PAX Prime 2013: Friday Main Theater Panel Schedule And Other Highlights

Hey, guess what? PAX Prime starts today! And while that’s undoubtedly more exciting for the people who are actually attending the show in Seattle for the next four days, it’s pretty exciting for gamers all over even if it just means daydreaming about being there.

PAX (short for Penny Arcade Expo) got its start back in 2004, and has spread to include sister shows in Boston and Australia as well—hence the need to call the Seattle show PAX Prime. Since E3 is an industry-only event, PAX is arguably the biggest convention with video games as the central focus open to the public in North America. If you don’t believe me, just try getting a four-day pass: this year they sold out in just 23 minutes, and all badges were gone six hours after they went on sale.

The show isn’t just about console games either. PC gaming, handhelds and even tabletop gaming all get to share in the spotlight, with areas of the Washington State Convention Center set up for both impromptu and organized game sessions of all kinds.

On the show floor, publishers, developers and all kinds of companies have booths to show off their latest stuff. It’s not as big as E3 in terms of product announcements and reveals, but it’s possible it’s even more signifcant in the grand scheme of things because the people who will end up buying the games can get their hands on them. With the next gen consoles coming out in November, that’s a bigger deal than ever this year.

If that wasn’t enough, the convention utilizes eight different theaters to hold a variety of panels and special events that run all day and a big chunk of the night. To aid everyone who’s heading out to PAX Prime right now—and to stoke the jealousy of everyone else, including ourselves—we put together a list of what’s going on in the main theatre and selected highlights from everywhere else. Enjoy!

PAX Prime 2013: Day 1 (Friday 8/30) Main Theater Schedule

10:30  am – Storytime with Peter Molyneux – A panel with one of the handful of game designers who need no introduction is a good way to kick things off. It’s just him, talking about who knows what, but smart money says it’s bound to be entertaining.

11:30 am – Penny Arcade Q&A – Gabe and Tycho of “Penny Arcade” answer questions. If you’re a fan of the webcomic or just an admirer of how two guys can make it big doing something they really love, that’s probably enough of a hook.

1 pm – Rooster Teeth – This is a panel with Rooster Teeth Productions, creators of “Red vs. Blue,” the Achievement Hunter website, and lots of other cool stuff. No actual rooster teeth, though, as far as we know.

4:30 pm – Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag – “AC IV” Game Director Ashraf Ismail and a mystery guest share news and exclusive gameplay footage while talking like pirates. Or it would be even cooler if they did, anyway.

 8:30 pm – Friday Night Concerts – Yes, there’s music at PAX Prime too. On this particular night, it’s Bit Brigade, MegaRan and the Protomen who will hit the stage.

PAX Prime 2013: Day 1 (Friday) Assorted Highlights:

10:30 am – Serpent Theatre – RTSGuru.com panel on the future of MOBA games

12:30 pm – Unicorn Theatre – From Obsession to Profession: How to Forge the Career You Want in the Videogame Industry

1:30 pm – Tabletop Tournament – “Settlers of Cataan” World Championship Pre-Qualifier

3 pm – Console Tournament – “Super Street Fighter 4: Arcade Edition”

4 pm – Kraken Theatre – Spelunky Video Armageddon

6:30 pm – Pegasus Theatre – The PC Gaming World Congress

7 pm – Console Tournament – “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” Pool 1

8 pm – Unicorn Theatre – The PAX 10 Panel: Part 1

9 pm – Console Tournament – “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” Pool 2

9:30 pm – PC Tournament – “The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot” Friday Event