Late review. Went to Pax Prime 2023 after attending Pax East a number of times so I was quite interested in the West coast version and after many years not going. Breaking up the events into buildings in the surrounding area was a bit confusing, even with the map and the event staff giving direction. Pax East everything is under one roof, so this took some getting used to. The check in process was very organized and impressive, hats off and thanks to the staff who process a few thousand people, some of whom I know volunteer. Went to panel, played some games in free play and of course hit the main floor to try out some up and coming AAA games as well some indie games. Bought and picked up some swag, you know, the usual at these conventions. After years of not going, it was nice get back into it and would definitely consider going again next year. If you're into games even in a small capacity, get a day pass and have some fun! read more

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Attended once in 2018 and concluded that I would never return due to all the insane lines to demo any video game. This year I came as a PAX Enforcer for all four days of the convention. During the hours I was not working my five-hour shifts, I was permitted to freely roam. PAX has definitely changed since the pandemic. Tickets no longer sell out and the exhibitions are not as grand, but lines are much more reasonable. Plus with the completion of the new Summit building, the event was split between the two convention buildings instead of across multiple hotels in Downtown Seattle. Dividing the Expo Hall between Arch and Summit did cause participants inconvenience though. The Summit hosted the majority of the activities like console and tabletop freeplay, panels, and tournaments. The Annex also held a couple of sections. When not wandering around the Expo Halls, I spent the rest of the time in tabletop trying out board games. All in all, PAX is still a good opportunity for folks of shared interests to mingle, demo newly and to-be released games, and partake in trading or purchasing merchandise. read more

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I've been going to PAX for the past four years or so and generally have a lot of fun. It can be a bit overwhelming with the crowds and long lines, but with a bit of planning I think it's worth it. Besides the big names (Nintendo, Sony, etc.) that come to show off their games, there's a lot of Indie developers that come and show off their wares. Some games are much better than others, but it's worth trying out a lot of the games. No matter the tier of the developer, just try out some games because you never know what you end up liking or not liking. I will say that you're not going to be able to play all of the games even if you're so strategic about going from one booth to the next. There are just too many and not enough time to run to each booth. Also, lines get capped out pretty early on. This year (?) Sony started requiring people to register for a slot via their app, so you need to hop onto this early. Besides video games, there are also a ton of board games to try as well. This is great for after the regular exhibit hall closes at 6pm. There's a gigantic library of board games that you can borrow and play with your friends in the convention center. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent playing board games after the exhibit hall closes at 6pm. We've played games like Nanuk, Boss Hunter, Evil Intent, Evolution, just to name a few. Swag seems to vary year over year. The swag bags used to be a lot better over the years but I guess it got too expensive so now when you get your goodie bag there's not too much to be had, mostly in-game skins or codes. Cosplay is also not that big here at PAX. I cosplay somewhat regularly and I would say maybe 20% or less of the convention goers cosplay. It's mostly nerdy gamers. You'd find more cosplay at the anime conventions. That being said, there are still some photographers hanging out at PAX though that will snap your photo if you have a good enough outfit on! Overall, if you like gaming in general, this is a good convention to attend. read more

Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime - Persona party! - Festivals Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This event is the highlight of my summer, for reals. From having to follow the twitter account around may to spending hours in the queue waiting to get tickets and watching the highly desired 4 day passes disappear. Oh but this is a taste of the convention you see, lines are a plenty. You will be spending a lot of time in line, but that is okay. Be social able, make friends with the enforcers, the geeks next to you and the video game designers. Go to panels that sound fun but avoid ones put on by drunk women. Enjoy the cosplay, and the games, and the crowds. Its only a few days and then you'll be going through withdrawal something fierce. This was the first year I tried the computer free play which was really fun! Also, watch your stuff. I had a really expensive camera stolen from my bag while I was playing a demo, which broke my heart. It won't deter me from going through all the highs and lows next year. read more

Penny Arcade Expo: PAX Prime - Festivals Near Me - Seattle, Washington

After attending Pax Prime for the past few years, I can finally write a decent review about this fun gaming convention. For those who aren't familiar with Pax Prime, this is basically a fun gaming event held at the Washington State Convention where people gather to try out / play new games, check out various panels, cosplay, and best of all, do some swag hunting. Tickets usually range around $45 per day at face value (or more in some cases, like a Saturday if you buy it off someone) and each day = new badge. Pax is a 4 day long event, with Monday being the shortest due to the hours. At Pax Prime, one of my favorite things to do is hunt down the cool swag that's given by the various vendors. Usually, free swag includes: t-shirts, lanyards, computer / gaming related items, pins....etc. With the exception of this year con (2016 = so so swag), past years had been pretty awesome in terms of getting freebies like usb, keyboards/computer mouses, headsets...etc. If hunting down swag isn't your thing, attending panels for your favorite games / interesting topics = a great way to spend time at Pax. In addition, the Expo hall (4th floor) houses most of the gaming demos of major companies (Nintendo/Sega/Microsoft...) and the 6th floor is Indie game land where lines are shorter for game demos. Some of the key takeaways I have learned over the years: -Stalk PAX twitter account for hints on when tickets are sold (or read Reddit for tips / advice) -If you're a diehard gamer/swag hunter, get in line at the minimum, 2 hours before opening (at 10am) -Be strategic and memorize the path of where you want to go if you're madly rushing through the crowd upon opening time -If you hate waiting in lines for the major game titles, spend time at the Indie games! It's awesome when you can chat with the developers themselves and have ample playing time when no one is waiting after you -For popular panels/panels you reallllly want to check out, go at least 1.5-2hr in advance and line up before start time. For me, I missed out on a Final Fantasy panel since the line was capped at 1.5 hours before the event started. -Make sure to download Twitter and follow Pax related accounts that will give you updates on lines, Pax parties, events, giveaways, etc. Also, downloading the Pax app = great way to have a map of the convention place on hand and the program of all panels -If you want to kill time/bored at the con, I recommend participating in the various tournaments (on various gaming consoles/tabletop games) or making use of the freeplay stations (PCs/gaming rooms) -For food, go venture out and explore Seattle. Anything within the convention area = pricey and crowded. Go at least to like 3rd and walk that street for food. The further you're away, the better the food options and minus the crowd. Pax is definitely fun and I would recommend it to all that love gaming :D read more

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I did two days at PAX this year and that was enough. I spent about half the time at panels, and half the time fighting my way through throngs of people around the rest of the buildings and trying not to get stabbed in the face with pointy prop weapons. PAX is also now spread across seven buildings, so having prior knowledge of that part of Seattle (and where surrounding food places are) is REALLY useful. The panels were interesting, and I found myself wanting to go to more of them than I could. But they're REALLY woefully disorganized, and it's frustrating. Because of how scheduling works, there are hour-long panels that start every half hour. Why? That just means people are walking in and out of panels while the discussion is going on, and since you might need to travel between buildings which also takes up precious time. And then because they're hour long panels, if you go overtime then you run into the next panel, and then you're also late for the next session--assuming you hadn't already ducked out at the half-hour. Also, moderators should also be more vigilant with the Q&A sessions--if you have limited time for questions, don't let the first person at the microphone ask three questions AND follow up questions, when there's a line of 15 other people. That sucks. And then of course on Monday they didn't even let people into PAX until 10:20, when everything was supposed to start at 10. People had been lining up since about 8:30. I'm honestly surprised that nobody got trampled on the escalators up to playtest Hyrule Warriors or whatever. The staff (enforcers) were super cool and helpful even up until the last day, and I'm sure they had to deal with a bunch of crap over the weekend. Several of the panels I wanted to go to got canceled (one because NOBODY on the panel knew about it and so they didn't show up... fail) and they did well to keep us informed and entertained with giveaways and trivia, and they just made the experience a little less frustrating. The expo floor was okay, but I'm not a huge fan of being armpit-height with dudes that decide they're going to be unwashed and shirtless. That's so not cool. I'm also not a huge fan of lining up for 2+ hours to play a game where you might play for something like 7-10 minutes. That just seems like an inefficient use of time to me. The Indie Megabooth was really cool though; lots of fun devs who were willing to talk to you about the game that they had made, and you could play demos of really fun, compelling games for way longer. There were some amazingly wonderful parts of PAX that I had a great time at, but those were tempered by the crappiness of scheduling and just being ragefully overwhelmed and packed into seven buildings with 60,000 other people. P.S. The League of Legends playoff room totally freaked me out. 200+ people watching 10 people play one round of a game? What? :/ read more

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Somehow got dragged into PAX this year by my boyfriend... It was okay, definitely not as bad as I was expecting. As I expected, there were a lot of questionable people. A lot (and I mean a LOT) of questionable smells as well. Despite all that, it proved to be a fun day. There are loads of games for everybody to play, lots of booths to see (some not even all about games - lots of tech-centric stuff here too!) which made the day whiz by! Not sure I would personally pay to come back - and definitely would not go crazy and buy a full 4-day pass like some people do... But it's worth a couple hours of perusing. read more

PAX is like nothing I've ever experienced before. It's part nerd homecoming, part family reunion, and a whole lot of crazy fun! People line up and they chat, play games, and generally have a good time. There's no douchbaggery*, everyone does their own thing and it's awesome. Panels, concerts, swag, celebunerds (Wil Wheaton, Jonathan Coulton, and Paul & Storm - OMG!), and all the games you care to play and then some! It's the kind of place I dreamed of as a theater geek high schooler, a place where you could be as nerdy and goofy as you want to be/are and you're not judged for it. It's the kind of place where men in kilts are encouraged (yes, please!) and costumes are the norm. After three days you feel like a zombie, albeit a happy one, in need of a week long nap and a vat of vitamin c. It's so incredibly worth it! Counting down the days to PAX Prime 2011! *with the exception of the Washington State Convention Center Staff, I'm pretty sure they get off on screwing with people. read more

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PAX is cool! Nowhere else have I seen such SPECTACLE in the exhibitor hall. Here and only here, you can ride a dragon or a tyrannosaurus rex! I also like the clientele here. There's not as much cosplay as, say, a comic con, but people still dress up and sport their coolest stuff. Everyone is so friendly and so accepting. I really enjoy people watching at this con and see how the various characters (in and out of costume!) interact with one another. read more

I hope I don't get a lynch mob out for me after this review - but it's my point of view so read through and take it with a grain of salt. I will disclaim that I am not a gamer. I enjoy an occasional console game or what ever but hardcore I am not. Combine that with this visit my first visit ever to PAX - here is my experience. I mistakenly came here with two 3 year olds and a 1 year old. Two strollers and gear in tow - we made our way through the maze of an entrance to get into the expo. Hearts were nearly broken when we got to the door only to be told no strollers were allowed - when pointing out we saw two strollers go by, they said "your child has to physically be unable to walk to have a stroller and you have to have a special pass to prove it." Now my soul cracked a little knowing I paid $120+ to not be able to get in unless I would carry the kids and gear. Considering there was no refunds, customer service was nice enough to hold our strollers for us. So here we go - expectations weren't high at all as I didn't know what we were getting into - but I THOUGHT (n00b thought i know) it was similar to comic con, cosplayers, freebies, sticker and prize giveaways for the kids to get some grab bags and collect what ever they wanted at each vendor. That wasn't the case. Displays and lines galore - everyone packed around TV screens trying out the newest games and some beta games. Holding on to two kids making sure they didn't get ran over was a chore in itself. My wife hurried along with the 3rd kid trying to not get lost in all the bustle. We went through floors and room after room and didn't see anything worth checkin out. I will say - visually this place was awesome, great photo opportunities but unless you are a hardcore gamer or just love gaming in general to see the hottest games and items - it's not something I would come back to again. read more

PAX is awesome, it really is. And Seattle is lucky to host. Some years are not as good as others; it really depends on what you're hoping to see/do/experience at PAX. But if you love video games, you'll feel right at home at PAX. Let me warn you-there is going to be a lot of people. A lot. Some obnoxious, some tolerable. And some wearing costumes. And long lines. So bring snacks, a fully-charged phone or DS, and a lot of patience. What you'll see at PAX are demos for new games being released in the near future, people in the industry (big names, too, if you know game credits,) tournaments, signings, some swag, frag dolls, fan boys, and panels. It's easy to get caught up in the chaos of the crowds, so look at the schedule ahead of time. Though it does change up until the last minute..so don't plan too far in advance, maybe just the week of. There is a small cafeteria but not much variety. Inside the building are more options, like Subway, but you can also leave the convention center and come back (just keep your badge on.) Chipotle is always my go-to and it's a few blocks. You can walk to the Pike Place Market too. If you really just want to be a part of it, by all means, come to PAX and enjoy it. But there are also real opportunities to meet the people who make these amazing games. And if that's what you're here for, be ready. If you're going to an industry art panel, bring your art. People do recruit, so come prepared. I always hope for more swag. Not even the free stuff, though that's cool. I come here ready to buy shirts, posters, messenger bags, etc of my favorite games and the selection is limited. Bring more! I think people will buy it! ;) The real tough part is tickets. Over the last couple years, PAX has really gotten popular. Once tickets go on sale, they go fast-first the three-day badges, then the Saturday's. There's going to be scalping too, which could be prevented if the ticket buying was more organized. Just be careful-they'll give a sad story about a little brother who really, really wanted to go. And after they buy the ticket off you they switch signs from "need tickets" to "selling tickets" and ask for double the price. As much as I enjoy PAX and love the concept of video game conferences, I just can't give it five stars. I want to, but there is definitely room for improvements. Maybe PAX needs a female event planner or two to perfect the good :) read more

Ready to hang out with a bunch of unwashed undersocialized geeks and cosplaying attention whores? Sweet! It's time for PAX. There are some cool things about PAX: - People with handhelds, mostly 3DS now, have a thriving social community, contests and giveaways and a giant area full of beanbags to lay around on and talk to your fellow handheld nerdlings. - The indi game companies are always cool and are just dying to tell you about and show you their work. It is usually pretty great. - The new hardware loots that people come up with, the boardgame vendors, the people selling cool nerd stuff (I like my triforce cufflinks), and other stuff is neat. - The Omegathon - The classic arcade and console areas The stuff that isn't so cool: - Big game vendors and two hour lines. I don't even understand why people will wait in line for hours. Since this is not an industry con, and you are all customers to be treated with distain by shithead corporate executives and PR stooges, expect to be looked down upon. Fortunately I have the ability to skip all lines. I recommend it. - Pretty much all of their talks. Unless you've actually done something cool, I really don't care what garbage opinions you have because you have a blog, tits, or twitter followers. Who cares. You are boring. - No one can have a human conversation in the building. If aliens landed at PAX, they would nuke Earth from orbit. It would be the only way to be sure. This last PAX was plagued with League of Legends fans. It was like the arsenic cherry on top of the shit sundae. PAX is cool if you bring your own fun with you. I brought a pair of boys, ages 11 and 13, and they were the most mature and refined people I spoke to the whole of the con. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92ABXj4NeC4 If you have experienced PAX, I don't have to explain why I rarely let people know that I know anything about video games, anime, tabletop, or most other aspects of nerd. You already understand. read more

I smell nerds. No, really. Oh, PAX. You smelly spectacle. The 2012 PAX was not quite as great as the 2011 PAX. First of all, the giveaways were significantly less worthy of spending your time waiting for them. Second of all, the video game demos were significantly more lackluster compared to 2011. Some of the computer hardware companies were noticeably absent as well. The fact that Riot Games had its own expo floor was a sight to be seen. Picture hundreds and hundreds of nerds filling a large theater of seats so they could watch other nerds playing video games. People showed up in League of Legends costumes. Some of them were incredibly ornate and really kept true with the character. Others were, well, let's face it folks, an excuse to publicly wear lingerie before Halloween. Yup, I said it. Add a few emcees to hype up the audience, toss in a few girly screaming teenage ... boys, a few giveaways at the seats - only to have them hoarded by the girly-screaming teenage boys - and you've got yourself a real nerd riot! Don't get me wrong, I've played League of Legends. It's a fun game. Being in that room made me realize that my enjoyment of the game never will reach the level that was represented in that room. All in all, PAX is still great fun. The people watching is definitely worth a visit. Even if you decide not to purchase passes to it, just hang out around the exit. Bring some popcorn and a lawn chair. read more

It's always fun to go to PAX and I always end up spending too much money. My only gripes are that they don't have enough space for the indies and you have to watch their Twitter accounts like a hawk to get the badges. Also, with this amount of people, you have to be ready for the powerful non-deodorized-nerd-funk and there are always plenty of busy busy aisles where you're going to be stuck behind a group of people just standing there. My advice: Plan your day, be courteous to others, use deodorant, check to see if the games/events/tables you're interested in have reservations for standing in line or RSVPs, and check out the after-parties on FB. read more

Gamer? Cosplayer? Console-lover? App-obsessed? This is the convention for you! I've gone the past three years and at the end of every weekend, I was super exhausted. But then I find myself talking about how I can't wait until next year. If you've never been to a convention before and you live in the Pacific NW, I highly suggest trying this one since it is one of the most highly-anticipated conventions and it's so close to home. And lots of people fly in from out of town to see this, too! The tricky part is getting yourself badges because they sell out so fast. But I guarantee if you can at least get a badge for at least a day or two, it's totally worth it. At PAX, you can try upcoming games, try out new consoles, and pick up some free swag. So make sure to bring a backpack for all the goodies! Wear comfy shoes since you'll be standing and waiting in line a lot. Leave your jackets in the car - the AC is on all over the Convention Center, but what it does is balance out how hot it was from all the people and electronics in there. Deodorant is also your friend!!! Don't be ashamed to use it...it may be weird, but people who stand next to you will thank you later! This year was particularly special since it was my first time cosplaying...ever! And the difference between going to PAX with and without is that it's a whole different adventure in itself. When you cosplay, you definitely stand out, and more likely than not, people will stop you to take pictures, so don't expect to demo a lot of games on the day you decide to dress up! And of course strangers don't call your name, but they'll call you by the character's name you're cosplaying as...kinda like a Disney character in Disneyland! It was an awesome experience! I cannot emphasize how cool this event is and that people who love any sort of game, whether it be from Nintendo, Sony, Xbox, PC or even tablet games, should definitely check it out next year. I'm always looking forward to it every Labor Day weekend! read more

oh my god! SENSORY OVERLOAD! this is my second time going to PAX and i seriously don't know how people can do it for all 4 days! yowza... my kiddo and cousins all bought 4 day passes (goddam kids!) but i wasn't planning on going this year til my sister hit me up and said she had extra vip passes that she wasn't going to use over the weekend. free is a powerful motivator for me (free food and booze and i'd do just about anything... ANYTHING) so me and a pal rolled downtown on sunday so he could see what all the fuss was about (he's a n00b to PAX but does play games). upon arriving downtown on sunday, you could immediately sense something was up. was it the folks in cosplay as characters from The Last Airbender (cartoon, not the horrible live action movie) and Legend of Korra nonchalantly crossing the street? of course it was! the streets downtown was looking like a who's who of cartoon network and as you get closer, we saw more and more cosplay characters. some were better done than others (though i didn't see my future-ex-wife VampyBitMe) but all were a work of passion and dedication. nerds rule! my pal was a bit overwhelmed by the spectacle. the lines were long and the free swag was less free. still it was pretty fun for a couple hours. we stayed and watched some esports action at the TWITCH booth. i wish my mom had let me play more streetfighter 2 as a kid for real! now mofos are making a living at it. wtf!!! hadouken indeed. walked around and looked at demos of upcoming games but didn't play any. the lines were bananas - 1.5hr+ waits to play 15min. ain't nobody got time for that...well, at least i didn't. matter of fact, we peaced out after about 3hrs and it was not a second too soon. i probably won't be going again unless someone's got free tix for me but if you've never been and enjoy games (board and electronic/video) then you definitely should peep this out once in your life. it's one of the biggest on the west coast and a great way to see what's coming next. read more

PAX is fun! but I can deffenatley say that it has been going a little downhill. Less of a variety of games League of Legends seems to be the focus lately. But its worth it. My advice only go one or two days any more isn't needed read more

I love PAX. That could be my entire review, and it would be completely accurate and legitimate. It's a good (possibly the best) place for gamers - PC, console, handheld, boardgames. Whatever your poison is, it's here. Sometimes hiding behind a two or three hour line (but that's part of the experience, right?) Haven't really met anyone rude, just very intense people intensely playing PlayStation All Stars... har har, just kidding. Nobody plays that :D I've been going since 09, and each year it gets larger and larger... pretty soon it's going to just take over the entire city of Seattle (sorry Bumbershoot!) It's also a good place to watch people play Just Dance on a big stage in public (just like that nightmare we all secretly have... wait, is that just me?). It is, however, not a good place to ignore your daily hygiene regime (even if that's just spritzing yourself down with Purell - come on, guys! You know who you are...) read more

Waiting in que for tickets online "soldout" only to see posts later on found more tickets Your con had me and my friends in an online waiting room with NO idea what number we were in line. Put your event tickets on brown paper tickets or other trust worthy sites that can handle the demand. read more

Über Awesome All Things Videogames & More Expo held in Downtown Seattle for the Peoples! Over the years this event has been getting more Crowded!!!!!!! You need to order tickets online ASAP when they are Released! You can always grab some cool Swag prizes but expect waiting in line for a while! This past PAX Prime 2013 there were some neat Cards Against Humanity packs that were fun collecting! It was fun trying all the new Next Gen Videogame Systems and playing all the cool Hipster Indie Games! PS4 and XBOX One looked Wonderful. People watching is priceless at this event! Don't forget to bring your Camera! They should hand out Shampoo or Deodorant upon entering the Expo Doors....some Attendees' just don't get the Social Interaction part haha.... Heres a link to the PAX Prime website for more info! http://prime.paxsite.com/index.php read more

PAX is amazing if you're the right type of person. Do the following describe you? 1) I am very interested in Video Games and/or Table Top Games 2) I am friendly, like other people, and have pretty solid hygeine. 3) I have serious tolerance for long lines if properly enticed. If these are you then PAX is the place to be. Nevermind that it takes place in Downtown Seattle which is amazingly close to all sorts of fun stuff and delightful yelpy places with amazing food and beer. Forget that all kinds of game companies give away freebies, let you play their games early, and you get to interact with developers. PAX is a place to meet unmet friends with similar interests for a short time, in a distant land, before you return to your real life and mostly forget them. People at PAX are bizarre in the best way, and almost uniformly friendly. Wheaton's law is in full observation at the place, and that law is simply "Don't be a dick." Don't break Wheaton's law. Pro-tips: 1) Love Harry Potter AND drinking heavily? Tri-Wizard Drinking Tournament! 2) Don't stay at the Sheraton. 3) Remember to eat and sleep. And shower. Seriously. 4) Plan your day, there is way too much to see everything. 5) Talk to exhibitors; they're often the guys making the games. 6) Explore the whole showfloor and all the annexes. There's some awesome stuff on the sixth floor. PAX glory is EVERYWHERE. But be on your game, PAX sells out in hours, likely minutes this year. read more

This is freaking nerd paradise. My hubby has gone on his own in years past when I had to work, but this year it was my turn. If you love video games and geek culture, there is no better place in the world than PAX. They have stunning demos of all the latest and greatest, tons of cool swag (I got 6 free t-shirts) and awesome seminars. I just can't wait for next year! read more

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Yeef...has it been seven of things for me already??? A lot has changed since that first PAX back in 08. It's become a lot more popular and mainstream and consequently has succumbed to the same pitfalls that befell SDCC many years ago: buying badges when they first become available is a complete fiasco and scalpers have become a permanent fixture outside the WSCC. I remember the good old days when you could buy a full weekend pass at the door. The lines for a 10 - 15 minute demo have only gotten worse. A 2-hour wait is now the average for a game from a major triple-A publisher, and swag has become scarcer and scarcer, to the point they're being sold and not given away. Yet, for all the changes, some things have managed to get better. The indie gaming scene has only grown stronger and in many cases eclipses the attention that the major publishers gets. It is a genuine pleasure to talk with the creators of so many innovative and fun games and see the vision that brought their projects to life. Tabletop gaming has also expanded, with Cards Against Humanity leading the charge. I always enjoy seeing the cosplayers strut their stuff. So yeah, PAX Prime isn't the same great show it used to be. But there's still a lot of fun to be had. As long as you focus on the people and the spirit and not the demos and swag, you won't be disappointed. read more

I LOVE PAX!! There is something for everyone here: panels on various subjects, board games, video games, computer games, card games, tournaments...it's so much fun! I can't wait for next year -- get the 3-day pass, you won't regret it! read more

AMAZING! Definitely a place to go to meet cool people that share your interests! :) read more

I saved PAX for my 100th review! Go me. :) PAX is pretty awesome. Here's a bullet-point list of my opinions on PAX: + Great location. It's an easy peezy place to get to. Driving there isn't even terrible either ... okay, it's going to be a little busy at some points, but it's not like they shut down a major street in San Francisco kind of traffic. I wouldn't suggest parking at the garage directly at the expo since it'll be the busiest. + Lots of things to do. 2 floors of expo on two different sides of the street, and the expo is HUGE. It took us about the entire weekend to make our way through all of the crowds (and it's very crowded) and take a look at everything. I love playing the games that haven't come out yet. + I'm not a swag person anymore. I've gotten enough swag from a big-name LAN ... enough of the XL sleeping shirts. But if you're in need of clothes and sleeping clothes, take a look around. :) I got a lot of codes to be used in various games like LoL. + While there are a lot of big events going on, if you look around on the forums you'll find a lot of mini events that are going on. Last year, there was some kind of infected thing going on, some Pokemon-related things, etc etc. There was also some tournaments for prizes in the un-released Battlefield 3 and in Team Fortress 2. + BYOC/LAN and computers are just set up for gaming use. There's also a room next door full of consoles and console games. I found myself at the computer-room and game room a few times and it was a fun way to pass the time when the rest of the group was either in a tourney or was just away. (Plus it's a great way to rest your feet.) And about my only minus: - Food is EXPENSIVE or just plain busy. Expect to wait for a table if you go to Cheesecake Factory or any of the other places immediately in the area. Or, if you get food from inside of the expo, it'll obviously be expensive. Expo food just is. ;) I absolutely loved my experience. I honestly hate crowds, so avoiding some booths which are natural crowd attractions help. Will be coming back this year. read more

I was super excited about finally making it to PAX this year, but didn't expect to have as much fun as I did. There really is something for everyone there and so much to keep you going for the whole holiday weekend. There was so much good swag, too, and I left excited about so many new games that I haven't had time to play since I got back. I loved the tabletop section. Tried my hand and failed miserably at the Ticket to Ride tournament. Played some new games that I ultimately bought (hey yo Ascension). And it's not quite as insanely crowded as the rest of the Con is. Other favorite spot was the Indie Megabooth. There were SO many cool games in there. I've bought some. Others are on my queue. And, I backed and obsessively followed the Neverending Nightmare Kickstarter. That game was so creepy. Downside, of course, are the lines. There are lines for everything. Sometimes, it's well worth it, but other times you spend a lot of time in a line for something that ended up being mediocre at best. Having done this for the first time this year, the crowds were kind of disorienting and discouraging the first day, which meant I missed out on trying out some good games. That's the only reason I'm giving it a four rather than a five. Also, since you're touching things that hundreds of other people are playing with, it's a bit of a breeding ground for a cold. Just be obsessive about washing your hands, I guess. Hoping to go again next year. Maybe next year, I'll try for some of the panels too. read more

This event is getting so big that it's both good and bad. PAX is a great way for people with like-minds and shared interests to get together and celebrate all things gaming. Board games, RPGs, video games, you name it - PAX has it. But because if it's popularity it has, for some, become less fun from year to year. It's crowded, ticket prices are always on the rise or they're sold out, and lines to meet celebs or to get into readings or even rent games or get a table in a gaming room are crazy long. It's all about patience, I suppose. Still fun to check out, but maybe not for all three days. I was in/out in about 5 hours and decided I had waited around enough and seen as much as I'd wanted. read more

Oh dear... The one time a year where geeks under different banners unite!!! PAX is one of the most attended gaming conventions in the USA. Pax Prime is the original pax starting out in the Bellevue convention center, and now growing to the hot mess it is today! If you're a newbie a word to the wise 4 day passes sell out in minutes.. So be prepared to buy individual passes to enjoy all days of the convention. Now the main hall has all the massive AAA titles with the long lines, the cool demos and the theatrical sneak peaks but a word to the wise? Lines are LONG as in 2 hours average line for the big games, but don't fret just time your stay throughout the days you go and you'll have fun. There is so much to do at pax.. Free play in the console rooms with every console imaginable to every game ever created by many masterminds. Panels are held everywhere in nearby theaters and I would suggest attending at least one (favorite game preferred). There is cos play and a computer area, and countless raffles where you can win some pretty epic loot. Fan of some tabletop games? Check we have that! Maybe you want to experience your retro side with some arcade games? Check... PAX is a must do for any gamer of any fashion, take it from a 8 year veteran.. Go!!! read more

This part year was my first year attending this event. I never thought I ever would because tickets are retarded to try to get. Being a first timer here, I wasn't really sure what the big deal was. Unless you have been here before and know what's going on, this event is pretty boring. The cosplay is great. There are a lot of people roaming around but mostly there are lines for everything. Being a noob, I had no idea what the big deal was for the games that were up for testing. Most of them weren't anything I didn't already know about or were lame. I wish there was more information at the event for what you're supposed to do... After the event I went on Facebook and joined some groups to find out what the big deal is. So for those of you who don't know, you're there to stand in line for hours to try a video game for a few minutes, then you get a t-shirt or some other gift for trying that game. It seems the first day is the biggest for the give aways because many vendors run out of stuff quickly. There's also some contests you can do but from what I could tell you have to either know ahead of time for it or stumble across it. And if you do try for a contest, be ready for more lines. I wasn't too impressed with this event. My favorite part was seeing the cosplay. But otherwise, there's not many retailers or cool stuff to buy. And omg lines are evil! Maybe I'll feel differently about this event after I attend it again, now that I know sorta what to do. read more

I'm lucky enough to live in one of the PAX hub's - Boston. After attending PAX East for two years (and loving it!) and watching PAX Prime live-streams, we decided to come to Seattle and witness the PAX Origin (PAX Prime) first hand. PAX is AWESOME. Tickets for prime is undoubtedly one of the fastest selling tickets - it was sold out in a few hours and we snagged the Monday tickets by sheer luck at the end of a work day. The venue of PAX Prime is many times smaller than that of Boston's BCEC, to accommodate for the size of the event, 6-7 hotels/buildings in the Seattle downtown area becomes the PAX conglomerate for just that weekend. Be prepared for a lot of walking, but it's also quite a fun way to explore the area and it's always fun to capture the interested looks of locals when the giant cloud of PAXers move excitedly from one building to another. We had brunch at the Sheraton where all the PA crews are staying and that was a HUGE treat, while waiting for our food, we saw quite a few PA crews passing by with boxes and going about their PAX activities like Brian, Kiko, etc. (This you cannot see in PAX East) Cool. The board gaming areas and exhibition hall seemed considerably smaller and more scattered than PAX East. But the great thing about coming to Prime is that you get to see EVERYONE who's remotely associated with PA in Bandland, LRR, Kris and Scott, Extra Creditz, the Stripsearch crew, the whole gang. Not to mention, the live DnD game that's hosted by WoC and thus far has only presented itself at PAX Prime. Overall, I think I prefer PAX East's venue and its organization, but PAX Prime has the advantage of having been able to see everyone and anyone up close. read more

Boy... Pax13 was quite something... So for the first time ever I cosplayed, (and with my sister) as characters from Borderlands 2. I was Salvador while she was a killer Tiny Tina. I went with my dad on Friday and Saturday in regular civilian clothes. I will review day-by-day. Friday: Friday is the first day, nobody knows what's going on, the vets are prepared, the noobs are clueless, but everyone is excited. I went straight to Watch Dogs and saw a nice demo, walked over to The Crew and customized a car on a tablet and then raced it through Miami. Warner Brothers set up a bat signal so I waited a half-hour for Arkham Origins (great game) then went to AC IV because the line had died down. Then I saw them. Anthony Burch (lead writer of Borderlands 2 and Hey Ash, Whatcha' Playin?), Ashly Burch (star of HAWP and voice of tiny Tina), and Davis (a member of HAWP) I was so nervous! I got them to sign a tee shirt and then went into the AC theater and sat of uncomfortable barrels. Had to try Next-Gen stuff so played Forza on Xone and was amazed. Finished the day waiting for 2 hours for AC IV panel. Saturday: the busiest day of Pax. You have the people from yesterday, and people who couldn't get off work. So we went to Battlefield 4 and played (solid multiplayer) and then spent a few hours at sony playing all their AAA and indie games. Went back to WB and played Dying Light (waited 2 hours!) probably my 3rd favorite game. Then ended the game with some co-op Ryse: Son of Rome. If like killing tons of barbarians in Zach Snyder fashion (SO MUCH SLO-MO!!!)then you will love this game! Brutal Violence, Flying limbs, and Blood everywhere (2nd favorite game) Sunday! Dying down... 1st cosplay day! Before we event got into the Queue line had tons of photos and compliments. Won a limbo contest in line, then while sister went to Elder Scrolls Online, my father and I played it... TITANFALL!!!!!!!!! Game of the show! The parkour, guns, and mechs all flow together beautifully. Waited for 2 1/2 hours. Worth it. Walked around, explored, good day. Monday: noticeably less people. Went to the HAWP panel and discovered Cards Against Humanity. The most disturbing yet, fun totally "I am going to hell" card games. Think of it like an X rated Apples to Apples. That passed the time for two hours then we walked into the HAWP panel and had a fantastic time, after that and a meet and greet we hurried over to the Gearbox Panel ( had VIP Tickets for cosplaying) and has a great time there! Also got a free diamond loot chest for cosplaying. Totally worth all the effort. So all in all, Pax 13 was a success! See you next year! read more

Video games and board games on a massive scale. Really, what much more do you need

If you are a nerd and like the latest and greatest gaming experiences the industry leaders have to offer then this is it! The lines are a little long but if you happen to be a vendor then you are pretty much treated like gold during this event. read more

The event itself is great. The booths are amazing! I spent way too much at them, even spending my $800 biweekly paycheck as soon as I got it. The setups are great and I loved all the spaces for everything. Unfortunately the people here were a little rude. I had numerous people act very surprised I was attending PAX and had a surprising amount of people flat out tell me I didn't belong there. Even the cosplayers seemed annoyed when I asked to take a picture or wanted to talk about their costume. I attend numerous other conventions each year and it's always so easy making new con-friends or just hanging out with random strangers for the day. It's a little disheartening to find this one isn't like the others in that sense. The others are like communities and families getting together for a reunion and to celebrate a common interest. This is exactly how it sounds, a bunch of strangers who just happen to be at the same place for the same reason but there's no real connection to be made, it's like a grocery store, you're all there for the same thing but it doesn't mean you have to be chummy. read more

A bunch of nerds having an amazing time. The atmosphere is really positive--you can tell everyone is just happy and excited to be there. The expo is primarily focused on video games but there is a lot else going on, notably table-top role playing games and board games. I play a hefty amount of video games but I don't care much for checking out the latest, so next time I go to PAX I plan on trying to play every board game I've never had the opportunity to try for three days straight (they have a massive collection for check-out) and throw in a little RPGs to mix it up. Buy your 3-day pass early and you won't regret it. read more

We Love PAX and all that it's about!!! Only issue we face every time is our chances of getting tickets to your awesomeness that is PAX!! Other than that, I love nerding out with fellow nerds alike! :-) Keep on being awesome my fellow PAXERS! read more

This is the gamers paradise, otherwise known as heaven for fanboys/girls. I really wish this didnt conflict with dragoncon however..... read more

This is a very poorly managed conference. Event management isn't about packing as many people into a venue as possible (70,000+)? Instead, the organizers need to focus on optimizing for overall quality. If the quality of your product begins to decline because of your customer count, you need to take a step back and reconsider what you're doing. Highlights: - Fun atmosphere where you can hang out with your friends, at least for the first few hours until you realize you're not getting into any lines (see below). Lowlights: - Conference passes are not registered to attendees. There are a ton of scalpers outside taking advantage of this (read: tacky). - Lines for anything cool are capped at extraordinarily low numbers (eg. 96 out of 70,000+ for Star Treak. read: you're not getting in). For some attractions, there are literally lines for lines and sometimes lines for lines for lines. - Everyone in the capped lines are holding exhibitor passes. Regular attendees have no chance. The doors open at 10:00am and all lines fill up immediately (actually, I bet they fill up before the doors even open). - The volunteer security force are called "Enforcers" (Really? Not very friendly. Also - who volunteers to work at a for-profit company? That's just weird to me). - They hired a company called Staff Pro to manage crowds (which wouldn't be necessary if they weren't packing 70,000+ people into a convention center). I was assaulted by one of them who *really* did not want me to get onto an escalator. Recommendation: Maybe consider offering a VIP pass or pricing passes based on the time that you'll be allowed to enter the convention center. This could help manage the crowd madness and give people a chance to get in lines if they're motivated enough to buy the right pass. read more

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