PAX East Atmosphere II -- Day of the Characters
Gabe and Tycho wear many hats -- comic stars, video game stars, official hosts of PAX Prime and PAX East, and the ambassadors of gaming from tabletop, video games, card games, dice and pencil -- hell, there is not a game that they won't play! That being the case -- they get top honors as the Characters of the Day!
The name 'PAX East' translates to 'Penny Arcade Expo East' and represents the second annual incarnation of what has been called a gaming event that is bigger than Jesus -- we don't know about that, but we do know that it is an event that is celebrated far and wide, draws in attendees from all over the world, and causes normally sane people to dress up as their favorite video game character for the all too brief period of time that they can attend the Expo.
Penny Arcade started out as a web-comic created by two regular blokes -- Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik (AKA as Tycho and Gabe respectively). They were not corporate lackeys or professionals in the employ of a media company but just two regular blokes who had a creative idea for a comic that was part social commentary, part pop-culture, and all character-driven.
They launched their website in 1998 with their first comic about the trials and shortcomings of gaming -- and tapped into the psyche of a world of gamers who -- until they read Penny Arcade -- thought that they were the only people in the world with that particular outlook.There is a synergistic bond between Penny Arcade and the world of video games -- there is even a video game called Precipice of Darkness that is an episodic RPG/Adventure set in the 1920's starring our two Penny Arcade heroes. Is it any wonder then that fans of the series, the game, and of the Expo feel compelled to dress up to attend?
As the last day of PAX East gets rolling, costumed fans are wandering the aisles, so we thought we would share with you a few glimpses into the world of costumed characters as Part II of the official Atmosphere coverage!
The Doctor is In -- Assassins Creed had more than a few character homages on the floor, but few as striking as this.
Ezio could be found hamming it up in line for a preview of The Darkness II.
While Ash and Pikachu were a fairly common sight at the Expo, we were happy to see that Ash and May made it to PAX!
Pikachu wandered away from her Ash and we caught her looking lost...
Supergirl put in an appearance -- happy to be at PAX and on her own, she says that the shadow of the Man of Steel can be a burden.
True fans travel in packs -- happy packs in this case!
A mix of Steampunk, a mix of Fantasy, and a wide smile go a long way on a cold day in the aisles.
Team Fortress 2 fans may not be the there in numbers, but if we need a spy, there's a cosplay for that!
Of all the images we shot, we saved the best for last -- and as you can see, Street Fighter was well represented in the house!
As the second PAX East winds up its final day, the lines are no shorter, the wait about the same, and the games still very much the main attraction -- but it is the fans that make this show what it is, and the fans that take the time to make -- and wear -- their elaborate costumes that brings the smiles and makes the wait easier.
If nobody else said it, we hope you will accept the warm and enthusiastic gratitude of the Gaming Update Crew -- Thanks mates!
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