PAX Prime ’10: Half Left’s Round-up of Day Two

The second day of Penny Arcade Expo found me waking up fairly early due to the voice of reason in my head coupled with this nation’s archaic drinking laws preventing me from getting overly sloshed the night prior.

I headed out with my roommates to the Destructoid panel in which their staff members talked about their experiences within the site and community (which contains many people I hang around with), as well as their plans for future expansion. I followed the group down the stairs for the traditional group photo but a mean and nasty PAX Enforcer got his knickers and a twist and made a mess of it. Ruddy health and saftey.

High Fructose Cancer Syrup

After this I started shaking uncontrollably. I realised that I had not taken any sustenance in two and a half days, or consumed any liquid not laced with sugar, HFCS, or alcohol and was feeling the effects. Me and a group of friends wandered across the road to the Cheesecake Factory and set about falling into a food coma on copious American portions (I had the BBQ chicken pizza. Was all-right I suppose).

I went back to the hotel to try and recover from my mild illness and, I fear, impending conSARS (illness due to persistent proximity to unhygienic nerds) and unfortunately missed a panel or two I had planned to attend.

Once partially recovered I took to the show floor to absorb some more games. This time I was more able to grab bits and pieces of swag for you loverly readers. Bearing in mind I’m on a strict weight limit for baggage on international flights, I might end up wearing/carrying half of it on board the plane in a few days.

Included in this swag is a bunch of shirts and trinkets from Power Gig, which is in essence a band rhythm game using an actual six-string guitar and a non-physical set of infra-red drums. The technology alone had me interested and I shall certainly be keeping my eye on it.

Later as I queued for the “How to Podcast Like a Pirate” panel, presented by Rebel FM and The Geekbox, I made my first line-friend (in the sense that a nerd stranger turned out to be actually socially apt and not a weirdo) who was carrying about twice my own weight in swag and buttons. This restored my faith in the social aptitude of the gaming stereotype somewhat. But then I saw a 300lbs girl dressed as an unconvincing The Heavy from Team Fortress 2 and was disheartened. Yes I am that judgemental.

The panel itself was not bad, if a little underwhelming. They discussed their own entrance to the podcast world and some things that can help kick-off a new podcast. Beyond that it was mostly community in-jokes.

Lady Gag Gag

The day rounded-off in a similar fashion to the night before the first day of PAX, with a group of people slightly off their faces having ‘bro talks’ in the hotel room. Only this time I was dressed the most snazzy I’ve ever been. Also, wielding a gift-wrapped ‘Lady Gag Gag’ blow-up sex doll…

This is what happens when you make good friends on the Internet, people. Be careful.

One more day to go. Hopefully I will survive my ConSARS for a final round-up post tomorrow.

(Twitpic image used with permission from owner)