It's that time of year again!
What is it?
PAX Prime is a 4 day geek culture convention with video games as the focal point. There's an expo hall where you can demo some games before they come out, panels you can check out, a tabletop area, console freeplay, tournaments, concerts etc
When is It?
Sept 1-4, 2017
Where is it?
Washington State Convention Center, Seattle Washington
Expo Hall hours?
Show Floor is 10am-6pm each day. Other parts like the console freeplay, tabletop area etc are 10am-12am Fri-Sun and 10am-7pm Monday.
How much are tickets?
Tickets were $48/day but are now sold out. If you want tickets now you'll need to buy through a third party. You can try /r/PaxPassExchange among other places. There are often people selling tickets outside the convention center and PAX has a badge verification check you can use to verify a badges authenticity before purchasing. Do not buy from a third party outside the convention center unless the seller is willing to go with you to verify the badge.
The nearest airport is Seattle-Tacoma. The airport code is SEA.
Once you arrive at the airport, you can take the Light Rail link to downtown Seattle for only $3. Here are the last few light rail stops(note Convention center is on the corner of 7th and Pike):
You can walk to your hotel from there pretty easily if you picked one near the convention center.
The Light Rail now also continues on to Capital Hill and Washington University so you have more options to mass transit places.
The best place to book a hotel is through the official hotel list which you can access here:
https://compass.onpeak.com/e/012600482/1#hotels
Most stuff is already booked up but you might get lucky with a last minute cancellation. Otherwise you can check out what is available through others sites.
Floor plans!
Panel list(subject to change) is available now via the Guidebook app. Just search PAX Prime 2017 on Google Play or iTunes or view the mobile app online here. Schedule is posted on the PAX West website as well.
Main Theatre: Benaroya Hall
Cat Theatre: Convention Center, Level 2
Hydra Theatre: Grand Hyatt, Level 1
Hippogriff Theatre: Grand Hyatt, Level 1
Sasquatch Theatre: Sheraton, Level 2
Sandworm Theater: Sheraton, Level 2
Sphinx Theatre: Sheraton, Level 3
Wyvern Theatre: Westin, Level 4
The Westin is a bit of a walk from the Convention Center so give yourself some extra time if you plan on attending a panel in the Westin. It's on the corner of 5th, Stewart, and Westlake(yep three corners).
Q) I'm not at PAX, any way I can experience it at home?
A) Yes PAX streams some panels on the following channels:
www.twitch.tv/pax
www.twitch.tv/pax2
www.twitch.tv/pax3
Will all be streaming theaters. Last year the Main, Hydra, and Wyvern theatres were streamed.
Bungie is taking over the Paramount Theatre Friday Saturday and Sunday. Go there for your Destiny 2 fix.
Console Freeplay is now on level 6 of the Convention Center
Swag Bags can be picked up at the Westin and contain a League of Legends code/skin thing.
-Check out the exhibit hall and play some unreleased games
-Go to some panels. There is a wide variety so there is bound to be some you are interested in
-Console Free play. Borrow a game and play it on a number of retro consoles in the free play room. All free
-Table Top: Take part in some table top games in the tabletop area
-Retro Arcade. Play some cool old arcade and pinball games
-Tournaments. Throughout PAX there will be tournaments for various games. Games and times are in the schedule
Weve got some amazing musical talent closing out Friday and Saturday nights at PAX and we hope you will enjoy them with us. Friday will kick off in fantastic fashion with Bit Brigade, MC Frontalot, and Mega Ran & K-Murdock! Saturday doesnt take its foot off the gas either with The OneUps, The Doubleclicks, and Super Soul Bros all coming to deliver awesome sets.
Gameworks
Gameworks is a Barcade with tons of arcade machines. and it's pretty much right across the street from the convention center
Seattle Pinball Museam
Become the Pinball Wizzard!
Top Pot Donuts
mmmmm sprinkles
Seattle Monorail
Friday Sept 1 9pm @ Rhein Haus
It's a bit of a walk, but it's a big place with a good selection of drinks and food and whatnot.
How do I Get there?
It's a pretty simple walk. You could probably cut some distance walking on foot by cutting through Seattle University but Pike to 12th is the easiest if you're not familiar with walking around Seattle.
I plan on going to the Life Is Strange Before The Storm Launch party which is 6pm-9pm at the Unicorn which is right on the corner of pike and 12th. Everyone is welcome to join me for that first.
Why should I come?
Because putting faces to avatars and meeting new people is the best part of conventions like PAX(I'm an expert!). Come hang out have a drink if you like and chat about what you saw/played at PAX.
Meeting Gaffers is my favorite part of PAX, you should all come.
A pretty good up to date list of PAX parties can be found here:
https://forums.penny-arcade.com/discussion/213098/pax-party-line-2017
Or here:
https://twitter.com/paxparties
-Snacks and Water. You're going to be waiting in line a lot to get into your favorite panels and to try the latest games. It always helps to have snacks and beverages so you don't have to decide between waiting in line for food or going to another panel/playing another game.
Hand Sanitizer There will be plenty available for you to use around the convention center but it's always best to have your own in case it's just out of reach.
-Handheld game systems. Bring your Switch!
-Something to sit on. The floor can be hard on the old backside. Bring a cushon with you, or for elite level line waiting, bring a slacker stool.
-A easy to carry bag. You're going to need it for all the above, plus the swag you'll get. Don't go overboard though as you will have to carry everything with you all day. You're not backpacking across Europe. Some people bring poster tubes to keep posters they acquire in good condition.
-Your cellphone/Switch battery will not last. Conventions are murder on your battery. I strongly recommend investing in a external battery pack of some kind.
-How long should you wait in line for a panel? Most stuff you're fine if you're there 30 minutes early. Some stuff like the Keynote and the PAX Rumble panel always book up fast. Other times popular panels end up in smaller theatres and book up insanely fast too. If you absolutely positively must see a panel and are willing to wait whatever it takes, look at the schedule and see what time the panel before it starts. The second that panel begins is the earliest you can line up(typically 90 minutes early)
-Get your sleep. you probably don't need the full 8 hours, but you don't want to be getting back to your hotel room at 4am and then waking up at 7 so you can be near the front of the line for when the convention center opens at 10am the next day.
-You might not be able to see/do everything. Pick your priorities and wait it out.
-Go to the GAF meetup/other meetups. My favorite part of conventions is meeting people I've been chatting online with for years. If you take the chance and do it, It'll become yours too. Doesn't have to be GAF. Are you part of a subreddit that is having a meetup at the convention? a Playstaiton Fansite etc? Consider attending them.
-Have Fun
Also swag finds are posted here:
Throughout the event weekend, however, attendees on reddit update their findings on topics like these: PAX Swag Hunters.
