A little over ten years ago, a friend of mine working for Mindscape at the time (a few years later I went on to work across the street from him at Broderbund) gave me a guest pass to E3 while he went around making contacts with hardware vendors (specifically SoundBlaster) to get updated information for game development. I had a blast there… of course it was the year Nintendo showed off its N64 and Super Mario 64 (I guess that would make it 1996?), so it was especially memoriable.
And now, with E3 coming up next month, I was wondering (mostly idly) what I would have to do, at a minimum to qualify to attend. According to the E3 attendee faq, one must “…be part of the interactive entertainment industry in order to attend the show, and you must be able to provide documentation demonstrating your direct and current professional affiliation in this industry.” The documentation required is two forms of business ID, like a company credit card and a business license, .
So, would it be sufficient to get a business license, apply for a company credit card, and setup a website dedicate to reviewing the tons of video games out there? I would assume that the guys from Penny Arcade would be going, and the only other thing they have than that is their comic strip.
I can’t speak for E3, but I know that for almost every tradeshow I have been to that requires you be a “member of the industry” that all it takes is a business card. Even the ones that claimed you must have 2 didn’t really care as long as you had cash. Sometimes they don’t even bother to look at your credentials. Just fill out the form, and you are in.
While they go in waves year-to-year about how stringent they are about admitting people they always let ticket buyers in towards the end if you’re really interested. But I think it’s a couple of hundred dollars.
Pretty much if you’re working for a recognized firm in the industry (one of the exhibitors) or a press member from a media firm recognized by the ESA you can get in.
NOTE: we supplied, way back when, our Tax-ID number as well as business cards and other sundry goods to prove that we were a real, honest to goodness business and not some yokel with a web site.
They are really strict about the free media access. They know people will do just what you suggested and rig up a “review website” to try to get in for free.
As someone willing to pay, that’s not necessary. You aren’t expected to be out in public if you’re a game developer.
If you went to the trouble of registering a Tax-ID and registering with your state corproation commission I’d wager you could get in. But there’s a cost to the state thing in some places and the Tax-ID number puts you on the map of the IRS. Be sure if you want to do that.
And yes, in past years the last day has had ticket sales. Usually a couple hundred dollars.