Topic: Official NWR PAX 2008 Thread

[Svevan]

This is the thread for us at NWR to use, from now until August (yeah I know it's early) to plan the greatest NWR meetup in the history of mankind.

Please do not clutter this thread with "I'm not going to PAX" posts. Only post and contribute if you plan to attend and have something useful to say.

In this thread you can discuss: carpooling from your exotic home to rainy Seattle, hotel plans, length of stay in Seattle, etc.

AS A FIRST DISCUSSION TOPIC I propose all NWR-ers who are going to PAX should pick the same hotel so we can party like we're in room 1999. We can also move as a group as much (or as little) as we like, which means INSTANT friends at the show. Thoughts on this plan or suggestions for hotel (there are three with PAX rates listed on the PAX website)?

On a second topic, I am planning to drive from Medford, Oregon, to Seattle. It's about 7 hours (that's over the speed limit, buckle up). Plans may change all things considered.

So! Who's going?

[ShyGuy]

I will attend this Penny Arcade Expo with extreme justice.

http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/registration.php  Sign up before March 31st for only $40!

[NWR_Karl]

Mike and I are flying out to Seattle as well. Hope to see you dudes there!

[bosshogx]

I'm planning on attending PAX, my fourth in a row after missing the first one.  Better yet, I'm going to be a contender in the Omegathon.  I, under the name MNC Dover, came in 2nd place last year having lost in the final round of Halo 3 to Accalon.  Stupid Halo 3.  For 2nd place, I automatically got entered into next years tournament for another chance at eternal glory.  I hope my NWR brothers will be there to cheer me on.  I'll be looking out for everyone.

[Svevan]

I will attend the Omegathon just to cheer you on. You better give us a shout out.

[bosshogx]

Of course I'll give the NWR a shout out, Brotha man.  I might be asking for some help with training for the games once they announce the list, which happens about 6 weeks or so before the event.  Last year I barely squeaked by in the Calling All Cars and Quake 3 rounds, so I'll definitely need to get more practice in for this year.

[Dasmos]

I'm not going to PAX.

[RABicle]

Neither

[animecyberrat]

what is this PAX you speak of? Honestly I never heard of it.

[bosshogx]

http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/

The long and short of it is this: Gabe and Tycho run the web comic site called Penny-Arcade, found here at http://www.penny-arcade.com/. A few years back, they decided to hold a local convention for fans of the website to gather together and play games over a weekend.  The attendance was over 3,000 people, far more than they expected.  The expo has doubled it's turn out every year since, with last year showing an amazing 37,000 people attending.  It's becoming a gamers paradise and shows no signs of slowing down.

There are concerts, free play console rooms, a massive PC lan room, key note speakers, vendor booths, movies, and the Omegathon.  The Omegathon is a tournament that consists of 6 rounds of games which vary each round.  20 people are chosen at random from the people that pre-register.  Each round 4 people are eliminated until the 5th round in which 2 people are eliminated.  The final round is the last event of PAX and is played on a stage in front of thousands of people.  The game is never revealed until the contestants are on stage.

The games that have been in the finals in the past include:

04 - Pong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve3h6vsj9XI)
05 - Combat
06 - Tetris (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DovY7YBcrGQ)
07 - Halo 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysxzStAxGpo) BTW, that's me playing, and losing, in the final round.

The winner gets a huge prize:

04 - a $25,000 bundle of mixed games
05 - a package containing a NES system, every single NES game and accessory ever made, and an Alienware PC
06 - a brand new Scion car fully loaded with custom wheels, custom sound, LCD tv, Xbox 360 Premium, wireless controllers, and more
07 - a fully funded trip to Japan, all hotels and meals paid for, 2 tickets to the Tokyo Game show, and $5,000 spending money (I got a $250 gift certificate and am reentered into next year tournament)

I highly encourage everyone who likes games to attend.  It's table top, PC, consoles, and portables.  Google search videos and images to see thousands of like minded people playing games all weekend long.  It also has a cult following of events that happen during the week before PAX even starts.  Hit their forum to see the insanity.  (http://forums.penny-arcade.com/forumdisplay.php?f=26).

I will be bringing around 5-8 of my friends with me.  I'd love to meet some fellow NWR peeps.  I got to meet Shyguy last year, who is quite contrarily, not shy.  Hmmm...  Anyways, show your gaming love and at the very least cheer me on as I try and win it all this year!   

[animecyberrat]

I wanna go, when is it?

[bosshogx]

I wanna go, when is it?

The link is at the top of my last post.

[animecyberrat]

thanks, that gives me plenty of time to prepare.

[ShyGuy]

I think I will by my ticket next week.

[animecyberrat]

wait, do you have to pay n advance, or what? I don't have any money right now.

[bosshogx]

wait, do you have to pay n advance, or what? I don't have any money right now.

Did you even go to the website?  Here:

http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/registration.php  <---Read me.

[animecyberrat]

So it's only $50 at the door, I am sure I can manage that plus travel expenses. I am going to see if I can bring my brother-in-law who is a HUGE gamer also. He isn't into Console games thought, mostly WoW, Counterstrike, Star Craft, and similar type games. I have a few other gaming friends I might try and tag along. This $^#& looks like it could be fun.

wait, do you have to pay n advance, or what? I don't have any money right now.

Did you even go to the website?  Here:

http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com/registration.php  <---Read me.

Yeah sorry, I was doing some other stuff on my PC when I read that first post and didn't actually goto the website.

[bosshogx]

Yeah sorry, I was doing some other stuff on my PC when I read that first post and didn't actually goto the website.

No problem.  Does your brother in law still play Starcraft?  I'm looking to get some people to play with me in a casual environment.  Maybe get some of the NWR regulars to play.

[NWR_Neal]

As of a half hour ago, I ordered my ticket which means I am now in 'saving money to buy airfare' mode.
Hope to see people at the actual show as I will probably be crashing at my sister's since I haven't seen her in (by that time) close to a year and she lives about 20 minutes away.

[animecyberrat]

Well my brother in law said he will ride up with me to the expo but he is going to something different but close by that is also gaming related, but I forgot what he called it.

[ShyGuy]

I bought my tickets for $40 today, suckas! If you don't get them now, you will pay $45-$50 for a three day pass.

I haven't booked a hotel yet, but I saw one hotel had a double available for same price as a single. I may possibly be interested in room sharing, please apply for the preliminary screening process.

[animecyberrat]

Well I found at least one more friend who will come along with me so I am now up to three. I have two more people to invite so if they all say yes then Imma bring half my squad. Ok maybe less than half but still.

[animecyberrat]

So turns out I might not get to go after all. We might be moving to Nebraska at that time.

[bosshogx]

Update!  It looks like my final friend count will be 11 people attending.  9 are from Georgia, 1 driving from California, and 1 from Seattle.  The entire MNC (Monday Night Crew) will be staying at the Sheraton hotel located 1 block away from the convention center.  As we draw nearer to the event, I'd like to get a final 'head count' so to speak of who's going to be attending.  We can then set up chances to meet each other and such.

[animecyberrat]

Well unless a miracle happens, I sadly won't be attending.