NCsoft fined for breach of E3 noise regulations

Sorry If this was posted already:
--------------------------------------
NCsoft fined for breach of E3 noise regulations
Illustration
Paul Loughrey 14:08 15/05/2006

Publisher responds by reconsidering future show attendance

Software publisher NCsoft has been fined USD 5000 by organisers of the Electronic Entertainment Expo, allegedly breaching stringent rules on noise levels for publishers attending the annual event.

NCsoft's booth at E3 2006 consisted of a large stage area where live music sets were repeatedly played to promote the company's forthcoming MMO title, Tabula Rasa. The crowd were encouraged to applaud as loudly as possible, although NCsoft maintains that there were louder noise levels from rival publisher's stands and that the situation was monitored by its staff during the event.

US website GameSpot reports that the publisher had three staff members monitoring the situation with decibel recorders, an NCsoft representative stating: "We've been doing our best to comply [with regulations]."

The publisher will be complying with the decision regarding the fine, but the company's VP of strategic development, Fred Schmidt, has suggested that NCsoft may choose an alternative venue to present its games next year, snubbing the most recognisable and highly attended trade event for the industry.

Addressing the assembled crowd during the event, Schmidt stated: "We're not sure we're on the same plane with this organisation… We have been harassed for three days straight, and I'm not sure we're coming back here, but we are going to have a party next year - real near here - and we hope you all will come."

This year's E3 event was attended by come 60,000 industry professionals, with major announcements from Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft paving the way for first and third party publishers to present their latest game releases and vie for attention amongst the crowds. Organisers instigated a number of regulations regarding stage size, noise levels and the use of "booth babes", and are apparently determined to enforce those regulations in the light of any perceived infraction.
Related Articles
-----------------------------------------
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=17009
-----------------------------------------

E3 has gotten too big for its britches.

That would be hilarious if NCSoft rented its own place like a hotel room or something right near E3 and did their own thing there with a big middle finger pointed somewhere else :P....

This is the single most ridiculous thing I've read today.Fined for people having to good a time.NCSOFT should take that cheque for the E3 Gestapo , roll a big mamajamma blunt and blow the smoke straight up their _ _ _ ,while tap dancing on the corpse of oppression and ridiculum , humming "you can't touch this" in Pig Latin.

Fined for being to loud..please...ROCK ON NCSOFT, you rock on.

*Devils Advocate* Rules at an E3 event should be followed to the letter and any deviation from the so supplied list of regulations will be reprimanded accordingly"....I'd like to take the Bludgenor of Enlightment and smash these people over the head and give them a big ol' dose of wake the f_ _k up.Newsflash dingbats..if it wasnt for companies like Sony,NCSoft and others pitching their collective tents at your little shindigs you wouldnt be having crowds being loud at all..schmucks.(smash them over the head FIGURATIVELY,wouldn't want to get fined for anything).

E3 must comply with the regulations of the city they were in.

Best thing they can do is go to one of the Kansas were there is nothing for miles on end and party hard. I remember when they had real strippers and booze galore. Now its so pussy footed to try and play into a consumer market that doesn't buy. Give games what they want.

Booth girls, loud music, and lots of booze.

If you don't want to attend because of things like that just watch all the presentations online. They are all nice and clean and ready for "whole some" families.

The funny thing about this is Gaile actually complained about how loud the band was too in one of the in-game logs.

Loud And Proud Baby Keep It Up

I hear the Booth Babes are being given strick guide-lines on what they can and cannot wear as well. Some Party Huh ( as long as you dont wake the neibors and dont get too indecent )

5 grand seems pretty steep.. probably more about the money =] I would'nt support E3 either after reading that

They are regulating booth babes too? WTH is this world coming to when I can't go to E3 and see hot Asian models with breast implants and string bikinis that have nothing to do with the games? It's a sad sad world I tell you a sad world indeed. BOOTH BABES FTW!!!

Sounds like a great Quaker party!


.....Where's my beer and smokes?

NCSoft had the best booth in the whole E3 event, hands down. Blizzard's booth was right across from them and all they had was 12 little pc, a statue, and a big screen showing the same boring trailer from last year.... I think they were overwhelmingly jealous. Especially when NCSofts Awesome rock band called "The Mutaytors" where performing their exotic tribal dance music. It was like a mini rave party in their booths.

One of their performing chicks was playing with a hoolahoop that was lit on fire while she did various aerobic dances! It was HOT... literally! Then there was another girl that performed with two chinese fans, also lit on fire... while she brushes the fire across her face. It was followed by some fire swallowing act and a chinese new year dragon dance.... the whole performance was acompanied by ear deafening drums beating at 100+ db! (Which is a good thing )

Between performances there were cinematics of their games shown on (possibly the largest at E3) big-screen TV, acompanied with thick smoke screens and laser light shows. NCSoft also provided the most free bags... neary everyone at E3 was carrying one, loaded with tons of freebies and posters!

Overall NCSoft's booth was twice as big as Blizzards and three times bigger than most average booths... their booth was only outdone by Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo.... not even EA can compare with NCSoft's outrageously extravagant performance!


Summary: NCSoft > Everyone else at E3

Looks like they finally got busted, even NCsoft isn't perfect.

Nice going!

Yeah NC Soft is like that fraternity on campus that was constantly getting put on probation but threw the best parties anywhere. Nothing but respect for them from this corner and I don't give that out lightly.

Rock on and party hard NCsoft! XD

In other words:

NCSoft went to a game expo designed to show off what's coming and what they're doing, and spent large portions of it making lots of noise and having performances completely unrelated to their products.

Gee, I don't understand why they would get in trouble.

That would be true if their product pales in comparison with other games, but other games weren't any more excitable than NCSoft's as well. E3 This year were mostly same old boring games seen last year, with most expansions, and a few previews. Sony is total shit this year (Same shitty system, scrapped controller designs, deadline pushed back to November, and the price tag at $599.99!!!). Microsoft and Nintendo had relatively nothing new, EA's booth is like a duplicate from last year, and Blizzard has only a WoW patch to announce, plus Starcraft Ghost is now scrapped.

Besides Tabla Rasa and Factions, NCSofts games weren't any more big news than last year either, same-o same-o.... overall, this year E3 was less about games and just about showmanship (Which I agree, is kinda sad....). Coincidentally it's also the year E3 got the beat stick up everyone's ass about no-no booth babes and sound control.

If E3 had their ways, the convention this year would've been as dead as a doornail in a grave.....

Oooops. Maybe we'l be able to purchase those character slots sooner now, than later. hehe

A five grand fine isn't that much. I think NCI got exactly the publicity they were looking for. No one else is talking as much about MS or Nintendo booths. Plus you have to kind of expect Richard Garriot to pull out the stops on his new game.

lol, E3 reached its peak now it will slowly go down in popularity if NCsoft starts the wave

One major developer and publisher power house boycotting E3? That's a slap in their faces. If NCsoft will be able to pull a very good show independently or in other game conventions, the others will follow suit. Say I'm Blizzard/Vivendi why would I let NCsoft dominate a game convention? I'll follow them and fight them head-on right there and then. Forget E3, our stiff competitor is in the other convention.

And slowly, one by one they will stop going to E3. Maybe NCsoft did something wrong or maybe they did follow the rules. But that's something you shouldn't do with a powerhouse like NCsoft.

Soon E3 will just become a Console convention.