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Disappointed in PAX-East

BerserkerBarageBerserkerBarage Registered User regular
edited February 2010 in PAX Archive
I'm planning on going to PAX East. However, I've been holding off on purchasing a 3-day badge because I was waiting for some relevant, or really any, information at all to be posted about the event. I like to be a smart consumer and the idea of buying a 3-day pass to an event that I know NOTHING about is pretty much against everything logical.

We don't know what vendors/speakers are going. We don't know what events are going on. I think selling passes before you even released this information was a mistake. And now the people who didn't immediately buy passes probably because they were waiting for such information are getting the short end of the stick.

I don't know why things for PAX-E are being handled so much differently than PAX-W but it's very disconcerting. Quite a few of my friends who were waiting to buy passes until actual information was released have now sworn off going because it's not worth spending almost 2 times the amount for admission. If this is any indication of how PAX-E is going to be run, I should have just planned on going to PAX-W or not at all.

~B.B.

BerserkerBarage on

Posts

  • LTAcostaLTAcosta Boston, MARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Umm... if you knew anything about PAX, you'd know that PA doesn't usually release information until about a month or so out. They wait until everything is set in stone so that there aren't any disappointments...

    LTAcosta on
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  • BigRedBigRed Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I don't know why things for PAX-E are being handled so much differently than PAX-W but it's very disconcerting.

    How is this different than PAX west? For PAX prime Tickets go on sale around feb/march and info isn't released until about 6 weeks or so before the event. PA doesn't want to release info until its solidified which doesn't happen until closer to the event.

    BigRed on
    <MoeFwacky> besides, BigRed-Worky is right
  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2010
    I don't understand what you're saying. Announcements for PAX typically don't get made until late in the game. PAX East tickets happened to sell faster than PAX Prime tickets, probably because people on the east coast have been waiting for PAX to come to them for years (if memory serves correctly, back in 05, G&T said something about trying to bring PAX to the east coast in 06 or 07, obviously, it took a bit longer than that). Honestly though, I've been going to PAX since 05, and I've never needed more information than "PAX is happening in x place on y dates" to buy my ticket. No amount of announcements of speakers or exhibitors can really prepare you for what PAX is. With PAX, you just need to dive in head first and trust that it will be awesome.

    My apologies that you didn't buy a ticket before 3-day passes sold out, but there have been multiple indications that passes will sell out, if that wasn't enough of an indicator for you stop waiting and buy your tickets... well, here we are.

    Moe Fwacky on
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  • chupamiubrechupamiubre Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I'm planning on going to PAX East. However, I've been holding off on purchasing a 3-day badge because I was waiting for some relevant, or really any, information at all to be posted about the event. I like to be a smart consumer and the idea of buying a 3-day pass to an event that I know NOTHING about is pretty much against everything logical.

    We don't know what vendors/speakers are going. We don't know what events are going on. I think selling passes before you even released this information was a mistake. And now the people who didn't immediately buy passes probably because they were waiting for such information are getting the short end of the stick.

    I don't know why things for PAX-E are being handled so much differently than PAX-W but it's very disconcerting. Quite a few of my friends who were waiting to buy passes until actual information was released have now sworn off going because it's not worth spending almost 2 times the amount for admission. If this is any indication of how PAX-E is going to be run, I should have just planned on going to PAX-W or not at all.

    ~B.B.




    Passes have been on sale for well over 6 months!

    Pax has always opened up ticket sales before any info was released about the show. If you are that worried about what EXACTLY is going to happen then wait and pay the price. What do you mean you have no idea what to expect? You have every other pax ever to go on. They all have been fun and great and well managed from what i have experienced and been told by close friends.

    So you waited too long and now passes are sold out and this is a surprise to you how? The past 2 years of prime have sold out why would east be any different?

    chupamiubre on
    <ZeroHourHero> I have a tiny penis
    <Qs23> I just need to get my dicks in a row
    <prox> i work for dicks
    #paforums_pax, all about the dicks.
  • BerserkerBarageBerserkerBarage Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I've been to PAX-W twice. Probably because I was able to purchase a 3-day pass when more solidified details had been announced. However, with PAX-W, it was far easier to predict which studios/vendors would be coming because of if they had attended in the past. That's a bad assumption in regards to PAX-E. I was waiting to see if a few of the AAA caliber studios (Bungie and Bethesda) would be coming especially in of the reveal of Fallout: New Vegas and details of Halo: Reach.

    I can understand your position Moe, you're a fan of PAX. I'm more a fan of certain developers and whether or not I would plan to go relies more upon whether or not these developers will be in attendance. Many of the people I'm friends with are the same way. We go to PAX because it's an easy way to entice people in our "community" into flying to a certain locale. However, it's because we are all part of an overarching gaming community.

    Maybe "PAX is happening in x place on y dates" is all you need to know to spend $50. Not me. Or a wide variety of people.

    Like I said, I'm just disappointed that at this point I'll have to spend $90 if I want to go even with absolutely no information.

    ~B.B.

    BerserkerBarage on
  • LTAcostaLTAcosta Boston, MARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    See now there's your problem. You're doing PAX wrong...

    LTAcosta on
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  • JLowtherJLowther Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I'm planning on going to PAX East. However, I've been holding off on purchasing a 3-day badge because I was waiting for some relevant, or really any, information at all to be posted about the event. I like to be a smart consumer and the idea of buying a 3-day pass to an event that I know NOTHING about is pretty much against everything logical.

    We don't know what vendors/speakers are going. We don't know what events are going on. I think selling passes before you even released this information was a mistake. And now the people who didn't immediately buy passes probably because they were waiting for such information are getting the short end of the stick.

    I don't know why things for PAX-E are being handled so much differently than PAX-W but it's very disconcerting. Quite a few of my friends who were waiting to buy passes until actual information was released have now sworn off going because it's not worth spending almost 2 times the amount for admission. If this is any indication of how PAX-E is going to be run, I should have just planned on going to PAX-W or not at all.

    ~B.B.

    If you can kick my ass at Gravitronix, you win $1,000.

    What more do you want?!

    JLowther on
  • NickTheNewbieNickTheNewbie Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I don't quite see what your grievance is. Are you saying that pax opened registration too early? Are you blaming all the people who bought their ticket before you?

    NickTheNewbie on
  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2010
    I don't want to sound condescending, but you say it's not enough for a wide variety of people to spend $50 only knowing the dates and place of PAX, but clearly, since 3 day passes sold out, there is a large number of people who are willing to spend that money on minimal information.

    At least the way they handle things now, they're not making any promises that won't come true, unless an exhibitor or performer pulls out last second (like with the ghostbusters game and ecto-1 or MC Chris back in 08).

    You are free to try your luck getting 3-day passes in the Have a ticket/Need a ticket thread, but if you're unwilling to do so until announcements are made, you may find supplies to be limited.

    edit: you may not find too many people sympathetic to your plight here, as you noted, I'm a fan of PAX. The reality of it is that everybody on this board is a fan of PAX and we're likely to defend the way they do things, because we're used to it and we haven't been disappointed yet. Most of us also bought our passes months ago because we have faith in PA and Reed to throw a kickass show.

    Moe Fwacky on
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  • BerserkerBarageBerserkerBarage Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    LTAcosta wrote: »
    See now there's your problem. You're doing PAX wrong...

    Yes. Because illogical fanboism is such a better option...o_O

    Excuse me for being pragmatic.

    ~B.B.

    BerserkerBarage on
  • KTShyGuyKTShyGuy Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Putting your emphasis on the expo hall was your first mistake. It's awesome, don't get me wrong, but you don't do PAX with the focus being sneak peeks or chance meetings with developers. That's the focus of any other gaming expo, and there are many to choose from. PAX's emphasis is on the community itself, which is always awesome.

    The panels and the expo hall have always been great, and will be great again, but the reason people line up to buy their tickets six months out without knowing any of the details is because they look forward to the celebration.

    If you're not going to PAX to party, I'm afraid you're doing it wrong.

    KTShyGuy on
  • RdrRdr Rider Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    BerserkerBarage, your complaint is with the 61,000 people that decided to purchase a 3-day pass before all the details were out and not with PAX directly.

    Passes have been on sale since Oct for those who wanted to pre-register if they wanted to. Its probably easier to do that then release 100% of the show info 4-6 weeks before the show and try to sell tickets too.

    From my understanding, every PAX you were able to walk up and buy a 3-day pass at the door except for last year when they sold out a few days before PAX started.

    PAX is just doing what it always does and they can't anticipate selling out 55 or so days before the show.

    If you've been to two PAX events like you say then you'd know it is going to be awesome and you would've ordered your 3-day pass if you were serious about going. I'm pretty sure people are paying the extra for the single day passes just so they can go because everyone loves PAX.

    Rdr on
  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2010
    This isn't illogical fanboyism, we know PAX is going to be great, either because we have experienced it before, or we know people who have. I said before my first PAX was in 05, it only took one day of PAX for me to decide I wanted to do it every year.

    Moe Fwacky on
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  • chupamiubrechupamiubre Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    You don't have to spend $90 you could read the forums and see the have/need a ticket thread. That does offer no guarantees. Also comments have been made by PA staff that east will be just as big and jam packed as prime. I would hope that you would give PA the benefit of the doubt being that you have been to pax before. Now if you want to go and just see bungie and bethesda and the likes well i guess i could see why you would hold off.

    The problem is most people go for the panels and meeting cool people and getting to play the new raving rabids is just a cherry on top. So lets hope it all works out for you in the end but coming on and just yelling about how pax is sold out is not the best way to meet new friends.


    -peace

    chupamiubre on
    <ZeroHourHero> I have a tiny penis
    <Qs23> I just need to get my dicks in a row
    <prox> i work for dicks
    #paforums_pax, all about the dicks.
  • BerserkerBarageBerserkerBarage Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    KTShyGuy wrote: »
    Putting your emphasis on the expo hall was your first mistake. It's awesome, don't get me wrong, but you don't do PAX with the focus being sneak peeks or chance meetings with developers. That's the focus of any other gaming expo, and there are many to choose from. PAX's emphasis is on the community itself, which is always awesome.

    The panels and the expo hall have always been great, and will be great again, but the reason people line up to buy their tickets six months out without knowing any of the details is because they look forward to the celebration.

    If you're not going to PAX to party, I'm afraid you're doing it wrong.

    Actually, that's exactly what I was planning on doing. However, myself and several people that I'm friends with would rather not plan on going to PAX-E if the rest of our "community" isn't going to be there.

    Again, the difference is distinction between Moe and myself. He's a PAX fan. I'm not. He's willing to buy onto PAX-E before anything relevant is known. I'm not. His "community" will be there regardless. Mine won't or will be far less likely if certain Devs don't come. And the reason why we put so much importance on certain Devs are because we are friends with them and this is one of the few opportunities we get to hang out with them in person.

    ~B.B.

    BerserkerBarage on
  • RdrRdr Rider Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Its obvious BerserkerBarage isn't listening and is just butthurt.

    I say we stop feeding the troll.

    Rdr on
  • LTAcostaLTAcosta Boston, MARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    LTAcosta wrote: »
    See now there's your problem. You're doing PAX wrong...

    Yes. Because illogical fanboism is such a better option...o_O

    Excuse me for being pragmatic.

    ~B.B.

    I am truly surprised at how blind you are. PAX is more than just the expo hall, and if you've spent your last two PAXs doing that, then you really are doing it wrong. You're basically wasting money by not taking full advantage of what PAX has to offer. After two PAXs you should know that PAX is no place to be a hermit...

    LTAcosta on
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  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    IF worse came to worse, and nothing youd like wouldve been there you could have always just sold your pass.

    You say you dont want to pay double or triple? You couldve been the guy selling their pass for double or triple if worse came to worse.

    Theres a difference between fanboism and being prepared, especially when announcements (About the number of remaining passes) were made.

    Theres a matter here of not knowing whats going to be at PAX.While I myself have never been to a PAX before, I know its track record for win and happiness.A General fellowship with like minded folk, a good time, and a few drinks.

    If I see some developers I like, awesome. However, Im a PAX nub and even I can see youre completely missing the point of PAX.

    If you want to be mad at someone be mad at me, Im one of those people who's been waiting for PAXEAST for a looong time.

    ZeroHourHero on
  • WormdundeeWormdundee Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    If that's true, I'm not sure what you want. Obviously there are tens of thousands of people who are willing to buy tickets without knowing anything. If the tickets sell out because you wanted to know more, well, that's on you, not PAX. Ticket sales are opened early because there are thousands and thousands of people anxious to get theirs as soon as possible.

    Maybe PAX just isn't the right convention for you since guests aren't locked down 6 months beforehand, I don't know what else to say. But they aren't going to change the way they sell tickets.

    Wormdundee on
  • dardordardor Redmond, WARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    What ZeroHourHero said. I'm quite sure every single PAX so far has had a Have a Ticket/Need a Ticket thread...

    dardor on
    I'll take a potato chip and eat it!
  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2010
    The best advice I can give to somebody who's community consists of game developers is to contact them and ask them if they're going to PAX.

    Moe Fwacky on
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  • EruditeAphroditeEruditeAphrodite Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Okay, I feel the need to put in my two cents in on this. I do understand part of BerserkerBarage's complaint. Though I have bought my ticket knowing very little it's because I'm a member of the community. If I was new, or not involved in IRC I would be less likely to go in blindly on a major purchase like this (hotel, plane ticket, pass, etc).

    I know PAX has always done things this way, and it has been fine since tickets sell out. However, if they are interested in bringing in new participants more and better organized information on the website would NOT be a bad idea. If I didn't know anything about PAX I would want to know that I would have fun there, and a bunch of strangers telling me that I would isn't enough, before I bought my ticket. Examples of panels and events can be found in the forums, but aren't available on the website which is where a new person would look.

    Obviously there are plenty of people who are willing to buy tickets without this knowledge, but even converted fans like myself would benefit from more information being available in a more organized, easily accessible manner. So before you rip this guys head off, just because this is how things have always been done doesn't mean that there is no room for improvement. I hope people at PA consider maybe providing more information on the site, even if it isn't specific events/speakers.

    EruditeAphrodite on
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  • LTAcostaLTAcosta Boston, MARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    I feel like you dont understand what community means. It doesn't mean your small group of friends... It means the thousands and thousands of people who go to PAX... it is all the people who go to pax, and all the community events and meet ups that make it so fun... Just knowing you can walk up to a group of strangers and have so much in common with them makes it great. Maybe you should ditch your friends for a year so that you will be forced to experience PAX for what it really is. That way you wouldn't feel like you have to fall back on your small group of friends...

    LTAcosta on
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  • kazuokazuo Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    And the reason why we put so much importance on certain Devs are because we are friends with them and this is one of the few opportunities we get to hang out with them in person.

    ~B.B.

    So why don't you pick up your phone, call your homies and be like AY YOU COMIN TO PAX EAST OR WHAT?

    kazuo on
  • BerserkerBarageBerserkerBarage Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Rdr wrote: »
    Its obvious BerserkerBarage isn't listening and is just butthurt.

    I say we stop feeding the troll.

    Accusing someone of "trolling" is such a pathetic thing to do. It's sad to see this type of mentality is common no matter what forum you're on.

    If I was trolling, I don't think I would have been as civil as I have been in the face of such resistance. Trolling by definition is posting to get a negative response. I, honestly, do not want any of the sort.

    I was expressing my discontent that if we wanted to get a 3-day pass to PAX-E than we'd be required to purchase one based upon little information other than assumptions. I've been to PAX-W and I understand what happens there. To think that everything at PAX-E will operate in the exact same fashion as PAX-W is probably a faulty assumption. I'm not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, but it very well could be.

    Maybe I should have just bought a 3-day pass before I even planned on going. However, this seems like just an asinine approach to this. Should I really be forced to buy a pass I might not even need without even knowing what is going to be at PAX? The only way I can afford to go to PAX-E is if some of my friends are attending so we can share costs. Most of my friends won't be attending PAX-E if certain developers aren't going to be in attendance.

    I don't see exactly how this is unreasonable.

    ~B.B.

    BerserkerBarage on
  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2010
    If you have to know if a developer is at PAX, why not shoot them an e-mail and ask?

    Moe Fwacky on
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  • NickTheNewbieNickTheNewbie Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    kazuo wrote: »
    And the reason why we put so much importance on certain Devs are because we are friends with them and this is one of the few opportunities we get to hang out with them in person.

    ~B.B.

    So why don't you pick up your phone, call your homies and be like AY YOU COMIN TO PAX EAST OR WHAT?

    NickTheNewbie on
  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Moe Fwacky wrote: »
    If you have to know if a developer is at PAX, why not shoot them an e-mail and ask?

    Thats what I did for Riot Games, since Im all about some sweet sweet League of Legends action, and am an Adjudicator for their forums.

    ZeroHourHero on
  • MagnifiedXMagnifiedX [E] PC Security Boston, MARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Moe Fwacky wrote: »
    If you have to know if a developer is at PAX, why not shoot them an e-mail and ask?

    MagnifiedX on
  • DeefuzzDeefuzz Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Sorry you are disappointed. I am going in completely blind, it is my first PAX but I hear nothing but good things about PAX. I love conventions and love being amongst like-minded people, but I did have some potential issues with funds (it's a bit expensive to fly out to Boston and then pay for a room by myself) so I waited a bit.

    When there was an update that tickets were selling fast and likely to sell out I reached out to a buddy about going with so it could cut down the hotel cost. I bought my tickets as soon as he said he was down to go. I kept checking the forums and site, and there were several updates on the progress of ticket sales, so it was definitely something that was communicated to the public that "if you want to go, don't wait to buy your tickets".

    Sorry you feel you missed out.

    Deefuzz on
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  • EruditeAphroditeEruditeAphrodite Registered User regular
    edited February 2010

    I don't see exactly how this is unreasonable.

    It's not, but you are pointing out a flaw in something that many people consider sacred. Do you have every right to want more information before making your decisions? Yes. Are you out of luck because other people are willing to make that decision without that information? Yes. Sorry.

    EruditeAphrodite on
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  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Oh and to clarify, this isnt just my first pax, its my first con in general, Im more of a music person so I've spent my yearly trip money on things like the Warped Tour, and the triple crown series.

    So Im going into this completely and absolutely blind.

    ZeroHourHero on
  • BerserkerBarageBerserkerBarage Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Moe Fwacky wrote: »
    If you have to know if a developer is at PAX, why not shoot them an e-mail and ask?

    Probably because they haven't said yes or no either way. Hence my hesitation on buying a 3-day pass. And quite honestly it's not such an unreasonable reason to be hesitant. I know quite a few hundred people who will or won't attend PAX-E depending on whether a specific dev is going to be there.

    Regardless. Moe, feel free to lock this thread since the issue has been resolved by a PA employee via PM, which I'm very grateful for.

    ~B.B.

    BerserkerBarage on
  • RdrRdr Rider Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Rdr wrote: »
    Its obvious BerserkerBarage isn't listening and is just butthurt.

    I say we stop feeding the troll.

    Accusing someone of "trolling" is such a pathetic thing to do. It's sad to see this type of mentality is common no matter what forum you're on.

    If I was trolling, I don't think I would have been as civil as I have been in the face of such resistance. Trolling by definition is posting to get a negative response. I, honestly, do not want any of the sort.

    I was expressing my discontent that if we wanted to get a 3-day pass to PAX-E than we'd be required to purchase one based upon little information other than assumptions. I've been to PAX-W and I understand what happens there. To think that everything at PAX-E will operate in the exact same fashion as PAX-W is probably a faulty assumption. I'm not saying that is necessarily a bad thing, but it very well could be.

    Maybe I should have just bought a 3-day pass before I even planned on going. However, this seems like just an asinine approach to this. Should I really be forced to buy a pass I might not even need without even knowing what is going to be at PAX? The only way I can afford to go to PAX-E is if some of my friends are attending so we can share costs. Most of my friends won't be attending PAX-E if certain developers aren't going to be in attendance.

    I don't see exactly how this is unreasonable.

    ~B.B.

    You're trolling. You're just saying the same thing over and over regardless of what people say.

    You know how PAX works, right? You've been to two, right? Shouldn't be a myster...right? There have been updates since early January saying that tickets are being snapped up. If you were paying attention then you would've known for the past week it was getting low and such.

    If you're going there just for the devs then do what everyone has told you and that is common sense. Email/call them and see if they're going.

    Rdr on
  • Moe FwackyMoe Fwacky Right Here, Right Now Drives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
    edited February 2010
    Moe Fwacky wrote: »
    If you have to know if a developer is at PAX, why not shoot them an e-mail and ask?

    Probably because they haven't said yes or no either way. Hence my hesitation on buying a 3-day pass. And quite honestly it's not such an unreasonable reason to be hesitant. I know quite a few hundred people who will or won't attend PAX-E depending on whether a specific dev is going to be there.

    Regardless. Moe, feel free to lock this thread since the issue has been resolved by a PA employee via PM, which I'm very grateful for.

    ~B.B.

    I'm glad you were able to get help.

    Moe Fwacky on
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This discussion has been closed.