PAX anyone?

[Alexandr Beran]

I'm excited about my first trip to Penny Arcade Expo. It's in, like, two weeks! :yeti: I'm travelling from Sacramento to Seattle. Anybody else going? And if so, from where are you travelling?

[QuizMaster]

YES! Oh God, Yes.

From Vancouver, B.C. So, depending on the wait at the border, it's about a four, five, or six hour drive.

16 days = Wooooo!

[Jes-ka]

I have done that drive, Alexandr. We left after I got of work, which was late, and so we made it to Oregon in the middle of the night. It was the worst part of that trip because I had to go and there wasn't a single open gas station for MILES!

Believe me, it is worth that and more when it comes to PAX.

[Alexandr Beran]

I'm going to be flying in that friday morning, although, I am intimate with the nine hour drive to Oregon.

I bought my tickets two days before I caught wind of a mystery train leaving from Sacramento, where a group takes over a whole train car for console gaming and the like. I will find out more about this phenomenon by tomorrow. If possible, I'll jump on that train instead and use my plane tickets for some other future nerd fest.

@QuizMaster- see you there!

@Jes-ka- you didn't say if you were going, but I assume you would have if you were: :(

[Jes-ka]

Oh.... yeah.... not going. :(

[Mcmax3000]

I will be there. Job status may make this my final, or at least final consecutive PAX appearance but I will definitely be there this year.

Friday afternoon around 2p I'm planning on going to the Harmonix booth with a group so we can try out Beatles: Rock Band (just in case for some reason, there's somebody out there that wants to hear me sing) & Saturday is going to be panel day for me as I've got four lined up that I'm planning on attending.

[Alexandr Beran]

We have a similar schedule, Mcmax. Saturday will also be panel day for me, and there's at least one on Friday I want to attend, as well. See you there, friend.

[Jes-ka]

Remember to take lots of pictures! :D

[Mcmax3000]

We have a similar schedule, Mcmax. Saturday will also be panel day for me, and there's at least one on Friday I want to attend, as well. See you there, friend.

I would like to go see the live taping of Gametrailer's Bonus Round on Friday but it's scheduled first thing in the morning right when the doors open & my experiences from previous PAXs tells me that I will not be in the convention centre that quickly so I'm passing on it.

My Saturday schedule so far is:

Saturday, 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Wolfman Theatre
Totally Rad Show Podcast and Q&A

Saturday, 1:30pm – 2:30pm, Unicorn Theatre
Twitter and Beyond – New Game Communities Online

Saturday, 3:00pm - 4:00pm, Unicorn Theatre
Enforcement on Xbox LIVE: Tales From The Din

Saturday, 5:30pm – 6:30pm, Serpent Theatre
Harmonix Rock Band Network Panel

Might opt for the RoosterTeeth panel at 6p instead of the Harmonix one but as of right now, it'll be the Harmonix one.

[Alexandr Beran]

As you're about to see, I'll have my work cut out for me. We'll see how many of the following panels I actually make when considering the draw of what's on the floor.

Friday, 11:30am - 12:30pm, Serpent Theatre
Post-N'Gai, Post-EGM Video Game Journalism, or Where Do We Go Now

Friday, 5:30pm - 6:30pm, Raven Theatre
Live Taping of CO-OP at PAX

Friday, 9:30pm – 10:30pm, Serpent Theatre
Listen UP LIVE at PAX

Saturday, 10:00am - 11:00am, Raven Theatre
Designing indie games with a team of one.

Saturday, 3:00pm - 4:00pm, Unicorn Theatre
Enforcement on Xbox LIVE: Tales From The Din

OR

Saturday, 3:00pm - 4:00pm, Wolfman Theatre
What is an 'Indie Game'?

Saturday, 4:00pm - 5:00pm, Raven Theatre
Make a Scene with Telltale—Monkey Island Madness!

Saturday, 5:30pm – 6:30pm, Serpent Theatre
Harmonix Rock Band Network Panel

Saturday, 7:00pm – 8:00pm, Serpent Theatre
The Giant Bomb Re-Reunion Tour: Tour Legit Tour Quit

[Alexandr Beran]

Remember to take lots of pictures! :D

Oh, for sure!

[Jes-ka]

I am pouting and reminiscing on the internet with people about PAX and we are watching this at the moment... ALL HAIL BALL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2GoVuHEzc4)!

[Alexandr Beran]

I am pouting and reminiscing on the internet with people about PAX and we are watching this at the moment... ALL HAIL BALL (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2GoVuHEzc4)!

Wow. Thanks for posting that video. There's something about the great mass of people combined with Cake's Comfort Eagle that gives me an energy I didn't know I had.

[QuizMaster]

Yeah, that was fun. Except that video is improperly named (or they don't want to get sued).

Last year was awesome because waiting in line for something in the huge line room (I do believe it was PAX's Saturday opening), they were hitting balls in the air, seeing how many times it could be hit before hitting the ground. After reaching beyond 100 (120?), the crowd after that could not pass 7. It was rich.
But some people are jerks.

[Jes-ka]

Yeah, that was fun. Except that video is improperly named (or they don't want to get sued).

Yeah, I don't get it. Especially since MoeFwacky made it.

[Alexandr Beran]

This just in: I traded my plane tix in for train tix...PAXTrain that is.

I'll be riding on Amtrack from Sacramento to Seattle (20 hours) with a crowd of folks jacked into board games and Rock Band competitions. Yeah, hooking up consoles is an option in this train car -- I had no idea this insanity was even possible.

[Jes-ka]

Quiz and I know some people who did that last year. They had a really great time. Just don't party too hard or you'll be too tired for PAX. :D

:yeti:

[A Ninja boot]

Is there an adult section on that Amtrack?

[QuizMaster]

Also, good for you guys for making schedules for yourselves. I bet it was fun picking and choosing, and making sacrifices.
But without knowing you well (or at all), I'm still going to guess that you won't end up doing what you plan (maybe 40%). There's just so much spontaneity and ridiculous fun-having to plan.

[Jes-ka]

But without knowing you well (or at all), I'm still going to guess that you won't end up doing what you plan (maybe 40%). There's just so much spontaneity and ridiculous fun-having to plan.

Absolutely! I say choose a couple MUST DO things and wing the rest. That always works best. Usually the people you hang with make things the most fun.

[Mcmax3000]

I know I'll stick to my schedule. I always go with a small schedule of panels & things I want to do and have only missed one thing in my two years and that was a panel that a friend was on, which I missed because it was first thing in the morning and I didn't get in the convention centre early enough due to the lines (that was my first year & I now know not to plan to attend anything first thing in the morning).

Other then that, I always stick to my panel schedule. I limit my panel schedule to only be panels that fall into one of two categories:

1) A panel for something I'm really interested in (This Year: Live taping of TRS, Rock Band Network Panel & there's one on Sunday with the producer of Burnout: Paradise that is also on my list), or

2) A panel that includes a friend. Even if it's not a topic I'm necessarily all that interested in, I do still try to support my friends when they have panels.

Since I put that limit on it, I usually have no problems making the ones on my schedule. Plus, while I do go to meet up with and hang out with a lot of online friends, I do generally make the show my priority during the day (since I always end up hanging out after the show hours) so I often spend the day wandering the convention centre by myself, which means I get to do whatever I want to do.

That said, I have a feeling I'm going to regret my schedule this year. Doing so many panels on Saturday means that I have to hit the exhibit hall on Friday, which will probably be the busiest day since it's the first one. Hopefully I'll have a chance on Sunday to get around to any games I don't get to try on Friday.

[Mcmax3000]

Hate to Double Post but I thought this might be of interest to anyone going:

http://bulk2.destructoid.com/u...orldmap-noscale.jpg (http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/144132-/worldmap-noscale.jpg)
http://bulk2.destructoid.com/u...ohallmap-noscale.jpg (http://bulk2.destructoid.com/ul/144132-/expohallmap-noscale.jpg)

Maps of the Exhibit Hall & Convention Centre setups for PAX next weekend. Just be warned, the images are huge (both are 6K by 2K in pixel measurement).

[Jes-ka]

SO JEALOUS!!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/crying.gif

[QuizMaster]

PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX PAX
*fanfare*
Charge!

[Ed Kirchgessner]

SO JEALOUS!!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/crying.gif

Don't be jealous, Jes. This just means that you and Chris will have to come to East Coast PAX in 2010 :yeti:

Have fun in Seatlle, everybody :)

[James Day]

SO JEALOUS!!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/crying.gif

Ditto, there is so much stuff I would kill to go and see at PAX this year!

Panels from Giantbomb, CGW/GFW Magazine reunion, Listen UP and Freezepop in concert! Its like all my favourite things in one place in the flesh!

This con is officially my Mecca, will have to go one year some way, somehow.

[Jes-ka]

I will be there in 2010. PAX East is a sure thing. I will sell bags and pillows on Etsy til I can afford the plane ticket if I have to.

It will be amazing because it is PAX! And PAX is about celebrating your life as a geek with your buddies!

[Michael Ubaldi]

This con is officially my Mecca, will have to go one year some way, somehow.The East Coast event should certainly make your pilgrimage easier!

[Vaulter85]

I plan on attending the East Coast PAX next year =)

[theempyrealwordsmith]

I have a feeling that East Coast PAX is going to be positioned in just such a way as to render it useless to me. That said, i'm still thrilled at the prospect. If i can be there, even just for a day, i will.

[Jeremy Steeves]

I'm confirmed for PAX East. Yeeeaaahh.

[Mcmax3000]

I've been posting all of my pictures on Facebook so far:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=306814&id=892105701&l=9a99ba05d0

Everyone should be able to view them.

[Mcmax3000]

I don't think this picture requires any words:

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs249.snc1/9624_251949960701_892105701_8676154_2358224_n.jpg

[Michael Ubaldi]

I think it requires awe. And reverence.

[Jes-ka]

We are bad-asses! And that game seems really cool.

[Ed Kirchgessner]

I don't think this picture requires any words:

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs249.snc1/9624_251949960701_892105701_8676154_2358224_n.jpg

That picture is awesome :D

[Jes-ka]

Here (http://www.facebook.com/missjeska?v=feed&story_fbid=128083387601#/album.php?aid=2423730&id=3222202)is a link to my pics!

[Jes-ka]

Here are some L4D2 pics. Not so great since the girl playing it while I was snapping away had never heard of it before. -_-

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_0966.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1046.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1077.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1078.jpg -- This shows their names. The girl is Rochelle.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1079.jpg



Aaaaaand Star Trek Online. Mmmm mmmm mmmmmmmmmm:


http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1011.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1012.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1013.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a196/Jes-ka/IMG_1014.jpg -- This pic shows you and your away team. It seems they behave similarly to your npc teams in story mode for Rainbow Six games.

[Ed Kirchgessner]

I want to play Star Trek Online now. NOW I SAY!!!!

I'm seething with jealousy, Jes. Looks like you folks had a blast :)

[QuizMaster]

PAX East 2010.....I want to say I'll be going, but I have a feeling my finals and graduation will be around then (and my mom says I CAN'T miss my graduation ceremonies. Boo). I'll know in a month or two when I sign up for courses.

This year (that is to say, a few days ago), at the first Gabe&Tycho Q&A, somebody asked about what PA was going to do about the rapid expansion of PAX; it's grown too big for it's venue. Gabe's response to that was that they were going to have a PAX East (and perhaps more down the road), which would hopefully divide the attendance of each one in half (or average them out). But when he asked the audience who was planning on attending PAX East, practically everybody raised their hand.
So I wonder if PAX East is going to sell out in its first year.

[Mcmax3000]

So I wonder if PAX East is going to sell out in its first year.

That'll probably depend on how many people the convention centre in Boston can hold. If it's bigger then the Seattle one, it might not.

That said, I will not be going to PAX East but I will try for PAX 2010 & might look into seeing how possible an E3 trip is next year because E3 is something I've always wanted to do.

[Unicorn Tim]

Hello there, I am new to this site and have an awesome story to tell about how i discovered it so here goes.

BEGIN: I was waiting in line at PAX to solve a Bioshock puzzle and get a prize when i got extremely bored. So once my ADHD had taken over I was scanning the people around me and noticed Jes-ka standing there with a random shirt on and i was trying to figure out what it was for a while. Once i saw that it was a unicorn eating a rainbow i was like "Hey that's an awesome shirt!" and thus began an hour long conversation.... anyways being at a videogame convention you don't ask girls for their phone numbers.... you ask for their gamertags. So I added her on XBL when i got home then on messenger and found out she does stuff for this site and now here i am. :FIN

[Jes-ka]

Yes, I met Tim and his buddies in line for the awesome Bioshock 2 poster signed by Jhonen Vasquez!! And some guy solved the crazy looking Rapture puzzle while we were in line. Inside was a vial of Adam. Crazy!

[Unicorn Tim]

Yeah I'm starting to have bad headaches and I'm not feeling to great. I think the swine flu finally caught up with me....

[Mcmax3000]

Don't know if it's Swine but I've been sick since Tuesday night.

It very well could be Swine Flu though because one of the people I was hanging out with all weekend tested positive for it. Oh well, I think I'm starting to get a little bit better.

[Jes-ka]

I kinda go up and down. I never got a fever, just really bad headaches. Theraflu is basically the only reason I can sleep at night.

I just know that one day soon, I will feel better.

[Unicorn Tim]

Being sick gives me a chance to sit at home and enjoy some games without having to feel guilty.... a win win in a twisted sort of way :D