Are you ready for the only recap that matters?  The one that’s not like that other thing that was supposed to matter to that one guy? (smiles)

Coming off the PAX high can be a bit jarring, especially if it is your first.  As we have stated before, sometimes you need a vacation after PAX!  There is so much to see and do at PAX, you have to have at least 5 clones to get everything done.  With that being said, it was awesome to participate in all the gamer goodness available. PAX is a wonderful place where there’s tabletop gaming, video games, cosplay, fun panels and a deep value in the ability to put a face to the Gamertag all under one roof!

So as not to bombard you with all the simultaneous overwhelming stimuli, here are some of my brief thoughts on a few games at PAX as well as some of my favorite panels.  I decided to go with the titles that you may not have heard much about, enjoy.

• El Shaddai ASCENSION OF THE METATRON - I had the chance to place this game for a little while. I was drawn to it by the beautiful art and smooth movements.  Here’s some gameplay footage to check out.

Check out the demo

• 2 for about $20???

Pick it up!  The following 2 games are under the family fun category or silly fun gaming.  Whichever you choose, just be ready to laugh.

Hole In The Wall- We spoke about this on on the podcast.  It is just a light-hearted silly little game that many fans of the TV show will gravitate toward.
Check out the demo

Kinect Sports: Season Two- EYEgotcha whooped my behind in baseball because I seem to have orientation and depth perception issues.  No matter my faults, we ended up laughing pretty hard while smack talking to each other.
More Info

• SMITE – Though this game was not an XBOX game, I still had to drool a little bit.  I got caught up watching some hellacious PC Game playing with this new game. I had to let you PC people know I enjoyed this one. Here’s a PAX interview from pr0gamer.com.

• Charlie Murder – Lastly, this game was another eye candy draw for me.  I like games that don’t look like everything else on the market.  There is really not much thinking to it besides the quest to destroy your enemies in a gruesome fashion…YAY!

Check out some footage here

• Pax 2011 links to panels & highlights

Friday

PAX Prime 2011 Keynote: David Jaffe

Best known for his work on the God of War and Twisted Metal series, we welcome David Jaffe as he delivers the keynote for PAX 2011. Find the PAX Keynote here.

Video Games and Comics: A Natural Partnership?

2K Games and Digital Extremes, the team behind The Darkness II, and Mark Silvestri, one of the brains behind The Darkness comics, talk about the challenges and triumphs of making a video game that goes beyond the idea of “spin off”. Come chat with them about their startling design decisions and how they brought the comic book narrative into a video game and as they discuss the challenges of meshing the disparate and passionate fan bases The Darkness has.

Panelists include: Ron Davey [Lead Environment Artist, Digital Extremes], Sheldon Carter [Project Director, Digital Extremes], Seth Olshfski [Producer, 2K Games], Marc Silvestri [CEO, Top Cow], Elizabeth Tobey [Sr. Manager, Interactive Marketing, 2K Games]

Check it out here > Video Games and Comics: A Natural Partnership?

Saturday

Irrational Games

In 2007, the BioShock review in The Los Angeles Times concluded, “Sure, it’s fun to play, looks spectacular and is easy to control. But it also does something no other game has done to date: It really makes you feel.” Those last few words really struck a chord with the development team. How can a game express the complexities of a relationship between characters? How can the player interact, feel and become emotionally connected to them? In 2012, Irrational Games looks to provide the answers with the stars of BioShock Infinite, Elizabeth and Booker Dewitt.

Panelists include: Ken Levine [Creative Director, Irrational Games], Troy Baker [Voice of Booker DeWitt, Irrational Games], Courtnee Draper [Voice of Elizabeth]

Get the panel > Irrational Games: Bioshock

Fat, Ugly or Slutty: Exposing Harassment in Online Gaming

This panel is NSFW!  It’s also a little disturbing and maybe a little funny. We’ll laugh at some of the ‘spirited’ things that online gamers are saying to one another, as well as discuss some of the issues with harassment in gaming. Join the staff of FatUglyorSlutty.com as we debate some of the finer points of John Gabriel’s “Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory”.

Panelists include: Grace (gtz) [Co-founder, FatUglyorSlutty.com], Jon (inklesspen) [Co-founder, FatUglyorSlutty.com], Jennifer (likeOMGitsFEDAY) [Co-founder, FatUglyorSlutty.com], Morgan Romine [Frag Doll Team Captain & PhD Candidate, Ubisoft & UC Irvine]

Panel > Fat, Ugly or Slutty: Exposing Harassment in Online Gaming

We Make Xbox and Xbox LIVE. Ask Us Anything

What does it take to work on Xbox? How do we determine what cool features to add?  What was it like in the early days of creating Kinect? Who has the highest Gamerscore? Ask us anything.  We mean it! Join an expert panel moderated by Xbox LIVE’s own Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb as the people who work on creating the Xbox itself, as well as Xbox LIVE, take your questions.

DO NOT LISTEN UNTIL 1 minute 15 seconds !!! *prior to that can hurt your ears*

Listen in > We Make Xbox and Xbox LIVE.  Ask Us Anything

Halo 4

Here is your first chance to see and hear from the 343 Industries team that is creating the exciting next chapter in Master Chief’s heroic story.  Be there as we kick off the next 10 years of Halo!

Panelists include: Frank O’Connor [Franchise Development Director, 343 Industries], Josh Holmes [Creative Director, 343 Industries], Kiki Wolfkill [Executive Producer, 343 Industries], Kenneth Scott [Sr. Art Director, 343 Industries], Sotaro Tojima [Audio Director, 343 Industries]

Sunday

What Women Really Want

Join Trina Schwimmer, founder of GamingAngels.com; Kathleen de Vere, star of LoadingReadyRun; AJ Glasser of Inside Social Games; and Tracey John, regular contributor to The Daily, as they discuss what they embrace in female fictional characters and why these attributes are important.  They will identify their favorite characters and how they would like more heroines with similar attributes integrated into Geek culture. 

This fresh, positive approach to female characters shouldn’t be missed. Moderated by Susan Arendt, Senior Editor of The Escapist.

Panelists include: Susan Arendt [Senior Editor, The Escapist], Christa Carter, Brittany Aubert, Kathleen De Vere [Actor, LoadingReadyRun], AJ Glasser [Journalist, Inside Social Games], Brittany Aubert [Associate Producer, 5th Cell]

Listen in > What Women Really Want