E3 - anyone know how us regular joes can sneak our way in?

[Spongo]

any ideas? anyone know of anyone who has been able to attend w/o working in the industry?

 

[herkulease]

well this year Sony gave away floor passes. They had some event where the 1st 100 people who showed up got passes to their conference and floor passes.

Hope they do something simliar next year or enter every contest.

You could always start a blog and hope it gets popular and get in via press.

 

[blurredvision]

I really don't know why they don't do 2 days for press, and the 3rd day for the public. They make a big thing out of E3 and announce all this shit and try to get us hyped up, but they won't let anyone in to play the games.

 

[coxmaster]

Originally posted by: peritusONE
I really don't know why they don't do 2 days for press, and the 3rd day for the public. They make a big thing out of E3 and announce all this shit and try to get us hyped up, but they won't let anyone in to play the games.

I had an all access media pas. Sadly, i couldnt go

 

[Kromis]

Originally posted by: coxmaster

Originally posted by: peritusONE
I really don't know why they don't do 2 days for press, and the 3rd day for the public. They make a big thing out of E3 and announce all this shit and try to get us hyped up, but they won't let anyone in to play the games.

I had an all access media pas. Sadly, i couldnt go

You lucky bastard...

 

[BD2003]

Without going into great detail, lets just say this is a trade show, not fort knox. They're not going to do a background check on you, and the actual requirements are pretty easy to get past. It's pretty damn easy to qualify as press/media.

I went in 2006, and most people I was going with were preregistered, but I didnt get mine in on time. There was a long list of stuff you needed, a business card, a printout of an article you've written etc. I was a bit worried about getting on the plane without having my shit in order beforehand, but at the actual registration booth, the clerk was shocked at how well prepared I was. If you do everything to the letter, you'll get in. Even if you mess up a bit, they'll more than likely let you in, since you are paying for the privilege.

One look at the crowd before the doors opened, which was 90% sweaty fanboys, and you knew the vast majority of people there didnt really "belong" there. The point is, if you really want to go, there's very little standing in your way, but it isnt as easy as just buying a ticket. You'll have to be...creative.

The best part about getting a press pass is the press kits you can request from the reps. Those things sold for $$$ on ebay...a few squaresoft ones practically financed our entire trip.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Like BD says, these are relatively easy to get into. I was all gussied up to go to CES 2008 just on the basis of my Company name (we're not into consumer stuff, as is the prerequisite), but my plans changed last minute and I had to ditch my pass.

And that one was free.

 

[Spongo]

hmm...i'm gonna to try to go next year. i suppose i should get my 'creative' hat on now in preparation...

 

[coloumb]

Yikes - they jacked up the prices from when I attended..er...way back when:

Expo Pass 3-Day Show Floor Pass $500

Anyone have a copy of the registration form? I know they changed it so you had to provide a w2 and other documents to prove that your business was affiliated with the entertainment industry.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Try to get Anand to hire you for a week with a reverse salary (you pay him).

 

[theLION]

A couple of years ago, my friend was invited by some video game store to go with them to E3. He was invited because he was one of their top customers - bought a lot of stuff from them and talked video games with them. So that's a possible option....be a good customer and befriend the staff. I forgot the name of that store but I don't think they exist anymore and I know for sure it was not Gamestop/EB.

 

[Spongo]

I looked at the registration requirements and it did mention paystub or W2 information. I think it might be a little more strict this year (or something).

 

[Crizza]

I believe it's also invite-only now. Can't just sign up online as "journalist" because you have a blogspot account.

 

[nitromullet]

There's always PAX http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: Crizza
I believe it's also invite-only now. Can't just sign up online as "journalist" because you have a blogspot account.

This is true. The requirements to get in, I think, might be more stringent than people here are leading you to believe (at least with my experience with trying to get registered for this years show). The main reason I got in was because of the freelance work I did for Ars Technica, but even that almost wasnt enough. The Podcast and I Eat Games (my blog) helped augment the request to a (small) certain degree.

Or do you litterally mean sneak in?

 

[Rage187]

I went in 2005 and we didn't need to pay. I worked for a casino gaming company and used that as our in. I took most of my QA and Support departments with me as well

You can get in, you just have to play an angle.

and yes, they want a copy of a paycheck stub, a W2 and a copy of your badge/business card when you preregister.

 

[Krazy4Real]

Any of you guys that can get in want to hire me as an intern so I can get in next year?

 

[Spongo]

no, i don't mean "sneak" in. i just mean getting in w/o being a member of the gaming industry.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Spongo
no, i don't mean "sneak" in. i just mean getting in w/o being a member of the gaming industry.

You definitely wont be able to literally sneak in - the actual security at the doors is pretty tight, big scary bouncers and all. But once you get through the doors - man it's like an alternate universe. It's hard to see everything even in 3 days.

The only difficult part of getting a press pass is the business registration stuff - but this is america. Its not very difficult or costly to "start a business". No one said it had to be a legitimate, profitable business venture. The rest is just stuff easy to create on a PC - business cards, an article etc.

Its just some random clerk thats going to go through this stuff and make sure it meets the requirements. There's no council of elders that's going to read the stuff, and then deny you on the grounds that your writing is shit, and your logo sucks.

Freelance Journalists:
Freelance writers from unqualified media outlets will not be admitted. In order to qualify as media, we require that you provide:

* A copy of your driver's license or government issued photo identification clearly showing your name and date of birth (no one under 17 will be admitted), and

* A letter from a publisher, editor or producer (on their letterhead) stating that you are covering E3 Expo 2009 on assignment, and

* A bylined interactive entertainment industry-related article from your publication (above) written by you and published within the last six months (the copy must clearly show the name of the publication and your byline), and

* If you are a freelance journalist for online media, you must also provide a copy of the Web site's business license or government issued documentation showing the business's federal tax identification number.

If you cant get all that "done" in a year, you don't really want to go that bad.