It was still free-roaming and featured detailed 3D avatars. It still had plenty of running and gunning. But the vibe, the feel of the game didn't have the same GTA-ness to it that, to many, marked the first Saints Row a Grand Theft Auto clone.

I actually mentioned this to the Saints Row folks on hand and they agreed with me. Even the marketing for the game has been geared toward differentiating the free-roaming shooter from GTA.

But it's hard to put your finger on exactly how the games are different when playing Saints Row 2. It sort of feels that GTA and Saints Row were both heading down the same road and at some point GTA veered off in one direction and Saints Row headed off in another.

The chunk of demo I played through had me playing around with a skinny bald chick escaping from a prison. (I'll avoid the obvious Britney jokes.) The controls for shooting felt fairly tight and melee combat was a joy. I could also, I discovered, run up on a hapless victim, using them as a shield before dispensing them.

The game was packed full of humor both of the developers making and my own. For instance, after one particularly fierce battle with a guard I back-hand bitched slapped him to the ground, killing him.

I'm not quite sure yet how well Saints Row 2 is going to hold up once I have the full title in my hand, but I do know with absolute certainty that more games need fatal bitch slaps.

The show may have ended but our coverage lives on, check out all of the interviews, videos, and news from the show on the jump. Also, don't forget to hit up AJ's massive impressions round-up.

News
PAX Report – News From The Front
Ghostbusters The Video Game The Lanyard
PAC-MAN Fever Mobile Tournament at PAX
Halo 3's Purple Reign Makes PAX, WWW Appearance
Fable 2 Pub Games Patch Coming, Maybe Repercussions Too
Microsoft Hasn't Forgotten About Live Anywhere, iPhone Either
Halo Wars Playable, But Not Here
Problems at PAX – Hundreds Turned Away From FalloutFable 2 Hours From Gold, Molyneux Awaits Gamer Reactions
PAX Pack Brings Nerdcore to Rock Band, Donations to Child's Play
Earn Gold Unlock Fable 2 Items with Web Games
Gamer Glasses Coming
Left 4 Dead to be Cut Scene Free
Bethesda Donating Amazing Fallout 3 Airstream to Child's Play
Win Our PAX Schwag Bag
Pax To Address Overcrowding For 2009
The Problem with PAX

Impressions
Kicking Zombie Ass In 360 Left 4 Dead, Why No PS3 Version
The Maw Impressions
PAX Hands-on: The Conduit
PAX Impressions: Video Game Hands-On Blitz
Gauntlet DS Wicked Retro Fun
Breaking Faces with FaceBreaker

Video
A Fireside Chat With Gabe and Tycho
The One-Ups Jam to Chrono Trigger at PAX 08
Justify Your Fruit Fucker Cosplay
Tristan Rocks PAX 08
Tristan and the Frag Dolls Play Raving Rabbids TV Party
Hell's Highway Barbershop
Halo 3 Feeding Frenzy Sweeps PAX
A Sea of Pip Boys Rock Out to April Wine
Wario Land Shake It Impressions

Live Blogs/Panels
Liveblogging the Penny Arcade Expo Keynotes
PAX Panel: Girls and Games
PAX Panel: How To Get Your Girlfriend Into Gaming

Culture
PAX 2008 Concerts - The One-Ups, Freezepop and Jonathan Coulton (I hope) Inside the Fallout 3 Airstream
A Taste of PAX Bit Boxing
The Official Vault Dweller's Survival Guide In Pictures
The Cosplay of PAX 2008
More Cosplay of PAX 2008
Even More Cosplay of PAX 2008
Schwag Off: Who had the Best Schwag of PAX?

Pre-Show Updates
Examining the Penny Arcade Expo Show Floor
Penny Arcade Announces “Fatal1ty” WON'T Be at PAX
Behold...The Omegathon!
Penny Arcade Expo Sched Hits
Play Xbox 360 Left 4 Dead at PAX, PC Version in France, Germany, UK
Seattle Times' Pre-PAX Profile of Penny Arcade
D3 Invades PAX 2008
Microsoft Unveils PAX Schedule
PAX Road Trip: T-Minus 2 Days
On the Road to PAX: The Idaho Edition
Sony, Whatcha Showin At PAX?
Gauntlet DS, Monster Lab at PAX
The Schwag of PAX08
PAX Road Trip: The Washington Edition
Defense Grid: The Awakening To Demo At PAX
Nerdcore Rising Documentary Gets PAX Screening
Early Look at PAX Showroom Floor

But that's a problem easily solved, and the PA folks are all over it.

The bigger problem, as I see it, is in the expo's name and its association with Penny Arcade.

Penny Arcade Expo has the potential, the very likely potential, to become the one preeminent video game show in the country. It has the exuberant backing of developers and publishers, it has more than enough willing participants to go around and it has the blessing of the many folks who cover the gaming industry for a living.

But what it doesn't have is a neutral jumping off point. PAX has the words Penny Arcade in the title and while for me, and tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of people like me, that's a bonus, there are still lots of people out there who hate the strip, the people associated with it and anything whatsoever that has to do with Penny Arcade, Gabe, Tycho and, yes, even Fruit Fucker.

What this means is that they have a fractured potential audience. While most PAX attendees are unified by their love of gaming, they're more unified by their love of Penny Arcade. Sadly I think that means the show's potential audience will remain fractured as long as Penny Arcade is the central theme, preventing PAX from becoming the Games Convention or Tokyo Game Show of the United States.

There are some solutions. I think that it would be easy enough, especially with a second, east coast, PAX looming a few years away, to just change the name of the show and let it grow into its own entity. Another option, presented to me by one of many industry types I talked to about this during the show, is to just officially rename the show PAX. In other words remove the meaning behind the acronym and have it take on a meaning of its own. In a few decades, maybe just a few years, people would wonder what PAX stood for and why the show is called that.

While most of the people I spoke to at the show eventually came around to my way of thinking, acknowledging, no matter how grudgingly, that yes there are PA haters out there and nothing will ever get them to the show, I do wonder how true that really is.

How many among you didn't attend PAX strictly because it's the PENNY ARCADE expo as opposed to a video game expo? How many of you would have gone if it was called something else?

What I think everyone can agree on is that the U.S. needs a single video game show for the public, and not the many that now litter the gaming landscape. We need a TGS, a Leipzig. The real question is will E3 get it's act together and fill that shrinking void or will a show like PAX become the show to rule them all.

Bethesda had thousands of copies of The Official Vault Dweller's Survival Guide to give away. They also had friggin Vault Boy puppets. Puppets, that were Vault boy!

Cryptic, on the other hand, had a whole bag of goodies that gamers could score from drawings at the show. The goodies included a full-sized Champions Online backpack, a gun that shot glow-in-the-dark ping pong balls, a t-shirt, a personalized super hero ID card and a Champions Online skateboard deck.

Which do you think was better?

The central booth features kiosks of playable Fallout 3, singed mannequins, and an honest to god Airstream motor home on a patch of faux grass surrounded by white picket fences.

The Bethesda folks tell me that the Airstream is an authentic, not a replica, that the company purchased and then paid someone to clean-up and retro fit. Inside the refrigerated air of the mobile home is a wealth of retro goodies touched-up with a Fallout ambiance.

There are, for instance, old Life magazines, a refrigerator packed with ice cold Nuka Colas, a wood panel framed flat screen television and a waffle iron of the future. You can tell it's from the future by the mini radar dish protruding from the top griddle.

Bethesda apparently wanted to give the whole thing away at PAX but weren't able to because of tax issues. Man, that sucks because it would have made one sweet ride for a lucky gamer. Maybe they can donate it to Child's Play.

I know I’m still getting paid less than my male counterparts, most of the time. I know I got my QA testing jobs not because I was qualified but because I had a rack. And I know that Imagine Babyz is somehow still selling itself to somebody, and that somebody very likely doesn’t have a penis.

What does all of that mean for me, a girl in the game industry? And, more importantly, what does it mean for the game industry as a whole?

Hit the jump to find out what this PAX panel thinks.

Q: What do you think brought about women getting into games and what is their future in gaming?

Marlo: Thinks it has to do with general changes in social acceptability of gaming. Also, it's way easier to get games because of the internet.

Annie: Gender roles have shifted. Women aren't afraid of technology anymore - how can they be when it's freaking everywhere?

Linsey: Every household has gaming systems now. It's more acceptable for girls to be in the industry nowadays.

Q: What can we do in education to get more girls into the game industry?

Linsey: Make it less socially awkward. Girls have enough to worry about in high school what with cliques and zits and all. Show them it's alright to like games.

Annie: Marketing needs to be refocused for girls; less boobies, more shiny things. Armor that is not hot pants! Also, tell them math is for video games, not for balancing your checkbook.

Linsey: Ditto the math thing.

Marlo: Be less competitive with each other to be the only girl in a room full of guys. Sure, there's a sort of high in being in the Boy's Club - but women need to be inspiring and helping other women; not running them into the ground with backstabbity-ness.

Annie: Stop accepting responsibility for your whole gender. Just because you are a girl who plays games does not mean you represent every X chromosome out there. If you suck at Street Fighter, it doesn't mean every girl sucks at Street Fighter, so don't act like a jerk just because you feel like you've got something to prove.

All: Don't bother hide your gender!

Q: Do games have a gender or are they genderless?

Linsey: Never thought about it. Sometimes makes emo quests about “star-crossed lovers” but only because she thought it was interesting, not because she thought it’d be “girly.”

Annie: Once had a quest in her game that had to do with romancing a bad guy. The quest couldn't be activated unless the player had a really high wisdom score, or by being a girl avatar. This made her cringe, but she let it go because it was interesting.
Spending too much time worrying about gender-appropriate stuff stifles creativity.

Linsey: We’re all humans suffer from the human condition. (How profound...sheesh—AJ) Guys like drama. Things that you might think are for girls might actually be getting to them, but damned if they’ll let you know it.

Annie: The lack of romance in Neverwinter Nights 2 upset users; guys and girls.

Q: What are your goals for reaching out to girls?

Marlo: From a marketing perspective, sales is a big thing. When push comes to shove, you need to sell – never mind high moral ideals about social acceptance. But don't come down too hard on games that use sex to sell - Cosmo magazine proves that women like looking at other women for some reason.
(Like a car wreck, we just can't look away—AJ)

Q: Historically, which games made for women have been good or bad?

Linsey: I hate those princess games so much.

Annie: It's not just that the games are sexist - they're horribly broken. At least make a demeaning game that works.

Linsey: It’s like people who don’t like games are making these games.

Annie: It’s condescending. Games should be for everybody.

Marlo: Actually kind of likes some of those games. Her Interactive make these Nancy Drew games and they’re pretty good. Sometimes marketing types don't know what to do with lousy games like this, so the advertising is especially horrid. The process of fixing this is a slow one, so be patient.

Q: If you made one request to game makers, what would it be with regards to women in gaming?

Annie: Wants to see relationships in games more fleshed out and developed. Instead of “we’ve gone through all this shit together, we should totally bang”.
Best one-liner ever: "If there's going to be dating [in a game], don't make it like sleepover Pokemon - gotta bang 'em all!"

Linsey: Wants better love stories. There's conflict in relationships – it’s fun, so why can’t it be part of the game? Seriously, guys are secretly into this stuff.

Marlo: Big compaies need to sink more money into girl market research. EA, Blizzard, etc. are getting into why girls play these games (especially housewives, wtf?) Yes, it takes money and time, but they’ve got a lot, so why can’t they give more to this cause?

Qs from the floor...

—How do we make "princess games" more functional and less condescending?

Annie: Add more reason and purpose to the games. Give it a bigger scope than just Barbie riding her horse or finding a boyfriend.

Linsey: Princesses aren’t the strongest of women (except Princess Leia, she rocks). Give girls more options.

Marlo: Some of these games do have values, so work with them. She liked playing Barbie dress-up games. It taught her about asset management (I want that skirt, what do I have to do to buy it?) Teaching women to think a certain way is important – like it’s okay to be aggressive to get the skirt.

—How can we get past the gender-phobia guy gamers have towards playing women characters?

Annie: Nobody had a problem playing the Arbiter – why can’t they play a chick? Samus Aran – there you go.

—How would you promote etiquette among girl gamers?

Linsey: Cut the drama. Treat everyone the same. The more girls play, the less this’ll be an issue.

—What is the role of male vs. female “weak” characters? Should it be 50-50?

Annie: Nobody likes "luggage" characters that are too stupid to live. All characters need to have something – some really good reason why they’re weak and something really redeeming (like good AI).

Linsey: Fuck Princess Peach.

—Obviously a lot of work goes into making female characters sexy. Is there any hope for sexy male characters?

Annie: God, I hope so.

Marlo: I think male orcs are hot.

Linsey: Not into beefcake.

Marlo: Some beefcake is okay.

Lo: I want to see a nice ass in a game, someday.

—How do you get into the boys’ club? How does it feel to wedge yourself past the glass ceiling?

Marlo: Your work is in the end what you have to show. Women are easy targets and we’re desperate to protect our reputation. But we enjoy the challenge.
(Very true—AJ)

Annie: You don’t want them to say you’re a good female designer – you want to be a good designer. This might tempt you to hide your gender and let them assume you’re a guy.
(*cough*—AJ)

Levine, compatriot and family (including in his parents) are actually sitting right next to me. They're all very nice people. Hit up the jump to follow along as Levine wows us.

Tagged on every lanyard at Penny Arcade Expo was the game's name (glow in the dark) but, alas, no release date... or publisher.

I'd love to post pics of all of this, but man friend has wandered off with my USB cable.

So here I sit in Handheld Lounge C, waiting for him to return (hopefully with beverage), counting up the swag I managed to accrue in the half hour I spent in the Exhibit Hall. So far, I've got 16 random scraps of paper (possibly stickers) and four buttons for games I've never felt the urge to play. If you're around, come and find me - I'm the incredibly tired looking girl with the red, white and blue stars on her shirt.

There's a lot to take in here and I'm only one woman - so help me out, readers. What games should I go after and what panels should I hit up? (Check the schedule here.)

Hit the jump to find out what it feels like to wait in line for two and a half hours. Why didn't I apply for a press pass?

11:30 – entered convention center

11:40 – got lost

11:43 – called Boss for instructions

11:45 – located Plebeian admission line

11:47 – loud popping noise, followed by ominous boo echoed by everybody in the line for no better reason than just because

11:50 – waiting in line… concert wristbands not yet distributed

11:55 – demolished swag bag, will seriously consider attending Fallout event

12:00 – consumed bawls “water”

12: 15 – failed to connect to PaxNet free internets (this sucked last year, too)

12: 20 – manipulated man friend into using Shiny New iPhone to secure internets

12:25 – am contemplating Puzzle Quest over hacked Final Fantasy VIII

12:50 – elbowed in back, must destroy nerd with dumb hamburger hat

1:00 – gave up hope of internet, played Puzzle Quest

1:15 – no less than five people have asked what I'm playing

1:30 – lost feeling in lower back, over-stuffed purse is to blame

1:34 – inflatable ball launched, volley count reaches 99 before it is dropped, much booing

1:45 – inflatable ball is assassinated - oh the humanity!

1:55 – urge to kill rising (seriously, if that kid gave his sister one more wet willie by reaching OVER my shoulder, I was going to kill him for her)

2:00 – doors open to muddled pandemonium

2:15 – concert wristbands obtained, urge to kill subsides

This year's Penny Arcade Expo seems to be an interesting mix of announcements, unveilings and games that aren't just dated, but already available at stores. It's as if some of the publishers and developers in attendance haven't gotten the message yet: PAX is kinda a big deal.

Full D3 break-down on the jump. The only thing on the list I'm looking forward to messing around with this coming weekend is Galaxtix.

Bangai-O Spirits - Created by revered Japanese developer TREASURE, the twitch-fest shooter gameplay in Bangai-O Spirits includes more than 160 levels, punishing supermoves, exclusive content for the Western version, and a sensory overload of fireworks onscreen. Bangai-O Spirits boasts a powerful level editor tool that turns the gamer into the designer, local wireless multiplayer for up to four players and the pioneering new Sound Load Technology. Bangai-O Spirits exclusively for Nintendo DS is currently available at retail stores across North America for the suggested retail price of $29.95.

NARUTO:: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 - TOMY Corporation and D3Publisher's highly anticipated NARUTO: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 offers an all-new original storyline featuring the Anbu created for the North American audience and also features the largest character roster yet for the Clash of Ninja series. The latest iteration of the hit fighting game represents a huge progression from the previous game, including never-before-seen modes, improved visual presentation, and polished gameplay mechanics. The only four-player NARUTO fighting game series available,
NARUTO: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 for the Wii home video game console is anticipated for release this fall 2008.

NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2 - TOMY Corporation and D3Publisher's NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2 is the latest in the popular RPG videogame series offering a completely original storyline, expanded character roster featuring 30 playable characters and improvements to the battle system that will give players more options than ever before as they make use of the newly-added Squad Leader and Ninja Tag systems.
For those who want to test their mettle against fellow ninja across North America,
NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2 will also provide the opportunity to earn points and special ninja cards as players prove their strength over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
NARUTO: Path of the Ninja 2 is anticipated for release on Nintendo DS this October 2008.

Puzzle Quest: Galactrix - A rich new addition to the beloved Puzzle Quest universe, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix incorporates a powerful blend of puzzle, strategy and RPG gameplay elements, into an all-new futuristic, science-fiction setting. Offering an innovative new hexagonal puzzle board for a wide range of strategic depth, a rich storyline and fresh gameplay elements, Puzzle Quest: Galactrix is a captivating new adventure to explore and conquer in Q1 2009 on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Nintendo DS and Windows PC.

Meanwhile, back in the states, BioWare will be showing off the game at PAX, with promises of a special stage demo that provides the world's first look at a special feature of the game. So many surprises! Hit the jump for full details on the Dragon Age: Origins tiny world tour.

BioWare to Bring Dragon Age: Origins to the World’s Marquee Game Conventions
Dragon Age: Origins to Make First Public Appearance on August 14

EDMONTON, Alberta—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), will be presenting their upcoming dark heroic fantasy Dragon Age™: Origins publicly for the first time ever to fans at Gen Con in Indianapolis, Indiana, the GC Developers Conference in Leipzig, Germany and the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Washington.

Coming from behind closed doors and onto the show floor, BioWare is thrilled to reveal the heart-pounding demo that wowed international media at E3 2008 to the eager fans at Gen Con Indy, August 14-17, 2008, at the Indianapolis Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. This marks the very first public appearance of Dragon Age: Origins ever, with fans able to get a first-hand look at some of the exciting combat, devastating magic and credible digital actors that make up this epic adventure.

Dragon Age: Origins will then cross the ocean to Leipzig, Germany, to reveal itself to eagerly awaiting European fans at the GC Developers Conference, held August 20-22, 2008, at the Leipzig Exhibition Center. Dragon Age: Origins project director and executive producer Dan Tudge will be conducting behind closed doors demos to the press, revealing new details about combat, exploration, dialogue, the game’s origin stories and a few other juicy surprises not to be missed! BioWare’s community team will also be there to demo Dragon Age: Origins in a special lounge for invited members, fans and leaders of international EA community sites, August 22-24.

Fans attending the Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle, Washington, August 29-31, 2008, will get a close look at Dragon Age: Origins as the BioWare team shows off some of the exciting combat, gameplay and origin story features. Another special stage demo is also planned for PAX, providing the world’s first look at a major feature of Dragon Age: Origins.

For more information about Dragon Age: Origins, the latest updates, or to join BioWare’s Dragon Age community, visit www.dragonage.com.

Valve today announced that Left 4 Dead will be playable on the PC by the public at the upcoming Leipzig Games Convention, Festival du Jeu Video and PC Gamer Showdown. Better still, the Xbox 360 version will be unveiled at Penny Arcade Expo where it will also be playable. I'm told Valve will have two 4-person games set up at their booth. If I were you I'd head straight to Valve when the PAX doors open to try and avoid lines.

I'm already pretty jazzed about the PC version, so I can't wait to see how the game has translated over to the Xbox 360 version. It's a pretty sweet surprise that the worldwide debut of the console game will be at a public event.

August 12, 2008 - Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced a series of live demonstrations of Left 4 Dead at upcoming industry events the world over.
Left 4 Dead is the new survival co-op action game from Valve that blends the social entertainment experience of multiplayer games such as Counter-Strike and Team Fortress with the dramatic, narrative experience made popular in single player action game classics such as the Half-Life series of games.

The PC version of the game will be playable by the press and public at a series of upcoming events including Leipzig Games Convention, (Germany), Festival du Jeu Video (France), and PC Gamer Showdown (UK). The worldwide debut of the Xbox 360 version will be at the upcoming Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, WA. Members of the development team will be on hand at each event to provide information and give away some Left 4 Dead memorabilia.

"The shared experience of Left 4 Dead is unlike that of any other action game," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "That's what we've experienced playing the game, and from showing the game to the press and our partners. It sounds cliché, but in many ways you have to play this one to truly appreciate what we're attempting. So, to give gamers a chance to sample this new type of experience first hand, we're taking Left 4 Dead on the road."

Left 4 Dead is due for release on the PC and Xbox 360 this November, and earned numerous awards at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, CA, including 1up.com, Gamespot.com and Maximum PC's Best PC Game, as well as Best Multiplayer Game from Kotaku, IGN, G4TV, the official E3 Judges, and more.

For more information, please visit www.l4d.com

Some of the highlights I noticed, from my quick perusal, includes:

Ken Levine's keynote
EndWar, Prince of Persia, Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, Dawn of War, This is Vegas, Dragon Age and Spore presentations
The Growing Role of Women in the Industry
Game Criticism and Old Game Journalism
The Art of the Dungeon Master
History of Harmonix
Family Feud PAX Edition
The Wil Wheaton Panel
GamerDad's Gaming With Children

Of course you've also got live music, movie screenings, the tourneys and a chance to see Tycho and Gabe create a strip live. Sounds like a fun time. Who's planning on going?

The PAX 2008 Schedule [PAX]

Schedule:

Round 1: Peggle
PC Area - Friday, 3:30 PM

Round 2: Boom Blox
Serpent Theatre - Friday, 8:00 PM

Round 3: Pictionary
Serpent Theatre - Saturday, 11:30 AM

Round 4: Rock Band
Main Theatre - Saturday, 8:30 PM

Round 5: Jenga
Serpent Theatre - Sunday, 1:00 PM

Final Round: ???
Main Theatre - 4:30 PM

The Omeganauts

Kent Byers

Noah Callaway

Chrissa Casono

Thomas Chan

Gregory Clarkson

Jordan Comar

Tim Corver

Jennifer Dittrich

Andy Drake

Steve Edwardo

Michael Friedman

Benjamin Gray (2007 Runner Up!)

Rae Hughes

Brian Jo

Blaine Kahle

Ryan Knight

Christopher Trevino

Jo Urbansky

Erica Waters

Jason Young

Omegathon! [Penny Arcade]

World’s Top Gamer “Fatal1ty” will not be at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX)

PAX is proud to announce that they will not be welcoming E-sportsman Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel to the event.

“There is no one else in the video game industry quite like Fatal1ty and we’re thrilled that he won't be attending our show” said Gabe, Chief Executive Officer of the Penny Arcade Expo, the greatest video game festival in the universe. “Seriously, if he even tries to come we'll kick him out.”

Fantastic news! Hey, I wonder if Gabe and Tycho will let me submit a list of other people who won't be welcome at PAX... let's see...

Penny Arcade

It looks like nearly 80 companies will be showing at this year's show. The list ranges from such heavy weights as Bethesda, Electronic Arts, Sony, Nintendo, Activision, Ubisoft and Microsoft to developers like Rockstar, Bungie and Turbine.

Is it just me or does this look like a much more impressive show floor than E3? Of course, the big difference is that I can't imagine there will be any major publisher or developer announcements coming out of PAX. That doesn't mean we won't get a chance to go hands on with a lot of games and perhaps even needle some news out of the reps on hand.

Either way, looks like it's going to be a really good show this time around.

There are two reasons I'm not joining the CCST: I'm going with my wife and son and neither are big fans of overnight drives. Also, while I could detour to meet up with one of the groups, none of them come through Colorado. I know, I suck.

I'm still working out the details for my own drive, but this is what I'm thinking:

My plan is for us to take two days to get to Seattle, mostly because we like to sleep in a hotel. I think I'll be leaving the morning of August 27 and driving about halfway (which will put us somewhere in Idaho, probably near Heyburn). Then the next day we'll drive the rest of the way to Seattle. That's two 10 hour or so drives.

If there is any interest in joining up with us in your own vehicles I can set up meeting locations or routes so we can stick together. I see this drive as sort of a test run. If enough Kotaku readers plan on driving and like the idea of traveling together, we may expand this next year and even have someone (coughfaheycough) drive from the East Coast and meet up with me in Colorado and then carry on to Seattle. In fact, I've even had some gaming companies offer to set up pit stops in parking lots with food and maybe even games.

But before we get to that point I want to do a dry run. So is there anyone interested in joining us on this short trip this year?

Musically, Xbox 360 Fanboy reports that MC Frontalot, FreezePop, the MiniBosses, and Jonathan Coulton will all perform in some capacity at this year's PAX. Hopefully, they'll do a number on Texan financial development programs!

'Pimp supreme' Ken Levine to keynote PAX [X3F]

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.