The annually celebrated trade show that is known as the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) started last Tuesday, growing more relevant since the first E3 debuted in 1995.

This year, a number of big names in the consumer electronics fields – from software developers and hardware makers – are slated to feature their newest highlights, from technology innovations to new releases and features.

Big names such as Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony are slated for in-your-face presentations, with countless participants highly anticipating the possible what’s next news in the gaming and entertainment industries.

However, as well organized as the 2012 E3 started out, the fact remains that as a trade show, it is one which has a lot of work to do in coming to terms and fitting in with the increasingly changing game industry.

With reports based in various media watchguards and market analysis and statistics-recording, it has to be said that business prospects in the gaming industry have gone down.

Sales reports of PlayStation 3 games are pegged to have gone down by 46 percent, while Xbox 360 game stats have gone down by 27 percent, compared to last years figures. These figures are based on the stats and analysis of Wedbush, an investment/analysis firm.

As with every other E3 installment, many are deep in thought over how much the trade show’s participants could get to rake in this year. Last year, Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 easily raked in a reported $1 billion within 16 days, which stands to be the fastest sales turnover known for any entertainment item/product.

Given that the 2012 E3 had just begun, it’s too soon to tell if this year’s E3 will leave a particular brand with impressive sales figures.

Bottom line, even with the current downtrend in game sales and stats, the 2012 E3 has begun.