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In case you missed part one, here ya go. And now, onto?

VERSUS Opening Night

This was it; show time. For those who still aren’t up to speed, my full rundown can be found over at Attract Mode. But right here, right now are a few extra pics from the happening, along with alternate takes of stuff already posted?

And once more, because I simply love this pic of myself and Jon?

As well as Asif‘s Instagram shot of one of our specially engineered drinks?

Said it before, but I’ll say it again: a heartfelt thanks to everyone for lending their support and making the show a unquestionable smash success. Can’t wait to do it all over again next year! Yes, there will be another Fangamer X Attract Mode show. Though preliminary planning is still some time away.

PAX Prime 2012 Day 3

With VERSUS finally done and over with, was finally afforded the chance to just chill. It was Sunday, last day of the Expo, at least for this year. Prime 2013 will be 4 days long; the new fourth day will be the following Monday, Labor Day. As Gerritt noted: “It’s great for the audience, but sucks for us.”

Decided to stop by the Nintendo booth for the second time, to give Project P-100 (now officially titled The Wonderful 101) a whirl. Unfortunately, didn’t get the chance, but I did watch Zac put the game through its paces?

? Looked certainly cool on my end, and Zac dug it a lot as well. Though he did note that it was weird trying to keep his eyes on the big screen ahead, and on the smaller screen below, at the same time. Sounds a lot like playing a DS game for the first time; there will definitely be an adjustment period before it becomes no big thang.

A favorite stop of mine, at any PAX, is the classic console gaming room. It’s always filled with older folk, replaying games of yesteryear, and exclaiming to their children “You kids today, don’t realize how luck you have it, in the graphics department”?

There’s also the classic arcade room, which isn’t quite as extensive as the one you’ll find at PAX East (thanks to the American Classic Arcade Museum). But there’s still plenty of curiosities to be found?

Along with pinball?

Zac and I took turns playing this game in which you’re a zoo keeper, trying to prevent animals from escaping. There’s a part in which you try your best to avoid the coconuts that some crazy-ass monkey keeps throwing at you! Wish I could remember its name?

One thing that keep getting bigger and bigger each year is e-sports. When picking up some League of Legends chotsky for Zac’s friend back home, we stumbled upon an important (and heated) match in progress. The crowd was going absolutely nuts, and neither of us knew what the hell was going on?

Behold Capcom’s $300 Street Fighter chess set that was available for purchase?

And Konami’s Gradius pin that was not for sale (bummer)?

Hey, would you be interested in a custom Xbox 360, featuring a beat and bloodies up Lara Croft on the side? Of course you are?

My second Japadog of the weekend; the Kabuki?

The Spy Party booth made me realize that I’ve been sitting on a beta copy for literally months now, and not once have I fired the sucker up?

Not a fan of the forthcoming art style either, sorry?

Also made a return trip to the Indie Megabooth. Like always, the stuff you’ll find there easily outclasses all the nonsense that the big boys are peddling. Now, I’ll forgo the long list of stuff I’ve either already talked about, or you’ve heard of already. Except for Quadrilateral Cowboy, which was totally new to me?

? I’m willing to wager that it’s new to most out there as well. Basically, it’s a first person title, but instead of shooting, you’re hacking. Seems really complicated, and you really are inputing lines of code, but I also found it super fascinating.

While floating around, I came across a woman who had created a bass out of a Commodore 64. Whereas some chiptuners plug their guitars into Game Boys, this goes even further, and sounds even better?

You’ll never know who you’re run into at PAX. Like the controversial Tentacle Bento?

DigiPen, one of the top video game schools in the country, had an arcade of their own set-up. Each of the machines contained some of their best student games from the just graduated year?

Another title that caught my eye was Yatagarasu, a PC doujin fighter that?s being localized, but for the 3DS. What got my attention is how, not only do you choose animu combatants, but actual Japanese people too?

? At first I thought you were actually choosing dudes controlling the characters. Imagine SF4, but instead of playing as Sakura, you’re playing as Daigo playing as Sakura! Unfortunately, in the end, its just pro-players from Japan, who commentary you can select. I have to wonder if that’ll make the cut during localization.

Yatagarasu was found at the Nicalis booth, where I also ran into Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya, who was simply there, just kicking back. I normally never ask to have my picture taken with someone whom I’m a super fanboy of, but come on, IT’S THE GUY WHO CREATED CAVE STORY!!!

And I guess that’s it? Again, sorry for the lack of pics from the show (it certainly feels as if I barely took any pictures, though that last one is my 76th for this blog post, and counting).

After saying goodbye to the Fangamer crew, I met up with Gerritt and Zac for some post-PAX drinks downtown. We then hooked with Jon, plus Asif and Paul (remember: they’re no longer just the 2 Player Productions guys but fellow Attract Mode members), along with the gang from Far From Subtle for dinner and even more booze.

Eventually we ended up at some swanky hotel rooftop party. Here I am bitching about Dark Knight Rises I believe?

It was here that Zac came up with the most brilliant idea ever for a Kickstarter. Basically, it’s to raise money for a capsule, to put a baby in, who would be shot into space and sent across the universe. To presumably end up on some alien planet and be its hero. Or simply die. You never know till we try, right? I’d definitely toss at least $25 towards such a thing.

Much drunken fun was had that evening, just sucks that Adam couldn?t be around, but at least he was enjoying himself back in LA at that exact moment?

Seattle Day 6

It was finally time to say good-bye to the rest of the gang, Asif, Paul, Zac, and Gerritt, with whom I shared many adventures with during this particular stay in the Pacific Northwest. And it was also time for me to head back down to Lakewood, but first, I still had to do a little sightseeing?

Decided to finally check out the EMP Museum, which is dedicated to music, though most of the focus was on rock and roll?

Naturally, there was a section dedicated to the local grunge scene. BTW, I have no qualms admitting that I still listen to the sounds of my youth. Yes, Nirvana is basically a rip of The Pixies, blah, blah, blah, like I haven’t heard that a billion times already?

You also had a number of other neat exhibitions, like one dedicated to the art of rock photography?

There was even a section in which one could try to learn the fundamentals of playing rock instruments, which was brilliantly executed. You also had the obligatory history or rock and roll, which in my book was a massive fail, due to the total omission of any mention of the Beach Boys.

Sorry, but without Pet Sounds a lot of what we have today would simply not exist. Anyhow, there was also this ginormous screen that played assorted music videos. Like the Michel Gondry’s Star Guitar vid, which never fails to blow me away?

? Also caught Michael Jackson’s Thriller a few other fan favorites, but otherwise, it was mostly highlights from some 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s Nevermind. In the form of the absolute worst tribute acts imaginable. But at the very least, the screen visuals all by itself was might impressive?

? K, get ready for part three. Tomorrow!

4 comments

First off, am back in NYC. Been meaning to file my post PAX Prime report for weeks now, but you know the deal. The new teaching gig in particular has been kicking my ass. It’s going well, but I don’t think my students are exactly thrilled with my latest assignment: crafting the dialogue tree for a dating sim.

I’ve also had plenty of freelance on my plate, which is good (especially since, long story short, I need the money). Did I ever mention that I now write for TechRadar? For the past few months, been back to writing about a favorite subject of mine: cell phones. Though there’s still zero love between me and Android I’m afraid.

But I’m mostly still resting and recovering from my most recent Pacific Northwest tour of duty. Which means I’ve actually been playing games! Like Persona 4: Arean. As super exciting the idea of a P4 fighting game has been since day one, in the back of my mind, was also secretly afraid that such a thing would be the dumbest thing ever. Well, it’s not.

Anyhow, back to the business: where was I? Oh yeah, was about to make my way to?
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Seattle Days 1 & 2/VERSUS Prep Day 1

Behold my very first meal in Seattle: kimchee and pulled pork pizza, at some beer garden near the convention center?

Looks great, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, the kimchee wasn’t the least bit spicy (which can often be lost when cooked? unless you know what you’re doing). If it was, you wouldn’t need jalapenos in the first place. But on the plus side, the cheese and especially the crust were fabulous.

Rolled into Seattle about two days before PAX, Wednesday evening. My original plan was to simply chill in the Emerald City the following day, to enjoy a little R&R before PAX, and specifically VERSUS. Didn’t happen; was up near the crack of down Thursday morning, going over last minute bits of business with Jon, before heading on over to the space with artwork in hand.

Thursday was when set-up for the art show commenced, which was made complicated by the fact that I also had my usual freelance obligations that had to be fulfilled (plus I was behind deadline on a review for an Android handset). At least I was done in time to attend Cory‘s going away party, who was flying out to Chicago the very next morning, to start a new life with his gf. Here’s a pic of us, in the park, in the dead of night?

PAX Prime 2012 Day 1/VERSUS Prep Day 2

Because of VERSUS, there wasn’t much time to spare at PAX proper (thank goodness I wasn’t covering it for anyone, otherwise I would have been screwed). The doors open extra early on the first day, for press folks, which I took full advantage of this year. First stop: the Konami both to give Revengance (God I love that name) a spin?

The verdict? Simply awesome. And as expected; I’ve been behind the Platinum produced revamp since day one, haters be dammed. Though I was honestly surprised that the slice-o-matic gameplay was not just reserved by inanimate objects, as one might have assumed from trailers up till that point (a point that has since been clarified with more recent footage).

Watched some five-year-old kid (with his mom watching on, kid you not), tear apart someone apart, but not do the most thorough job possible. So after leaving “slice time”, the poor soul was stumbling around with 35% of his body sheered off, squirting blood everywhere. But the best part is the controls for slicing and dicing is super easy to handle!

Next was Nintendo’s booth. Finally got the chance to give the Wii U a spin, along with New Super Mario Bros U?

The verdict? The game is cool is guess; wish it was something different, like everyone else, but I dug New SMB, so I guess a little more is not so bad. But I’m not sold on the new system quite yet; it’s hard to make judgments here, but the Wii U GamePad hardly flexed its muscles in this instance, but that’s going to be case with most launch titles.

Swung by the Sega booth, real quick like, to give the HD re-release of NiGHTS a try. I much prefer the chunky pixels on the Saturn original, and the smoothed out look is hardly any different from the PS2 re-release, but I’m glad it’s coming out anyway. Also stopped by the Phantasy Star Online 2 section, because of super kawaii cat girl?

Right next to the Fangamer booth was Hawken. Been looking forward to the game for some time now, and aside from looking awesome as always, am happy that it’s getting some super strong buzz! Especially for a free to play mech title, of all things?

Last stop, before spending the rest of my day at the event space was the Indie Mega Booth, to say hi to Nathan and the rest of the crew at Capy, and one of the star attractions for VERSUS?

As already noted in my Attract Mode wrap up, Nathan mentioned how, immediately after receiving my email in which I asked if I could borrow his studio’s latest and greatest for the show, and saying yes, he was immediately bombarded by similar requests (and by some super high profile outfits). Being told that he gladly said no, because he felt that being part of something Attract Mode was involved in “simply made sense” got me all gooey inside?

After about an hour at the convention center, it was off to 1927 Events?

The previous day entire was spent on transporting artwork, and getting the space ready. Next on my list was figuring out what would be hung where. Here’s everything on the floor, after I had switched pieces around, maybe 50 times or so?

Naturally, last minute, pre-show hype was courtesy of Instagram?

And eventually, stuff found themselves on the walls, at long last?

Here’s Jon and Reid, testing out the projectors and giving Cumulous Nimbers a spin for the very first time (not surprisingly, they were hooked in 0.0 seconds)?

Our schedule was pretty tight, but we managed to put up the signage before heading out for the day?

By the time I had gotten back to the show floor, day one of PAX Prime 2012 was over. Which meant the complimentary meal for exhibitors, in which I enjoyed some of the finest, tiny burgers I’ve ever had. After dinner, it was time to check out some of the post-PAX shindigs taking place all across Seattle. Myself and Zac caught wind of some other art show opening happening that evening, but due to erroneous intel, we ended up at some Hawken afterparty?

Had much fun gawking at the gothic lolitas that were floating around, along with the lone dude trying to impress them with his mad raver skillz, plus the complimentary drinks were nice and stiff. Best part is how I was finally able to secure an interview with the creator of the game on the behalf of Mecha Damashii; look for that in the coming days.

But once the place became too smelly, we made our way to our originally intended destination, Ltd Gallery. Described as a “modern video game art show” it was somewhat long the lines of VERSUS, except all the participants were artists who currently work at game studios. Including Double Fine, Valve, and Rockstar. Some good stuff were on-hand, including?

And a few pieces from Ltd Gallery’s permanent collection that caught my eye as well?

Soon it was time to craw into our hotel beds. Unfortunately, I couldn’t indulge in my late PAX night tradition with my bro Adam, who sadly could not make it to PAX this year. Thankfully Zac and Gerritt were able to appreciate my fondness for The Disney Channel.

PAX Prime 2012 Day 1/VERSUS Prep Day 2

After many months, the big Fangamer X Attract Mode art show as finally going to take place. But unfortunately, we were not able to access the space till a bit late in the afternoon. Thankfully, much of the work was taken care off already, so that meant I could take a breather and check out PAX in proper fashion?

For a variety of reasons, I’m not nearly as gung-ho as I used to be when it comes to taking cosplay pics. Aside from the fact that everyone does it these days, am also tired of constantly fighting with the camera that I have, plus I’m just getting too old. Thankfully these girls as assorted Metal Gear Solid characters didn’t find me the least bit creepy. Instead they pointed out the dude behind me who decided to take a pic (and whose head was practically resting on my shoulder)?

Mario characters are dime a dozen, but steampunk Waluigi? I think not!

Instead of a gothic lolita, I guess this one is patriotic? Sorry if she’s a character that I don’t recognize?

And then there’s this guy, also exhibiting American spirit. Whom I did ask who he was supposed to be, and was in fact, just dressed like he normally does?

But everyone knows (and loves) Roll, right? Except for Capcom of course?

I thought it would be funny to, instead of asking these Journey cosplayers to pose for a pic, just capture them roaming the show floor. Too bad the lighting conditions (and my crap camera) made that so difficult?

It’s Izanagi, from Persona 4, watching someone play a 3DS game, and totally being a creeper. But then again, I can hardly talk?

Speaking of, here’s a dude wearing a Monodeer shirt, as was I at the time. It’s funny how I’ll try to wear something to an event, whether it be a video game convention of indie comics show, that I feel is relevant for the occasion at hand, but that I’m convinced that no one else will also have?

BTW, the guy was super friendly, as I’d expect a fan of the next hottest thing in chiptune to be. Was someone from British Columbia, and a 8bit musician himself, but sadly I have misplaced his contact info.

Soon it was time to make my exit and head on over to 1927 Events. But not without swinging by the Sony booth and giving the PlayStation Vita version of Persona 4 a test drive?

And with VERSUS just a few hours away, I knew that I would need some energy to get them though the final crucial steps of pre-show preparations. Hence my very first Dog Japon of the weekend?

Got the Spicy Matsuri?

?That’s it for now; tomorrow is part two!

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