The annual E3 event is a Shangri-La for the gaming community. It's one of the biggest names in the gaming calendar, and promises a lot of exclusives, interviews, demos and surprise announcements. It's an industry event packed with a lot of enthusiasm, jet lag, quickly scribbled notes, breakfast bars, long queues, excited chatter, cameras and so much more. Whether you're attending as a journalist, a developer, a publisher, a community ambassador, a cosplay ambassador, or just as a fan, it is one of the exciting but exhausting events in the industry.
For those attending the show this year, here are five tips on how to survive the show floor:
Feeling Overwhelmed? Try the Take This AFK Room!
It can feel like a lot, especially if you're jet lagged or still recovering from the long journey to LA. If you need a quick break, the AFK Room (meeting room #407) is organized by the Take This charity which focuses on tackling stress, anxiety and depression in the video game industry. It allows developers and journalists to take a time out and remove themselves away from the busy event atmosphere. The room is equipped with medical professionals if you feel overwhelmed or comfy bean bags if you need some alone time. Community and cosplay ambassadors are very welcome. Even Lara needs to take a breather from time to time.
For more information, check out Take This!
Be Selective Over Who You Can See
This is something which Kelly also recommended recently in her guest article, 10 Steps to a More Positive Tomb Raider Fandom. It's... an awkward topic because it's an exciting time for you and you hope that you can be the best community ambassador you can be and that people will cheer you on. It's a privilege to attend but at the same time, you have a schedule and company expectations and NDAs; it's a treat but you are informally-formally representing something. It's a weird balance!
On a personal note. Back in 2015 when I attended E3, I was doing twenty hour days, I would fall asleep after midnight and get up just after four. Part of that was due to a co-sponsorship between Crystal Dynamics and Microsoft, and so each company understandably had demands over what they wanted to get in return for the sponsorship, so we were kept very busy! My days were filled with exciting things like demos and interviews, but I was also homesick and sleep-deprived, on top of that during my first evening there I had food poisoning. (I do not recommend having food poisoning, that's my sixth tip!) It was a treat to attend E3 and a pleasure to be able to represent a community I adore for a childhood passion, but pretending that it wasn't physically and mentally tough would be a lie. I knew in advance that some people would object to me being there, and long before the flight, before the food poisoning, before the inability to sleep more than a few hours, I was prepared for it.
Instead I should have played it safe. Always play it safe. I should have muted the accounts that I knew would have vocal and public objections, or would have taken their absence from the program personally. Because I knew deep down that what they wrote was in the heat of the moment, that it wasn't personal, that they wished they were there too, and as someone who missed out on the 2012 program because of a delayed passport, I completely empathize. But seeing those messages daily and late at night just before bed, when you're messaging your family is rough. It's just bad timing for everyone. Unfortunately the messages in 2015 led to losing a friendship, even though we did try to address it.
It IS awkward and it's not something that you want to ever consider, but it's something important. You don't have to unfollow anyone, or do anything publicly. Just temporarily mute them on Twitter or hide posts from them Facebook. They just need time to vent. It's nothing that you're doing. You're not doing anything wrong.
Be Honest If You're Struggling
To anyone concerned about their schedule after reading my experiences, please don't worry we knew a lot of the demands going in, so we were prepared for some craziness! Plus it was an exceptional year with the scheduling, and not something regularly demanded from the ambassador program or community gatherings. There usually is a schedule though, so if you ever feel overwhelmed or nervous about anything on there or anything that happens during the show, please do speak up! Find somewhere quiet, talk to Meagan. She's really good with that kind of thing.
Reach out to friends if you need someone to help transcribe or look up information; you think being at the show that you're going to know everything that's announced, but we only found out that Lara Croft Go was revealed through the community's reaction. Having a buddy back home for support and backup makes everything so much easier.
Snacks Are Your Best Friend
Who doesn't like a good snack?! It's so easy to get distracted writing up your impressions, posting on the forums, preparing for the next interview, that food is often forgotten until it's too late. There are going to be frequent community dinners, but sometimes you just need something to keep you going in the meantime. Before you head out, make sure to include some breakfast bars and a small bottle of water so if you suddenly feel hungry, you can fill up. This is especially important on the show floor where lunchtime is a crazy rush with hundreds of hungry people descending on the small number of restaurants and food trucks in the area. Breakfast bars are your friend!
Alternatively! If you're a community or cosplay ambassador, Crystal will likely provide you with an American Express giftcard to cover food costs during the trip. Search for cafes the evening you get there so you can grab a few snacks and a coffee before heading out each morning. We had a Starbucks in the hotel lobby, and their caramel frappacinos distracted my brain from jet lag. I love you sugary caffeinated beverage.
Always Have A Plan B
This is one tip I cannot stress enough! Whether you're going for the first time or E3 is always on your calendar, always have a Plan B. Bring two devices with the ability to record audio. Bring two devices that can record video. Bring a notebook and a pencil. If you're relying on a tablet or phone, bring an external battery. Anything that you're relying on, have something to take its place if it acts up.
Of course, as it's a huge event, there are security and searches on the doors, so while keeping all this in mind, make sure that you're eligible to take a bag in. (We had exhibitor badges in 2015 so bags were permitted!).
So bring snacks! Predict tensions ahead! Know where the AFK Room is when you need a break! And talk to someone if your plan Bs are intimidating or if you need help. More importantly remember: You've got this.
For those attending the show this year, here are five tips on how to survive the show floor:
Feeling Overwhelmed? Try the Take This AFK Room!
It can feel like a lot, especially if you're jet lagged or still recovering from the long journey to LA. If you need a quick break, the AFK Room (meeting room #407) is organized by the Take This charity which focuses on tackling stress, anxiety and depression in the video game industry. It allows developers and journalists to take a time out and remove themselves away from the busy event atmosphere. The room is equipped with medical professionals if you feel overwhelmed or comfy bean bags if you need some alone time. Community and cosplay ambassadors are very welcome. Even Lara needs to take a breather from time to time.
For more information, check out Take This!
 |
| Photo from E3's Official Flickr Page |
Be Selective Over Who You Can See
This is something which Kelly also recommended recently in her guest article, 10 Steps to a More Positive Tomb Raider Fandom. It's... an awkward topic because it's an exciting time for you and you hope that you can be the best community ambassador you can be and that people will cheer you on. It's a privilege to attend but at the same time, you have a schedule and company expectations and NDAs; it's a treat but you are informally-formally representing something. It's a weird balance!
On a personal note. Back in 2015 when I attended E3, I was doing twenty hour days, I would fall asleep after midnight and get up just after four. Part of that was due to a co-sponsorship between Crystal Dynamics and Microsoft, and so each company understandably had demands over what they wanted to get in return for the sponsorship, so we were kept very busy! My days were filled with exciting things like demos and interviews, but I was also homesick and sleep-deprived, on top of that during my first evening there I had food poisoning. (I do not recommend having food poisoning, that's my sixth tip!) It was a treat to attend E3 and a pleasure to be able to represent a community I adore for a childhood passion, but pretending that it wasn't physically and mentally tough would be a lie. I knew in advance that some people would object to me being there, and long before the flight, before the food poisoning, before the inability to sleep more than a few hours, I was prepared for it.
Instead I should have played it safe. Always play it safe. I should have muted the accounts that I knew would have vocal and public objections, or would have taken their absence from the program personally. Because I knew deep down that what they wrote was in the heat of the moment, that it wasn't personal, that they wished they were there too, and as someone who missed out on the 2012 program because of a delayed passport, I completely empathize. But seeing those messages daily and late at night just before bed, when you're messaging your family is rough. It's just bad timing for everyone. Unfortunately the messages in 2015 led to losing a friendship, even though we did try to address it.
It IS awkward and it's not something that you want to ever consider, but it's something important. You don't have to unfollow anyone, or do anything publicly. Just temporarily mute them on Twitter or hide posts from them Facebook. They just need time to vent. It's nothing that you're doing. You're not doing anything wrong.
 |
| Photo from E3's Official Flickr. |
Be Honest If You're Struggling
To anyone concerned about their schedule after reading my experiences, please don't worry we knew a lot of the demands going in, so we were prepared for some craziness! Plus it was an exceptional year with the scheduling, and not something regularly demanded from the ambassador program or community gatherings. There usually is a schedule though, so if you ever feel overwhelmed or nervous about anything on there or anything that happens during the show, please do speak up! Find somewhere quiet, talk to Meagan. She's really good with that kind of thing.
Reach out to friends if you need someone to help transcribe or look up information; you think being at the show that you're going to know everything that's announced, but we only found out that Lara Croft Go was revealed through the community's reaction. Having a buddy back home for support and backup makes everything so much easier.
Snacks Are Your Best Friend
Who doesn't like a good snack?! It's so easy to get distracted writing up your impressions, posting on the forums, preparing for the next interview, that food is often forgotten until it's too late. There are going to be frequent community dinners, but sometimes you just need something to keep you going in the meantime. Before you head out, make sure to include some breakfast bars and a small bottle of water so if you suddenly feel hungry, you can fill up. This is especially important on the show floor where lunchtime is a crazy rush with hundreds of hungry people descending on the small number of restaurants and food trucks in the area. Breakfast bars are your friend!
Alternatively! If you're a community or cosplay ambassador, Crystal will likely provide you with an American Express giftcard to cover food costs during the trip. Search for cafes the evening you get there so you can grab a few snacks and a coffee before heading out each morning. We had a Starbucks in the hotel lobby, and their caramel frappacinos distracted my brain from jet lag. I love you sugary caffeinated beverage.
 |
| Photo from E3's Official Flickr. |
Always Have A Plan B
This is one tip I cannot stress enough! Whether you're going for the first time or E3 is always on your calendar, always have a Plan B. Bring two devices with the ability to record audio. Bring two devices that can record video. Bring a notebook and a pencil. If you're relying on a tablet or phone, bring an external battery. Anything that you're relying on, have something to take its place if it acts up.
Of course, as it's a huge event, there are security and searches on the doors, so while keeping all this in mind, make sure that you're eligible to take a bag in. (We had exhibitor badges in 2015 so bags were permitted!).
So bring snacks! Predict tensions ahead! Know where the AFK Room is when you need a break! And talk to someone if your plan Bs are intimidating or if you need help. More importantly remember: You've got this.
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