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Free coffee and doughnuts at the PAX PlayStation Blog meetup
How's that for an attention grabbing headline? Who doesn't like free coffee and doughnuts? So if you're going to be at PAX, or even if you're just in the area, come by Top Pot Doughnuts (at their 5th Avenue location). Not only will there be free stimulants, but you'll also get to meet up with other PlayStation fans (including myself) and potentially win some prizes. Bring your PSP.The breakfast meet up will be taking place between 8:30 and 10:30 (in the morning, naturally) on Saturday the 30th. That's this coming Saturday. If you're going to be attending, be sure to let the PlayStation Blog know via Facebook or email them. Don't forget to tell us too! Do so in the comments. We'll see you in Seattle.
Bungie clears up Halo 3 rumors, reveals matchmaking updates
The latest Bungie Weekly Update is an informative "doosy", chock full of matchmaking playlist updates, a title update release date, PAX 2008 plans and some rumor squashing. So, let's dive in.First on the list of Bungie news, some rumor squashing. According to team Bungie, the Halo 3 acceptance videos that fans across the internets have picked apart and analyzed have been picked apart and analyzed way too much. Bluntly put, Bungie informs us that "there will be no insertion of Campaign objects, enemies or friendlies via the Forge as folks have speculated" and that there will be no "new feature that implements Campaign objects into multiplayer." Bungie then gives everyone some life advice, telling us all to "calm yourselves down, pump the brakes, and take a breath." Consider us calmed, breathed and our brakes pumped.Other than some rumor busting, there's a list of September Halo 3 matchmaking updates (the removal and addition of various playlists) and confirmation that, come September 16th, the second Halo 3 title update will be released. Finally, for PAX attendees, Bungie plans on doing a few autograph signings, a few Recon competitions and selling a limited number of PAX-exclusive Bungie t-shirts. Phew! We're out of breath, make the jump to get your weekly (double) dose of Bungie news ...
MS brings Gears of War 2 and Halo Wars to PAX
Late last night, the Gamerscore Blog posted a list of games Microsoft plans on showcasing at the Penny Arcade Expo and if you're a PAX attendee who is huge Gears (slash) Halo fanboy, you should get excited.According to Microsoft's PAX schedule of on stage demos, they plan on demoing both Gears of War 2 and Halo Wars as well as Project Origin during all three days of the expo. Meaning that those who plan on attending PAX and dreamt about getting a chance to see either Gears 2 or Halo Wars will have their dreams fulfilled. Wish granted! Also, according to the schedule, there will a few "Gears of War 2 Signing Sessions" planned which we can all but guarantee a certain blogger will be first in line ... every day.
Left 4 Dead visits PAX, goes on a worldwide tour
Exciting news fanboys! Left 4 Dead - Valve's co-op zombie survival game that we totally gushed about during E3 - will be going on a world tour, allowing gamers from across the globe to witness what a true zombie co-op experience is like. We've been informed that the PC version of Left 4 Dead will be playable at the German Leipzig Games Convention, France's Festival du Jeu Video and the UK's PC Gamer Showdown. And about the Xbox 360 version? Attendees of the Penny Arcade Expo will get a chance to see the debut of the 360 version of Left 4 Dead and snag some free swag! And wouldn't you know, X3F be attending PAX this year! Coincidence? We think not. After taking Left 4 Dead for a survival horror test drive during E3 2008, we came away quite impressed! Read our E3 Left 4 Dead impressions to learn why Valve's latest zombie masterpiece will have you screaming with bloody enjoyment.
First look at Halo 3's Purple Reign, kinda, sorta
In what will go down as the earliest posting of a Bungie Weekly Update in history, team Bungie has pulled back a tiny corner of the veil that new Halo 3 multiplayer map in development Purple Reign is under. No, we don't get any screenshot love, we get more of an artsy, freehand computer drawing of the map colored purple using Photoshop. But you get the idea. And even if you don't get the idea, maybe PAX will bring more Purple Reign goodness. Spec!Also, with the new Purple Reign drawing comes confirmation that, next week, Bungie will be revealing specifics regarding Halo 3's second title update. How happy we are to hear that the BR will not be affected.
New Halo 3 content to be unveiled during PAX
Although their plans have changed a bit, team Bungie is steadfast at making their Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) presence known with the unveiling of new Halo 3 multiplayer content. In a recent update posted on Bungie.net, Sketch mentions that PAX attendees can "expect to find some brand new Halo 3 multiplayer conent [sic]" even though the content or anything else at PAX for that matter is "not going to be the 'big announcement' many of our fans are clamoring for." A new multiplayer map perhaps? We think that would be a good bet.So, between the Bungie meeting, swag winning, autograph signing and Recon earning that'll be going down at PAX this year, we'll also get a chance to preview some new Halo 3 content. But sadly, the E3 delayed BIG announcement will not be unveiled at PAX and the Bungie planned FanFest will not take place either. Somewhat exciting, somewhat sad.
Mythic's Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman coming to PAX08
If you happen to find yourself up in Seattle Washington on August 29th-31st, then you may want to check out the Penny Arcade Expo. Chances are that if you do, you'll be able to find both Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman roaming around the convention halls yammering on about waaagh! and other juicy bits of information. Warhammer Online has always had a good booth presence at PAX but now we'll all get to experience the one-two punch of a Hickman-Barnett combo. If you ask us, that alone is worth the price of admission for any nearby WAR fan. Did we mention juicy info bits? With this news, Penny Arcade Expo 2008 is shaping up to be a real treat for anyone interested in MMOs. Mythic Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Blizzard, Cryptic Studios, Flying Lab Software and CCP are all going to be there with games and/or content to show off to attendees. So don't miss it if you can go!
BioShock 'pimp supreme' Ken Levine to keynote PAX 2008
With just a handful of months to go before the annual Penny Arcade Expo opens its doors again, you may be wondering who will be taking to the stage to the deliver the August event's keynote address. Organizers have announced that the opening speech will be given by none other than 2K Boston president and creative director Ken Levine.Says Penny Arcade business mastermind, "Obviously, Ken is pimp supreme...We're super excited to have him open up the show." Given Levine's involvement with one of last year's biggest releases as well as a sequel that already ranks among our most anticipated in 2009, we're sure he'll have plenty to talk about -- and we expect to be left hanging on every word.
'Pimp supreme' Ken Levine to keynote PAX
The hilarious gents behind the fan-swarmed Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) have announced Ken Levine as the keynote speaker during the event that runs from August 29-31."Obviously, Ken is pimp supreme," said Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo, "We're super excited to have him open up the show." Levine, who has recently been iconized for his work on the critical and commercial smash-hit BioShock, will lead the charge at the event which also includes musical guests MC Frontalot, FreezePop, the MiniBosses, and Jonathan Coulton of 'Still Alive' fame.PAX also welcomes back the Omegathon, in which twenty randomly-selected PAX pre-registrants compete against each other in various gaming events ranging from table-top to the electronic games. Winner of the 2008 Omegathon will score a trip for two to the Tokyo Game Show, along with $5,000 in spending skrilla (that's OG street for monies, btw) and a home theater system that is described as "almost supernatural."
Connect08 to have exclusive in-game LotRO titles
Planning on heading to Connect08 this year? If you're going be there, you could claim the title of Worldly Traveler. If that title isn't your particular thing, you could also choose Pillar of the Community or Greeter of Kin. However, there is a one per person limit these babies -- so choose wisely. Turbine and Codemasters are to thank for this one, Also, we should mention that as far as we know these titles are only available at Connect08. Hopefully, we'll get to see something similar from Turbine at other events this year -- we're hoping for PAX08.Whether or not we actually see more of these at another show in the future, it's a very cool -- and free -- extra for those of you heading to the event this year.
Penny Arcade Expo 2008 dated, returns Aug 29-31
Is that two month old PAX07 t-shirt started to look slightly worn or wrinkled? (If so, may we recommend occasionally wearing other clothing.) Save the date and start booking your flight for Seattle, as the dates for the 5th annual Penny Arcade Expo have been unveiled: August 29 through 31, 2008.This year's event drew in approximately 37,000 attendees into the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. According to the press release (PDF file), "attendance for the 2008 event is expected to reach forty-seven million bajillion people." A venue for the 2008 expo was not specified; exhibitor packets are now available and attendee registration opens in January. Okay, folks, you can now officially start placing your bets on what will be next year's Omegathon.
