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[ChrisReid]

E3 isn't really like other trade shows. Or at least other trade shows didn't used to be like E3. At this point the industry/press-only and 18 and over mantras are both pretty obviously a farse, even to the people running the show. And they've really done very little to fight that.

Sort of. Even requiring the attendees to at least have game store credentials and whatnot is a huge help. Sure, lots of random people get in, but if there weren't at least the most basic level of screening like that, ten times as many people would show up and the whole deal would really be useless.

how much is a small booth? money definitely needs to be raised for a GA booth.

That the sort of idea that sounds good on paper and ends up not working out at all. What will be the purpose of this booth? Who is going to staff it? Unless you're keen on spending tens of thousands of dollars for decent booth space and the promotion required to make it useful, it's not even going to drive traffic to the site. Is the booth supposed to be some sort of GAF hang out spot? Space is expensive, and a meet-up can be scheduled anywhere out in a lobby or hallway for free. The kind of booth that GA would be able to field would be buried in Kentia where most GAF attendees wouldn't even see it. Who here wants to sit and staff this boring booth while there's a freakin E3 expo going on upstairs? I just see all sorts of prohibitive costs and no measurable benefits to a GA E3 booth.

wcnews.com had a booth at DragonCon a few years back. It made sense because it was a hell of a lot cheaper and many people who stopped by were not aware there was a giant Wing Commander fandom online. Big fans of the series who'd never been part of the online community were really excited to find out that we existed. This sort of thing wouldn't happen for GA ("Oh wow, there's a website where I can find other people interested in VIDEO GAMES?!"). We also had a whole bunch of really rare and collectible merchandise on display, props used in production of the games and movie, etc. As successful as this was, we only did it once, because nobody wanted to travel all the way to the show and spend their whole day sitting on the sidelines while tons of fun stuff is going on elsewhere in the building.

The only gaming websites that should have a booth at E3 are the two or three megasites like GameSpot. For them, these booths are instead offices where literally dozens of staffers, writers, video people, etc, work all day compiling thousands of bits of gaming information for direct feed to their website right from the show floor.

 

[AniHawk]

I'm really, really disappointed that I wasn't able to get in this year. I'm trying my damndest to get this ancient website going, but I have about zero control over the matter. It's not like I started working at Gamestop just so I could get into E3 damnit.

So how does one go about getting a business license for a video game news/reviews website?

 

[maharg]

Even requiring the attendees to at least have game store credentials and whatnot is a huge help.

Well, it's pretty easy to get in with no ties at all, even video game store, if you're willing to put time and money into it (which, honestly, if you're willing to go to LA and stay there for 3 days, is probably not an issue). And really, the most dedicated fans are the ones who:
- are willing to work at a game store or amature video game news site as a career move
- are willing and able to fake working for a video game company convincingly enough to get in.

Point is, they're aware of the fan presense and while they frown on it officially, they let in just enough of them to probably bring in some serious cash that helps the show keep going without as much industry funding as would otherwise be required.

Personally, I think it's pretty neat. I think some people should lay off criticizing people who do it though, because if they wanted to crack down on them and make it a more standard trade show, they could. Not saying people who camp at games shouldn't get shoved out onto the street with their badge ripped from their neck, just that fans who mind their own business and don't hog don't deserve the brunt of the attack.

So how does one go about getting a business license for a video game news/reviews website?

Go to a registry office and ask. There'll be forms and money and you may have to be incorporated (same place, different forms and more money). I don't know what E3 actually requires of press applicants though. I think they screen press more thoroughly than industry, actually.

 

[GSG Flash]

I must go....

I don't need to worry about plane/hotel, just need a way to get in. I know you legit game journalists will hate me for asking, but what's the best way to get in short of working at eb/gamestop for a few weeks??

The EB/Gamestop employee thing doesn't work anymore according to some posters here. Apparently only the managers and the people with real business cards can go now. I guess the easiest way to get in would be to buy the pass which is like close to $200 I believe.

 

[Chrono]

I guess the easiest way to get in would be to buy the pass which is like close to $200 I believe.

So anybody who can pay $200 can get in? No 'industry connections' or whatever?

It’s pretty expensive but I never there was a pass anybody can buy.

 

[Alcibiades]

(And it turns out to just be some random Asian guy.)

lol

 

[MC Safety]

Personally, I think it's pretty neat. I think some people should lay off criticizing people who do it though, because if they wanted to crack down on them and make it a more standard trade show, they could. Not saying people who camp at games shouldn't get shoved out onto the street with their badge ripped from their neck, just that fans who mind their own business and don't hog don't deserve the brunt of the attack.

It's not just that. E3 is meant to be a place of business, and even the polite fans who are just there to see all the new stuff add to the horrible overcongestion.

Every year I've been there the fire marshal has been called because tchotchke-starved game fans are clogging aisles and restricting people's movement. They pile up in the hallways causing logjams. They'll actually hurt one another for T-shirts.

Ask any PR person who has to show games to legitimate press if he or she enjoys having to be rudely treated by a bozo who's camped out in front of a hot game. Ask any person who mans a booth's desk if he or she enjoys dealing with the Idiot Manchildren who refuse to shift their bodies because they heard there's a bauble they can get that's not there right now, but man! are they going to wait.

I've stopped bothering about the crowds and just go ahead and do my job. But I'd be foolish not to say the business of business would be a lot easier if someone just had the guts to enforce the rules as they apply to E3 admissions.

 

[Prine]

EA buys e3!!

Seriously, thats alot of nerds, whole lotta BO, booth babes am cry

 

[Shawnwhann]

Thank you to all the people that actually gave some helpful replys to my nquiry about how to get into E3. I love games, and I would just like to go for the experience more than anything. Playing incomplete games is not the most attractive thing to me. It is experiencing a trade show I have been following every May for years. The larger than life displays, performances, game girls, and all that stuff is extremely alluring.I understand that people have jobs to do there, but I imagine that covering E3 is one most fun "jobs" to do every year. So to the dudes with the elitists attitudes, chill the fuck out and remember that E3 is a celebration of gaming in all of its forms. I will see you there in L.A.

 

[MC Safety]

Thank you to all the people that actually gave some helpful replys to my nquiry about how to get into E3. I love games, and I would just like to go for the experience more than anything. Playing incomplete games is not the most attractive thing to me. It is experiencing a trade show I have been following every May for years. The larger than life displays, performances, game girls, and all that stuff is extremely alluring.I understand that people have jobs to do there, but I imagine that covering E3 is one most fun "jobs" to do every year. So to the dudes with the elitists attitudes, chill the fuck out and remember that E3 is a celebration of gaming in all of its forms. I will see you there in L.A.

Ah, it's hardly an elitist attitude to want to be able to move without hassle from appointment to appointment at E3. Nor is it unreasonable to expect that when the promoters of the show state E3 is a trade event and people under 18 won't be admitted, that its admission rules will be enforced.

I'd wish you luck getting in, but you won't really need it.

 

[Zelda-Bitch]

You E3 elitists are so funny. I hope you have an even shittier time this year then last.

by the way, you will never ever EVER move around an e3 event without hassle until people no longer care about gaming. If anything, you can expect it to get bigger and crazier every year. Basically get used to it. There are way shittier things in life then E3. lol.