GDC '07 doubles in size to become the new E3

Well there goes the neighbourhood.
"It's time to dramatically upgrade the expo opportunities" - Moledina

The Game Developers Conference is to take the torch once help by E3, and become the largest trade exhibition for the worldwide gaming community.

The size of the show floor is to be more than doubled for the event in order to incorporate the growth of attendees, due to take place at the Moscone Convention Centre in San Francisco next March.

"As GDC enters its 20th year, it emerges as the event with the largest gravitational pull of any other game industry-only event," said Jamil Moledina, executive director of the GDC.

"While it remains our primary goal to serve the game development community and ensure that the session-based half of GDC remains unchanged, we also believe it is time to dramatically upgrade the range of expo opportunities."

"The result of our expansion is that GDC becomes the natural choice for all companies in the game industry ecosystem to exhibit and conduct business," added Moledina.

The new show floor will be built around a core of existing GDC expo suites and a networking lounge, surrounded by company's ranging from publishers and developers to mobile games firms, peripheral manufacturers, outsourcing specialists and international consortia.

Booth spaces, expo suites and meeting rooms will be available for vendors, while the new Game Demo Theatre will showcase upcoming games from developers and publishers.

Reassurance that the GDC will not forget its roots is evidenced by organisers offering dedicated networking and reception events for developers, publishers, serious game companies, mobile developers and East-West collaborations.

For 2007 the GDC will also add a casual/independent reception and a dedicated Independent Games Conference to compliment the Independent Games Festival taking place as a part of the Game Developers Conference.
via gamesindustry.biz

But I have to ask what this really means for the art and business of development - it will be a conference of announcements, of retail decisions, and little festival feel, maybe space for something else - fancy pixel-lab expanding into US ?