GoComics Creator Showcase at Planet Comicon 2017
March 23, 2017 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Comic Strips, Convention News, Missouri, Top Stories, Webcomics
Press Release:
GoComics is stoked to announce its biggest creator event in the history of the known universe this April at Planet Comicon Kansas City.
On April 28-30 at Bartle Hall, fans can find 31 of their favorite GoComics creators and friends in one convenient continent of tables. There’ll be signings, a special panel, and more fun than you’re normally able to process without the aid of special fun-processing technology.
So who’s coming, exactly? You may want to sit down before you read this list
Sarah Andersen – Sarah’s Scribbles
Bill Amend – FoxTrot
Stephan Pastis – Pearls Before Swine
Nick Seluk – The Awkward Yeti
Alex Norris – Dorris McComics
Chris Harding – We The Robots
Dave Mercier – MercWorks
Megan McKay – Doodle For Food
Chris Grady – Lunarbaboon
Shen T – Owlturd
Julia Kaye – Up and Out
Todd Clark – Lola
Brian Gordon – Fowl Language
Sara Zimmerman – Unearthed Comics
Maria Scrivan – Half Full
John McPherson – Close to Home
Olivia Walch – Imogen Quest
Enzo Comics – Cheer Up Emo Kid
Hanna Pirita Lehkonen – Immortal Nerd
Dan Martin – Deathbulge
Jason Anarchy – Drinking Quest
Ben Zaehringer – Berkeley Mews
J.L. Westover –Mr. Lovenstein
Kevin Kuramura – Pear-Shaped Comics
Laura Romagnoli – Average Adventures of an Average Girl
Patabot – BFGF Syndrome
Jane Zei – The Pigeon Gazette
Deya Muniz – Brutally Honest
David Daneman – The DaneMen
Aaron Lenk – Big Simple Comics
Jose Rojas – Button Mash Productions
If you can’t make it to Planet Comicon Kansas City, we’ve got you covered. We’re collecting a heaping helping of signed comics and other merch from each of the attending creators for a special giveaway for eligable GC fans in the U.S. We’ll have more details in April, so watch this space to learn how you can win the biggest swag bag this side of, uh… Swag Bag City? Yeah. Swag Bag City.
TCAF 2013 Announces New Featured Guests + More
January 30, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Canada, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Convention News, Top Stories
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Press Release:
TCAF, The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, has already got fans around the world buzzing in anticipation of the Festival’s 10th Anniversary, this May 11th and 12th! The announcement of exhibitors, guests, and programming was met with widespread excitement as TCAF will play host to some of the greatest comics creators working in the medium today, including Pulitzer Prize winner Art Spiegelman, and internationally acclaimed comics auteurs Taiyo Matsumoto (Japan) and Blutch (France) amongst many others!
TCAF 2013 today officially announces additional acclaimed authors from across Canada and around the world, important new graphic novels debuting at the festival, and the continuation of outreach programs designed to educate and inform about the medium of comics art.
First, TCAF is proud to welcome new Featured Guests:
- Bill Amend: Creator of the widely syndicated Foxtrot comic strip, and the new AAAAA! Foxtrot graphic novel collections from Andrews McMeel. (USA)
- David B.: Author of Epileptic, co-founder of L’Association. Attending in support of Black Paths from publisher SelfMadeHero. (France)
- Chihoi: Exciting, young talent from Hong Kong. Debuting his first the first ever English version of his work, The Library from publisher Conundrum Press. (Hong Kong)
- Glyn Dillon: Appearing in support of the critically-acclaimed The Nao of Brown,from publisher SelfMadeHero. (UK)
- Michael Kupperman: Hilarious surrealist cartoonist, creator of Snake’n’Bacon. Touring in support of Tales Designed to Thrizzle Vol 2 from publisher Fantagraphics Books. (USA)
- Bryan Lee O’Malley: Creator of the Scott Pilgrim series, will be debuting Scott Pilgrim & The Infinite Sadness Hardcover Color Edition from publisher Oni Press (Canada)
- Michel Rabagliati: Acclaimed Quebec author of the semi-autobiographical and bestselling Paul series. Debuting Paul Joins the Scouts from Conundrum Press. (Canada)
- Judith Vanistendael: Author of Dance by the Light of the Moon. Debuting When David Lost his Voice from publisher SelfMadeHero. (Belgium)
These eight cartoonists join a fantastic and diverse array of Canadian and international cartoonists who will make up the 2013 Festival.
New Exhibitors:
Joining our previously announced, stellar roster of exhibitors are Scott Chantler (Canada), Murilo Martins (Brazil), Inés Estrada (Mexico), Josh Neufeld (USA), Francisco López (Argentina), Kevin Cannon (USA), and Tim Sievert (USA). A full list of exhibitors can be found at http://torontocomics.com/
New Books:
UK publisher SelfMadeHero will be making some North American debuts at the festival, with English translations of Black Paths by David B., and When David Lost His Voice byJudith Vanistendael.
Conundrum Press is debuting the English translation of Michel Rabagliati’s Paul Joins the Scouts, and announcing the launch of their Conundrum International Imprint withChihoi’s The Library.
Oni Press has chosen to debut the new color hardcover edition of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s Scott Pilgrim Volume 3: Scott Pilgrim & The Infinite Sadness at TCAF 2013.
Koyama Press’ recently announced Spring/Summer lineup features some impressive TCAF debuts: Very Casual by Michael Deforge, Journal by Julie Delporte, andEverything Takes Forever by Victor Kerlow
All debut books can be found at http://torontocomics.com/
New Programming:
Librarian and Educator Day: TCAF will be holding a full-day of programming geared towards librarians and educators on Friday, May 10th, from 8:30am to 5pm at Toronto Reference Library, in The Bram and Bluma Appel Salon. This follows a successful trial run of this date in 2012, and will feature librarians, publishers, and authors, sharing information and developing skills related to comics in public, academic, and school libraries and classrooms. More information will be released the second week of March.
Comics Creator Skills and Development Day: TCAF will be holding a full day of skills-building workshops for comics creators on Friday, May 10th. As most comics creators exhibiting at TCAF do not get the opportunity to attend festival panels and other programming, this will offer a rare opportunity for creators to share and develop skills related to their profession. More information will be released at the beginning of April.
Over the next several months, TCAF will announce additional Featured Guests from Canada and around the world, details of programming and related events, and a full run-down of all that’s in store at the 2013 Festival. We will be sending PR for all events, but be sure to check the TCAF Website and social media for up-to-the-minute updates!
TCAF Website: http://torontocomics.com
Twittter: @TorontoComics
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
SPONSORS
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival would not be possible without the assistance of our sponsors and partners, including presenting sponsor Toronto Public Library and retail sponsor The Beguiling Books & Art.
TCAF would like to recognize the efforts of the following organization in planning TCAF on an ongoing basis: The French Consulate in Toronto, The Japan Foundation, The Italian Cultural Institute, NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad), The Flemish Literature Fund, and the Australia Council for the Arts
In addition, TCAF would like to thank publishers Drawn & Quarterly, VIZ Media LLC., OWLkids, Conundrum Press, Fantagraphics, Oni Press, Picturebox Inc., Random House Canada, SelfMade Hero, Scholastic Canada, Topatoco, and First Second for their assistance.
Lastly, TCAF is grateful for the financial support of the Toronto Arts Council.
Sponsorship opportunities for TCAF 2013 are still available, please contact us at: contact@torontocomics.com for more info.
PRESS
All general press inquiries, interview and press accreditation requests should be submitted to: media@torontocomics.com.
FEATURED GUEST BIOGRAPHIES:
Bill Amend is the cartoonist behind the comic strip FoxTrot, and has been at it for almost 25 years. He was named Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 2007.
David B. is a French comic book artist and writer, widely regarded for the book Epileptic. In 1990, he co-founded the independent publisher L’Association, which became a major force in French small-press comics. (France)
Chihoi is a self-taught artist who has been releasing comics since 1996. His work has been translated into Italian, French, and now English with the debut of The Library. This works also marks the beginning of the Conundrum International Imprint. (Hong Kong)
Glyn Dillon has returned to comics after a lengthy hiatus from comics with the critically-acclaimed graphic novel The Nao of Brown. His work has appeared in Deadline Magazine, Shade the Changing Man, and an episode of Sandman. He is attending TCAF with his publisher, SelfMadeHero. (UK)
Michael Kupperman is an American comic artist and humorist whose words and pictures have appeared in places ranging from the New Yorker to Saturday Night Live. He has written four books and illustrated many more. He is touring in support of Tales Designed to Thrizzle Vol 2. (USA)
Bryan Lee O’Malley, is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling, hometown hero and creator of the Scott Pilgrim series of comics, which has been adapted into both a video game and a movie. He will be debuting Scott Pilgrim & The Infinite Sadness Hardcover Color Edition (Canada)
Michel Rabagliati is the award-winning artist and author of the semi-autobiographicalPaul series (Paul in the Country, Paul Moves Out, Paul Has a Summer Job, Paul Goes Fishing, The Song of Roland), depicting life in Quebec. Rabagliati will be debuting the latest in the series, Pauls Joins the Scouts. (Canada)
Judith Vanistendael will be debuting When David Lost his Voice with UK publisher SelfMadeHero. She holds several art degrees. Her semi-autobiographical book, Dance by the Light of the Moon was nominated for two awards at Angouleme, including the grand prize. (Belgium)
For a full, up-to date exhibitor list including full biographies and artwork, please visithttp://torontocomics.com/
MO – FoxTrot Signing
January 15, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Strips, Missouri, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Top Stories
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FoxTrot creator Bill Amend appears at Barnes & Noble to discuss and sign copies of his work on Saturday January 19, 2013 at 2:00 PM. Come to see him demonstrate his technique and pick up a copy of his newest collection!
About FoxTrot:
FoxTrot is a comic strip centered around the chaotic Fox family with its three kids, two parents and a perpetually hungry pet iguana. While just about any topic is possible fodder, the humor in FoxTrot tends toward the geeky, with occasional forays into the super geeky. FoxTrot began its published life April 10, 1988 as a seven-day-a-week newspaper strip. It started with about 70 client papers and creeped up to about 1000 at its peak.
Barnes & Noble – Country Club Plaza
420 W 47th Street, Kansas City, MO 64112
816-753-1313
SDCC Announces First 30 Special Guests for 2012
January 27, 2012 by Brian Pate
Filed under California, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Comic-Con International, Convention News, Top Stories
Comic-Con International has announced the first 30 special guests for their 2012 convention.
- » Bill Amend
- » Sergio Aragonés
- » Kate Beaton
- » Mike Carey
- » Geof Darrow
- » Mark Evanier
- » Gary Gianni
- » Larry Hama
- » Gilbert Hernandez
- » Jaime Hernandez
- » Mario Hernandez
- » Klaus Janson
- » N.K. Jemisin
- » Karl Kerschl
- » Jim Lee
- » Paul Levitz
- » Andy Mangels
- » Rudy Nebres
- » George Pérez*
- » Nate Powell
- » John Romita Jr.
- » Brandon Sanderson
- » Doug Savage
- » Mark Schultz
- » Jason Shiga
- » Herb Trimpe
- » Morrie Turner
- » Michael Uslan
- » Trevor Von Eeden
- » Mark Waid
Editor’s Note: George Perez has since announced via his Facebook page that he has had to cancel his appearance there this year.
PvP Schedule at PAX 2010
September 3, 2010 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Convention News, Other, Video Games, Washington, Webcomics
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Scott Kurtz posts on his blog:
Are you going to PAX this weekend? If so, I thought I would let you know what I was doing at the show, so you could more easily find me.
I will have a booth in bandland. We’ll be selling books, the new PvP vinyl toys and our first BLAMIMATION shirt. I should be at my booth pretty much all day unless there is an important panel I’m required to attend. Important panels you ask? Oh yes. We got a couple:
Acquisitions Incorporated: D&D Live!
Saturday, 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM, Pegasus Theatre
Gabe, Tycho, and Scott Kurtz begin an adventure with one goal, find a way to bring back Wil Wheaton’s deceased character, Aeofel. This is unscripted Dungeons & Dragons before a live studio audience… and through the magic of TECHNOLOGY, the audience influences the game! Bring your cell phone and guide Jim Darkmagic, Binwin Bronzebottom, and Omin Dran to riches or ruin. Panelists include: Scott Kurtz [Binwin Bronzebottom], Wil Wheaton [“Al”], Gabe and Tycho [Jim Darkmagic of the New Hampshire Darkmagics, and Omin Dran, CEO of Acquisitions Incorporated]
Late Night with Kris and Scott
Saturday, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Pegasus Theater.
PAX welcomes its first official late-night talk show featuring Scott Kurtz and Kris Straub, the talent behind PATV’s Blamimations. After Hours with Kris and Scott promises an hour of laughs, celebrity interviews and maybe even a musical guest — it’s a show so spontaneous, we won’t know what’s planned until the show’s over. Concert counter-programming at its finest! Guests include Mike Krahulik, Possibly Bill “Foxtrot” Amend and a mystery guest (or two).
Blamimations ALIVE! with Kris and Scott
Sunday, 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM, Pegasus Theater
PA: TV veterans Scott Kurtz (pvponline.com) and Kris Straub (chainsawsuit.com) take you deeply behind the scenes of their hit Blamimation series for one magical hour. Will you help come up with the next breakout hit character? Will you watch it come to life? Will you see Kris and Scott BS for 55 minutes? No, maybe, and yes.
Looking forward to seeing everyone at the show.
PAX East Programming Announced
March 5, 2010 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Comic Books, Convention News, Gaming, Massachusetts, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Video Games, Webcomics
Friday, 2:00pm
Game developers can’t stand those damned journalists, the way they pick apart your three years of hard work with a review they wrote in an afternoon. And journalists don’t understand why game developers won’t listen to all of their great ideas! What happens when we force some of the industry’s most opinionated writers and developers to hash out their issues in front of an audience? Will they finally see eye-to-eye, or kill each other in public? Watch as writers Chris Kohler (Wired.com) and Patrick Klepek (G4) square off against game creators John Drake (Harmonix) and another guest from the industry.
Friday, 2:00pm
Over the years we as a community of gamers have had our fair share of nemeses ranging from politicians, activists, and…ahem…lawyers. And make no mistake, as one discredited opponent fades away there will be more to fill the void. Find out how we’ve been fighting back, where we’ve found success (and failure), and how you can help the cause.
Friday, 2:30pmRadio Free Nintendo has delivered a weekly discussion on all things Nintendo since mid-2006, in a convenient podcast format. This outspoken and funny group of Nintendo experts comes from the oldest and largest independent Nintendo website in the world, Nintendo World Report. We love Nintendo games, except when we don’t, and we appreciate/criticize Wii and DS games in the context of multi-platform gaming. We know the best Metroid upgrades, the worst Zelda dungeons, and what makes Sin & Punishment sublime. We own more WiiWare games than you knew existed. And we’re not afraid to compare Mario with Ratchet & Clank or Prince of Persia.
Friday, 3:00pmSince the first kid heard the four-note Space Invaders theme blasting out the arcade doors, music has played a powerful role in the history of digital games. Join panelists Aubrey Hodges (Doom, King’s Quest, Spy Hunter, Madden NFL), Jim Bonney (Mortal Kombat, John Woo’s Stranglehold), Tom Salta (H.A.W.X, GRAW 1 & 2, Red Steel), Gene Rozenberg (Henry Hatsworth, Madden NFL) and Duncan Watt (League Of Legends, Brothers In Arms: Hell’s Highway, Need For Speed: Undercover), for an audiovisual trip celebrating great videogame music – from the past, to the present… and into the future. Audience discussion encouraged.
Friday, 3:00pmBest known for his role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek The Next Generation and Gordie in Stand by Me, Wil Wheaton has since become one of the most prominent and vocal bloggers of our culture with topics ranging from his personal growth as a geek, to Star Trek, to naturally gaming. We are super excited to have Wil present the very first PAX East keynote. It’s going to be awesome.
Friday, 3:30pmAre you are a member of one or more online gaming website communities? Perhaps the friendships and relationships you formed online have made their way into your everyday “real life”. You are certainly not alone. We will discuss the communities we have created and support, and how they impact real life relationships for gamers of all types.
Friday, 3:30pmFour masters of video game PR talk about the role of public relations in the video game industry. They’ll cover the buying and selling of souls, crafting and controlling messages, the rise of community, and how social media is changing how they do business.
Friday, 4:00pmMake sure to get there early for this one, as its one of the most well attended panels of the show. Two mics on stage, two mics in the crowd. Line up for your questions and Gabe and Tycho will do their best to accommodate! And god, please no “who would win in a fight” questions. If you can’t make this particular Q&A, be sure to catch the second Penny Arcade Panel.
Friday, 4:00pmWe’re making a pen and paper RPG, and you’re invited to the design meeting! During the panel, you’ll address the problem-solving and analytical questions required to design a successful game. During the discussion, we’ll cover the basics of game theory and how to outline, centered around an example you’re participating in.
Friday, 4:30pmGame composer Hiroyuki Iwatsuki (Iwadon on Twitter) has been writing game music for 20 years, but now for the first time his work is gaining international recognition. Game Music 4 All, a videogame-inspired music and nerdcore news site, is collaborating with artists from all over the world in arranging Iwatsuki’s remarkable and often overlooked music for the 8-bit Nintendo, Game Boy, Super Nintendo and Xbox Live Arcade in assorted musical styles. The tribute compilation will be made available online for free in time for PAX East, along with lengthy liner notes in English and Japanese. In this panel you’ll learn all about Iwatsuki’s unique history in games and the making of the IWADON tribute from site founder Genoboost (Anthony Ruybalid) and research organizer Jeriaska.
Friday, 5:00pmOur randomly selected teams of Omeganauts will engage in the first cage match to the death. Only without cages. Or deaths. Probably. We may just have them play Mario Kart: Double Dash.
Friday, 5:00pmWant to start your own fundraiser for Child’s Play Charity in your town? Join Kristin Lindsay (Child’s Play), the founders of Ãœmloud! (San Francisco) and “Desert Bus for Hope” (Canada) as they talk about their process in creating a charity event. Topics will include organization tips, deciding the scale and scope of your event, and how to be in compliance with Federal and state laws.
Friday, 5:30pmText adventures have been quietly experimenting with narrative gaming for thirty years. Five authors from the amateur interactive fiction community discuss the design ideas in their games — reordered storylines, unreliable narrators, deeply responsive NPCs — and how they apply to other kinds of games.
Friday, 6:00pmWant to see what’s hot and what’s next? If you’re even vaguely a fan of PC games and miss this special presentation, you’ll likely spend the next few months kicking yourself. Line up early as seating is limited. ‘Nuff said.
Friday, 6:30pmIf a tweet falls in the woods, does anybody hear it? Come talk with Infinity Ward’s FourZeroTwo (@fourzerotwo & fourzerotwo.com), Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson (@majornelson & majornelson.com) and MacheteBetty (@XboxSupport & Xbox LIVE Ambassadors) about listening & responding to communities. Forums, Facebook, Twitter… those are some challenging maps to navigate. How do insiders decide what to pay attention to? What do we DO with everything we learn from our communities? How can you best support your own community? What does Major Nelson still find thrilling after being set on fire? All this and whatever else you come with: it’s all FAIR GAME!
Friday, 6:30pmThe story of how The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom went from a student thesis project made at the University of Southern California to a full fledged XBLA downloadable console title. Learn how the game was designed and the lessons gleaned in transition from a rag tag bunch of students to a rag-tag indie game development studio. Other highlights include ridiculous anecdotes from publisher pitches, demonstrations of early Winterbottom prototypes, talking through the game’s iterative design process, and most importantly: how Winterbottom became obsessed with pie. This talk is both a Post-Mortem, and tale of how the dream of a few game development students can turn into a reality.
Friday, 7:00pmHow young is too young for The Hobbit? What should my kids’ first LEGO set be? How can I control my disgust if my child tells me he likes Jar Jar and the Ewoks? When should I buy my kids their first non-six-sided dice? These questions and many more will be discussed by writers for Wired.com’s GeekDad blog and other geek parents. Come share your stories and advice for how to make sure our kids grow up to be geeks like us! Don’t have kids? Show up and find out what may be in store for you if you ever do!
Friday, 8:30pmBreak out your cell phone and handheld gaming screens to welcome our musical acts to Boston! The Protomen, Anamanaguchi, Metroid Metal, and MC Frontalot will all be rocking for the first night of our Nerdcore Concert Series. The first 2,000 attendees at PAX Friday afternoon will receive wristbands for guaranteed entry, with the remaining seats being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Friday, 8:00pmAccording to the ESA, more than 43% of video gamers are female, making women the single largest untapped market segment in the gaming industry. Look at the milestones crossed and the hurdles to come as developers and publishers reach out to this previously overlooked demographic. Are current strategies effective? What does this mean for the game industry as a whole?
Friday, 8:00pmEveryone is talking about Indie games — titles like World of Goo, Braid, and AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! — A Reckless Disregard for Gravity are making press and making money. But they’re fighting against games with $200 million dollar budgets and 100+ person dev teams. How do Indies compete? Three Boston-based Indie developers will check their water-guns at the door and tell you why and how Indie games are kicking more ass, taking more names, and chewing more bubblegum than their AAA rivals. You will hear from the Ichiro Lambe (IGF Finalist Dejobaan Games, Aaaaa!), Scott Macmillan (Macguffin Games, All Heroes Die) and ex-Bungie AI wizard Damián Isla, founder of the new indie Moonshot Games. The panel will be moderated by Eitan Glinert, founder of Fire Hose Games.
Friday, 8:30pmD&D is a great way to get into tabletop role playing games, and for most of us, it was our first foray into that world. As classic and dear to us as it is, however, it has certain limitations, some of which are surprisingly non-obvious. If D&D was your first step, then we’re here to give you your next. You’ve probably never heard of Dogs in the Vineyard, InSpectres, The Burning Wheel, or a whole host of other amazing games, but there is in fact an “indy” role playing game scene just as thriving and strange as with videogames. Broaden your gaming horizons, flex your role-playing muscles, and learn what comes after.
Friday, 9:30pmIn this world there have been only a handful of events worth witnessing…The fall of the Roman Empire, The Discovery of the New World, Man taking the first steps on the moon, and now, all that will look like a pile of historic crap in comparison to “Mega64’s Panel for the Soul.” Join the cast and crew of Mega64.com as they show you new videos and answer any question you are bold enough to ask. Suck it, Columbus.
Friday, 9:30pmGET LAMP, a documentary about text adventures, premieres at PAX East. Meet the director, Jason Scott, and a panel of interactive fiction authors, experts, and interviewees who appeared in the film. We’ll discuss the film itself, text adventures and interactive fiction, and what 30 years of adventure games have brought to the world.
Friday, 10:00pmWill Moore’s Law run out of steam in 5 years or 15? With advancements in both hardware and software coming out seemingly on a daily basis, it can be tough to keep up with. Wondering what technologies will trickle down into your next computer, what software will power the games of tomorrow or how the gaming marketplace will change in coming years? Catch a glimpse into the computer gaming future with our panel of industry gurus.
Friday, 11:00pmAn evil drow-elf is displaced by Hurricane Katrina. A sanitation worker lures friends into a Sphere of Annihilation. A failed supervillian starts a cable access show involving ninjas, puppets, and a cooking segment. These are the characters, real and imagined, of the new documentary film “The Dungeon Masters”: Against the backdrop of crumbling middle-class America, two men and one woman devote their lives to Dungeons and Dragons, the storied role-playing game, and its various descendants. As their baroque fantasies clash with real lives, the characters find it increasingly difficult to allay their fear, loneliness, and disappointment with the game’s imaginary triumphs. Soon the true heroic act of each character’s real life emerges, and the film follows each as he or she summons the courage to face it. Along the way, The Dungeon Masters reimagines the tropes of classic heroic cinema, creating an intimate portrait of minor struggles and triumphs writ large. The film was an official selection at the Toronto, South by Southwest, and AFI film festivals; it’s the second feature from director Keven McAlester(nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his first film, “You’re Gonna Miss Me”), features stunning cinematography by Lee Daniel (“Slacker,” “Dazed and Confused,” “Fast Food Nation”), and boasts a haunting score by the acclaimed New York band Blonde Redhead.
Friday, 11:30pmWinning is good, and losing is bad. We strive to win, and this is the basis for most of the games we play. Challenges are binary: we either overcome them, advancing the story, or fail, and must try again. But, what if we were to toss this conventional wisdom aside? Do we really only have fun when we win? Have you ever had that moment in a game where epic and total failure was the most memorable part? What kinds of games would arise if we strove to make losing, instead of winning, the point?
Greetings from a Dead-Tree Dinosaur Cartoonist v1.1
Saturday, 10:00amFoxTrot cartoonist Bill Amend discusses the subversive joys of bringing gaming and geekery into America’s newspaper comics sections.
Saturday, 10:00amThe art form of machinima has taken the gaming industry by storm, from gameplay videos to entertaining shorts made in-game. Machinima the network is brining that to the next level…and pie! Come meet the makers of your favorite Machinima channel shows like Matt Dannevik (Master’s Challenge), Adam Kovic (Inside Gaming), and Khail Anonymous (Critical Flaw), and maybe more! Be ready to ask them your deepest darkest questions.
Saturday, 10:30amOur survivors from Round 1 will be further tested and tortured for your amusement, this time in a savage arena of Geometry Wars 2. Eight teams will enter, four of those will be devoured whole for your amusement.
Saturday, 11:00amPAX East, BOSTON8BIT, and MAGfest Present: Chiptune 2010 Saturday will include a chiptune event in the Jamspace room, brought to you via the collective powers of BOSTON8BIT and MAGfest. Game Boys, NES systems, Commodore 64s and other vintage/modern computers and gaming systems are manipulated to fill your ears with awesome sounds! Acts to perform: (TBD 1/2), Disasterpeace, ZenAlbatross, Active Knowledge, Br1ght Pr1mate and more. Couple that with visual art by Mike Goodman and Massachusetts’ own VJ Beyonder will create an audiovisual experience that you can’t miss!
Saturday, 11:30amWhat are the 10 best video games ever made? Former journalism peers and eternal game-arguing rivals N’Gai Croal (Hit Detection) and Stephen Totilo (Kotaku), have figured out how to figure it out: Make a game out of it. They’ve created a game that will determine the 10 best games of all time — and roped in a host of gaming luminaries to play. Witness the birth of Kotaku and Croal’s “Canon Fodder” as Stephen and N’Gai’s brand-new and possibly completely foolhardy game is launched. Early tests have been successful, with zero bugs reported. This is their (well, Stephen’s) quest to somehow get Yoshi’s Island higher on the list than Super Mario World. Let’s hope their gaming industry guests don’t let them down.
Saturday, 11:30amHow do you keep the world’s first and most popular super-powered MMO fresh and relevant? First, you blur the lines between good and evil. Then, you throw in new content, features and systems that provide an upgrade guaranteed to keep things interesting into 2010 and beyond! Join the art, design and production masterminds behind City of Heroes® as they discuss their upcoming “Going Rogue” expansion and share their overall wisdom on how to keep up with the times by continuously re-inventing your MMO. Attendees will learn about a never before discussed Going Rogue feature!
Saturday, 12:00pmThat’s Great! We’re happy for you, we really are. But you know what? Our studio isn’t gonna help you realize your vision, and chances are no other company will either. I know it’s shocking, but the reason we dove headfirst into the start-up ocean full of shattered dreams and razor blades was because WE ACTUALLY HAVE A GREAT IDEA FOR A GAME TOO! So if you really feel passionately about your awesome idea and want nothing more than to see it live then go make it your own damn self, we’re busy. But we’ll throw you a bone with this helpful panel full of tasty tidbits on how to get started. Gaming entrepreneurs Chris Oltyan, Eitan Glinert, and Ichiro Lambe will regale you with tales of wonder and woe, led by our fearless moderator Darius Kazemi. Only the brave will survive, no refunds.
Saturday, 1:00pmEver wonder what goes into making a Penny Arcade comic? Join Gabe and Tycho in the main theatre, and take part in creating Monday’s hilarious comic.
Saturday, 1:00pmIt´s no longer a secret: Print is a dying medium. The past few years have been brutal for print media in the game space, but the plummeting sales and editorial team layoffs came to a head in 2009. It´s no surprise many of the key players at those institutions have moved on to web-based ventures, but has the industry as a whole ultimately lost something or gained something? In this 60-minute panel, Russ Pitts, Editor-in-Chief of The Escapist speaks to several journalists who were deeply involved with the events of the past year about the run-up to the decline of print, and the effects on game journalism – and games. Panelists: John Davison, Editor of the new Gamepro Jeff Green, formerly of Games for Windows Magazine, Julian Murdoch, Freelance Writer.
Saturday, 1:00pmIn 2008, EA launched a new IP from Visceral Studios: Dead Space. The game delivered the ultimate in psychological thrills and gruesome action. A bold and bloody sci-fi survival horror game set 400 years in the future, Dead Space stunned and scared players, won critical acclaim, and spawned the 2009 prequel: Dead Space Extraction. The Dead Space universe runs deep, and as gamers find themselves clamoring for more, Dead Space comics, animated features and figures have been released. This talk will go behind the scenes on the making of Dead Space, bring players up to speed on the Dead Space universe, and prepare them for what’s to come in the recently announced Dead Space 2.
Saturday, 1:30pmA singing idol who doesn’t exist. Perverted text adventures boasting dozens of female prizes. And a popular, anime-tized evolution of the classic Space Invaders shooter that has spawned a global fandom. Japan’s subcultural players are obsessed with games that, well, aren’t actually about the gaming. Alex Leavitt (Comparative Media Studies, MIT) explains how a new generation of entertainment is succeeding in a market which chooses to de-emphasize the games in favor of the characters. And as the Japanese fans influence the industry through their own amateur initiatives, what will the future of American gaming hold when online fandoms adopt similar appetites?
Saturday, 2:30pmJoin a mix of our musical guests are they tell stories about their experiences as geek rock icons, what it’s like to have an internet fanbase, the games and other influences they’ve had along the way, and what you should and shouldn’t do if you’re interested in starting up a band in this genre.
Saturday, 2:30pmHoly balls! IGN Game Scoop is colliding with the GameSpy Debriefings for the live podcast to end all live podcasts. Yes, IGN’s own Daemon Hatfield and Greg Miller will sit side-by-side with GameSpy’s Anthony Gallegos and Ryan Scott to discuss the latest videogame news and releases, PAX gossip, and answer questions from attendees like you. Just what will be discussed? How about: How much do you generally get paid to write a favorable review? How do you sleep at night after your review closes a studio? How can I knock the boots? Come one, come all. Scoop! Debrief!
Saturday, 3:00pmJoin Larry Hryb, Xbox LIVE’s Major Nelson during a live taping of his weekly audio podcast. In addition to e, lollip0p and Stepto, we’ll take questions from the audience and have fun talking about gaming and anything else we (or you!) want to discuss.
Saturday, 3:30pmJoin the gentlemen from Rooster Teeth as they display their fine video wares, which (according to inside sources) will include episodes from their all new season of Red vs. Blue. A good time is guaranteed to be had by all!
Saturday, 4:00pmCollegeHumor.com, a top comedy web site, has experienced some of its biggest viral hits thanks to content based on video games—from Street Fighter the Later Years to the Mario-Princess Sex Tape. The site also produces Bleep Bloop, a weekly video game talk show, and will soon launch an additional web site of just game-based comedy. This panel will feature an engaging discussion with CollegeHumor’s Jeff Rubin, (Executive Editor, Producer/Host of Bleep Bloop), Patrick Cassels (Staff Writer, Co-Host of Bleep Bloop), and Creighton DeSimone (Director/Editor) about the approaches to and challenges of writing comedy for the Internet’s growing population of gamers.
Saturday, 4:00pmCome take a peek into how we get games made at Naughty Dog. Three Naughty Dog game designers hold a game design meeting right in the middle of PAX East to tackle the challenge of developing a new gameplay sequence in the UNCHARTED universe, and to make it work for both a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. We’ll take you through the same highly collaborative, iterative, no-holds-barred design process that went into UNCHARTED 2 – hear us laugh at our own ridiculous design suggestions; check out our terrible drawing skills; witness us engage in, er, “friendly” debate as we overcome challenges! We’ll also take this time to pull back the curtain on what it was like to design gameplay for UNCHARTED 2 and answer questions until we run out of time.
Saturday, 4:30pmIf at first you don’t succeed, try try again. We all know the saying, but perhaps it doesn’t go far enough. There are examples-a-plenty in the gaming industry of how failing seems not just to be a chance to restart, but a necessary step in finding success from students looking for work in the industry, to game studios cashing in on risky new IP. This panel will show how to embrace your failures, what to learn from them, and how they can pave the road to future success.
Saturday, 5:30pmPrince of Persia is back! Coming out May 2010, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands will chronicle an untold tale from the Sands of Time universe. Level Design Director, Michael McIntyre and Animation Director, Jan-Erik Sjovall from the Ubisoft Montreal studio will be on hand to answer your questions during the Q&A. But wait, it gets better! Be there for the exclusive live game demo with never-before-seen reveals. Don’t miss out!
Saturday, 5:30pmPodcasting has become the new medium of choice for developers cultivating early relationships with “Alpha” gamers — those who influence the buying decisions of the unwashed masses. In this panel, we’ll talk about how firms like Irrational Games and Insomniac use in-house podcasts to keep their communities engaged, and how the media- and fan-affiliated podcasts rely on developers for a steady stream of content.
Saturday, 6:00pmWhy do people love WoW and other MMOs so much? What exactly is it about these games — killing the dragon? feeling powerful? vicarious adventure? acting out?— that explains their massive appeal? And how do individual players and guilds behave online, and how might their online behavior differ from the real world? If you’ve got misbehaving members in your guild and don’t know what to do, come join this discussion of gamer behavior, both good and bad, with moderator Ethan Gilsdorf (author of “Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks”), Sean Stalzer (guild master and President & CEO of the MMO gaming organization The Syndicate ) and Juan Carlos Piñeiro Escoriaza and Victor Pineiro (directors and writers of the gamer and virtual worlds documentary “Second Skin”).
Saturday, 7:00pmECA President Hal Halpin and G4’s host of X-Play and Editor-in-Chief of games content, Adam Sessler will discuss the hot topics that are affecting the video game industry today and look at trends that could impact gamers in the future. The panel will include questions from the audience and additional surprises to be announced.
Saturday, 7:00pmBig Huge Games just celebrated its tenth anniversary with a new lease on life, courtesy of Curt Schilling and 38 Studios. But caught up in the Great Recession of Aught-Nine, BHG was a mere three days away from turning out the lights, despite a successful track record that included Rise of Nations and Settlers of Catan XBLA. Join Tim Train, Founder and President of Big Huge Games, as he tells the epic tale of the birth, flatline, and resurrection of one of the most critically-acclaimed studios in the industry.
Saturday, 7:30pmThe golden age of video arcade games was a peak era of video arcade game popularity, innovation, and earnings. The arcade scene has calmed down now, but by no means is it gone. Join a selection of panelists brought together by the American Classic Arcade Museum and learn the history behind the machines.
Saturday, 8:30pmWe offer not one, but TWO nerdcore-filled nights for your auditory pleasure. Rock out classically with the Video Game Orchestra, followed by Paul and Storm, and then Jonathan Coulton will close out our second night of geek concerts. The first 2,000 attendees at PAX on Saturday morning will receive a wristband for guaranteed entry, with the remaining seats being given away on a first-come, first-serve basis. And the opening act? The third round of the Omegathon, featuring four teams rocking out for your pleasure.
Saturday, 8:30pmIf you can’t mow your lawn/drive to work/make love to your significant other without the soothing sounds of Justin McElroy, Chris Grant and Ludwig Kietzmann talking about video games, then you’ve almost certainly got a serious problem. On the other hand, you’d be a great candidate for this live taping of the Joystiq Podcast. It’ll be just like the show you love, except you’ll be forced throughout to stare at the terrifying visage of the hosts. So, in short, a spectacle in every sense of the word.
Saturday, 8:30pmRole-playing games need choice to propel the plot and motivate the player. The methods can vary from smoke and mirrors to extreme branching reactivity – what is the right balance to strike in a game? This panel dissects SEGA and Obsidian’s Alpha Protocol, the issues involved with introducing choice into a real-world spy genre, and presenting the consequence to the player – along with the consequences it had for the development team.
Saturday, 9:00pm1UP’s Retronauts podcast returns to PAX for a live discussion of videogame history, or at least a subjective view of it. Join regulars Jeremy Parish and Chris Kohler and Hardcore Gaming 101’s Kurt Kalata for a stroll through some facet or another of gaming’s past. Bring your nagging questions and a thirst for knowledge! Refreshments will not be served, but information will pour freely. You’ll laugh, you’ll learn, and you’ll quite possibly be annoyed when someone says something dismissive about that one game that was your favorite when you were a kid. In other words, it’ll be just like the podcast, except with less editing.
Saturday, 10:00pmLoadingReadyRun, purveyors of fine internet comedy, will take you on a magical journey through their multiple ventures: Unskippable, The Escapist News Network and the Desert Bus for Hope fundraising drive. Please note: By “magical journey”, we mean “question and answer period”. Join us!
Saturday, 10:00pmJoin us for the first public reading of the new play, “Of Dice and Men” by Cameron McNary. A blisteringly funny and deeply affecting play about a group of 30-something Dungeons & Dragons players, and what happens when one of them enlists to go to Iraq. Presented by: Critical Threat Theatre Company
Saturday, 10:30pmI basically stand on stage, talk about making webcomics and take Q&As about what I do. Which is awesome. I’m quite good.
Sunday, 10:00amHave you ever wished to be locked in a room with the design team behind the Rock Band games and ask them anything? Well, now’s your chance! Armed solely with a laptop filled with behind the scenes movies and embarrassing pictures, the team of designers behind the Rock Band games will answer your questions and reveal some of the reasons for why they made things in various ways.
Sunday, 10:00amThick skins, soft hearts, and strong personalities are just a few of the stats that make a great community manager. But what does a community manager actually do? Where did the community management field begin, and where is it headed? How can you get your start as a CM? This panel of community managers will help to answer these questions and more!
Sunday, 10:30amPATV veterans Scott Kurtz (pvponline.com) and Kris Straub (chainsawsuit.com) take you deeply behind the scenes of their hit Blamimation series for one magical hour. Will you help come up with the next breakout hit character? Will you watch it come to life? Will you see Kris and Scott BS for 55 minutes? No, maybe, and yes.
Sunday, 10:30amParsely: Action Castle is the runaway hit of 2009, debuting at GenCon and PAX! Now you can ” GO EAST ” and ” LIGHT LAMP ” with the best of them. Canst thou master Action Castle before death claims thee? Parsely games are inspired by Ye Olde Text Parsers from days of yore, but substituting a live human for the computer parser. This was the secret event at PAX Prime for two years running, coming finally to the light of day with PAX East. Audience participation required!
Sunday, 11:30amYou’ve got 45 seconds to deliver your idea to our panel of experts. The top three pitches will be picked for prizes and swag! (Please note that this is an open forum — there’s nothing keeping anyone, judges and attendees alike, from stealing your ideas! If you’re not comfortable with this, please don’t pitch your idea!)
Sunday, 11:30amEnforcement on the Xbox LIVE service isn’t just about whacking the bad guys. Join Stephen “Stepto” Toulouse, head of Xbox LIVE Policy and Enforcement, as he walks you through the ins and outs of policing the service (along with some fun stories), working with game developers to keep ahead of the miscreants when designing their titles, and working with the gaming community as a whole to understand how gamers want to be safe online. Stepto and his team will also take your questions about banning, cheating, or anything else you’d like to know about protecting the service. Note that this presentation is updated with all new content specifically for PAX East!
Sunday, 11:30amSubtitle: Job Opportunities Outside Game Design and Programming Want to work in games, but not in a technical role? Opportunities exist for testers, marketing and PR people, trade show coordinators, community managers, office managers and more. Learn what skills are needed, what tasks are involved and how to apply. Sue Bohle, an industry veteran, will moderate the panel, filled with experts of all job descriptions.
Sunday, 11:30pm
Join djpretzel & the staff of OverClocked ReMix as they cover the ins and outs of http://ocremix.org, a website dedicated to remixing your favorite video game music! There’ll be trivia, prizes, stories about the development of the soundtrack to Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, news about current and upcoming album projects (Donkey Kong Country 2!), and information on how you can get involved and start remixing video game music yourself!
Sunday, 12:00pmWhen most people think of board games, they imagine Monopoly, LIFE, Candyland, Pop-o-Matic Trouble, or perhaps Risk: games primarily (though not always obviously) of luck. There are, however, board games of skill that you’ve likely never heard of. Carcassonne and Settlers of Catan may have appeared on the Xbox, but these are just the tip of the iceberg. Come explore the theory and thought behind the so-called “German Board Games” that so many people are playing just across the way right here at PAX: they’re probably not what you think they are.
Sunday, 1:00pmFor their return tour of PAX East 2010 they’re back for another Q&A! Live! On stage! Like never before! Except for that time on Friday! Line up for your questions and they’ll do their best to answer them. Anyone who starts with “who would win in a fight…” will be escorted out of the main theatre.
Sunday, 1:00pmThrough 12 years, 3 name changes and over 1,000 episodes X-Play has persevered as the most watched videogame show on television. Join hosts Adam Sessler, Morgan Webb with the X-Play and G4tv.com crew as they take questions from the audience, reveal world exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and learn the true meaning of friendship. **Special guest appearance by Ratty! (**Special guest appearance by Ratty subject to change due to new TSA safety guidelines).
Sunday, 1:00pmMillions of players have joined the virtual worlds to fight, interact, and adventure together across countries and continents. This panel brought to you by MMORPG.com brings together a wide variety of personalities interested in speaking about the past, present, and future of this online medium.
Sunday, 1:30pmMany of the friends and writers of the GayGamer.net community are a mixture of people that work or have worked in various fields within the gaming industry from big-time producers to lowly QA grunts. We’re back again, with our east coast crew to impart our wisdom of what the industry is like for anyone trying to get a foot in the door as well as what it can be like for someone doesn’t quite fit the status quo. Flynn DeMarco, Chris Schroyer, David Edison, and Helen McWilliams will divulge how we made it into programming, production, marketing, and media, impart war stories we’ve collected from the trenches, discuss the multitude of issues that can arise in the ever expanding ecosystem that is the game industry, and show how the game industry is growing with everyone in mind and in action.
Sunday, 2:30pm… but were too afraid to ask… and we didn’t really want to tell you anyway… because some of it is kind of embarrassing… but we will… tell you… at this panel… because we’re just that awesome. Featuring experienced game journalism professionals (including Crispy Gamer’s Kyle Orland, freelancer Gus Mastrapa, The Escapist’s Susan Arendt, Joystiq’s Chris Grant and Time’s Lev Grossman) answering any and all questions you have about the art and craft of getting paid to write about games (it’s a tough life). Review scores. Swag. Junkets. Bias. The death of magazines. The rise of blogs. It’s all fair game. Of course, you’re not limited to those topics. THE ONLY LIMIT IS YOUR IMAGINATION!
Sunday, 2:30pmHave a rules question or a problem at your table? Keep the action flowing and get DM tips as we troubleshoot your game play and DMing questions. The Wizards staff takes on all questions and gives you answers!
Sunday, 3:00pmWhat explains the rise of geek culture? As geeks go mainstream, do they need to maintain their “geek cred”? And is all this a good or bad thing for geekdom? Come join in a lively discussion about the changing public perception of fantasy, gaming, science fiction, and fandom communities. Learn about what defines a geek, what is lost and gained in the gradual acceptance of geeks, and whether geeks and fandom communities need to find a new “edge.” Bring your perceptions of the evolving/evolved geek.
Sunday, 4:00pmWhy do passionate gamers treat the word “sequel” as a pejorative while often bestowing their highest praise upon those very same sequels? This panel will seek to diagnose the video game industry’s purported “sequelitis” and – by way of discussion from thoughtful panelists, including Irrational Games’ Ken Levine; Harmonix’s Dan Teasdale; Giant Bomb’s Jeff Gerstmann; and moderator Chris Grant, from Joystiq – debunk the quack medicine that’s identified video game sequels to be symptomatic of the industry’s creative bankruptcy.
Sunday, 4:00pmEver wonder why games get marketed the way they do? Do you have ideas on how you want to be marketed to? Marketing and advertising have always played major roles in the entertainment industry, and gaming is no different. Listen to industry insiders as they explain what they do and how they do it.
Sunday, 5:00pmBear hold to the Final Round of the Omegathon and let us bid thee farewell.
