PAX '07 - An Open Letter to PAX Attendees

GamerDad

My name is Andrew S. Bub and I run a site called GamerDad.com and GameSanityblog.com. The purpose of GamerDad is to go beyond the ESRB ratings and help parents. The purpose of GameSanityblog is to comment on games more intelligently than most - and to reflect the political advocacy work I do.

Mostly what I do as GamerDad is explain gaming to mainstream parents - PTAs - newspapers, etc., because I've spent 10 years reviewing games for places like PCGamer, GameSpy, CNet, etc., and the last five years contributing to places like USAToday, CNN, Family Fun, etc., and my entire life playing video games.

This means I have one foot in the game space and one in the "duh, what are games?" space.

All of that is to explain why I was kind of scared to bring my "Gaming with Children" lecture/seminar to PAX.

Robert Khoo can tell you that I was a bit scared to bring this speech to PAX given that it's normally aimed at your moms. I was worried that nobody would show up. Double the apprehension when Hal Halpin bailed on the Politics Panel I shared with him and to help out, I offered to do another hour by myself in front of you. This became the "Politics & Game Sanity" speech.

So yeah. 10 years in the biz and I was scared of PAX. It's true and I was dead wrong. You guys made me feel more than welcome....

You guys are great. I've spent the past two days telling my contacts at the ESA, telling the ESRB, and telling Hal Halpin that THIS is the show that represents gamers. This is the show they CANNOT IGNORE. And you are the audience that these monolithic organizations NEED to reach. PAX is gaming, the future, and I want to thank you personally for a terrific show.

And I need not have worried about attendance - both my shows were filled to capacity.

Thanks PAX, for making a GamerDad feel welcome and young again. And reminding me why we need to push the agenda, shut the politicians up, and explain to moms and dads that gamers and games are nothing to be ashamed or afraid of.

I was going to simply link this to my blog, - and I still will Right Here but I also wanted this to appear here.

Yours,
Andrew & Linda Bub (GamerDad & GamerMom respectively)

Moe Fwacky

I enjoyed your Gaming and Politics panel, and despite the fact that you were left to fend for yourself, you handled it extremely well. Kudos!

Drain

I run with a pack of dads in their late 20s, though I myself don't even have a gf atm. I forced one of them, Eli, to come with me to PAX on Sunday because a) we live here b) I am what Tycho is to Annarchy to his 6 year old daughter. Be forewarned, she is deadly!

On our way to tabletops we were walking by your last talk and I shoved him through the door. We were both rivetted to our chairs the rest of the hour. Thank you for coming to PAX, we hope to see more of you next year.

And I think I have converted Eli, who will convert the rest of the group. I have made him a PAX Patient Zero. Thank you for your help Gamerdad.

Thing2

My girl and I enjoyed it very much as well - no little ones yet, but you just never know.

a714generation

Andrew,

You're doing really important work. Thank you for bringing a reasoned voice to the insanity that is the national games debate. Come back next year, ok?


[EDIT]-- Here you go, gave you a shout out. Thanks again man.

Earley

Drain wrote: »

I run with a pack of dads in their late 20s, though I myself don't even have a gf atm. I forced one of them, Eli, to come with me to PAX on Sunday because a) we live here b) I am what Tycho is to Annarchy to his 6 year old daughter. Be forewarned, she is deadly!

On our way to tabletops we were walking by your last talk and I shoved him through the door. We were both rivetted to our chairs the rest of the hour. Thank you for coming to PAX, we hope to see more of you next year.

And I think I have converted Eli, who will convert the rest of the group. I have made him a PAX Patient Zero. Thank you for your help Gamerdad.

Haha that's always weird for me, Eli is my real name.