PAX Booth Babe Survey

[Bells]

Sample Size = 6,313

Male/Female = 78%/22%

Things we’re going to formally message in our “booth babe” policy:
Rep needs to be trained/educated about the product (81%)
Anything that is considered “partial nudity” is banned (43%)
However, cosplayed characters are allowed to wear revealing outfits, assuming it is true to the source game (68%)
No messaging that specifically calls out body parts (47%)

So, for those of you not in the loop... Penny Arcade has placed a survey concerning PAX and how to alter the current Booth Babe status into something more "family friendly" (?). These are the results.

So, it seems that most of the people that took part on this surey are Ok with banning scadly clad cosplaying women from game booths at game events, and that from now own they must be True to the source or not partially nude and be educated about the product they are helping to sell.

That's... interesting?

So, overall, what you guys take from all of this?

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

People would rather lie on a survey to make themselves feel better than stick to their beliefs?

[Aerozord]

while booth babes seem nice, its ultimately just window dressing. The company that hires the nicest set of tits should not be the one to get the most attention. Plus with gaming becoming more mainstream having scantly clad women as attractions seems to alienate alot of the modern day gamer base

[Kim]

Ultimately I think having half naked women advertising your game says more bad about your company than good.

[BitVyper]

The booth babe thing does get a bit tasteless at times. I'm pretty much okay with the limitations being discussed, or I would be if I went to PAX. Not big on the "think of the children" angle though.

I dunno, it's kind of an odd thing and maybe regulating it is overdoing things, but it is their con, and it's not like they're saying you can't have them at all.

[bluestarultor]

Actually, I think in this day and age, booth babes are rather insulting. The average age of a gamer is what, 35? People who always played games as kids grow up into adult gamers with kids. It's not like you can even say it's to draw in teenagers with holes in their pockets. Gamers are more intelligent than game companies give them credit for and trying to lure them in with sex appeal really insults that.

I mean, sex sells, yes, but you need to balance that with, you know, selling the actual games.

That said, I'm not against appropriate cosplay or anything or tastefully-dressed models. Just the kind of tanned, blonde, "Oops! I just spilled my water alllllll over my napkin of a white tee shirt, tee hee!"* bimbos that I'm sure prompted this. There's a difference between being lured in by a model and being lured in by a model put there to insult your intelligence because companies figure you'll be too busy ogling to notice the difference.



*hyperbole

[Donomni]

Rep needs to be trained/educated about the product (81%)

I'm pretty certain if that was a requirement, booth babes would be gone forever.

[Aerozord]

and lets also remember a good chunk of current gamers are women anyways. heck last con I was at there were without a doubt more women there then men.

[Donomni]

Originally Posted by bluestarultor

Actually, I think in this day and age, booth babes are rather insulting. The average age of a gamer is what, 35? People who always played games as kids grow up into adult gamers with kids. It's not like you can even say it's to draw in teenagers with holes in their pockets. Gamers are more intelligent than game companies give them credit for and trying to lure them in with sex appeal really insults that.

Man, you know why as well as I do.

A lot of gamers are still really fucking stupid.

It's cheaper and easier to advertise to more gullible gamers than anything else, and more likely to work.

Older and/or more educated gamers are way past being easy or cheap to advertise for, so they don't even bother.

[Aerozord]

Originally Posted by Donomni

It's cheaper and easier to advertise to more gullible gamers than anything else, and more likely to work.

this is true, this is why companies would rather focus on catering to the shallow minded teenage male then people that seek depth.

which is exactly why booth babes are counter productive. Without them they'll have to do things like, make a good game, then just appealing to the lowest common demoninator