Until now, GameStop’s annual EXPO conference has been exclusively for GameStop employees. Today, GameStop has announced it is opening up the conference to a wider audience. Members of GameStop’s PowerUp Rewards program are invited to attend the conference, which will be be held in San Antonio, Texas on August 29. EXPO will feature pre-release video game demos and previews, contests, and sessions with video game publishers and “special guests.”

In addition to the general admission tickets sold for $35, GameStop is offering VIP admission for $100. Both are available for purchase with a credit card or with PowerUp Rewards points. VIP attendees will gain access to VIP lines for autographs and signings, access to a VIP gaming lounge, and admission to up to four General Sessions. The General Sessions will grant in-depth looks at upcomming games. Confirmed General Session presenters include Warner Bros., Namco Bandai, Ubisoft, and Square Enix.

Two quick notes for those of you already packing your bags for San Antonio. The conference will only be one day long for PowerUp Rewards members, and only five hours long. That’s certainly not enough time to experience everything at the conference, and might not be worth a cross-country trip. Also, the conference won’t be a big cosplay event. No weapons or items that can be “construed as a weapon” will be allowed in.

(photo courtesy GameStop)