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PAX PRIME 2013 Information and FAQ (READ THIS FIRST, THEN ASK ALL QUESTIONS HERE)

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Posts

  • wingblaze01wingblaze01 Registered User new member
    Do we know how much the price for the badges will be this year? I'm aware they're adding a fourth day, so I'm wondering how much the four day pass (or three day, if I can't afford all 4 days) will be. I'll have plenty of money come August, but right now I'm a little tight budgeted, so I'd like to know how much I need to set aside over the next two months until badges go on sale. Thanks to anyone who can answer this for me!

  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    Do we know how much the price for the badges will be this year? I'm aware they're adding a fourth day, so I'm wondering how much the four day pass (or three day, if I can't afford all 4 days) will be. I'll have plenty of money come August, but right now I'm a little tight budgeted, so I'd like to know how much I need to set aside over the next two months until badges go on sale. Thanks to anyone who can answer this for me!

    It is likely that we will not know the answer to this until registration goes live. You could email pax_questions@paxsite.com for an official answer, but nobody here will be able to tell you with certainty.

  • Lady AmaltheaLady Amalthea Registered User regular
    I am seriously considering going to PRIME this year. What are the biggest differences between PRIME and EAST?

    Who is going to PAX South?
  • YoungFreyYoungFrey Registered User regular
    edited February 2013
    I am seriously considering going to PRIME this year. What are the biggest differences between PRIME and EAST?
    East 2013 is still only a 3 day con. Prime 2013 will 4. No word on what next year will be. The weather for Prime is generally warmer.
    I believe pin trading is done more at Prime. Admission: I've never been to East, so there are like some more issues I'm unaware of.

    YoungFrey on
  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    YoungFrey wrote: »
    East 2013 is still only a 3 day con. Prime 2013 will 4. No word on what next year will be. The weather for Prime is generally warmer.
    I believe pin trading is done more at Prime. Admission: I've never been to East, so there are like some more issues I'm unaware of.

    Yep you got it. Personally we liked Prime more because the weather was nicer and the food options closer but then again layout/space for East is way better (not so spread out). There are pros and cons to both.

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    There have been whole threads in the past on the differences, you can probably paw through the archive for some of those at some point.

    The way that I end up describing it to people is that PAX East is 100% PAX Centric. The BCEC is on a different planet from the WSCC in convention center quality and size, since absolutely everything fits with tons of room to spare, and without feeling particularly overcrowded. There aren't a ton of nearby things distracting from PAX, so time spent is almost all PAX time. PAX Prime on the other hand, due to its location, tends (for me) to be more of a vacation with some PAX involved. I spend a lot more time roaming around the city and just hanging out with people, and less time actually inside of PAX. Also the fact that the WSCC isn't nearly big enough for PAX anymore (Prime was spread out between the WSCC, the WSCC Annex, and 3 different hotels multiple blocks away in 2012). means that you just tend to see a lot of the city while roaming around between PAX things. Another smaller difference is probably that East has more ability to make tabletop a focus, due to the immense amount of space, whereas while there *is* a ton of tabletop at prime, it is all a mish mosh and spread out between multiple buildings and rooms and such.

    The reality is that they are both PAX. If you love PAX, you'll have a great time at either, but you might just find yourself doing different things.

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    zerzhul wrote: »
    Another smaller difference is probably that East has more ability to make tabletop a focus, due to the immense amount of space, whereas while there *is* a ton of tabletop at prime, it is all a mish mosh and spread out between multiple buildings and rooms and such.

    So I have to ask. Last year at Prime we had an awful time finding tabletop games. We found the two little small rooms on the 3rd(?) floor of the convention center. Where are some of the other locations where it's going on?

    adias.angel on
    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    zerzhul wrote: »
    Another smaller difference is probably that East has more ability to make tabletop a focus, due to the immense amount of space, whereas while there *is* a ton of tabletop at prime, it is all a mish mosh and spread out between multiple buildings and rooms and such.

    So I have to ask. Last year at Prime we had an awful time finding tabletop games. We found the two little small rooms on the 3rd(?) floor of the convention center. Where are some of the other locations where it's going on?

    Tabletop was on the 2nd and 3rd floor of the WSCC, the lower floor of the Annex, and a good chunk of the Red Lion hotel.

    Also I called it a smaller difference earlier, but if you're a tabletop person it's a massive difference between having one humongous tabletop space, and having a whole bunch of different little places you have to sift through. I guess that can come down to personal preference, but imo there is no comparison.

  • Chuck Liddell FanChuck Liddell Fan Registered User regular
    Maybe not the thread but I am trying to find playing cards that are like the batman tas ones (poker playing cards) but for other DC or marvel superheroes is this something I could find at pax in tabletop section?

    Oh my goodness
    Oh my Dayum
    Oh my goodness
    They goin' Ham
  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    Maybe not the thread but I am trying to find playing cards that are like the batman tas ones (poker playing cards) but for other DC or marvel superheroes is this something I could find at pax in tabletop section?

    Maybe? I have no clue. You'd have to see what vendors are going to be there (which won't be known until August) and check with them.

  • Chuck Liddell FanChuck Liddell Fan Registered User regular
    Okay, I just wasn't sure based on previous Paxes if that type of stuff was available but I'll keep my eye open for the announcement thanks

    Oh my goodness
    Oh my Dayum
    Oh my goodness
    They goin' Ham
  • LunazulLunazul Registered User new member
    edited March 2013
    What is the area around the convention center like? I've seen pictures, but they don't really answer my question. Specifically: Where is the nearest grassy area? All I'm looking for is a small patch of grass somewhat nearby (within a block, hopefully).
    I have a service dog and though he has an impressive bladder, he can't hold it forever and those are going to be some loooong days. Can anyone remember if there is a patch of grass anywhere nearby? Even if its just a circle of mulch surrounding a tree, that will work. If there's nothing around for blocks and blocks he can make do with peeing in the street, though I generally only use that as a last resort. I've emailed the WSCC to double check, but havent heard anything yet. Anything you can recall is appreciated!

    Lunazul on
  • LairdLaird Registered User regular
    Lunazul wrote: »
    What is the area around the convention center like? I've seen pictures, but they don't really answer my question. Specifically: Where is the nearest grassy area? All I'm looking for is a small patch of grass somewhat nearby (within a block, hopefully).
    I have a service dog and though he has an impressive bladder, he can't hold it forever and those are going to be some loooong days. Can anyone remember if there is a patch of grass anywhere nearby? Even if its just a circle of mulch surrounding a tree, that will work. If there's nothing around for blocks and blocks he can make do with peeing in the street, though I generally only use that as a last resort. I've emailed the WSCC to double check, but havent heard anything yet. Anything you can recall is appreciated!

    Just behind the convention center there is a garden area, with some small grassy areas. We were standing in and around it for our ticket pickups for Emerald City Comic Con.

  • whypick1whypick1 PAX [E] Info Booth Manager ~2' from an LCDRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    That would be Freeway Park. Outside of that, you're faced with a small walk.

    whypick1 on
    Is it PAX <insert nearest future PAX here> yet?
  • LunazulLunazul Registered User new member
    edited March 2013
    [Accidental Double Post]

    Lunazul on
  • LunazulLunazul Registered User new member
    Laird wrote: »
    Just behind the convention center there is a garden area, with some small grassy areas. We were standing in and around it for our ticket pickups for Emerald City Comic Con.
    whypick1 wrote: »
    That would be Freeway Park. Outside of that, you're faced with a small walk.

    Thanks very much! That will work just perfectly.

  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    edited March 2013
    We actually usually have a separate thread for hotel discussion, but we don't typically put it up until the PAX OnPeak system is released. I've gone ahead and split a bunch of the hotel discussion out into its own thread since I don't want that to be a long-term discussion in the FAQ since the FAQ thread is intended to be for general PAX Q&A, as opposed to long form discussion.

    zerzhul on
  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Wierd question that hopefully belongs here, but how difficult is registration when done on a phone?

    Since they sold out so fast last year trying to decide if I need to start bringing my laptop to work or if I can register from my phone

    sanovah on
  • yoda24hoursyoda24hours Registered User regular
    sanovah - I tried registering on my phone last year and it was a pain with the forms and such. I ended up booking it to a break-room computer to get around websense and lucking into being able to register before the first registration company crashed. I do have a new phone this year, maybe it will be better?

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    sanovah - I tried registering on my phone last year and it was a pain with the forms and such. I ended up booking it to a break-room computer to get around websense and lucking into being able to register before the first registration company crashed. I do have a new phone this year, maybe it will be better?

    Yeah shortly after asking I remembered that Aus still had tickets so if they use the same vendor I should hopefully be able to use my phone.

    So new question: Does anyone know if they use the same vendor for every con?

  • AllforceAllforce Registered User regular
    When you talk about Prime badges going on sale "shortly" after East concludes, are we talking days, weeks, hours? Past experience would be helpful here.

  • skylatronskylatron Registered User regular
    @Allforce

    PAX East was April 6-8 last year. Prime tickets went on sale May 2nd. If they follow the same pattern...a month? But honestly I'm going to be checking in every day after this weekend.

  • AllforceAllforce Registered User regular
    Ok so it's not likely to be Sunday night or anything then, thank you for the reply.

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    Allforce wrote: »
    Ok so it's not likely to be Sunday night or anything then, thank you for the reply.

    No there is going to be a couple weeks at least for them to regroup and get things reset for Prime.

    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • shdwcastershdwcaster South DakotaRegistered User regular
    Is there any word on the existence of BYOC for Prime yet? My understanding was that Big Red was stepping down from running it, and the Prime_BYOC twitter account was shut down/folded into Official_PAX.

  • ptriz21_teamkillptriz21_teamkill Registered User regular
    If I may offer some advice:

    If you have a group of people going, designate one person who has good and quick access to a computer and uses twitter, to purchase passes and book hotels. I was this person for my group and I managed to get passes and hotel for everyone before the Great Server Crash last year. If I didn't do it for them, I would have gone forever alone.

    If it is an issue, the group should pre-pay this designated person to make sure they have enough money to buy multiple passes and pay at least a deposit on the hotel. I've found that the deposit is the cost of 1 night stay up to half the total.

    3DS: 3325-2059-2105
  • jjjewelsjjjewels TorontoRegistered User regular
    Is the ticket onsale announcement that quick? Do they designate the specific day ahead of time or do we just stalk the Twitter?

  • DreamwriterDreamwriter Registered User regular
    Best to stalk twitter, they don't announce it ahead of time.

  • AllforceAllforce Registered User regular
    If I may offer some advice:

    If you have a group of people going, designate one person who has good and quick access to a computer and uses twitter, to purchase passes and book hotels. I was this person for my group and I managed to get passes and hotel for everyone before the Great Server Crash last year. If I didn't do it for them, I would have gone forever alone.

    If it is an issue, the group should pre-pay this designated person to make sure they have enough money to buy multiple passes and pay at least a deposit on the hotel. I've found that the deposit is the cost of 1 night stay up to half the total.

    My buddy and I are in different cities so we're just going to try to both buy passes for both of us as fast as we can. If we get multiples then we'll return them or sell them off.

    I already booked a hotel, wasn't really an issue and no deposit necessary.

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    Allforce wrote: »
    If I may offer some advice:

    If you have a group of people going, designate one person who has good and quick access to a computer and uses twitter, to purchase passes and book hotels. I was this person for my group and I managed to get passes and hotel for everyone before the Great Server Crash last year. If I didn't do it for them, I would have gone forever alone.

    If it is an issue, the group should pre-pay this designated person to make sure they have enough money to buy multiple passes and pay at least a deposit on the hotel. I've found that the deposit is the cost of 1 night stay up to half the total.

    My buddy and I are in different cities so we're just going to try to both buy passes for both of us as fast as we can. If we get multiples then we'll return them or sell them off.

    I already booked a hotel, wasn't really an issue and no deposit necessary.

    Is your hotel one of the "convention hotels" and did you book for just the convention? I ask because OnPeak reserves a TON of rooms for just the convention and I heard stories last year of people getting bumped previous years because the hotel didn't have enough room for onpeak and them. So just a warning

  • AllforceAllforce Registered User regular
    No I just found a place downtown that looked cool and called them to book a room.

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    Allforce wrote: »
    No I just found a place downtown that looked cool and called them to book a room.

    Ok cool. Yeah you just have to becareful with the Westin, Sheraton, Roosevelt, Homewood, Grand Hyatt, and I think one or two more. They're the ones OnPeak blocks out a bunch of rooms at for the convention. So it's risky to try and go around the system if you're only gonna be there for the convention

  • LairdLaird Registered User regular
    whypick1 wrote: »
    That would be Freeway Park. Outside of that, you're faced with a small walk.

    Nope, I am talking about the grassy area behind the convention center on the third floor where the glass doors are at the top of the escalator next to 8th avenue and Hubbell place.

    map.jpg

  • ohkateyohkatey Owner of Bitch Team Alpha Austin, TXRegistered User regular
    This isn't directly related to PAX Prime per say, but Dev doesn't have their own forum and I can't find the answer anywhere: is Dev happening again this year? I want to attend but I can't find much info about it. (I am a former graphic designer who went back to school for 2 years in computer science and now I want to do UI design in video games).

    If it is, what is required to attend? I actually won't be a student anymore and I will be job hunting. If I have a website and a business card, is that enough? Would my spring term's attendance be enough to meet the requirement?

    Also, if there IS a better place for me to ask that, let me know!

    pax primer @ <3
  • DreamwriterDreamwriter Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Lunazul wrote: »
    What is the area around the convention center like? I've seen pictures, but they don't really answer my question. Specifically: Where is the nearest grassy area? All I'm looking for is a small patch of grass somewhat nearby (within a block, hopefully).
    I have a service dog and though he has an impressive bladder, he can't hold it forever and those are going to be some loooong days. Can anyone remember if there is a patch of grass anywhere nearby? Even if its just a circle of mulch surrounding a tree, that will work. If there's nothing around for blocks and blocks he can make do with peeing in the street, though I generally only use that as a last resort. I've emailed the WSCC to double check, but havent heard anything yet. Anything you can recall is appreciated!
    There's also an off-leash dog park just a couple blocks away, at the corner of Boren and Pike, for when you want to relax and let the dog unwind: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/offleash_detail.asp?id=4000

    "Plymouth Pillars off-leash area is located just east of downtown. It is about .2 acres with a long, narrow design, and with a scenic view of downtown. The surface is crushed rock, and it has a unique human/dog drinking fountain inside the dog park."

    Dreamwriter on
  • DreamwriterDreamwriter Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    ohkatey wrote: »
    This isn't directly related to PAX Prime per say, but Dev doesn't have their own forum and I can't find the answer anywhere: is Dev happening again this year? I want to attend but I can't find much info about it. (I am a former graphic designer who went back to school for 2 years in computer science and now I want to do UI design in video games).

    Here's what I found: PAX Dev is August 28 - 29, 2013 at the Westin Hotel. Other than that, I think the only restriction for getting into PAX Dev is, you can't be a member of the media/press - the passes are separate from the normal PAX passes, so if you want to go to both, you gotta pay for both.

    Dreamwriter on
  • Mew351Mew351 Bellevue, WARegistered User new member
    When do they go on sale usually?
    Like directly after PAX East or like a few weeks after?
    I almost have enough money to buy all my tickets!

  • DumblederpDumblederp Registered User new member
    When registration opens, will I be able to purchase a badge using paypal or something, or is it credit cards only? Feels like a dumb question, but would like to be sure ahead of time

  • sanovahsanovah Nerd of the West San Diego, CaliforniaRegistered User regular
    Dumblederp wrote: »
    When registration opens, will I be able to purchase a badge using paypal or something, or is it credit cards only? Feels like a dumb question, but would like to be sure ahead of time

    Like 85% sure it's just CC since later you'll be using the same system to get a hotel and I think it used the same data

  • SkeleVaderSkeleVader Your Friendly Dark Lord of Destruction Registered User regular
    edited March 2013
    Prime will go on sale about a month after East ends.
    Once they are on sale it will be announced via their Twitter account.

    SkeleVader on
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This discussion has been closed.