Foreign Correspondant - PAX '09

[banjoeskimo]

I know, I know, what the hell is a topic about an American game convention doing on an Aussie game forum? Well, I live in the state of Washington, so PAX (http://www.paxsite.com/) is only a four hour drive for me.

So, it's that time of year again, where I trek off to Seattle and come back to make you all horribly jealous. Rather than simply incur your wrath this year, I figured I'd offer to be helpful. I can provide the following services...

-Bitch at the Harmonix panel (again) about Australia's lack of a Rock Band 2 release

-Get hands on impressions of games that will be demoed on the main floor of the exhibition hall

-Ask Gabe & Tycho ridiculous questions during the Q&A session (but only after I present Gabe with an Aussie phonebook for the township of Wangaratta, Victoria)

-Attend interesting panels and ask questions on your behalf to the likes of Tim Schafer

Before anyone asks, no, I won't be buying things for people, as I'm far too broke, and anything you want is probably already available on the PA store. That said, I intend on getting as much free swag as possible, so I might have some fun stuff to auction off when I get back.

Anyway, requests? Is anyone else going this year? I remember someone went last year, but I missed on meeting up with them 'cause I didn't have any internet access.

If anyone wants to meet this year, I propose a trip to the Cheesecake Factory underneath the convention center, or Rock Bottom Brewery. Awesome burgers, and decent drinks too.

[Azzaman]

envy level 9000. I'd love to go to PAX, but I can't see it ever happening for me tbh. you should ask Gabe if he's still doing paintings and if he intends to go any further with them (ie beyond for shits and giggles), also I'd like to know when they will be getting in contact with Vin Diesel for the DnD podcasts.

[Slippery]

If I was going I'd make sure to hit up the panel the GiantBomb guys are doing.

Then again I'm practically a raving GB fanboy.

[Lazlow]

If Turn 10 are there, bitch at them about the weak Australian content being included into Forza 3.

There's more to the Australian automotive industry and motorsport history than the 2 current V8 Supercar models, and the 4 skins each they've been given >_<

[sausage]

Bastard.





That's all I have to say.

[Xanafalgue]

Jelus.

[sausage]

Maybe.





That's all I have to say.

[Xanafalgue]

I am, totally. What a prick! Wheres my invitation?

[sausage]

Upon perusing the homepage the gig is totally sold out apparently; they've even run out of badges!!

[grimace06]

Are you going to the Giant Bomb or CO-OP panels Eibach?

Very jealous.

[Zan]

I went to PAX '07, best time ever.

Wish I could go again. :s

[banjoeskimo]

Pretty late, damage report so far...

Managed to play a bunch of stuff. God of War III, Brutal Legend, Uncharted 2, LittleBigPlanet PSP, Zelda Spirit Tracks, Dead Space Extraction, NSMB Wii, Muramasa, RB Beatles and LEGO RB, Ratchet & Clank - A Crack in Time, PixelJunk Shooter, Heavy Rain...

I have good things to say about almost all of those.

Met Tim Schafer, Dennis Dyack and the CEO of BioWare. Saw the Ron Gilbert keynote, it was both touching and hilarious. First Q&A with Gabe and Tycho was great.

Went to a bunch of panels, learned a lot of interesting stuff.

Best part? My wife came down with swine flu, and I just started coughing, so we're probably heading home a day early before it really sets in. Awesome.

[Manny M]

So did you just buy a ticket as a 'civilian' or did you go as a member of the press?

Only really jealous that you played GoWIII. Very.

BTW, your wife!? I thought you were like 22 years old.

[AranchineD]

Get with the times Manny, they had a nice little Rock Band themed wedding and everything!


All I want to know is: is Brutal Legend as awesome as I'm hoping it is?

[Xanafalgue]

Pretty late, damage report so far...

Managed to play a bunch of stuff. God of War III, Brutal Legend, Uncharted 2, LittleBigPlanet PSP, Zelda Spirit Tracks, Dead Space Extraction, NSMB Wii, Muramasa, RB Beatles and LEGO RB, Ratchet & Clank - A Crack in Time, PixelJunk Shooter, Heavy Rain...

I have good things to say about almost all of those.

Met Tim Schafer, Dennis Dyack and the CEO of BioWare. Saw the Ron Gilbert keynote, it was both touching and hilarious. First Q&A with Gabe and Tycho was great.

Went to a bunch of panels, learned a lot of interesting stuff.

Best part? My wife came down with swine flu, and I just started coughing, so we're probably heading home a day early before it really sets in. Awesome.

Good stuff :) (apart from the swine flu)

[banjoeskimo]

I'm actually about 5 weeks off being 24, but yeah, we got married on the younger end of things. I met her about 3 and a half years ago when I first moved here from Australia.

Brutal Legend was good. It's not the most polished game I've ever played, the frame rate can be inconsistent at times and the animations could be a little more refined, but for what it lacks in God of War level polish it makes up for in unadulterated fun. It certainly functions a lot better than, say, another well loved but underpolished game like Mass Effect. The humour is absolutely spot on, the gameplay is varied (managed to play about a 20 minute demo with combat, driving, a boss fight and some minor puzzle solving) and it's just such a ridiculous and original concept that it ends up being a total blast.

In any case, if I'm right, I'm guessing it'll score mid eights to low nines, have some legitimate complaints, but the game will just outshine its flaws by the virtue of being so entertaining. If you're excited thus far, I certainly didn't see anything that would put you off.

Also, went on a regular civilian pass. Can't wing a media pass, unless you guys want me to be some sort of official Hyper employee. :p

[grimace06]

I'm actually about 5 weeks off being 24, but yeah, we got married on the younger end of things. I met her about 3 and a half years ago when I first moved here from Australia.

Brutal Legend was good. It's not the most polished game I've ever played, the frame rate can be inconsistent at times and the animations could be a little more refined, but for what it lacks in God of War level polish it makes up for in unadulterated fun. It certainly functions a lot better than, say, another well loved but underpolished game like Mass Effect. The humour is absolutely spot on, the gameplay is varied (managed to play about a 20 minute demo with combat, driving, a boss fight and some minor puzzle solving) and it's just such a ridiculous and original concept that it ends up being a total blast.

In any case, if I'm right, I'm guessing it'll score mid eights to low nines, have some legitimate complaints, but the game will just outshine its flaws by the virtue of being so entertaining. If you're excited thus far, I certainly didn't see anything that would put you off.

Also, went on a regular civilian pass. Can't wing a media pass, unless you guys want me to be some sort of official Hyper employee. :p

So is Brutal Legend more God of War or more Overlord/Pikmin?

[Azzaman]

So did you just buy a ticket as a 'civilian' or did you go as a member of the press?

Only really jealous that you played GoWIII. Very.

BTW, your wife!? I thought you were like 22 years old.

Not that odd, I'm 25 married and have a (very soon to be) 2 year old.
Eibach, that thoroughly sucks, absolute worst time to get sick.

[banjoeskimo]

So is Brutal Legend more God of War or more Overlord/Pikmin?

It's more of an action adventure game with brawler elements. From what I can tell, game time will be evenly split between combat, puzzle solving, vehicle sections and exploration. Think Zelda with God of War-lite combat.

[Watchers]

It's more of an action adventure game with brawler elements. From what I can tell, game time will be evenly split between combat, puzzle solving, vehicle sections and exploration. Think Zelda with God of War-lite combat.

So I take it they didn't show any of the RTS-lite component that supposedly forms a lot of the playtime?

[Zzz]

I can provide the following services...

-Bitch at the Harmonix panel (again) about Australia's lack of a Rock Band 2 release

Well? What happened?

[banjoeskimo]

They didn't have a Q&A session, and from what I know someone said it's not EA or Harmonix, but actually MTV who've decided never to release it in AU.

They did mention that the Rock Band Network would be US only in the beginning though, so, not much hope of a change for either a long time or until probably RB3 I'm afraid.

[banjoeskimo]

Holy shit, my wife is on Kotaku! (http://kotaku.com/5354692/kotakus-fall-fashion-special/gallery/)

Hers is the first quote, aka sunshineravioli. All of that stuff on her hat is for sale too.

One of the editors from the site found us about 10 minutes before the first day opened while we were standing in line, which was great, because we'd been joking about how long it would take her to end up on Kotaku (ala Metroid Hat girl) and as it turned out, she succeeded before the show even started.