PAX East 2012 is finally drawing near and next weekend will be an entire weekend of game goodness in all its forms of glory. We will be using this thread for news, updates and meet-ups.
Vitals
What: PAX East 2012 will be the third annual Penny Arcade eXpo convention on the east coast after the massive popularity and success of the original PAX (now known as PAX Prime) out in Washington. It is one of the largest public gaming conventions for console, computer and tabletop gaming. In 2011, PAX East reached a record-breaking 69,500 attendees in only its second year.
Where: Boston, MA at the Boston Convention and Exhibit Center (BCEC)
When: April 6th-8th 2012 An important notice here, PAX East 2010 falls on EASTER WEEKEND this year. Unfortunately due to availability in Boston this was the only weekend. As either an added bonus or penalty, Anime Boston will be held during the same weekend in a different part of the city and the rumor is there will be shuttles throughout the weekend offering transportation between the two conventions. Get your game on during the day and get your weeaboo on during the evening. Anything is possible.
Show Hours
April 6 - 10 am to 2 am
April 7 - 10 am to 2 am
April 8 - 10 am to 7 pm
Expo Hall Hours
April 6 - 10 am to 6 pm
April 7 - 10 am to 6 pm
April 8 - 10 am to 6 pm
Badges: 3-day weekend passes have long been sold out and Saturday only badges are sold out as well. There are few Friday-only badges available and plenty of Sunday-only badges left according to the official site. Be cautious of buying badges online (eBay, forums, etc). Fake badges will be confiscated and not replaced with a real badge so be warned.
PLEASE DO NOT POST PICTURES OF YOUR BADGES IN THIS THREAD, THE HARDER IT IS FOR SCAMMERS TO GET PICTURES OF THE BADGES THE BETTER.
After PAX Prime 2011 was nearly shut-down because of fire safety was compromised due to higher than allowed capacity from fake badges, PAX East has changed the 2012 badge slightly to make it easier to identify legitimate badges.
Newly redesigned official site. http://east.paxsite.com/
Expo map: http://hw1.pa-cdn.com/pax/resources/PAX_East_2012_Expo_Map.pdf
Schedule: http://east.paxsite.com/schedule
PAX Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/official_pax
Guidebook or the app formerly known as the Conventionist
In case you guys didn't see, the guide for PAX East just went live on Guidebook yesterday (the mobile guide for the show).
We're the official app this year (I am one of the creators of Guidebook) and we're super pumped about it. Unfortunately the show just missed some of our super sweet indoor mapping stuff we're working on, but the guide is still really cool none-the-less.
Check it out if you're going: http://guidebook.com/g/paxeast2012
give us feedback too if you have it: @guidebook on twitter or http://guidebook.com/contact
thanks guys!
Panels run by GAFers
Come attend panels run by fellow GAFers over various topics!
-- Nintendo World Report Connectivity Jeopardy Live! (nron10) (Arachnid, Fri. 10am)
Have you ever wanted Jeopardy to be Nintendo/video game-focused? Then come and check out a modified Jeopardy-style round hosted by the staff of Nintendo World Report. If youre lucky, you could even be a contestant and win prizes! Oh yes, there will be prizes.
With topics testing your knowledge of everything from the release date of Ocarina of Time to the amount of games released for the Virtual Boy, it is a panel worth checking out.
-- Talkin' 'bout My (Content) Generation (Charron) (Naga, Fri. 10am)
Its not just Doom and Halo maps anymore. The Rock Band Network, and the many other user-generated content platforms out there, have built up a whole world of dedicated gamers producing and selling high-quality content right inside games. Not only does user-generated content keep games alive even longer, it can make rock stars out of diehard fans. And while its not easy being (or working with) rock stars, the crazy idea and crazy people behind the Network have changed what user-generated content can be, and not just for rhythm gaming. Join Rock Band Network authors and some Harmonix staff as they look back at over two years of content and discuss the lessons theyve learned, the hurdles theyve faced, and what it all means for bringing more user-generated content to even more games
-- Online Gaming Communities and 'Real Life' Relationships (jstevenson) (Cat, Fri. 10:30am)
Are you are a member of one or more online gaming/website communities? Perhaps the friendships and relationships youve formed online have made their way into your everyday real life. You are certainly not alone. We will discuss the communities we have created and support, and how they help to form and impact real life relationships for gamers of all types. This popular panel from the past 2 years at PAX and PAX East makes a triumphant return with all new panelists.
-- Press XY: Transgender Issues In Gaming (shidoshi) (Cat, Fri. 3pm)
Whether it's Street Fighter, Guilty Gear, Resident Evil or Final Fantasy, video games have a long history of transgender characters. You'll find no shortage of transgender people working in the industry too. Join a panel of game designers, writers, and fans to learn about some of the most interesting characters in gaming, and the impressive lineage of transgender game makers. We'll also discuss the impact of sex and gender in blockbuster games that let players choose their sex.
Panelists include:
Charles Battersby [PC/Xbox Department Lead, Player Affinity]
Chris Avellone [Creative Director, Obsidian Entertainment]
Rebecca Heineman [Founding Member, Interplay]
Jennell Allyn Jaquays [Lead Level Designer (World of Darkness MMO), CCP North America]
Morgan McCormick [Owner, Translabyrinth]
shidoshi [News Editor, EGM Media, LLC]
-- From Lurker to Leader: A Frags to Riches Story (GrimBrother One) (Arachnid, Fri. 8:30pm)
Online communities have become an extremely popular method of interaction for gamers, but with thousands of sites and millions of fans it is easy to feel like a single square tile in a enormous game of Tetris. While most people lurk, there are a handful of gamers who maneuver their way into leadership positions and become administrators for their favorite fan-site or even community managers for a game developer.
How does this happen? How do you go from lurker to leader?
Join community leaders as they have an open discussion about how they rose through the ranks, from being members of the community to leading it. Learn how you can follow in their footsteps and how community managers can engage their own fans to create the next generation of leaders.
-- StreetPass Network: Connecting Nintendo 3DS Gamers (Shellshock929) (Naga, Sat. 10am)
It started with one guys trip to Japan. Now its a worldwide phenomenon! Hear the true story behind StreetPass Network, see how its connecting Nintendo gamers in unprecedented ways, and learn the surprising influence its having on Nintendo 3DS game development. (Or just come collect a bunch of StreetPass tags!)
-- The Good, The Bad, The Community Manager/PR Rep. AKA How Keeping it Real Can Go So Wrong (element) (Wyvern, Sun. 4:30pm)
It's hard to be a Community or PR Manager - especially when it comes to video games, where the community can go from passionate fan to angry, cursing individual faster than your 360 can power on. This panel will discuss all the good things CM's & PR SHOULD be doing and discuss all the other stuff that just plain needs to stop. We don't need any more incidences like a certain sea-based marketing representative! Let's bring back the sanity, shall we? Our panelists will reach into their bag of tricks and offer helpful tips on how to handle tough situations and we will go over the right and wrong way to get ahead in the Community Management sector of the Video Game Industry. We will also discuss some of the more grey area topics like, is it okay to ask your community to boost your metacritic score? How do you effectively handle trolls in your community? How can you get them to be active and WANT to participate? How far should you go to defend your studio/game? Is it ever okay to lie? This is also a great time to bring your toughest questions for us to answer!
-- Inside Gearbox Software (BuddyC/GBX_AdamF) (Manticore, Sun. 4:30pm)
Gearbox Software is at PAX East with our panel! If youve made it to our PAX Prime panels, you will know not to miss this one! Get a behind the scenes look at the Gearbox Software lineup including: Borderlands 2, Aliens: Colonial Marines and other great Gearbox Software franchises. And what is a Gearbox panel without never before seen reveals, huge exclusives, massive surprises, and of course FREE PIZZA!
-- State of the Game PAX Edition (MarkMan) (Wyvern, Sun. 10:30am)
Competitive gaming has always been a community shunned by mainstream press but its still continued to grow. In 2011 we saw the biggest growth for the industry from all angles. Were looking to get even more mainstream gaming eyes on the industry by featuring journalists, casters, players, and other industry professionals for a night of laughs and learning as we talk all things competitive gaming.
Panelists:
JP McDaniel [Caster / Host, MLG / State of the Game], Sean Plott DAY[9] [Caster, DAY[9] TV], Dan Artosis Stemkoski [Caster and one-half of Tastosis, GSL], Geoff iNcontroL Robninson [Pro SC2 Player, Team Evil Geniuses], Mark MarkMan Julio [Sponsorship Manager, FGC Community Leader and MadCatz], Kevin Lin [COO, Twitch.TV], Marcus Dj WHEAT Graham [Caster / Twitch.tv Representative, Twitch.TV], Brad Shoemaker [Editor, GiantBomb.com]
--An Uncharted 3 Story: The Chateau, Creation to Ashes (arne) (Naga, Fri. 4:00pm)
Come hear the behind the scenes story of how we created the Chateau level, from beginning concept to final implementation. Justin Richmond, Game Director, and Eric Schatz, Game Designer, will take you inside the fun and occasionally terrifying process of game design at Naughty Dog. We will give a never before seen tour of one of Uncharted 3s set piece levels, The Chateau. From first idea all the way through to the final burning husk of the level, you will see it all in videos and screenshots. Gasp at our missteps! Laugh at our silly side ventures! Ask us questions! All this and more when you come to The Chateau, Creation to Ashes: An Uncharted Story.
GAF Meet-up
Meet up is Saturday approximately a half hour after the Expo Hall closes so about 6:30 on the inside entrance of the BCEC. We will hang out there for a bit and if people wish to take it elsewhere we will relocate somewhere awesome. For updates private message -PXG- your phone number for text message updates. See you all there tonight!