The inaugural PAX Australia took place over the weekend, and it was one of the most enjoyable and gloriously geeky pop culture celebrations I've ever attended.
Highlights of the festival for me included playing 1987 hit California Games on a Commodore 64, seeing new Magic: The Gathering art unveiled on a big screen to cheers and applause from hundreds of fans, watching an intense battle in a Game of Thrones board game match, flicking through a digital version of Fighting Fantasy title Forest of Doom, playing Metallica Pinball and Saints Row IV pre-release and listening to the director of Dynasty Warriors 8 discuss what it's like working in the contemporary Japanese gaming industry.
Tens of thousands of people braved the Victorian winter weather for the sold-out convention, soaking up three days of game culture heaven. Lining up at the main entrance each morning with the buzzing crowd was a great start to each day. There was a palpable excitement, a general feel-good vibe that carried on throughout each day.
If you weren't enjoying the friendly conversation the person standing next to you was likely to start up, you could take part in an impromptu Magic: The Gathering game on the ground, marvel at some of the cosplayers lining up nearby or hit one of the several beach balls circulating the crowd, garnering huge cheers when they flew over a large schedule sign.
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Magical Hiyorin Cosplay Costume |
Originating in Seattle, the Penny Arcade Expo events were created by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, authors of the Penny Arcade webcomic and general game culture icons. PAX festivals are gaming festivals that are consumer-focused, rather than media or industry focused.
I'm calling PAX a 'festival' for a reason. This is not really an expo as its full name suggests and it's definitely not a trade show. Many of the features that attract gamers to events like E3 and Armageddon exist at PAX too, but this is much more of a gaming festival comparable to a music festival.
Sure, you can try out some upcoming games well before release, sample the latest in gaming headphone and keyboard technology or check out what a tech demo for a yet-to-be-released next-gen console, like you can at E3.
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Dolls The First Unit Uniform White Cosplay Costume |
And there's cheap cosplay costumes uk on display which rivals that at Armageddon, of course.
Almost all of the activities are free once you've paid to enter. Attendees will probably spend money on food or merchandise, but jumping on a console or PC or borrowing a board game, watching a film, attending a panel or musical performance is all free. Considering the festival is open for 14 hours on Friday and Saturday, and eight on the Sunday, hardcore fans can get a lot of game time out of their money.
The panels are a major drawcard for loads of the attendees at PAX. Each of them had huge queues outside. The biggest I attended was the Saturday morning sessiom of Mike and Jerry themselves. Mike drew a Penny Arcade comic strip over the course of an hour, projected live in front of the audience, while both he and Jerry answered questions from fans.
The pair are particularly funny guys that know their audience well and are all about fan service. When a chap from the audience asked Mike to draw a penis on his sister's Nintendo DS, the artist obliged. After a bit of coaxing, both men had a bite of a vegemite sandwich. When a fan suggested Mike add corks to the wide-brim hat of a character in his comic, he diligently did.
Source:http://www.3news.co.nz
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