PAX 2007 Wrap-Up: The Gamer Connection
Wil Wheaton got a big reaction opening this year's Penny Arcade Expo with the line "I'm Wil Wheaton and Jack Thompson can suck my balls." Sure, he did it for laughs—which he definitely got—but it also immediately won over the crowd, driving home the vibe "I'm one of you," setting the tone for one of the most laid back conventions I've ever attended, and getting me thinking about how unusual and unique a show like PAX is...
PAX was kind of weird this year. Maybe the convention just found that perfect mix of space, atmosphere, and attendees, but throughout the weekend several folks commented on how surprisingly calm and laid back it was. Inside the Seattle Convention Center, hundreds of gamers lounged on beanbag chairs leisurely playing their DSs, crowds rarely turned difficult to navigate, and even the noise level never reached that drilling, headache-pressure thrum. Overall a well-run and surprisingly well-mannered party where people seemed more interested in just hanging out and snagging pick-up games of Mario Kart DS than rushing to this booth or that seminar.
This past weekend did a lot to remind me that, despite the year's hectic schedules, forum fighting, and the shitheadery of a vocal few, as gamers, we have a pretty sweet little community. Now, like I said, I'm not writing for Hallmark here, but at a convention that felt more like a vacation than any other in the entire year, it was not just fascinating, but an absolute pleasure, to watch a group of people renowned for their insular habits (if you'll forgive the stereotypes), get out (from across the country), mingle, and enjoy the culture that's rarely seen outside one's living room.
Wil Wheaton's speech started this thought for me. "I'm Wil Wheaton and Jack Thompson can suck my balls." Who starts a speech like that? This didn't seem like some boring show opener history lesson or thank you speech. Here's a dude who's turned being a smart but slightly awkward gamer into a career, talking to like-minded friends and peers. No holding back, you know the language, you know the characters, you know the score, here's the deal. In one statement, Wheaton not only got his great opening laugh, but he got gamers of a hundred different and wildly differing walks cheering for the same reason. Good stuff.
On the personal side of things, I met Flynn, our own Fruit Brute, at this show. Yeah, I've been writing for the site for near a year now, but honestly, I've only talked to him a handful of times and were I to pass him on the street, I would have more likely walked right by than recognized him. That being said, I was greeted with a huge bear hug and drug into a cheesy photo I'll likely have to start making blackmail payments on so it doesn't get posted here. Turns out that members of the same tribe get along together really well.
We hooked up with Chris and Quis from the Weekly Geek—scholars, gentlemen, and hard rockers both—along with Niero "Mr. Destructioid," Colette "Mama Destructioid," and a slew of other gaming bloggers (whose names I'm remiss for not remembering) on and off throughout the show. Smart, witty, talented, and super adorable folks that it was both an honor and an absolute pleasure to meet. I had an inkling that the various gaming bloggers knew each other, but no idea there was such a cool community that by-in-large got along so smashingly. The already sizable Destructoid crew even had a crowd of friends and fans forming a constant entourage, a gang of commenters and forum posters eager to hang with their favorite bloggers. Hugs, booze, loud stories, and bad food made the scene at Saturday night's Guild Wars party. Really, I never expected to stumble across a group of such cool, friendly people who got on so smashingly, and a relaxed “kids-at-the-mall” kind of feel suffused much of our showroom wanderings.
After the Omegathon on Sunday, PAX wrapped up pretty quietly. Big crowds lined Pike street outside the convention center with folks making farewells before running to catch either planes or a few hours of much-neglected sleep. Even after the exhibitor hall closed dozens of folks still camped the beanbags, embroiled in their own after-hours mini-tournaments, while the gangs outside started to drift off to their own post party parties. When PAX started, Mike and Jerry at Penny Arcade seemed most interested in making the show a gathering where gamers of all stripes—regardless of industry connections or invite lists—could get together and do what they love. It’s awesome to see that after four years of explosive growth the show's main purpose not only survives, but remains so blatantly obvious. Career gamer or newbie, pen-and-paper roleplayer or casual gamer, industry professional or forum lurker, the con really felt like everybody was welcomed and that—regardless of age, skill, gamer score, or game of choice—Mr. Thompson can suck our collective balls.
Lectric Lich
Posted to Video Games on 28 August 2007
· Comments (2)
Other stuff like this: community, destructoid, gamer, pax, weekly geek
I'll pass on the sucking part. But thanks for proving with this "news" item that gamers like this clown have no sense, no class, no morals, and no idea how useful posts like this are to me to prove all of the above. Thanks! Hooah!
Jack Thompson
Um, are you for real?
If not, really bad taste, troll.
If so, this article doesn't prove anything to you other than without you, people are actually pretty happy and laid back--and don't appreciate an over-generalizing nuisance like you pissing on their parade.