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No more gamestore employees at E3?

I'm assuming Retail Buyers would still get in. Back in the day, I attended the first three or four E3 shows as a buyer for a company and it was invaluable in deciding what were the games to look out for. It helped incredibly with knowing the good games from the crap.
 
Who cares? The games get released anyway and it's not like anything exclusive is there anymore...I love how people spend 4-5 hundred dollars to go there and play games =\. But alas this is good news for what it's suppose to be, quicker info from media outlets and better impressions now that they can sample more.
 
it's unclear to me why game store employees were invited in the first place. i've attended any number of e3s for no legitimate reason, but dammit i pretended to be a journalist at least.
 
Kung Fu Jedi said:
I'm assuming Retail Buyers would still get in. Back in the day, I attended the first three or four E3 shows as a buyer for a company and it was invaluable in deciding what were the games to look out for. It helped incredibly with knowing the good games from the crap.

I'd imagine that would be the case, since the show is really for them.

But they probably aren't allowing anyone besides buyers from the chains there. That means no regional managers on down to the peons.
 
No Store Employees + No Naked Booth Girls + Revolution Launch + PS3 Launch + 360 (Hopefully) Hitting It's Stride = Best E3 Evar?
 
Ark-AMN said:
thats just for media registration, most of the people we complain about are the best buy/EB/gamestop people who attend in large quantaties. I dont know what their requirements are to get admitted though.

Bare minimum:

Exhibits Only:
Paystub + Business card

Media:
Business license + Business card + Printed article

It's always been like that. Every year people say it'll get stricter and it never does.
 
Biohazard said:
Who cares? The games get released anyway and it's not like anything exclusive is there anymore...I love how people spend 4-5 hundred dollars to go there and play games =\. But alas this is good news for what it's suppose to be, quicker info from media outlets and better impressions now that they can sample more.
I'd say it's pretty important to actually be at the conference for years like this one where Xbox 360 will be coming into its own, and the lids will be blown off of both PS3 and Revolution. However, the the pre-E3 conferences are where most of the news happens, and are the most important part of E3 IMO.
 
nicholasbrutal said:
A huge part of E3 is appealing to retailers. It seems like this would be a silly move.

Bzzzt. Sorry. You're thinking of the wrong retail people.

The huge part of E3 is appealing to the retail buyers. Not the peons who work the cash registers.

Oh, and before you reply saying that it's good for the peons to see the games to hype them; that isn't the reason for E3.

E3 is a trade show where the publishers show off their big titles for the 4th quarter to secure high orders from the retail buyers. Most of the games can be very early, and the last thing a publisher wants is some Gamestop peon seeing an alpha build of a game and then trashing it at their store and talking people out of buying it just because it looked like crap 9 months before its release.
 
I heard last year it was going to be the TGS setup for this years E3. On Friday, general public would be allowed in for the first time ever. I really hope that isn't true. There are enough jackasses running around the floor as it is. I hardly get anytime to check anything out.

I'll be working our booth most likely, so stop by and say hi :)

Oh, and the no booth babes shit is retarded. Everyone is caving into the religious right and our government. This must stop now.
 
E3 won't be open to the public this year.
E3 isn't going to Vegas :(

I'll be thrilled if they can cut down on the game store employees by 1/2. Last year was just stupid. Fire hazards all over the place. The line for Zelda and the PS3 Theatre got to 3 hours at some points, with some people not even knowning what they were in line for.
 
Vustadumas said:
I heard last year it was going to be the TGS setup for this years E3. On Friday, general public would be allowed in for the first time ever. I really hope that isn't true. There are enough jackasses running around the floor as it is. I hardly get anytime to check anything out.

I'll be working our booth most likely, so stop by and say hi :)

Oh, and the no booth babes shit is retarded. Everyone is caving into the religious right and our government. This must stop now.
E3 had a single public access day one year and it was a nightmare. A lot of shit got stolen and a lot of low lifes strolled in for curiosity's sake. E3 will never go public again and with all of the shit that's getting stolen at each E3 from (supposed) guests, it's not surprising that E3 is trying various tactics to help prevent future crimes at the event. I think the "casual" store clerk is a good start at filtering out the people that don't really belong.
 
According to the site, for a general attendance badge this year, "If you are from the retail sector, you must be selected by your parent company to attend."

Apparently, there's a form they need to fill out and send in saying that you'll be there representing the company. I'm guessing most retail clerks won't be able to get that done.
 
Mr_Furious said:
E3 had a single public access day one year and it was a nightmare. A lot of shit got stolen and a lot of low lifes strolled in for curiosity's sake. E3 will never go public again and with all of the shit that's getting stolen at each E3 from (supposed) guests, it's not surprising that E3 is trying various tactics to help prevent future crimes at the event. I think the "casual" store clerk is a good start at filtering out the people that don't really belong.

Uh, E3 has NEVER had a public day.
 
I don't see why any retail employees below manager level (or maybe even district manager level) "NEED" to be at E3. Less crowded = fine with me!
 
I believe E32K3 or 2K2 had a few hours on the last day that was opened to the public, as things were being cleared out.
 
I'm actually glad about this. Nintendo's booth was slammed with people most of time. Long lines for games with people taking thier time, while I had games to get impressions on. And then when I had a chance to play games, I actually had retail monkeys get mad at me for checking different menus, options, modes, etc. and trying them in-game, like if I only should jump in for a quick play and not get detailed impressions. I won't be sorry retail monkeys aren't in this year.
 
El Papa said:
I'm actually glad about this. Nintendo's booth was slammed with people most of time. Long lines for games with people taking thier time, while I had games to get impressions on. And then when I had a chance to play games, I actually had retail monkeys get mad at me for checking different menus, options, modes, etc. and trying them in-game, like if I only should jump in for a quick play and not get detailed impressions. I won't be sorry retail monkeys aren't in this year.


Nintendo also has their ViP rooms backstage where the IMPORTANT journos go to play.
No big lines there.
 
conker said:
I believe E32K3 or 2K2 had a few hours on the last day that was opened to the public, as things were being cleared out.

No, they never did.
Lots of people who shouldnt be there sneaked in with discarded passes from people who already left though.
 
Why would anyone throw out their badges at the convention center anyway? I've kept all of mine, but even if I didn't, I wouldn't trash it as soon as humanly possible.

People act like they're timebombs or something.
 
Dr_Cogent said:
I'm sure they did. I'd take 12 hours of meetings concerning games and things gaming related vs. 12 hours of coding or meetings regarding oracle software projects though.
There is definitely a crapload of work during E3 for journalists. Not to mention the lack of sleep because you have to stay up typing hands on Zelda impressions for people sitting at home drooling while in front of their monitor.
 
Servizio said:
No Store Employees + Completely Naked Booth Girls + Revolution Launch + PS3 Launch + 360 (Hopefully) Hitting It's Stride = Best E3 Evar?
Fixed.

I wonder if they are going to actually have games worth playing on the show floor this year cause they decided not to have that last year.
 
E3 had a single public access day one year and it was a nightmare. A lot of shit got stolen and a lot of low lifes strolled in for curiosity's sake. E3 will never go public again and with all of the shit that's getting stolen at each E3 from (supposed) guests, it's not surprising that E3 is trying various tactics to help prevent future crimes at the event. I think the "casual" store clerk is a good start at filtering out the people that don't really belong.

My memory's a little fuzzy on the timeline of this, but I remember that show's crazy outcome WELL. I believe it was pre-E3, when the video games industry was part of CES. It seems to me it was in Chicago, at Summer CES. Once the general public got let in, it was a FREE FOR ALL. I mean, pandemonium. The security was ridiculously poor. TONS of stuff got stolen, some of it brazenly. Many exhibitors swore that if CES ever tried a free public afternoon/day again, they would close down their booths a day early and leave their show space empty. It wasn't repeated, and never should be.
 
Hajiki said:
Nintendo also has their ViP rooms backstage where the IMPORTANT journos go to play.
No big lines there.
Yeah, since the only impressions and reviews that matter are from EGM, Gamepro, and IGN. :rolleyes Why not just ban everyone except the "important" corporate media, then.

There's a number of quality independent and foreign sites that cater to different audiences for all consoles that should have access to games without having to worry about slobbering caveman Gamestop lifers breathing down their necks or taking up kiosks forever. The less crowds, the better for everyone's coverage, including all the foriegn press that travel long miles and long hours just to get there. It's too bad for the retail monkeys, but E3 is supposed to be a trade only event.
 
Chittagong said:
About f'n time. Last year I had to wait nearly 30 minutes to play New Super Mario Bros because one of these dudes was just playing the demo in every possible way through, with no hurry whatsoever.
Amen. That's when it pays to be part of the media; I had Nintendo's PR guy kick some kid off of Metroid Prime so I could try it. It was great! :lol
 
What I'm wondering is if attendence drops by a good amount, is this going to mean shit's going to be a lot more expensive? I'm not paying $20 for a fucking DigGiorno pizza >:(

As far as the line for Zelda last year went...that's why you have media badges =) The two times I played it I got sent to the front of the line after showing the ushers my badge.
 
Lost Fragment said:
As far as the line for Zelda last year went...that's why you have media badges =) The two times I played it I got sent to the front of the line after showing the ushers my badge.
That's exactly what I did, but I don't know if ---- had a media badge.
 
GAF: "Fucking gamestore employees. They know nothing. My auntie went in there and they told her PS3 would play Xbox games - lol!. Why don't they get a fucking clue?"


GAF: "Yeah, gamestore employees can't go to E3 to actually play some of the stuff and maybe give better service. now there will be more space for my personal rickshaw"
 
mrklaw said:
GAF: "Yeah, gamestore employees can't go to E3 to actually play some of the stuff and maybe give better service. now there will be more space for my personal rickshaw"

:lol whatever, makes them bigger dicks for going.
 
shuri said:
Who needs to go to E3 when you can hang out in #ga and do a live commentary of the live video streams!

Agh, that for alot folks was one of the most painful experiences in gamingdom. Suddenly dozens of 9 year old boys started crying that nintendo was talking business and not showing games right away, sigh.
 
vireland said:
My memory's a little fuzzy on the timeline of this, but I remember that show's crazy outcome WELL. I believe it was pre-E3, when the video games industry was part of CES. It seems to me it was in Chicago, at Summer CES. Once the general public got let in, it was a FREE FOR ALL. I mean, pandemonium. The security was ridiculously poor. TONS of stuff got stolen, some of it brazenly. Many exhibitors swore that if CES ever tried a free public afternoon/day again, they would close down their booths a day early and leave their show space empty. It wasn't repeated, and never should be.

Yep, I was there and I have pictures of that. Was during Sega CD launch. While it was nice to take my brother finally to a CES it was so packed it took 30 mins just go few steps. He left hour later and I was glad I did all my business on days before the public opening.
 
Not that it matters too much, If you are legitimate media all you have to do is set things up a couple weeks in advance or have connections and viola no lines.

I can't imagine any journalist that is getting paid a full salary to work the show actually having to wait in lines if they try.
 
mrklaw said:
GAF: "Fucking gamestore employees. They know nothing. My auntie went in there and they told her PS3 would play Xbox games - lol!. Why don't they get a fucking clue?"


GAF: "Yeah, gamestore employees can't go to E3 to actually play some of the stuff and maybe give better service. now there will be more space for my personal rickshaw"

Game store employees who go to E3 claiming to want to know more about upcoming games so they can better serve customers know the definition of the word "cynical," and that's about it.
 
mrklaw said:
GAF: "Fucking gamestore employees. They know nothing. My auntie went in there and they told her PS3 would play Xbox games - lol!. Why don't they get a fucking clue?"


GAF: "Yeah, gamestore employees can't go to E3 to actually play some of the stuff and maybe give better service. now there will be more space for my personal rickshaw"

For the past E3s, game store emplyees were allowed to go.

Are game store employees knowledgeable, friendly, or even vaguely professional?

No.

Times up. They had years to prove themselves.
 
El Papa said:
Yeah, since the only impressions and reviews that matter are from EGM, Gamepro, and IGN. :rolleyes Why not just ban everyone except the "important" corporate media, then.

There's a number of quality independent and foreign sites that cater to different audiences for all consoles that should have access to games without having to worry about slobbering caveman Gamestop lifers breathing down their necks or taking up kiosks forever. The less crowds, the better for everyone's coverage, including all the foriegn press that travel long miles and long hours just to get there. It's too bad for the retail monkeys, but E3 is supposed to be a trade only event.

Yes... but anyone with decent media contacts at, in this example Nintendo, can access this sort of area if they know what they're doing. If a site does not have ANY contact at Nintendo in any territory to ask, then I would suggest they are not even likely to be a commercial site and should not be at the show in the first place.

FINALFANTASYDOG said:
Not that it matters too much, If you are legitimate media all you have to do is set things up a couple weeks in advance or have connections and viola no lines.

I can't imagine any journalist that is getting paid a full salary to work the show actually having to wait in lines if they try.


Exactly


FlyinJ said:
Times up. They had years to prove themselves.

:lol
 
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