Microsoft, Nintendo to show at Penny Arcade Expo

Seattle-based Web comic's neighbors on the exhibitor list for this year's three-day event.

Popular gamer-centric Web comic Penny Arcade is holding its third annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in August, and the group says the three-day shindig is shaping up to be the largest yet. Attendees will get the chance to go hands-on with unreleased games; sit in on a number of conference sessions; witness the Omegathon game contest; and hit parties, concerts, and other activities around the clock.

Today it was announced that exhibitor space for the show has been sold out, with heavyweights Nintendo and Microsoft headlining the list of participating companies. Also set for the show are Nvidia, ArenaNet, America's Army, Turbine, NCsoft, Ubisoft, Rockstar, Mythic, Foundation 9, Red Octane, Flying Lab, Creative Labs, The Behemoth, Sabretooth Games, and Garage Games.

Another addition to the program is a keynote address by former Microsoft employee Alex St. John on "The Prehistory of the Xbox." Now the CEO and founder of WildTangent, St. John's involvement in Microsoft's DirectX technology and the creation of the Xbox has been chronicled in a number of books, including Opening the Xbox by Dean Takahashi and Masters of Doom by David Kushner.

Previously announced attractions include concert performances by Mike Relm, The Minibosses, MC Frontalot, Optimus Rhyme, The Video Game Pianist, and the Neskimos. PAX 2006 will be held August 25 to 27 in Bellevue, Washington. For more information, visit the official Web site.

102 Comments

  • UDintNoe

    Posted Jun 28, 2006 1:52 pm PT

    Hope to see some really good games there!

  • dancingotter

    Posted Jun 24, 2006 3:03 pm PT

    Nice to see this relatively young trade show doing so well

  • tidusjeff

    Posted Jun 24, 2006 12:10 pm PT

    ''i would just like to say the only reason i liked sony was cause GTA, now that its on xbox too, i dont care if sony dies a horrible death.''

    I would just like to say your a stareotypical microsoft/ nintendo gamer. You only liked sony for GTA? Heres your sign....

  • GameQ22

    Posted Jun 24, 2006 10:33 am PT

    Wait, so will people be able to test drive the Wii?
    ~GameQ

  • 0li

    Posted Jun 24, 2006 1:41 am PT

    Jemini12

    You are basing the power of the wii on pure speculation. "Its only slightly more powerful than the gamecube" Doesn't pass anymore. IGN based their estimate off early development kits, which used GAMECUBE hardware. The developers have had their hands on the WII development kits for a few weeks now, and from the E3 demos you can expect a significant mark-up in quality.

    Of course, none of the graphics really matter to me. In this day and age, good graphics are a given, but they aren't needed for every game ever made. Look at WarioWare.

    As for the penny arcade expo, its a big oppertunity for Nintendo to showcase the wii's games to the public, and thats what really matters. Hopefully we can see some new info revealed, as well as seeing the updated games demos that will most likely be running off Wii hardware.

    P.S. Bungie, give us some more Halo 3 lovin'. Please.

  • scruffybawls

    Posted Jun 24, 2006 1:14 am PT

    i want sega....

  • fooballu2

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:22 pm PT

    i would just like to say the only reason i liked sony was cause GTA, now that its on xbox too, i dont care if sony dies a horrible death.

  • tidusjeff

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 4:41 pm PT

    ''Hey Fanboys listen up!

    It's not about the Hardware, It's not about Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft. It's about 1 thing and 1 thing only. Games! That is all that matters the games! I don't care what platform a game is on. if it is a good game then it is a good game. If it is a bad game then it is a bad game. The name on the hardware does not mean anything at all! Lets face there are going to be great games on all 3 of the next gen systems just like there are great games on all 3 of the current gen systems.

    So get over your fanboyish bickering and discuss the games instead.''

    Now thats something fanboys on this thread substitute fail to point out. It's not about the company, it's about the games that are out on the companies platforms.

    I don't fit in into this fanboyish sony whore catogory that most of you claim. I not only play sony platforms, I play PC and others consoles as well. That's something fanboys fail to point out, and by defending the console company that you love they accuse me of being one because I play slighty more games on that platform then the xbox and gamecube at the same time accusing me as this new gen gamer.

    To those who call me a fanboy should not bother posting here or get a life.

  • i_love_my_ds

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 3:49 pm PT

    cool

  • juvinwo1

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 2:39 pm PT

    start crying now sony, your gonna need all the help you can get!!

  • metdevthegamer

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 2:24 pm PT

    Cool.

  • Pditty04

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 1:07 pm PT

    I don't think anybody realizes that both Microsoft and Nintendo of America are located in Washington. Both of them are no more than 10 minutes from downtown Bellevue where the Expo takes place.

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 12:42 pm PT

    This sounds like a sweet event. I really wish I could attend it.

  • Zaruthustran

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 11:41 am PT

    Penny Arcade Expo is in fact like E3, only smaller. And more importantly it's open to the public. And it has concerts. And panels. And tournaments. And freeplay areas. And a 24-hour tabletop games (D&D, Warmachine, etc.) area. And...

  • MicrosoftISdumb

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 11:21 am PT

    Wii60 Take over at penny arcade! All the pennies used at the three day conference won't even add up to the price of one Ps3. Now thats ownage!

  • PicoFry

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 11:08 am PT

    I wish I could go....

  • fissionmetroid

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 10:59 am PT

    More Metroid Prime 3 incoming!

  • phinsfan

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 10:55 am PT

    You know what would be awesome when sony reaches their enevitable demise? If they died and sega came back! Well, I can dream...

  • vaejas

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 10:54 am PT

    FanBOYS! Come out to PAX and settle your differences mano-a-mano in the new MUD CAGE!!!

  • NaughtyZeut

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 10:26 am PT

    The tourneys they are having sound pretty fun. I just wonder if the console freeplay rooms only have games that relate to the sponsors.

  • shockwave04

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 9:58 am PT

    Awsome

  • flamingice45

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 9:58 am PT

    OMG, there is going to be a SSBM tourney at this thing... I wish I could go!!!

  • Hellisunreal

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 9:58 am PT

    no sony= no fun

  • schalkwijk

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 9:51 am PT

    to dragonsama
    i totally agree... I am a nintendo fanboy, but i just cant get over how INCREDIBLY FUN Halo is, and how incredibly fun Halo3 is gonna be, and some other xbox games like fable. Same with a few PS games. Thing is, when it comes to us living in South America, we cant afford more than one console, so yes we have to be picky about the hardware, unfortunately... and the Wii will obviously have the funnest games. So thats my choice.

  • masskilla334

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 9:15 am PT

    sega................lol

  • WolfSkill5544

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 9:13 am PT

    more blah, blah, blah...about their consoles

  • Phylyn5151

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 9:13 am PT

    Sony fanboys: DO YOUR RESEARCH!

    1. Betamax
    2. Minidisk
    3. Root kits
    4. Bluray(wtf)

    take my advice, forget sony ever was. They try to change the game so that they rule the world and they just fall on there face.

  • CorruptGamerGX

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:56 am PT

    I'm actually enjoying this fanboy fight

  • Ericvon71

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:33 am PT

    Kids I tell you!!

  • Global_Nexus

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:17 am PT

    I can't wait to see what news, if any, comes out of this from Nintendo and Microsoft. I particularly am interested in seeing if any Wii data comes out of it.

    PS: Does every news item on this site have to descend into "Nintendo vs. Microsoft vs. Sony vs. Wii60 vs. WiiS3 vs PS360 vs god knows what else"? Ugh...

  • PhantasmCipherX

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:14 am PT

    akshaidatta
    My God everyone acts as if Xbox Live is like car insurance payments. Its 50 bux a YEAR!!! Its the price of 1 game.

    I agree with you man. The reason it is paid for is because its the best. and it probably always be the best.

  • denawayne

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:08 am PT

    Back to Oblivion, the best game ever made.

  • remmbermytitans

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 8:06 am PT

    so is this like another E3? only smaller?

  • killakb

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 7:55 am PT

    HAHA look at the fat kid that didnt get picked...sony THE COW.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 6:57 am PT

    wow..... PA's expo is getting pretty huge!

  • scruffybawls

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 6:54 am PT

    [This message was deleted at the request of a moderator or administrator]

  • scruffybawls

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 6:50 am PT

    btw, every body thought that nintendo would be the succeeding underdog when the gamecube was going to come out, usurping the ps2's throne, woop de doo, nintendo showed them big time....

  • scruffybawls

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 6:48 am PT


    tidusjeff

    no, I'm openminded because I played more then 8 games and play with the other 2 main 128 bit console. Gamecube, Xbox? next time look at my profile before judging me. I'm not a sony fanboy.

    LOL other 128 bit consoles?! give me a break, gamecube and xbox werent 128 bit, nothing is talked about like that anymore, old timer, the only other 128 bit system was the Dream Cast, suck it Microsoft has got wat i like , and even tho im not a fan of nintendo nemore, i still take those two over the retard and masses system of choice, yu gorillas have to use buttons that have shapes on them, lol savage

  • dragonsama

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 6:33 am PT

    Hey Fanboys listen up!

    It's not about the Hardware, It's not about Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft. It's about 1 thing and 1 thing only. Games! That is all that matters the games! I don't care what platform a game is on. if it is a good game then it is a good game. If it is a bad game then it is a bad game. The name on the hardware does not mean anything at all! Lets face there are going to be great games on all 3 of the next gen systems just like there are great games on all 3 of the current gen systems.

    So get over your fanboyish bickering and discuss the games instead.

  • EddyG0RD0

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 6:28 am PT

    well they do need some extra advertisment

  • roadrunner1178

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 5:53 am PT

    Sounds interesting. Nice to see Nintendo and Microsoft on the list.

  • mr_squibble

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 5:32 am PT

    I gotta hear this Optimus Rhyme guy!

  • jemini12

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 3:04 am PT

    This is to Rev06

    Dawg, you made some good points. But do you honestly think that Wii will compete with Sony for first?? Don't get me wrong, I like Nintendo...for my 5 year old son! If you look at the specs, Wii is just a gamecube with motion sensored controllers. It's not that much more powereful than that! Everyone is entitled to there own opinions and I respect that. But you gotta give M$ credit. They did their thing with The Box. At one stretch Xbox 1 was right up there with PS2 until M$ decided to pull the plugs. A lot of you PS heads never even played 3 games on Xbox and you Dog the system! Unbelievable, some said the controllers were too big. I won't comment on that, but what I will say is comparing graphics between the 360 and PS3, then the price, the logical choice for me will be 360. But that's me. Maybe in about 2 or three years when developers catch up, we may start seeing PS3 really shine, but for now....Im going with THE BOX 360! DAWG

  • jemini12

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 2:46 am PT

    "What's funny is that chances are, you probably weren't even around during that time. If you were, then you were most likely crapping yellow. It's people like you who just don't seem to get it: You're only NOW saying you hate Sony because everyone else does? You're about as UN-original as anybody that thinks hating on Sony is the new black. "

    What do you know about "new black" fanboy?! First of all, people are hating on Sony, because of the way they are handling there success. Sony has become so cocky, that they believe they can build (and sell) a super expensive machine ($600) that barely out performs the $200 less 360. They believe that all you Sony fanboys are just going to line up and spend all your hard earned bucks for a PS3, when you can get a 360 and a Wii TOGETHER for exactly the same price. Sony sells lies, but you fanboys can't see them because all you've been playing for the last decade or so was PS. Yeah I played PS1 and loved it. But I lost interest after PS2 because Sony became so arrogant. NO way will I buy a PS3...for 3 reasons
    1. Too Damn expensive!!!
    2. When comparing graphics to 360 on multiport games...they look the same!!
    3. it seems too much like a gimmick machine..Blue-ray and all, they could've done without all that....just play games and DVDs. Leave the blue- ray and HDDVD's to the high end DVD players!

  • jemini12

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 2:05 am PT

    "And as I predicted, a nintendo/microsoft whore comes along to share his anti sony bias opinion with the rest of us. This website doesn't need stareotypes who whore out nintendo and microsofts consoles yet they only played 4 games on sonys previous& current gen console. Talk about closeminded gamers"

    Oh the humanity!!! Where did this Sony fanboy come from? Oh the Humanity......WHHHHHYYYY!!! .......WHHHHHYYYYYY!!!!.....WWWHHHHHYYY!!!

  • abelmaestro

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 2:05 am PT

    Yep yep ...there we have it, Microsoft will buy nintendo very very soon

  • thomasono

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 1:30 am PT

    well, i think sony is just totally stupid. They are copying everything from nintendo! nintendo comes with a motion sensor, two seconds later sony also comes with a motion sensor also, but then THAT is a bad copy of th one from nintendo.

    Go nintendo, sony lay off!

  • Kazuma56

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 1:15 am PT

    I noticed there are no japanese developers on that list (aside from nintendo), so maybe sony didn't decide to go because its not something "japanese" gamers care about.

  • thepyrethatburn

    Posted Jun 23, 2006 12:31 am PT

    Instead of joining the usual band of idiots who insist on turning this into another console war thread, I will just say that I think this is great. When Penny Arcade set up their first PAX, they sent out notices to the various gaming magazines and websites about it only to be met with various versions of "This is too insignificant an event for us to mention". I'm glad that a convention that is aimed at the people who actually BUY the games is gaining industry support.

  • Karjah

    Posted Jun 22, 2006 11:41 pm PT

    wow sony is deffinatly missing a big fish here. Let's face it XBOX has a total lack of good games for it's platform...

    Nintendo is looking like the underdog on the way back up all the time.

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