E3 stands for the Electonic Entertainment Expo, one of the singular biggest events for video games in the U.S. held annually by the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA).

The show is crowded every year and this year should be no different. E3’s website claims that over 62,000 people attend the show and this massive group is made up of developers, investors, distributors and media representatives from all over the world will be there. Most important (to us), Planet GameCube will also be there.

Naturally, with technology always improving, each show is better than the last. More games, with better looking graphics and if you’re a male attendee to the show, seeing all the “booth babes” in video game costumes is always a plus…

What will make E3 2001 so special is that it will be the true debut of the Nintendo GameCube and will also serve as the Western world’s true introduction to the Game Boy Advance. Although the Game Boy Advance has already launched in Japan, very little GameCube information has be released since it was officially named

& made its first appearance at last year’s SpaceWorld show.

On May 16th, Nintendo will give it’s “Pre-Show” Press Conference; two years ago this was the place Howard Lincoln made the “Dolphin” name & system official. This year, Nintendo will be raising the curtain the rest of the way on the system now called GameCube.

Although it has been a bit more visible than GameCube, E3 will also be the first good look many get at Microsoft’s X-Box. Also exciting will be seeing what the second generation of Playstation 2 software looks like, as well as the last round of games for Sega’s Dreamcast with the company bound be tightening its third-party role during the show. So there will be a lot of great stuff at E3 2001… But being a Nintendo site run by Nintendophiles, we’re primarily concerned with what we’ll be seeing from the “Big N.”

We expect a lot. Not just from Nintendo but its second party developers. Many 3rd party developers are currently going on record to say they won’t have much in the way of GameCube goods in store but it is questionable if these statements are accurate or are the result of NDAs or backstage planning. Even if GameCube offerings are slim, there will be numerous Game Boy Advance on display and several projects for both systems announced.

For us, E3 2001 will allow many of PGC staff to meet each other in person. We’re heading out to Los Angeles in full force to bring you the best coverage possible.

Louie the Cat insists he’s going though whether or not he’s invited. Whether he’ll submit to the pet carrier is anyone’s guess.

All this is only a month away… We’ll update this preview with any big E3 news if anything happens before we get there!