My PAX memories consist mainly of wishing I could have gone to it.
This. Unfortunately, as with every convention(The good ones are all in America tbh), I'm just not rich enough to be able to fork out for the flight and accomodation.
I know it's very easy to get sick at these kind of things, but the guys at Penny Arcade did just sent out a warning that there was a case of swine flu confirmed after the convention. Better check it out guys, better safe than sorry.
We Just heard of our first test-confirmed swine flu case at the show. PLEASE if you feel symptoms (fever, etc) call your doctor.
-Gabe out
Flight List for those with Confirmed Cases:
JetBlue #498, Seattle to Boston, Departed Sunday Night
United #356, Seattle to Denver, Departed Sunday Afternoon
For those with doctor-confirmed cases, please email rkhoo@penny-arcade.com with your flight info. Thanks.
Take a look at the Penny Arcade newspage for possible updates.
EDIT: To remain on-topic; I didn't go to PAX, being on another continent and all. I wish I did though. Deathspank looks awesome, it really does, and I would have loved to harass some Telltalers for autographs/buttons/posters. And the Telltale-panel, of course. You guys really should start videotaping stuff like that.
I know it's very easy to get sick at these kind of things, but the guys at Penny Arcade did just sent out a warning that there was a case of swine flu confirmed after the convention. Better check it out guys, better safe than sorry.
Don't worry about it too much. It's a flu: nothing more, nothing less. See a doctor if you're feeling sick and that's about it. It's not a death sentence if you contract it.
Waitwaitwaitwait ... was Karen Prell at PAX? At the Left 4 Dead 2 booth? Watching the Tim Schafer and Gertsman video at Giantbomb.com I swear to God that was Karen Prell denying them a t-shirt. Red Fraggle works for Valve now? Dang, extra reason to be sad I missed PAX!
Edit: Dang, she does work for Valve! Consarnit, it would have been so awesome to have talked with her!
I picked up a cold as well. Doesn't feel particularly swine-y to me, haven't had any of the crazy symptoms. Just a stupid cough.
The show was great fun. I spent most of the time in a hotel room showing off Shank (pinch hitting for Carolyn at Flash Fire who, despite her best efforts, couldn't be in multiple places at the same time). Caught the Telltale panel, which was fun as always, and also enjoyed the demo I saw of DeathSpank. Saturday night I hung out with the whole Telltale crew and it was like old times.
Probably the most poignant moment for me was going to one of the booths near the back of the expo that sells retro video games and consoles thinking "I wonder if they have a Donkey Kong Game & Watch? I'll totally buy it if they do!" (Because I had one of those as a kid, and wish I still did.) Against all odds, they DID have one... but it cost $99, and I'm not that rich. So I passed. Oh well.
Also - Mr. Potato Head had his beady little eyes on me every time I walked into and out of the convention center, which was kind of unnerving.
This was my second PAX and this year was even better than the first. I met a TON of really cool fans and talked till my voice was hoarse. (Of course that could have been from hanging out with the "after hours" Telltale crew Saturday night.)
I absolutely LOVE the make a scene panel we do! I have so much fun working with the fans, getting down in the crowd and listening to people do impressions of their favorite characters! It's blast! For everyone who made it out, thanks for making it the best year ever!
My favorite part was setting up the booth. Wait, no that was the worst part by a huge amount, but once it was up and running it was awesome! My favorite part was obvious, but genuinely great: getting to hang out at the booth and meet and talk to a neverending flood of Telltale fans. There are so many of you out there, and only some of you are totally scary Someone came by the booth this year and dropped off a homemade Max plush to keep us company during the show, and a costumed Guybrush and Elaine appeared at one point.
Though booth setup was far from the best part of the show, it did have a cool moment, when Tycho (Jerry) from Penny Arcade came by and told us that he and his son had put in another three playthroughs-worth of time into Launch of the Screaming Narwhal just because his son cracked up forever whenever Guybrush tried all the different ways to seize the ship from Winslow. Someone's super young son is clearly not our target audience but it made my day to hear that we'd put together a moment that a kid found funny enough to make his dad replay for hours straight. I remember things like that from my childhood and I hope now some kid remembers Tales in the same way when he's older... and then is totally surprised that the game that cracked him up when he was playing it with his dad contains a reference to "the secret of Donkey Island," and wonders what his dad was teaching him.
I didn't go to PAX, being on another continent and all.
Why should being from another continent stop you? I've seen a few Australians, New Zealanders and even a German at PAX!
Anyway, Here are some conversation snippets I had, strictly from memory (I repeat, strictly from memory):
Me: Hey Mr. Grossman, it's a real pleasure to meet you. I'm Iron Curtain from the forums.
Dave Grossman: Ah, nice to meet you.
Me: You said to me in the Private Pirates' Forum that you abandoned an idea for a crew of chimps in the Original Monkey Island. However, there was a crew of chimps in Monkey Island.
Dave Grossman: Yeah, but we originally had planned for Guybrush to have his crew be a crew a chimps, not just the ship that went back to Mêlée Island.
Telltale Employee, possibly Jake: Sam & Max Season Three is in the works!
Me: Really, that's great! Will it be point-and-click or drag-and-click like Tales of Monkey Island?
Telltale Employee: It will be drag-and-click.
Me: But why?
Telltale Employee: You'll have to ask Dave Grossman, he's the design director.
...
Me: Hey Dave, why are you going with Drag-and-click and not Point-and-click like before?
Dave: Well, we wanted to create more cinematic camera work
Me: But why break what ain't broke?
Dave: Well, it was broke.
Me: Ron Gilbert, it is an absolute honor to meet you, I liked all your games, except Monkey Island 2
Ron Gilbert: Yeah, that one SUCKED! (Note: It didn't sound like Ron Gilbert was serious when he said this; I think he was just making for conversation)
Me: so, anyway, what do you think about Tales of Monkey Island?
Ron Gilbert: I like it.
Me: That's great!
Ron Gilbert: Anyway, you'll buy 5 copies of Deathspank, will you?
Ron Gilbert made it to the Make-a-scene-with-Telltale event, so I think he was sincere, besides, I believe Ron Gilbert trusts Dave Grossman, who worked on him in the first game (not to mention that Ron wouldn't want to jeopardize his relationship with telltale).
Anyway, here's some more Ron Gilbert:
Me: I guess I should talk with you about the "secret." You know which one I'm talking about. I'm not asking you to reveal it...
Ron Gilbert: Because I won't.
Me: Right, but please answer me this: Will the secret eventually be revealed or will you take it to your grave?
Ron: Unless I make a third Monkey Island game, the answer is that I'll probably reveal it eventually.
Comments
Show was very good though; it was great to talk to one million people who were excited about our stuff
Once again, I hate geographical limitations.
Hopefully it wasn't a pig-related variety of flu.
I know it's very easy to get sick at these kind of things, but the guys at Penny Arcade did just sent out a warning that there was a case of swine flu confirmed after the convention. Better check it out guys, better safe than sorry.
Take a look at the Penny Arcade newspage for possible updates.
EDIT: To remain on-topic; I didn't go to PAX, being on another continent and all. I wish I did though. Deathspank looks awesome, it really does, and I would have loved to harass some Telltalers for autographs/buttons/posters. And the Telltale-panel, of course. You guys really should start videotaping stuff like that.
That sure sounds memorable.
Get well soon, guys.
It was a HOOT.
i feel fine though.
And there I was, all ready to make snappy cutting jokes about Pax and the Pig Flu
Wishing you and everyone else who was unlucky a speedy recovery squire!
And they call this the PAX Pox...
And my symptoms include short-temperedness and coughing...
Our game came true. THE POX OF LECHUCK IS INFECTING US ALL!
I'm never really jealous, but you sir have managed it.
Congratulations.....you filth
Edit: Dang, she does work for Valve! Consarnit, it would have been so awesome to have talked with her!
The show was great fun. I spent most of the time in a hotel room showing off Shank (pinch hitting for Carolyn at Flash Fire who, despite her best efforts, couldn't be in multiple places at the same time). Caught the Telltale panel, which was fun as always, and also enjoyed the demo I saw of DeathSpank. Saturday night I hung out with the whole Telltale crew and it was like old times.
Probably the most poignant moment for me was going to one of the booths near the back of the expo that sells retro video games and consoles thinking "I wonder if they have a Donkey Kong Game & Watch? I'll totally buy it if they do!" (Because I had one of those as a kid, and wish I still did.) Against all odds, they DID have one... but it cost $99, and I'm not that rich. So I passed. Oh well.
Also - Mr. Potato Head had his beady little eyes on me every time I walked into and out of the convention center, which was kind of unnerving.
Ah, that was you?! Your LeChuck was great! You even beat out Ron Gilbert for the part!
I absolutely LOVE the make a scene panel we do! I have so much fun working with the fans, getting down in the crowd and listening to people do impressions of their favorite characters! It's blast! For everyone who made it out, thanks for making it the best year ever!
Though booth setup was far from the best part of the show, it did have a cool moment, when Tycho (Jerry) from Penny Arcade came by and told us that he and his son had put in another three playthroughs-worth of time into Launch of the Screaming Narwhal just because his son cracked up forever whenever Guybrush tried all the different ways to seize the ship from Winslow. Someone's super young son is clearly not our target audience but it made my day to hear that we'd put together a moment that a kid found funny enough to make his dad replay for hours straight. I remember things like that from my childhood and I hope now some kid remembers Tales in the same way when he's older... and then is totally surprised that the game that cracked him up when he was playing it with his dad contains a reference to "the secret of Donkey Island," and wonders what his dad was teaching him.
Edit: I mistook "quality" for size. Here are decent-sized pics.
Edit 2: Now with descriptions
Me with Jake at the lobby of the Crown Plaza Seattle, where the Telltale crew and I both stayed.
Dominic Armato, me, and Dave Grossman.
Ron Gilbert delivering a fantastic keynote.
Mark Darin and me.
Ron Gilbert and me.
The guy with the plush Max doll...and me.
Me with Emily Morganti, formerly of Telltale.
Why should being from another continent stop you? I've seen a few Australians, New Zealanders and even a German at PAX!
Anyway, Here are some conversation snippets I had, strictly from memory (I repeat, strictly from memory):
Ron Gilbert made it to the Make-a-scene-with-Telltale event, so I think he was sincere, besides, I believe Ron Gilbert trusts Dave Grossman, who worked on him in the first game (not to mention that Ron wouldn't want to jeopardize his relationship with telltale).
Anyway, here's some more Ron Gilbert:
I have some pics of Metroid Metal. Want me to upload?
Awesome stuff, good to see that the industry's full of nice people who respect their fans
Of course! Why else would they sign up for a show like PAX?
umm...
...
*gulp*...
...
...
...Uh...
...Er, Look behind you! A three-headed monkey!
Also, monkey and turtle pics are teh funneh.