E3 KEYNOTE - Dissed by Dougy (Update 3)

In an effort to try to fade out in a montage, I offered this message on their forum:

At the risk of being mauled by some of you passive-aggressive hyenas, I dare tread on this unwelcomed space just to post some words of quasi-reconciliation. It really was a huge surprise to me that so many of you hated us. I recede that press rooms are not a good fit for our "special brand" of reporting. Even if we never become a huge respected industry site (not our goal - we just want readers), we have our loyal little readership whom really do like the site and that's good enough for me. The moment we take ourselves too seriously, the fun stops. It almost happened here. And it shall never happen again - trust me. We've also gotten a lot of the "you are nobody - respect THE MAN" kinda stuff and that's fine, I can respect that point of view. We had a blast on the floor with "the little people", and that's really where we fit. We did a ton of Extreme Robot Makeovers with some (ahem - open minded) journalists, exhibitors, animators, booth babes, and hope to post a little gallery soon about it. Even some E3 security guards wore the helmet! It was a **blast**. In that sense, it was mission accomplished. Not this! Ask around - those who actually took the time to meet us will tell you we're nice fun loving people who love our site, are proud of our metallic mascot, and have always loved video games. I think the latter is the most important criteria in this industry, and if it's not then something's broken. So again, I'm so sorry some of you are just too uptight to enjoy our jolly company. I hope you at least got to play some fun video games between adjusting your ties and scribbling in your notepads.

(Update 2) There's a lot of huffing and puffing going on about our E3 Press conference appearance, which is both hilarious and very revealing about the industry I want to become a part of improve. The fuss on the web started when the pundit from GamePolitics.com wrote a scathing little article about his interpretation of what transpired in that press room, and a lot of like-minded ultra conservatives have come out of the wood work with fiery picket signs about our so called "unprofessionalism". I think we have differing perspectives on common decency, so me help you guys out. EXAMPLES OF PROFESSIONALISM THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN

"Hi I'm Doug's aide - the helmet and hat must come off for the interview please." (or) "What is this some kind of stunt?!! Oh it's your brand. Ok weirdos - take it off - Doug doesn't like it - then ask your question." (or) "Doug is very hesitant to talk to you because of the costume and he doesn't know you - can you tell me what your question is and can you remove the helmet - we don't want any incidents" (or) "We are very sorry but despite the fact that you are the only person left standing in the room with a question you have to make it quick and off camera"

WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

"No, you can't talk to Doug" (no eye contact, many backs turn, everyone slithers out of the room hastily despite us raising our voices) which FEELS LIKE "brush off these roaches".

The advice I've been given: Take this with a smile and wear a tie next time. Hehe. (evil smile curls up under helmet) HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELL NO. WHAT ARE YOU PEOPLE........... * R O B O T S * ??????!!!!!!!!!!! There was no "stunt" - that's a bullshit spin on what went down by a hack who didn't even have the investigative reporting ability (aka GUTS) to approach the people they are reporting on when we were in the same room. The most pathetic part of the counterpoint was suggesting we won't get E3 credentials next year. A self-proclaimed professional journalist actually said this. What are we, in grade school? I would hope the ESA is objective enough to embrace valid counterpoints and learned a little lesson on ETHICS and BAD PR and not solve "the destructoid problem" by keeping us out of their little club. That would make a great story though. There are too many nodding heads in this industry, there's nothing wrong in being a straight shooter. We did not speak out of turn, interrupt his speech, make a fuss in line, none of that. We stood in line quietly for our turn and we literally got DISSED BY DOUGY. It's pathetic, and it's funny honest account of what really happened. And what's worse - instead of reporting on the politics of the gaming industry, you are creating it! I've also read that the helmet was unprofessional, yadda yadda. AHEM. Let me put this into perspective - it's professional to hire thousands of women (whom have never played a video game in their lives) to parade around a conference half naked, but two journalists with early access *verified press credentials* wearing their mascot's helmet can't ask a suit a question, and deserve being completely ignored without explanation or even eye contact. This is the behavior you want to perpetuate? You're nuts. What happened to US was unprofessional, unethical, and plain as day rude. I don't care if he's the president of the ESA. You don't treat people like that, however quirky they may seem at a distance. If you agree with that conduct, you cannot defend it with "professionalism" spin. There's a better word for what you are. A coward. -------- (ORIGINAL STORY - 5/11) Doug Lowenstein delivered a sober E3 kickoff speech this morning to the press about how the innovations of the gaming industry have benefited other industries like military and real estate. That's all nice and well, but it was such a total copout. I give a shit about these topics. His speech was all about video games in 2010, which is completely absurd since the conference is not about the future of video games in five years, it's not called E3 2006-2010. It's E3 2006 - and it's supposed to be about what's happening now, not what has more cosmic significance. Immediately after the conference we had a hot question on our mind that we were ready to deliver to Dougy from the hearts of gamers everywhere today:

Console prices have been rising 50-100% every five years since the 80's, so if we're talking about 2010 let's discuss the possibility of a console hitting upwards of $1,200. What do you, Dougy, think is going to happen when gamers can't spend casual recreational dollars on futuristic video games?

And you know what happened? As soon as we were two feet from the man one of his henchmen completely cockblocked us and told us we could not interview him. Granted I'm wearing a cowboy hat and I'm hanging out with a giant robot, so we thought he might have gotten a little intimidated. So now five feet away from him I blatently SHOUT OUT the question and the dude completely pretents to not hear us (and we are being increasingly more annoying at this point) and while looking at his polished shoes runs into a corridor beyond our reach. Nothing like the taste of denial in the morning. My only regret was not catching the slimyness on video.

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