There was a poll about it a couple months ago, posted by Khoo. It looks like they are looking to the UK for a PAX Europe. No timetable, obviously, but it's being thought about and/or worked on.
I think we would certainly have the gaming culture to support the electronic side of things; I don't know about traditional roleplay or tabletop stuff. Quite a big games industry here.
Getting to an American PAX at least once is definitely high on my to-do list though, regardless of there being a UK or European PAX at some point in the future.
sketchseven on
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Moe FwackyRight Here, Right NowDrives a BuickModeratormod
edited March 2011
PAX UK/Europe is probably still at least a couple of years away. PA only just started to garner interest from out that way, which means plans are still in very early stages.
Although, it would give me a great excuse to go to the UK.
Although, it would give me a great excuse to go to the UK.
My thoughts as well. I've always wanted to go to Europe and a PAX might push me to finally go. I'd have to go for a couple weeks and hop over to France, Belgium, and Germany too. I hope this happens soon..... but long enough for me to save money!!
My only hope is that they have at least one PAX UK before I finish my studies over here so that I don't have to pay for the flight. I'm also considering PAX UK to be my best excuse to visit the UK yearly for some of the food I've become addicted to over here, and won't be able to get once I move back to the states.
Seriously though, as an American living in the UK now, I'd say it's totally worth the visit for the rest of you who've never been! Based on the survey it's probably going to be in London, so my recommendation is to make it at least a week, and visit the city itself. London is pretty nice, though I'm partial to Edinburgh and Scotland. hehe
zezspecs on
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dyaballiklPAX Main Theatre House & Security Manager • PAX Community CartographerGold Coast QLD AustraliaRegistered Userregular
I would just like to warn you to be very cautiously optimistic about a PAX UK. Yes there was the survey and there have been other indicators that they are looking into it BUT at PAX '06 they said they'd probably do an eastcoast PAX the next year.... and it took until 2010 to actually happen. Also, at one of the Q&A's last Prime someone asked about an overseas PAX and they said that it would be very difficult to do one in another country because of import laws or something (sorry, I don't remember exactly).
Not saying it won't happen, just that it will likely take a couple years.
I would just like to warn you to be very cautiously optimistic about a PAX UK. Yes there was the survey and there have been other indicators that they are looking into it BUT at PAX '06 they said they'd probably do an eastcoast PAX the next year.... and it took until 2010 to actually happen. Also, at one of the Q&A's last Prime someone asked about an overseas PAX and they said that it would be very difficult to do one in another country because of import laws or something (sorry, I don't remember exactly).
Not saying it won't happen, just that it will likely take a couple years.
Crossing my fingers for summer 2014. Best graduation present ever.
I'll just keep my fingers crossed that it'll happen at some point in the future, and won't really believe it until I'm walking through the doors for the first time
Sketch, honestly, just save a minimal amount of money from today, and PAX East is very doable. It's also a little more magical because you get to be somewhere a little different, too. If it was in London, it wouldn't be nearly as exciting. For me, at least.
I think, all-in, PAX East cost me about £1000, and that included a trip to Montréal. You can fly to Boston for about £400, and your hotel, if you can find someone to share with, will come to about £250, I'd say. Do it.
That's interesting, I was assuming that it would be much more expensive than that - I guess hitting East rather than Prime would help on the flight costs. Certainly more affordable than I thought.
That's interesting, I was assuming that it would be much more expensive than that - I guess hitting East rather than Prime would help on the flight costs. Certainly more affordable than I thought.
Like was said above, the key part to making it more affordable is finding a roommate (or roommates) for hotel costs. Hotel is typically the largest single cost if it's done solo and is also the easiest thing to split multiple ways.
That's interesting, I was assuming that it would be much more expensive than that - I guess hitting East rather than Prime would help on the flight costs. Certainly more affordable than I thought.
As Territoires said, East is certainly doable on a budget so long as you plan ahead and shop around. I got my flights and hotel in a package deal for just over £630 flying with BA and staying solo in the hotel. Sharing will obviously reduce your costs for the hotel, and it's worth looking out for airlines having sales towards the end of the summer.
Back on topic, numbers aren't really the thing that worries me about a PAX in the UK. The main issue for me would be the lack of any similar sort of convention culture. It would be happening in somewhat of a vacum and I'm not sure it could hope to have the same sort of atmosphere. I struggle to imagine the great British reserve being cracked with games of Cuthulu Dice or pipe-cleaner crafting in the lines...
Meh. If it happens I'll be there, but til then there's East
Landerolin on
Pokecrawl 2011 - Team Squirtle!
Tweet me @Landerolin
The main issue for me would be the lack of any similar sort of convention culture. It would be happening in somewhat of a vacum and I'm not sure it could hope to have the same sort of atmosphere. I struggle to imagine the great British reserve being cracked with games of Cuthulu Dice or pipe-cleaner crafting in the lines...
That is definitely the biggest concern (aside from Americans' ability to travel there) that I have heard so far, from all sides. From everything I've heard, "our" culture is not translated well to Great Britain, where events like PAX simply don't exist.
I have to imagine, though, because PAX was really sort of innovative in its own way. In the early days, when exhibitors could be counted on your own digits, PAX was an exciting new event for all of us who had never been to a con before. Most people in Europe have never been to an E3, Gamescon, or TGS, but many of them are still hard core gamers and nerds like us. How is that different?
Approached in that respect, I think PAX could maintain much of its developed culture in the UK, though it may have to start off small there, which would certainly have an impact on Reed's (or whatever event specialist will take it) return on their investment.
dyaballikl on
a.k.a. dya
"Riding a mongoose reminds me of having sex with a man, which is something I do frequently because I am gay!" -Gabe
I've been lurking on this thread for a while before making my thoughts known. Speaking as someone who hails from 'Old Timey Land' i.e. UK, and has attended no less than 5 PAX's, I can certainly make some observations on the differences in culture that PAX organisers may have to overcome in order to make it a success.
Many here have said that we in Europe aren't that big on conventions, and whilst the frequency of them is no where near as much as they are in the US, they certainly exist. I'm speaking here of EuroGamer Expo, Gamescom and Essen (for tabletop gaming). All of these are very well attended, with Gamescom attracting 200k+ visitors.
Then there is the culture issue. Many some have cited British reserve as being a barrier for much of the activities that are organised at PAX. Now while it does exist, I have witnessed many a 'reserved' British person do some very odd things in public. This includes a cos-play record breaking attempt at the MCM Expo that had 100's of people dressed as Anime and video game characters all in one place. I certainly didn't see much in the way of British reserve being on display on that day.
Having said that, there will have to be some changes in the way the Enforcers interact with lines. Whooping and hollaring really doesn't go down very well. All you'll get is a cold hard stare in response along with a collective sigh. We British are however very good at making lines, we just don't speak to each other while in them.
I personally believe that PAX UK will be a huge success, provided the organisers embrace the UK based gaming communities such as Rllmuk and EuroGamer to ensure the core audience know what it's about, as many in the UK barely know what PAX is.
As far as the culture goes, I don't know that's something that would necessarily be an issue - I'm sure that a lot of people would be up for a good time, and a lot of people would like to indulge the gaming side of things. Would the vibe be a little different to the US? Quite probably. But building something that makes PAX Europe unique, something that makes it comparable to PAX East or Prime but not exactly the same, would be a bigger achievement than simply attempting to replicate that feeling on this side of the pond.
The thing that makes PAX special, and the reason that I think it will continue to be successful, is it's focus on gamers and gaming - I hope they always maintain that, so it doesn't become just another everything-under-one-roof thing.
I hope they do bring it over here. I'll still go to East, and maybe Prime. But I'd like to have it here too.
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Thanks for the quick response.
I recommend you save and go to East. I'm just back, and it was the best thing.
Gaming blog
@lamournumerique
Getting to an American PAX at least once is definitely high on my to-do list though, regardless of there being a UK or European PAX at some point in the future.
Although, it would give me a great excuse to go to the UK.
It has been said, and must be so!
My thoughts as well. I've always wanted to go to Europe and a PAX might push me to finally go. I'd have to go for a couple weeks and hop over to France, Belgium, and Germany too. I hope this happens soon..... but long enough for me to save money!!
Ditto. I think PAX UK is going to have a pretty large amount of Americans going just for the trip abroad!
Seriously though, as an American living in the UK now, I'd say it's totally worth the visit for the rest of you who've never been! Based on the survey it's probably going to be in London, so my recommendation is to make it at least a week, and visit the city itself. London is pretty nice, though I'm partial to Edinburgh and Scotland. hehe
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=136623
Not saying it won't happen, just that it will likely take a couple years.
Crossing my fingers for summer 2014. Best graduation present ever.
Previous PAXs: PAX Prime 2011, PAX AUS 2013
I think, all-in, PAX East cost me about £1000, and that included a trip to Montréal. You can fly to Boston for about £400, and your hotel, if you can find someone to share with, will come to about £250, I'd say. Do it.
Gaming blog
@lamournumerique
Like was said above, the key part to making it more affordable is finding a roommate (or roommates) for hotel costs. Hotel is typically the largest single cost if it's done solo and is also the easiest thing to split multiple ways.
As Territoires said, East is certainly doable on a budget so long as you plan ahead and shop around. I got my flights and hotel in a package deal for just over £630 flying with BA and staying solo in the hotel. Sharing will obviously reduce your costs for the hotel, and it's worth looking out for airlines having sales towards the end of the summer.
Back on topic, numbers aren't really the thing that worries me about a PAX in the UK. The main issue for me would be the lack of any similar sort of convention culture. It would be happening in somewhat of a vacum and I'm not sure it could hope to have the same sort of atmosphere. I struggle to imagine the great British reserve being cracked with games of Cuthulu Dice or pipe-cleaner crafting in the lines...
Meh. If it happens I'll be there, but til then there's East
Tweet me @Landerolin
Or Cardiff. What better place to hold such a convention then the home of Doctor Who and Torchwood.
I never finish anyth
Meles told me that Torchwood tower is right outside the Cardiff convention center and I just about had a nerdgasm.
I have to imagine, though, because PAX was really sort of innovative in its own way. In the early days, when exhibitors could be counted on your own digits, PAX was an exciting new event for all of us who had never been to a con before. Most people in Europe have never been to an E3, Gamescon, or TGS, but many of them are still hard core gamers and nerds like us. How is that different?
Approached in that respect, I think PAX could maintain much of its developed culture in the UK, though it may have to start off small there, which would certainly have an impact on Reed's (or whatever event specialist will take it) return on their investment.
Many here have said that we in Europe aren't that big on conventions, and whilst the frequency of them is no where near as much as they are in the US, they certainly exist. I'm speaking here of EuroGamer Expo, Gamescom and Essen (for tabletop gaming). All of these are very well attended, with Gamescom attracting 200k+ visitors.
Then there is the culture issue. Many some have cited British reserve as being a barrier for much of the activities that are organised at PAX. Now while it does exist, I have witnessed many a 'reserved' British person do some very odd things in public. This includes a cos-play record breaking attempt at the MCM Expo that had 100's of people dressed as Anime and video game characters all in one place. I certainly didn't see much in the way of British reserve being on display on that day.
Having said that, there will have to be some changes in the way the Enforcers interact with lines. Whooping and hollaring really doesn't go down very well. All you'll get is a cold hard stare in response along with a collective sigh. We British are however very good at making lines, we just don't speak to each other while in them.
I personally believe that PAX UK will be a huge success, provided the organisers embrace the UK based gaming communities such as Rllmuk and EuroGamer to ensure the core audience know what it's about, as many in the UK barely know what PAX is.
The thing that makes PAX special, and the reason that I think it will continue to be successful, is it's focus on gamers and gaming - I hope they always maintain that, so it doesn't become just another everything-under-one-roof thing.
I hope they do bring it over here. I'll still go to East, and maybe Prime. But I'd like to have it here too.