E3 organisers reveal slimmer line-up for 2007

The list of companies taking part in this year's E3 Media and Business Summit features just 32 industry heavyweights - compared to more than 400 companies at last year's event.

Shacknews reports that the list is mostly composed of publishers and platform holders, with only two independent developers named.

The list, made available to attendees who have received their final registration details for July's event, is referred to as a "complete listing of Participating Companies" by organisers the Entertainment Software Association. However, it does not explicitly state whether further exhibitors will be added at a later date.

The following publishers will be showing their wares in Santa Monica this July: 1C Company, Activision, Akella, Atari, Atlus, Capcom, Codemasters, Crave Entertainment, Disney Interactive Studios, Eidos, Electronic Arts, Konami, LucasArts, Majesco, Microsoft, Midway, Namco Bandai Games, NCSoft, Nintendo, Sega, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony Online Entertainment, Square Enix, Take-Two Interactive, THQ, Ubisoft, Vivendi Games, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Foundation 9 Entertainment and id Software are the two independent developers currently confirmed for E3. Peripheral manufacturers Logitech and Nyko Technologies complete the line-up of exhibitors.

Further representation for independent games development will come in the form of the Indie Games Showcase, an exhibition curated by forthcoming independent games festival, IndieCade.

The new, smaller-scale E3 will take place on July 11-13. There will be a communal exhibition hall in Santa Monica's Barker Hanger, while participating companies will also arrange their own demonstrations in neighbouring hotels. The number of attendees will also fall dramatically, from over 60,000 in 2006 to an expected 3000 - 4000 invitation-only slots this year.