PAX (event)

{{Other uses|Pax (disambiguation)}} {{Short description|Series of gaming culture festivals}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox convention | name = PAX | image = PAX new logo, blue.svg | status = Active | genre = Gaming (video game, tabletop, [[Collectible card game|CCG]], role-playing) | venue = {{collapsible list | framestyle=border:none; padding:0; | title = Various | '''Current''' | PAX West: | [[Seattle Convention Center]] | PAX East: | [[Boston Convention and Exhibition Center|Thomas Michael Menino Convention and Exhibition Center]] | PAX Aus: | [[Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre]] | PAX Unplugged: | [[Pennsylvania Convention Center]] | '''Former''' | PAX South: | [[Henry B. González Convention Center]] | PAX East: | [[Hynes Convention Center]] | PAX Aus: | [[Melbourne Showgrounds]] | PAX West: | [[Meydenbauer Center]]}} | location = {{collapsible list | framestyle=border:none; padding:0; | title = Various | '''Current''' | PAX East: | [[Boston]] | PAX Aus: | [[Melbourne]] | PAX Unplugged: | [[Philadelphia]] | PAX West: | [[Seattle]] | '''Former''' | PAX South: | [[San Antonio]] }} | country = United States Australia | first = PAX West: August 28–29, 2004 {{collapsible list | framestyle=border:none; padding:0; | title = Other PAX(s) | PAX East: March 26–28, 2010 | PAX Dev: August 24–25, 2011 | PAX Aus: July 19–21, 2013 | PAX South: January 23–25, 2015 | PAX Unplugged: November 17–19, 2017}} | last = PAX East: March 26–29, 2026 {{collapsible list | framestyle=border:none; padding:0; | title = Other PAX(s) | PAX Unplugged: November 21–23, 2025 | PAX Aus: October 10–12, 2025 | PAX West: August 29{{snd}}September 1, 2025 | PAX South: January 17–19, 2020 | PAX Dev: August 27–28, 2019}} | next = PAX West: September 4–7, 2026 {{collapsible list | framestyle=border:none; padding:0; | title = Other PAX(s) | PAX Aus: October 9–11, 2026 | PAX Unplugged: December 4–6, 2026 | PAX East: April 22–25, 2027}} | organizer = ''[[Penny Arcade (webcomic)|Penny Arcade]]'' [[RELX]] | website = {{URL|www.paxsite.com/}} }}

'''PAX''' (originally known as '''Penny Arcade Expo''') is a series of [[gaming culture]] festivals involving [[Tabletop game|tabletop]], [[Arcade game|arcade]], and [[video game|video gaming]]. PAX is held annually in [[Seattle]], [[Boston]], [[Philadelphia]], and [[Melbourne]]. Previously, it was also held in [[San Antonio]].

PAX was created in 2004 by [[Jerry Holkins]] and [[Mike Krahulik]], the authors of the ''[[Penny Arcade (webcomic)|Penny Arcade]]'' [[webcomic]], because they wanted to attend a show exclusively for gaming.<ref>{{cite web|title=PAX East History|url=http://east.paxsite.com/what-is-pax|website=PAX East|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301014352/http://east.paxsite.com/what-is-pax|archive-date=March 1, 2016}}</ref> The shows include speeches from industry insiders, game-culture inspired concerts, panels on game topics, exhibitor booths from both independent and major game developers and publishers, [[LAN party]] [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] setups, tabletop gaming tournaments, and video game freeplay areas.

== History == The first Penny Arcade Expo was held on {{start and end dates|2004|8|28|2004|8|29}}, at the [[Meydenbauer Center]], and was attended by about 3,300 people. Renamed PAX, it became an annual event. Attendance grew rapidly, topping 9,000 in 2005 and 19,000 in 2006.

Outgrowing the Meydenbauer Center, the event moved to the [[Washington State Convention and Trade Center]], where it drew some 39,000 in 2007;<ref>{{cite web|last= Magrino |first= Tom |title= PAX 2010 descends on Boston |url= http://www.gamespot.com/news/6197016.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091124114641/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6197016.html |work= Gamespot |publisher= [[CBS Interactive]] |date= August 29, 2009 |archive-date= November 24, 2009 |access-date= September 7, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> 58,500 in 2008; 60,750 in 2009; and 70,000 in 2011. The show stopped reporting attendance numbers in 2011, citing difficulties in tracking attendance in a multi-day event.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ellis |first1=Tim |title=How Penny Arcade manages PAX ticket sales – and why your crazy idea to fix them won't work |date=May 13, 2015 |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2015/how-penny-arcade-manages-pax-ticket-sales-and-why-your-crazy-idea-to-fix-them-wont-work/ |publisher=Geekwire |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209004348/https://www.geekwire.com/2015/how-penny-arcade-manages-pax-ticket-sales-and-why-your-crazy-idea-to-fix-them-wont-work/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2009, Penny Arcade partnered with ReedPOP.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Venables |first=Michael |title=How Pax Became The Biggest, Greatest Fellowship Of Gamers, Geeks And Civility in the World |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelvenables/2013/09/02/how-pax-became-the-biggest-greatest-fellowship-of-gamers-geeks-and-civility-in-the-world/ |access-date=2021-09-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=September 2021}}

PAX Prime 2013, the first four-day PAX, was held on {{start and end dates|2013|8|30|2013|9|2}}; passes sold out in six hours.

===Expansion to more cities=== In 2010, the first PAX East was held at the [[Hynes Convention Center]] on {{start and end dates|2010|3|26|2010|3|28}}, drawing 52,290 attendees. The first PAX Prime drew 67,600 attendees in 2010. PAX East moved to [[Boston Convention and Exhibition Center]] in 2011; a 2012 agreement cemented Boston as the home of PAX East until 2023.<ref>{{cite news |author=Herald Staff |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2012/02/15/pax-east-commits-to-boston-for-10-more-years/ |title=PAX East commits to Boston for 10 more years |work=[[Boston Herald]] |date=February 15, 2012 |access-date=December 8, 2020 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209004704/https://www.bostonherald.com/2012/02/15/pax-east-commits-to-boston-for-10-more-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first international event was PAX Australia, first held {{start and end dates|2013|7|19|2013|7|21}} at the [[Melbourne Showgrounds]]. The following year, it moved to the [[Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre]], where it remains.<ref>{{cite web |title=PAX Australia on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/paxaus/status/1500984673018990592 |publisher=[[Twitter]] |access-date=March 8, 2022 |date=March 8, 2022 |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308000014/https://twitter.com/PAXAus/status/1500984673018990592 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first PAX South was held in [[San Antonio]], [[Texas]], at the [[Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center]] on January 23–25, 2015. It set a PAX record for highest attendance for an inaugural year.<ref>[https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/26/pax-south-attendance-breaks-records PAX South Attendance Breaks Records] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404230640/https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/01/26/pax-south-attendance-breaks-records |date=April 4, 2019 }}. [[IGN]]. January 25, 2015.</ref> But the event saw little growth in later years, and was cancelled in October 2021.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rodriguez|first=Megan|date=2021-10-30|title=PAX South gaming convention in San Antonio canceled for 'foreseeable future'|url=https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/PAX-South-cancelled-San-Antonio-16577453.php|access-date=2021-10-31|website=San Antonio Express-News|language=en-US|archive-date=October 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031022547/https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/PAX-South-cancelled-San-Antonio-16577453.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Specialty events ===

From 2011 until 2020, Penny Arcade held PAX Dev, an annual event meant to allow the game developer community to "speak freely and focus entirely on their trade".<ref name="PAX Dev FAQs">{{cite web |url=http://dev.paxsite.com/faqs.php |title=PAX Dev FAQs |publisher=dev.paxsite.com |access-date=April 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331161611/http://dev.paxsite.com/faqs.php |archive-date=March 31, 2012 }}</ref> Unlike other game-developer events like [[Game Developers Conference|GDC]], PAX Dev did not allow press. 750 people attended in 2011.

At PAX South 2017, Penny Arcade and ReedPop announced that a new event type, PAX Unplugged, would be held on November 17–19, 2017, at the [[Pennsylvania Convention Center]]. The event focused on tabletop games, a type that was only incidental in other PAXes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://unplugged.paxsite.com/|title=PAX Unplugged - Philadelphia, PA Nov. 17 - 19, 2017|website=unplugged.paxsite.com|access-date=March 14, 2017|archive-date=March 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315000507/http://unplugged.paxsite.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Name of PAX in Seattle ===

PAX was originally known as the "Penny Arcade Expo", but quickly became known by its acronym "PAX". Seattle's PAX was renamed PAX Prime in 2010 and PAX West in 2015.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last1=Khoo|first1=Robert|title= @skelevader b/c if i make an announcement people will read too much into it. Besides, press releases are lame. PAX WEST FOR LIFE. |url=https://twitter.com/rkhoo/status/667122653820542976|website=Twitter|access-date=February 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226054359/https://twitter.com/rkhoo/status/667122653820542976|archive-date=February 26, 2016|url-status=live|date=November 18, 2015}}</ref>

== Activities ==

PAX consists of the following activities:<ref>{{cite web |title=PAX West 2017 Guidebook |url=https://guidebook.com/guide/102681/ |publisher=Guidebook |access-date=11 July 2019 |archive-date=July 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711083622/https://guidebook.com/guide/102681/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Freeplay, further broken into: Console, Classic Console, Handheld, PC, VR, and Tabletop. * Tournaments, further broken into: Console and Tabletop. Some PAXes feature additional tournaments hosted by vendors. * "Bring Your Own Computer" or BYOC, a [[LAN Party]]. * Panels, talks, signings, and similar events. * Concerts. * PAX Arena, an [[eSports]] tournament. * The Omegathon. * An Exhibition Hall, which includes game studios, merchandise, and the [[Indie Megabooth]].

=== The Omegathon ===

Each PAX features an event called the "Omegathon", a festival-long tournament consisting of a group of randomly selected attendees competing in a game bracket for a grand prize (which has varied from a large game bundle, to a trip to Japan, to a trip to any PAX in the world). The final round of the Omegathon makes up part of the closing ceremonies of PAX. Past games for the final round of the Omegathon have included ''[[Tetris]]'', ''[[Pong]]'', ''[[Halo 3]]'', and [[skee-ball]].

==Events== {{Main|List of PAX events}}

===Active events=== <gallery mode="packed" heights="90" style="text-align:left"> File:PAX West logo 2017.svg|PAX West (formerly Penny Arcade Expo, PAX, and PAX Prime) has been held annually in [[Seattle]], Washington, United States, since 2007 (formerly in [[Bellevue, Washington|Bellevue]], Washington from 2004 to 2006). File:Logo of PAX East.svg|PAX East has been held annually in [[Boston]], Massachusetts, United States, since 2010. File:Logo of PAX Aus.svg|PAX Aus has been held annually in [[Melbourne]], Victoria, Australia, since 2013. File:Logo of PAX Unplugged.svg|PAX Unplugged has been held annually in [[Philadelphia]], Pennsylvania, United States, since 2017. </gallery>

===Former events=== <gallery mode="packed" heights="90" style="text-align:left"> File:Logo of PAX South.svg|PAX South was held annually in [[San Antonio]], Texas, United States, from 2015 to 2020. File:Logo of PAX Dev.svg|PAX Dev was held annually in [[Seattle]], Washington, United States, from 2011 to 2019. File:Logo of PAX Online.svg|PAX Online was held virtually in 2020 and 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. </gallery>

===Timeline=== {{Horizontal timeline

|from=2004 |to=2025 |inc=1 |axis-nudge=0em

|styleDefault-height=1.5em |styleDefault-3-texttop=0em;right:0.5em; |styleDefault-5-texttop=0em;right:0.5em;

|PAXWest-boxcolour=#007DBB |PAXWest-height=1.5em

|PAXEast-boxcolour=#D9272D |PAXEast-height=1.5em

|PAXDev-boxcolour=#02b7ab |PAXDev-height=1.5em

|PAXAus-boxcolour=#f4b223 |PAXAus-height=1.5em

|PAXSouth-boxcolour=#ee5b00 |PAXSouth-height=1.5em

|PAXUnplugged-boxcolour=#904799 |PAXUnplugged-height=1.5em

|PAXOnline-boxcolour=#02bb72 |PAXOnline-height=1.5em

|row8=scale

|caption=Timeline of PAX events, 2004–2025 }}

==See also== * [[DreamHack]] * [[E3]] * [[ChinaJoy]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Official website|https://www.paxsite.com/}}

{{Penny Arcade}} {{Reed Elsevier}} {{Video Game Trade Shows}} {{Washington State Fandom Conventions}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Conventions in Australia]] [[Category:Conventions in Boston]] [[Category:Conventions in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Culture of Seattle]] [[Category:Esports tournaments]] [[Category:Festivals in Melbourne]] [[Category:Festivals in Philadelphia]] [[Category:Festivals in Seattle]] [[Category:Gaming conventions]] [[Category:Video game conventions]] [[Category:LAN parties]] [[Category:Multigenre conventions]] [[Category:Penny Arcade (webcomic)|Expo]] [[Category:Recurring events established in 2004]] [[Category:2004 establishments in Washington (state)]] [[Category:Seattle Area conventions]]