PAX EAST 2018 Recap

PAX East was two weekends ago, and it's long been one of my favorite shows to attend. PAX East expanded to four days this year, Thursday to Sunday. The format and layout remained much the same as it has over the years. The exhibit hall is downstairs and large booths for the major video game publishers like Square Enix and Namco were up in the middle of the floor, along with computer component producers and major retailers like Dell and GameStop. Flanking them were various merchandise booths. In the middle was the Indie Megabooth for independent gaming. Behind that was the tabletop section and the freeplay areas for PC and tabletop gaming. The surrounding conference halls were for panels, freeplay and other gaming related organizations.

Most of my time was spent walking the floor, checking out demos and picking up a couple of games and RPG accessories. There were lines wrapped around for the major video game publishers, but the floor overall was bustling.

I didn't attend many panels, but I made sure to go to the Acquisitions Inc panel, which is a live D&D game that has been going on at Penny Arcade since 2008. Legendary DM Chris Perkins usually DMs for Jerry Holkins, Mike Krahulik and a rotating cast of guests. Chris didn't happen to attend PAX East this year, and Mike Karhulik took over DM duties, with a wonderfully interesting take on a popular PC Game. You can catch the replay here, I highly recommend it.

Generally speaking, the show leans more towards video games and video game merchandise in terms of booth space and merchandise, but there were ample booths for tabletop players, both board games and role players. I myself was able to purchase a few dice sets, and a game I first demo'ed at PAX Unplugged, Cursed Court (expect a review in the future!)

On a personal note, this is my first convention since being told I have a serious disability. With my stamina not what it once was, I was very concerned about being able to walk around a convention for a few days in a row. Luckily, Reed Exhibitions (which runs PAX) and the PAX crew thought ahead: they offered medical badges to those who need it, and had special sections for me to sit in while waiting for panels and on the show floor itself. Learning my new limits has been a steep curve, but PAX was very accesible and easy to get to with lots of elevators around the building and the always helpful, always wonderful Enforcers.

I rarely leave my home city for shows any more, and this show is not a comic convention. Don't get me wrong, I love going to a comic con and catching up with old friends and picking up a choice issue or figure here and there, but PAX is just for me to have fun. I play games, I listen to people talk about games. I demo games... it's nice to not have to run to panels or worry about when I'm back on shift or getting back to the shop, which is what my NYCC experience is. I have no obligations, and it feels as close to a vacation as I can ever get