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[EAST] First Time to PAX East? Stuff you may want to know lies within
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As a significant other of a hardcore gamer I can give you closer to her perspective. My fiance is hardcore gamer, PAX is his mecca and he would not miss it for the world. On the other hand, I play some games but most of it just goes over my head (my definition of console gaming is playing Mario on the Wii).
My first PAX was terrible for me (I will say my subsequent experiences were far better and I am totally excited looking forward to PAX East this year). Why it was terrible was in part the sheer exhaustion of going to such an event and not properly taking care of myself. He was all over the place excited about everything and forgot to take care of essentials (adrenaline carrying him through) and I was too exhausted/stupid/afraid of ruining his time to speak up for myself. Additionally, because I had no idea what was going on I just followed him around to advanced panels, watched him play tournament play games and sat there lost and bored most of the time. As a person too shy to talk to new people and feeling I had nothing in common with anyone around me meant when I opted to rest and encouraged him to do his own thing I found myself bored, lonely, and miserable in a corner.
If you want her to have a good time and come back with you some things I would recommend:
- Go through the schedule together ahead of time and try to go to things she shows interest in.
- If she shows any interest teach her the basics of some games like Magic or DnD which have play for beginners going around the clock. This way if you want to do something more advanced or see something she isn't interested in she has something familiar to go to and a way to socialize/have fun while you're not around.
- Be honest about what you want to do but also encourage her to speak up if she's not having fun and be willing to alter your course to something you can both enjoy.
PAX is the best con in my opinion because the people are so friendly and welcoming, and there are so many different aspects of gaming represented there it is easy to find something for everyone. To find the best experience, you do have to look for it and your responsibility if you want her to come with you is for you to help her find it.
PhoenixP3K
LoonyEclipse (I'm sorry if I have the wrong guy, I keep mixing up the names!): For those who did not have their badges delivered prior to the event, you don't have to wait until Friday morning to pick them up. You can show up on Thursday instead!Djem: Non-US residents often get the Smart phone / data plan / Twitter blues due to outlandish rates. This kind sir suggests that you just buy yourself a one-off cheap phone from Radio-Shack. I don't remember all the details, but various plans exists that should suffice for your weekend. Price is usually 20$, keep it handy for the next time you go to the States! I'm going to start looking into this right now, and I hate myself for not remembering about it because I just came back from Plattsburgh!!!
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most hotels will hold your bags for a while before check in or after check out, but it's probably best to call the hotel directly and ask their policy.
For the most part, you can do what you want. Some panels will have their own rules about photography though.
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PAX itself is pretty free reign with camera rules. Individual exhibitors will vary, though, and will explicitly warn you beforehand. [I.E. the Portal 2 and BF3 videos last year]
Yeah, it should be available upon entry to a particular area. If something is sensitive, they'll usually say "no photography" when you enter a room, or have a sign posted.
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There's some info here: http://wiki.paxcommunity.net/paxwiki/MBTA
That page should also have links to the overall map.
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I agree that all the info you want on it is in that thread, however if you want a personal opinion, we used it a couple of time during the last PAX and did not find much issues about it. I plan on using it again and I don't have any worries about it.
[RSS Feed] Episode # 10 is up ~ Eastward Bound to Boston ~ Community Podcast on PAX East
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Plane [X]
Hotel [X]
My blog:
http://mixedmediaadventure.blogspot.co.uk/
1-2 weeks prior to pax.
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Plane [X]
Hotel [X]
My blog:
http://mixedmediaadventure.blogspot.co.uk/
If she is the altruistic sort there is also the Cookie Brigade. Basically giving out tasty stuff to other con-goers while collecting donations for Child's Play.
But, nonetheless, I think I will have a good time. For the first time ever, I'm going with an acquaintance from the university. In previous years, I mostly lone-wolfed my way through, but I'm glad to have a partner for the ride this year! And I'll be meeting some fellow My Little Pony fans at the event (don't know for how long, though).
You guys?
This is my first time at Pax, but I was planning to take one of those light backpacks that are just string and nylon. They probably have a name, but I do not know it. I recently returned from a vacation, and used one of these for a water bottle, notebook, sunglasses, sweater, extra socks. I will do that same at PAX, and still have room for swag. I like these because they are light and easy to carry in luggage. My DS and my iphone will go in my pockets though, as I am not comfortable carrying those on my back.
This worked great for a recent trip to Spain.
http://www.backcountry.com/mountain-hardwear-fluid-18-backpack-1100cu-in-mhw1478?CMP_SKU=MHW1478&MER=0406&CMP_ID=SH_FRO001&mv_pc=r126&003=7162907&010=MHW1478-FLA-REG&mr:trackingCode=784316DC-F061-DF11-9DA0-002219319097&mr:referralID=NA
It's light, but also has a lot of support and cushioning. I got last year's model on sale--couldn't find it anyone, but might be available somewhere if you look.
Five hours over all three days of the con? Good lord man, you have a lot planned!
The Expo hall is huge, and packed with people and STUFF so just going an hour at a time is going to be a bit rough. Plus, if you want to play anything, you can kiss that hour away, some lines can take just an hour to get to see/play something!
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remember that pax is huge and you CAN'T do it all, even in three days, so don't knock yourself out trying to do everything. planning every minute isn't a bad idea, so if you feel like you've hit a lull you can just check your schedule to see what's going on, but i would suggest relaxing a bit and just doing what you feel like doing in the moment. you may find you don't feel like sitting through another panel even though you had one planned, or maybe you just need some freeplay downtime. pax will still be here next year, and the year after that, and the year after that. try to pace yourself.
Thanks. There are so many awesome things to do on the schedule, I guess I got carried away. Anyway, this is what I feared. Now to make the tough decisions and take a hard look at those activities that break up a block I could have for checking out the expo hall--I'm looking at you, Steampunk Worldbuilding...
What I'm doing this year is trying to limit myself to 1-2 panels/tournaments per day, exception being those outside of Expo Hall hours. i.e:
Friday, I'll be lining up for the Expo hall right away. I'll browse it for 2-3 hours, until the Kotaku panel at 2:30pm. When that concludes, i'll return to Expo for the remaining couple of hours. I plan on attending PAX Game 2012 and the Khoo Q&A as well, but those are both outside of expo hall hours. Saturday, I have the Irrational Panel, then 1-2 more after Expo hall hours... you just have to make cuts wherever you can.
like can i bring in my own bottled water? can i bring in my own backpack or other bag? how should i dress? im thinking a light jacket and windpants that i can switch into shorts?
Also, be ready to stand in a lot of lines.
As far as the bags that the vendors give out, one of the giant ones I got fell apart almost immediately. They might be okay for short term swag transport to the bag check or your hotel room but you'll have to consider how much walking you'll be doing at the event, and how much stuff you really want to lug around with you.
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Also, which is better for someone juggling baggage - bus or train? The MBTA website's trip planner isn't giving me a rail option, but looking at the schedules, it exists. Any and all advice is welcomed, and many thanks and internet cookies in advance.
The silver line is actually a bus route, but on specialized bus lanes (some above some below ground). There should be signs in the airport pointing you to the silver line and airport staff should be able to direct you to the right place. You should be able to use the trip planner, including the silver line, to get where you need to go. You can totally see the hotel from the WTC station, and if not the hotel, you will see the BCEC (it's impossible to miss from there) and the hotel is connected
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Underground bus lanes, you say? Fancy.
Thanks!
If your only planned trip is from the airport to the Westin, it's very easy - you take any of the Silver Line buses running around the airport (it's laid out like a circle so they do a loop) and get off at World Trade Center. Various parts of the MBTA website will refer to the Silver Line as a bus or a subway. It's a bus with a dedicated lane, basically. If you're going back TO the airport, the only thing to remember is to take the SL1 bus (there's signs, don't be too worried about this.) The system was set up for business professionals trying to get to and from the airport to the BCEC (with luggage!), so it's as painless as possible.
If you REALLY want to take some trains, there's the Blue Line, but it takes a lot longer, you have to transfer twice, and you end up having to either walk from South Station or take the Silver Line anyway. Don't do this.
I imagine I'll end up on an actual train at some point during the weekend as there will be such things as bars and more bars and I think a brewery tour happening, but I'll be with two Boston natives at that time so I will be able to merely docilely follow along in their wake.
Thanks for the info!
Public transportation here is really easy, but it can be confusing/intimidating to first timers. I regularly commute through the South Station subway stop and I'd say 3 out of 5 days out of the week I can find a lost tourist to give advice to.
Here's some detailed instructions to give you confidence.
If you happen to be flying via United or JetBlue, you'll be coming into Terminal C. Step outside from baggage claim, turn right, and walk way way down until you find the Silver Line bus stop. For other terminals, just follow the signs to the Silver Line, and don't be afraid to ask people for help.
If there is a ticket machine there, you want to navigate to Subway/Bus pass, "other amount", then type in $2.00 for a one-way fare (or $4 if you want to get your return fare purchase out of the way). If there is no ticket machine, I'm almost certain you can pay with cash as you step onto the Silver Line bus. Bring exact fare, because the driver can't make change. For the return trip I think you have to get a ticket from a machine, because if I remember right you'll be going through a turnstile. Insert the ticket with the orange arrow on the top, turnstile won't open until you pull the ticket back out.
The driver will want you to put your luggage on the rack that's midway down the bus. The robot announcer should tell you when World Trade Center is coming up. Don't forget to ooh and ahh when the bus takes a pit stop to convert from gas-powered to overhead electric cable powered.
Alternate to all the above: Yell something video game related when you're at baggage claim and then follow whatever stranger seemed to understand what you were referencing.
Oh my, thank you!. My inner obsessive-compulsive also thanks you for such detailed info (as it happens, I'm flying in on JetBlue.
It is entirely possible that I will be so jazzed upon landing at Logan that I will hold my DSLite triumphantly aloft and proclaim, "PAX EAST-ians, UNITE!" just to see what happens.