Too Much Free Time

Too Much Free Time

by Mike Masnick




E3 Gaming Conference Says No More Booth Babes

from the you-must-be-this-ugly-to-attend dept

While there's been plenty of controversy over the fact that many companies employ "booth babes" at various tech-related conferences, it's still a bit surprising to see E3, the video gaming industry's big show, officially ban booth babes at this year's show, threatening $5,000 fines for any semi-clad booth workers or sexually provocative material (presumably, fully clothed, yet still attractive, spokespeople are still allowed). The Reuters piece suggests that this decision may stem from last summer's controversy over sexually explicit material found in Grand Theft Auto (where stealing cars and killing people is fine, but cartoonish consensual sex deserves to be punished), though there are probably plenty of other, better reasons for the ban. While we'd hope that the lack of human flesh on display wouldn't impact the show, it'll still be interesting to see how attendees react to finding all of the booths manned by fully clad spokespeople rather than the more promiscuously dressed representatives they're used to seeing. Of course, it seems that this move will put one website completely out of business.

15 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

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  1. Jan 24th, 2006 @ 7:42pm

    WTF?

    by Bob Hope

    What the hell is wrong with the world... Booth Babes are banned because of GTA? Damn Politics!!!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Jan 24th, 2006 @ 7:44pm

    this saddens me....a lot

    by ex E3 Atendee

    D3wd! Half the reason to go to E3 was to get your picture taken with booth babes! This SUCKS! I've got pictures with the DOA girls, Lara Croft and BloodRayne to name a few...no booth babes at E3 is teh suck!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Jan 24th, 2006 @ 8:10pm

    No Subject Given

    by Seele

    No monkeyspank material for fanboys... sigh

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Jan 24th, 2006 @ 8:30pm

    Booth Babes

    by Snake Plisken

    That's it. Hillary Clinton has gone too far. This means WAR!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Jan 25th, 2006 @ 1:41am

    No Subject Given

    by Sohrab

    I agree, this is just retarded. I guess the game industry is where Hollywood used to be. When people did drugs, act out of norm, people used to blame Hollywood till it became a mature part of this culture.

    Video game industry is in the same position. Their starting to become a power player and everytime somebody steals or gets shot, its GTA and Dooms fault.

    You cant blame them for trying to fix their image up, although its a shame and takes that fun spunk out of the event.

    I know i love seeing chics dressed like my favorite video game girl. Makes the fantasy that much better ;)

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Jan 25th, 2006 @ 3:25am

    Probably The Other Exhibitors Complained

    by giafly

    I've run stands at several trade shows and know that it's very difficult to do business if the stand next to yours makes trouble, for example by playing loud music.

    Whatever my personal views on booth babes, if I'd paid $10Ks for a stand and someone else's staff were unfairly distracting my punters, I would be complaining to the show organizers every hour until they sorted out the problem. Multiply this hassle by all the other exhibitors affected and you can see why E3 might want to tighten the rules.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Jan 25th, 2006 @ 5:40am

    Re: Probably The Other Exhibitors Complained

    by Scott

    It is called free market economics, they advertise better than you, they get the looks. You don't like the way they advertise, too bad(so long as it is legal.)
    The loud music I can understand, but it is a part of the culture to which the show appeals.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Jan 25th, 2006 @ 10:11am

    Sex Sells

    by Jonathon

    Despite your religious point of views, sex sells. Bottom line. I do understand deceny and the like, but this just seems a little misguided. The main target audience is probably 16-25 males...and the last time I checked on those demographics, horny and testosterone were probably two words that could be used to describe them. I guess we can all wait for a new expo to start up that encourages booth babes...maybe even mandates that no tops are allowed.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Jan 26th, 2006 @ 2:42pm

    Re: Booth Babes

    by lumpia

    Hilary Clinton putanginamo.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. Feb 20th, 2006 @ 8:47pm

    Re: Booth Babes

    by kill hilory!!!!!!!

    shes has destroyed the sacrum of booth babes a haled tradtion!!!!!!!!!!!!! btrn her at the came cude graves steakes!!!!!!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. May 6th, 2006 @ 8:36pm

    GOD DAMNIT

    by GOD DAMNIT

    GOD DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    E3 is going to suck this year.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. May 7th, 2006 @ 10:17am
    by vfsdfsdf

    Booth Babes are not necessary anyways. E3 should be about video games, not hot girls.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  13. May 8th, 2006 @ 10:22pm

    Re: WTF?

    by Anonymous

    Booth babes were banned because of ongoing misconduct by Planetwide Games, not GTA

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  14. May 9th, 2006 @ 8:00am
    by Anonymous Coward

    My concern is for the ladies. I don't know how much they get paid, but I reckon they'll notice the difference. What's a pretty girl to do when she needs money?
    Aside from that, seriously, it's a 14 year old mentality that bemoans this "loss." Either you can meet women on your own, or you can't and you need to have someone pay pretty women to just stand next to you. Which is it?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  15. Jul 31st, 2006 @ 8:45am
    by gianni

    never ceases to amaze me Violence, Drugs and Alchol are okay, but hald naked people are the downfall of society .... The logic never ceases to amaze me.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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