Eurogamer bans booth babes from future Expos

The MD of Eurogamer has stated that booth babes will be banned from future Eurogamer Expo events.

The issue was thrust into the spotlight over the weekend when concerns were raised over the presence of Virgin Gaming booth babes at last week’s well received Eurogamer Expo. Each had a QR code printed on one of their buttocks.

For future shows we will be issuing formal guidelines – booth babes are not OK,” Rupert Loman wrote on the Eurogamer forums, going on to explain how the were allowed entry into this year’s event.

We’ve always had an informal guideline regarding booth babes: we don’t think they are right for the Expo. When we talk to publishers and exhibitors, we discourage them from bringing booth babes – and encourage them to bring developers.

Of course, exhibitors need to bring staff to the show, but they should be interesting, cool and exciting and knowledgeable (developers and publisher staff) rather than pretty girls in revealing outfits just for the sake of it. We want the show to be friendly, and all 50,000 attendees to feel comfortable.

At this year’s show three companies showed up with booth babes. Two in particular we thought were dressed inappropriately. As a short-term measure we told them to move into the 18+ zone, and we asked some of them to put on leggings as well.

Although it was only a small number of booth babes, our regret is that we didn’t go further on the first day and just say ‘this isn’t right’ and ask them to change their clothes – or not attend. Instead, with the huge pressures of putting on such a large show and everything that comes with it, we let it go. And that’s what has prompted this debate – and we’re sorry it happened.”