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Violets are blue
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In August, Seattle's average is 5 days with some rain, and the temperature is usually in the mid to upper 60's, with the occasional spurts into the mid 70's. Oh, and August generally has like 20 cloudy (but warm) days
Other than that... no rain.
The gods wept for the end of PAX.
I've been a lurker of Penny Arcade for a while, not so much the forums, but of the comics mostly. I've heard of PAX for the past five years, and I figured this year would be the perfect year to be my first year to attend.
I'll be turning 18, and what better way to cross into adulthood than to go to a convention for video games!
Anyway, I'm very excited. I was going to go to the San Diego Comic Con, but I feel that I can justify the travel fees and other costs associated with traveling for a video game convention than one with just comics and movies.
I suppose I'm here to just announce my excitement. While I'm here, I might as well ask a few questions though.
Any recommendations on hotels? Well, I mean...My friend's family is a Marriot super deluxe ultra member or whatever, and there's a big chance that we'd get a pretty good chunk of change cut out of our hotel costs. there's a renaissance Marriot or whatever about .6 miles away. I suppose my question would be...Are there abundant taxis in the area? I suppose it wouldn't be hard to hitch a ride up the road to the con from the hotel, but do cabs hang around the convention center to give us a ride home at night?
Also, when do you think the best time to book a flight is? I read in here that in the next two months or so would be when some good deals would be popping up, is this still the case?
I suppose I should ask this...
I know there are a good deal of after parties and the like during the con, but are some of them/other events friendly to those who are under the drinking age? I'll be 18, but the friend who will be accompanying me will be 17. Once the con shuts down, will we be forced to go watch television in our hotel, or can we hang out at a party or two?
If I happen to think of anymore questions I'll be sure to come here and ask.
Thanks for all the help, and I'll be seeing you all in a couple of months!
I really would compare prices between your Marriot discount and the rates offered on hotels on the PAX site, It might be cheaper to get a PAX hotel, plus it helps out PAX by getting hotel numbers.
Best time to book a flight? asap, the sooner you do it the cheaper it is.
First of all, Welcome!
Seeing as the drinking age is 21, you're both kind of screwed in that respect. However, some parties don't limit according to age (just keep in mind the consequences if police get called). I doubt it would be difficult to find a room set up with Rockband/other geekery that does not include a bathtub full of liquor. It's also not hard meet other people at PAX and organize a room party yourself, or find a group that already have plans in mind.
If you can't find something to do after hours, you're doing it wrong. ;-)
I'm thinking of picking up a pair (or possibly more, depending on how many people I can talk into going) of two-way radios, and I'm looking for any sort of recommendations on what's worth it and consumer-level. I'm aware of the FCC license requirement for transmitting at GMRS power; I assume it's inadvisable to use GMRS capabilities of any unit I might get, unless there isn't much in the way of enforcement? Ever hear of someone being fined by the FCC for using walkie-talkies at what would be considered pirate power and frequencies during a short convention?
Also any experience with how large an area PAX sprawls to, and any idea on what sort of range I'd be getting (either with FRS power or GMRS power)? And of course, any recommendations?
Aslo going from bottom floor to 4th floor reception was pretty crappy.
Unfortunately, the prices at the Marriot are still going to be high. Platinum rates on the rooms are unavailable for the most part, and not competitive with the "official" hotels anyway.
However, you could still get concierge level if your friend books for you.
I decided to go with an official hotel instead, because I know I'm not going to be in the room or concierge lounge enough to justify the added cost, and I don't really need the points.
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Why the need for two way radios? What's wrong with cell phones and text messaging?
*Some people pay per text
*Pay-per-text plans are almost always incoming and outgoing, because cell phone companies love to ream customers
*Cell phone reception is never perfect
Also, a two-way radio has no call set-up time, and if there are more than two then everyone in the group can hear what's said (in theory). It's pretty nice, and not everyone has an iDEN/ReadyLink/other PTT-capable cell phone that can do something similar.
And if you're feeling sneaky some conventions use FMS/GMRS radios to communicate among staff, so you can try to eavesdrop.
The Enforcers are higher quality than that, if you eavesdrop on them they'll track your signal to your location. :P
There has been talk among some of the D&D chatters, as well as some of the Phalla players, about getting together during PAX. Would it be appropriate for me to start a "D&D [chat] folks" and a "Phalla folks" thread in this forum? I was thinking about putting link to the threads in my sig. They wouldn't really be "PAX meetup" threads yet, since we have no idea what's going on with the convention schedule-wise, but they would probably develop into that as we get closer to August. Basically, they'd just be threads where people who feel that particular tag applies to them can congregate and talk about plans.
Thanks.
Definately, radios are a good idea, I used them with my friends when I went to Comic Con and it was a godsend.
protip, find us at PAX and we'll tell you what channel we're on
Ryan
Twitter - @papapwnsPAX
*Keynote
*First Gabe and Tycho Q+A
*Exhibition Hall (closes at ~6)
*Some panels
But you'll be able to hit up the Exhibition Hall Saturday and Sunday, second Gabe and Tycho Q+A on Sunday, plenty more panels, and you won't miss any of the concerts.
I don't think it was 5 hours, but I know I stood in it for about a half hour and didn't move at all. This was an hour before it opened, though. It's because they had only one person working it and it was a very slow system. Bah.