But that would be funny! ;) 

That actually happened to me once! Except the person with the camera was a Jehovah's Witness.

And there was no camera.

Like, those chicks work for video game companies, they were at E3. If someone is going to E3, they should be expecting they could do questions about the subject

I don't think you understand what I mean when I say self-conscious. Talking to people is one thing. Being quizzed by a camera crew who is there to scrutinize you and put this up on the net so people can laugh at your responses is worse. If that wouldn't make you a little nervous, then you're definitely in the minority.

Not to sound patronizing, Michael, but they're big girls. They know what they're getting themselves into.

I'd be willing to bet money that most of them don't care what gamers think of them. Shit, if I was that hot, I know I wouldn't.

Yes, but I don't think they're immediately aware that it's going to go on the internet so people can laugh at them. If they don't even know the starters for Pokemon, then they probabaly don't realize that WE exist to think it's funny that they don't know the answer. It's like if I was hired for a model for a perfume and some girls quiz me if I know 5 European perfumes. I wouldn't know or care if it's posted to the internet so a bunch of perfume lovers can laugh that I don't know 5 european perfumes.

They can defend themselves honestly and don't have to participate, but they did because they're good sports. 

Ryan, you don't know that you would. Maybe you would care. Can't tell unless you're there. But if you think all hot girls are 100% confident with their body image and are okay with awkward situations, then you need to make some more female friends and get a better view of things.

They participated because it would probably get them in shit to turn away a camera crew. They're hired to be nice to everyone.

Also: if somebody comes up to you and starts quizzing your knowledge on a topic, with a camera, why would they be doing that? If you can think of an actual plausible reason why someone would do that other than to mock them or use them for some market research presentation, I'd like to hear it.
 

sigh. well you can argue with us it's fine. I wanted to actually do something different since most of my friends are models in LA. I try to do my part.

http://whatplayersthink.com/2011/06/best-booth-babe-e3-2011/

Can't I make the same strawman argument in regards to you going to E3 and actually interacting with these girls? They're hired almost solely based on their image. The fact that they get hired probably puts a bit of a boost on their confidence, I would imagine.

And I don't know whether or not I'd care about other people's opinions of me? If you say so.

Obviously you don't know me that well yet.

I'm making my case, you're making yours. No need to get bent out of shape about it. I regularly debate solo against 5+ people. Doesn't mean I'm wrong just because I'm in the minority. Doesn't mean I'm right, either. This is just an interesting thing to debate, is all.

Hey ryan, I live in San Francisco too! (clicks follow)

I don't think you'd know whether or not you'd care about other people's opinions of you if you were an entirely different person. As in, a hot booth babe. That's changing an awful lot of variables, from early childhood right up to adulthood. Thinking you would react exactly the same is improbable.

Also, Michael I probably I hate you, BUT that makes you perfect for this. http://bitmob.com/articles/june-2011-bitmob-writing-challenge-knights-of-the-roundtable

Care to join me? :D

@Michael: I'm not getting bent out of shape. You'd have to try hard to accomplish that. I'd just prefer a debate be based around the topic at hand, rather than baseless conjectures about me (or any individual, for that matter).

@Sam: Shoot me an invite on Xbox Live. That's where you're most likely to find me...pretending like I'm actually good at something. har har

You hate me because of an Internet debate?

I'll pass, thanks.

oh michael. it's sarcasm lol

@ryan great! but I don't have my xbox in california. only my ps3 T_T we not friends anymore?

I made a perfectly valid statement about the fact that if you changed several variables about your life, chances are, you wouldn't be the same person and wouldn't act and react the same way. That's statistically true. It's not "baseless conjecture" about you, and it didn't call into question any part of your character, so there's no reason to even craft a red herring based on what I said.

@Sam: We can still be friends, but if it's over PSN, then chances are I won't be home a whole lot. Haha

@Michael: Again, that's a strawman argument that can be applied to anything. It's a cheap means to an end of a debate. That would be like me saying, "If you grew up during the 1200's, you wouldn't care so much about these women's feelings."

Duh.

And you did make an assumption about me, based solely around circumstance. Of course an alternate-universe Ryan would feel differently, that goes without saying.

That's about as redundant of a point as, "Well, cake wouldn't taste so sweet if it was made with rock salt, you know."

Hey Mike, debating in comment form is silly because we pick apart sentences and we can't acknowledge a misunderstanding early on. It's why I like debates with actual audio because then the debatees actually understand what each is trying to say.

@ryan haha alright got it. I love pilling these comments on. Shoe must like the activity!

He actually does, Sam! Debate and controversy are pretty effective methods of getting hits.

As long as they don't become personal or insulting.

And Michael, here's a prime example of what you're doing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW87GRmunMY

I actually didn't think I'd find this.

You see that Shoe! I'm so helpful :)

@ryan: added! 

Also, I've seen enough booth babes look down on and talk shit about gamers that I don't really feel bad for them at all. They all happily volunteered for this, knowing what they're getting into. No one ambushed these girls.

If someone did a "man on the street" trivia thing with me about Sex and the City, and I knew I'd look stupid attempting to answer anything about a show I've never watched but did it anyways...I probably have a good sense of humor about myself. I can't imagine all those "Jaywalking" people get all mad cause Jay Leno made them look dumb.

Haha indeed. If anything I'm sure they appreciated the publicity.

What's the answer?

"Oh yeah, because I don't play games."
 

What's wrong with that? I work in a grocery store because this writing thing doesn't pay all of my bills. I don't know shit about half of the products in my store, because we literally carry over 500 specialty products and I haven't had a chance to learn what all of them are for. Hell, I just discovered dehydrated cane sugar juice today. Should I be fired for not knowing about it ahead of time?

Honestly? Yeah, you probably should.

That all depends on how long you've been working there, though.

Wait a minute...what are you talking about? The subject isn't even whether or not these girls should lose their jobs, dude.

Fortunately, it's not your decision. It's my boss', and for these girls, it's their boss' decision. So rather than argue it, we should probably just accept the reality.

People thinking that everyone at every job needs to be a 15+ year vet is why it's so hard to get a job nowadays, and why most people who want to be "teh game journoz" will never get paid to do it.

That's right. We're talking about whether or not they're suited for their jobs, and whether or not it's okay to poke fun at them based on if they have a sense of humor about it or not. The point I'm making here is that not everyone who takes one of these jobs is a diehard gamer, just like I have no interest in soy beans and their many uses. People need work. They take what they can get. I don't think it's fair to mock these girls for it. That's all.

No, we're talking about whether or not these videos are mean. These women are 20+ year veterans at being attractive, I'd say they fit their job prerequisites quite well.

I never once brought up whether or not I think they're qualified to be eye candy, just because they don't know squat about games.

Trust me, dude, they don't need you or anyone else to be offended for them. They know what they're signing up for; the job has been around long enough.

If being hot for 20+ years means you fit your job prerequisites, then it would be inappropriate to judge them based on their knowledge of the product, because by your statement, it's not integral to the job.

They don't need me being offended for them, but that doesn't mean I'm not entitled to be. I've stated my argument, and it stands, because I haven't heard any counter arguments -- all of which I've considered -- that have changed my stance. With that, there isn't much else left to say.

There's more left to say, if you continue to assume I care about whether or not they deserve their job. I don't.

The video is funny.

While I don't think you should be expected to know what aisle every variation of fossilized hydrogenated vegan marshmallows are on, and especially not to lose your job over minor gaps in your knowledge of the business you're helping run if you generally operate at the level expected and continue to learn, these women are hired solely to act as a gateway between multi-million dollar products and professionals meant to cover them in the media. A PR person isn't always there to run over each time someone walks up to a booth babe and asks, "So, what's this game about?" and even if there was, isn't that a little ridiculous?

Couldn't they hire someone who serves both purposes? At the Final Fantasy XIII party two GDCs ago, I was surprised that the Maxim girls I spoke with actually knew more about FFXIII than I did, and I had just gotten done playing it. Although we haven't 5HPed the Charisma crew yet, I've heard they know their stuff as well. 

Aside from costumed talent like the Prime World ladies, booth babes, in their current incarnation, do the games they're assigned to and the professionals attempting to cover them a disservice. They may make for plenty of blog fodder or even an entertaining video, but ultimately they're just... in the way.

This made me lulz

"until we change the way we present our industry to the world, the world will never accept our industry in the way we would like" - I sound like Professor X, you guys. Sorry about that. "I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS! I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS! I CAN'T... FEEL... MY LEGS!"

Ha, that made me laugh, Adam. Now I'm trying to think of the Latin species name for booth babe, like of the "homo superior" of X-Men.

Awww, I actually thought the bouncy house/win a TV ploy was clever, or at the very least unique. Still, why don't these companies realize they could save a shittun of money by just having decent food and drinks? Have they not seen the line for Starbucks? I'd listen to them talk about their games ALL DAY if I could just get a hamburger. 

Thank you Adam, I went to E3 and conversated with the girls as well so it's nice to get your perspective on it. I just feel a lot of guys online feel they want to either overprotect these girls or banish from them E3. It's almost demeaning that they feel like they have to stop us from poking fun from them as if they're too stupid to know. Just treat them as equals.

You're entitled to your opinion, Sam. Nobody is trying to stop you from poking fun at them. It's just kinda jerkish behavior. But if they're equals, that means we can poke fun at you all we want, since that's how we treat equals now.

yea? better than poking fun at ppl on different levels. I dont care if you poke fun at me, is that a point?

see you're not debating at all, you're just nitpicking phrases.

Also, watching this video and being on this thread doesnt mean we're poking fun at them. i happen to think the answers are cute. I can't speak for everyone else. I didn't assume u were poking fun at them, but maybe in your head you secretly are, but i can't tell can I? Like i said I went to E3 and one of my friends in LA is a booth babe I know that that they actually like it, they just laugh at themselves for knowing nerdy stuff, it's not like they don't know who the president of United States is.

No, I'm not debating. I stopped that last night after Ryan went apeshit on me and took everything personally. You guys can't handle a proper debate. But if you think that me pointing out flaws in every single post you make, flaws that ruin any appeal you might have, is "nitpicking", then I don't know what to tell you. I'm done "conversating" about this, though. You guys win. Booth babes are borderline retarded because they don't know enough about games, and should be educated, and they're all super confident and love what they do and it's fine to make fun of them.

There. We're good now. If you actually have more to say in response, then it's your problem if you want to keep this going. I don't have time to play with you anymore.

almost correct Rousseau. except you messed up on "borderline retarded" and meant to say "average girls who want to model and are at e3 to get their name out there"

I went apeshit? I had no idea.

It's definitely NOT the models' fault. They were hired for a modeling gig, which is all being a booth babe is, sadly. It's the people who hire them that should at least train them properly (like the aforementinoed FFXIII Maxim girls clearly had been).

Can we get buttons to promote comments we like? :P

Completely agree, BUT I just like to mention that these girl weren't being asked questions about the games they were representing :P

Taking that initiative should always be the standard, certainly. But there has to be some way to separate overachievers (or just plain achievers) from the Denny's employees of the world.

Now I'm wondering how many of these booth babes went back to work at Denny's after E3. >_>
 

What's wrong with being a Denny's employee?

For starters, IHOP has better hot chocolate.

Also, their Swedish pancakes will make you believe in God.

Damn you all for making me want IHOP now.. ;)

Actually, I kind of just shot myself in the foot, because now I do too. :(

Never thought you were! :D

haha good :)

I have a very simple answer to all of your questions: yes.

If principles and concern for people's feelings were considered before every joke was made...no jokes would ever be told. Dissect every source of humor and you're guaranteed to find something that could bother somebody.

Better yet, there will always be the potential for someone to ask, as you did, "Should we be doing this at all, lighthearted or not?"

I have no doubt that at least one member of PETA has a problem with all of those "Why did the chicken cross the road" jokes.

In that case, I guess I'm always going to be on the other side of the fence from you Ryan.

Despite knowing the people making this video were not trying to be maliscious, I still find the whole idea of ridiculing an entire group based on their knowledge of games to be rude (especially when the point has come up multiple times in this very thread that there are some models who do know their stuff.)

At the end of the day, it's a stereotype, ("Booth babes are dumb,") and stereotypes are only funny until people actually believe them to be the truth (as I believe is the case when it comes to the topic of booth babes and their lack of intelligence.)

So when I see this type of content and then see it encouraged and re-enforced in the comments, I feel it is not only something keeping gamers and the games industry from progressing, but something other people can point to as evidence of gamers' reclusiveness and immaturity: stereotypical traits of gamers I know I'm sick of hearing.

Despite the mysoginistic and immature tone many of the 1,300+ comments on this video have been laced with, I would actually argue that the anti-booth babe revolt is, at its core, an effort to improve the industry, and show that we're (mostly) not stereotypical recluses who are easily controlled by our sole dream of talking to scantily clad women.

By your statements (and correct me if I'm wrong, I don't want to put words in your mouth) would you also say that PAX banning booth babes was somehow a step backward for all game-kind? 

That's an excellent question, one I had to think about a bit. I see two valid perspectives:

One is that by banning booth babes entirely, you fully avoid the issue. No booth babes, no chance of being mysoginistic towards them. The temptation is taken away. Plus, the focus can stay on what really matters at these events: the games.

The other is that by having booth babes and treating them with respect, we as an industry have something to point to as a barometer of of our gaining maturity. And if booth babes as a selling tool didn't work, they wouldn't be used, right? So there obviously is a reason they're around.

Not having been to any of these conventions myself (and therefore, not having any first-hand experience with booth babes or the effectiveness of the service they provide,) I guess I lean more on the "booth babes are unecessary" side. But if they are present at a convention, I feel they should be treated with respect.

While the question of should booth babes be used is a good one, I think the question of how to treat them when they are there is the more important one.

Very well said, and to which my only reply is that, as Chloe's state below, we were completely upfront about what they were getting in to. This wasn't a hidden camera show and as you can see from the video they are all in good spirits despite getting 100% of the questions wrong. 

Right. For this specific instance, I think the necessary precautions were made and what resulted was a fun video.

It's the topic in general that my criticism is targeted. But on that front, it appears that we've found common ground.

While I respect your right to voice your opinion, I must politely agree to disagree with F. 

I figured it wasn't malicious, the spirit of it all seemed in good fun.  Personally after the last E3 I was thinking "why aren't there Booth Beefcake?"  I mean Booth eyecandy is just the nature of the convention industry (from Car conventions on down.)  So they aren't going away but my logic was "I'm a heterosexual man but what about the heterosexua women gamers or the gay gamers?"  I figure we need to diversify in this day and age. 

Your questions weren't nasty or cruel and you seemed to be genuinely friendly with them.  So I thought this was funny, didn't think it was excessivley cruel (thought as I said it seemed like hitting kittens with a baseball bat at times when things went down hill, just my god they were helpless!)  All in all I think it was good fun.  But jesus, Star Wars?  Were they just throwing out crap at random or did they actually believe this?

I would love to do this with Booth Hunks, if there were such a thing (or more of them, at least). It'd probably be even more funny.

There totally is such a thing, though. Just get the guys on the Bitmob team to stand by a booth. Bam, problem solved.

Well it's just a matter of time, 50% of gamers are women in some places so there's only so long testosterone driven marketing will hold out.  Eventually we'll either see booth babes fade away or booth beefcake join them. :-)