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E3 Needs to Grow Up

Despite a growing call for change, the organizers of E3 have no plans to address the booth babe issue at the industry's biggest show.

I'm sure these women are well versed in the talking points for Namco Bandai's upcoming fighting game.
I'm sure these women are well versed in the talking points for Namco Bandai's upcoming fighting game.

There’s been no shortage of discussion about women and video games this past week.

The conversation’s been driven by the gross response to Anita Sarkeesian’s nearly finished Kickstarter about the unfortunate and exclusionary tropes of female video game characters, and the quickly scrutinized comments from a producer on Tomb Raider about a potential rape scene (a description the studio has walked back) in the new game.

These are all good, uncomfortable conversations to have, but if we're talking about the depiction of women in games at such a serious level, how do we still have E3 booth babes? Other than for easy hits in web galleries, anyway.

The commonly referred to booth babe (also known as a "woman") is hired solely to wear skimpy clothing with a game or company’s logo and take photographs with attendees (who does that, by the way?). Typically, they are not well versed in the product they are hired to represent.

It seemed like a good time to check in with the Entertainment Software Association, who manages E3.

Despite some of the recent heated conversation, there are no plans to shift E3 policies.

"Exhibitors determine for themselves what is the best representation for their companies. Models are welcome if companies would like to have them, but that's an individual exhibitor decision,” said ESA VP of media relations and event management Dan Hewitt in an emailed statement to me yesterday.

Ghost Recon Commander designer Brenda Brathwaite sparked a vocal debate on Twitter over booth babes before she headed to the E3 show floor last Thursday.

“I dread heading off to work at E3 today,” she said. “The show is a constant assault on the female self esteem no matter which direction I look. I am in good shape, yet it is impossible not to compare. I feel uncomfortable. It is as if I walked into a strip club w/o intending to. These are the policies of @e3expo and @RichatESA. I feel uncomfortable in an industry I helped found.”

Her comments found plenty of support, such as Inside Network managing editor AJ Glasser.

@br The worst is when I get so good at seeing right through it that I forget they're actually women underneath the barely-there clothes.

— AJ Glasser (@Joygirl007) June 7, 2012

It’s not a new critique, but it was louder this year, and there seems to be a growing desire for change.

There was also the usual “what’s the big deal?” responses, including 3D Realms co-founder George Broussard.

@br I think you/others take it too seriously. It's not some academic event. It's a glitz show full of spectacle. #serious_business

— George Broussard (@georgeb3dr) June 7, 2012

It’s been a few years, but the ESA policy on booth babes has changed from E3's inception. The last major shift came in 2006, as new penalties, fines and policies were introduced regarding women featured in E3 exhibits.

"What's new in 2006 is an update and clarification of the enforcement policies; as we do from time to time, we have taken steps to ensure that exhibitors are familiar with the policy and how it will be enforced," said E3 show director Mary Dolaher to Reuters at the time.

A violation of the clothing policy would result in, at first, a warning, and then a $5,000 fine. Here’s what the handbook from 2006 said to exhibitors considering booth babes--er, sorry, live models:

"Material, including live models, conduct that is sexually explicit and/or sexually provocative, including but not limited to nudity, partial nudity and bathing suit bottoms, are prohibited on the show floor, all common areas, and at any access points to the show."

Hewitt told me there have been no changes to ESA policy since 2006.

Maybe there should be. Consider this anecdote that didn’t even take place on the show floor itself.

This was one of the first results the search term
This was one of the first results the search term "Devil May Cry strippers" gave me, sorry.

We arrived to our Capcom appointment, I plunked down with Lost Planet 3, and Alex Navarro was ushered over to play Devil May Cry. In a room of kiosks, there were pole dancers. It’s unclear what that has to do with Devil May Cry. The girl hired to skimpily waltz around was sitting on the floor, looking bored. Everyone in the room is focused on playing the game, and Alex wasn't playing Devil May Cry in a see-through bubble. No one on the show floor could see this room. Can someone explain how this helps anyone do their job?

Elsewhere, I refused to play any 3DS games at Nintendo’s booth because the company didn’t have a table with machines, and instead tethered its lineup to attractive women. I let that gimmick slide when Nintendo pulled the same trick at the original 3DS unveiling, but I’ll just wait until those games are out now, thanks.

Nintendo probably thought it was a cute idea. I doubt (and this is my sincere hope) Nintendo meant to undermine the credibility of women at gaming’s biggest show. It's still ignorance. Many of the issues regarding women and E3 aren’t overtly offensive, and can be easily rationalized by those who don’t see a problem.

That’s okay--we should have a debate about it.

And this is all hardly an issue that’s exclusive to games. The same week as E3, the Computex Summit was happening in Taipei, and computer manufacturer ASUS sent out the following tweet:

No Caption Provided

That tweet has since been deleted and ASUS released an apology, obviously.

I can gripe all I want, but the most effective solution has to come from the ESA itself. Only the ESA can enforce regulations on exhibitors, and let them know this archaic marketing tool needs to go away. If games are growing up, so does the way we go about advertising them in front of, ostensibly, a bunch of professional. This isn’t 1994.

PAX figured this out years ago, even if there have been incidents along the way (i.e. Lollipop Chainsaw at PAX East).

“Our definition of a ‘booth babe’ has been a model (male or female) that has been hired to stand/sit in skimpy clothing to market the product,” said Penny Arcade president of business development in 2010. “If that person knows the product inside and out then it’s less of an issue. A company representative that can interact with attendees in a way that provides value as opposed to ‘hey stare at my body’ is something that we encourage whether or not that representative is physically attractive or not.”

If E3 is supposed to represent the industry’s best, why can’t it figure out how to respect its own attendees?

Patrick Klepek on Google+

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Dagbiker

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Edited By Dagbiker

@Revenant86 said:

Jesus Patrick. I have to read a lot of politically correct bullshit at my job, when I come home to plop down and play/read up on some vidya. I want VIDYA ,not this fucking tripe. This "First-World discrimination" issue is the oldest cash grab in the book. Quite frankly, it's at a level so elementary these days that it might as well be up their with sibling rivalries. You want to talk about Discrimination against Women? Look up a friendly little place called SAUDI ARABIA or The Republic of the Congo, THEN we can have that discussion. Until then we need to look around and be thankful that we have what we have, and quit bitching about what we don't. Nothing is perfect, for ANYONE. And it never will be, we need to realize this. Only then will we truly evolve as a society.

When we give up, and realize that shit sucks then we will evolve? Some how things will magically get better or what? That sounds really dumb to me.

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Jumper

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Edited By Jumper

The Namco Bandai Booth Babes looks more like walking into a foreign brothel.

No Caption Provided

Then again, sex sells. SEXY!

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Edited By Cathryn

@Catolf: I totally agree with you on your point that attractive women have been used to sell things since the dawn of time. This is definitely not new and, imo, not really something to be offended about. Abnormally attractive people appear in advertisements everywhere, trying to sell things to us normal people -- this is part of our culture today. It's all that aspirational lifestyle crap.

I don't really see much of a problem with having cute girls at booths, but I think some companies go way over the line with it -- particularly Nintendo. Having your systems and controllers chained to booth babes and sending 50 models to deliver a 3DS system to press outlets is just weird on a whole level that I will never understand. I think that this actually hurts them in some ways -- I've heard lots of enthusiast press members talking about how they didn't spend any hands on time with the Nintendo games in the booth because they felt super awkward about having to play a Wii-U controller chained to a booth babe.

Also, the Devil May Cry stripper? Why?

What I would like to see is for those cute girls to actually know something about the products -- like actual spokesmodels. If they want to hire this week's crop of model and actress wannabes, then the companies should have to train them properly so that they aren't just there for window dressing. Either that, or they should only be hiring girls that are at least somewhat interested in video games and know something about the industry. Anything else is an insult to the girls themselves, to male gamers, female gamers, etc... It's just an embarrassment to the entire industry.

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Revenant86

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Edited By Revenant86

Jesus Patrick. I have to read a lot of politically correct bullshit at my job, when I come home to plop down and play/read up on some vidya. I want VIDYA ,not this fucking tripe. This "First-World discrimination" issue is the oldest cash grab in the book. Quite frankly, it's at a level so elementary these days that it might as well be up their with sibling rivalries. You want to talk about Discrimination against Women? Look up a friendly little place called SAUDI ARABIA or The Republic of the Congo, THEN we can have that discussion. Until then we need to look around and be thankful that we have what we have, and quit bitching about what we don't. Nothing is perfect, for ANYONE. And it never will be, we need to realize this. Only then will we truly evolve as a society.

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Edited By Catolf
@atomic_dumpling said:

@Catolf said:

let's say..the girls that come on the mic and giggle and flirt to win.. or lick PSP's? *Cough*JessicaChobot*cough* don't do anything for us but hurt us.

Are you serious? The way you worded this, the problem seems to be you. Personally, I would flirt right back.

How are you not grasping the concept?
 
In which case, you are part of the problem. Oi. And fyi.. those chicks always get a head shot from me. <3
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pekoe212

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Edited By pekoe212

@KrypticKiller said:

Is it tacky? Yes. Does it bring people into your booth? Yes. Should we care about some 30 year old's self esteem? Fuck no, grow up.

We can't just start banning people because they make you feel uncomfortable. If that is the case then E3 should ban all men with more visible muscle then me. Also ban those who are taller then me and have better hair then mine. I don't want to feel like I walked into a gym,hair salon or big and tall shop unintentionally.

For the millionth time, IT IS NOT NUDITY that people find upsetting/degrading. It is the CONTEXT of it. Maybe you'd understand if you'd grown up seeing men's bodies used to sell every object and service on earth. Look at that DMC illustration in the article and imagine seeing something similar to it selling you everything from TVs to chandeliers, every single day. I'm not joking about the chandeliers, look through an interior decorating magazine sometime. Naked ladies sell kitchen appliances and window coverings like nobody's business, apparently.

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PompousDawson

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Edited By PompousDawson

Women are equal to men. I don't see 'male models' at the show. Same should be said for these 'models' too. We're all better than this.

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SmilingPig

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No Caption Provided

Next E3 the booth babes will all be nuns... Happy now!

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Commisar123

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Edited By Commisar123

Yep pretty much, hopefully the whole industry can learn from this too. I don't understand why they wouldn't change it, I mean it only hurts right now nothing would be lost if we made these events more diverse and respectful. I think that goes for the whole industry too. Also that DMC image is important as it makes me feel uncomfortable and sympathize with females who find the current depiction of women repulsive.

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kimbokasteniv

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Edited By kimbokasteniv

Males being attracted to females is a fundamental trait. Presumably the argument is that these women are used inappropriately since their presence is not constructive to game journalism. Although this is true, it is also besides the point. As everyone is aware, these women are used to attract attention--which they are extremely effective at when the audience is dominated by males. Thus it is difficult to argue that they are inappropriate given their utility.

But perhaps the objectification of women is the real issue. Objectification occurs in a person's mind. A woman acting in a sexually arousing way does not guarantee objectification--that is determined by the observer. Furthermore, supposed objectification is not a one way street. A quick look at Gears of War, God of War, Max Payne, Tekken, Uncharted, NFS, almost every game, will also show some unrealistic portrait of presumably attractive mail traits. They may not always be as apparent as huge muscles, but can be more subtle such as being as quick, witty, and cool headed as Nathan Drake.

Finally, as always, it is not the ESAs fault or even the companies which hire these ladies. If booth babes truly are a negative thing, then the blame lies on the audience. A company is there to make money, their choice will ideally always be inline with that goal. If they feel booth babes will not help the goal, then they will remove them.

At least that is what I think.

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deactivated-5ffc9b0923f9f

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Patrick stop being a hippy and stop trying to take people's jobs away.

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deactivated-5f90eabee6bba

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I just... don't even care anymore. I miss video games...

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Edited By Dagbiker

@Hailinel said:

@Claude said:

@Hailinel said:

@Claude said:

I still don't understand why Patrick didn't call out other video game media sites, like Destructoid and Gametrailers. Hell, there's a Brazzer photoshop thread on this site. Done as a joke, but imagine all those poor women that are forced into porn.

I can't recall a single time on this site when the staff has called out another website or a specific editor for doing something brazenly stupid. It's like it's OK for them to criticize E3 organizers or game companies, but they always stop short of directly criticizing their colleagues in the press.

I guess they don't want to burn any bridges. You never know who you might be working for next.

True, but at the same time, I think this has led to editors that are otherwise incredibly poor at their jobs being able to hold on to their positions because no one with any professional clout calls them out on their incompetence. Like that interview McShea had at GameSpot with the Medal of Honor developer. McShea comes off as a blistering idiot for a full twenty minutes and the only people acknowledging his complete lack of professionalism are the site visitors, not the staff.

I agree It kinda sucks that no one will call out each other. But I think the reason is because, at least it sounds like, in this industry; You never know when you might need that job from that guy that you could have shit talked on the podcast the other day.

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Edited By scottygrayskull

I don't think the ESA should be instituting a dress code. No matter much you tell women at E3 what they are and are not allowed to wear, because that is what a "no booth babes" policy is, they'll still figure out a way around it. You might not see the level of those Tekken models, but you'll see girls in mini-skirts and tight shirts (perfectly acceptable, and attention grabbing, street attire) who are just as pointless. It's all over PAX.

What really needs to change imo is the industry's attitude. If people have so much problem with a company's booth babes, how about not giving them any coverage? How about saying "we refused to cover their games because of their attitude about objectifying women"? I'm sick of hearing these cries for change, usually shortly followed up (not here thankfully) by a booth babes gallery. Or more recently I've noticed, a "cosplayers" gallery.

I mean, I know why sites don't do that, because one site won't and they'll get all that juicy coverage to themselves. And I know why companies don't stop doing it, because tits actually do equal hits (bad hits are still hits). But I think the change needs to happen with the attitude of the industry rather than the show's policies.

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Edited By moondogger

One needs a machete to cut through the amount of straw men being thrown around here. The biggest video game fan convention manages to navigate these waters without too much trouble - apparently the big publishers who set up huge booths at PAX are fine with curtailing the booth babe thing in Seattle and Boston. The world doesn't end. This strikes me as a step forward for a games industry that wants to be inclusive. I think it would be a good thing for E3 to follow the lead of PAX.

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Edited By veektarius

I agree that it's unnecessary to have booth babes, but don't support regulating it. And the idea that it's somehow immoral is stupid puritan. The girls choose to take the job and they're compensated for it.

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Edited By Alwaysrun

Young men like video games and hotties.

Have you seen the latest Hitman video game trailer?

'Nuff said...

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Edited By Claude
@Hailinel said:

@Claude said:

@Hailinel said:

@Claude said:

I still don't understand why Patrick didn't call out other video game media sites, like Destructoid and Gametrailers. Hell, there's a Brazzer photoshop thread on this site. Done as a joke, but imagine all those poor women that are forced into porn.

I can't recall a single time on this site when the staff has called out another website or a specific editor for doing something brazenly stupid. It's like it's OK for them to criticize E3 organizers or game companies, but they always stop short of directly criticizing their colleagues in the press.

I guess they don't want to burn any bridges. You never know who you might be working for next.

True, but at the same time, I think this has led to editors that are otherwise incredibly poor at their jobs being able to hold on to their positions because no one with any professional clout calls them out on their incompetence. Like that interview McShea had at GameSpot with the Medal of Honor developer. McShea comes off as a blistering idiot for a full twenty minutes and the only people acknowledging his complete lack of professionalism are the site visitors, not the staff.

Reminds me of the Thin Blue Line. We the masses on message boards are the necessary evil. If it wasn't for the enthusiast press circling their wagons, there would be anarchy.
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Edited By Hailinel

@Claude said:

@Hailinel said:

@Claude said:

I still don't understand why Patrick didn't call out other video game media sites, like Destructoid and Gametrailers. Hell, there's a Brazzer photoshop thread on this site. Done as a joke, but imagine all those poor women that are forced into porn.

I can't recall a single time on this site when the staff has called out another website or a specific editor for doing something brazenly stupid. It's like it's OK for them to criticize E3 organizers or game companies, but they always stop short of directly criticizing their colleagues in the press.

I guess they don't want to burn any bridges. You never know who you might be working for next.

True, but at the same time, I think this has led to editors that are otherwise incredibly poor at their jobs being able to hold on to their positions because no one with any professional clout calls them out on their incompetence. Like that interview McShea had at GameSpot with the Medal of Honor developer. McShea comes off as a blistering idiot for a full twenty minutes and the only people acknowledging his complete lack of professionalism are the site visitors, not the staff.

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@Salarn: The year 2000 was a long time ago, and when her last credit is Playboy The Mansion, you should probably stop defending her.

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Edited By Claude
@Hailinel said:

@Claude said:

I still don't understand why Patrick didn't call out other video game media sites, like Destructoid and Gametrailers. Hell, there's a Brazzer photoshop thread on this site. Done as a joke, but imagine all those poor women that are forced into porn.

I can't recall a single time on this site when the staff has called out another website or a specific editor for doing something brazenly stupid. It's like it's OK for them to criticize E3 organizers or game companies, but they always stop short of directly criticizing their colleagues in the press.

I guess they don't want to burn any bridges. You never know who you might be working for next.
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deactivated-5f8ac39b52e76

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@Catolf said:

let's say..the girls that come on the mic and giggle and flirt to win.. or lick PSP's? *Cough*JessicaChobot*cough* don't do anything for us but hurt us.

Are you serious? The way you worded this, the problem seems to be you. Personally, I would flirt right back.

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Edited By chaos_burn

Can you imagine a gaming industry that didn't objectify women?! It would implode - so much rests on 'sex sells' and a blunt male dominated market....

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@flindip:True, I just wanted to make it clear that I have a solution that works for me already.

That doesn't mean we can't work towards treating people better somehow, though. :)

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Edited By crunchbitejr
The commonly referred to booth babe (also known as a "woman")

I fucking love you man.

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TheManiacsGnome

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@Anund: He skipped over the part where it's been pointed out that she has worked on TWO Playboy games, which I'm fairly certain were shown at E3.

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Edited By Hailinel

@Claude said:

I still don't understand why Patrick didn't call out other video game media sites, like Destructoid and Gametrailers. Hell, there's a Brazzer photoshop thread on this site. Done as a joke, but imagine all those poor women that are forced into porn.

I can't recall a single time on this site when the staff has called out another website or a specific editor for doing something brazenly stupid. It's like it's OK for them to criticize E3 organizers or game companies, but they always stop short of directly criticizing their colleagues in the press.

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Edited By flindip

@JadeGL:

I wasn't saying you were advocating it. I was just pointing out a possible way of removing those players.

Personally, it would be nice to have mature communities, I don't feel that it will ever happen across the board. Anonymity makes that pretty much impossible imo.

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Amducious

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Well I guess everyone who finds Booth babes offensive are just about to throw away their consoles and all their games since they obviously feel so strongly about it that they wouldn't ever support the games industry (such pimps)...or visit this site ever again. (since this site is trade press for the most part)

So I guess...see you!

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jadegl

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Edited By jadegl

@flindip: Absolutely not. People can say what they wish. I would never advocate any type of censorship and I don't believe my post even hinted at that. Again, this is why I limit my online play and tend to participate in more cooperative forms of multiplayer than just all out head to head competitions. I know where the worst of the behavior is and I guide my play to the better aspects of the community.

My main point, which I said a few times in my initial post, is that it would be nice. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less.

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Claude

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Edited By Claude

I still don't understand why Patrick didn't call out other video game media sites, like Destructoid and Gametrailers. Hell, there's a Brazzer photoshop thread on this site. Done as a joke, but imagine all those poor women that are forced into porn.

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Nicked

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Edited By Nicked

Seems like there have been a lot of negative reactions to this article and I just wanted to say that I appreciate content like this on occasion. These types of discussions are important.

The way women are represented in games and the games industry is off-putting to me. I'm not for outright banning provocatively dressed women, but it's fair to say that hypersexualization is the overwhelming (if not only) representation of women in games. Sexy sexiness is not a bad thing in its own right, but it's sleazy when that is OVERWHELMINGLY the way women are treated.

For example, that Far Cry 3 demo with the topless chick was completely exploitative. That nudity is a heartless, meaningless, corporate decision specifically designed to sell a product. There's no art to it. It's pathetic. Sex in games is used as a back of the box bullet point.

Now I'm not saying that sleazy entertainment, in any form, should be banned. What I'm saying is that sleaze is the norm for games. There's something disappointing about that.

But still, this is a problem in all entertainment media. How many young girls starve themselves or force themselves to throw up so they can be thin like everyone on TV? How many overweight guys get depressed about their bodies? These issues are un-gendered and they speak to larger cultural problems with media.

Again, articles like these are important because once more and more people realize there's a problem or misrepresentation going on, more people will work to fix it. Sex sells, and that's OK, but there need to be other options.

To say "well, women signed up for it, so it's acceptable behavior" is to miss the point entirely. It pisses me off to hear people say "get over it". Have some goddamn empathy.

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flindip

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Edited By flindip

@JadeGL said:

This is one of those topics that I usually try to avoid. Sticking myself out there as a gamer and as a female, I can say that I understand the use of booth babes.

I get it.

I also understand the push back against it. It would be nice to go to a show and see the games and focus on only that.

In the end, I am not offended by this particular issue. While sometimes I roll my eyes at the use of this type of marketing in games, movies and other media, I try to just pay attention what is important. That is what I want to make clear before the rest of my post.

I see less problems with the booth babes themselves than with the attitudes of some of the people who play games and immerse themselves in gaming culture. I have experienced the nasty underside of this culture and it really just plain sucks. I wish I could get online and play with a mic, but I can't really unless I want to be called a skank, whore, or worse. Now when I play multiplayer, on Gears of War 3, Mass Effect 3, whatever, I just focus on the game, no mic and mute the sound on the nasty ones. The hilarious thing is the worst stuff I heard directed at me was after a successful second place finish on 1 vs 100, so even casual gaming isn't safe from this behavior.

Now, to the people who say to ignore it. I have been doing that and been successful. However, it would be nice if I didn't have to go to such lengths just to enjoy games that I pay for and spend my time with. It would be nice if guys also didn't call other guys nasty racial epithets or slurs as well. This isn't just a gender problem, men vs women, this is a person vs person problem. This is people thinking it's perfectly okay to use anonymity to say the vilest things they can with no repercussions, things that they would never dare to utter to another human being if they were standing in front of them.

At the end of the day, I love games. I have been playing games for over 25 years and see no reason to stop playing games as I get older. I think it's good to have dialogue about these types of issues. If we talk about things, maybe we can understand each other better and make the gaming community more inclusive for everyone.

I understand where you are coming from. You are making reasonable observations. But, in regards to the vitrol that everyone is exposed to in certain games:

Do you want these gamers censored? If you go down that rabbit hole, is that something you want?

I'm not saying there is a right/wrong answer just curious as to the response.

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@KevinMerrill: Only way to deal with stuff like this. :D
 
@JadeGL: The thing is, because it is a Person vs/ person issue, we can't come to terms. Man-children abound and those females who do.. let's say..the girls that come on the mic and giggle and flirt to win.. or lick PSP's? *Cough*JessicaChobot*cough* don't do anything for us but hurt us. Ignoring is your best bet, but why stop using a mic? It's letting ignorance win. We gotta face whats out there, but do so in a productive way to make where we game (anyone) a better environment for all.
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This is one of those topics that I usually try to avoid. Sticking myself out there as a gamer and as a female, I can say that I understand the use of booth babes.

I get it.

I also understand the push back against it. It would be nice to go to a show and see the games and focus on only that.

In the end, I am not offended by this particular issue. While sometimes I roll my eyes at the use of this type of marketing in games, movies and other media, I try to just pay attention what is important. That is what I want to make clear before the rest of my post.

I see less problems with the booth babes themselves than with the attitudes of some of the people who play games and immerse themselves in gaming culture. I have experienced the nasty underside of this culture and it really just plain sucks. I wish I could get online and play with a mic, but I can't really unless I want to be called a skank, whore, or worse. Now when I play multiplayer, on Gears of War 3, Mass Effect 3, whatever, I just focus on the game, no mic and mute the sound on the nasty ones. The hilarious thing is the worst stuff I heard directed at me was after a successful second place finish on 1 vs 100, so even casual gaming isn't safe from this behavior.

Now, to the people who say to ignore it. I have been doing that and been successful. However, it would be nice if I didn't have to go to such lengths just to enjoy games that I pay for and spend my time with. It would be nice if guys also didn't call other guys nasty racial epithets or slurs as well. This isn't just a gender problem, men vs women, this is a person vs person problem. This is people thinking it's perfectly okay to use anonymity to say the vilest things they can with no repercussions, things that they would never dare to utter to another human being if they were standing in front of them.

At the end of the day, I love games. I have been playing games for over 25 years and see no reason to stop playing games as I get older. I think it's good to have dialogue about these types of issues. If we talk about things, maybe we can understand each other better and make the gaming community more inclusive for everyone.

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KevinMerrill

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@Catolf: Thank you for making a reasonable point.

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Catolf

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Look.. It's supply and demand.
 
The girls aren't being forced to be there, pretty woman and selling things go together like PB&J, it'll continue no matter how you feel about it, but here's something I'd like to change. Pretty women, gorgeous women in fact is fine to have as a booth babe, but how about they be knowledgeable about the product they are selling on their chest?
 
Don't hire based on looks, they're plenty of lovely women out there that either do play games or would be open to trying to play your product and have the basic grasp of it. I'm not saying everything, but basic knowledge would be great. Hell give me some booth men as well. (yeah... not likely to happen if at all or much)
 
Don't think banning booth babes solves the man-child problem the gaming industry has. So don't bother. They will always be there, booth babes just make them easier to spot. You want E3 to grow up, start by not just thinking about how offended you are and take the girls into account. You might not care for it, but THEY are the ones who sign up to do it. Get mad at the company all you want, but they aren't forcing these girls to help sell the product, they SIGNED UP FOR IT.
 
You want to fix the problem, stop looking at the company and look to the girls, because if they don't demand different, whats the point?

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Holy crap this article has the worst comments I've ever read.

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Shortbreadtom

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The worst thing about it to me is how publishers and devs think of their customers... it's as if they think we're all some pathetic, horny teenager who would do anything to stand next to a pretty girl. We aren't all sexually repressed manchildren, and I think it's insulting that people think that this sells a game.

Also, what kind of image is this sending to people who aren't into videogames? All stuff like this does is reinforce the stereotype about nerdy gamers.

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I often find women pissed off at how men gawk at a nice butt or a woman's cleavage, and then moments later gawk at a muscular, tall male. It's human fucking nature, get over it.

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I don't really care about this stuff but I have my doubts as to how much better it makes the booths to have the babes. I mean does anyone care? Maybe for a picture? but come on your there for video games... Also I think that kickstarter project is cool BUT I don't think it should be on kickstarter... why does she need money? It looks like she just going to pocket it, i'm pretty sure it sounds like maybe a 2 week project(unfunded) at best. I don't know what's wrong with people... why would you waste money on that????

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Dookysharpgun

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@Mongoose: Ah no way! I hate when that happens, I constantly have to copy/paste my stuff from word documents in case the site does that to me, it's happened before, and I've been irritated by it!

On your previous post, I totally get what you're saying, but I think we're both circling some important points here.

It would be fantastic to have games being sold on their merit alone, and doing well because of it...I tend to view games in that respect because I've got no interest in marketing strategies and the like, they don't tend to make me feel in any way different about a product, I just enjoy playing it. Now on the topic of being treated like an idiot; you're right. All too often, people who videogames are aimed at are viewed as fools, purely male individuals who think with their nethers, rather than their brains. It is insulting, I don't like it, but this idea bleeds into everything videgame related. Preorder bonuses and DLC are some of the many ways publishers treat the gaming community like idiots, just different classes I would say. It's part of a larger problem, and has to be addressed and perhaps downsized in importance, because everyone, publishers and videogame enthusiasts alike, seems to be focusing purely on that topic, which is why I find it hard to understand the issue.

Now I can agree that in a few games, like Shadows of the Damned for example, a great game that I loved, there was more than one scene where semi-nude, to moaning women were part of a level, and while I didn't feel ashamed, it can be a little disconcerting, so I can understand that issue. However, I still think that the same thing can be said about television, i.e.; Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire and the like, as well as movies, so by comparison...should this industry be treated as a special case? I know in some situations it can seem stupid to have a woman dressed in skimpy body armour which has no practical use, and I'll call it out on that, but in game like Lollipop Chainsaw, where it's basically a parody of B-movie horror following the adventures of a ditzy blonde, I'm going to laugh away at the absurdity of the situation because that's what it was intended for.

I know what you're saying, I agree with your points, but I do think that many of these topics don't cast their net wide enough, taking everything in a lump sum and not treating it by a case-by-case basis. I get what you mean, that games are targeting what we have to say is the emotional equivalent of horny, teenage boys in terms of an audience, but I find, and maybe I'm blind most of the time, that these methods are, at best, small, and have nothing to do with the overall game I'm playing. Now that's just my view, and again, I do understand where you're coming from, I just find it difficult to apply to such a serious situation. Now games are evolving slowly, they're beginning to encompass everyone, not just the horny teenager, but it will take take to do so more openly and readily. I still feel like the focus is too heavily focused on the way other forms of media view games, when those forms of media do much worse to alienate potential audience members, but if the issue here is the feeling of being treated like an idiot with shitty marketing techniques, then I couldn't agree more, though I still think that the models deserve to do the job they're paid for, though I would rather if that situation was rectified through their own industry, so they don't have to be totally and utterly objectified with man-children, but I do think that your points are perfectly valid from that point-of-view. I just didn't see that point of view in the article, which has a more...harsh tone surrounding it.

And don't worry about the case of the missing post, it always happens when ya have something good to say :D

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deactivated-5f8ac39b52e76

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@KevinMerrill said:

Maybe Giantbomb should do a write-up on how degrading it is for females to make their own decision and wear a bikini to the beach.

They are feminists who would agree with that sentiment, sad as it is.

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This article is embarrassing. I LOVE Giantbomb and I agree with the guys on a lot of things, but this isn't one of those things.

You're grown adults, act like it. If you don't like booth babes, don't look at them. How insulting this must be for the booth babes themselves. They're making a voluntary decision to make a living. Talk about not having any respect for women! How about some respect for the booth babes? They are obviously the ones comfortable with their image and self-esteem. This article and people like the aforementioned Ghost Recon Commander designer Brenda Brathwaite are the ones being judgemental and degrading women by acting like the women acting like "booth babes" are anything less than individuals making decisions for themselves. For the love of Christ, never go to the beach if you're so self-conscious.

You know what? That sparks a good idea. Maybe Giantbomb should do a write-up on how degrading it is for females to make their own decision and wear a bikini to the beach.

You want to know how to respect women? Respect all women, even those who make decisions you aren't necessarily fond of.

Grow up.

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@Dookysharpgun: Man, I had this big post about your points and had some good discussion, but then the thing didn't post. Shit.

In summary: Good post, good discussion, but I disagree. Please see my post a few down for clarification!

Can't believe it disappeared!

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Is it tacky? Yes. Does it bring people into your booth? Yes. Should we care about some 30 year old's self esteem? Fuck no, grow up.

We can't just start banning people because they make you feel uncomfortable. If that is the case then E3 should ban all men with more visible muscle then me. Also ban those who are taller then me and have better hair then mine. I don't want to feel like I walked into a gym,hair salon or big and tall shop unintentionally.

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@benjaebe said:

I think I need a break from the internet for a while. Topics like this are just starting to make my head hurt and I'd rather go play video games.

Same here, i'm going to finish Yakuza 4 & 3D Dot Game Heroes and play more Folklore.

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NMC2008

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The Simpsons - Itchy & Scratchy vs Marge has been the theme since E3, I wonder if it will end the same way. :P

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To be honest...I can't see the big issue here. These women need work in modelling industry that glorifies the 'sex sells' ideal, and really, have we any right to judge them, or what companies use them for? I mean c'mon, this problems transcends gaming in general, it's a world stage affair, and to think we're so high and mighty as to point this out and then vent our frustrations on it isn't helping anything. I've viewed this sexism debate for the last couple of weeks, and it's gotten out of control. Suddenly, women doing a job to capitize on what could maybe be their chance at making enough money to fund another dream, as even escorts or strippers have been known to do from time to time, is terrible not because of how they have to lower themselves to such a standard, having no alternative, but because we, the gaming community, publishers and the like take issue with it and need to grow up. This is literally no better than what existed before it, it's bigger than simple disapproving ideals, stemming from moral high ground that some may have.

I see no love for women here, no attempt to put forward actual feminist theory, instead replacing it with the misogynistic male view that women need to be pushed out of these kind of events for their own good, or be made learn about them against their will, so that they can be seen as valid in this industry. Hell, half the writers on development teams don't care about videogames, and because of that, the community bust their shit over what those people can and cannot say or do. An industry, mind you, filled to the brim with whining children in head offices, development teams losing their homes and the knee-jerk, bandwagon reaction of yelling 'sexism' without a second thought to what the realities of the cencept means. The whole tomb raider thing was a perfect example. People are interested because it's an origin story with survival elements to it, not because lara is getting the shit knocked out of her...which I think is a bit stupid, because nobody can be that unlucky, if anything, it's highly unrealistic, but not something used as a marketing tool towards masochists. Hitman just had a silly-arse trailer, it wasn't meant to offend, and the whole sexy-nun killer thing kinda died out when the issues with the church came to light.

And if this topic did stem from someone feeling uncomfortable that attractive people are getting more attention...then holy shit, this industry is actually going to implode, but correct me if I'm wrong. Look, in my view, women can do whatever they want, and if people want to even the field by putting in half-naked dudes, go right ahead, but if you're losing sleep over this because it hurts you personally, that you're outraged because you feel like people may view you and what you do negatively, then you're really not part of a solution. In fact, that's all this argument has ever been about, how the world views us, an industry catering to entertainment, like so many others, and how that could pervert the view of how 'serious' we are to them. Who the shit cares?

If I wanted to be part of something serious, I wouldn't have decided to get into games, because life is far too serious, and sometimes a little escape, be it through games or a few days where women get money to stand around and look pretty, can be a welcome release from the average shite we have to deal with day-in day-out. On top of that, if anyone thinks people buy games based on the women that stand in front of them...then I don't think we're the ones who need to grow up. It isn't a perfect world, this is a reality, so instead of pushing it away on a whim of moral superiority, let's embrace it like every other industry does, and maybe give it a little more credibility by not getting suckered into the glamour...still amazed that it's even a thing...and perhaps, just a thought, we could treat these women with respect, and allow them to do their jobs, ignoring the lonely bastards who view them as pure sex-objects because really, they'll die alone anyway.

Sorry if this is tries to encompass a little bit more than the topic, and maybe I don't know shit, but I can't see the issue here.

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Dagbiker

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Edited By Dagbiker

@CaptainCody said:

@Dagbiker said:

@CaptainCody said:

@Allison said:

GAMERS DON'T UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF FEMINISM. NEWS AT THE TOP OF THE HOUR, EVERY HOUR, 'TIL THE END OF TIME.

Yes great there are men who are objectified by women. Hooray this is neither the topic at hand and also completely dismissing the issue of women being objectified. 9 times out of 10 you will see a woman in advertising because guess what? Men make more money on average than women. This means that they are the dominant consumer audience. Which means that the majority of advertising is going to cater towards those white, straight middle to upper class men.

This is how a problem begins. The answer to fixing it is not to ignore or dismiss it, but figure out from here, where you can find solutions. "Booth babes" ARE a problem for the gaming community, and not just women. This very article even admits that they were put off of Nintendo's booth because for the second year in a row, they decided that tethering consoles to women was a good idea. There are so many wrong things at play with a phrase like, "Our consoles are tethered to women so that you male gamers can enjoy." There are ways around booth babes, obviously. Good Old Games did VERY WELL WITH THIS last year at PAX: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLgkW91l6fg

Regardless, I expect a lot of people to flame feminism and feminists like they always do so go right ahead. :)

You seem a little slow. This is a very small percentage of the gaming community here, one in which a majority probably understand feminism better than you and could not give a shit about this because it's all semantics. If you want someone to vent at then go bust down every PR managers' home and free the beast. Lastly, their isn't really much to fix, objecting women has been a thing since the beginning of recorded history, it won't change on the fly. Furthermore, you can't fix something when it isn't broken, it's just people in skimpy clothing, get over it. It's not even menial enough to be described as a first world problem. If you want to argue for objectification of women then go rally people where it is a legitimate problem.

I dont understand why you think one group of random people would understand Feminism better then a single other random person.

The same reason why a single person would generalize an entire mass of people.

I dont want to argue, I just wanted to understand. I dont want to go down this road.