Booth Babe Changes at PAX
Our good friends over at Pixelated Geek posted an interesting article today about potential changes to Booth Babe requirements for PAX.
PAX polled their forums, and came up with the following conclusions:
60% of people polled love or like the idea of a “Booth Babe Ban”
20% are indifferent to the idea of a “Booth Babe Ban”
Most people would be alright with banning scantily clad models in exchange for people who actually know about the product they’re representing. Don’t get me wrong, people can be knowledgeable AND attractive, and they’re welcome to wear scantily clad attire if they are cosplaying an accurate representation of a character. This would ban booty short wearing bimbos that are there only to look bored and draw you into their booth.
I am all for this. I think it will encourage women to feel more welcome at conventions, as they’re not just seen as a piece of meat. It will also encourage more open, friendly conversation between the girls at the booths and the visitors, as they’ll actually know their stuff and be excited about the game.
What are your thoughts?
12 Responses to “Booth Babe Changes at PAX”
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ZAXY | That Girl Is A Geek
It’s totally not hard to find hot chicks who want to wear no clothes who like video games.
But it’s not necessarily easy.
I think that a contest should be in order. Girls send in pictures of themselves, along with a resume of their gaming / product knowledge that would be beneficial to the con, and to the booth they’d be working at.
If the girl is looking to be a model, not only will it have a positive effect on her getting practice looking for work to be a model, but also to show off her brain where it will matter, and not just her cleavage. I assure you, Tyra Banks doesn’t care if you know how the Base Attack bonus of a level 7 ranger off the top of your head, or if you can walk into a MWF2 match and knife everyone in under 30 seconds.
Pick from that, not just random hot chicks.
I totally agree that it would make women more welcome as well, with the industry and our society being extremely masculine, It’s hard to catch a break sometimes, I’m sure.
“what, you’re not wearing a bikini and weilding that sword Tara? I’d never play your game”
^ Shit like that.
Just so you know, if ANY of you girls were to be bad asses with swords in a video game I’d play it. And I’d be happy that you’re wearing hoodies and sweatpants. Or full plate mail. I’m pretty sure you’d want full plate mail. :D
the whole booth babe thing has always seemed a bit sexist and pandering to lonely gamer guys anyway, time to give it the boot
I think that this is a great idea. It it nice to see an event like PAX empowering its attendees by listening to what they have to say on their forums.
It is pretty well know that using “Booth Babes” works, but companies who do so lose something in the process. (unless the product they are selling is just about sex anyways). Personally, when I go to PAX I want the people in booths to be approachable but also really know what they are talking about. There is nothing worse that going up and asking questions to a booth babe who doesn’t know anything about the game or product.
Kudos to those on the PAX Forums who are willing to take a stand and say that the event should be about the games themselves instead of the over sexualized marketing surrounding them.
that distracts from the games, let us find some hot girls that are there for the games as well rather than someone hired to be there.
Totally agree. While booth babes ARE hot, it’s just a downer knowing that more than likely (but not always) they aren’t even sure what they are representing. Base knowledge should at LEAST be required.
The best booth babes I’ve ever seen were dressed head to foot in mo-cap attire to promote an XBOX game that failed miserably. But they were in to it, they knew what they were talking about and they didn’t need to expose a midriff to get attention. I think a change is most welcome and, perhaps, necessary.
So this means if the Zaxy ladies are helping out at a booth, no Zaxy bikinis? I kid, *hides from potential thrown objects*
The rules work for me, though glad there are exceptions for cosplayers. (Not trying to be Sailor Bubba anytimes soon though) But they have their own fun.
From the last 2 PAX Primes I’ve been two, I never noticed any almost naked booth babes. I figured that was mostly an E3 thing.
The outcome of the survey was right in line with my choices. My favorite booth visit last year was when I chatted with one of the Fallen Earth developers. She was engaging and succeeded at engendering real interest in the game. And let’s just say it would have been mistake to dress her like the girls in the picture above.
I appreciate attractive women but that’s not the point of PAX, it’s gaming. I do not want to hear some rehearsed lines about a game from a model. I want to hear about it from people who are passionate about the game they’re representing, and if at all possible, people who were involved in its creation.
I saw a couple almost naked booth babes at PAX Prime last year. They were super pale, looked out of place and absolutely freezing, and guys just kept awkwardly asking them for photos. I actually felt bad for them.
And no, unless there’s a Zaxy bikini video game, there won’t be any Zaxy bikini booths. Which means you now have until PAX Prime to create and publicize a Zaxy bikini game! Go!
Too bad all my programming friends are lazy.
I must of missed the almost naked babes at PAX Prime last year, they probably didn’t hang out in the board game rooms.
I guess its a good reminder to start registering for PAX Prime in case they sell out like last year. Also, hotels, if your not from the Seattle area.
Maybe it’s because I’m female, but I’ve never noticed booth babes at PAX. In fact, when I took the survey I assumed it was being conducted in order to explore whether people would like them to be “encouraged”.
I don’t really mind them….