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[Minotauro]

Do you know someone that works at Wal-Mart or Best Buy or Gamestop or whatever? Ifso, just borrow one of their pay studs and then photoshop your name and address on it. That's what I did two years ago.

Really, it probably isn't worth the trouble though. Every year I go, I end up regretting it. I mean, I bascially spend $500 or so on airfare and hotel just to go fight crowds of sweating video game nerds and stand in line all day. It really isn't all it's cracked up to be. In fact, my favorite part is just being in LA for a few days. What does that say?

 

[CarlosX360]

Eh? Someone told me it was free to get in if you worked in the industry...

It is.

I heard they're changing the rules next year.

E3 this year was overcrowded. The whole expo was filled. Its not even funny.

 

[TekunoRobby]

Don't wait until you register to book your hotel. Prices always go up, and if you can't make it, most hotels will let you cancel your reservation 48 hours before with no fees. Secondly, cab fares in LA suck!

Right right, I forgot about the hotel cancellation. Taxi's are incredibly shitty I know but for some odd reason people always prefer it to the bus. I don't get it, like you said they're cheap and they're not bad.

E3 Housing is good, I remember taking the shuttle with the Rare team working on Conker and the then titled Dinosaur Planet. Good times, ha ha.

 

[koam]

Getting into E3 is the easiest thing ever. If you buy the ticket they don't give a shit who you are, they have your money they'll let you in.

 

[M3wThr33]

So is this the E3 discussion thread now?

Just don't schedule the GAF meetup the same time as the Mega64 one this time!

 

[BuddyC]

Just don't schedule the GAF meetup the same time as the Mega64 one this time!

Or in a hallway without power.

 

[jenov4]

It is.

I heard they're changing the rules next year.

E3 this year was overcrowded. The whole expo was filled. Its not even funny.

I've been going since '99 and it's gotten progressively worse every year. I mean, 5-6 hour wait just to check out the new Zelda? No fucking thanks! I hope they do change the rules, but I seriously doubt that will happen.

People go apeshit over the freebies too, especially the Tshirts.

 

[demi]

I'll be giving out autographs.

 

[Dante]

I've been going since '99 and it's gotten progressively worse every year. I mean, 5-6 hour wait just to check out the new Zelda? No fucking thanks! I hope they do change the rules, but I seriously doubt that will happen.

what's scary to me is people actually use there vacation time for this experience :lol

 

[CarlosX360]

I've been going since '99 and it's gotten progressively worse every year. I mean, 5-6 hour wait just to check out the new Zelda? No fucking thanks! I hope they do change the rules, but I seriously doubt that will happen.

People go apeshit over the freebies too, especially the Tshirts.

Fuck, I agree. I mean, even Sony's booth was packed, just to watch a fucking movie, the other line was packed to see the PS3.

 

[Westonian]

I've been going since '99 and it's gotten progressively worse every year. I mean, 5-6 hour wait just to check out the new Zelda? No fucking thanks! I hope they do change the rules, but I seriously doubt that will happen.

People go apeshit over the freebies too, especially the Tshirts.

Amen. I've been going since 2000 and last year I was literally ready to go home after the first day. I almost blame the companies themselves. If they weren't giving out free T-shirts or whatever trinkets they're using to try and draw crowds to their booths, people might actually play the games they're supposed to be promoting.

Nintendo really pisses me off in that respect. If I wanted to actually try out Pokemon XD, Nintendogs or Mario Kart DS for example, I had to wait in a ridiculous line because they were handing out Pokemon toys, dog keychains, and kart styluses. It's not worth my time and I don't even want the damn toy! Some companies are better than others because they allow media to bypass the lines or even offer private rooms to try out the big interest titles without sweaty Mc-B.O. Gamestop employee pressed against parts of my body only my wife is allowed to touch.

Part of me really wished EA would boycott the show as they've been threatening to do. EA's booth was insane last year. If EA walked, E3 would be forced to deal with the tens of thousands of people who really don't need to be there.

 

[John Harker]

what's scary to me is people actually use there vacation time for this experience :lol

How is it scary?

I went with 4 buddies last year, and we had a great damn time.

It wasn't just for the show - its also a v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n.

5 nights in LA, either way ya slice is, is gonna be good times.

I recommend the Viper Club

 

[Dante]

Of all the places to go for a vacation you chose E3, and LA? Come on man there are way cooler places to go for a vacation then a Video Game trade show, and freakin LA.

 

[MC Safety]

Amen. I've been going since 2000 and last year I was literally ready to go home after the first day. I almost blame the companies themselves. If they weren't giving out free T-shirts or whatever trinkets they're using to try and draw crowds to their booths, people might actually play the games they're supposed to be promoting.

Nintendo really pisses me off in that respect. If I wanted to actually try out Pokemon XD, Nintendogs or Mario Kart DS for example, I had to wait in a ridiculous line because they were handing out Pokemon toys, dog keychains, and kart styluses. It's not worth my time and I don't even want the damn toy! Some companies are better than others because they allow media to bypass the lines or even offer private rooms to try out the big interest titles without sweaty Mc-B.O. Gamestop employee pressed against parts of my body only my wife is allowed to touch.

Part of me really wished EA would boycott the show as they've been threatening to do. EA's booth was insane last year. If EA walked, E3 would be forced to deal with the tens of thousands of people who really don't need to be there.

I had thought Konami was going to walk, too. Didn't it have a few copies of Metal Gear Solid 2 stolen from PlayStation 2 displays a couple of years ago?

Anyway, the people who put the show on like to announce new attendance records every year. Which means they'll gladly shove more people through the door while proclaiming that E3 is a trade show meant only for people over 18 who are working in the video game industry.

The event really has become unworkable. Most of the game companies now have to hold Pre-E3 gamer's day-events for the press so they can present their titles in relative peace. I can't imagine how buyers for retail outlets -- the ones whose E3 meetings are crucial -- have to deal with wading through the masses of people just there to get free baubles or play the latest games.

 

[John Harker]

Of all the places to go for a vacation you chose E3, and LA? Come on man there are way cooler places to go for a vacation then a Video Game trade show, and freakin LA.

I'm in NYC.

I've been to San Fransisco numerous times, never LA.

Worked out damn well though, I had a blast.

I plan on doing it again this year, actually.
The show is just an added bonus - not a big LA fan?

 

[Liu Kang Baking A Pie]

I can't believe there are people that actually want to pay to go to E3. WTF do you think it is, a giant playhouse? You go from booth to booth getting free, shitty trinkets and pamphlets that you'll toss out in the nearest trashcan while looking at videos of unfinished, uninspired games (that everyone on the Internet is looking at on their own time in better quality). You might even get lucky and be able to wait in line 2 hours to play a 3 minute unpolished, boring demo of a game. Halfway through the day, you're tired of walking and there's no reasonably priced food or water, and you want to die.

The only good parts are the press conferences before the show, and even with those you have to wait hours to get the the good parts of it. I know this seems like a jaded view of E3, but anyone that's been more than once will tell you the best part of E3 is hanging out with friends in LA at night... if you're going alone and have no industry connections, you're going to leave one very disappointed sucker who ended up just pissing off the legitimate industry people there trying to do real work.

 

[xsarien]

I'm in NYC.

I've been to San Fransisco numerous times, never LA.

I'm from New York, moved to San Francisco. Last month was my first time in L.A., and after numerous musings with a friend of mine on how to precisely and accurately describe the city of angels to a first-timer from NY, we devised this response:

Long Island with a better tan.

Rent a car, you're going to need it; buy a baseball bat, because the holier-than-thou attitude you'll get from the hostess at CPK will make you want to hurt someone by the time the week's out.

 

[Dante]

Not really an LA fan at all, but to each his own. glad you had a good vacation there.

 

[CarlosX360]

Not really an LA fan at all, but to each his own. glad you had a good vacation there.

LA is a great place to be in daylight time, with your friends, and/or relatives....The problem is the night life. It can be fucking scary walking around the streets at night.

I mean, the first day being there, I finished the C3 xbox party, I had to wait for a ride from my friend who lives in the area, and stand in the corner of the E3 street, one car was driving to the stop light, and creepily, the guy stared at me, as if he wants to do something. And knowing the WHOLE street was QUIET a fuck. Its creepy.

Not only that, I heard horror stories from other network staff members. One rented a hotel in a street stricken by shooting/murder, and told me the best thing to do is STAY in your hotel, stay in your room, until the next daylight time.. Next year, two networks that I closely work with, and friend with...are going to be in hotels closer to E3.

This year's E3 wasn't my first time being in LA, I've been there couple of times, same goes for San Diego, and Santa Monica.
It however, is my first year at E3.

 

[polg]

if I made to this year's E3... anybody can...
it is not that hard, and I did it through the "normal processes" and pay 300-400 bucks...

 

[John Harker]

Not really an LA fan at all, but to each his own. glad you had a good vacation there.

Yea, I mean, the vacation was fun, but I prefer San Fran to LA in general. It's so much nicer and cleaner than NYC, heh.

But I was a little out of the LA social scene because I stayed with 4 of my NY friends in a hostel, and we ended up spending our nights out going around with 2 brits and 2 australlians, and 2 norwegans...

But hey, it was still good times

And I know most people were dissapointed with E3 last year, but it was my first time and I had a damn good time. I just got there early enough, got in Zelda in 25 minutes, and the rest was just icing.



And xsarien, yea the long island comparison is pretty accurate.
'cept they don't have the accent in LA, haha... which is great if you ask me ::duck::

 

[The Bookerman]

I simply wish that those people from the retail industry(except maybe company execs) shouldn't get in.

Geez.

Like all those green badges with Wal Mart, Blockbuster, EB games and Gamestops should just go away.

It was WAY too overcrowded at West Hall on the first day.
.

 

[evilromero]

I got my hotel already. And I'm waiting to hear back from E3 about my speaker status. Otherwise I'm going as a researcher, paid for by my institution.

 

[GodMike]

I simply wish that those people from the retail industry(except maybe company execs) shouldn't get in.

Geez.

Like all those green badges with Wal Mart, Blockbuster, EB games and Gamestops should just go away.

It was WAY too overcrowded at West Hall on the first day.
.

I agree. Those god damn nerd fanboys, all sweaty and smelly getting in cuz they work the register at EB, half the time knowing nothing of the products they push. They need to be fucking shot. Tighten the rules, industry only, and unless you are a manager or higher at a retal shop, you don't get in. Read about it online like the rest of the fanboys.

 

[PhoenixDark]

I'll be giving out autographs.

Could you sign my breasts?

Spoiler

lolz

 

[polg]

I simply wish that those people from the retail industry(except maybe company execs) shouldn't get in.

Geez.

Like all those green badges with Wal Mart, Blockbuster, EB games and Gamestops should just go away.

It was WAY too overcrowded at West Hall on the first day.
.

that reminds me of a 40s-50s yo couple that was queing behind me to see Nintendogs yelling:

"OMG THEY ARE PUPPIES T3H CUT3 JOHNNY AND MARY WOULD LOVE EM. WHAT A GREAT IDEA" <_<

they looked like tourists as well... hat, hanging camera, bermuda shorts, hawaian shirt... perfect combo...

 

[XMonkey]

Let's clear up some things...

1. If you want, you can choose to pay your way in for a basic showfloor pass. This will set you back a couple hundred dollars. They don't care who you are, as long as you have the money.

2. If you can prove you work in the industry with 2 forms of identification (pay stub, business card, etc), then you can get a showfloor pass for all 3 days of the show for free. This method has some pretty broad restrictions on who is exactly "industry".

3. Media passes are not so easy to get (you basically have to either have a hookup, or actually work in the media), but they are a lot better than your typical "green badge" because you can cut lines if so inclined.

4. The things that do cost you money are the conferences (no, not the Nintendo/MS/Sony ones) or seminars with developers, etc. Your basic free green badge isn't going to get you into any of these things.

 

[djtiesto]

Think someone in the defense industry who does work in a simulation/wargaming department could get into E3? If so, what would I need to submit - business card?

 

[TekunoRobby]

Think someone in the defense industry who does work in a simulation/wargaming department could get into E3? If so, what would I need to submit - business card?

Definitely, in fact I'd like to point your attention to another conference:
http://www.synergysummit.com/

I went last year and thought they had a great first conference. The head of my local IGDA chapter (and game lawyer extraordinaire) Tom Buscaglia is one of the guys responsible for making it happen. Many companies and government representatives showed up and there were several great panels. I even had a fantastic pow wow with a Navy General and a Lockheed Martin representative. It was pretty cool seeing three different sides butting heads together to see what videogames can bring to the table.

 

[XMonkey]

Think someone in the defense industry who does work in a simulation/wargaming department could get into E3? If so, what would I need to submit - business card?

I'd think you could.

Here's last years Registration form: http://s94442310.onlinehome.us/Attendee_Registration.pdf

The eligible forms of ID for industry members include: Resale Tax Certificate, Company Credit Card, Insurance Card, Business Ad (with Business Cards), Business License, Commercial Lease, Paycheck Stub, W-2 Form.

 

[DDayton]

Thanks to a lack of power, I got to enjoy the magical line of DOOM last year, instead of GAF's Abandoned Hallway of Pleasure.

I'm not sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

Hmm... I might actually get to e3 as a paid journalist this year, if things go according to plan 342b.

 

[Willie Dynamite]

E3 is not that awesome. Just stay home and watch the videos. It's cheaper and a lot more fun.

The show is only useful to you if you're actually in the industry, or are a real journalist (read: not a fan site owner), and are there to meet many people. Go to PAX if you're a gamer... it'll be 1000x more fun for you.

This is real advice by the way, not some attempt to keep people out of E3.

 

[DCharlie]

lol... Mrs C talked about going to E3 for our honeymoon... roofles.

so how would i get tickets? *glances at Kohlers crotch*

<cruise> is that how it's gonna be? </cruise>

 

[Rlan]

Thanks to a lack of power, I got to enjoy the magical line of DOOM last year, instead of GAF's Abandoned Hallway of Pleasure.

I'm not sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

Hmm... I might actually get to e3 as a paid journalist this year, if things go according to plan 342b.

You get paid for TMK? Or is it some shenanigans on classicgaming's part? ;P

Pfft. With a host like Emulationzone, I'd have no hope ever! :lol Plus, Emulationzone.org is held up by Emulationworld.com, which is held up by www.ztnet.com. Considering both the other sites last updates were a good 5 years ago, it makes it even less of a chance! :lol

 

[DDayton]

You get paid for TMK? Or is it some shenanigans on classicgaming's part? ;P

Pfft. With a host like Emulationzone, I'd have no hope ever! :lol Plus, Emulationzone.org is held up by Emulationworld.com, which is held up by www.ztnet.com. Considering both the other sites last updates were a good 5 years ago, it makes it even less of a chance! :lol

Eh? No, TMK isn't paid -- I was referring to my attempts to get back into game journalism later this year. If that worked, I'd be a paid member of the "legitimate press."

TMK does get a very limited number of e3 passes; Gamespy has traditionally given passes to many of its hosted sites. TMK is, apparently, the second largest site (by traffic) on Classicgaming, so we're hoping they'll continue to "share the love". However, with the IGN/Gamespy merger, who knows what e3 2006 will be like.

 

[Rlan]

Ah.

What's the first largest site? The only one I can POSSIBLY think of is Kirby Rainbow Resort, but even then, TMK would beat it on character popularity alone...

 

[DDayton]

Ah.

What's the first largest site? The only one I can POSSIBLY think of is Kirby Rainbow Resort, but even then, TMK would beat it on character popularity alone...

The MAME site.

 

[Cherubae]

2. If you can prove you work in the industry with 2 forms of identification (pay stub, business card, etc), then you can get a showfloor pass for all 3 days of the show for free. This method has some pretty broad restrictions on who is exactly "industry".

How about a letter from me and a letter of recomendation from the game company who invited me? I really don't care to get into the big conferences (nintendo, microsoft, etc.) and I'm really just attending for a handfull of publishers. Or perhaps the company should fill out my application?

Disneyland is so close to LA I may skip out and head in that direction after a day or so :lol

 

[John Harker]

How about a letter from me and a letter of recomendation from the game company who invited me? I really don't care to get into the big conferences (nintendo, microsoft, etc.) and I'm really just attending for a handfull of publishers. Or perhaps the company should fill out my application?

Disneyland is so close to LA I may skip out and head in that direction after a day or so :lol

Letters of recommendation work.

A couple buddies of mine who are younger and still in school got one of their professors
to write and sign a letter saying they were studying the japenese business economy...

true story... and they got accepted under a "little-known-or-advertised" student pass.

Yup.

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

It's so ridiculously easy to get into E3 that pretty much if you want to go badly enough to do a little legwork, you're in. I don't think the IDSA (the people in charge of E3?) cares anyway who gets in. After all, they brag every year that this is the "biggest E3 ever!!!" with so many thousands of people. Well duh, if you let so many fake sites and random people in, you're going to get record attendance.

 

[bumpkin]

Register a domain name and make a gaming fansite. That seems to be the "in" thing... New ones pop up every day!

 

[DrEvil]

Register a domain name and make a gaming fansite. That seems to be the "in" thing... New ones pop up every day!

you do realize you need a business license to be registered under a 'fansite' -- to be honest, online media needs a bit more this year to register, business card, published articles, business license, driver's license, and i think they're instituting another form of proof this year based on industry recognition.