E3 09: My Beefs With E3
Disclaimer: The opinions in this article are solely those of PixelPoet and do not in anyway express the viewpoints or feelings of the site GayGamer.net or any of its writers. For the record, PixelPoet just likes to complain about things and would be completely at peace living in a nursing home complaining about 'kids today' with the other geriatrics if he could just stand the smell.
Ahh, I love a good ranting, just ask Fruit Brute or Tiny Dancer and they'll readily agree that when it comes to complaining, I'm the bee's knees (incidentially, who even uses the phrase "bee's knees" anymore?). Now don't get me wrong, I loved going to E3, I think it's great that the event exists and lets everyone have their moment in the spotlight all at one central location. Keeps us writers from having to run around with our heads cutoff to all the different studios around the globe to see each game.
Even at the finest of events, I take it upon myself to find a few things to complain about; I mean there's always room for improvement. So if you are wanting something more upbeat to read about like the impressions of a "newbie", or the E3 event compared to a game idea in which one reporter is said to have willowy hips, Wootini and Tiny Dancer already have you covered; however, if you are looking for a nice juicy slice of bitch pie, step on up to the pie eating contest I've got setup after the jump.
The Beefs:
- Tuesday to Thursday: E3 is scheduled to run from Tuesday until Thursday at the LA Convention Center; however, anyone that goes there knows that half of the important stuff to cover actually starts on Monday, and the good parties to catch are sometimes even sooner. On top of all that, they don't even have shuttles running on the first day until 10am, because the floor technically doesn't open until then, but that doesn't mean that companies aren't still having press conferences or other events before 10am on Tuesday. Why can't we just say that E3 runs from Monday to Thursday and make Monday a "press only" non-expo floor day? This way the press can at least have a central location for possible shuttles to events as well as having somewhere to unwind in between cracking jokes about the Nintendo Wii Vitality news and going to see Sony unleash it's worst kept secret of PSP Go.
- Trying To Get Around in LA: Speaking of shuttles, why do they often seem non-existent for all the extra-circular events? Granted, a few of the better put together (and at the same time crowded) parties have shuttles to them, and the VIP/invite-only ones are suppose to be hard to get to, but is it suppose to be the same for Press conferences? I mean I guess we could use LA's lovely public transportation system to get around to events (note sarcasm). I get it, a number of industry companies are located in LA, but with traffic, public transportation, and taxi cab fares what they are in that city, it really makes you wonder if it is the best city for so big of an industry event. The other writers and I went to a private party one night and decided to take a cab there since it was "close by" by LA standards. 20-30 minutes later we were at the bar and my wallet was $35 lighter due to the fare. You can cross from one corner of San Francisco to another in a cab for less that $25 or take two buses that run at a somewhat regular schedule for only $1.50. Ridiculous!
- Booth Babes: I get it, sex sells, but it only sells so much. I love seeing the babes dressed up as Lara Croft, or other actual characters I can play in games; however, there are only so many nondescript fantasy-ninja-sniper D-cup women I can take on the exhibit floor. Plus, it you haven't noticed, more girls are playing games so why don't you put more truly Solid Snakes out on the floor for us to look at too. On top of that, who came up with the idea that hot girls walking around a party with just a bikini that just has your company's logo *cough*d3*cough* is good advertisement? The only thing it inspired from us was a sad conversation with a guy who obviously liked "bewbs" but for far too long couldn't comprehend that the four guys on the couch in front of him did not. (It finally took him asking "So what company do you guys work for?" for it all to sink in; yes Virgina, gays do exist)
- The Sound Level: I get it, your games have all the action, as well as the sound, cranked up to 11. That's great, but did you realize that only makes it so that I can't distinguish one game from the next at your booth when you are trying to show me all three sports related titles you have on my docket to see with Rock Band trailers blaring in the background? I have to admit that the EA booth was the worst about this. Don't get me wrong, visually the booth was stunning. It was the first thing you see as you walk into the South Hall, had a gigantic projection TV showcasing their big blockbusters, and tons of demo booths; however, the sound from the TV and the man on the mic announcing each game's trailer as it came up made it completely impossible to hear the game I'm demoing, let alone the developer standing next to me that's discussing the features of the game. The whole event was like being at a concert, but having the advertisements playing louder than the band on stage I'm here to see.
Okay, those are the big beefs, I'm sure there are others, but I think that's enough protein for one day. Feel free to tell me how stupid I am, or whatever else I may have missed, just don't expect me to agree with what you say and don't ask me to explain what willowy hips are, because I don't know either. :-P
PixelPoet
Posted to E3, Hot Stuff, Miscellany on 12 June 2009
· Comments (10)
Other stuff like this: booth babes, complaints, e3, e3 2009, humor, la, my beef
We all need a good kvetch now and again.
Although I wasn't there I can bet the sound level would be the biggest complaint for me, too. I'm always complaining that people never seem to think about acoustics when putting buildings (especially restaurants) together.
I can already tell you that the first two items come down to the cost of the event. Those shuttles are being paid for by the ESA, which is only concerned with getting people around for the actual convention its running. Those press conferences on Monday, as well all those parties, are purely at the prerogative and discretion of the individual companies. The ESA doesn't want to, nor should it be expected to, cover the cost of shuttling people to individual company events that are not being held on the convention floor.
As for the last two, the ESA actually cracked down on those for the last couple years, and everyone bitched and moaned about how E3 was "dead" and wasn't making the impact it used to. This was the year the ESA went back to its old policies of allowing booth babes and ridiculous level of sound and glitz, and now people are saying is this was the best E3 in years.
I must say I agree with 1, 3 and 4. However on #2, if you're from the US and don't know that traffic is a problem in LA... kill yourself. Seriously, don't complain, plan ahead. I went to the IGN party and those guys knew what was happening, most rented cars for the week.
So next time don't be a moron plan ahead.
@MuddBstrd and @Jon M: I never said the ESA should cover the cost of shuttles to private events, nor do I think all press need to rent cars for the event (sorry that I work at a small media company that can't spring for rental cars in LA, let alone deal with parking and overnight car parking fees at hotels). When it all comes down to it, I'm complaining that the city of LA is not a great one to have 60 million events in since it is so spread out.
Plus it's an easy thing to bitch about, unless you are a cabbie in LA, those guys got it made.
Yeah... not being able to afford rental cars does not a moron make. The IGN guys could have had freaking *jetpacks*.
Willowy.
@PixelPoet Having been born and raised in LA, I guess that is where I don't understand. LA's a great city, complaining about traffic, once again, makes me think someone didn't plan ahead.
Also a lot of the hotels offer free parking to guests. Usually it's a good idea to ask ahead of time. Additionally there is a shuttle system a lot of the hotels downtown use that is a nominal fee and does stop at the convention center. You could have even asked if the hotel has a private shuttle (some do). You could have scheduled a pick-up with the RTA which would have gotten you every morning. Probably the best choice was what Samsung did to me this event and got me to drive them around the whole week.
SF isn't the best city to do an event in either. It's just as crowded as LA with less to do.
I happen to travel A LOT from Istanbul to Seoul. I've never just gone somewhere without know exactly how I'd get around once on the ground, that's part of the planning. And trust me there are a LOT of options in every city.
If you go to a travel agency and book a vacation one of the things they always look at is how you will get around once you are there. So instead of complaining about LA maybe you should look at the planning process.
@Noise: I'm a musician, so I ALWAYS carry ear plugs around with me. They work wonders =)
Just make sure you nod a lot so people think you're listening ;-)
Also, the phrase is "supposed to."
Wow. Harsh much? These are one person's complaints. There is no need to apparently take things personally and attack him.
@SkippySF: Don't work I'm like a duck, it rolls off my back. I was just trying to invoke some conversation, it wasn't suppose to be taken as cannon.