The Electronic Entertainment Expo--better known as E3--is typically known as the event where most game companies unveil their holiday lineups. But this year, the organizers of E3 are trying to drum up additional interest in the expo's 25 eclectic panels and six workshops. Away from the revelry of the show floor, a who's who of game designers and industry experts will engage in discussions about a wide variety of topics, including "Do Game Journalists Play Fair?" and "Games That Break the Rules." Scheduled panelists include Shigeru Miyamoto, Will Wright, Sid Meier, Peter Molyneux, and Warren Spector.

　　"From a lineup of moderators who hail from many of the top consumer magazines to industry pros who are participating on panels, this year's lineup really delivers talent," said Curt Feldman, lead producer for the E3 conference program.

　　The highlight of the program will be two special one-on-one interview sessions with Miyamoto and Meier. Miyamoto, who will be interviewed by Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, and Meier, who will be interviewed by Ziff Davis Media's George Jones, will discuss their game design wisdom for 90 minutes in an informal setting. "It'll be a lucky 200 that fill the rooms for those two sessions," admitted Feldman, who hopes the interview's format, which is reminiscent of show Inside The Actors' Studio, "won't be like anything you've seen at a trade show before."

　　The rest of the conference program is rounded out with other industry experts and special guests. WWF wrestler Kurt Angle will enter the ring for a panel on game licensing; former Ion Storm level designer Stevie Case will chime in with her thoughts about the state of game journalism; and USC's Paul Debevic, who had a hand in creating the visual effects technology used in The Matrix, will offer his thoughts on the future of game graphics.

　　Feldman, in the midst of his first stint as producer for the conference program, is particularly excited about a planned workshop by famed MIT professor and social scientist Henry Jenkins. "Over the past year Henry has been coaching Electronic Arts staffers on creativity, plot, character development, and building emotion into games," Feldman explained. Taking a page from his experiences with Electronic Arts, Jenkins plans to present a workshop at E3 that blends academic theory with real-world practicalities.

　　The E3 Conference program, which runs from May 16-18 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, is restricted to paid conference attendees. Attendance at conference sessions is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, visit www.e3expo.com.

　　Of course, stay tuned to GameSpot for extensive coverage leading up to and during E3 2001.