How long can PAX stay awesome?
To anyone who was there, or really anyone who heard about it at all, PAX was pretty friggin' rad. There's pretty much no denying it. Even Chris, who once told Robert Khoo that he thought PAX wasn't "for him," had fun there. Nearly everything was top notch and done with class and style. Good panels, great music, classic movies, entertaining guests, fun exhibits, and enjoyable events abounded. But can they hold on to the magic forever? PAX broke the mold for conventions, but will they eventually settle down back into it?
There is huge potential for PAX to become another mindless con whose only purpose is to get your money. And there is the danger of PAX becoming overrun by those who would twist it to their own ends. As much as the PA crew try to deny it, PAX is the new E3. E3 always tried to say that it was an "industry" event for media and business, but that was a sham and we all know it. They made it sound like it was super exclusive in order to tempt the average gamer into "sneaking in" one way or another. In reality, there was pretty much no standard on who was allowed into the show. And they charged an arm and a leg for anyone who wasn't media. If E3 was really just for industry professionals, there would have been no call for extravagant displays, loads of swag, and booth babes. It was there for consumers and anyone who tells you differently is a liar.
But while PAX is totally up front about being for the consumer, they do it in the right way. Swag was plentiful, but not annoyingly so. Panels were both entertaining and informative, covering topics that we're actually interested in. Exhibit booths were flashy, but not crazy over the top, and misogyny-inspired booth babes allowed.
However, will it be long before we see the companies that are invited to PAX as guests starting to twist it to their own desires? How long before the mass of nerds becomes too big and we start to abuse the goodwill that Penny Arcade shows us? When will it get so nerdy that even us average geeks start to get creeped out by going? When will going to PAX no longer be fun?
In all honesty, it's quite possible we may never see that day. The main driving force behind PAX is what will keep it awesome. Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik have some how managed to remain as average likable dudes, despite getting millions of visitors to their site and tens of thousands of attendees at their expo. These are guys who have gone to other cons and expos, seen the danger, and vowed to do it differently. It's been the modus operandi of PAX from the very beginning. At their core, Mike and Jerry are gamers. As such, they know what gamers want and they have made a con that is truly for gamers. It would be hard to see them ever changing their tune and making their expo more for the business than for the consumer. They've been accused of selling out for years, as far back as when they first started taking in ad revenue instead of relying on donations. But they have never changed the heart and soul of Penny Arcade.
Where Gabe and Tycho are the heart and soul of PAX and Penny Arcade, the brains of the operation are undoubtedly embodied by one Mr. Robert Khoo. If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting the man, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Khoo eats, sleeps, and breathes the business side of Penny Arcade. Y'know what? Scratch one of those. I'm not sure the guy actually sleeps for all the work he puts in. This is not just some slick corporate huckster that was hired. He approached them of his own accord. He does what he does so well because he loves what he does so much. Chances are you saw him at some point around PAX, because the guy was friggin' everywhere, making sure all the trains were running on time. Somewhere in the backgrounds of everything that was going on, there lurked a be-goateed, be-spectacled Asian man, always looking sharp in a suit and tie. Such an event would leave many frazzled and leave them with post-traumatic stress disorders of every variety. But not Khoo. Smart as a whip, cool as a cucumber, and always a class act.
I guess that just leaves the muscle. And the muscle behind PAX is the amazing Enforcer crew. Comprised completely of volunteers who just love Penny Arcade, the Enforcers are what make PAX possible. With all the people who work for free just because they wanna help out at PAX, imagine the giant cost it would be if the PA crew had to actually hire a full staff to work the event. That's where it would really start to break down. You'd get people who are just there to work another convention gig and who don't care about the product. That would create apathy among the staff and also a giant increase in cost for the people who buy passes to get in.
Yeah, I think that's it. The Enforcers are the key. If you worked at PAX over the con weekend, give yourself a huge pat on the back and round of applause. We all owe you a big debt of gratitude. If you weren't there, Enforcers, we'd have no PAX.
Man, here I was all ready to talk about the dangers of being a huge con and how PAX teeters on the brink of sucktitude. But in doing so, I realize that everyone who works on, for, or with PAX has a love for the industry and PAX itself. That's what makes it so good. It's by people like us, for people like us. And as long as it stays that way, PAX will always be awesome.
P.S. I think we can really do without the Fragdolls panel, though. Totally unnecessary. They represent the bad parts of what E3 was.
What say you?!