Kotaku
The Penny Arcade folks today announced the dates for next year's Penny Arcade Expo, set once again in the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.
The show will take place from Aug. 29 through Aug. 31 with attendance expected in the "forty-seven million bajillion" range, slightly up from the 37,000 that made it to this year's fourth annual show. Exhibitor packets are available now and attendee registration is expected to open up in January.
I really missed not going this year. I decided, instead, to hit up Leipzig with Mike and Mark and then get really really drunk and sing Hungry Like the Wolf on stage in front of one German guy. Next year I'll either be repeating that or maybe I'll kick off a cross-country caravan of readers and PAX attendees to Washington State. Haven't decided yet. If only I could buy high quality German beer at PAX, then I would be set.
Penny Arcade Expo 2008 Dates Announced
PAX 2007 Attendance Makes PAX the Largest Game Festival in North America
Seattle, Wash. - Oct. 26, 2007 - Penny Arcade today announced that the 5th annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) dates will be August 29th, 30th and 31st of 2008 with exhibitor packets available now and attendee registration opening in January. This past August 37,000 gamers filled the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, Wash. for the 4th annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) game festival.
In his PAX 2007 keynote address, noted actor, writer and geek icon Wil Wheaton challenged stereotypical notions of the antisocial nature of gaming, recounting stories of enjoying arcade games as a child with his brother, and sharing the gaming experience with his children. The theme of gaming as social interaction echoed throughout the three-day show, in panel discussions like "The Social Component in Gaming Today" as well as in free-play rooms filled with gamers competing against each other face-to-face, and in the popularity of "party" games like Rock Band and SingStar in the exhibition hall.
"PAX has always been about community," said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade, "and I think that was really reflected in the overall vibe of the show. PAX celebrates what it means to be a gamer, and walking onto the show floor gives you this sense of kinship ... it just feels right."
Now the largest game festival in North America, PAX 2007 featured an enormous selection of panels, tournaments, concerts and other activities centered around game culture. This year's PAX was the first held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, a move prompted by the dramatic increase in attendance. Thus far, the festival's attendance has doubled each year: There were 4,500 attendees in 2004, 9,500 in 2005, 19,300 in 2006, and 37,000 for 2007. Attendance for the 2008 event is expected to reach forty-seven million bajillion people.
About Penny Arcade Expo
Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) is a three-day celebration of games and gamer culture. The festival includes an exhibition floor filled with playable builds of upcoming tabletop, console, and computer games; a conference program of game-industry speakers on gaming topics; music concerts; freeplay areas; industry parties; game tournaments and more. Since its inception in 2004 the show has doubled in size each year, with 4,500 attendees in 2004, 9,500 in 2005, 19,300 in 2006, and 37,000 in 2007. For more information visit www.pennyarcadeexpo.com.
About Penny Arcade
Equal parts online comic and commentary, Penny Arcade (http://www.penny-arcade.com) covers videogames in a way that is genuine, insightful and respected by the gaming community. What started as a hobby for Jerry "Tycho" Holkins and Mike "Gabe" Krahulik has, over 8 years grown into an online phenomenon that serves 55 million page views a month to millions of readers worldwide. In addition to the comic strip and PAX, Penny Arcade also manages Child's Play (www.childsplaycharity.org), a gamer-driven charity for children that spans the globe.
Comments
You can't get the German Beer at PAX but there are many good German Pubs/Bars in Seattle!
Should I say it? Yes, I'll say it.
"cross=country"? :D
I'm such a bastard. Will go to PAX if at all possible, though. Wish it was in the other washington.
I really wish they'd do something east coast.
Argh, this year's PAX made me miss the first day of school. I'm not happy about pushing the date for next year's.
*enters vacation request*
There's nothing like a convention full of video game frea... er, enthusiasts!, to make you feel slightly more normal! I'm in!
lol, euphemism! fun times =)
Apparently, E for All scheduled the next year's event during the same time as PAX. Heh, I know which I'm going, too. It was a pretty dumb move for them to try to compete with PAX. It just ain't happening. Their attendance will just end up being even lower next time around unless they actually get companies to show up.
Lousy PA with their lousy PAX in lousy Seattle just cuz they live there. So unfair. West Coast Bias!
[/littlegirlpouting]
PAX '08: This is where it's at, Baby.
PAX was awesome. I got like, so many free t-shirts.
PAX was AWESOME, first time going and its going to be a tradition from here on out.
Brian if you do plan to head, I will buy you drinks!! But in all seriousness its great fun and the discussions were just awesome.
PAX 08, I'm there.
I couldn't convince myself to go this year, despite it being about a ten-minute walk from my apartment, due to a heavy case of drinking and playing Metroid Prime with no pants on. Next year? Maybe.
Need some conventions in the Midwest. But, my family is moving to Seattle, sorry to say Iowa State starts their academic year before this date :(
Argh i would so love to go to PAX, sadly not for at least another 3 years till university is over as travel from britain just for a convention/ greatest nerd party type thing in the world isn't within my budget :(
*Adds to list of things to do before i die*
Lets see, that makes the list so far:
Go to PAX
See They Might Be Giants live
I believe Fierabend would be the place you are looking for in Seattle. The third German-style pub to be founded in Seattly by Chris Navarro, Fierabend features German pub-style bench seating, an awesome selection of brews and meats, and THE BOOT.
[www.feierabendseattle.com]
@Chewbenator:
I've been living in the Seattle area for 11 years and have never been to PAX.
I'll be going again next year. ;)
(I live like, 3 blocks away)
@MrBin: The die bierstube ftw!
Get wasted, then show up to PAX and make fun of the r-tards dressed up as ninja's.
German beers? Why not try something new? The Northwest has some of the best microbreweries in the country (possibly due to the high concentration of them in the region). There's no shortage of beer around here, Crecente:
[www.gonorthwest.com]
Oh it was funny. outside of the PAX building this guy tried to sell me marijuana.
@DigitalHero: For the love of God, WHY NOT?! This was my first year at PAX and it was...overwhelmingly awesome. So very much cool stuff and not nearly enough time to do it in. I only saw like 2 panels and 1 movie...the rest was filled with tabletop and video game demoing on the sales floor. Was INCREDIBLE.
@kojirodensetsu: This is Seattle. Of course someone tried to sell you pot. Its treated as a crime lower than j-walking. No one cares. :P
@balls187: r-tards dressed up as ninja's are better than the flipping morons who can't figure out how to use a shower or bath in some manner. pax was fun - but i swear, there should be an official scent police force at all entrances. i had to sit next to some guy during the PA forum (On The Rainslick...) that was making my eyes water. it really makes gamers look bad when people like that are around.
Uh...no one cares about SMOKING...not about your experience. Sorry, that came out wrong.
@KaneTaker: Yeah I know. I just found it funny that like, a whole group of people around, and he asks me. It's like what, I look like a stoner? xP
Sigh...
One day I will attend PAX.
Actually, Seattle is currently rather anti-smoking...just doesn't matter what you're smoking :) You can't smoke indoors in public locations, including bars and bowling alleys, and even outdoors you have to be 25 feet away from the nearest door or window. Stupid law - if a business wants to allow smoking I don't see the harm - but there ya go.
As for PAX, this year's PAX was amazingly awesome, I'm definitely going next year.
Must find someone to go with me now. I mean, if forty-seven million bajillion people are going, that means I have to, right?
Went last year and it was fun, but honestly once for one day is enough for me, unless there is something I am dying to see next year.
Swing through Portland and we'll hook you up with some great brew, Crecente :) I missed it this year, too-- a bout of unemployment-- but not next year!
@Anotherfluke: Fierabend is awesome. I would also recommend the Elysian to the Kota-drinkers (what?), because I'm an IPA man, and their IPA makes my toes quiver with delicious.
@Chewbenator:
There's an anime convention nearby (AnimeIowa in Iowa City) around the August/September time. Less gaming, more smell. ;P
@Dreamwriter: Really? There were fucking 14-20 people every fucking day of every fucking minute of PAX outside smoking. That's really fucked up, I'm calling shenanigans!
@balls187:
AYE! I live a couple blocks from bierstube! I kinda like Schultzy's a little better if I'm gonna be eating and drinking, but yuh know anywhere I can buy decent to good german beer by the liter is good in my book.
I went to PAX this year for the first time. It was fun but I didn't notice anybody drinking alcohol. I don't know if they have a policy against it or just people were really sly about it. They aren't any bars in the convention center so you have to leave to get your drink on.
When Nintendo debuted Conker's Bad Fur Day at the E3, they gave away free beer! I was drunk every day of the E3 that year.
@thesuperiormurray:
The Elysian's Porter =0~~~~~~~ (That's drooling not puking)
Here in Seattle, are filled with all sorts of pubs. Irish, German, and whatever your tummy desires. Besides right next door to the WSCTC is the yummy Cheesecake Factory. I demand each and everyone of you to come to PAX.
@BIGMOG: There is a no alcohol policy at the trade center. Besides, there were parties that were sponsored by various game companies, in walking distance from PAX.
@thesuperiormurray: I love the hefeweisen, and Fierabend's one of the few places I know that serve franzeskaner on tap. The Elysian's good though, close enough to my work for a quick lunch break :)
Across the street from PAX is The Tap House, it's a posh bar that has over 160 beers on tap including several rare German brews and a large rotating list of local treasures. We went each night before the shows and pre-funked with some of their grub and brews, and a few rounds of DS games.
This year sucked other than the keynote and G&T panels. Unless they are making changes to the layout and availability of Bawls, I won't be returning.
Bellevue was much better, other than being terribly overcrowded and having no line control.
Maybe I'll just goto E for All and avoid lines altogether ;)
@D00mM4r1n3:
The availability of Bawls, was due to some policies set by the trade center. From rumors what I've heard is that this problem will be solved for 08.
@WiggyDee: I'm in the same boat. Let us pray for EuroPAX...
I will be taking pre registration for my couch. I live about ten minutes away from downtown Seattle. I can also put together a list of pubs for a crawl. All of them include german beers. People's Pub being the most german. Hell, their main dish is bratwurst. You decide.
Well if you wanna hit up some drinks anyway, let me know!
There already are several cross country super trips. In the PAX forum on PA's site.
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