PAX East 2011...
I went to PAX East over the weekend. It...was a mixed experience. I knew going into the expo that it would be gigantic, but this was an entirely different beast. There were hours-long lines all over the gotdamn place, my cosplay fell apart, I had to wash my hands constantly to avoid catching PAX Pox (touch wood, have not gotten sick yet)...oh, and I had a seizure after the Rooster Teeth panel, meaning a two-hour hospital stay and another hour trying to find our way back to the hotel, taking a combination of subway cars and a taxi. Despite my best efforts, I never bumped into Spoony or LordKat...buuuut my friend managed to do it twice over.
Still, I had fun. I got to see the Rooster Teeth panel (as I mentioned) and got various autographs from the members of the team present (Burnie, Geoff, Gus, Jack and Griffon); I also saw the trailer for the new season of Red vs Blue, which was so awesome that it triggered the seizure. I high-fived Jack like three times, got to ask a question in the Q&A part of the panel (earning two codes that are good for redeeming the new Halo: Reach map pack) and shook hands with Geoff and Gus. A friend of mine got an autographed Jonathan Coulton CD for me, and because I'd suffered the seizure in the convention, Tycho and Gabe themselves autographed my program. They also offered me VIP seats to the final round of Omegathon (a gaming tournament another friend of mine was a part of) provided I had the energy for it. I wound up not - I was pretty drained by that point, both due to the seizure and the happenings of the expo itself, but it was nice to have the offer.
So overall, it was a high-stress event that had its perks. I...don't think I will be making a return next year.
The drive sucked, too. PAX East took place in an expo hall three hours away from where I live; try cramming four fat dudes and a lady into a van, as well as all of the stuff needed to maintain them for the weekend.
Besides, the lady of our group is Pandy, who stuck with me throughout the ambulance line and hospital stay.
Still, I had fun. I got to see the Rooster Teeth panel (as I mentioned) and got various autographs from the members of the team present (Burnie, Geoff, Gus, Jack and Griffon); I also saw the trailer for the new season of Red vs Blue, which was so awesome that it triggered the seizure. I high-fived Jack like three times, got to ask a question in the Q&A part of the panel (earning two codes that are good for redeeming the new Halo: Reach map pack) and shook hands with Geoff and Gus. A friend of mine got an autographed Jonathan Coulton CD for me, and because I'd suffered the seizure in the convention, Tycho and Gabe themselves autographed my program. They also offered me VIP seats to the final round of Omegathon (a gaming tournament another friend of mine was a part of) provided I had the energy for it. I wound up not - I was pretty drained by that point, both due to the seizure and the happenings of the expo itself, but it was nice to have the offer.
So overall, it was a high-stress event that had its perks. I...don't think I will be making a return next year.
The drive sucked, too. PAX East took place in an expo hall three hours away from where I live; try cramming four fat dudes and a lady into a van, as well as all of the stuff needed to maintain them for the weekend.
Besides, the lady of our group is Pandy, who stuck with me throughout the ambulance line and hospital stay.