Three years of PAX South has led to improvements
PAX South attendees and company booths fill the floor at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio in late January.
February 21, 2017
Three years later and PAX South is still going strong. By adding new booths and inviting more streamers, and creators, PAX is giving more people a reason to attend. Even with minor problems, attendees won’t regret the experience.
PAX South’s first year was not it’s best but with three years under it’s belt there have been many improvements. Bigger games and retailers are now gaining floor space catching the eye of their players.
While the floor space wasn’t utilized the best as it could have been, the booths that took up the space were big names in the gaming industry. With games like Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and the Nintendo Switch making appearances PAX South is gaining the credibility it needs. Twitch’s presence is also rapidly growing with each convention, inviting more and more streamers making PAX a more personal experience. The chance for attendees to meet their favorite streamers and take pictures with them makes the $35 ticket price even more worth the cost.
The big names aren’t the only ones on the floor. Indie games such as tinyBuild Games and smaller retailers also share the space, drawing in large crowds. By not having just the behemoths PAX is becoming more diverse and showing that the little guys can share the limelight.
Artists put their creations on paper and sold them to those who appreciated their hard work. Some vendors sold prints and others sold sculptures.
Although PAX is centered around video games, board games drew in a tremendous crowd. Tables were full of people either playing the games they bought or painting figures they bought for their games.
Cosplayers reigned supreme when it came to creativity of the attendees. Overwatch characters like McCree and Soldier 76 were seen everywhere. Other costumes from Fallout, Mario, and TMNT also seemed to be everywhere you looked.
Even if someone’s costume wasn’t perfect there was no judgement. Those who wore costumes showed support for their favorite games and caught the eye of everyone around them.
Some costume pieces were purchased from professional manufacturers, but those who made everything themselves gained the recognition they deserved.
Twitter, Instagram, and other social media outlets put the costumed attendees in the spotlight, highlighting their creativity for all to see.
Most of the noise was downstairs, but the upstairs area was busy, too. Conference halls filled with people waiting for panels. An old school arcade was also upstairs allowing fans to play games they haven’t played since they were kids. The next floor up also showcased older video games allowing fans to bring their own games or play the ones the convention offered.
I would definitely recommend PAX South for not only gamers but those who want experience something new. PAX isn’t just for gamers and even if you don’t enjoy video games you may find yourself something new to enjoy.
