Now, I know this is technically going out a couple days after PAX has wrapped up, but I’ve needed to stew on it for a few days as this is covering a three-day event, not my normal one-day event Morning Afters. With that in mind, there is a lot to say about PAX East 2013.
I love PAX, this was my third, and somehow it even topped PAX Prime last year. I just got a chance to meet a whole bunch of incredible people. This includes the IGN guys, Greg Miller, Mitch Dyer, Casey Lynch, Daemon Hatfield, and Destin Legarie. Totally great people, talking with them at the IGN meet and greet was 100% my favorite part of PAX, and hopefully we can stay in touch. Also, getting branded as the “Irrational Passions” guy was awesome and humbling as well.
But enough about IGN, everyone knows I love those guys. PAX’s real beauty for me was the experiences I had with other writers at the show. Some of my best conversations were had with normal dudes, either in the Press Room just about games, or with guys in line for food or panels. An example: when waiting to see the Cards Against Humanity panel, I got a chance to play this Pictionary-like game, where we drew what we thought someone’s card was and passed it around to see how completely deformed and off-base it got. Ends up there were a lot of dicks. Who would have thought?
PAX is really where you go to meet your nerd family, I feel. Feel like you can’t talk to any of your “normal” friends about games? Well you’re in luck! PAX! I love it, I really do. E3 may have it’s own prestige, but PAX has the fun of normal gamers and game-lovers who just want to spit the shit about video games and have a good time. And also get really drunk.
The gathering of the Indie Giants over at the Indie Mega Booth is also a real delight. Where else are you actually going to get a chance to talk to literally the only two people who made that awesome indie game you love, about their game, while playing their game. I got to talk to the lead programmer for Shovel Knight when I played it, and other than actual questions about the game, we just had a fun time making shovel puns and saying dumb things about how ridiculous the game was. The makers of Tiny Brains had me drink a mysterious blue liquid and scared the hell out of me leading up to it, only to laugh when I found out it was just water. That kind of relaxed environment you just can’t get anywhere else.
For those who have never made the trek to PAX, do it. Especially if you live in the US. It seems there is always a coast within reach in the US, so I say do what you have to to make it happen. It’ll be worth it.
