PAX West (previously PAX Prime) is and has continued to be, one of the largest gaming conventions open to the general public. Since 2004, the first PAX event was held in Bellevue, Washington. PAX has now spread throughout the US and world with events in Boston, San Antonio, and Melbourne, Australia.
Now, if you consider yourself at all to be any kind of gamer, you'll be sure to find a home somewhere on the PAX floor. Every kind of game, in every genre, seems to be represented in some way. Triple-A series, indie games, board games, card games, mobile games, competitive... the list just goes on and on.
I've been attending PAX for the past five years and as such, I've realized and come to understand some things that would have been useful to know upon first going. As such, I'll share with you some things you should be aware of when attending it yourself:
1. Hydrate.
I feel like this event is almost like a little summer camp: Full of people. Stuff to do. Places to be. So basically, you're always moving, always doing something, and with so many people, you're always gonna be so hot. All of these are good reasons to be drinking water the entire time. Trust me, it helps.
2. Ask!
There are lots of things you need to ask about. Lost? Ask an Enforcer (the volunteer PAX workers). See someone in a neat cosplay you want a photo of? Ask first. Want to see if a vendor has any free swag? Just ask!
3. Be patient.
As I stated earlier, PAX is a busy place and people are prevalent no matter where you go. Take a breath and relax. Sometimes the lines are long, sometimes the panels are full. Work those times into your schedule.
4. Participate!
Going along with waiting in lines, remember you're waiting there for a reason! Some of the hottest games, systems, and events are there for you to try out and enjoy! Don't be afraid to wait in line for a game! Don't be afraid to try something new! Perhaps you want to enjoy the Expo as a cosplay! Whatever makes you happy, be sure to do it!
5. Plan...
The Expo Hall is huge and spreads out on different levels, the panels are back to back, located in different buildings, sometimes blocks apart. Be sure to look ahead at the guidebook and plan out your day before hitting the hall.
6. Text, Tweet, Snap, and Instagram.
Social media is a great place to find out the what is going on! There are parties, events, and panels that happen after the expo halls close and the way to find out about them is following different accounts, such as PAX Parties.
7. Relax...
Relax and enjoy yourself! Don't worry if you miss a panel or you oversleep and are a bit late. There is almost always something else to do, and you're there for your own enjoyment... so enjoy yourself and have a good time.
