The fiancee insisted that I point out that the powers that be at E3 have decided to cut down on the rampant nudity and other assorted naughtiness on the show floor.

I’m of two minds on this. I’m not adverse to a little skin and a little showmanship to hawk games. To be honest, I’m glad when Lara Croft signs photos – those 400 chuckleheads waiting in line are 400 idiots I don’t have to compete with in the line for something with, say, gameplay. And yes, ladies, I favor equal time in the form of Duke Nukem and the Prince of Persia in whatever state of undress works for you.

I’m honestly more troubled by the ban on sexy games on the show floor than the models. Just more of the ’sex is bad, violence is okay’ mentality that permeates the industry, and America in general. Stopping being seen as kids thing is going to, in some form, eventually go through sexual oriented material. Or do we think that mom watches the afternoon Soaps for the acting?

On the other hand, the industry isn’t going to be taken seriously until we stop being seen as purely for adolescents. Now that E3 is drawing real media as opposed to just 3 kids who managed to snag koolskr1ptk1ddi3s.com, putting a good face forward is more important. Especially given the whole Hot Coffee fiasco will undoubtedly get some pulitzer wannabes looking to smear the whole industry if he can.

If they wanted to really fix E3, they could force everyone to turn the volume down on their displays to 1/3 of what it was the last time I went. I ended up fleeing the show early, desperately seeking an Advil before the blood vessel in my forehead burst all over the EA booth.

All this being said, the snarky side of me read this:

For 2006, The Board has adopted an amendment to the current Character of Exhibit/Attire Policy enforcement. Exhibitors will receive ONE verbal warning when a violation of the policy is encountered. Should another violation occur, the ESA will impose a $5,000 penalty, payable immediately on-site and require that models comply with the dress code before returning to the floor.

… and immediately thought, “Gosh, I hope they don’t fine the actual models. I don’t think their outfits have anywhere they could HOLD five thousand dollars.”

Original comments thread is here.