PAX Prime 2012 Panels of Interest and More

I’m definitely more of one for the exposition floor than for panels. If you haven’t noticed, I play a good deal of video games, and that’s my main focus at PAX. However, I’m still going to try to attend a few panels and events.

Friday
2:00 pm – “Just One More Game…” -Science and Controversy on Internet and Gaming Addiction
Not that I have a problem of course. I only spend all of my free time playing games or writing about games. Oh, and most of the time I’m at work thinking about games. Sometimes spending that time looking at game forums. Still, I’m pretty sure I’ve got this whole thing under control.
4:30 pm – Assassin’s Creed III PAX Prime Panel
I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but people seem to like this Assassin’s Creed franchise. The trailers for this thing have been amazing and I will happily go drool over more footage from the upcoming sequel. I can only hope that the special guest is Tobuscus to do another live performance literal trailer.
9:00 pm  – Assassin’s Creed III & Frag Dolls afterparty @ Trinity
Okay, concerts are cool, but Ubisoft is willing to pick up my bar tab and throw an Assassin’s Creed III party. The choice is unreasonably clear. Besides, I must see for myself the dancing promised on the RSVP site. Being part of the nerd / gamer crowd and knowing how I dance, this can only end well.

Saturday
11:30 am – MMORPG.com – Future of Online Games Panel
Now I’m not the world’s biggest fan of the whole MMO thing regardless of how many articles I seem to write about them. Betas are free to play, all right? However, this panel mentions Torchlight 2 and a surprise from Red 5 so I’m in. Also, I’m really ready to laugh at Planetside 2. Poor Sony.
3:00 pm – Stuff Your Criticism, I Want a Review! Part Two
Surprise! I write video game review articles every week and I’m interested in going to a panel on that exact subject. I’m not so proud that I don’t think that I could use some pointers from guys that have been doing this sort of thing for a lot longer than I have. They’re getting paid for it as well, so there’s another reason to heed their advice. However, this may prevent me from going to another panel at 4.
4:00 pm – How Not to Write a Game Review
How about how not to schedule two panels with a similar focus so close to each other that I can realistically only choose one? Avoiding pitfalls in writing a game review? Oddly relevant to my interests. Dan Amrich has been doing this stuff for a while now and I would really like to just absorb information like a sponge. Sure, I could probably read his book, but I’m sure a one hour panel will convey enough. If he says avoid being negative and snarky, I’m out.

Sunday
4:00 pm – Inside Gearbox Software
Seriously, they gave away free copies of Borderlands 2 last year and I just got an email to tell me that it includes the Mechromancer for free when that becomes available. How am I not going to hit their panel again this year? Free pizza doesn’t hurt.

Hoping to see on the expo floor:
Bethesda has a good bit of floor space and I can only hope that they are giving out some swag to promote the upcoming Doom 3 BFG edition. What else are they announcing?

Sega has some nice re-releases coming out as well and I wouldn’t mind seeing the updated Jet Set Radio in action.

Runic is back again and as it’s the only way I can play Torchlight 2 for now, I’m excited to get to their booth.

Konami has Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 listed as coming soon on their site. Lords of Shadow was an amazing take on the franchise and the trailer for the sequel is visually enticing. I hope they have something on it at their booth.

Of course, I want to check out Assassin’s Creed 3 and wander the League of Legends area as well.

Beyond that, I’m a big fan of walking around the floor and discovering new games that I never knew existed. Also, swag is a good way to pique my interest. Give me a hat or shirt and I am instantly more interested in what you’re trying to sell me. It won’t guarantee that I’ll like it, but it certainly makes me more likely to stop and give it a thorough chance. Yes, I use PAX to increase my wardrobe every year.