I was a bit worried...

moomin83

Thanks for my first PAX. I have to admit though. I've never been to anything remotely like that before. Though I've played MMO's for a few years now it's always just been with a few irl friends and I'm not really that hardcore. I don't own a console, but I did play Nintendo as a kid! I decided this year to take a trip by myself and do a bit of everything I've always wanted to try but was too afraid to....PAX was one of those on my agenda.

Being a girl and knowing no one, I was a bit apprehensive but everyone there was really nice and helpful. I didn't talk to many while I was there and sort of stuck to myself, which is one thing I regret. I tend to be a shy quiet person.

Thanks for making it a pleasant experience and I will definitely be back next year and maybe talk and meet more people, since I really feel like after having been there I missed out on one of the most important aspects.

Mandy

nemaihne

Sing it, sister. I bow to your bravery both for going to PAX and for getting online here.

I'm pretty shy IRL too, so I know where you're coming from. But you're on the forums now, and the more active you are here the more of a jump you'll have on next year. It gets easier, too. I promise.

Doc Holliday

Where are you from?

I can imagine being a girl would be kind of scurry around all those dudes. It was also my first time and I was pleasantly surprised by how talkative and nice people were. Everyone was generally chill and awesome; we met loads of new friends and my wife and I barely had to spend any time alone. Striking a conversation was so easy.

Glad you had a great time at PAX! Will you be back next year?

s7arbuck

try not to be shy... Biggest advice wait in a long line (cock band 2) and talk to the person next to you, next thing you know you have a band mate and someone to hang out with and chill with the entire day/weekend

Interjection

I was pretty much the same way...maybe slightly more social though...

I kept trying to start up a few conversations and find some people to hang with over the weekend...a few things kept me from doing that:

1. I couldn't wait in the big line Friday
2. I seem to have been constantly around tight groups
3. Most of the people I talked to didn't know much about games being released
4. The people who I did get along with were at demo booths...and nobody stuck around long...
5. I have a love of making numbered lists...and that just doesn't mesh well...

NOTE: Rockband 2 line was the most antisocial line for me...I was surrounded by groups of 4 people...so I ended up jumping up early as a solo bassist...

Nijhazer

s7arbuck wrote: »

try not to be shy... Biggest advice wait in a long line (cock band 2)

I didn't see that one on the show . Probably for the best; I'd hate to see the bundled peripheral.

Was anyone else surprised at the number of women in attendance this year? Attendance in general is growing every year, but this was the first time I've been to an event like this where I actually noticed a lot of women attending of their own volition. Could it be that the female gamer population really is growing at a faster rate than many people predicted, or is PAX the only gaming convention with universal appeal? Either way, it's heartening.

leaf

Come outside next year and smoke the hookah with us, you're pretty much guaranteed to meet some cool people and hit a party.

FatimusPrime

I have to say that being antisocial was my biggest mistake. This being my first PAX as well, I was more struck by the amount of people and amount of crap going on. I did talk to some people in line but not enough to really mean anything. I was so confused at what to do that I ended up walking around the entire Convention center a couple of times just to check things out. Next year will be a lot different for me, first off I wont be going alone and secondly Ill talk to more people! xD

latinman280

It was almost the opposite for me. I tried my best to be as social as possible with people. Starting random convos, making an effort to scout people out that were kinda by the lonesome. Unfortunately I was usually met with weird looks which I just politely accepted and moved on.

I would have really liked to get into the "in crowds" of forum people as well as enforcers because I felt like an outsider whenever I approached one or struck up a convo. But, I guess thats my fault for not participating in the community prior to up and going to pax.

At least I know better for next year

Misterioso

if you can, pre-pax events are a great to meet people before the chaos.

moomin83

FatimusPrime wrote: »

I was more struck by the amount of people and amount of crap going on.

I agree! There was so much going on and so many people I just kind of remained confused and off in my own little world. That and I spent so much time saying sorry...sorry...sorry....soooorrrrry because everyone I even touched by accident I said sorry. The scariest part though had to be when that robot started coming at me. I didn't know what to think and I'm sure I looked terrified.

Overall, great time! Two thumbs up from me. I will be back next year. Besides, I need to find that cute Enforcer guy and say hi.

leaf

Misterioso wrote: »

if you can, pre-pax events are a great to meet people before the chaos.

this

Bambooza

Indeed the pre pax events are a great way to meet others in a smaller setting. pax has grown so huge that its truly is a chaos monster all its own yet still there are lots of great people to chat with to challenge to a card game or such. Beyond this if you know your going to pax next year being active on the forums and IRC is always a great way to meet lots of great people.

latinman280

I kicked myself for not staying longer with the crowd at the pub crawl. my "roomies" influenced me into walking back to the hotel. Must ignore the peer pressure when offered drunken shenanigans next time.

FatimusPrime

I can only hope that next year I wont be so damn confused on what to do and what its ok to do. xD I really wish that I could have had friends or made friends there, being solo and all. Next year will be different!

TCB

Yeah! I was solo too. There were people I knew there but I didn't kick it with them. I think the worst part was just walking around the expo hall alone. Next year I'm kidnapping some of my friends and making them come.

FatimusPrime

Yeah, I easily spent 85% of my time at PAX in the expo hall. It was insanely awesome but would have been much better to have a friend there to be excited with, instead of, "Wow, I didnt know that game going to be so awesome" and moving on. Naturally I wanna talk about stuff I think is cool and it makes it better when theres others that share it with you. Oh well, theres always next year.

babelfish

I think we should organize EXPO HALL BUDDIES for next year.

(Actually, even though I checked it out with someone else later on in the weekend this year, it'd be pretty awesome to check it out with new people, since we probably already know our friends' opinions of certain games.)

candycoatedcorpses

Totally!! I think it would be really cool to have a randomized group thing- like putting the names of all interested people in a hat, drawing out five at a time and saying, "heres your companions for the next two hours! have fun!"

ElectricTurtle

latinman280 wrote: »

...I guess thats my fault for not participating in the community prior to up and going to pax.

This.

But seriously, even limiting myself to interacting with forum and IRC peeps, it seemed like most of the time I couldn't go 50 feet without getting into a conversation.

JustinSane07

I went with a group of 4 of us and we broke off a number of times during the expo hall. It seemed easier to navigate with 2 of us or solo.

And then when someone in my group forgot his cell charger and had no phone on Sunday, it became a pain in the ass.

FatimusPrime

Was anyone else's' cell service spotty around that place? Mine was in and out of reception the entire time, it was pissing me off. Sprint...>.>

But yeah I agree with something like a group put together in the forums to hang with. That would be awesome.

Googalash

I'm glad you all had a great time. Hope you all come back for 09.

angiek47

This was my first PAX and I noticed a lot of women. I also noticed a lot of couples, especially m/f couples where they both were interested in being there, not just the girl tagging along. Really awesome.

I haven't come to a PAX before because I'm really shy, too, and just don't know how to start or maintain a good conversation. I made my husband come with me this year because I really wanted to go. I ended up talking to him or playing a solo game on my DS. Hopefully next year I will be a little more outgoing. I couldn't fly into Seattle for pre-PAX activities but hopefully if I keep active on the forums for the next year I'll have people to hang with at PAX 09.

Hello everyone!

TCB

haha! I like the buddy system. That would be grand.

As for the cell phone thing, it might just have been that there were so many cellphones and DS's around there that your service was in and out. Thats kinda how it is at Bumbershoot.

Doc Holliday

angiek47 wrote: »

This was my first PAX and I noticed a lot of women. I also noticed a lot of couples, especially m/f couples where they both were interested in being there, not just the girl tagging along. Really awesome.

I haven't come to a PAX before because I'm really shy, too, and just don't know how to start or maintain a good conversation. I made my husband come with me this year because I really wanted to go. I ended up talking to him or playing a solo game on my DS. Hopefully next year I will be a little more outgoing. I couldn't fly into Seattle for pre-PAX activities but hopefully if I keep active on the forums for the next year I'll have people to hang with at PAX 09.

Hello everyone!

My wife and I just moved (this past April) from Austin to Portland. We miss Austin . Too bad we didn't hook up. We totally could have double-dated PAX. AWESOME!

RoyceSraphim

I was shy as well, but on Sunday, I got a bunch of T-shirts thrown in my face and I preoccupied myself with making a ninja mask. It really helps you feel better to hide behind it. Then once you talk to a few people, take it off and feel even more empowered.

Or maybe that's just me.

angiek47

Doc Holliday wrote: »

My wife and I just moved (this past April) from Austin to Portland. We miss Austin . Too bad we didn't hook up. We totally could have double-dated PAX. AWESOME!

Portland, OR or Portland, ME? My husband's from Beaverton, OR and I LOVE Portland, OR! (Although I'm sure Portland, ME is nice, too.) Well, there's always PAX09!