So I am just back from PAX, and ofc still buried in work from temporary unchaining from my computer's email inbox.
Just wanted to say, though - if you get a chance to, PAX is an awesome convention to go to. It's more aimed at gamers of the Electronic variety, but there were a few boardgame companies there, mostly of the Trashy variety (Last night on earth!). They had a boardgame annex which was just a check out library, with people scattered around tables all over the place. They had some sort of space that looked like it was for multiple meetings so some were rooms that fit a single table, others were long rows. They had a couple on the fly Tournaments, miniatures games with terrain, Warhammer, and a smattering of CCG stuff (although that looked very much outnumbered by boardgames)
Everyone there - staff and congoers were really laid back, and intent on having a good time.
However - Demoing StarCraft for 3 days 15ft from RockBand has left me sounding a bit like the Ventura Brother's Dr. Girlfriend.
This was taken from where I stood demoing. It was much like trying to teach boardgames from the floor of a club with a concert going on. And yah, that *IS* Darth Vader on Guitar, with 2 Stormtroopers.
There are plans to have a Boston Penny Arcade Expo in 2010.
Seattle is a great city, and those PAX people know how to have FUN. It's more of an Expo than a sales show. Some people sell a few things, but the majority of the booths were just focused on 'come see our great new stuff!' - add also lounges with gianormous beanbag heaps for gamers to drape themselves in, wireless, giant LAN lounges, cool guests, concerts, open gaming areas, and a sort of all inclusive ticket price... and it's pretty neat. No tickets, and wacky contests where you make gamers compete for some sort of uber gamer title (people chosen at random are given all sorts of gaming challenges to surpass).
One of my favorite things, was the swag bag had some tiny buttons that you wore as a open challage to game. Someone could walk up to you and say 'Rock paper scissors for 2 buttons?
' or some other random game.
