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January 24, 2006
E3 Show Policy: Please Define "Material"
In response to our article, E3 Censorship?, Gamecloud contacted the ESA and is currently carrying the ESA's response as well as more information on the story.
According to the story on Gamecloud, E3 Show Director Responds to Booth Model Changes, the ESA notes it has not changed the policy, but rather the enforcement of the existing policy.
The E3Expo dress code policy is not new for 2006. In fact, it is the same as it has been for the past several years, and the vast majority of other major tradeshows have the same or similar policies. What's new in 2006 is an update of the enforcement policies, which simply allow show management to better enforce the long-standing dress code. E3Expo is first and foremost a business show, and policies such as this one help create an environment not only "where business gets fun", but where business gets done.
However, it's not just the dress code that the policy addresses. Specifically, the policy states that:
"Material, including live models, conduct that is sexually explicit and / or sexually provocative, including but not limited to nudity, partial nudity and bathing suit bottoms, are prohibited on the Show floor, all common areas, and at any access points to the Show. ESA, in its sole discretion, will determine whether material is acceptable."
"Material" is the key word here. This policy potentially excludes developers of adult content such as Spend the Night, Naughty America and VirtuallyJenna even if they keep all nudity and all partial nudity shown in the game product off the show floor.
We applaud the cleaning up of the show as much as anyone (For a look at last year's booth babe bikini bottoms, see E3Girls.com. There are over 400 *pages* of photos).
However, a restriction on adult "material" is still that. If the policy is strictly one on dress code, could the ESA clarify that policy? If "material" is something other than the game itself, could the ESA likewise clarify that? Otherwise, developers of adult content may find themselves taking their booths down moments after setting them up... or the second day or the third day. Who knows? It's the ESA who at their "sole discretion, will determine whether material is acceptable."
Posted by BrendaBrathwaite at January 24, 2006 08:45 PM | Discuss this post on our forums