Going to PAX? Here’s what you need to know
Tens of thousands of video game diehards are converging on the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center this weekend for the annual PAX East convention. Dressed to the nines as characters universal and niche, gaming buffs will line up to play the newest games, watch professionals duke it out on the big screen and more. Here are the top things to look for if you go to PAX this year.
• Bigger, bigger, bigger: This year, PAX East has been extended to four days — Thursday through Sunday — which means more time to spend wandering the convention floor if you can't get it in all in one day.
• Can you believe they get paid for this? Throughout the convention, a group of professional gamers will be competing to win championships in everything from NBA2K to Mario Kart. The New England Revolution are putting on a video game version of the MLS Cup that will be played through the weekend. • I don’t think I could pull that off: Costumes are one of the consistent parts of PAX, with many spending weeks, if not months, planning and putting together their attire. This year, conventiongoers have gone with a mix of new costumes, including from Overkill, to the classics, like Street Fighter and Dragon Ball Z.
• It’s a virtual world, we’re just living in it: Like every year, virtual reality is one of the main attractions at PAX. There are more and more games and demos this year, but expect to wait in some lengthy lines if you are itching to step into another dimension.
• Little guy, big game: If you are going to wait in line for VR and make your way through thousands of people, make sure you check out a group of independent developers showing off their games in a dedicated area. The indie games always include a number of local game developers, and that space is where some of the most creative games can be found.