Photo taken at PAX East.

LAST YEAR: “Our definition of a “booth babe” has been a model (male or female) that has been hired to stand/sit in skimpy clothing to market the product. If that person knows the product inside and out then it’s less of an issue,” writes Robert Khoo, Penny Arcade’s president of business development … ”A company representative that can interact with attendees in a way that provides value as opposed to ‘hey stare at my body’ is something that we encourage whether or not that representative is physically attractive or not.” - Robert Khoo, Kotaku interview ~ http://kotaku.com/#!5549684/pax-surveys-alternatives-to-its-booth-babe-ban

It was never my impression that the amount of skin showing that mattered, but that it was about not huckstering your game using women as ornaments. I’m not sure what kind of gaming know-how was being imparted to the above young man by the cosplaying, well-informed, industry-knowledgeable Gearbox Software employees bracketing him, but he certainly appears interested in getting to know the product “inside and out”.

LAST YEAR: “I feel bad for the models that work expo halls. Maybe it’s better than other kinds of day work, I wouldn’t know. I try to avoid making eye contact, on the off chance it’s as weird for them as it is for me. It’s not their humanity that drives me away, though it’s rare to see a person who wouldn’t be improved with a few tufts of iridescent plumage. No, it’s that I have the run-of-the-mill, God given shame that naturally accompanies interactions with women who are being paid to endure me.” - Tycho “Jerry Holkins” Brahe, June 14th, 2010 ~ http://www.penny-arcade.com/2010/6/14/

TODAY: Official_PAX PAX  Our bb policy is cosplay of ingame chars is ok. We checked it out and asked DNF to cover up a bit but otherwise it’s within our guidelines.

… and that’s it. The fact that Gearbox calls them “booth babes” in every single publication notwithstanding, these women paid to pose against a throne for photo ops with sweaty young men aren’t booth babes, they’re cosplayers.

This is so depressing. I was an Enforcer for two years, attended Necrowombicon, and have been a fan for a long time, but after the self-justification and weasel words I just can’t bring myself to even read the comic anymore, never mind attend and support what has become just another consumerist sausage fest.

I’m at a loss for words, and it’s not even like I’m concentrating on flying the scout.

1 year ago  /  15 notes