<![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year - Kotaku Comments]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I was one of the pink shirtted ones this year at GDC (I am a Third Year Volunteer). I am ok with press getting limited credentials handed out. After having been yelled at, threatened, and generally given dirty looks at by members of the "press", only allowing professional members of the press helps the conference run smoothly and professionally. I hated having to deal with a member of the press because they would go in to their "I need to be here for this reason for that person", making themselves seem important than they really are. The press are there to help disseminate information to the public. They should feel lucky that they are there. Also, the press had caused way too many problems this year with recording sessions. The volunteers couldn't get alot of the people who had press badges and were recording sessions. The result is people seeing the info from a session moments after a session is let out and basically taking money out of CMP Media's hands (CMP Media is the company that owns the GDC name). I can totally understand the limiting of press credentials to actual people that report on the conference.

midniteslayr

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> So far all they have said is that DICE, GDC, and E3 are going to be invite-only for press, they haven't said that Game Developers and aspiring Game Developer's can't come.

dekarguy

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @char: Ditto. What you said. If they want to restrict the press than they should restrict the press. Don't turn away creative people who want to get in the industry and use GDC for what it's supposed to do. Fucking bullshit.

Otherwise there should be an indie equivalent to GDC as a means for people to meet. I agree with IGDA, but my chapter is pretty inactive.

slimeluvr

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @notalkjustrock: absolutely man! it should be a place for game developers to hone their craft. i was thinking a similar thought.

squidboy007

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @riffleraffle: That's funny...comparing a LEGITIMATE news source like EGM (and 1UP in general) to Kotaku.

Sorry but ANY blog based gaming website should not be classified as "game journalist" b/c they are in fact...not journalists. They are people who setup websites to post their own views (aka BLOGS) instead of following some sort of journalists professionalism like IGN, Gamespot, 1up, Gamepro, EGM, etc.

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @riffleraffle: I think the point is that you've now got 1000 people attending the GDC for free under press passes. You can cry conspiracy, but the GDC is already expensive enough for the actual developers that it's being held for, without them having to pay extra to accommodate for and have their experience compromised by a crowd of press. Though just making the press pay for their passes the same as any developer I think would do the job well enough.

I can't speak for DICE, but having such a huge press presence there really is slowly strangling GDC. Not only does it entice companies into making announcements there that they shouldn't be, but it compromises the talks and roundtables too. Developers giving these lectures have to put on their 'press faces', instead of tackling nitty-gritty issues and sharing honest opinions. The events of last year's GDC spring to mind, when one developer made quite a few disparaging comments about Nintendo and the Wii, and the press was all over it. He had to apologise and retract his statements. And suddenly, now you've got a whole heap of developers who would normally give scathing post-mortems and analyses - which are the most useful kind - tensing up, nervous that if they say anything outside of a carefully constructed script the press will leap on it.

Having it invite-only raises concerns about press manipulation, but honestly, I don't think we'll have to worry too much about it. The really relevant people - like Gamasutra, for example - will still be able to get in. The rest of the enthusiasts will have to pay for the event like everybody else. And with GDC's hefty price tag, only the people who are there to learn and network and check out middleware will keep turning up. After all, only the people who are going to use it are going to pay to sit through dry, technical hour-long lectures on the finer points of simulating soft body physics and how best to manage your localization and outsourcing.

ParanoidIndividual

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @riffleraffle: Yeah, if they deny EGM or Kotaku, I will scream bloody murder. But not letting Game Developer groupies who won't be making any games come in free as press, not so much.

What's going to happen if they do cherry pick the press? We won't get news on how the latest pixel shader technology totally beats up Crysis? Next thing you know they're re-writing the Constitution.

nou_phabmixay

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Yay! More things are now invite only...which means less of chance gong there now! Living in Canada sucks.... They shuold make an E3 or something here in Canada...I would go there and say it's for learning about my future career....:)

Dark-Aries

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> GDC, unlike the others, is ALL about the developers. They hold lectures, tutorials, workshops, and roundtables all focused on furthering game developers. In other words, game developers, or aspiring game developers, will all be let in, but anyone trying to get in under "Press" will require an invite.

RealmRPGer

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> too bad industry is getting so big, now the merchant sharks will dictate how eveything works behind the curtain...

VakeroRokero

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I guess Jeff Gerstmann isn't getting his ticket next year...

VakeroRokero

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> GDC - Game Developer's Conference

It's G fucking DC....not a press event....so sick of all these f'ing marketers whoring our my hobby.

DefDealer

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @riffleraffle

Gamer Culture? Please.. You're just trying to defend "the good old days".. Every media eventually goes mainstream and the "old guard" howl like mad wolves when they see "their" culture sullied by what they feel is the "unwashed masses".

There will always be great games. There will always be exploitive crappy games. And now there are going to be more "mainstream" games and little timmy, his mother, and his older jock "greek" college-age brother playing them.

Just because some corporations are acting like...well, corporations in the industry doesn't mean you have to buy their wares. There are other outlets, smaller devs, etc. that will flourish no matter how hard the times.

It is the responsibility of the consumer to find the gems.

JohnnyLA

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> When an outspoken group in the game journalism industry like Kotaku or EGM gets denied press entry to a big event for being "too critical" you'll all be singing a different tune.

It's blatantly obvious that by handpicking the press they will get the coverage THEY want. By defending that, you're playing into their hands.

Anyone can attend GDC for 2000 dollars. Press gets it for free. This isn't a message to the average GDC attendee, industry professional or not. This is the ESA attempting to suppress anything that doesn't make this industry perfect. Just watch. It'll happen.

And on a different note:As the gaming industry gets more and more "Hollywood", the entire gamer culture will slowly be tossed away like a celebrity who won't sign an autograph. Fanboys of every company defend getting cleveland steamers. When, as a community, will we say no more to the retreaded ports, the shitty unpolished sequels, and the absurd in-game advertising that doesn't lower the cost of the game in any way? We're getting FUCKED, people!

riffleraffle

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @notalkjustrock:
yes, I agree completely.


Sir_Stovetop

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Samos42: Anyone can buy tickets, but the price of admission has become...unwieldy over the years. The past years, any "industry professional" could apply to get in for free. The restrictions to the press could also be assumed to apply to everyone that is deemed unworthy, which, since I'm not a developer, will effectively end my visits to GDC.

I could totally be wrong, and I wouldn't have to worry about getting a pass next year, but announcements like these worry me. It's the elitist attitude that I have to deal with on a daily basis at work.

boopadoo

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Does this mean regular people can't even buy tickets to these shows or is it just no more free press entering without an invite?

Samos42

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I'm only going to talk about GDC since that's the only conference mentioned that I've attended.

Unless I read this incorrectly, GDC is only talking about tighter controls on ONLY press passes; Other pass types operate as normal. I don't see a problem as long as the balance is struck allowing a good cross section of reporting without providing a free-pass backdoor. The rub is where to set that bar. There are obvious decisions between allows (news from TV, News, Radio, etc) and obvious disallows (runs a blog that 5 people read a month), but finding the midpoint seems to be the issue. That is what not only GDC but other conferences are struggling with since the democratization of press reporting. As long as they are transparent on their decisions and clear about their policy, I don't see a reason to cry foal.

For GDC, this doesn't seem to effect the presenters and people who pay their way in. Presenters are required to submit a proposal which will be reviewed. This review is free to the submitter and if approved, the presenter will receive a free 'everything in the conference' pass. As for attending as a normal conference goer, there isn't a restriction beyond paying the fee for which ever pass you want.

Seg

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I think E for All has something like that as well.

Plus there is also GameCareerGuide.com...setup by the same company that publishers Game Developer Magazine (which is FANTASTIC btw) and Gamasutra.com (a great website & industry job search site.)

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> GDC has a separate day for students where they can see whats on the expo floor. GDC also hosts the Game Career Pavilion and the Breaking into the Game Industry sessions. These are geared towards those pursuing a career in the industry. (REPEAT: Pursuing A Career In The Industry.) I think that its productive to have a working system in place.

I'd also like to point out that PAX is a good replacement show that is open to everyone. I think that its a good idea to have separate events. PAX is geared towards the Gamer where as GDC is towards the Game Maker.

thepixelpuncher

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Raziel3333: Sucks for who?

The press, who won't get to go to the sweet parties? Doesn't seem like it will suck for developers or publishers... you know... the people the events are supposed to be for? I liked Olin's comment -- "the press is there to observe, not participate" Press = Pw3nd.

It doesn't seem like it will suck for civilians either, as IGN, Kotaku, etc. will be there. I guess sneaking in just got a mite tougher, but if it's easy to sneak in, everyone will do it...

omnibot2000XL

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> GDC is way too fraking expensive. I had a chance to go this year but I didn't want to pony up $1500 (without room and board) to only to be able to go to only a handful of talks I was interested in.

I do think though that it should be left alone for only devs to learn from each other. I wouldn't want press there at all to be honest with you. There are PLENTY of other expos for that.

JohnnyLA

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Paustinj: my apologies. I don't read destructoid so I do not know of their practices, and the joystiq example was one of the more blatant ones I can remember, and so was the first one to pop in my mind. I will say that kotaku has done some solid reporting in the past, but have fallen into the traps of most blogs many times. For example, I hate how they seem to assume that everyone has the same hyperbolic stance on indie games and hipster cred- stuff like Portal and Juno. The articles on Lucky Star and Haruhi do not belong, etc. Next time I will do better at being an equal oppurtunity critic.

taidan19

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Good news

Garo

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Publishers simply should have their OWN events to display games (like EA, Ubisoft and S-E do). E3 and TGS weren't enough, so its creeping out into things such as GDC.

DARTH_TIGRIS

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @saxifridge: I agree, GDC was never supposed to be a gaming event. It was made to be a "career in development" event, and place for those inside to share their ideas. I get that, and in a perfect world, a large event like that would be viable.

What worries me most about this move has got to be the potential for skyrocketing entry costs. At this year's GDC, my shwag bag and my pass itself were advertisements, and after talking with some of the companies using such methods, those ads are expensive. If you take away a massively interested party from attending such a massive event, companies will be less likely to pay for advertising. In most cases, ticket prices are increased to counteract, but GDC passes are already expensive enough ($2,000 for a full-access pass).

Unless the guys who run GDC can think of some creative fundraising, you're gonna see GDC deflate to... well, probably a manageable size for big studios and publishers, but not for the little guys. Cutting off that pool of incredible talent could be detrimental to the industry's growth, and with development costs rising alongside, that could also be a hindrance to what GDC is all about.

relin

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @nou_phabmixay: They'd still whine...people always find something to complain about.

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Maybe the title 'Game Developer' is too broad. They should call it 'People who produce art, code or other products for making games'. Then maybe non-game developers and non-press wouldn't whine about not being able to go.

nou_phabmixay

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @HurricaneDave: Judging by your anger about this...(and unless I am wrong) I'm pretty sure you are just another "average joe gamer" I would NOT want to attend the show.

You seem to be bitter of the fact that you don't have a way of sneaking into the show or depending on where you live, that you aren't close to a public expo like PAX or E for All.

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> For those who fail at reading comprehension (or those who only read the headline and not the entire article):

"...we are looking at moving to an invite model for press access at GDC."

If you're buying an all-conference pass to get into panels/speeches/round-tables, you're not going as press.

corallein

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @HurricaneDave: It isn't about the investors. E3, DICE, and GDC were never MEANT for the public. Like how the Consumer Electronic Show isn't open to everyone. This is an effort by the industry to co-mingle and better itself.

Dreadfish

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @badasscat: I must remember to put this up for comment of the week.

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> i think its a good decission to prevent gdc becoming something it shouldn´t become. sure, the press wants to cover such events and people want to read about it, but yeah, i think its good gdc is gdc and doesn´t become a total media focussed event.

tomsamson

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @HurricaneDave:

I agree with you, and I am not solely placing the blame on John Q. Public. I think many companies have seen how many regular Joes attend, as well as press, and use it as a way to drum up publicity and interest. This is also wrong, and not what the event should be about. Back when E3 was still going on, THAT is what happened there. There were not a lot of HUGE industry announcements at GDC. I always preferred GDC because it was NOT E3. Now with E3 downsized and what have you, people have gravitated towards GDC to make it the new E3. That should not be the case at all. I see this as a good thing because it is a step in the right direction. with less people attending whoa re not suppose to be there, companies will be less compelled to use it as a publicity outlet.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @saxifridge: Then why not have a one day meeting in a random place each year and not issue press releases for it and not let the press in at all. The fact is they use these events to drum up interest in games and then act all shocked and surprised that people, the game playing public, want to be involved and get hands on. I find that to be quite hypocritical.

@jago.kot: How does playing a beta of Too Human help you know what you should focus on, that is BS. You were there for the same thing that average joe guy was there for, for the most part, you just hide your intentions around lame excuses such as I was there to see what I should work on in school or some crap like that.

HurricaneDave

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Brian Crecente: Let me get my accountant right on it...

It was nice to go to GDC as an "industry professional," but considering my title and position in the industry, this invite-only system will leave me out from now on. Again, totally sucks.

boopadoo

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I'm conflicted, somewhat. I covered GDC in '05 and '06 as media, but I wouldn't meet the requirements of the new media restrictions. However, I've always played around with DirectX and, more recently, XNA, so I was at GDC on both the media level and the developer level. (I do want to note that my coverage was focused on the IGF and other indie companies and not once did I bother people walking down the halls or attempt to overhear conversations.) I have always heard "PRESS SHOULD NOT BE AT GDC" people yelling and screaming, and I can understand that, except there is one group of GDC attendees that really do benefit from the media coverage, and that's the IGF. Perhaps if there was a way to make the IGF seperate from GDC so it can get more coverage...?

I know all of the indie developers I interviewed in the two years I was there really appreciated the coverage I gave them.

Bobby Blackwolf

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I was going to say something but Brian Crecente beat me to it.

They said it's invite-only for Media, not for all attendees. So you can still get your main conference pass for $1400 ($1000 if you register early! ;) ). Heck you can still pay for the much-more-affordable-to-average-joe expo pass (or the student pass, if that applies), though honestly I feel like they could do away with the expo floor in general and it wouldn't be a big loss. Just keep the career pavilion and move the IGF from the expo floor to the career area.

wedgewu

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @HurricaneDave: Considering that I was (at the time) going to school to work in the industry, it gives me an idea of what is coming and what I should be focusing my area of expertise on.

Plus I was there for a purpose...unlike "average joe gamer" who is there to oggle everything they see and then tell his buddies "ZOMG! d00d ur never gonna believe what I saw!'

...and you are missing the point (like saxifridge said.)

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @HurricaneDave:
You are still missing the point. The event is NOT MEANT FOR YOU. It is not about ignoring the gaming public, its about a place where industry professionals can meet behind closed doors to discuss trends and technology in gaming without having to worry about the public.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]>

The ESA, meanwhile, plans to stick to their invite-only system for E3, which involves getting a list of invitees from participating publishers and developers and creating their own master list.

"If you don't give us a preview stating we have on the show the BEST GAME EVER! you won't get an invite sunny!"

Briosafreak

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @jago.kot: Thank you very much for the information. It's greatly appreciated.

@saxifridge: Thank you for clarifying some things for me. These things can be a bit startling to an individual such as myself.

TheDollHouse

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @jago.kot: Yeah because playing a game before anyone else is really beneficial to you right? Tell me what does it matter to you if you get to see Doom 3 in a closed door room, or you get to play any game in beta stage. What does that really give you, being a game design student or working in the industry, besides the opportunity to say I played it first.

HurricaneDave

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @char: Keep in mind this sounds like it will be invite only for press, not for everyone at GDC. You can still pay to get in.

Brian Crecente

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> E3 was not open to the general public. The average joe gamer could not not sign up for a pass and go to the show. In the past people would set up bogus websites to get in but then they (thankfully) cracked down on that.

I've been to E3 before...from 1999 to 2006. Both as a game design student and starting in 2003 as an game industry person....it's not fun when you have to wait to check out a game b/c some punk kid is there to oogle everything (or when someone from the industry sneaks in their kid.)

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @mowh: The game industry will support the public by producing games? Sounds ass backwards to me, the game industry is supported wholely by the gaming public and when they choose to no longer support it the game industry will die in the US, just like it is doing in Japan. Crazy talk like this is not going to help the industry moving forward.

HurricaneDave

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @jago.kot: You are protesting far too much. E3 was open to the public in everyway except writing.

HurricaneDave

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @char:
Again, that is not what GDC is suppose to be for. I am open to the idea of letting game development students attend. But to get their badge they would need to provide proof of enrollment in some kind of game development curriculum.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Good. GDC is meant for developers, but it gets crowded by enthusiasts and journalists.

NoahSteam

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Meh, if you really want to argue the idea that this is a bad thing, shut up. Because the game industry will "support" the general public by producing games and allowing insiders and journalists alike to attend these conventions and then they're able to provide you with even more information on whatever. But for them to host these types of things for the public is just of waste of their time and money and serves little to no purpose.

Like someone previously mentioned - there are other types of conventions for the average giddy gamer/geek to go for whatever it is they hope to find at GDC, DICE, etc.

i_9

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @jp182: E3 was NEVER opened to the public. People think that b/c of the way that some websites and even G4 of all things advertised it. When E3 came around last year, G4's coverage kept saying "now that E3 is invite only we have your inside ticket."

That sh*t irritated the crap out of me b/c E3 was NEVER opened to the public and the general public had to get its info from legitimate gaming news sites, blogs, etc.

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I can't emphasis how much that is BULLSHIT. I went to GDC last year (couldn't this year) as an aspiring developer, and I found it to be a great experience. It gave me a chance to network, to learn (mostly the breaking into the industry segments).

Closing off GDC to the nobodies and the aspiring developers is stupid and bad for the industry. ESA, seriously, open up a new E3 to the public, don't close off the events with a purpose. This is beyond fucking stupid.

char

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @opt2not: That is very true. What I think they should do with E3 is what they do with Leipzig (and I think) TGS. Make it a 4 day event (before it's been 3) and have the last be held for the general public.

I have no doubt that _some_ studios would want to remove some titles b/c they don't want the public to see them just yet but overall most of the titles on the show floor for E3 the public already knows about.

What I _would_ be worried about are the ignorant gamers & bloggers who start to criticize a game b/c it has a bug in it (a la Assassin's Creed @ the MS Press Conference.) Most games shown at E3 are going to be buggy b/c they aren't done yet and crashes, glitches, etc. are inevitable.

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> To those complaining about the move to invite-only for these big events, have you ever been to one of them?

I think these "limitations" are great moves. Business can get done without tons of people being there that have no purpose there.

I agree that DICE, home to the Interactive Achievement awards, should provide a relaxing atmosphere for the people that work on the games. They shouldn't feel obliged to provide a full-fledged interview.

GDC should be for developers to get together, share technology and talk new technology. It should not become a show for revealing new titles and the such as it has become recently. Leave that to E3/TGS.

To those that say there should be a big event that's open to the public, there are two options: PAX or E for All. But with the creation of a show for consumers, this takes away time those developers and publishers could be using to actually work on their products versus demoing stuff to the ungrateful public.

/rant

StupidDufus

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Athest: if I'm not mistaken E3 wasn't really for the public. They opened it to the public for one day but the original purpose was for developers and publishers to make deals.

I think GDC tightening up makes sense as most of these conventions aren't for the public. To be honest, I'm not sure how many of these REALLY need to be open to the public. As long as quality sites like Kotaku are able to attend and give their impressions of the game, will it really matter of the John Q can play it before hand? Most of the times those games aren't polished enough anyway and do nothing for the rest of us who didn't attend as those in the public can't give their impressions.

They just need to allow room for some amateur and/or up-and-coming journalists to attend.

jp182

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @WoozyB: Finally someone who actually gets it. One thing some gamers will never realize is that these events role and purpose is not to appease and please the gaming public but to discuss how to make the industry move forward in terms of technology and business practices. Some gamers just think because in the past some big announcement were made during GDC, DICE, E3 that the public should have free access to the place without the right credentials.

These organizations should just raise the price of admission to the event. Make it so that only those who actually have to be there and can expense their admission fee can afford to attend.

Tull

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @frieze: Agreed, excluding people like educators or indie game developers (with something they could actually show; not those "I have this /great/ idea" people) would be counter to the goal of the show(s).

At the same time, I think that announcing new games at a show about development, design, innovation, etc. gives the wrong impression; I'd much rather hear about what could be and what should be than what will be. Save the what will be for, what's this, PRESS events.
Dropping hints is okay though.

Zegridathes

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @jago.kot: BINGO! IGDA is a great resource.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Um...your no longer a kid when you're 20 yrs old. That's college age.

As for the networking stuff...that is understandable BUT E3 is not the place for it. Plus with the way E3 has been in the past (before it went invite only last year), the event would be too chaotic to network with anyone (I should know...I've been to 8 shows.)

As for GDC...it is possible to network at the show BUT you have to do it at the right locations. Some places will openly look for jobs there but most of the booths there are for networking (within the industry...middleware, etc.)

If you're REALLY interested in networking then see if there is a local IGDA (International Game Developers Association) chapter in or near your area. That is a GREAT place to network & you can also check out their website as well and read their forums (IGDA.org)

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Okay seriously, some of you kneejerk kids need to understand the difference between a professional conference/summit and a media expo. GDC is one of those things, and not the other.

It's not about 'supporting amateurs' or 'inviting everyone', it's about networking and sharing ideas. It's been said several times in these comments already, but some of you are seriously not getting the point. People pay to get into these things with the desire to Learn Something, not to be fodder for someone's blog. Saying you wish all these events should fail is just plain childish and nearsighted.
Jeeze.

WoozyB

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @badasscat: You nailed it right here.
"I mean, trade shows exist for the purpose of getting people in the industry together to talk to each other; to exchange ideas, to make deals, etc. That can't happen when you have to worry about some kid standing next to you writing what he overhears on his blog."
The worst is trying to get into an over-crowded Hall for a keynote or panel, not being able to attend due to the over abundance of non-game developers trying to get info on the next big title of n developer. It's extremely frustrating to be cheated out of information that you'd actually put to practical use , and functionality rather by some basement dwelling dork trying to get more hits to his page. What they should do is commit E3 to the public and transpose the developer/business areas from E3 to GDC. No need to have 2 conferences doing the same thing. E3's hasn't been great for the last 10 years anyways.

opt2not

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> What they need to do is come up with an alternative gaming event that resembled E3 of the past. Make it a gaming convention similar in size and scope to the San Diego Comic-Con where its the fans who get a chance to attend in addition to press and industry people who will be there anyway. The industry has gotten large enough that something like a Gaming-Con will satisfy the gaming public and still give companies another venue to display their products and make announcements.

Tull

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @badasscat: You can say what you want, but as far as I'm concerned the whole notion of "video game journalism" is a joke. The real journalist will not get invited to these events if they honestly write and report what they fell or what is actually going on, and the only ones left are going to be the ones who feel that there is nothing wrong with getting free swag from gaming companies when they are invited to view a new game coming out.

HurricaneDave

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @TheDollHouse: It's not about mad adults or anything though. I totally understand wanting to network to try and get a job. I was there once myself. The problem is not the college students who want to go the career pavilion, its the people who crowd the place just to play games that are not out yet, the people who show up and go to GDC simply because it is a gaming event and they like games. There are conventions for that sort of thing, like PAX. That is not what GDC is suppose to be about.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Never heard of it, but I know of SCAD. Thanks for the info, I'll look into it.

I just think most people posting here are upset that they haven't ever and can't go to a gaming event/convention. I know I am :P

Paustinj

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Paustinj: You should try GDX at Savannah College of Art and Design. It's like a Mini GDC. There are people who are actually in the industry who attend. It's not only for students and industry folk but I think it's open to the public as well.

Reading a few of your comments is terrifying. Most of you sound really hostile. That or I'm very easily intimidated by angry adults. Alot you sound like you're yelling at us to get off your yard.

As a kid (20 and I still consider myself that), I apologize from the bottom of my heart that we get on your nerves. We don't really to be a bother, honest. We just want to network so we'll have a place to go after college. We also want to hear the new and innovative thoughts and were our industry is heading from the great minds of our time. We really look up to you guys and strive to be like you someday. I'm sorry, I really am. Please don't be mad.

TheDollHouse

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Woot.

i_9

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @jago.kot: Agreed, I think the only reason people are up in arms about this is because the industry is gaming. I don't see people foaming at the mouth to attend the Vacuum Cleaner Maker's Convention.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Jago's right taifdan19. How can you single out Joystiq when Kotaku and Destrutoid are Blogs as well? Seems like you just don't like Joystiq for some reason.

Paustinj

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I hope they over-regulate their conference and it implodes. I don't see how anything useful can come from E3 as imagined next year.

oldbenway

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> While I can see why conferences would want to limit the number of gaming journalists attending, if the list were to become too short, the industry would be shooting itself in the foot.

One of the main things the gaming press creates is anticipation for upcoming games. Through screenshots, interviews, demos and the like, the press is a great marketing tool for developers who want to show off their games. When a game receives a bad review, there will still be that group who'll be like 'wow, I remember that preview in X magazine, I think it'll be a cool game.' (That's how I got stuck buying Soul Caliber for the Wii... big mistake, I know.) Therefore, a large and varied group of journalists would be in a publisher's best interest.

But I can understand why high-profile game developers would feel uneasy if they're being hounded by a few dozen journalists during the conference for an exclusive interview.

Dmartin001

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Umm, it sounds like they are making it invite-only for press, not just invite only. It looks like they just want members of the fourth estate to pony up cash for admission like the rest of us.

frieze

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @taidan19: You forgot to mention Kotaku (and Destructoid) when you mentioned Joystiq.

If all these BLOGGERS (they're not journalists) want to be taken seriously then they need to abide by some guidelines instead of taking (childish) pot shots at industry people. Example? The whole Miyamoto "hack" thing that Kotaku did a while back. You would NEVER see that kind of stuff on from IGN, GameSpot, GameSpy, 1UP or even the magazine publications.

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @HurricaneDave:

I don't think this is a case of game developers forsaking the people who purchase their products at all. It's not about ignoring the little guys. In the end, the event is suppose to be for game developers to come together and learn. That is really hard to do with the way GDC has been for the past few years.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I've always wanted to go to E3....maybe someday. Maybe.

Vidril

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> What I find even more hilarious is the number of people in general (not just on Kotaku) that complain saying things like "Oh that sucks", etc.

Why is this funny? B/c the majority of them are people who wouldn't be (or shouldn't be) at GDC, E3, etc. in the first place since they don't work in the industry (or have the want to be in it.) They just want to go to so they can plan some games that aren't out yet.

jago.kot

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @badasscat: Agreed, but tell that to the bloggers who insist they are on the same level as a newspaper or magazine, all the while posting about how much money they spent on a dinner (I'm looking at that pathetic attempt at a site called joystiq).

Some bloggers try hard, I know, but on a whole the format has some real stinkers, and it is getting out of hand. When a bleach blonde 1up user goes to E3 soley so she can tell me "this year's E3 was not as good as last year's E3" and show me pictures of famous people she posed with, I wonder what dicks I have to suck to go play preview builds for free.

taidan19

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> All I can say is, those elitist pricks. Can you imagine a bunch of fat guys in suits smoking stogies and drinking Cognac? That's what I imagine when I hear "invite only."

This system does not only affect press, but the budding developer as well. With the invite-only method, there will be no more hands-on time with new technologies and potential partnerships. Now, we'll have to wait for press releases and PR BS, and that plain sucks.

boopadoo

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @HurricaneDave: No, this is what happens when anybody and his brother can start up a blog and call themselves "press". In the old days, the only "press" that existed were mainstream media - newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, magazines. There weren't that many of them and what did exist was easy to verify. The people who worked for them were by and large professionals who were trained in the industry and usually had many years of experience.

All the industry is trying to do is put things back to the way they used to be. That may or may not be either possible or advisable at this point, but it's not about trying to "grow up" - it's in fact the opposite. It's about trying to turn back the clock to a time when things were a little more manageable.

I agree with all these organizers that something needed to be done. These are not, never have been and were never intended to be public shows, but that's what they had become for all intents and purposes. And at a certain point, you get to where the environment is such that no actual work can get done. I mean, trade shows exist for the purpose of getting people in the industry together to talk to each other; to exchange ideas, to make deals, etc. That can't happen when you have to worry about some kid standing next to you writing what he overhears on his blog. At that point, you may as well just skip the whole event and just go to a bar somewhere to talk instead. That's to say nothing of just how physically unpleasant these overcrowded events have become.

badasscat

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @ArmyofJuan: No the TGS has business / news days and public days.

They have not changed that formula "yet".

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @saxifridge: Ditto, GDC needs to remain focused on game development, not press releases of new AAA titles.

tkshredder

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> GDC should have been invite-only all along. Don't really know if it's a good idea with E3 though but I guess it all depends on how many people actually get invited.

Feigr

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Mav: doesnt japan do ti with the Tokyo Game Show? So it's not like it's impossible

ArmyofJuan

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> How does this apply to presentations? Are presenters only invited now, or is this just for visitors?

onidavin

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Iv always said they need some event on the Eastcoast. I mean shit, even PAX is on the west coast. Give us some sort of east coast convention and put it in Virginia because thats the middle ground, regardless of me being in the same state.

But if you're going to put it in virginia you might as well put it in the brand spanking new Virginia Beach convention center right on the oceanfront.

ArmyofJuan

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I'm still waiting for some form, ANY FORM of Gaming Event to happen in Atlanta. I mean hell, ANYTHING. It sucks >.>

Paustinj

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @Mr Fortitude: E3 was never a "public event." It was always an industry-only gathering, that got smothered by the same sort of crap that GDC and DICE is getting hit with. You have a bunch of kids who make a website for a couple of months and then get a press badge, or something along those lines.

saxifridge hits it on the head here, there are just too many people at Game Developer's Conference who are not Game Developers, and it's starting to get to be a bit much.

There IS a public event now, E4All. 'Course, it's not very good, and it never will be - it costs way too much money to put on a large booth at a conference hall, and to have the show in only one city drastically reduces the number of people you're reaching in the first place.

By the time the last Real E3 came and went, Sony was spending upwards of $5 million on their booth. $5 million in three days. Do you really think they got much of a return on their investment?

I can tell you right now that they weren't.

And you want companies to blow that kind of money on a single-location consumer-only event? Never gonna happen.

Mav

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> The problem is, the invite-only model totally failed with E3. Sure, it cut down on the press...but it also cut down on developers! If you aren't one of the biggest developers in the industry, you aren't going to get invited. And that would totally suck if the same thing happened to the Game Developer's Conference! This is extremely bad news for developers and the game industry in general.

Dreamwriter

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I guess the is what happens when video games start trying to imitate the "grownup" profession of movie making. They have no more time for the people and the "amateur" press that got them to the point where they are today.

You would think an investor would see how there are no options for gamers in the US to go to shows like the gamers in Europe and Japan and capitalize on it.

HurricaneDave

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> @notalkjustrock: I agree. I basically stopped going to GDC for the last 4 years because its been full of amateurs and amateur press. Everyone and their grandmas that have a web blog, or students gaining access to this event is a complete and utter slap in the face to all the developers and publishers. GDC is a developer/publisher event, a place where we can summit our ideas/experiences, including gaining contacts and possible business relationships. Well, at least that's what it used to be. Now-a-days the only reason I'd go to GDC would be to have drinks with old colleagues that have moved on to new companies across the country.

opt2not

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I can understand and support this with GDC. While I loved having Gears 2 announced, it just didn't seem to fit the atmosphere of the entire event and seemed a little out of place but with E3 so far away, they needed to get the press train rolling for the game now. Other than that, the coverage for the event was good in my opinion. I'm not a developer but I loved reading about devs' opinions and ideas on things as well as the new ideas being put forth in their games, APB coming to mind.

Hopefully these changes won't mess things up too much and make the gaming events into nothing more than tight lipped, sympathetic press gatherings. Only time will tell I suppose.

jihadjoe343

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Hmm I can see this being both good and bad.

Will hold judgement until next years round of shows and will decide then.

Witzbold

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I am all for this. I have been to GDC for the past few years and it seems like every year there is more and more people who are there who don't work in the industry at all. I think that it is great that gaming enthusiasts are very excited about the people and products game developers make, but it is called the "Game Developers Conference" for a reason. It should only really be for game developers. A place they can share knowledge, teach each other, and make the industry better.

saxifridge

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> So basically, its to make sure that your publications is one of two things. Your publication must have a certain amount of reach( site hits ,confirmed readership), and two that's its getting across the sort of message our companies want. ( i.e. they're not bashing your games in previews or giving them lower scores than meta critic, 1up I'm looking at you.)

It sucks the list is getting smaller, that means people like Jeff Gerstmann who is now considered maybe part time press will not get into these events.

Kounji

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I actually prefer this. The Game Developers Conference should NOT be a press event. It should not be a place to launch marketing campaigns. It should be an event where game developers hone their craft.

aaa

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> I was invited by bungie to go the year the downsized it. Unfortunately that didn't end well because they DOWNSIZED IT! This is e3 im talking about of course. I was still invited to the after parties. The only reason I didn't go, because I live in indiana, the event was in freaking california. Maybe we should band together and start our own conference in the midwest. Having Epic and all those game studios on the east coast, maybe we could get a good turnout. Or probably not and i am doomed to an existence equalling that of hell.

Mr Fortitude

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> What they need to do is put up a public event like E3 used to be. I'm sure a lot of what do the call it, amateur journalist, went there, because there really isn't any big conference anymore. If they want journalist to get a better story and give them more time, thats all well and fine, but the fact of the matter is the group they should be busting their ass to please is the public, because they are the ones who buy the games. I don't see why they can't make a public, journalism, and devs conference. E For All took a shot at this, but it didn't seem to really have the support of the industry.

Athest

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Yeah, because the gaming media has NEVER been biased by advertisers, events, or swag before.

rhinestonedarling

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> Well It's all good, it's better for the media outlets to get more information for gamers.

Kazkame

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> They are maintaining the Atom-o-Sphere? This cinches it. I am confident that GDC is a cover operation for an evil organization, Ala bond movies. I apologize for my lack of accented letters, but I don't feel like going through that alt-key BS.

I think the Atom-o-Sphere is some sort of field generator that causes atoms to spontaneously split within it's effect, contains the resulting energy, and uses it to power the next reaction. Sort of a contained nuclear bomb and generator all in one.

... Yeah. I watch way too much sci-fi and enjoyed that typo too much. I say it stays.

Ghede

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> This just means we'll have better articles because people will have more time with developers, games, and publishers and that we'll get to read video game blogs 24/7... but it'll be more indepth..

or I misread.

Megan Fox Iz Hot! ^-^ - ph15h

]]> <![CDATA[GDC, DICE, E3 Could All Be Press Invite Only Next Year]]> wow...that sucks.

The Vampire Raziel

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