Losing Your PAX Virginity
I spent last weekend in Boston at PAX East for my first con. If you've never been, here's some thoughts that might run through your head as you make your way through Boston and eventually descend onto the Expo floor and beyond.
. . .
Yep. They're going to PAX.
This actually started on the bus ride from Rochester. As we got closer to Boston, more and more PAXers were among us, DS in hand, gym shorts ablaze with 8-bit excitement. You know what? Me too, dude. Me too.
SO. MANY. PEOPLE. How are there so many people?
The phrase "cesspool" came to mind. But a way friendlier, geekier, super colorful cesspool that always said sorry when they bumped into you. It actually wasn't that bad for someone who has extreme social anxiety and claustrophobia!
Is that person dressed as [character] from [game/show/series]?! Eeeee!!!!
My favorite part was all the cosplayers. A test of your true geek is how many you can recognize and which you secretly wish you had the guts to go as. Cough. Bioshock. Cough. Booker DeWitt/Elizabeth couple count: 9
My feet/back/entire body are going numb. No, guys, really. *falls on floor and gets offered Oreo cookie*
Rule #1 of PAX: Spending 8+ hours walking around/standing/demands proper footwear and a backpack. I prematurely scoffed at a kid bringing in his own stool on the first day. Lesson learned.
$5 for bottled water? What am I, the CEO of Blizzard Entertainment?
Good advice I read before packing: everything is movie theater priced. So I bought a water bottle at Walmart and refilled it throughout our entire time in Boston. Saved so much money AND didn't die of dehydration. Win-win.
Do you take cards? No? Okay :(
At any convention, cash is king. So take some out before you go and buy things that make you happy. Or have it just in case you're the crazy person trying to buy all of the oatmeal in people's swag bags.
I have so many questions about [XYZ game/podcast/nerdy thing]!
Ask all of them! In the Indie section especially, you'll be able to talk face-to-face with the creators of amazing new games and prototypes. Get inside their heads. Then get a beer with them later. You'll be glad you did. Sup, Destructoid?
How am I not hungover right now?
Case in point, you will meet your share of internet famous people who are, more or less, just like you. Which means they like getting drunk after a long day. Go to the parties and sing shitty karaoke with strangers. Have whiskey induced conversations about how video games changed your life. It's called networking. Then get cheap Chinese food down the street from your hotel. Trust me.
BUT I DON'T WANNA GO HOME!!!
Everything in life eventually comes to an end, even PAX. (I know, I know.) I'm still going through a bit of post-PAX depression myself, but I met some really great people, played incredible games, and got a chance to explore a city I'd never been to before.
Some games I'm really excited about:
Until next year! Dudla signing off.