The video game industry’s 2006 E3 Expo trade show in Los Angeles is getting a make-over — banned are the swarms of sexy, semi-clad “booth babes” that in years past took the unveiling of new games and technology to titillating new levels.
Rules prohibiting the use of scantily clad young women to peddle video games are nothing new, but the handbook for this year’s show in May outlines tough new penalties, including a $5,000 fine on the spot for the booth owner if the “booth babe” is semi-clad.
“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,” Mary Dolaher, E3 Expo show director, said in an e-mail.
It would appear that the critical mass of women working on electronic entertainment has finally been reached. No wonder the big publishers’ games are mostly derivative trash remniscent of Hollywood-class originality these days. Things started going downhill fast when they moved the Computer Game Developers Conference from the Westin and the big money people got involved.
The lesson, as always, is this. Put a woman in charge and she’ll start acting like she’s everyone’s mother.