E3: Not for kids

DAmn i didnt go beacuse i thought I couldnt get in..and im 17 and those kids are what like 12?

Kid in yellow: "So guys, how was that Metal Gear Solid Fo - Oh shit. Ugh guys... someone is taking our photo, we should leave."
Kid on the ground: "SHUTUPZ!! LOOK AT TEH MARIO!"

honestly, I think that E3 should be somewhat open to the public. They should have two days where it is press only, and then one or two days following for the public, the fees to get registered to attend and what not could be the same, but anyone should be allowed on those last two days. They could STRICTLY enforce the press-only days. This would help out you guys, the press, by cutting down on all the people that somehow figured out a way to get in without really being in the industry, and help us average joes out by giving us the opportunity to go as well.

This brings me to another question...if I were to start my own gaming blog, like joystiq, would that be grouds for admission to E3? Regardless of it's popularity? I don't see why not.

In that case... E3 2007 HERE I COME!!!

Maybe there should be a press only day then.

heh, back in '01 I didn't let my 17 year-old-ness stop me!
Then again, I didn't have to use the "normal" badge-getting mechanism...

Actually, I think those guys run GameFAQs.

I think those are the guys that run the Nintendo online forums!

Aww, guys stop harassing the IGN writers...

It looks like they are waiting in the loby to E3.

I get it though, if these were of age girls looking anything near "cute" they would of been surrounded by security. Even at the front door.

wtf, those little brats probably don't know how lucky they are.

There are always kids running around at E3 - but these generally aren't just any kids. I don't know who these kids in the shot above *really* are, but, as one example, at the last E3 I went to, Spielberg had his little brats running all over the place. It's VIP's that get to bring their kids.

Should they be allowed to? Well I dunno, probably not - I'm not generally big on favoritism. But on the other hand, I can understand the promotional potential of having Steven Spielberg on hand to market your game, and if that's one of his conditions, who is anyone to argue? It's not like he's asking for a big plate of severed heads or something; he's just asking for his kids to be able to walk around for a while.

That picture is of those kids in the lobby, not actually on the E3 floor. Probably one of the workers kids.

I KNOW IT WAS LAME!!! i saw like 6+ kids then security went all over them it was funny

To be fair those kids aren't at E3 they're in the lobby. A whole lot less kids this year at the show.

Uhhhh. Those aren't kids. There's plenty of game developer midgets out there. And they happen to love childrens clothing and coloring books.

Those kids are outside the show. The security doors are clearly visible behind them. The only thing they have passed is the bag check, which you can easily bypass (and I recommend it in the morning when the line is long) with little effort.

Last year I was at E3 and I got stuck waiting behind a 10 year old (I'm not kidding) to play Kingdom Hearts 2. He was apparently there with his father who was working for Nintendo or something. It just got me really bugged. The kids I do remember seeing were wearing legit badges and were hanging around Nintendos booth (go figure) playing pokemon or whatever. They were exhibitor badges they had on with Nintendo as the company they were with, but they weren't doing any exhibiting just running around like kids do and playing games. The games they were playing were games that I wasn't really interested in at all though, which was a good thing.

I am not a lawyer, but you may want to be careful posting pictures of kids on the 'net without permission. I worked on a few websites for educators while I was in school and they had strict rules about that stuff. Don't know if there's a law restricting it, though.

If the parents are cool with it, just forget what I said.

In reply to everyone who thinks it should be open to everyone. Forget that. They already need to have cops there when its 18+. Now think what would happen if anyone could go? I think it should go back to the way it was when it was industry and enthusists only. Forget the general public.

brad77, i'm not a lawyer, too, but posting a photo taken in public does not a case make. The celebs get ticked because the paparazzis take their photos at home, which is private. If the photos were on a public beach or resort, they have no recourse.

back on topic, I agree with dsub, they should have E3 open to the public in it's last few days - with a fee of course, ala those car shows. I'd pay $20 for myself, and maybe $10 for my 6 year old boy who plays racing games quite well.

Kinda like when they told everyone at the press conferences that laptops and cameras weren't allowed too, huh?

this is nothing new. it's been like this since the beginning. i've been to the first three E3 shows, and those over 18+ signs were prominently posted all over the place. yet, i saw swarms of kids running around and screaming. security is a joke. i used to see people walk in with just the E3 badge holder around their neck, probably dug it out of the trash can outside.

Was this comment add by the inner nerd of Connan O'brian hhmmmmm.

Those aren't kids.

Those are SOE's developers.

Actually, this year was far better than years past...the crowds were more manageable and more on topic, there were a lot less kids/underage people around. I think they actually did a pretty good job of restricing passes this year to gaming industry people (and not guys who happen to work at a Blockbuster, etc). I could actually walk through the booths and hallways with a bit of free space to spare and was able to see plenty...I was downright amazed.

Opening the floor to the public would be an absolute nightmare. People would not get to see anything. In years past, it was already horribly crowded.

Ugh, this is why I'm working at Nintendo when I come of age, I hate those crappy VIPs and game industry people only rules.

I agree the restriction of passes to people working retail at GameStop really helped out. Thumbs up for that.

However, not opening the show to exhibits only people until 11A on the first day was BS. It really led to a lot of grumbling and people stalking the doors. If they want to let the paying customers in early, let them in at 9A and let the proles in at 10A.

BTW, on the 2nd day (the day of the now famous huge Wii lineup at open), the N folks said that exhibitors from other booths (who were let in early to man their own booths) instead started lining up to play with the Wii at 8A, and thus the crowds who were let in at 9A had to line up behind them!

Opening the floor the the public would ruin the show. It's not that I have a problem with regular gamers. It's that the exhibitors pay a lot of money to exhibit there, and they don't have an interest in flogging their wares to people who only control the buying decisions of themselves. In theory, the people there are "movers and shakers" and by convincing one person, they perhaps cause the sale of dozens of copies. Exhibitors wouldn't even want to pay booth people's salaries, let alone the cost of show space and booths in order to show to the ordinary public.

However, I think there is a market for a more downscale show to the public, perhaps PAX will evolve into this. This show should be in the fall, just before the critical Xmas shopping season starts.

"honestly, I think that E3 should be somewhat open to the public."

F__k that. The whole reason for the show is for DEVELOPERS and PUBLISHERS to see what they will be competing against for the next 1-2 years. Plus it is the chance for everyone to take a break from work, mingle and trade ideas, tips, etc. It is also where all the retailers go to see what games they want to focus on selling the most for the upcoming holiday seasons. People who have no interest in actually being a "professional" in the industry (and I don't mean someone who makes a gaming website just to get into E3) have no business being at E3.

Besides...considering how bad some people are who post on gaming websites are, it would be a complete nightmare b/c there would be rabid fanboys acting like children running around.