When will x be announced?
Soon. Don't expect any definite announcements any sooner than 4 weeks before PAX. Don't expect a final schedule and show map until about two weeks before PAX. If you're curious if your favorite game developer, journalist, internet personality is going to be there, shoot them an e-mail and ask, because if it hasn't been announced, we don't know either.
How do I register for PAX?
You can register online at
http://www.paxsite.com/paxeast/registration.phpDo the PAX passes have my name on them?
No. PAX passes can be used by anybody who holds one.
It's after February 16, if I order my ticket online, where do I pick it up?
In the Will Call line (location to be disclosed)
Can I volunteer to help out at PAX this year?
If they open up enrollment, an announcement will be made with a link to the application on the main PA site. There will also be a thread here in this forum.
What are the hours of PAX?
EVENT HOURS
Friday, March 11th - 10am to 2am
Saturday, March 12th - 10am to 2am
Sunday, March 13th - 10am to 7pm
EXHIBIT HALL HOURS
Friday, March 11th - 10am to 7pm
Saturday, March 12th - 10am to 6pm
Sunday, March 13th - 10am to 6pm
BYOC Check-in is Friday starting at Noon
What does BYOC stand for?Bring
Your
Own
Computer, more information will be forthcoming soon. Watch for a BYOC Thread here in the forum.
What is the exhibit floor like?
The exhibition hall is full of awesome. There are upcoming games, and hardware showcased as well as things for sale from games, to guides, to t-shirts, to dice. Prices are comparable with standard retail pricing, or a little cheaper, even. Also, there's tons of free shirts and other swag being handed out by various companies.
I live outside the United States. How do I fill in my phone number on the registration form? It doesn't fit.
You just have to split it up the way US numbers are split (###-###-####). It's a 10 digit number if I'm not mistaken. If you've got more than 10 digits, I don't know.
The ticket says the Exhibit Hall closes at 6pm/7pm but the Event stays open until 2AM. Does this mean there will be actual things happening and things to look at until 2AM or does it just mean people are allowed to co-mingle in the building until they close the doors at 2AM?
Once you hit the later hours, the Expo Hall and most of the panels will be shut down. However, you'll still have the Concerts, Console/PC Freeplay, Handheld Lounge, Tabletop Lounge, etc. In previous years, there have also been movie/webisode screenings fairly late as well. Basically, it's "Make your own fun with people time!"
How do we transfer tickets? I bought a registration and BYOC pass, but recently found out I won't be going, and have a friend who wants to buy my tickets from me, but neither of us have any idea how to get the ticket to be transferred.
BYOC ticket registration is done differently than the 3-day pass. For the 3-day pass you just have to mail it to the guy when they are shipped out. If you would like to transfer the ticket it's a little more involved. If you have or are buying tickets that must be picked up at will call, e-mail
Cathy Glickstein, she is the senior registrations manager over at Reed. She can also handle address changes and the like, so if you sell your tickets before packets go out, you should be able to have mailed tickets transferred as well.
I have moved since buying my PAX passes. How do I change my address information to ensure that my passes get mailed to my current address and not my previous address?
First, you should submit a change of address through the USPS. This will ensure all mail sent to your previous address is sent to your current address. As far as changing your registration, e-mail the updated information to:Cathy Glickstein, Senior Registration Manager, Reed Exhibitions,
cglickstein@reedexpo.comWill there be WiFi accessable at PAX?
Yes, but with the number of people using it, it will be slow and difficult to connect.
Are there going to be a ton of people this year?
There's going to be a ton of people.
Will just one day will be enough PAX?
No matter who you ask on this forum, we're all going to say no. If you don't want to believe us, that's fine, but when you get to PAX for that one day and realize you could have had three days of that, you're going to regret not buying a three day pass.
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.
How early should I get in line each day?
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.
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.
My God! 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 - Don't impede walkways. If an enforcer asks you to move, he's not taking away your place in line, just trying to consolidate it into something more manageable and less in the way.
- 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.
- 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, take yourself over to the Will Call area and get yourself a medical badge. 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.
What is the music in the PAX commercial on PATV?
Anamanaguchi - Helix Nebula
Posts
http://twitter.com/h_e_e_l_s
www.reedpop.com
If you want to go to PAX, don't wait for Enforcer applications to open! Secure your tix, hotel and travel NOW. If you later become an Enforcer, you can get your 3-day pass refunded or sell it to someone in need.
No.
So, Pax East 2011 will be my first PAX. I have already pre-registered and I am totally stoked. As it stands right now I am going to be traveling alone (my friend decided he doesn't want to go anymore - lame) so I came to the forums to see if any meetups were being planned.
So far I've read tidbit about a Pre-Pax dinner and the PAX train. These sound totally awesome and I have been trying to get some details but I haven't been able to find a specific thread or post for either. Maybe I just need to lurk more, but at any rate, everyone here seems super helpful and awesome and I was just wondering if someone would be so kind and explain to a total PAX noob what is being planned/where I can take part in the discussion.
Thanks!
Train: Will go up when Moe is ready.
Posted in the Dinner thread mentioned above:http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showpost.php?p=16762475&postcount=47
Dear Train travelers:
If you're on the Northeast Regional line (which goes down to Washington D.C. and as far west as Philly) Amtrak is offering 25% off. I can get round trip to Boston for $98.
How about in BYOC? If its built into my computer?
Moe was in charge of the train coordination last year, and I'm sure he'll toss up a thread sometime in the future if he's doing it again. It's still quite a bit early for stuff like that go to up. Expect it in a few months, prolly.
Welcome aboard!
EDIT: Rdr and Moe cleared that up quite nicely, and now my post is superfluous and lame.
Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
Satellite Theater for life!
Actually, that's a pretty good question.
Does Aramark have a contract with the new convention center?
There are food contracts in every convention center.
Dear random person I have never met before and certainly never lived in the same dorm as. We should go together.
Absolutely. Let's move this over to some PMs so we don't muck up this thread.
Aren't wristbands a thing of the past?
Also, it says it doesn't open till 2pm on Friday. Is that right??
Also, why the 2:00 Friday start again? Awful lot of thumb-twiddling going on for several hours Friday morning on the attendee side. I haven't been to Prime but I thought I heard it started at 10 all 3 days. I get that it's a ton of work but I dunno, can you open some of the open gaming rooms early or something?
Nope!
Starting at 2:00pm gives us more time to get PAX setup, there are a lot of moving parts at the show, and it takes some time to get them all together. Prime does indeed start at 10:00am all three days, but we have been in the WSCC for the past several years and know that building *really* well.
http://twitter.com/h_e_e_l_s
www.reedpop.com
Yeah... "Technically" PAX closes at 3am on Sunday morning :P Since daylight savings hits at 2am.
Yeah, last I heard it's 2pm friday. The wristbands thing was left over from the old FAQ, I must have missed it when editing.
More worried about flying for the first time ever (though, the flight doesn't scare me. remembering all i need to remember and where i need to be when, etc is scary!)
dcoffman@penny-arcade.com
Later. The travel desk hasn't opened yet so VERY few people have the rooms yet.
Short story short: I bought my tickets, then 24 hours later I had my phone stolen which held the ticket info and PDF file for the print outs. The phone was not locked, so the thief has access to that, including a few other things.
I sent an e-mail to the company that sells the tickets about this. Though there's a low chance that my PAX tickets get used or re-sold, I still want to make sure that I don't book hotels for a few days and drive 6 hours to Boston only to find out I can't get in.
While I'm waiting for a response on their part, does anyone know if they can void my tickets and issue new ones? Sounds like it would be the easiest thing to do... I remember there was a clear "NO REFUND" policy, which is too bad, it would have solved my problem quickly.
This is where I failed to say that I'm from outside the US and the tickets where bought in Online Fashion. I got a PDF file where I have to print the tickets, and that PDF file is readily accessible on the phone wich was not locked.
Will the actual thief have an interest in PAX too and drive down to Boston? Chances are slim! But thieves being what they are, it would probably be easy for him to re-sell them on Craigs or something. I need to have them cancelled and get fresh ones.
I'm still waiting from the organizers the point me in the right direction. I'm sure something like this happened before and there must be some kind of solution available.
EDIT:
In developing news, I fiddled around the ticketing web site and managed to get hold of a customer rep who said something can be done, however I will be called back. I presume there are issues regarding this location which seems to have a no refund policy.
EDIT 2:
It was indeed an issue to have my tickets refunded, but they understood my predicament and managed to cancel the old tickets. I'm now setup with a fresh pair and I'll have them delivered this time around. Thank you people of Pax and Ticketing system!