In 2004, the folks at Penny Arcade decided they wanted a show exclusively for gaming.
Sure, comics, anime, and other nerd hobbies were cool, and those activities all had their own shows… so what about games? From that idea spawned a small 4,500 person event in Bellevue, Washington, focused on the culture and community that is gaming.
Since then, the show hasn’t looked back. Doubling in size each year until venue capacities were reached, in 2010 the show expanded into Boston for PAX East, drawing tens of thousands of attendees in the inaugural year.
As well as PAX East in Boston, Penny Arcade hold expos in San Antonio, Texas (PAX South) and Seattle, Washington (PAX West).
The shows in Seattle and Boston represent the two largest gaming events in North America, and in 2013 for the first time PAX expanded internationally to Melbourne, Australia where it is now a yearly event.
Additionally, Penny Arcade runs PAX Dev. Also held in Seattle, PAX Dev is a two-day expo dedicated to the developer community. PAX Dev is about elevating the art and creating a place to share, debate and learn.
What will you find at PAX?
Concerts
When the first PAX was birthed in 2004, live music was one of the core pillars to the show. It still is more than a decade later.
Console Freeplay
In the Console Freeplay area, we bring hundreds of the latest gen (and classic!) consoles along with all the titles you may have missed throughout the year. Utilizing the ShoatEngine5000, we’ve created a free, easy-to-use checkout system for all PAX attendees.
Exhibit Hall
PAX has been the only place the public could see, hear and experience the insanity that is a game industry expo hall. With over a hundred thousand square feet of show floor and all genres, platforms and styles of games represented, this area makes for one of the highlights to the PAX experience.
Handheld Lounge
It started with an open area that fire marshals wouldn’t let us setup a booth in and slowly became one of the mainstays to PAX. With each show offering hundreds of beanbags for your use, these organically created meetup areas allow those with 3DS’, PSPs and Vitas to congregate and play to their hearts content.
Omegathon
20 contestants are chosen, and six rounds later a single survivor travels together to Japan as their grand prize. This is the PAX Omegathon! The tournament comprised of randomly selected pre-registrants takes place across the three days of PAX. Each of the games played are publicly announced weeks before the show, but the secret final round is always a surprise.
Panels
Whether it’s your favourite webseries or a lecture from the developer you love, the panels at PAX have knowledge or entertainment for gamers of all types.
PC Area
For those that can’t stand the closed system of the console world, we’ve set up huge areas with hundreds of high-end PCs for your enjoyment.
Tabletop
Ranging from as hardcore to D&D to as casual as Bananagrams, the PAX Tabletop area has games for all gamer types and skill levels. With hundreds of freeplay tables and the ability to checkout games like you would books at a library, this area could easily keep you occupied for the entire weekend.
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