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PAX East open for panel, speaker submissions

by Xav de Matos { Dec 2nd 2009 at 12:00AM }

The team behind the Penny Arcade Expo's journey to Boston has announced an open call for panel and speaker submissions that will run until January 11, 2010. In order to qualify for an open panel or speaker slot, submissions need to both entertain and inform. "We're looking for the kind of presentations that invoke intense reactions and discussion in the community," said Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo.

Have a crazy or interesting idea of something you'd like to see at PAX East? Submit it. With plans to fill the event with up to 90 hours of content, there's plenty of room for submissions (provided they don't stink). PAX East is setting up shop in Boston, Massachusetts, from March 26 to 28, 2010. Make sure to register if you plan to join the party.

Early bird special on PAX East tickets

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 21st 2009 at 2:00AM }

Although registration has been open since April, it appears that PAX East tickets are now discounted until the end of the year. The day pass currently costs $25, while the three-day pass is $45, which is a $5 savings off the previous pre-purchase price -- and a $10 cut off the door prices.

It appears that hotel information is also up on the PAX East site. Although several of those hotels are definitely within tolerable "Boston in late-March walking distance," the Holiday Inn in Brookline, which appears to be the best value on the list, is a straight shot on the C line to the convention center.

[Via Kotaku]

PAX attendance rises by 2k, 60,750 people geek out

by Ben Gilbert { Sep 12th 2009 at 3:00PM }

After the recent announcement by the folks at Penny Arcade that PAX 2009 sold out the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, today they officially released attendance numbers for this year's Penny Arcade Expo. Speaking with Big Download, PA's Robert Khoo said 60,750 people packed into the convention center -- though he had earlier predicted "roughly 75,000" -- and that the show's organizers are looking into expansion plans for next year to accommodate more showgoers.

We'd say with the unveiling of PAX East, some people may very well have stayed home in anticipation of a shorter travel distance early next year over this year's Washington-based soiree. This might help explain the relatively small attendance growth from 2008's 58,500 people to this 2009's numbers. However, Khoo said he's surprised how many people plan on attending both PAX East and next year's PAX, umm, West. We'll see you a year from now, Khoo -- with facts!

PAX 2009 sells out... er, is sold out

by Randy Nelson { Sep 1st 2009 at 12:00AM }

If you hadn't already registered for this week's Penny Arcade Expo and were hoping to snag a pass at the door, you don't want to read this tweet. If you did, you'd see the dreadful words: "It's official! PAX 2009 is completely sold out!" Oh, sorry about that -- awkward.

So yes, it's official -- the PAX website has even updated with the news. We spoke with show organizers who assured us that they'd "love to let more people in," but that the venue itself has reached capacity based on the number of passes sold. (They're expecting roughly 75,000 attendees, up from last year's 58,500.)

Looks like it's time to register for PAX East and start pricing airfare to Boston. Or, y'know, you could always borrow a friend's pass. We're sure they won't mind; heck, you shouldn't even ask.

PAX East registration is open ... only 356 days to go until show

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 4th 2009 at 1:00AM }

With a little under a year to go, PAX East registration is now open. Taking place March 26-28 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, a three-day pass will cost $50, while individual day passes are $30 -- add $5 if you're planning on picking up your tickets the day of the show. So far, no exhibitors, participating hotels or schedule of events are posted. Take it from a Bostonian, you can stay in any hotel near a T stop (we should probably do a post detailing this) and make it to the convention center in under an hour.

If you're planning on going to GDC, don't worry, that show takes place March 9-13 in San Francisco. It'll certainly be interesting to see how game marketing and PR treat this new high-profile East Coast gaming convention. Team Joystiq will be there in full force ... considering a third of our staff is within driving range.

[Via Kotaku]

PAX 2008: The Penny Arcade Interview

by Ross Miller { Sep 2nd 2008 at 11:20AM }

Note: Photo above taken at interview

A few hours before PAX 2008 opened its doors to the public last Friday, we had a chance to speak with Penny Arcade creators Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik -- for simplicity's sake referred to here by their respective pseudonyms Tycho and Gabe -- about the Expo, its future expansion, the intensity of Jenga and the Duke Nukem Forever Omegathon round that never was. Audio embedded below; we've also gone ahead and transcribed highlights from the interview. (Note: To make it easier to read, we've put Gabe's name in red and Tycho's name in blue.)

[MP3] Download the Interview

Gallery: PAX 2008: Omegathon Final

Continued →

PAX East coming late March 2010, venue revealed

by Ross Miller { Aug 30th 2008 at 2:30PM }

Well, that was fast. After revealing that the East Coast iteration of Penny Arcade Expo is heading to Boston in 2010, we now have more specific details care of BigDownload and PA director of sales Mike Fehlauer. In an interview with BigD, Fehlauer confirmed that the window is "late March 2010" and will be at John B Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, a venue with 193,000 square feet of exhibit space, roughly the same amount as this year's PAX. However, Fehlauer noted that the first PAX EC will not be planned as a huge vent first, with growth planned every year.

Penny Arcade will handle exhibitor booking, event planning and other content, while the grunt work (labor unions, hotels, etc.) will be done by Reed Exhibitions (New York Comic-Con). When asked if there are any potential conflicts with the Game Developers Conference, Fehlauer explained that they feel the audiences are disparate (industry vs. consumer) and both events are very different.

First East Coast PAX coming to Boston in 2010

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 29th 2008 at 1:43PM }

Straight out of the mouths of Tycho and Gabe (Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins) to Joystiq: The first East Coast PAX is coming to Boston in 2010. Check back later for our full interview with the Penny Arcade duo!