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Attending PAX solo?
mellowshipslinky
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So I've been contemplating whether or not I should attend PAX. I'm from the Seattle area (Kirkland, for those of you in the know), and it's pretty easy for me to be last-minute with regards to my decision. My only reservations are:
1) I realized as of late that my friends are lame and none of them are real gamers. So I would probably end up going to PAX solo.
2) I'm a little out of it when it comes to the gaming world lately, thanks to college / work sucking up all my time (and my SOUL). Now that I'm graduated I'll have a lot more time to dedicate to hobbies and whatnot, but at the moment I don't have a ton of geek cred and am wondering if I would end up feeling a little out of place. This wouldn't really concern me at all except for the fact that I would probably be going solo, and thus being out of the loop a bit would make being alone more awkward?
I've thought about the pre-PAX dinner, but I still have the same concerns. Basically, I'm just not a huge fan of doing stuff by myself.
So I am wondering...
What's the solo experience like at PAX?
Should I go for all three days (more money), or just one day in case I'm not digging it?
Please, blanket me with your thoughtful insights and sage advice!
1) I realized as of late that my friends are lame and none of them are real gamers. So I would probably end up going to PAX solo.
2) I'm a little out of it when it comes to the gaming world lately, thanks to college / work sucking up all my time (and my SOUL). Now that I'm graduated I'll have a lot more time to dedicate to hobbies and whatnot, but at the moment I don't have a ton of geek cred and am wondering if I would end up feeling a little out of place. This wouldn't really concern me at all except for the fact that I would probably be going solo, and thus being out of the loop a bit would make being alone more awkward?
I've thought about the pre-PAX dinner, but I still have the same concerns. Basically, I'm just not a huge fan of doing stuff by myself.
So I am wondering...
What's the solo experience like at PAX?
Should I go for all three days (more money), or just one day in case I'm not digging it?
Please, blanket me with your thoughtful insights and sage advice!
mellowshipslinky on
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This discussion has been closed.
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I'm taking the West Coast Train Trip up, so I'm going to be crammed into a tiny, moving, steel box with like 100+ other people. I'm staying with a guy via couchsurfing.com who's also hosting 2 other people from PAX, so I'll be sleeping with 3 random strangers. I really wanted to go to the pre-PAX dinner, but the train gets in too late for me to go. I'd highly suggest doing it - there's a lot of people, the menu looks good, and it sounds like a lot of fun.
I've never been before, but I would assume the consensus among the PAXers would be to go for all three days. If you're going, go for all three days. There isn't a day without several awesome things.
Ultimately if you're bored and lonely, you can look me up and we'll hang out. But I doubt that will happen.
Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
Satellite Theater for life!
I was going to reprint advice from a previous post with some extra bullet points, blah blah blah. But I think at the end of the day, it all boils down to one thing.
Embrace The Geekiness
PAX is about sharing our love of all things nerdy. Fly your geek flag however you fly it (cosplay, shirts, buttons, portable games). It doesn't matter if it's out of date. Someone will recognize it and love it.
The flip side of this is to salute other people's geek flags. If someone is wearing gear from a game, a band (espeicially one performing at PAX), or a podcast that you like, high fives! (If you're worried about being too forward, a mold friendly thumbs up also works.)
Past that, it just comes down to basic social graces (thinking of others and not being a dick) and putting yourself out there.
If you want to cheat (and what gamer doesn't from time to time), getting to know people on the forums and in the #paforums_pax channel on slashnet ahead of time can make you feel like you've already got friends (or at least friendly acquaintances with good taste in games) waiting for you in Seattle.
You'll love it
All hail the Hypno-Spode!
ONE OF US! ONE OF US! ONE OF US!
Seriously though... just think of yourself at a party. Since in my mind PAX is THE party of the summer.
I thought WWE's Sumerslam was the biggest party of the summer?
Well... if you consider half naked oily guys rubbing up against one another a 'party'.
I have another four letter in mind for something like that, orgy.
I'm also in the same boat as you... lagging behind in the gaming culture a bit due to life taking over. But once you're at PAX, you'll fit right in with everyone. And yeah, go to the Pre-pax events so that you'll get to meet people you can go along with during PAX
I'll definitely investigate more about the various pre-PAX events, and hang around the PA forums some more (which should be easy to do since I have like, nothing to do at work lately, and have thus been BORED OUT OF MY MIND for the past week).
yay!
Big mistake.
1) The chances you will want to go to all of the same things as your buddy are slim. There is a lot to do there, and you cant cover everything. This way you can absolutely go to everything you want and not feel bad about leaving someone behind!
2) People on this forum are super nice. VThornheart especially, that guy rocks and convinced me of basically the same things i'm telling you.
3) There are so many pre-pax and other events i'm sure you'll be plenty busy and wont feel alone.
4)
You CANT go wrong with pictochat.
MySpace For You.
Facebook For You.
I have more money now (was in just out of college last time, now I've built up my savings) and convinced a new brood of friends who are also monetarily inclined who put in for the trip also. You'll definitely find people to hang out with. If you want to hang out with a no-quite-as-hardcore-anymore gamer group, me and my buddies will be easy to find, on account that I'll be one of the few guys running around with a real Afro (no, the pool is NOT closed).
Priapus semper penetrandum!
Considering that, for me, getting to the WSCTC only involves fairly painless bus ride, I guess I really don't have any good excuses not to come!
I'm also hoping to make some new friends and hang out. Check out some of the Pre-PAX events to meet some new folks. I personally recommend the Pre-PAX breakfast (shameless plug). :winky:
Question answered. Thread over.
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All the thread title needs is one comma.
This is my first year going to PAX, and I'm flying solo. Because I am flying to Seattle Friday morning and leaving Sunday night, and because I don't drink, there are quite a few pre-PAX, post-PAX and even during-PAX events I won't be able to attend. I'm thinking of checking out the Pre-PAX Breakfast dealie, but it's only a "maybe" as far as scheduling goes.
I've never posted in the forums until just this very moment, and I don't know anyone else going to PAX. I'm nervous, but I tend to be outgoing (I think? Heck, I don't know). So, other than whipping out my DS (Original represent!), how can socialization be initiated? Do I just run up to a group of people, whip out my PAX pass, and yell "HEY WHAT UP FOOLS PAX IS GOING TO BE SWEET LOLOLOL."
Getting involved in pick-up games in the tabletop freeplay area is a good way to meet people, although the tabletop people might be a little removed from the PAX mainstream (which isn't entirely their fault, given that every other year they seem to get relegated to some remote outpost like exiles to a penal colony. heh heh penal...).
do you really want to lead bears to a group of PAX newbies? They wouldn't know what to do in that situation, unlike us veterans.
If you see me I expect you to do just that.
Funny you should say that.... I made friends with a couple of people who did that very thing to the group I was hanging out with.
So yes, yes you should!
Sounds like a plan. But if anyone thinks that I'm being rude, then I will blame you, Person From The Internet!
I- wait, really? Well, according to your forum handle, you are indeed some sort of "fool", so I guess that makes sense. I'll make sure to be on the look out for some small, brown, rodent-thing. Or is your avatar misleading?
Ah ha! I was waiting for some anecdotal* evidence! That settles it then. Unintelligible screaming it is.
*Hey, I spelled this right on my first try! Yaaaaay.
Pretty close, but I usually have glasses on, and I'm also considering wearing pants too.
For example: "What'd ya mean I can't take my sweater off?!"
Expected Reply: ????
MySpace For You.
Facebook For You.
My boyfriend was going to be coming with, but that went bust
Maybe we should get all the "solo-ers" together so we won't be alone?
Most of the PAX people are nice though, and It's pretty easy to strike up a conversation with people or join in some of the random games or other activities.
(or pictochat - though the majority of that sometimes seems to just be rude art....)
Also, just hanging around the booths for games/companies you like and talking with the crowds there is a great way to meet people who are interested in the same stuff you are - a like interest is always good for conversation.
The whole place has a really relaxed atmosphere, so just chatting with strangers kind of comes naturally.
Or if you're feeling a bit shy and maybe know some people on the forums, try and have them introduce you to some of the people they know.
That'll take some of the "zomg! I'm all alone!" pressure off.
In other words: Go all 3 days!
Not only is it terribly easy to make friends, you'll likely have such a blast catching up with all the gaming stuff you could want that the whole weekend will be over before you know it - don't buy into only one day and sell yourself short :P
Also, not everything has to have something to do with gaming, so if you get bored of all that obsessive Diablo 3 talk or what have you, there are plenty of after-hours activities that people go out for.
Personally, I like quoting MST3K myself... It always seems funnier when someone "gets" a much more obscure reference
"Follow me if you're flame-retardant!"
I think both the Pre-PAX dinner and breakfast are mostly "dry" events. The dinner folks couldn't afford the hassle for alcohol and most people don't need booze for breakfast... with some exeptions *looks pointedly at Moe*.
I'M HOT!!