tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post1947601389869773072..comments2023-05-27T11:14:02.426-04:00Comments on Some Space to Think: PAX Vs the WorldAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14216103531396452644noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-65772990253385240992011-03-21T00:50:17.078-04:002011-03-21T00:50:17.078-04:00Speaking as a PAX vendor, there are some very weir...Speaking as a PAX vendor, there are some very weird things about how PAX does its events that helps make RPGs the way they are. <br /><br />For example, PAX doesn't give out free badges for running games - all of the event GMs with free badges get them through vendors. In fact, pretty much all of the scheduled gaming content is done by the various vendors in tabletop gaming (and to some lesser extent the sponsors).<br /><br />This means that realistically speaking, every gaming company that wants to see their games has to either get a booth\demo table or get a retail partner who is willing to commit badges to the cause.<br /><br />For what its worth, I personally think a slightly fuller RPG slate would be a good idea for PAX (I was trying to put something together for this past year, but it didn't come together in time), so if you do end up wanting a retail partner, I'd totally be interested in helping set something up.Zrealmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11413983320498378900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-82322080816560527042011-03-18T11:20:46.528-04:002011-03-18T11:20:46.528-04:00"If I want to play RPGs, should I go to PAX E...<b>"If I want to play RPGs, should I go to PAX East instead of Gen Con, Origins, or Dreamation?"</b> It's a question I've heard quite a bit the last week. <br /><br />PAX East was absolutely <b>AMAZING</b> for:<br /><br /><b>1. </b> Selling games (Gen Con level sales with less cost, hassle, and broader marketing potential)<br /><b>2. </b> Board Games (huge library, lots of people who want to play at a moment's notice)<br /><b>3. </b> RPG 1-2 hour demos (the sales booths were demo machines)<br /><b>4. </b> D&D (wizards had a steady stream of dungeon delves every 2 hours and full games every 4 hours)<br /><b>5. </b> Video games (old and new, the classic arcade room was outstanding)<br /><b>6. </b> Nerd music (nerdcore, chiptunes)<br /><b>7. </b> Panels (with 30-60 minutes lines but worth it, and amazing marketing for the panelists)<br /><b>8. </b> Partying<br /><b>9. </b> An absolutely infectious atmosphere of energetic enthusiasm for all things nerdy<br /><br />But as someone who loves to play full session RPGs that aren't just D&D, PAX in my opinion as it is now, can't compete with Gen Con, Origins, or Dreamation. Not even close. <br /><br />If you didn't have games organized beforehand, aren't a known RPG mini-celebrity, weren't associated with a booth, or didn't go to great lengths to get a game started (walking around with large signs saying, "play X game with me" for 20 minutes)… playing full RPGs that weren't D&D or game demos was very difficult. For every person I heard pulled it off, I heard many more who gave up out of frustration and played a boardgame instead. <br /><br />I know a lot of people who got caught up in the general enthusiasm over PAX, confusing the success of selling RPGs with generally playing them, and then walked away disappointed. A few people warned me before attending PAX East for the first time but I was willing to take the risk. And ultimately, for myself, confirmed their experiences. <br /><br />That said, things will change. One of the reasons Dreamation is so amazing is because Kat and Michael Miller go out of their way to organize Indie Games Explosion for the convention. PAX wants to grow the Table Top area and there is some talk of trying to re-purpose the que and cafeteria areas for quieter gaming as well as trying to make organizing RPGs after the Expo Hall closes (6pm) easier. I don't know if this will happen by next year but I suspect they will eventually make organizing and playing RPGs a less trying experience. <br /><br />I mainly don't want people reading the general excitement over PAX to confuse the success of selling RPGs with the experience playing them at PAX. Selling might be at Gen Con levels, but for people like me who don't sell games, PAX is nowhere near the level of Gen Con, Origins, or Dreamation in terms of playing RPGs.jenskothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11904786056073226766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1678761812929125529.post-87751074923993661912011-03-18T10:43:43.199-04:002011-03-18T10:43:43.199-04:00Thanks! From a European, French-speaking point of ...Thanks! From a European, French-speaking point of view, I found your panorama review of US conventions very interesting.<br /><br />Here, from my experience, we have mostly two types of cons: big, trade-show style events (Festival international du jeu in Cannes, Monde du jeu in Paris, Trolls & Légendes / Fantastique.Convention in Mons, Belgium) and smaller,. gaming conventions, usually organized by local game clubs. Is it about the same?Aliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05524695958933499524noreply@blogger.com