PixlBit

Hey folks.  This past weekend I went to Seattle for PAX West 2017, and I just posted my pictures and articles about the show at GamerDad.com.  Here’s a short blog with links to those articles and such.  Please read them if you can, and maybe even post a ‘like’ or a comment or two.  I’d really appreciate it.

PAX West 2017 Part 1: Cooking Up a Super-Packed PAX!

I had more meetings at this PAX than any others I’ve been to.  More than fifteen meetings in a span of two days, in fact!  So I was busy!  Highlights from the first day include playing LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 and Adult Swim Games’ Battle Chef Brigade!

PAX West 2017 Part 2: Runner-ing Around Like a Blue Hedgehog

Highlights from the second day include playing games from Atari, SEGA, and Square-Enix.  I think Square-Enix had my favorite games at the show!

PAX West 2017 Part 3: The Rest of the Mega Mans and Marios

Usually when I write my PAX articles, I talk about what games my favorite companies had first, like Capcom, Namco, and Nintendo.  But this year I decided to change things up and do them last.  I didn’t take hardly any pictures of cosplayers this year, as I found that most of them were either characters I don’t know or Overwatch characters.  Serious lack of cosplay originality at this show.  Also, I think Nintendo could’ve been a little more accessible for the media.  A few tweaks here and there and they could do it.  Square-Enix has them beat on that!

And that’s all I did at PAX!  Before I go, I do have some final observations I’d like to point out.

At this year’s PAX, I was especially surprised with how many people remembered me.  Whether it was PR professionals, developers, or even other gamers, they would recognize me long before I could recognize them.  I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been doing this for more than 20 years, but it just surprised me since I don’t see these people more than once a year.  It just really made me feel special.  It’s nice to be remembered.

And now a couple of negative things.  At PAX there are helpers called PAX Enforcers who volunteer to help out and make sure everything runs smoothly and safely.  In years past I’ve found them to be very nice and helpful, but this year many of them were rather rude.  When I want to take a picture of something at the show, I’ll try and look around and find a spot out of everyone’s way, then I’ll quickly get out my camera and take a picture.  It takes only about two seconds.  Well, multiple times when I tried that this show, a PAX Enforcer would yell at me to stop taking pictures and move along and get out of the way.  Seriously?  I understand they’re just trying to do their job, but I think they could’ve stood to be more polite about it.

The only other bad thing about this trip is that on the way home, American Airlines lost my luggage!  Luckily they found it the next day, but that’s the second time that American (or one of the airlines they own) has lost my bags!  How does that happen?  Next time I may be a little hesitant to use American Airlines, or at least I may look into alternatives to keeping track of my luggage.  Maybe.

But aside from those minor quibbles, this was still a pretty fun PAX trip. I always bring a family member along to help me get around places better since I’ve been blind in my left eye since birth, and this year I took my dad again.  So it was great to spend time with him, too.  In the comments section, let me know what you think of my PAX coverage, and if you have any questions, too, just ask!  Later!  --Cary

PS: My next blog will be on my birthday.  So start thinking of what kind of pretend presents you want to get me!  :)