At PAX East this weekend in Boston, ReedPOP and Penny Arcade announced that they will be adding yet another PAX event to the calendar- PAX South. The new expo will debut in San Antonio, Texas from January 23-25, 2015 .
The show will offer exactly what people have come to expect from the three previous PAX events, a mix of videogames, tabletop games, music, competitions and panels. PAX is different than most industry events in that it offers admission to the public and is one of the few places where anyone can check out upcoming games.
"The love of gaming in all its many forms, whether that be on a TV, a computer, a phone, or even a tabletop, is hitting an all-time high. PAX gives gaming fans one place to get a glimpse of emerging trends and does it in a truly fun and interactive way," said Lance Fensterman, Global Vice President of ReedPOP in a statement.
Robert Khoo, Penny Arcade President, added, "Since its launch in 2004, PAX events have doubled in size almost every year, and our Seattle and Boston events represent the two largest gaming festivals in North America. We've been hearing for years that those in the south had a tough time making it to the northern corners of the country; PAX South has always been a matter of 'when' rather than 'if.'"
ReedPOP are also the folks behind the upcoming BookCon and Special Edition conventions coming to NYC, as well as the largest comic convention in Australia, Oz Comic-Con.
Despite their immensve popularity the conventions certainly haven't been without their controversies. Penny Arcade's founders Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins have gotten into fights about some despicable topics, for seemingly no reason, and their fanbase can sometimes seem like the worst of what gamers have to offer.
There's no denying their influence, however, and the fact that they managed to get so many industry titans to take them seriously is remarkable. Many major publishers carve time and money out of their busy development schedules to showcase their work, and each expo seems to bring new game announcements and new footage from some of the most anticipated titles.
For more on the PAX series of expos (Prime, East, South and Australia) check out paxsite.com.
