What is the first “PAX” held as a major US major game event since the new Corona's popularity?Introducing gamers that are not often spoken in Japan

The game event "PAX WEST" was held in Seattle, Washington from September 3 to 6, 2021, the local time of the United States.

The Pax West, which was the first resurrection at major US major game events since the new Colonavirus was popular.While reducing the scale than usual, the venue was reported on the first day of this venue, which was performed by giving vaccine certificates, PCR tests, etc., and masking masks in the venue.

However, I have introduced what the PAX is in the article before, but the last thing I wrote was "Pax East 2014" seven years ago.I don't think there are so many people who remember it, so in this article, let me tell you what kind of event the PAX is.

What was a web manga event for gamers, which grows rapidly into an industry -hot event

PAX, the official name "Penny Arcade Expo", is in the web manga "Penny Arcade" by Jerry Holkins and Mike Kraflik, "Gaybu".

Since the first event was held in Seattle in 2004 as an event hosted by the combination of American gamers, PAX has grown rapidly with each turn, and as an event where enthusiastic gamers gather.As you gradually attract the attention from the game maker.

Among them, Gearbox Software, which is known for the "Border Lands" series, etc., had given most of the new announcements in the large theater of the PAX, and participated in the "Border Lands Preschuel" download code before its release.There are even things that have been distributed to all people (however, this year, most major manufacturers, including Gearbox, were almost avoided in the first day report).

And PAX is a few times a year, changing the location, such as Pax East in Boston on the east coast, Pax South in Southern Texas, and Pax Australia in Melbourne, Australia.

By the way, this is the first major game event since the PAX WEST has been held in the United States since the new Coronavirus was in the United States, but the last major game event held before the new Coronavirus locked down began at the end of February 2020.PAX EAST.

Gamer -centristic and official and uncharified chaos feeling

So what kind of fun can be done at this event?Let's dig into the content immediately.

By the way, in PAX, there is almost no advantage of pressing, except for press rooms and one hour priority admission on the first day, unless you have contacted each public relations individually and secure an appointment in advance.Reporters usually have been lined up for hours to get to the hot demonstrations and lectures.This is an overwhelming event for gamers.

First of all, there is no doubt that the vast exhibition floor is one of the highlights.In the usual year, Nintendo / Sony Interactive Entertainment, Microsoft's three platform companies, and sometimes the large manufacturer of PC games, Valve, will appear, and the latest games will be lined up.

In addition, the booths of small and medium -sized game studios and booths by indie game developers are usually lined up.Anyway, hardcore gamers gather, and the indie booth is not a bonus, but it is crowded until it is difficult to proceed on the passage.

In addition, there are also product sales, etc., and there are specialty stores that handle only a lot of stocks for local retro game shops, as well as T -shirt shops in the game story, as well as local retro game shops.(Yes, not only video games but also board games and card games are ant).

Unlike the E3, which has been lifted in general admission in recent years, the main entry is large, like TGS.If you have your physical strength and motivation, you can play down only on the exhibition floor every day ... but that's not all.Here is the essence of PAX.

Lectures using large conference rooms and theater in the venue and surrounding hotels are also one of the important things.

There are official and unofficial lectures, and officials are particularly popular with creators, especially in their own appearance, looking back on their own work, and making new announcements.After the show, he often goes into shooting and signing sessions.Because it is a great promotion opportunity for strong American fans, speakers are often called from Japan, such as "Final Fantasy", "Nier", and Platinum Games.

However, not only that, the unofficial lecture that is planned by the field of game and niche media is also a parallel.In the past, they look back on the history of Japanese fucking games, start planning rare game items, and have a bakage special feature on the app market.

In addition, if you think that serious research and discussions such as "about storytelling in horror games" or "mental health problems in e -sports" were conducted, "How to make your own emulator machine in one hour" or "speed"There are some stories that seem to be 100 % impossible, such as the "how to catch all Pokemon" by runners (how to catch all Pokemon ".

That's why there are a lot of things that are "only in PAX", but on the contrary, some fierce people wear hundreds of dollars or $ 1,000 and choose what they can do at home.And a lot.

The PAX venue has a game console and a rental service for games, and there are both the previous generation hardware and retro games.There is also a corner called BYOC, which can install a rental service and your own PC, and there are board games.

The right is that the law is different from Japan, and I leave it at this time, but before that, I don't think "I came to PAX with a lot of effort, so should I play at home?"There are actually many people who use these.

There are many family visitors in PAX, so "Dad plays with children while dad is going to the guy you really want to go to" or "Dad is a good old motor combat while your mother is lined up.You can see the case of "teaching" or "Smash with a distant gamer friend who can only meet with PAX".

However, some people play solo games such as "Tenho no Sakunahime" alone.If so, some people take out Switch (a long time ago Nintendo 3DS) on the sofa at the venue.

Certainly, there is no way to spend time in the latest games according to the market.You can play as you like as a gamer.free.As expected, it is a free country (that does not mean that).

In various places in the venue, there will be an unofficial game tournament in Nora.Of course, there are modern titles such as "Street Fighter V", "Super Smash Brothers SPECIAL", "Tekken 7", "GUILTY GEAR -STRIVE-", and "Mortal Combat 11".It is not a decision, but it is a general participation competition in parallel with the high -pressure washing sim "Powerwash Simulator" and the Beautiful Soul Soul.

In addition, this is closer to the extension of the retro game corner rather than a tournament, but there is a corner where PAX can play against "Tekki War" every year.

When a reporter posted a photo on Twitter, he received a comment saying, "Wow, I forgot to go even though I had only today's ticket!"He said that he wanted to play with PAX despite being able to play at home, and from these places, he feels the significance of "playing in the PAX community".

If there are 100 people, there are 100 ways to play

So PAX is not just a new announcement, but a place where gamers are interested in gathering, and the event itself works as a large community.

I think that this measure was enough to ensure safety, but I think that it is a meaningful event that will be at least concerned about the new Coronavirus, but will recover at least, as we will wait for future verification and discussions.I hope that gamers and officials will be able to fully revive as an event where they can spend with peace of mind as before.