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PAX 07: The Wil Wheaton keynote, just for geeks
The lights go out, and a phone call voice-over plays. Two hours ago...Lazlo's OfficeRockstar GamesNew York City Wil Wheaton is calling his buddy, an audio producer at Rockstar, trying to figure out a way to make a memorable entrance. They settle on something epic, something Lord of the Ringsy. The music bellows and Wheaton takes the stage. "My name is Wil Wheaton and Jack Thompson can suck my balls." The audience cheers. "I should note that today's keynote has been rated MA by the ESRB and if you have a problem with that, you can go fuck yourselves." He rattles off his geek cred: he's played NightWatch, he had an original Gameboy, and he carries around every 2600 game on a USB key (a USB key? We had them embedded subdermally years ago). He sure knows how to get the crowd going, citing classic gaming one-liners each one resulting in a chorus of applause. He rattles off popular internet memes like "the internet is a series of tubes" and "we need more cowbell" and "Leeroy Jenkins."His infectious preaching of "geek power" has a very rapt audience at PAX. He lays out his history as a geek, explains his manipulations, all geared towards giving him more time to play arcade games in between a busy school and audition schedule. One of his most endearing stories was about playing Wizard of War.
PAX 07: The last Metroid is a hat. The universe is at peace.
We ran into this Metroid attack in progress while perusing the show floor here at PAX. We went for our Ice Beam, but, because those totally don't exist, we used our camera instead. It was ineffective for stopping the Metroid, but it made for an awesome picture.The model here (whose name we didn't get, mostly because we were distracted by haberdashery) is also the artist responsible for the hat, and we've linked her DeviantArt page here.
We're live from PAX!
Joystiq has made it to PAX with a small team in tow. Like last year, we'll be bringing you interviews with industry insiders (as well as some Gabe and Tycho guys), hands-ons with the games at the show, as well as the slice of life culture stuff that makes PAX such a unique experience for the gaming community. If you spot us here, say hi!
Win the PG Dev Kit tournie, make your own video game at PAX
We told you it'd be fabulous. Pink Godzilla has exclusively revealed to Joystiq the grand prize for their Pink Godzilla Dev Kit tournament at PAX 2007, and boy is it a doozy. Not only will the winner receive $200 spending money for the Pink Godzilla booth, but the winner also gets to design his or her own video game, to be developed with the help of the Pink Godzilla team, and featured on the Pink Godzilla web site.In addition to receiving credit as game designer for the project, the winner will also have their game featured as a title card in an upcoming expansion set for the Pink Godzilla Dev Kit card game. Registration for the tournament will be limited, so Pink Godzilla urges players to sign up as soon as PAX begins on August 24th. More details about both the tournament and the prizes after the break.
Penny Arcade Expo exhibitor list unleashed
The exhibitor list for this year's Penny Arcade Expo has been made, checked twice, and finalized. While the past exhibitors are all still present (including favorites Pink Godzilla), the major publishers have signed up en masse. Joining Nintendo and Microsoft this year on the super-sized list of 53 exhibitors are Sony, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Sierra and Konami, among many others. Indie representation will be provided Gamecock, Telltale, and more. Is that the shadow of E3 we see before us? Full list after the break.
PAX07: Wil Wheaton keynote, TGS prize, Minibosses headlining
Additional details of this summer's PAX07 festival have just been released. We already knew about the larger venue -- the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in downtown Seattle -- and the dates -- August 24-26 -- but we didn't know about the keynote speaker, the Omegathon prize, and the headlining band. Until now.Taking the place of last year's thoroughly entertainging keynote speaker, Alex St. John, is wundergeek Wil Wheaton who's certain to find a receptive audience in the geek-hungry halls of PAX. Next up, the Omegathon prize. Taking the place of last year's tricked-out Scion xB, the gamer with the mostest gets a trip for two to the Tokyo Game Show (in new four-day flavor) along with $5K in spending money so you can nerd it up in Akihabara. Lastly, the headlining band. Taking the place of last year's face-melting Minibosses are ... the Minibosses! Of course, they joined by the likes of The OneUps, MC Frontalot, Jonathan Coulton, Freezepop, The Neskimos and Optimus Rhyme, so expect a full two nights of rocking (and rhyming, whatever the case may be).
PAX '07 set for Aug. 24-26 in Seattle
Expecting not to slip into "the rain-slick precipice of darkness," PAX '07 plans to be "bigger and badder." The Penny Arcade Expo will take place at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center. Previously held in Bellevue, PAX can thank the ESA canceling E3 for now making them the event of the year for the hardcore -- no fake press credentials required. Oh wait, there's the E for All Expo, but we have no idea how that's going to play out."We conservatively expect 30,000 hardcore gamers in Seattle this summer, making us the fastest- growing and largest gamer festival in North America" said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. "Exhibitors and attendees keep spreading the word about PAX; it's amazing, but attendance doubles each year."What we're really looking forward to is just seeing more of Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness game, which we're sure will have some announcement at the convention. You know the guys at IGN and Gamespy can't wait to get their hands on it for some sweet, sweet retribution.
