PAX 08: Day One Notes

by Justin Arnold on August 30, 2008 at 10:51 am

PAX has begun, and with it has stirred the communal gamer vibe that continues to make it the gamer event of the year. The Washington Convention Center is crawling with gamers of every stripe and every developer worth a toss has shown up to show off.

The gaming press was allowed early entry into the exhibition hall and we quickly devolved into a heaving pack of sibilant monkeys as we ran from booth to booth. With so much to look at, we were afflicted, if momentarily, by a communal form of ADD.

But all that glimmers is not gold, and some offerings were better than others. In fact, some exhibitors seemed intent on showing up to fail. However, there was enough genius offerings to keep even the most jaded of gamers stamped with a permanent smile.

Fallout 3 was on display, and without a doubt Bethesda is taking home the gold with the best PAX booth for this year. They are taking a chance, letting anyone and everyone play Fallout 3 before its street date but from what I played, I think they’ll be fine.

Gears of War 2 was on site, and from what I saw it looked to be 2v2 combat – though they were still setting up, ignoring my pleas to play the game. I believe at one point someone threw a rock at me. Though what he was doing with a rock in his pocket is beyond me.

One game that I very much wanted to play, but a line had formed and my time grew short, was “Demigod.” Watching the game play, you control a hulking behemoth lending its aid to its chosen people, those who worship you – much like the way I am worshiped by the French. I watched one fellow stomp across a generic map, stomping on milling enemies and I was reminded of going one-on-one with my Warcraft III hero against another in a LAN. While the publisher has said there are many demigods to choose from, the only one that I saw was the fellow that looked like a walking castle – not that I am complaining, because he does indeed look as cool as he should. After all, he is a demigod.

More to report on Sunday afternoon, hopefully I will not be assailed by cosplay kiddies. Again.

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