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ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG ZOMG i have never been so happy to live in San Antonio! Went to Pax Prime 2012 and it was awesome, Having PAX right in my town is going to be AMAZING! i expected it to be pax south but i hadn't dared think it might be right here! graaaaaaaaah whar tickets!? whar!?
I'm not entirely sure what niche this is trying to fill. I mean, a PAX in January? I think you are going to find an awful lot of developers pass on that one. All of their big news and releases are geared towards getting out towards the holidays. There's very little new to show in January in any given year. You even saw some of that at East this past weekend, what with a lot of big names deciding to not show up this year.
Then you couple it with the fact that the only people who are even going to have the PTO/vacation time built up to take that sojourn are either going to be the unemployed or those who have the ability to/bother to roll over time into the new year.
The word came down on South whilst we were on the expo floor over the weekend, and my girlfriend (who is from Texas) looks over at me and asks if we're going to bother attending, and I'm just like "no new news, the water parks will all be closed, half of Six Flags is going to be down for repairs, and it's in a city with very little to do...Magic 8 Ball say 'outlook not so good'. But hey, if it relieves some pressure off Prime (somehow), I'm all for it. I, however, get the distinct feeling it will be a significantly less attended event than East/Prime.
Yeah, I'm just not sure who PAX South is for. Texans, presumably. But I think it's understood that Prime and East are the "main" PAXes, and Australia and South are vestigial, nice at best, pseudo-PAXes. I just don't see that many non-Texas based companies flying out to San Antonio in January for a convention.
I remember lots of "pfft, who's going to go to PAX East?" when that was announced too. If they didn't already have commitments, I doubt they'd be doing it.
Yeah, I'm just not sure who PAX South is for. Texans, presumably. But I think it's understood that Prime and East are the "main" PAXes, and Australia and South are vestigial, nice at best, pseudo-PAXes. I just don't see that many non-Texas based companies flying out to San Antonio in January for a convention.
A lot of the point of a company going to PAX is to push upcoming product. While the industry there is still a huge Xmas push, lately many games have slipped to the first part of the year. Meaning a January show is well positioned for the games' marketing campaigns. Also, companies from the west coast routinely fly to Boston for PAX East, and vice versa. Being in Texas will mean it's cheaper for them to travel to PAXas than it would be to cross the country.
I'm waiting for some developers to comment on their thoughts about Pax South. Maybe they will like it better than East? Maybe they will want to stick with East? I'll try to stay optimistic about South since I would like to return to a Pax next year.
At least I would assume that the PA people talked to developers before choosing the date and place.
PAXsouth in San Antonio. It's one of the more southern places in the states, so it makes sense. Also, San Antonio is a great tourist city, even in January. Who even goes to any amusement parks during PAX events? I try to stay in the immediate area, and with the growth of Downtown San Antonio, you will want to stay there as well.
Once you've seen the Alamo and the Riverwalk, what's left for tourists?
The Pearl, Alamo Eat St, McNay Art Museum, Blue Star Complex, Witte Museum, Market Square, Sea World(not downtown) and the Downtown Freetail Brewery should be open sometime this summer
Yeah, I'm just not sure who PAX South is for. Texans, presumably. But I think it's understood that Prime and East are the "main" PAXes, and Australia and South are vestigial, nice at best, pseudo-PAXes. I just don't see that many non-Texas based companies flying out to San Antonio in January for a convention.
A lot of the point of a company going to PAX is to push upcoming product. While the industry there is still a huge Xmas push, lately many games have slipped to the first part of the year. Meaning a January show is well positioned for the games' marketing campaigns. Also, companies from the west coast routinely fly to Boston for PAX East, and vice versa. Being in Texas will mean it's cheaper for them to travel to PAXas than it would be to cross the country.
That's not true re: Cheaper. It's actually cheaper for me to fly from Seattle to Boston (2 tickets, nonstop, 1st class, were a little over 600 dollars round trip - it's approximately 2.5x that to go to SAT) than Seattle to San Antonio. SAT is an underserviced airport, which limits flight possibilities, whereas Logan is a major international hub.
As to what to do in San Antonio....let's be honest, it's not much. We can list all sorts of things one *can* do, but there raises a question of what one might WANT to do. It's a very limited city. Honestly, the only high point for me (aside from Six Flags) was Lulu's "big as your head" cinnamon roll, which is more a novelty than anything.
As others have mentioned, though, perhaps outside entertainment isn't such a huge deal to some (I would argue against that, and use this year's East as anecdotal evidence, as the expo hall didn't have a crowded feel this year - many people were enjoying the wonderful weather to explore Boston). The 2 biggest headwinds for PAX South are going to be the lack of things companies are going to want to showcase in January and whether they'd allocate any budget to doing so (I'm picturing a giant Blizzard and NCSoft booth because they're primarily based out of Austin, and then not a lot else), and the shortage of people who can take time off work the 3rd week of January. Assuming 3 weeks of PTO a year (which is probably slightly generous in terms of "average"), a worker will have built up 5-6 hours of PTO by the time South will happen - not even enough to take a full day off work, let alone a few days to account for travel.
If anybody would like to provide some sort of counterargument to that bigger issue (the fact that it's so early in the year that most people won't be able to take time off to attend), I'd love to hear it. Note I'm not "inflating" a personal issue I have, as I tend to roll over about 90 hours of PTO year-over-year - I just understand that I'm an oddity and an outlier as opposed to a common statistic.
Different companies have different vacation policies. For example, I get all my vacation for the year on January 1st, but can't roll it over. At previous jobs, I accrued it like you say in your example, but I could carry it over so as long as I planned ahead I could have plenty available in January. It *could* be a challenge, but PAX has no issues selling out and I doubt this will be any different. If it leaves some people out, well, that's probably ok since it will be the 3rd PAX in the US.
+1
SkeleVaderYour Friendly Dark Lord of DestructionRegistered Userregular
If anybody would like to provide some sort of counterargument to that bigger issue (the fact that it's so early in the year that most people won't be able to take time off to attend), I'd love to hear it.
I would think this wouldn't be an issue at all. There are plenty of people that don't take all their vacation for a year, especially the younger crowd. Also, not everyone's company uses the new year as the roll over date. Mine uses March, I'm sure plenty of others use the fiscal year date.
Another counter point is that it is not even necessary to take off time to go to Pax, especially locals. The first couple years I went to Prime I just got off work early on Friday, never had to use any leave time.
I'm very excited about this! I'll be able to drive from St. Louis (a full-day drive, but doable), or I can take a short flight. Seattle and Boston are both manageable but having one closer is solid! I think people are worrying too much about whether or not San Antonio was the best possible choice. Who cares? It's another PAX, people! Seattle and Boston both have their drawbacks but they both manage to be amazing sites for different reasons. Let's celebrate the 50% more American PAXes next year!
As to what to do in San Antonio....let's be honest, it's not much.
I've lived here twelve years and I don't think I have ever once felt like there wasn't anything for me to do. If you're into food and drink we've got a ton of fantastic restaurants, farmers markets, breweries and vineyards. If you dig live music we've got an awesome local music scene. If you're an exercise nut we've got a great park system, and if you enjoy the outdoors we're bang in the middle of one of the most unique ecosystems in the country. If you're a history buff we have a magnificent art museum and an old Spanish mission you might have heard of. There are great night clubs if that's your thing, and one of the best basketball teams on earth if you're into sports. No, it's not New York or Las Vegas, but neither are Seattle or Boston.
If anybody would like to provide some sort of counterargument to that bigger issue (the fact that it's so early in the year that most people won't be able to take time off to attend), I'd love to hear it.
That's a pretty odd way for a full-time employer to dole out PTO; if that were the case then it would be impossible to take a vacation the first few months of the year. Every job I've had, you just got all your hours at the beginning of the fiscal year and depleted them whenever you took time off. If your employer resets you to zero every January 1, I think you're the exception rather than the rule.
Where are people finding this information out? Main PAX site has nothing, and I didn't see anything on PA site though I didn't give it a thorough check. Sounds like it was announced at East, but I missed that panel/announcement. Did they say the dates at East too? Man if I didn't follow these forums I would have never have known about South until it sold out.
Where are people finding this information out? Main PAX site has nothing, and I didn't see anything on PA site though I didn't give it a thorough check. Sounds like it was announced at East, but I missed that panel/announcement. Did they say the dates at East too? Man if I didn't follow these forums I would have never have known about South until it sold out.
It was in the press release, so articles on it have the dates. Also personally I just asked a PA staffer at East after the main announcement.
SkeleVaderYour Friendly Dark Lord of DestructionRegistered Userregular
It is interesting to note that right now the upcoming events on the HBGCC website lists a small Jewelry buying show that will be going on the same time as Pax South.
I wouldn't think it would have much impact on Pax, but I can imagine the people going to that show being quite surprised by the amount of people that will be there.
I remember Prime 2012 there was another group that had the second floor of the Sheraton rented out and listening to them in the elevators they seemed overwhelmed.
Having lived in central Texas and knowing/understanding that most people there seem to have their entire wardrobes predicated around "burnt orange", I'm not sure that's the best colour choice in an effort to make the Enforcers stand out from the rest of the crowd. Personally, I'd go with black - nobody wears black down there because of the heat most of the year.
At least it's a little closer to Phoenix. But did it have to be Texas? I hate Texas. Too many Barney Fyffes patrolling the roadways. I got passed by 3 cars with Texas plates on the freeway, but I got pulled over for doing 5 over the limit. I was driving while "not from Texas" I guess. Didn't help that I was in a Mustang.
At least it's a little closer to Phoenix. But did it have to be Texas? I hate Texas. Too many Barney Fyffes patrolling the roadways. I got passed by 3 cars with Texas plates on the freeway, but I got pulled over for doing 5 over the limit. I was driving while "not from Texas" I guess. Didn't help that I was in a Mustang.
I had the same experience in San Antonio a few years ago, while driving a minivan. Taught me to not expect to get away with much on the roads in Texas. Are you planning on driving? I think a sizable convoy from Phoenix might be in order (I've got at least four friends committed to going). I've done some looking into Amtrak schedules and it looks like going that route might be tricky due to bad timing on the return train.
At least it's a little closer to Phoenix. But did it have to be Texas? I hate Texas. Too many Barney Fyffes patrolling the roadways. I got passed by 3 cars with Texas plates on the freeway, but I got pulled over for doing 5 over the limit. I was driving while "not from Texas" I guess. Didn't help that I was in a Mustang.
I had the same experience in San Antonio a few years ago, while driving a minivan. Taught me to not expect to get away with much on the roads in Texas. Are you planning on driving? I think a sizable convoy from Phoenix might be in order (I've got at least four friends committed to going). I've done some looking into Amtrak schedules and it looks like going that route might be tricky due to bad timing on the return train.
I'll probably drive, but I have to be there early for BYOC setup.
At least it's a little closer to Phoenix. But did it have to be Texas? I hate Texas. Too many Barney Fyffes patrolling the roadways. I got passed by 3 cars with Texas plates on the freeway, but I got pulled over for doing 5 over the limit. I was driving while "not from Texas" I guess. Didn't help that I was in a Mustang.
I had the same experience in San Antonio a few years ago, while driving a minivan. Taught me to not expect to get away with much on the roads in Texas. Are you planning on driving? I think a sizable convoy from Phoenix might be in order (I've got at least four friends committed to going). I've done some looking into Amtrak schedules and it looks like going that route might be tricky due to bad timing on the return train.
I'll probably drive, but I have to be there early for BYOC setup.
Cool, I (or someone else) should start pulling folks together for a convoy once the South forum is up. Trying to work out if Wednesday would be a better travel day, since a 14 hour drive on Thursday doesn't leave much time (or energy) for pre-PAX activities that are sure to be happening. Out of curiosity, how early is BYOC setup?
At least it's a little closer to Phoenix. But did it have to be Texas? I hate Texas. Too many Barney Fyffes patrolling the roadways. I got passed by 3 cars with Texas plates on the freeway, but I got pulled over for doing 5 over the limit. I was driving while "not from Texas" I guess. Didn't help that I was in a Mustang.
I had the same experience in San Antonio a few years ago, while driving a minivan. Taught me to not expect to get away with much on the roads in Texas. Are you planning on driving? I think a sizable convoy from Phoenix might be in order (I've got at least four friends committed to going). I've done some looking into Amtrak schedules and it looks like going that route might be tricky due to bad timing on the return train.
I'll probably drive, but I have to be there early for BYOC setup.
Cool, I (or someone else) should start pulling folks together for a convoy once the South forum is up. Trying to work out if Wednesday would be a better travel day, since a 14 hour drive on Thursday doesn't leave much time (or energy) for pre-PAX activities that are sure to be happening. Out of curiosity, how early is BYOC setup?
We usually start unpacking all the crates on Wed. It takes a while to set up 450 PCs plus tables and banners. Prime last year also included setting up the huge Intel booth.
As far as "who" can go. I'm not unemployed but I do work where the "busy season" for my job is at Christmas and I only get called in 2-3 days a week in January while we're recovering. So, I'm sure I'm not alone in having that type of job.
Also, all I want is the warmth of the sun during that time of year, so yay.
Also also, Khoo said at East that he'd done a LOT of research on where the show would best be placed and travelled around to a lot of different places. I'm sure this decision was not made lightly and I don't think they'd be doing it there and at that time of year if no one would want to show/attend.
From now on I will be attending PAX South. Although it would be cool to go to prime one day. Its an hour longer flight from here to TX than to Boston, But same on drive. But Thats no deal breaker for me as I love southerners and am excited to visit the other side of the south lol.
I love Tacos.
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Yeah... but still better than if it were in Austin!
Then you couple it with the fact that the only people who are even going to have the PTO/vacation time built up to take that sojourn are either going to be the unemployed or those who have the ability to/bother to roll over time into the new year.
The word came down on South whilst we were on the expo floor over the weekend, and my girlfriend (who is from Texas) looks over at me and asks if we're going to bother attending, and I'm just like "no new news, the water parks will all be closed, half of Six Flags is going to be down for repairs, and it's in a city with very little to do...Magic 8 Ball say 'outlook not so good'. But hey, if it relieves some pressure off Prime (somehow), I'm all for it. I, however, get the distinct feeling it will be a significantly less attended event than East/Prime.
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At least I would assume that the PA people talked to developers before choosing the date and place.
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The Pearl, Alamo Eat St, McNay Art Museum, Blue Star Complex, Witte Museum, Market Square, Sea World(not downtown) and the Downtown Freetail Brewery should be open sometime this summer
That's not true re: Cheaper. It's actually cheaper for me to fly from Seattle to Boston (2 tickets, nonstop, 1st class, were a little over 600 dollars round trip - it's approximately 2.5x that to go to SAT) than Seattle to San Antonio. SAT is an underserviced airport, which limits flight possibilities, whereas Logan is a major international hub.
As to what to do in San Antonio....let's be honest, it's not much. We can list all sorts of things one *can* do, but there raises a question of what one might WANT to do. It's a very limited city. Honestly, the only high point for me (aside from Six Flags) was Lulu's "big as your head" cinnamon roll, which is more a novelty than anything.
As others have mentioned, though, perhaps outside entertainment isn't such a huge deal to some (I would argue against that, and use this year's East as anecdotal evidence, as the expo hall didn't have a crowded feel this year - many people were enjoying the wonderful weather to explore Boston). The 2 biggest headwinds for PAX South are going to be the lack of things companies are going to want to showcase in January and whether they'd allocate any budget to doing so (I'm picturing a giant Blizzard and NCSoft booth because they're primarily based out of Austin, and then not a lot else), and the shortage of people who can take time off work the 3rd week of January. Assuming 3 weeks of PTO a year (which is probably slightly generous in terms of "average"), a worker will have built up 5-6 hours of PTO by the time South will happen - not even enough to take a full day off work, let alone a few days to account for travel.
If anybody would like to provide some sort of counterargument to that bigger issue (the fact that it's so early in the year that most people won't be able to take time off to attend), I'd love to hear it. Note I'm not "inflating" a personal issue I have, as I tend to roll over about 90 hours of PTO year-over-year - I just understand that I'm an oddity and an outlier as opposed to a common statistic.
I would think this wouldn't be an issue at all. There are plenty of people that don't take all their vacation for a year, especially the younger crowd. Also, not everyone's company uses the new year as the roll over date. Mine uses March, I'm sure plenty of others use the fiscal year date.
Another counter point is that it is not even necessary to take off time to go to Pax, especially locals. The first couple years I went to Prime I just got off work early on Friday, never had to use any leave time.
I've lived here twelve years and I don't think I have ever once felt like there wasn't anything for me to do. If you're into food and drink we've got a ton of fantastic restaurants, farmers markets, breweries and vineyards. If you dig live music we've got an awesome local music scene. If you're an exercise nut we've got a great park system, and if you enjoy the outdoors we're bang in the middle of one of the most unique ecosystems in the country. If you're a history buff we have a magnificent art museum and an old Spanish mission you might have heard of. There are great night clubs if that's your thing, and one of the best basketball teams on earth if you're into sports. No, it's not New York or Las Vegas, but neither are Seattle or Boston.
That's a pretty odd way for a full-time employer to dole out PTO; if that were the case then it would be impossible to take a vacation the first few months of the year. Every job I've had, you just got all your hours at the beginning of the fiscal year and depleted them whenever you took time off. If your employer resets you to zero every January 1, I think you're the exception rather than the rule.
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I wouldn't think it would have much impact on Pax, but I can imagine the people going to that show being quite surprised by the amount of people that will be there.
I remember Prime 2012 there was another group that had the second floor of the Sheraton rented out and listening to them in the elevators they seemed overwhelmed.
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Having lived in central Texas and knowing/understanding that most people there seem to have their entire wardrobes predicated around "burnt orange", I'm not sure that's the best colour choice in an effort to make the Enforcers stand out from the rest of the crowd. Personally, I'd go with black - nobody wears black down there because of the heat most of the year.
I had the same experience in San Antonio a few years ago, while driving a minivan. Taught me to not expect to get away with much on the roads in Texas. Are you planning on driving? I think a sizable convoy from Phoenix might be in order (I've got at least four friends committed to going). I've done some looking into Amtrak schedules and it looks like going that route might be tricky due to bad timing on the return train.
I'll probably drive, but I have to be there early for BYOC setup.
Cool, I (or someone else) should start pulling folks together for a convoy once the South forum is up. Trying to work out if Wednesday would be a better travel day, since a 14 hour drive on Thursday doesn't leave much time (or energy) for pre-PAX activities that are sure to be happening. Out of curiosity, how early is BYOC setup?
We usually start unpacking all the crates on Wed. It takes a while to set up 450 PCs plus tables and banners. Prime last year also included setting up the huge Intel booth.
Also, all I want is the warmth of the sun during that time of year, so yay.
Also also, Khoo said at East that he'd done a LOT of research on where the show would best be placed and travelled around to a lot of different places. I'm sure this decision was not made lightly and I don't think they'd be doing it there and at that time of year if no one would want to show/attend.
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