Just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend the Penny Arcade Expo. It was my first time attending and I was pleasantly surprised. This was one of the best conventions I have ever attended.
Going into the exhibit hall on the first day, I was most excited to give Rock Band a try. Not only did I get to rock out on a game that I'm really looking forward to, but I got to do it up on stage with some other great gamers. I had a chance to play bass. Being accustomed to the Guitar Hero guitar, this new style took me a minute to get used to. Rather than the buttons being on top of the frets, the buttons are the frets. Not having a raised button to feel my finger placement was a little tough, but I ended up liking it. It feels a little more natural when pressing down the fret, rather than pressing down a raised button. The game play, similar to Guitar Hero's style, was very easy to pick up on. There was one aspect, in particular, that I really liked about this game. If one of your band mates fails the song, then they sit out. Luckily for them, as a band, you can bring them back in. This gives you a chance to redeem yourself if you started off poorly.
For the two nights of PAX they had amazing concerts. The first night featured The OneUps, Optimus Rhyme, Freezepop, and Neskimos. The OneUps' set was awesome. They were unfamiliar to most of the crowd there and they made a ton of new fans. Everyone I talked to really enjoyed their sound. Optimus Rhyme was also great. His songs had catchy beats and made you want to dance. He also brought out special guests including MC Beefy, MC Broken English, and MC Frontalot. Freezepop rocked everyone's socks with their set. They said that this was one of the biggest shows they've played. They really enjoyed the atmosphere and you could tell they had a good time playing the show. Ending their set with "The Final Countdown" was a crowd favorite. The Neskimos finished up this concert strong. They had the crowd rocking out until the end. Their VG covers were well done and hard not to enjoy.
The second night of PAX concerts was just as amazing as the first. Opening up the set was Jonathan Coultan. There have never been so many DS's swaying in the air as during his set! The crowd loved him and it was a good way to start the second concert. MC Frontalot followed. I had such a good time watching him perform. His songs were hilarious. His style and dancing kept me laughing the whole time. Wrapping up the concert were The Minibosses. They had lots of fans in the crowd who were excited to see them play. Their metal covers of VG songs were fantastic. They were a perfect way to finish up two nights of amazing bands.
It was hard not to enjoy the Penny Arcade Expo. There was always something to do; whether it was listening to a panel, exploring the exhibit hall, or participating in a tournament. There was never a dull moment. This year's PAX was a ton of fun and I can't wait until next year's expo.
To see more videos and photos head over the the GM4A photobucket and check out the PAX 07 album!