The 2010 Penny Arcade Expo kicks off September 3. As of this writing, it's just over a week away. That isn't a lot of time to get your things in order, especially if you're a first-time attendee. A convention can be an intimidating place if you go in unprepared — both mentally and physically.
Whether you're a PAX Prime rookie or a seasoned vet, you should go in completely ready to rock the show floor. There's a lot to see, even more to do, and not enough time to hit it all. The weekend disappears as quickly as it comes, and before you know it you're on a flight home, sick as a dog, and waiting to die.
Or is that just me?
Despite having attended the Seattle event before, I walked out of last year's PAX feeling equally awful and satisfied. That changes this year: I'm shooting for all satisfaction. If you're going, make sure to check out this list of must-do things, must-follow rules, and must-use tactics to survive the show.
Oh, and pay special attention to the Penny Arcade staff's advice — Jerry Holkins (Tycho) and Robert Khoo contribute top-notch tips for having fun.
PART ONE: How to Stay Alive
This past spring's PAX East hosted 50,000 attendees. PAX Prime 2009 topped 60,000. Aside from avoiding the herd's shoes on your face, what do you need to do to stay healthy? It's common sense, really, but you'd be surprised how few people follow a few simple rules.
Keep clean.
If you aren't using the hand-sanitizer stations scattered around the floor, I'll personally see that you're punished for your crime. That is, unless you're carrying Purell in your pocket. Cleanliness is the most essential part of staying alive at PAX.
It's not that everyone around you is toxic — they're actually lovely people. But you've got thousands of people playing kiosks with the same controller, and uncleansed hands spread germs like wildfire.
Furthermore, wash your hands with soap before leaving the washroom. Hell, do it if you walk near a washroom. Even if others aren't using hand sanitizer and soap, you're saving yourself from potential sickness by keeping clean. In this otherwise group-friendly location, think selfishly when it comes to your personal hygiene.
Tycho Says…
A DS isn't a suggestion, it's a requirement. There's no place outside of Akihabara that you're likely to see this kind of handheld density, and all those cool passive multiplayer games — you know the ones I'm talking about, the ones you can never make the most of — all work like they're supposed to at PAX.
Keep your badge safe.
You need it at all times to get anywhere at PAX, so keep an eye on your badge holder's stability. Sometimes, they break — I had it happen twice last year — and you can drop it. Fortunately, people at PAX are awesome and immediately grab you when you're silly enough to lose it. Ahem.
Also, if you can help it, pick up your badge on Thursday if it wasn't already mailed to you. It'll save you from the gargantuan Friday morning line.
Stay hydrated!
Bring a satchel or backpack, if only to carry bottles of water with your free swag. It's not that PAX gets muggy or that you run the risk of dehydrating — it's just best to drink water anyway.
You can develop pretty gnarly headaches if you're only slamming cans of Coke or not drinking at all. You'll lose a lot of energy in the evening, too, which might put you in bed instead of front and center at the Anamanaguchi concert.
This goes the same for food. Eat, for cryin' out loud, eat! The convention center has plenty of legitimately great food — Taco del Mar, Subway, and a stellar little pizza joint on the ground level. Pig out when you need a break from the floor. It'll keep you feeling great.
Tycho Says…
I mentioned the DS up top, but I have to come back to it, because it's practically survival equipment here. You're going to be in lines. You're going to wait for panels. What's more, you're going to meet real people over this thing. It's a cultural signifier. Bring your DS.
Read on for Part Two: How to Be an Awesome Person!
PART TWO: How to Be an Awesome Person
The beauty of the Penny Arcade Expo is that, well, everyone there rocks. Your odds of meeting jerks are slim, so please perpetuate this positive stereotype. It's not hard to be a cool person at PAX. By showing up, you're already the kind of person we all want to be around.
Stay classy.
Or, as Penny Arcade preaches: Don't be a total fuckwad. Everyone I've met at PAX is polite, helpful, and patient. You don't need to worry about someone getting up in your grill for minor hiccups, nor is there any need to ever be aggressive. Get this: When someone bumps you, it's the start of a conversation, not a fistfight.
Crazy, right?
Khoo Says…
Don’t be afraid to talk to people! This isn’t like going to the mall or to some bowling alley with a bunch of strangers. THIS IS PAX. Everyone around you is there for the same reason, which is their love and appreciation of games and gaming culture.
Don't forget to bathe.
Hygiene is critical in this kind of environment. You're going to sweat, even if you're in shape and capable of keeping up with the quick pace of PAX. The sheer number of people produces a lot of heat, so the nicer you smell, the more pleasant you are to be around. Take daily showers and use deodorant. If it helps, pack deodorant in a bag and use it throughout the day.
Listen to the Enforcers.
Penny Arcade's polite police force is more flight attendant than Secret Service. You should listen to them because they know what's best, and they know what's going on. Following their instructions benefits everyone, including you.
Also, commend these dudes and ladies after the show. They're volunteers who don't get to see a lot of the show because they're busy holding it together. They deserve a "thanks" or a high five.
Read on for Part Three: How to Have a Great Time!
PART THREE: How to Have a Great Time
No matter how you slice it, PAX is incredible. My list has a lot of scary-sounding stuff, but the negativity is almost insubstantial. This event is peerless. You're guaranteed to enjoy yourself. That said, keeping organized, focused, and energetic is important to optimizing the amount of awesome you'll consume.
Khoo Says…
Be prepared to make hard decisions in regard to what you want to see. We only have 43 hours to work with for the weekend and a ton of really cool things to see, hear and experience. If you broke out all the different areas to the show, you’d come up with 12-15 different things going on in any given instant.
Plan ahead.
Before you leave for your flight, road trip, or hitchhiking adventure, print a copy of the schedule. Keep this on you at all times, but make sure to give it a good read prior to PAX. If you're rolling with a posse, partner up and plan out what panels you'll attend.
Panels are a great way to escape the monstrous mob of the Expo Hall and to enjoy alternative aspects of the event. Developers, podcasters, journalists, and myriad other entertaining people have plenty of interesting stuff to say, insight to offer, and sneak peeks to show off.
Map it out.
Another must-have item: This lovely show floor map. The Expo Hall is an enormous place, and the more you know about it beforehand, the beter off you'll be. With the slightest idea where to go you'll save yourself precious time when sprinting toward Dragon Age 2 or The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.
Lines: Deal with 'em.
Nobody likes waiting in lines — take advantage of this. Many people see a long line and think, "I'll come back later when it shrinks." Lines don't shrink. If you want to play a game, play it! Yes, time is limited, but believe me: You'll have more than enough time to play what you want.
Don't let lines get you down. Get them out of the way sooner than later and you'll get more hands-on time with upcoming games.
Khoo Says…
Make sure to follow both @PAX_Lines and @official_PAX [on Twitter]. The former keeps you abreast of how many spots are left in the main theatre line and the latter has all general updates to the show.
Don't discriminate.
Play as many games as possible on consoles you don't own. If you only own an Xbox 360, you'll definitely want to get to Sony's booth for Twisted Metal or Motorstorm: Apocalypse. On the other hand, if you're without an Xbox 360, definitely check out Microsoft's exclusives and Kinect.
If Ubisoft, EA, or other third-party publishers' booths get congested, duck over to Microsoft and Sony. They usually have kiosks for third-party games with shorter lines.
Talk to developers.
You can learn a lot about game design and jobs within the industry from them, as well as the games you're playing.
You might also find out about events they're holding. Last year, I ended up in a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 tournament with some friends in the press after we spoke to DICE's community manager. (We won, by the way. That's our goofy glee in the image up top.) It was crazy-fun. Seek this stuff out!
Play the PAX 10 titles.
These inevitably amazing indie games are the titles everyone else is going to freak out about six months from now. Get in so you were there before they sold out… for a sweet publishing deal and deserved sales.
Tycho Says…
Don't neglect the Tabletop Room because you "don't play those kinds of games." PAX is an opportunity for you to check out what is essentially a parallel gaming dimension.
In conclusion…
Prepare for an unforgettable time at PAX Prime 2010. Again, any negative implications in this article exist only to explain how to avoid bad situations. You have to try really hard to have a poor experience in what is easily the greatest gaming event of the year.
Yeah, I said it.
What of it, PAX East?
Huge thanks to Robert Khoo and Jerry Holkins for contributing to this guide. How those dudes will survive the show is an entirely different situation. Good luck, gentlemen, and thanks again!