Breaking: Expanded E3 2009 open to the public (Update)

Returning from his long blogging silence, Level Up's N'Gai Croal brings us the scoop on next year's E3.

According to his source, E3 2009 will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center during the first week of June. Here's the part relevant to your interests -- E3 2009 will be open to the general public on Friday June 5 and Saturday June 6. The press will have exclusive access to the convention floor and meeting rooms on Tuesday, June 2. Of the big press conferences we've come to expect and love, Level Up's source says to "expect a boat load of press conferences on Monday during the day and on Tuesday morning."

This is an interesting turn, but not unexpected -- E3 in its current state had been struggling, with publishers and developers pulling out of E3 and the ESA earlier this year. The new format should bring a bigger show, and appears to have a similar format to the popular Tokyo Game Show (in which two days are press only, two days open to the public). 

An official announcement is expected tomorrow. 

[Update: G4 is reporting that the show "won't technically be open to the public." But tickets will be made available. So that means it's, uh, open to the public ... right?

More info, including speculation about booth babes, can be found here. We're looking forward to this being cleared up, and expect an official announcement tomorrow.]

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