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PAX Prime 2011 pulls in 70,000

Seattle-based open-to-the-public gaming event draws largest turnout in show history; PAX East scheduled for April 6-8, 2012.

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The Penny Arcade Expo may have grown out of a lowly webcomic, but it's quickly becoming one of the largest trade shows in the world. Business operations head Robert Khoo confirmed for GameSpot that this year's PAX Prime attracted about 70,000 attendees, making it the largest turnout in the Seattle show's history.

Who's steering this ship? These guys.
Who's steering this ship? These guys.

PAX Prime 2011's attendance figures just outpaced 2010's turnout of 67,600. However, the figure was on par with the second annual PAX East show, which drew some 69,500 people to Boston in March. PAX Prime 2011 had completely sold out of tickets three months before its doors opened in August.

The open-to-the-public three-day event was held at the Washington State Convention Center from August 26-28. Festivities commenced with a profanity-laden keynote address by Twisted Metal director David Jaffe, and it was followed by panels from 343 Industries, Gearbox Software, BioWare/Mythic, and Mojang, to name a few.

Show organizers Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik have expressed interest in expanding PAX to a third city. Details on that expansion have not yet been revealed. However, PAX East has been scheduled to return to the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center from April 6-8, 2012.

For more from PAX Prime 2011, check out GameSpot's complete coverage.

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