GameCola’s E3 Application

Warning: Real news, not Fabricated News today!

GameCola’s application to GDC was rejected this year, but we still decided to send an application to E3. After all, it says on E3’s registration page that “Free admission to the exhibit floor is available to qualified industry professionals who register and submit their industry credentials by May 3, 2010.” Qualified professionals? That totally includes GameCola, am I right?

I filled out the first two pages of the application with no problems whatsoever. In fact, the application felt like it was made for GameCola, with all its specific questions we could answer. Web site name? Check. Gaming enthusiast, general media or specialized electronics? Gaming enthusiast. Beard or no Beard? Beard.

OK, I made that last one up, but still. It was a good sign that the E3 application was specifically designed to accept applications from gaming-based sites. I was feeling pretty confident about our chances of making it to E3.

Then I came to page 3 of the application, where they wanted us to print some things out and submit them by mail:

1. A copy of your driver’s license to prove you are over 18.
2. An article you wrote within the past six months, which shows your name, capacity, and the publication’s name.
3. A copy of your business card.

See what I mean about our chances? In order to show that we’re a legitimate web site, we need at least one article that contains the author’s name, capacity, and the GameCola logo. Well, that information is included on all of our articles! We’re so in! I mean, OK, maybe we don’t have business cards, but we’re rocking the other requirements, and besides, we can print some business cards up just for this occasion. What’s the last thing they want us to send?

4. A copy of the Web site’s business license or government issued documentation showing the business’s federal tax identification number.

Wait, what the? Federal Tax Identification Number? For a web site? Well, maybe our application can get in even if we don’t have IRS approval and…

Really? Our application got rejected because we don’t have a tax number? Even after we fulfilled all the other requirements?

NOT COOL, E3.

The only other way to get into E3 is to buy one of their pricey Expo passes for $400 ($500 for late-comers). E3’s slogan is apparently More Expensive Than the Systems We’re Promoting! Unfortunately, both those prices are way past our budget of $22, which is almost enough to buy an extra-large pizza. Minus the cheese.

…So, it looks like GameCola won’t have any live reporters on the scene at E3 this year. Darn.