Category Archives: PAX East 2012

The International Dota 2 Championships 2012 has started, Valve has announced. The event takes place today through Sunday at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, WA during PAX Prime.

More »

During PAX, Joystiq held a panel titled Plot vs. Play: The Duality of Modern Game Design. On the importance of story in games, BioWare lead writer David Gaider said that with games, the player is invested in the story where as when watching a film, they are just an observer; therefore, he feels story is important. Obsidian Entertainment’s creative director, Chris Avellone, countered that he is not sure whether narrative matters too much when it comes to the gameplay experience. He said many players in the past have come to him saying their favorite moment from a game had more to do with a gameplay element attached to a storyline instead of the overall narrative. Irrational’s Ken Levine, also on the panel, said he is much more interested in environmental storytelling than the words he is going to write. It’s a rather interesting panel discussion, and you can watch it below. [image]

More »

During a Mass Effect 3 panel at PAX East, BioWare producer Mike Gamble said the game’s Extended Cut DLC would provide players with “a sense of personalization with the endings.”

More »

Muse Games has released a new gameplay trailer for Guns of Icarus: Online, the sequel to the original dieselpunk shooter where players can fly around in planes and zeppelins shooting at each other. The game focuses on multiplayer airship combat with players filling different roles on the ships carrying out various duties. A closed beta for the game is expected within the next two weeks or so, according to the game’s official website, and the developers told Joystiq it expects the beta to last through July and hopefully see a full release sometime in August on Steam for Mac and PC. Watch the video below. Thanks, Massively.

More »

Four new Assassin’s Creed III images show battlefields with crowds of soldiers and strewn corpses, with bonus tranquil wilderness paths.

More »

Gearbox has announced a surprise fifth class for Borderlands 2, and revealed players will have more customisation options in the anticipated sequel.

More »

The PAX East Twitter is warning that the Boston event, taking place this weekend, is nearly completely sold out. Nathan’s going for us. He has a ticket. We hope. Homepage here.

Nintendo has announced its full list of titles its bringing to PAX East this weekend, including Mario Tennis Open, Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir and Ketzal’s Corridors, as well as Kid Icarus: Uprising and Mario Kart 7. Speaking of Icarus, Nintendo will also be related events, including AR scavenger hunts and a multiplayer tournament.

Thanks, Joystiq.

BioWare has updated the SWTOR blog to discuss the new PvP ranking system coming with patch 1.2. According to the team, changes in rank will be based on said rank when compared to your opponents’, and separate tracking options for solo and group players will be available. New Warzone rewards were also highlighted along with improvements to purchasing rewards and commendations earned in battle. A new vote-kick system will also be implemented to cut-back on AFK players. Fans can get their first taste of the PvP changes at PAX East next weekend. Hit up the blog for a more lengthy version of the changes. Thanks, Massively.

The winning entry in 2009′s Dream.Build.Play competition, Dust: An Elysian Tail, will be playable at Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade booth at PAX East next weekend. The news was announced via the developer’s Twitter account. The game should be completed before the end of the first half of 2012, and more updates on the title are to be revealed in the months leading up to release on XBLA. The game’s announcement trailer is posted here. Thanks, IndieGames.

Two of the most anticipated Kinect titles since – well, ever – will be playable by the public at PAX East next week.

More »

Square Enix has announced it’s plans for PAX East.

More »

Dance Central and Rock Band developer Harmonix will debut its next game at PAX East.

More »

2K has said the Gunzerker and Siren classes in Borderlands 2 will be playable at its PAX East booth next week. Players will be able to run around the Pandora Park and Caustic Caverns maps shooting things. Sounds fun. Other 2K-published titles playable in the booth include: Spec Ops: The Line, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Civilization V: Gods and Kings. If you’re heading to the event, be sure to stop by and give something a go. Thanks, D’toid.

PAX East organizers have tweeted that there are less than 1,000 badges available for Saturday, so if you are planning on attending, you need to hurry up and get your badge. PAX East runs April 6-8 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Last year, 69,500 people attended the weekend event, which this year happens, unfortunately for some, to fall on Easter Weekend.

Penny Arcade and MCCA (Massachusetts Convention Center Authority) have announced PAX East will stay at the MCC for the next ten years up until 2023. The new deal will mean the Massachusetts Digital Games Institute (MassDiGI) will get $325,000 each year the convention is held as part of the new deal to promote the industry’s academic studies in Boston. Penny Arcade said it hopes to have 100,000 attendants in each event over the next decade.

The organisers of PAX East have let the world know by Twitter that three-day passes have completely sold out – although some single day tickets remain. The three day event, a spin-off of Penny Arcade’s flagship PAX in Seattle, kicks off on April 6 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, and last year drew over 69,000 attendees. Get more details on the official site.

Thanks, Joystiq.

Penny Arcade has confirmed that 69,000 visitors hit this year’s PAX East in Boston, up by 19,000 from last year.

More »