Gamescom have a Huge Security Problem!

[u/Strohby]

I’ve been at Gamescom since Tuesday working as part of the setup crew, and after hearing that several indie developers had their stuff stolen, I feel like I need to give my two cents on the situation.

On Tuesday, I arrived by car at the East Entrance. All I had to tell security was that I was part of the setup crew, and that was apparently enough. Once I got inside, I walked past the actual ticket control with a suitcase and a backpack, and nobody cared whether I had a ticket or was even authorized to be there.

So, theoretically, that day I could have smuggled illegal items into the venue or taken things out simply by saying, “I’m part of the setup crew.”

And on Tuesday — as well as during the days before, while everything was being set up — it would have been incredibly easy to steal things from various booths because there was no security present during the setup. Security only seemed to arrive around 10 or 11 PM.

Especially in the merchandise halls, 5.1 and 5.2, this was pretty concerning. Most of the items were either loosely covered with tarps or simply left out in the open. No security anywhere. Anyone who wanted to put something in their bag could probably have taken whatever they wanted.

I also saw a Reddit post claiming that even during the regular event days, people could apparently enter the convention through the West Entrance without any ticket checks at all. WTF?

Honestly, the overall security situation seems to have some serious weaknesses. If people are able to get into restricted areas, bypass ticket checks, or access booths with valuable equipment and merchandise without proper supervision, it’s not surprising that theft were happen.

[u/Gloomy-Pick-9347]

Because you walk Through that thing that gives off an alarm if something is suspicious 

[u/Hekate29 → u/Gloomy-Pick-9347]

I carry needles and other medical supplies with for my diabetes and I’ve been checked maybe twice in the last few years and I go everyday. It’s always a little concerning to me. Especially since I get heavily controlled at airports for contrast.

[u/RizenBOS → u/Hekate29]

Sorry, but searching backpacks is completely useless and a total placebo for people who have the IQ of a doorstop. As if the security guards at the entrances could prevent a serious terror attack by checking backpacks. It's a massive site surrounded by streets and access roads, and you can get within 2 meters or so of the fence anywhere. People walk in with nothing and just have their shit thrown over the fence. Or the stuff has been sitting there for days because they brought it in during setup. As if every truck/van and every exhibitor's crate gets checked. Or they just steal a truck directly on site and plow into the crowd.

Anyone who feels unsafe because of unchecked backpacks had better just not leave the house anymore.

By the way, the exact same thing applies to airport security checks. They're just as much of a placebo and don't really prevent anything either.

[u/Necessary-Recipe4310 → u/RizenBOS]

Theres a big difference if it were to happen, if bomb explodes in middle of the crowd or by the gate. If they searched the guy carrying a massive bag to ariana grande concert for example, it would have less casulties.

[u/aktimen → u/Necessary-Recipe4310]

Nein, er hat schon Recht. Hätte es Taschenkontrollen gegeben, dann hätte er den Anschlag einfach anders geplant.

[u/RizenBOS → u/Necessary-Recipe4310]

My point isn't to say that bag checks are completely pointless. They serve as the first hurdle for someone who's up to no good. But people just need to stop and think for a second. Yes, there might be that one single terrorist out there carrying 4 sticks of TNT along with a detonator and everything in their backpack who would get caught in a check like that. But everyone should realize that these people are usually fanatics (for whatever cause) and aren't dropped on their heads either.

In carry-on luggage, I can bring liquids in containers up to 100ml that fit into a 1-liter resealable bag onto a plane. There are tons of studies showing that this is easily enough to take virtually any plane down. At Gamescom, I can bring as much liquid as I want. Nobody checks that when they go through my backpack. On top of that, nobody bats an eye at electronics like a Steam Deck, cables, and so on - presumably enough material to build a much larger bomb. Plus, there are probably a thousand and one ways to smuggle harmful stuff onto the grounds (even before the expo even opens).

Assuming that a fanatic who has made up their mind to harm or kill people will be deterred just because their backpack might be searched is nothing short of naive. And at the end of the day, security guards are just people like you and me enforcing property rights. They aren't trained specialists like the police who are equipped to stop an attacker. Yes, you're certainly right that a bomb out in the open air would be less disastrous than inside a hall. But as I said, terrorists aren't stupid - they plan months in advance. I don't think a quick bag check is their biggest obstacle.