PAX triples in size

Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft all signed on to showcase unreleased games at fourth annual Penny Arcade convention.

While the Electronic Entertainment Expo downsizes, other gaming conventions around the world are expanding to pick up the slack. But perhaps none more so than the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), which this year is going to triple its exhibit space from previous years with a move to Seattle's Washington State Convention & Trade Center.

Organizers of the event today announced that booth space for the show is completely sold out now, with a lineup of exhibitors featuring Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and Ubisoft. While the show has its roots in the game-centric Web comic Penny Arcade, it touches on a number of tangentially related fields, such as tabletop board gaming and pen-and-paper role-playing games.

In addition to game publishers' booths, the show will also feature concerts from such artists as Jonathan Coulton and Freezepop, tournaments, contests, and game-related discussion panels. This year's keynote address will be delivered by actor Will Wheaton, best known as Ensign Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

PAX is set to take place August 24-26, with three-day passes available for $45 in advance. Last year's event attracted more than 19,000 attendees. For more on the show, visit the event's official Web site.

33 Comments

  • thatguy0130

    Posted Aug 25, 2007 5:04 am PT

    I wish I could go to PAX, or Leipzig even. Why doesn't Florida get any conventions worth going to?

  • Vudu_Line

    Posted Aug 25, 2007 1:01 am PT

    PAX has no competition in the U.S. anymore. This year day 1 was huge. Estimated crowd of 30, 000 people. Good thing it's got a venue that it fits in this time. Last year people were spilled out in the streets and sidewalks.

  • kappareign

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 10:04 am PT

    awesome, i love PA. glad to see their convention is growing

  • Konxumer

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 12:02 pm PT

    As someone who lives in the area F(#& YEAH!

  • gaming_otaku

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 8:25 am PT

    Awesome. The world of gaming sure is changing a lot recently, isn't it? Lot's of things going on...

  • sieg6529

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 6:50 am PT

    Amazing, isn't it? And anyone who doesn't think yesterday's comic was funny is (really) dense or deliberately finding it un-funny on principle.

  • kenesu96 posted Jun 28, 2007 5:47 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    kenesu96

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 5:47 am PT (hide)

    that pointless web 'comic' has has 3 prior expos? who reads this unfunny crap?

  • fluffebunnie

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 5:42 am PT

    The gaming industry is so bloated and out of control right now it's nice to see an alternative to E3.

  • JonnyNemesis

    Posted Jun 28, 2007 5:25 am PT

    Crap, I wish I could go.

  • ketsuatama

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 11:41 pm PT

    Take that, E3! This is what gamers want and support , not the self important , self congratutory and treat -the-consumer-with-contempt attitude that the "new" E3 adopted!

  • bigmick07

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 8:56 pm PT

    no one can kill the spirit of E3, let's hope its just as crazy as the old E3's

  • celebnaur

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 8:16 pm PT

    E3 is beat, period, why because it's open only to the press.

  • THEMOD3158

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 7:58 pm PT

    love PA....wish I could go to PAX

  • asmodeus_z

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 5:55 pm PT

    E3's loss is PAX's gain.

  • finaleve

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 5:37 pm PT

    DanC1989 > Penny Arcade Expo is more of a geek convention. It pertains to everything that can be some form of it. So everything that is somehow found to be on Penny Arcade, from Anime (sometimes) to Warhammer and everything in between. PAX will be the next E3, if not greater.

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 5:29 pm PT

    well there is nothing bad about penny arcade

  • SinfulSpikey

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 5:15 pm PT

    It's scary how big Penny Arcade is getting. Heh.

  • umd1998

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 5:07 pm PT

    For shame, GS: it's spelled WIL Wheaton

  • CyphenX

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 5:06 pm PT

    Long live Penny Arcade!

  • DanC1989

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 4:52 pm PT

    You can't compare this to E3, it's only certain types of games...but I'd still like to go. But I live thousands of miles away.

  • Alunanite

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 4:29 pm PT

    PAX is the new E3, everyone who has been paying attention has known this from last year.

  • wizardps2

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 4:23 pm PT

    hmmm arcades thats old school!!!
    PS3 Rules!!

  • willripyouanew1

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 4:01 pm PT

    Nothing can beat or even equal the now long gone E3 show

  • comthitnuong

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:55 pm PT

    I remember Wesley Crusher from TNG...It should be cool to see him now.

  • blueflamedino

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:54 pm PT

    so we have something between E3 and the Tokyo Gaameshow, fine by me

  • SaintRasmus

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:47 pm PT

    Nice that there is something else then E3

  • Seven_Is_Darker

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:43 pm PT

    Wish I lived in the Seattle area, this would be win.

  • Natdaddy

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:39 pm PT

    They are Demigods among men.

  • Serbine

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:38 pm PT

    Whoa, that will be a really good expo to go to.

  • videogamr49

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:37 pm PT

    Awesomeness.

  • westsidejedi360

    Posted Jun 27, 2007 3:37 pm PT

    Sa Weet

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