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Help me build the PAX Prime FAQ and Questions thread!
Moe Fwacky
Right Here, Right NowDrives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
Right Here, Right NowDrives a BuickModerator Mod Emeritus
Okay, so with PAX East behind us and PAX Prime coming, it's time to change the FAQ thread over. There's a lot of info that is typically in there, but people always have questions. So what I'm asking of you is some help. Here are links to last year's PAX Prime FAQ Thread and this year's PAX East FAQ Thread for reference. I need your help in getting things into this upcoming thread that weren't in these previous threads that you feel should be addressed. See any consistent questions being asked, or maybe something you've thought of asking that isn't in here? Post it and I'll get it in there.
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Edit: Should I buy a Nintendo DS/bring my DS to PAX?
YES
When will x be announced?
Soon.
I'm wearing a costume that has plastic weapons that look like real weapons? Will I have any problems with security/police?
Yes. Do yourself a favor and leave anything that resembles a weapon at home.
These... ^very frequently asked in the cosplay post(s).
First the serious one
Q: When/where should I book my hotel
A: Wait until the hotels are posted on the PAX site. PAX is able to negotiate better deals every year with more hotels because they have the data mined from this option to be able to book large amounts of rooms for all of us. There are always other options to take should the deals still be too pricy, but wait until the hotels are posted before making any "housing" arrangements.
And the silly/annoying one:
Q: Is PAX a dating service?
A: Although many great relationships have spurned from PAX, even some marriages...going to PAX with the sole intention of "hooking up" with someone will undoubtedly be met with hoards of people with pitchforks and other Yankee Engineered weapons
NEW ALBUM OUT, NOW WITH 100% MORE SHEEP!, have a listen will ya
=== Note also that I know little about the BYOC, Console freeplays, etc, so any advice on those would be welcome ==
My Gods! The Lines! The Crowded Crowded Lines! What do I do about the Lines?
Whichever venue PAX is in, on Whatever coast in Whosoever dimension, Crowding is almost omnipresent. Recent PAXes have sold out weeks in advance, and The various convention centers have been unable to contain their awesomeness in a roomy manner. There are lines for almost everything, including lines in order to get into lines (I'm talking to you, Merch line PAX East). Short of becoming an Omeganaut, there is little you can do to avoid them.
Neither is there a hard and fast rule for when you need to get in line for a panel or event, as it depends on demand for the individual panel, as well as what day of the Con it's on, what's going on at the same time, and whether Wil Wheaton is involved in any way. For most Panels an hour beforehand is quite sufficient, and you might be able to get away with 30 minutes, if you're lucky. The Make A Strip Panel, any Wil Wheaton Panel, and Scott Kurtz are likely to require a little more time. If you want to get into the keynote on Friday, you'll need to arrive at the convention center when it opens at 8:00am, and go straight to the queue room.
Advice for surviving the lines
- Relax - Lines happen. Getting angry, impatient or upset will not make them go away. Before you line up, decide whether spending this time is worth it, and then simply go with it. Take the time to plan the rest of your day, read the forums or, better yet, refer to the bottom entry in this list.
- Plan Ahead and Prioritise - Unfortunately there is no chance that any one person can experience everything PAX has to offer, and any five people would have their work cut out for them. When you're looking at which panels or events to go to, choose a few select things you absolutely can't miss and spend the time in line to make sure you get in. When looking at the timetable try to mentally add queue times to the beginning of each session, to get a more realistic idea of what you can and can't see.
- Queue Responsibly -
- Get comfortable - If sitting on a hard surface or standing for extended periods of time causes you discomfort, you might want to consider bringing a cushion or a collapsible chair to sit on == is this actually allowed? ==. Unfortunately, chairs or beanbags can't be provided because they would hamper evacuation in the event of fire.
- Personal Hygiene - This has been mentioned elsewhere in this FAQ, but it bears repeating in this context: Smell nice, or not at all. Smell unto others as you would have them smell unto you.
- I need to pee - That's not a problem. Just ask your friendly line neighbor to hold your place, and go. Try not to leave it until the doors open, and DO NOT open your DS or check your Facebook whilst enthroned. If you want to be super prepared, check to see where the nearest restroom is before you get in line, and visit it before you settle down to wait. Also, don't dehydrate yourself just in order to hold your place in line.
- Enjoy the lines - Seriously. There are few places in the world where the next random person standing next to you is likely to be friendly, and instantly grok your rim-shot Monty Python reference, Trade you that last Pokemon, or finally explain THAC0 to your satisfaction. Take your Magic deck, DS, Zombie Dice, Travel Catan and a bottle of water, and hang out with some interesting people for a while.
There are of course some people who find it impossible to wait in line for any reason. If you have a medical condition which precludes lines, talk to the enforcers, who may well be able to accommodate you. If you are simply temperamentally unsuited to waiting, or don't want to take the time to do so, there are ways to enjoy yourself at PAX without waiting around. Many freeplay areas, especially Tabletop, can easily be navigated without having to wait at all, or with a simple sign-up sheet. Large portions of the expo halls also, and the Concerts have generally been accessible 20 minutes or so after the line has gone in. Playtests for the major developers are essentially impossible to get intoYou may need to sit or stand nearer to the back of the hall, but if you hate lines you probably aren't all that fond of mosh pits either. Not all the sessions fill up to capacity, especially later in the con. As long as you avoid the big ticket sessions, and are prepared for disappointment, you may simply be able to ask the enforcers on the door if there is any space inside.1. Is PAX good for my X year old child?
2. Does the WSTCT allow Strollers in all areas of the convention? Are there restrictions?
Everybody coming to Seattle/Boston may not necessarily be a resident. Don't be afraid to take time away from the convention with your newfound friends, check out a restaurant or two, poke down to whatever sites of local interest there are - look into joining one of the community gatherings, it may take you into the city to find things you wouldn't know about otherwise.
A: Pike Place Brewery (Great beer, lots of space, good snacks), Taphouse Grill (Huge selection, decent space, interesting snacks), Rock Bottom (decent beer, decent space, decent snacks)
Quit Crying and being THAT petulant nerd.
:P
Then just spend the rest of the time gaming/expo'ing/partying
I don't recall ever hearing of any theft at BYOC.
If you look at the 2011 Suggestions thread however, 90% of them boil down to lines and crowding in some way. I think one would have to refer to THOSE petulant nerds :P
People need to manage their expectations, and shift their perspective in a productive lemons to lemonade direction.
I will try to work your suggestion in in a diplomatic manner
Should I Bring my Children to PAX?
PAX is open to all ages, and many parents choose to bring their children and infants, but before you haul little Timmy and Amanda down to the showfloor, a few things to consider:
- PAX is LOUD. Little ears tend to be sensitive, so take this into consideration if your child doesn't like noisy environments.
- PAX is CROWDED. People don't tend to look down; be prepared to keep the little ones from being stepped on if they're on the shorter side. This is true of any crowd situation, not just PAX. You will need to be aware of all people at all times. Also, per the preregistration site (Interactive Ticketing), "Strollers are not permitted on the show floor at any time". Perhaps try a front pack?
- PAX breeds GERMS. Again, true of all crowded/convention situations. PAX Prime '09 saw a fairly large outbreak of H1N1 and other flu strains; keep this in mind before exposing any little ones that might be in concern catagories for illness.
- PAX is full of SWEARING. The typical demographic of PAX, while fairly diverse, does contain a large number of younger people with a tendency swear. Profusely. About everything. If language is a concern for you, be aware that epithets are a time-honored PAX tradition, and will be overheard everywhere.
- PAX is FREE for kids 6 and Under. Conversely, PAX is FULL PRICE for kids 7 and older. So, budget accordingly.
Now, taking everything into consideration, it's up to you! A little planning ahead and your kids can have just as much fun at PAX as everyone else! Just be aware what hurdles there may be, and prepare appropriately!
This goes especially for the concerts... if you claim that the ROCK concert is "way too loud"... Well tough cookies! That's how a rock concert is!
along with
What is the queue room?
I didn't even realize it existed the day before PAX East, and it took some searching to figure out for sure what time it opened each day.
Think you meant spawned, not spurned.
Nothin' ever happens in this life of mine.
I'm haulin' out the data on the Xerox line!
Yes, and maybe. It's all relative, but the concerts can get pretty loud. It's a big space, with a lot of people, and everyone wants to be able to hear, right?
Can you turn the volume down? It's hurting my ears!
No, unfortunately, the volume cannot be turned down; the knobs on all the amps were taken off by sneaky Rock Gremlins. If you think that volume might be an issue, we suggest this time-tested concert junkie trick: bring a set of earplugs to help muffle the sound. Convenient personal sound dampening, available in several fun colors!
There would most likely be a
welter of others, for people new to PA, PAX and cons in general
Light rail has recently been completed. So for those who fly in will find the best way to get to the convention center would be to hop the light rail.
Northbound from SeaTac/Airport to Westlake
train frequency varies on time of day but on average is every 10 min
cost is 2.50
Getting in line is something that should be decided by YOU, so many of us can't tell you exactly when you should show up.
However, I would recommend getting in line fairly shortly after the doors open, if you want a concert wristband. If not, then feel free to show up whenever you wake up.
If you are the more social geek, I would highly recommend getting in line as soon as you can.
The people are what make PAX, and there is no better way to meet/converse/trade pokemans with these people than being in line. Remember, you are all there showing your love for games in some way, shape or form, so feel free to strike up a conversation with the person next to you!
However, if you end up befriending these people, I would highly suggest getting their contact info, as I have lost many potential friends this way, watching the people I just spent 3 hours with in line fade off into the crowd of gamers.
A. No problem, apply for a medical pass, it will give you early access to the venue, you won't have to queue up to get in to panels. You can apply for a pass for yourself and a +1 so you can have someone help you.
Also, the PAX crowd is the most disabled friendly/aware bunch of people I've ever had the pleaseure of haniging around with, you guys rock big time!
For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints
"The power of the weirdness compels me."
Go to registration day of and see if they judge you worthy of one.
The medical pass was an awesome idea, I know lots of people that have injuries or such that took advantage of that at PAX and it helped them greatly.
"Children 6 and under are free with a paid adult. Strollers are not permitted on the show floor at any time."
$2.50 per person.
It should, but when that page was written the airport station wasn't yet completed so it wasn't as handy of an option as it is now.
Yeah it should definitely mention the Link Light then along with the fact that buses in Downtown Seattle are free from 6 AM to 7 PM. Its vastly cheaper then taking a shuttle or a taxi, and I got a huge kick when we were there in the beginning of March out of the train ride views heading to downtown from Seatac.
Good to hear. As someone coming from Washington, DC, I was incredibly impressed by Seattle's transit system. I know I hear a lot of people from there say its not that great, but really compared to the nightmare that is DC for travelers Seattle is set up nicely as far as the airport and downtown are concerned for transit.
I think it really depends on where you want to go and how fast you want to get there. I live up on Capitol Hill and transit is perfect for me. When I lived up by Ravenna there was one bus that ran every half an hour. Not to mention the snow closures.
Thank you - that's been my contribution to PAX, as I emailed Kristen to ask about accessability issues cos I'd had a hard time at PAX 2008, and was worried about this PAX. Medical passes ensued. I asked about what proof I needed to bring in order to obtain one, but was told the stick and crutch would suffice. I stillbrought my Blue Badge just in case, but didn't need to show it. I've also talked to PAX staff about including information on the website, I'd PM'd a couple of people on the forums, but some people didn't know about their availability.
I suppose there's a risk of them being abused by some very silly geese, but the benefits far outweigh that.
For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints
"The power of the weirdness compels me."
That's good to know. Not like I'm planning on bringing one just yet, though; I still haven't finalized my plan regarding coming to PAX Prime this year for my first one ever. I just need to figure out if it's doable in light of some family-related things which come as a bigger priority (like my momma's BMW which already cost about 500 quid's worth of greenbacks to fix a total systematic breakdown and it's gonna eventually cost another 800 bucks for her front passenger lowbeam to be reseated completely due to all the godforsaken potholes we get during the winter months here in Iowa (and something we only had to consistently deal with after we were all moved up this way from Miami, FL). It's a long story as to that came about, but suffice to say the 'rents did it to help me out with getting myself a job, and a few other things -- and considering that we got absolutely nowhere on that in Florida, something had to give (and that was even before the economic crisis hit).
As for the issue of theft, I was actually raising the question out of concern for the exhibitors more than anything else as far as laptop transport at the show is implemented for Prime since I honestly doubt that any of you guys want a repeat of that incident at East in regard to that dumbo who almost made off with several tons of greenback quid's worth of source code or whatever it was. Now obviously I'm not asking you to go full-scale Orwellian on the subject but I think we could all use a little extra vigilance as far as laptops are concerned to limit the risk of similar occurrence in the future.
PAX was awesome! I want to see everything next year! Should I apply to be an Enforcer?
- Even if an open call for Enforcers for Prime '10 does happen, Enforcing means that you are likely to see less, not more, of PAX. When considering becoming an Enforcer it's very important to remember that you go from attending PAX for fun to attending PAX for work, and that has certain implications. Rule #2 of Enforcing is: PAX Is Not For Us - it's for Attendees. (Rule #1, of course, is 'Don't be a Dick'.) If you want to see the maximum number of things at PAX, you should consider returning as an Attendee instead of applying to be an Enforcer.