It's been a couple weeks since I returned home from the 2010 Penny Arcade Expo in Seattle (PAX Prime) and I have had a good amount of time to reflect upon what I experienced. So now that I have truly wrapped my head around what I went through, I have decided to close out my coverage with a simple overview of the entire PAX experience.
The first thing that comes to mind is the complete failure on behalf of the Hilton Seattle. I won't get bogged down in the details of exactly how they failed in each department but I will provide you with a list of the areas in question; price, service, parking, convenience, booking, food service, and even internet access. Essentially everything a hotel is supposed to provide. Their failure was so complete in fact that it forced me to find new lodgings for the night and return a day early. Now while this isn't a direct issue with PAX it does hurt the overall experience, particularly because it is one of their selected sponsor hotels.
Once I arrived at the Seattle Convention Center for PAX itself things took a noticeable turn for the better. Despite the overwhelming size of the Expo and the daunting task of trying to experience it all I was overcome with pure, unadulterated joy. It was a euphoric feeling that truly is beyond description. Nothing could spoil it either. Not the lines, the need to walk to a separate building to sign-in, the $20 for parking, or the fact that I still needed a hotel room. Unfortunately those are all inconveniences (however minor) that will, at one point or another, negatively impact a trip to PAX.
The best thing about PAX is how it is specifically tailored to please the fans above everyone else. Whether you enjoy anything from board games to certain genres of literature, PAX has exactly what you want, and it's all waiting just for you. The entire weekend is one long fan service, from the price of admission to the free swag.
There is no animosity at PAX because everyone accepts everyone else for exactly who they are. It even extends beyond the Convention Center itself to within a four block radius in every direction. On the September long weekend, you can wear your nerd love on your sleeve in downtown Seattle.
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