I’m on set for Eureka, tethering to the Internets through a mobile hotspot, using my iPad to post with the Typepad app.
This is, as they say, less than optimal for blogging. However, I wanted to put a post up for PAX stuff, until I can write a proper post in the next few days.
I had a wonderful time, didn’t get sick, played games with friends, and was given some truly epic gifts, including a Cape Of Dicks (pictures forthcoming). There was also a D&D game for the ages.
Please use this as a PAX thread, to share your PAX stories and pictures. I’ll add my own as soon as I can.
PAX was much like SDCC for me — spent on my sofa watching the Twitterers go by…
My first PAX and I can’t wait to another one. I didn’t have much time to walk the floor but we had an overwhelmingly great response to Choplifter HD. Parents remembering playing the original as they watched their sons play the new one felt very special and we got a lot of comments on the nostalgia for the old time classic.
I’m sad I didn’t have a chance to give wil some dice but at least i caught a glimpse of the epic Cape Of Dicks!
PAX was good. No epic stories of awesomeness, not much squee-ing, but good π Every year I regret not making more friends and networking. This year was no different.
I do have a few people who are disappointed with me for not getting my yearly Wil Wheaton picture though. If I stop thinking about it, maybe I won’t be sad.
My nephew attended PAX and brought you a blue, 20-sided cursed die that he kept in protective case. I told him about your quest for gaming die, and he was sweet enough to help add to your collection with a particular monstrosity that all of us in his gaming groups were happy to see go elsewhere. Just try to keep it away from your good dice. π
He goes to PAX every year, and was surprised when Jonathan Coulton even remembered him from two years ago.
Based on everything, my husband and I are seriously considering attending next year.
It was my first time attending PAX as opposed to working at a booth. Post-PAX exhaustion remains at the same level either way it seems. Had a great time checking out new games, meeting fantastic people including Wil, Felicia Day, and the X-Play cast. Wil was a point of inspiration for me and I will keep writing as he encouraged.
Most important though was a moment where my wife; who is typically shy and avoids large crowds of people, suddenly screwed up the courage to ask a question at the X-Play Live panel. She managed to get in the last question and did so sans the nervous stutter she succumbs to on occasion. I’m so proud of her. For the record, her question was centered around how insulting it is to see terrible games marketed toward girls with such topics and titles as baking sims and “James Patterson’s Games For Women”.
I brought a glow in the dark d12 for you. Your line was crazy long, and I’ve chatted with you before, and I already have some signed books. So I gave my die to someone else to give to you. I hope you got it. It’s part of my first ever full set of dice, but several of them are missing now, so I thought I want you to have that one.
Some day i may get to attend PAX…. some day….
Say was there any recording done of the D&D session? Loved the podcasts, i want to know what that merry band of adventurers are up too!
We had a great time this year! It was both an awesome GeekDad event (our Geek Parenting panel went great), and a fun family vacation – I was able to bring my wife and boys along as well. Biggest surprise was seeing Felicia Day show up in the signing area, and getting to chat with her (she just popped down from Vancouver unannounced). Also saw Storm, and completely forgot to show him my cover-band shirt I’d done up special (“Penny Arcade is the name of my The Bobs cover band.” – a bit obscure, but 80s-90s a capella fans will get it ).
Everyone had a blast at the Acquisitions Inc. show, and having P&S accompany it was a stroke of genius! Otherwise, played some board games, some D&D with the boys, and set out minds on saving up for a Geek Chic table. Can’t wait for next year!
Here’s a playlist containing most of Wil’s panel. I broke it into reasonable parts based on content.
And I had a blast at PAX. Again this year, as last, my favorite bit was watching the Acquisitions, Inc. game. Though there was something truly epic about filling the Paramount to capacity to watch people play D&D.
I’m just curious how many die you came home with… Or what your collection TOTAL looks like now?
My pax experience consisted of watching “The Last Will and Testament of Jim Dark-Magic I”, and I must say, it was awesome. Thanks to YOU Wil for making my PAX experience awesome for making me laugh my ass off for two whole hours! Sure it may not have been the largest PAX experience…but it was fun!
It was fantastic! I was so glad I got to meet you (CliqueClack FTW!) and I also got to hang out with some of my best friends from the internet. It was a very awesome weekend.
The very last thing I did before leaving PAX was hold an elevator door open for Felicia Day, so I can’t complain.
This was my third PAX and was one of my favorites. This show comes at the end of convention season for my employer, and it’s usually one of our easier shows since we’re based in the Seattle area!
I had to work the booth, so there wasn’t much walking around or exploring for me. I missed huge chunks of the show, which is why it was super cool when you came by our booth on Sunday! It was very nice to meet you! π
Here’s the pic I took of you taking a pic of our warjack, Big Blue: http://yfrog.com/hsvcasuj
PAX was absolutely amazing for me this year. This was my first PAX Prime and I was here exhibiting with SRRN Games. I met a lot of amazing people, spent a lot of time just chilling in Jamspace and walking around the convention hall.
The best part for me was just taking in the atmosphere, being surrounded by so many people just as excited as I was about gaming. It is that atmosphere that I look forward to at every PAX.
Unfortunately, given our exhibiting schedule, I wasn’t able to make it to any panels. That was a bit of a bummer. What really made up for it was seeing all the families with little kids coming up to our booth and getting excited about our games.
I was really hoping to catch one of your panels but the schedule didn’t allow it. Hopefully next PAX I will attend at least one.
PAX was amazing as usual. I slide a d20 (half clear/half smoke) across the table to you while you were talking to someone at the signing, and before I dashed off, you shot me a heart-felt, “Thank you!”.
No, thank you, Wil.
I had my photo taken with Bacon, that was epic.
I gave you a Cape of Dicks! Then I avoided getting sick, played some D&D, watched the Acq. Inc. panel, went to the Saturday concert, and then you gave me a Three Wheaton Moon poster which is now on my wall at work, next to the poster that Tim Schafer signed assuring me that my feelings are completely normal.
Pretty much the Best PAX ever.
I had a great PAX. Picked up some cool swag, saw some amazing stuff, and met many friendly people. I particularly liked the 6th floor indie gaming hall.
I left with a few of your books – “Games Matter” and “The Day After.” While reading the “Afterword” in “Games Matter,” I got something in both of my eyes at the same time, even though I had read that story when you originally published it in your blog.
Thanks, Wil, for being so generous with your time at PAX, and for promoting the importance of gaming.
I completely failed at the Settlers of Catan Tournament, but couldn’t have had a better time if I tried.
Didn’t play a single actual video game, but Hackey Sacked in Bandland, with Bandland. Played Monkeys, Knives and Guns in line.
DIDN’T GET SICK. Even tho I may be nursing a bite from Brandon Patton, guess he’s not a zombie.
This was my first PAX, and it was rad. I’ve been going to SDCC for the past six or seven years, and finally decided to sack up and do both this year. I met and gamed and waited in line with so many fun nerds this weekend! I’m glad I crossed paths with Robert Khoo yesterday so I could thank him in person for such a great con experience.
The Acquisitions Inc. show was fabulous as always, and I was so thrilled that I got to see it live. The addition of Paul and Storm as the bards was amazing and hilarious!
I had heard stories about the all night gaming binges that happen at PAX, and hanging out at the Sheraton after the show closed last night was just as much fun as I hoped it would be.
Now I want to try PAX East…. #addicted
My husband was there all three days, soaking it all in, more or less. He even got a friend to stand in line with him to get into the Paramount to see the D&D action. He claims, it was the best wait ever. :o)
Your panel was at my mom’s work, and she got to see and hear your panel, which was a highlight for her. She also hopes you weren’t creeped out by the snack basket she provided to your hotel room. She’s a convention servies manager, PAX and ECCC are two conventions she works every year, which both include you and thus she’s become a big fan over the years. Anyhoo, no harm, no foul, just Guinness and snacks. What what!
Spent most of my floor time taking a more thorough look at the lesser-known games, as many of them are pretty darn creative and well done and they don’t get the support that the big names do. It was time well spent. π And I discovered the G155 gaming case, which is going to make my XBox much easier to use regularly, so I’m very pleased with that.
I usually don’t like to bug VIPs at conventions because, well, um, I’m just another nameless face amongst the huge throng of often unwashed masses, VIPs are often exhausted with the meeting/greeting/photos/autographs and too polite to say no, and – contrary to what people think – I’m kind of shy. So anyhow, have never approached you for a pic until this year, which you provided gracefully on the last day even though I know you were pretty darn tired. I really appreciate it. Thank you! π
Mine was good:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262566_10150421111404466_713199465_10625861_1661992_n.jpg
I got dice and gave dice in two separate incidents, I got my photo taken a lot (sse above), and I got to see a bunch of cool games that I need to buy.
Not a bad way to spend the weekend.
First time at PAX, attended with my two oldest kids, we had a great time. Daughter won Jennifer Hale’s Exhibitor Pass in the Mass Effect/Dragon Age trivia game. Son won a Grunt Lithograph. Saw you out and about, didn’t bother you out of a possibly overactive sense of politeness (kids teased me about that all weekend).
It had its moments, but they were few. I think that was my last one. Ready to acknowledge that my age and interest level don’t match the ranges targeted for PAX. =^)
I had a great time at one of my last Primes for a while as I make my switch over to East. We’d love to see you in Boston Wil! I saw you and Felica a couple of times walking around but was too shy to say hi, plus your Enforcer escort. But I saw you in Indie alley, which was so good this year. I spent a lot of time Sunday there.
I also have to shout out to the PAX Pokemon League. Each year we get better and better and invite all challengers. Tried out Skyrim and got killed by an ice wolf about 3 times.
I bought my own set of dice thanks to following your DnD adventures and hope to try it out myself at East.
I had a good time at PAX, though didn’t get to play as many games as I would have liked. I had to head to the theatre I bar manage for both nights, around 8pm, to see one show that was closing (Friday), and then to help strike the other show that was closing (Saturday).
But I did have fun. Met you briefly while getting a poster signed for my friend Sara, who found the teen dreamy poster image for you….she is very much looking forward to receiving the poster in the mail, and can’t thank you enough! Played in a Race for the Galaxy tournament Saturday morning (I really wish they would use the expansions for that), checked out the expo halls with friends, and played some Galaxy Trucker.
I’m sad I missed Felicia Day, and would’ve loved to get a shot with the two of you, but I didn’t keep my eyes on twitter enough. Perhaps next year. π
Hey Wil, Wanted to say thank you for the game on Friday night, and for being generally awesome to my son through the evening. By god I WILL make #AXETACKLE next year come hell or high water! Have a wonderful time on the set!
It’s hard to say what my favorite part of PAX was this year. Your talk was pretty epicly awesome (grammar I haz it). Doubleclicks Doubleclicking it up in Bandland on Saturday? The Saturday night concert? Getting to talk to Storm about writing? Watching you pin an “I touch wieners” button on Tracy? Epic game of hackey sacking with pretty much everyone in Bandland? Being officially adopted into the “Sea Monkey” tribe? All of these things were super awesome and fun. I think, though, that the very best part of the experience for me was having the excuse to spend three days with my tribe and feel like I was home, safe, and unconditionally loved even by thousands of people that I still have yet to meet.
PAX was amazing, as usual. I got tons of swag. π The concerts were great, and the games I tried out were fantastic. The new Assassin’s Creed game looks so good!! I’m going to stop nerding over everything now before I bore you with “this was so great, and so was that, and this too!” because I think that’s where this is heading, hahaa..
By the way, I was one of the people who made the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device that lit up and changed colors. Here’s a picture of you holding it next to my friend cosplaying as Chell https://p.twimg.com/AX_qUOjCMAATbCC.jpg Thanks for being so cool! π
PAX was awesome. Sure, not as amazingly awesome as last year when my husband and I raced down the streets of Seattle to beat you to the concert hall in time for a picture… but still awesome. π
I was able to make it to your panel on Friday (which was hilarious), got to play the new SSX (which looks awesome), and my husband gave you a die on Sunday afternoon. All of this, and of course, I got to hang out with my friends all weekend and we got lots of swag.
It was only my second PAX, but I know we’re already planning next year’s trip!
It was actually streamed live, and will be put up on teh interwebz….sometime
We had some friends not able to get tickets this year. So, I gave up two of my days so each of them could go one day. So, I did not want to wait in line hours for things…wanted to get my games on. Since I saw you at Wootstock and “met” you at both ECCC’s – I just concentrated on gaming and getting my geekling through the Halofest. My husband spent some time at BYOC. I got to spend some quality time on my favorite game LOTRO. I just went and went until my eyeballs were full so I could make the most of the one day. And doing my friends a solid by giving up two of my days was worth it because they were on cloud 9 about all they did. It was aces =D Glad you didn’t get sick, Wil!
I didnt get to PAX but thought I’d use this spot to ask a question. π (start sarcasm font)I know you have LOTS of free time on your hands and wondered if, in that free time(end sarcasm font)you would consider writing a post for non-gamer parents who would like to take their gamer/geek kids to Cons/Pax? I have 11 and 14 yr old boys who have seen the pictures and descriptions of PAX (we also live in Seattle)and they would LOVE to go next year(and I would love to take them next year). I know a few things about the geek world but nothing of the best ins and outs of Cons/expos, especially for teens. I’d hate to go blindly, so if there are any tips you can share that I can tuck away for next year, that’d be great! Thanks so much Wil, you’re awesome! (even if you truly dont have time to write something up);)
This was my first PAX and it was exciting,overwhelming. Best moment was meeting you and Felicia Day. Second best was getting a code for a free copy of Borderlands 2 at the GearBox panel. Definitly Purple Loot in my book! I can’t wait to return next year! It was great to spend the weekend with my boyfriend and my friends indulging our love of all things nerdy and gamey.
My 4th PAX was as exhausting as it was exhilarating. After parties every night, meeting up with PAX friends and Sea Monkeys, and seeing Mike, Jerry, Scott, and of course, @wilw playing D&D in full garb in front of 5000+ nerds. Good times.
Being present for Gearbox giving out the “single greatest piece of swag in PAX history” wasn’t too bad either. π #ShamelessPlug
We had a really fun time with friends, meeting new people, handing out our “friendship cards” (which was a WIN, everyone should do that), and playing tons of games. I got to go to concert for the first time EVER, and it was awesome. We made it to one whole panel, and avoided most lines. We came away with some fun loot including Axe Cop, pretty much the best game we’ve purchased since Fluxx. Seriously, check it out.
Otherwise, thank you for being awesome, as always, and thanks for the secret photo you signed. It will be hung in my new house with much smirking. I will report back on my husband’s reaction (probably a form of disgust and eye rolling.)
Meanwhile, I took The Greatest Photos Ever this year, with only my camera phone. Delight in their amazing quality!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nwc_orca/sets/72157627549087056/
(None with you because I spaced, but oh well.)
Hey! I am not Wil, nor am I a parent, but I have been to many a con and I can give some general advice.
First off, PAX especially has the atmosphere that most of the attendees are adults, and thus there isn’t a lot of capitulating to people who go “Think of the children!” (Not that I think you’re doing that.) Most of the booths and things are good about not having really violent stuff or really sexualized stuff right out in everyone’s face, but the attendees and panelists are not going to censor their language just because some people bring children, you know? So expect a shit-load of swearing.
Second, the Expo Hall is huge and crowded! Come up with a system for keeping track of your kids in the giant mass of bright lights and crazy. Also talk to them ahead of time about proper line etiquette (because you might well wait in a lot of them) and “moving the hell out of the way when you need to stop in the middle of the walkway for some reason.”
Third, pack some snacks. There are food options around, but speaking as someone who turns into Angry Hungry Hulk, it is best to have something on-hand for when you’re waiting in a line and the hunger pangs hit.
Fourth, you notice how I’ve mentioned lines several times? For most of the really awesome things at PAX, you have to line up two hours or more early to assure a good seat. Plan accordingly, and bring something to do. We always bring Zombie Dice, for example.
I hope that was helpful!
To broke to go :/
Welcome back to PDX, you missed summer, we had it last week.
You stepped out from your signing table to compliment my son on his awesome fez and Dr. Who costume, and gave him a nifty sonic screwdriver. He has very little idea who you are, but thought it was cool someone at a signing table was as excited as he is about Dr. Who.
Thank you for supporting the young nerdkids.
Until recently, I was a long time Seattle resident. Unfortunately, I now live in Arizona, until probably the end of the year. So, I unfortunately was not able to actually GO to PAX. I do however have many friends in Seattle, who, like me, are gamers. It didn’t take long to find a friend who was going to Pax (several were working it), and willing to get your autograph for me.
By this time next year, I plan to be a happy Seattle resident again, and hope to make it to PAX myself.
Thanks so much for the signed poster Wil. I really got a kick out of the photo my friend Mike sent me of you with the poster. I can’t wait to see it in person! lol I know Mike had a blast getting to meet you.
Wil! PAX was great, as usual. My 5 year old daughter and I were in line to see you for the 3pm signing. I had brought a gift for you – a 2010 Double Bastard – but then I saw Stepto by Paul & Storm, and I had read on twitter how he had lost his voice, so… I ended up leaving your line to give the beer to Stepto hoping that it’s regenerative powers would heal his voice. I later heard from him on Twitter that it did help.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, well, I owe you a beer. See you at ECCC?
One day, when site-to-site transporters are available, I will make it to PAX. As it is, trying to get to the West coast of the US would take a lot of extra time (incl. gettting to/from airports, waiting and flight times, the good part of a day.
However, I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to see you talk at a convention or bring your friends over to the UK for a European leg of w00tstock.
This was my husband and my first PAX, and our anniversary gift to us! WE HAD THE BEST TIME! We got to witness you receiving your Cloak of Dicks.:o) Definately learned a few things for next year. The biggies are wear very comfortable shoes, come a day early so you can be rested beforehand, and don’t forget snacks and hand sanitizer. I had kind of let my gaming time go after having kids. Going to this con made my hubby and I remember what we used to do before we had all the responsibilities. Still won’t be able to game like we used to but we’re definately going to be making some time for that from here on out.
Wil, thank you so much for being there and your unbelievably entertaining forum. Also for being so nice giving out autographs. I’m reading the book you signed for me and enjoying it very much. I’m so glad you were stubborn and didn’t give up because you really are great at what you do!
Spent it hanging out with one of the most awesome people ever.
Thanks again for the DVD, and the best PAX ever. I’ll be e-mailing you soon. π
My PAX consisted of wishing I was at PAX and organizing my Saturday around watching the streamed D&D game. Even at that level, it was awesome. More podcasts please? Please? Will begging help? I’ll beg if necessary.
This was my first PAX, and was EPIC. I can’t believe how awesome it is. I met JoCo just walking down the street & chatted. I scored tons of schwag. I saw cool events (and found the lines very entertaining due to the enforcers)
Meeting you and Felicia was a main highlight, although you would not throw “The Shocker” you were kind enough to comedically pose while looking in confusion at your gnarled hand.
I hope your IPA brewed up nicely and was waiting for you when you got back.
Had a great time. Pick up a lots of swag. Talked to lots of people. Fun was had
One of the best was when Wil got his Cape of Dick.
Video:
Pictures: http://heath-bar.tumblr.com/post/9446567573/while-at-pax-during-his-panel-wil-wheaton-gets-a
And another great was the Acquisitions, Inc panel and the intro they did.
Video:
See my PAX Prime 2011 pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/heathbar/sets/72157627527268926/
See all my PAX Prime 2011 videos here:
I had a wonderful time. It was my first 3-day experience (I’d been only one day the past two years). I fell more in love with my boyfriend and more in love with PAX. Highlights were the Acquistions Inc. show and the unveiling of Omegathon final. I think I had something in both eyes when I heard the music to The Legend of Zelda and the crowd went wild. What a great way to end PAX. Best PAX yet.