ads, and more.

"Anyone and everyone in Los Angeles will know that this show is occurring the week that we are there," Dolaher said.

Finally, Dolaher said the reaction to E For All has already been so positive that she is limiting the amount of space exhibitors can purchase in order to squeeze more of them into the convention center. That has Dolaher thinking about plans for E For All 2008, and she also said a number of companies have expressed an interest in bringing the show to Asia and Europe.

General admission tickets for the inaugural E For All are expected to go on sale in June, with an announcement on advance ticket sales arriving in the coming months. For more information, check out the event's official Web site.