PAX 2008: What E3 Once Was

If you thought Penny Arcade was just a webcomic, then think again. It has become a symbol of gamer culture and the inspiration behind a nation-wide expo that drew a whopping 58,500 people to Seattle, Washington last week, where hardcore gamers dorked it up with each other and listened to some sage wisdom from industry pros—a nerdy pilgrimage of epic proportions jam-packed into 3 days, when it could’ve easily gone twice as long.

The expo’s fifth year was its most popular yet, partially as a result of E3 becoming an intimate “invite only” affair. After this killjoy, where were gamers to go for absurdly massive LAN parties and even more absurd cosplay? PAX answered this question by allowing people to frag and fraternize to their hearts’ content these past few years, filling the void that E3 had left in the gaming community.

Here were some of the highlights of the event:

Keynote Speaker:

Ken Levine: As creative director of 2K Boston, Ken made sure to keep things interesting, switching it up from the anticipated BioShock/System Shock banter by professing his childhood love for the Scarlet Witch, and describing his D&D tribes’ abandonment of him when they started putting down dice and picking up women. His closing statement: “We are united by a common element. It’s not the color of our skin, or our ideology, or where we come from. No, it’s that we’re a giant bunch of fucking nerds.” Very poignant.

Music:

MC Frontalot: This quirky hip hop artist first christened the term “nerdcore” for his subgenre of music and has proudly deemed himself the “world’s 579th greatest rapper.” He has graced PAX’s stages since 2004, attributing much of his popularity to Penny Arcade’s endorsement of his music–even writing the webcomic’s theme song as a token of his gratitude.

MC Chris: If you’re an Adult Swim fan, you should know who this guy is. Aside from his claim to fame as a nerdcore artist, he has worked on/”appeared” in shows on Cartoon Network like Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Sealab 2021. He also has a handful of albums under his belt, with classic names like Life’s a Bitch and I’m Her Pimp.

Events:

Omegathon: Think of it as the Olympics, with much less physical prowess and much more bizarre intrigue—Peggle, Jenga, and Rock Band all in one glorious event. Geko, the winner of this casual gaming-fest (whose moniker sounds like it could actually be one of the games he had to play), won’t be on a Wheaties box any time soon, but his prize is actually much cooler: a trip to Tokyo Game Show in October. Good job, Geko!

Panel Discussions:

The Growing Role of Women in the Industry: Considering over 40% of gamers are currently females, this was a noteworthy chat. Panelist Annie Garlson, a designer at Obsidian Entertainment, described how women in the gaming industry often feel like they “represent everybody with two X chromosomes.” Along with encouraging women to be themselves, she also requested elfin armor that didn’t consist of hot pants.

Democratizing Game Development: It was no technical college, but it was a good start for anyone interested in becoming a game developer. Its DIY attitude matched that of Penny Arcade’s own mentality—one that brought them where they are today, hosting all of this hullabaloo. The panelists recommended prototyping board games as a good start, as well as a team of people who actually know what they’re doing (a word for the wise in any industry, really).

Hands-On Game Previews:

The Conduit: Anything to mar the Wii’s family friendly image will meet me with open arms, so the demo of this upcoming alien-themed FPS receives my seal of approval. If you’ve ever dreamt of being Will Smith in Men In Black, now’s your chance.

Left 4 Dead: This Xbox 360 game (not to be confused with Boyz II Men) allowed gamers to run around a hospital killing zombies in the demo, but also taught them the importance of friendship, encouraging them to make pals with other characters to behead the undead as a team. Aww.

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic: Aside from the sheer awesomeness of the title itself, this PS3 adaptation of the original PC game entertained everyone in the demo with wobbly dolls and slippery fish. Kung Fu is always “Kung Fun,” but it’s even more of a blast when done by (typically) inanimate objects—particularly ones with afros.

Whether you sat on a giant bean bag playing competitive Zelda most of the time, stared slack-jawed at Pink Godzilla’s tower o’ plushies for hours on end, or attentively listened to all of the engaging panel discussions, you were certain to have a good time at PAX. There was something there for gamers of every variety, and as this event continues to grow year by year, the more I hope E3 will hang its head in shame.