E3 Gaming Conference Says No More Booth Babes

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

Tue, Jan 24th 2006 5:41pm — Mike Masnick

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.

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17 Comments

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Bob Hope, 24 Jan 2006 @ 7:42pm

WTF?
What the hell is wrong with the world... Booth Babes are banned because of GTA? Damn Politics!!!
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ex E3 Atendee, 24 Jan 2006 @ 7:44pm

this saddens me....a lot
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!
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Seele, 24 Jan 2006 @ 8:10pm

No Subject Given
No monkeyspank material for fanboys... sigh
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Snake Plisken, 24 Jan 2006 @ 8:30pm

Booth Babes
That's it. Hillary Clinton has gone too far. This means WAR!
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Sohrab, 25 Jan 2006 @ 1:41am

No Subject Given
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 ;)
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giafly, 25 Jan 2006 @ 3:25am

Probably The Other Exhibitors Complained
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.
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Scott, 25 Jan 2006 @ 5:40am

Re: Probably The Other Exhibitors Complained
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.
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Jonathon, 25 Jan 2006 @ 10:11am

Sex Sells
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.
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lumpia, 26 Jan 2006 @ 2:42pm

Re: Booth Babes
Hilary Clinton putanginamo.
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kill hilory!!!!!!!, 20 Feb 2006 @ 8:47pm

Re: Booth Babes
shes has destroyed the sacrum of booth babes a haled tradtion!!!!!!!!!!!!! btrn her at the came cude graves steakes!!!!!!
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GOD DAMNIT, 6 May 2006 @ 8:36pm

GOD DAMNIT
GOD DAMNIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
E3 is going to suck this year.
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vfsdfsdf, 7 May 2006 @ 10:17am

Booth Babes are not necessary anyways. E3 should be about video games, not hot girls.
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Anonymous, 8 May 2006 @ 10:22pm

Re: WTF?
Booth babes were banned because of ongoing misconduct by Planetwide Games, not GTA
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Anonymous Coward, 9 May 2006 @ 8:00am

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?
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gianni, 31 Jul 2006 @ 8:45am

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.
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Latex Babe, 19 Jan 2011 @ 2:00pm

ridiculous
oh come on... give the geeks a break, this might be some of the few times they get to see real skin :)
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CeliaClara, 28 May 2012 @ 7:11am

whats the big deal?
as a model that has worked countless booths, this saddens me. however, its their loss as we can attract way more attendees :)
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