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PAX PRIME 2014 Information and FAQ (READ THIS FIRST, THEN ASK ALL QUESTIONS HERE)
Hi everyone, I attended Prime last year, had a blast and want to do it again. However my predicament is that last year my whole family came to Seattle as I was only 17 and this year we don't have the money to all go. How hard will it be (being 18) to either stay in a hostel or manage to find someone who is willing to room share with me? Transportation is not an issue to Seattle but I am worried about getting somewhere to stay. Thanks!
PAX Prime 2013 [✓]
PAX Prime 2014 [ ? ]
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whypick1PAX [E] Info Booth Manager~2' from an LCDRegistered Userregular
Not seeing anything about an age limit on the Green Tortoise's site, that's something you'd want to e-mail them about. I doubt you'd have much problem finding a roomshare though.
Is it PAX <insert nearest future PAX here> yet?
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BouwsTWanna come to a super soft birthday party?Registered Userregular
edited April 2014
What is people's experience with public transit / cabs in DT Seattle? Never been, but excited!
Also, Mr. Khoo just tweeted a picture with an official PAX prime count down. http://ow.ly/i/56Jev
BouwsT on
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
What is people's experience with public transit / cabs in DT Seattle? Never been, but excited!
Also, Mr. Khoo just tweeted a picture with an official PAX prime count down. http://ow.ly/i/56Jev
Never take a cab if you don't have to. It can be the fastest way to places, but it's WAY more expensive. If you wanted to go that route look into services like Uber instead. However, the bus system in Seattle is really good. You can basically take a bus anywhere in the metropolitan area that you want to go. There is an excellent phone application called "OneBusAway" that helps you plan routes and when buses will arrive at certain stops or you could use the trip planning feature on King County Metro's website. Remember when using the bus that you need exact change (or purchase an ORCA card for $5 and load money on it). Buses will never give you back any change so don't accidentally put a $20 in there! Fairs generally run at $2.50 to get a transfer that lasts a few hours. There is a light rail as well, but that's mainly for transport from the airport to downtown. You can use to to get to a few spots downtown, but usually it's just easiest to walk.
Walking. That's basically the best way around the town. Everything in that downtown area is really so close that walking would be the way I'd recommend that you go. The only thing that's a bit far for walking from downtown would be if you wanted to check out the space needle, but that's still possible to walk to (just a couple miles) and really easy to bus to. Remember, Seattle is a big city and while I would say that most of the time it feels like a really safe city, I still wouldn't go walking down dark alleys at night with pockets full of cash. Use your judgement!
I've lived there for several years and haven't owned a car for the last 3 (walk, bike, and bus!). It's a great city and will be (as always) an excellent host to Pax Prime!
+1
BouwsTWanna come to a super soft birthday party?Registered Userregular
Twisted, that's a TON of great info there. THANKS. Some friends and I just rented an apartment downtown, and one of the choices was about 16 blocks away from the convention center. The reason I asked about the cab is that the lady said it was only a 5 dollar cab ride... Seemed to cheap to me, but whatever.
The place we ended up renting is only a 5 minute walk from the convention center now, so transit should be a pretty easy affair. I'm glad to hear that the bus system is so friendly, and I think I will pick up that app to help us out as required.
NOW, maybe someone else can answer one more questions. I've never been to a PAX, I missed my chance last year to buy my passes. I know they come on sale sometime shortly after East, but is there a specific time of the day I should be watching? Is it pretty much any time between 9-5? Is it all hours of the night?! I just want to cover my bases.
Thanks again in advance!
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
It's not answered because nobody knows other than the people that run pax. And they will likely not say ahead of time. It will be after pax east.
As far as the how, likely twitter and/or these forums.
Yep, I get that, I just mean people who have done this in the past does the announcement come usually during normal business hours? If nobody knows, that's cool. I just figured that there might be a general trend, based on past PAX's and what people remember is all. I'm going to be watching the twittter-box, but I'm just hoping to nail down what time of day it's most likely to happen.
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
During business hours on weekdays, yes that's when ticket sales started the last few years. But that doesn't mean it'll be that way this year, they are always experimenting with improving the system. Really, all you can do is follow the PAX twitter after PAX East.
And note, they don't generally sell out instantly - if you aren't too picky about the days you attend, you don't have to be watching it like a hawk (this is the exact reason they expanded PAX to 4 days, to allow more people to do PAX without needing luck to get a ticket).
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BouwsTWanna come to a super soft birthday party?Registered Userregular
Thanks Dreamwriter, that's exactly what I was looking for. I'm picky about getting a 4 day, so I'll have to be diligent. Ha ha.
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
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SkeleVaderYour Friendly Dark Lord of DestructionRegistered Userregular
There would probably be a limit to how many tickets each person can get this year again. But I'm just wondering.... is it possible to buy the max limit for 4 day passes as well added on single day passes? I'm trying to get a bulk for my friends who are in exam week
There would probably be a limit to how many tickets each person can get this year again. But I'm just wondering.... is it possible to buy the max limit for 4 day passes as well added on single day passes? I'm trying to get a bulk for my friends who are in exam week
Last year, it was only possible to get four sets of passes, maximum, where a set consisted of one 4-day pass or four 1-day passes. It will likely be similar this year.
There would probably be a limit to how many tickets each person can get this year again. But I'm just wondering.... is it possible to buy the max limit for 4 day passes as well added on single day passes? I'm trying to get a bulk for my friends who are in exam week
The stated limits have been intended to be for "weekends worth" of passes. So if you get 4 4-days, you shouldn't be able to get 4 single days for each day as well. That is, if the limits are functioning properly.
+1
Spud387Man of InactionVancouver, BC, CanadaRegistered Userregular
Last Prime, the queue system was used & 4 days sold out in about 20 min. However, you had to get into the queue system almost instantly to get them.
Looking at how quickly tickets sell out and how PAX Prime has been drastically trending towards faster & faster sell out times makes me cry about how quickly we'll have to get in the queue to get them this year.
Last Prime, the queue system was used & 4 days sold out in about 20 min. However, you had to get into the queue system almost instantly to get them.
Looking at how quickly tickets sell out and how PAX Prime has been drastically trending towards faster & faster sell out times makes me cry about how quickly we'll have to get in the queue to get them this year.
I know. Especially since I'll likely be in class when passes go on sale, unlike last year when passes went on sale 15 minutes before I was going to leave my dorm for class. I sure hope passes go on sale the week after East, because I don't want to have to split my attention between class and camping the site for longer than necessary, and potentially miss out on a 4-day because of the iffy college internet.
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BouwsTWanna come to a super soft birthday party?Registered Userregular
Isn't it possible that last years blitz was an anomaly caused by excessive ticket scalping? I can't really see it getting any worse than 20 minutes, that's already and absurd number... I can't see it getting back to a full day worth of tickets ever again, but maybe an hour to snag a 4 day? Who knows.
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
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SkeleVaderYour Friendly Dark Lord of DestructionRegistered Userregular
Isn't it possible that last years blitz was an anomaly caused by excessive ticket scalping? I can't really see it getting any worse than 20 minutes, that's already and absurd number... I can't see it getting back to a full day worth of tickets ever again, but maybe an hour to snag a 4 day? Who knows.
No, last year was not an anomaly.
Ticket scalping is actually a small issue. The amount of tickets put up for sale on the secondary market compared to the amount sold is a very small percentage. It is just that scalping is such an easy target for people to blame.
Badges sell out fast because this event is crazy popular and there is no more room to expand. Remember, you are not stuck in traffic, you are traffic.
I think the limiting factor in just how fast badges sell out this year is going to be the Queue system, but don't expect to get a shot at a 4-day unless you are in the queue line instantly.
+5
BouwsTWanna come to a super soft birthday party?Registered Userregular
...Ticket scalping is actually a small issue. The amount of tickets put up for sale on the secondary market compared to the amount sold is a very small percentage. It is just that scalping is such an easy target for people to blame.
I guess that's true. I didn't really think of the scalped:sold ratio.
BouwsT on
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
Even if you got in line almost immediately last year, you still could still have missed out on 4-day passes and spent 2.5 hours waiting in the queue, which is very nerve-wracking (like the whole ticketing process) and also hard if you have work or school. Last year was not an anomaly - demand is likely to be significantly higher this year for the same small supply.
every day's great on
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BouwsTWanna come to a super soft birthday party?Registered Userregular
Holy hell, 2.5 hours? Is that a worst case, or like, anecdotally what most people spent!?
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
Holy hell, 2.5 hours? Is that a worst case, or like, anecdotally what most people spent!?
If you weren't in the queue immediately as the thing went up, that's what most people had to deal with, considering the massive demand. Last year, I got in and out before the official tweet went out, so I had no issues, but everyone who may have been on twitter, but not the actual site, likely got caught up in all the traffic, with the queue filling up really fast.
The best advice I can give is to pitch a tent on the registration page (prime.paxsite.com/registration), and watch the thing like a hawk for any major changes, as last year, that page updated with pass prices the day before they went on sale.
To be fair, it was also a good amount of fun waiting in queue and commiserating with everyone else here on the PA Forums. Consider it a digital warm up for the real deal queues.
To be fair, it was also a good amount of fun waiting in queue and commiserating with everyone else here on the PA Forums. Consider it a digital warm up for the real deal queues.
I'd rather stay on the ball, get my pass first thing after registration opens up, then be at the convention center at 6 am, because there will still be plenty of things to do in line, because people always bring stuff.
Because registration opened 15 minutes before I had to go to class, and then there were classmates waiting in the queue in both my classes that day. I'd rather be prepared and guarantee a pass.
RavenHusky on
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Spud387Man of InactionVancouver, BC, CanadaRegistered Userregular
I work when the tickets have typically gone on sale so I didn't know until I got the tweet (at which point I logged on and got in queue). Was there an official post on the forums or did someone on the forums simply notice tickets were up before the tweet when out? (ie. did Khoo post here saying ticket will be up in 5min or did a forum poster say "Just got my tickets they are up!")
I work when the tickets have typically gone on sale so I didn't know until I got the tweet (at which point I logged on and got in queue). Was there an official post on the forums or did someone on the forums simply notice tickets were up before the tweet when out? (ie. did Khoo post here saying ticket will be up in 5min or did a forum poster say "Just got my tickets they are up!")
The official forum post and tweet took a few minutes to get sent out, so only those who were religiously camping the main site initially noticed, and they should have had no problems, because the rush hadn't started yet.
For people who ordered last year, what was the process like? A more specific question would be how difficult it was to navigate or if many people "lost" their place in the queue?
I worry that I will not be able to get a 4 day pass and also not get 4 one day passes. How valid is roots fear?
For people who ordered last year, what was the process like? A more specific question would be how difficult it was to navigate or if many people "lost" their place in the queue?
I worry that I will not be able to get a 4 day pass and also not get 4 one day passes. How valid is roots fear?
It wasn't that difficult to deal with. Once you're in, you choose passes you want, if you are getting a 4-day, you also can choose to buy a BYOC pass and if you want to be considered for the Omegathon, and then, it's just like any other online checkout process.
As for going all four days, as I've already said previously, pitch a tent, and camp the site like a sniper in your FPS of choice. Camp that thing like your life depended on it. 4-days sold out in 20 minutes last year, and then while you do have a bit of time to get Saturday passes, It's not much. People who didn't get in the queue immediately had to deal with a 2+hour queue time.
People do over-buy tickets , if scalping is never an issue they should have no problem putting a person's name on a badge . I know a lot of people who end up buying 4 badges just in case someone they do not know was not able to buy one , then when they realize it they sell it . Plus it is hard to determine how many badge were scalped , since I am doubting people raised their hands and let it be known .
Shadow, there usually is a hard limit on how many passes that one person can order, and PA doesn't put names on the badges, because sometimes things come up, life happens, and people aren't able to go for some reason. That way, they can still sell/give the badge to someone else. Scalping is not as big an issue than people make it seem, because the number of badges that get scalped is a drop in the bucket compared to the number of badges sold overall. Badges had just been selling out faster each year because PAX has gotten more popular as the years go by. Also last year, PA went and revoked the orders from people who clearly tried to game the system, and put them back on sale.
People do over-buy tickets , if scalping is never an issue they should have no problem putting a person's name on a badge . I know a lot of people who end up buying 4 badges just in case someone they do not know was not able to buy one , then when they realize it they sell it . Plus it is hard to determine how many badge were scalped , since I am doubting people raised their hands and let it be known .
I know I've been answering questions, but here's one of my own:
Considering the likely time that passes would go on sale, I would be ordering my passes while on my college campus. With some other people likely to order on campus as well, would I have to worry about my badge getting revoked because we'd all be on the same IP?
Will the date (and countdown) on the PAX Prime site be updated before tickets go on sale most likely?
Wondering if I should start camping before anything changes on the prime site. Last year I only managed to snag a Monday pass - and that was because my brother told me when tickets went on sale. I'd really like a 4 day pass this time around. Or at least four one day passes.
Will the date (and countdown) on the PAX Prime site be updated before tickets go on sale most likely?
Wondering if I should start camping before anything changes on the prime site. Last year I only managed to snag a Monday pass - and that was because my brother told me when tickets went on sale. I'd really like a 4 day pass this time around. Or at least four one day passes.
Last year the site was updated the day before passes went on sale.
PAX Prime 2015 [ ] Pass [ ] Hotel [ ] Flight [cool as a cucumber until after East] HYPE
Attendee: Prime 12,13,14 East 13
Will the date (and countdown) on the PAX Prime site be updated before tickets go on sale most likely?
Wondering if I should start camping before anything changes on the prime site. Last year I only managed to snag a Monday pass - and that was because my brother told me when tickets went on sale. I'd really like a 4 day pass this time around. Or at least four one day passes.
The Prime site will likely be updated within the next few days, to give everyone a chance to recover from East. It'd would still be a good idea to camp the site early, because you never know what could happen. Once the site updates, put a lot more focus into camping the site.
I had a ton of fun at PAX East, which was my very first PAX, and I am seriously considering going to PAX Prime because of it. Do you think Penny Arcade will announce a date and time again like they did for the East badges, or do you think it will be an unannounced, random time like they have done in the past?
Sorry But i dont see register on that website also, I click client login and theres still no registration?
I too didn't see a place to register. I've sent an e-mail for clarification, I'll update when/if I get a response. I just took a run through PAX AUS (which is also through ShowClix) and it basically asks for all your billing information / credit card info after you've selected which tickets you want, no registration necessary.
I can only presume that the East ticket ordering was the same way / Prime will be the same way.
BouwsT on
Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
Posts
PAX Prime 2014 [ ? ]
Also, Mr. Khoo just tweeted a picture with an official PAX prime count down. http://ow.ly/i/56Jev
Never take a cab if you don't have to. It can be the fastest way to places, but it's WAY more expensive. If you wanted to go that route look into services like Uber instead. However, the bus system in Seattle is really good. You can basically take a bus anywhere in the metropolitan area that you want to go. There is an excellent phone application called "OneBusAway" that helps you plan routes and when buses will arrive at certain stops or you could use the trip planning feature on King County Metro's website. Remember when using the bus that you need exact change (or purchase an ORCA card for $5 and load money on it). Buses will never give you back any change so don't accidentally put a $20 in there! Fairs generally run at $2.50 to get a transfer that lasts a few hours. There is a light rail as well, but that's mainly for transport from the airport to downtown. You can use to to get to a few spots downtown, but usually it's just easiest to walk.
Walking. That's basically the best way around the town. Everything in that downtown area is really so close that walking would be the way I'd recommend that you go. The only thing that's a bit far for walking from downtown would be if you wanted to check out the space needle, but that's still possible to walk to (just a couple miles) and really easy to bus to. Remember, Seattle is a big city and while I would say that most of the time it feels like a really safe city, I still wouldn't go walking down dark alleys at night with pockets full of cash. Use your judgement!
I've lived there for several years and haven't owned a car for the last 3 (walk, bike, and bus!). It's a great city and will be (as always) an excellent host to Pax Prime!
The place we ended up renting is only a 5 minute walk from the convention center now, so transit should be a pretty easy affair. I'm glad to hear that the bus system is so friendly, and I think I will pick up that app to help us out as required.
NOW, maybe someone else can answer one more questions. I've never been to a PAX, I missed my chance last year to buy my passes. I know they come on sale sometime shortly after East, but is there a specific time of the day I should be watching? Is it pretty much any time between 9-5? Is it all hours of the night?! I just want to cover my bases.
Thanks again in advance!
How and when will the PAX Prime 2014 badge sale date and time be announced?
As far as the how, likely twitter and/or these forums.
Yep, I get that, I just mean people who have done this in the past does the announcement come usually during normal business hours? If nobody knows, that's cool. I just figured that there might be a general trend, based on past PAX's and what people remember is all. I'm going to be watching the twittter-box, but I'm just hoping to nail down what time of day it's most likely to happen.
And note, they don't generally sell out instantly - if you aren't too picky about the days you attend, you don't have to be watching it like a hawk (this is the exact reason they expanded PAX to 4 days, to allow more people to do PAX without needing luck to get a ticket).
Here is the spread sheet showing the history of when badges went on sale & sold out.
Last Prime, the queue system was used & 4 days sold out in about 20 min. However, you had to get into the queue system almost instantly to get them.
Last year, it was only possible to get four sets of passes, maximum, where a set consisted of one 4-day pass or four 1-day passes. It will likely be similar this year.
Looking at how quickly tickets sell out and how PAX Prime has been drastically trending towards faster & faster sell out times makes me cry about how quickly we'll have to get in the queue to get them this year.
Attended: PAX Prime 2010/'11/'12/'13/'14
I know. Especially since I'll likely be in class when passes go on sale, unlike last year when passes went on sale 15 minutes before I was going to leave my dorm for class. I sure hope passes go on sale the week after East, because I don't want to have to split my attention between class and camping the site for longer than necessary, and potentially miss out on a 4-day because of the iffy college internet.
No, last year was not an anomaly.
Ticket scalping is actually a small issue. The amount of tickets put up for sale on the secondary market compared to the amount sold is a very small percentage. It is just that scalping is such an easy target for people to blame.
Badges sell out fast because this event is crazy popular and there is no more room to expand. Remember, you are not stuck in traffic, you are traffic.
I think the limiting factor in just how fast badges sell out this year is going to be the Queue system, but don't expect to get a shot at a 4-day unless you are in the queue line instantly.
The best advice I can give is to pitch a tent on the registration page (prime.paxsite.com/registration), and watch the thing like a hawk for any major changes, as last year, that page updated with pass prices the day before they went on sale.
Because registration opened 15 minutes before I had to go to class, and then there were classmates waiting in the queue in both my classes that day. I'd rather be prepared and guarantee a pass.
Attended: PAX Prime 2010/'11/'12/'13/'14
The official forum post and tweet took a few minutes to get sent out, so only those who were religiously camping the main site initially noticed, and they should have had no problems, because the rush hadn't started yet.
I worry that I will not be able to get a 4 day pass and also not get 4 one day passes. How valid is roots fear?
It wasn't that difficult to deal with. Once you're in, you choose passes you want, if you are getting a 4-day, you also can choose to buy a BYOC pass and if you want to be considered for the Omegathon, and then, it's just like any other online checkout process.
As for going all four days, as I've already said previously, pitch a tent, and camp the site like a sniper in your FPS of choice. Camp that thing like your life depended on it. 4-days sold out in 20 minutes last year, and then while you do have a bit of time to get Saturday passes, It's not much. People who didn't get in the queue immediately had to deal with a 2+hour queue time.
Here's the spreadsheet of sellout times: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AilPyWyh2FlbdGtjaG1pYjlMWENKaEdxY2dGRU95V1E&usp=sharing#gid=0
Shadow, there usually is a hard limit on how many passes that one person can order, and PA doesn't put names on the badges, because sometimes things come up, life happens, and people aren't able to go for some reason. That way, they can still sell/give the badge to someone else. Scalping is not as big an issue than people make it seem, because the number of badges that get scalped is a drop in the bucket compared to the number of badges sold overall. Badges had just been selling out faster each year because PAX has gotten more popular as the years go by. Also last year, PA went and revoked the orders from people who clearly tried to game the system, and put them back on sale.
Considering the likely time that passes would go on sale, I would be ordering my passes while on my college campus. With some other people likely to order on campus as well, would I have to worry about my badge getting revoked because we'd all be on the same IP?
Wondering if I should start camping before anything changes on the prime site. Last year I only managed to snag a Monday pass - and that was because my brother told me when tickets went on sale. I'd really like a 4 day pass this time around. Or at least four one day passes.
Last year the site was updated the day before passes went on sale.
Attendee: Prime 12,13,14 East 13
The Prime site will likely be updated within the next few days, to give everyone a chance to recover from East. It'd would still be a good idea to camp the site early, because you never know what could happen. Once the site updates, put a lot more focus into camping the site.
For the Pax Prime website how do i register? Like create account when the site goes up and I have to log in the buy the tickets?
Do I even need a account to buy the tickets cause I dont see register or log on.
The ticket selling is run by ShowClix, so that is the website you want to register on.
Sorry But i dont see register on that website also, I click client login and theres still no registration?
I too didn't see a place to register. I've sent an e-mail for clarification, I'll update when/if I get a response. I just took a run through PAX AUS (which is also through ShowClix) and it basically asks for all your billing information / credit card info after you've selected which tickets you want, no registration necessary.
I can only presume that the East ticket ordering was the same way / Prime will be the same way.