Strange Happenings at Gamescom
So, today I arrive at my usual time to get in which is 8:30 am. Tuesday to Thursday I was able to access all areas with no complaints. Today for some reason only exhibitors were allowed entrance and select media.
Some people with less credentials than even me (and that is LOW). There were others with AAA All Access no restriction press passes that were also denied. These particular guys were way beyond pissed off.
I questioned as to why only select press were allowed in and conveniently the front house staff went from fluent english to speaking only in german. Pause for thought if there was ever any.
Then at the new time that the non-selected press are allowed access you go through the first building on your way to the next hall and there is another access point at the main hall. This access point was not here in previous days. Not only this but there were a couple of dozen people waiting outside this second barrier who were allowed through the first. They were not allowed access through the second barrier yet I was allowed. The people that were not allowed through the second barrier had a range of passes from once again AAA down to trade visitor which is non-industry.
I have no problem with being denied access for me personally a I know I am lucky to be here but, what I would like to have seen is consistency in who was getting access. I also would have liked to have seen AAA All Access passes allowed entry as the only area they can not get into is the area exclusive to visitors and/or specific company behind the scenes areas.
I entered the business area which is always my first stop to check my email and see who's coming and going. I notice that there are a strange group of men in suits at key access/egress points with matching ties. It turns out that they are a new security company that was added on top of the 3 companies already providing security not to mention all the privately hired security at booths and the convention centre security and the band's (music acts) security. I now sit in the business area and ponder how many companies (security) are needed for an event of this magnitude. They way I look at having spent a great number of years in the industry, the more hands in the pot the less stays in the pot. Off the top of my head there are 8 different security companies at the event and 3 different types of access control. With the companies I saw there are 3 that seem to do each others job, why not have one company do that job?
I got to admit that this has been a strange event. I have seen major inconsistency in the event thus far and I don't think it will get any better. All in all, I can not say this has been a great convention, just okay. There have been a lot of major negattives.
At the same time it has had some high points but, I don't think they outweigh the negatives.
Some people with less credentials than even me (and that is LOW). There were others with AAA All Access no restriction press passes that were also denied. These particular guys were way beyond pissed off.
I questioned as to why only select press were allowed in and conveniently the front house staff went from fluent english to speaking only in german. Pause for thought if there was ever any.
Then at the new time that the non-selected press are allowed access you go through the first building on your way to the next hall and there is another access point at the main hall. This access point was not here in previous days. Not only this but there were a couple of dozen people waiting outside this second barrier who were allowed through the first. They were not allowed access through the second barrier yet I was allowed. The people that were not allowed through the second barrier had a range of passes from once again AAA down to trade visitor which is non-industry.
I have no problem with being denied access for me personally a I know I am lucky to be here but, what I would like to have seen is consistency in who was getting access. I also would have liked to have seen AAA All Access passes allowed entry as the only area they can not get into is the area exclusive to visitors and/or specific company behind the scenes areas.
I entered the business area which is always my first stop to check my email and see who's coming and going. I notice that there are a strange group of men in suits at key access/egress points with matching ties. It turns out that they are a new security company that was added on top of the 3 companies already providing security not to mention all the privately hired security at booths and the convention centre security and the band's (music acts) security. I now sit in the business area and ponder how many companies (security) are needed for an event of this magnitude. They way I look at having spent a great number of years in the industry, the more hands in the pot the less stays in the pot. Off the top of my head there are 8 different security companies at the event and 3 different types of access control. With the companies I saw there are 3 that seem to do each others job, why not have one company do that job?
I got to admit that this has been a strange event. I have seen major inconsistency in the event thus far and I don't think it will get any better. All in all, I can not say this has been a great convention, just okay. There have been a lot of major negattives.
At the same time it has had some high points but, I don't think they outweigh the negatives.