But, while this is my first E3, I’ve been watching E3 from afar for years. I saw E3 rise, and E3 fall… hard. I thought E3 turning into a business-only platform was dumb. E-for-all (the “consumer” side of the show) was even dumber.

That said, I stayed rather quiet on it, because I had never been to E3. Well, now I have, so I can chime in on it.

E3 is back to normal, and I can say resoundingly… that’s a good thing. This is an industry trade show, people who want to take a spin with the latest games (the hardcore gamers) are probably in the industry already. And, if they’re not, it’s still not impossible to get a badge… I know plenty of non-industry people that get in via various channels. Really, all you need is a business license and a couple of other documents (none of it is really industry-specific).

But it’s much more about promotion. The media gets a chance to see what’s next. GDC doesn’t really serve that purpose, it’s mostly for inter-industry networking and hiring. E3 is where stuff gets to shine.

So, I’m glad E3 is back to normal. Hopefully MechaWorks have something to show at the show next year.

But, as the MechaWorks Jobs page has given away… that’s not the only reason that we’ll be there. So, if you’re looking to score a job in the industry (especially if you’re out of work), and you’ll be at E3, head on over there and send us an email.

We will be doing informal job-related sitdowns, but we’ll also be busy with other activities at the show… so don’t feel bad if we don’t get to you right at the show.

And as usual, if you’re a fan, we do tend to hold impromptu social events at trade shows. Drop me a line if you will be there.

Yes, holding out on this stuff is tough. But trust me, we’ll have a lot to show in the coming weeks and months.

E3 is also in the works… more details soon.

Considering the importance of the Platinum Pass this year, I decided to post this article, which I will update whenever I see (or am told about) a new priority code.

So, what can you do to help? If you see a priority code that we haven’t posted yet… please share it in the comments! I’ll post updates on the news feed when some new/good/etc codes come along.

Free Exhibit Hall Codes

MKA31884 (Expired)
RDM11000 (Thanks, Gilbert)

I was outraged a few years back when, after standing out in the rain (for three hours), IDG shoved the media into an overflow room to watch the Macworld Expo keynote (with no prior notice that we were going to an overflow room). I got the whole front row into a booing match with IDG press people… we all pointed and booed at the IDG people every time there was an applause line during the keynote. IDG hasn’t tried that since.

Note, those IDG press people were fired… the press people at IDG expos now are good people.

But now, IDG is willing to make Macworld attendees get less for more money. Now, when you pay $250 to go to the show, you don’t get to see the keynote, you get to watch a telecast of the keynote from an overflow room. To watch the keynote in-person, you have to pay $1,695 for the Platinum Pass. And, IDG doesn’t even promise you a seat as in past years (in previous years, Platinum Pass seating was reserved at the front).

This continues IDG’s secret-and-quiet fight with Apple. However, it’s no secret that IDG and Apple haven’t gotten along since the turn of the decade. Last year, Apple security took over running the keynote. And, that starts to explain why we’re at where we are…

See, IDG wants control of the entire show. Apple keeps asserting more control over Macworld Expo. This standoff appears to be the proximate reason why IDG is adding this requirement. IDG may not be able to control the keynote, but legally, they can designate which people can watch it. By relegating the keynote to Platinum Pass attendees, IDG can claim that this is a means to make more money, and not a bitter feud with Apple over the show.

My advice to Apple: Kill Macworld and create Apple Expo San Francisco in its place. Change the date, time, venue, anything to brush off IDG for good. Hopefully when IDG gets the message, they’ll come back to the table.

If you’re looking for something in particular, just let me know in the comments… I’ll be bopping in and out every day of the show (except for Thursday, schedule conflict). And, yes, I will be networking on a few projects… I’m still pinning down my schedule. Despite Macworld having so many people attend each year, I constantly run into people I know, so you might even run into me while I’m there.

Not foreseeing that, I already locked in other plans for next week… oh well, hopefully this will stick and I can attend all the future CESes.

Many thought it was weird in ’04, ’05 and ’06 that PhoneNews.com chose Macworld Expo over CES. But, we had good reason… Apple has unloaded just about as many wireless innovations at Macworld, as the entire CE industry at CES. Need a list? AirPort / 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, Bluetooth, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, IMAP IDLE, iSync, SyncML… oh, and that little device that takes the entire web with you.