GamerDad PAX ’09
I have some bad news. I’m not speaking at PAX this year. No panels, no packed halls for my GamerDad speech and no filling in for the ECA’s Hal Halpin to talk games and politics despite the fact that GamePolitics.com continues to snub me (hey, email them about that please). The reason? Two-fold. One: I’ve attended proudly for 3 years running. Two: There’s no need for me to continue. Come in to find out what I mean and read the complete story.
Three years ago I attended E3 on Best Buy’s dime. The massive chain was negotiating with me to buy GamerDad.com, my reviews (since sold to WhatTheyLike.com INC), and me for somewhere North of $100,000 plus a salary (that didn’t work out, much to my chagrin – I even had a small heart attack about it, thanks Best Buy! Imagine the possibilities indeed!)
Anyway, they sent me to E3 to get my take on it and there I ran into – I literally ran into – Tycho Brahe. In the Penny-Arcade comic (not kid safe but genius just the same) outside the Wii booth and he surprised me by knowing and admiring my site and efforts. He invited me personally – on his dime – to come to PAX and check it all out.
I don’t like handouts, so I lobbied to work the show for him. I chaired the WOMEN IN GAMES panel, I was on the GAMING AFTER 30 PANEL and I had a great time. It’s a wonderful show – you all should make it a point to go some day. It’s family friendly, packed with games, and filled with the nicest people I’ve ever met.
Year two saw me arrive on my own dime and I participated in the GAMING AFTER 30 panel, Chaired the ADVERTISING IN GAMES panel, filled in for Hal Halpin of the ECA (last minute) to do a POLITICS & GAMES speech that the ECA was very impressed with, and did a GAMERDAD one-man, one-hour long show.
Right after this I had a heart attack.
I came back last year to do the GAMERDAD show again, and to thank everyone, including Gabe and Tycho, for all their help, good wishes and support.
I feel like my PAX days are over or limited. I hope someone carries on the Family Gaming banner for me and I give them my blessing. Those speeches led directly to my speaking at the National Librarian Conference last year and other opportunities involving the PTA and ESRB.
Thanks Tycho, for the recommend. I’m passing it along. Visit PAX, if not this year, then next. Oh, why am I less needed? I’ve given the speech twice now and times have changed. The game industry enjoys much greater acceptance worldwide and the parents coming up know their “shit.” My going to PAX is my “preaching to the choir.” I can change a lot more hearts and minds – help more parents – by concentrating on speaking before the PTA, Librarians, Police Association, iVillage.com, Disney, etc.,
And that’s my goal. To help parents. PAX doesn’t need me anymore. I’m proud as punch to be a big part of the first 4 glorious years. I’ll treasure that experience and that audience forever.
Our own Cary Woodham is going in my stead this year. No speechifying, but he’ll give us the dirt on what’s fun, what was shown, and the family take on the show. Look forward to that!
PS to Gabe – thanks for the hug last year man. I still feel that embrace. It meant a lot after what I’d been through,
August 19th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Yup! I’ll be at PAX and I’ve already set up a couple of meetings (TellTale Games, Yay!). So when I get back you can all expect an article about PAX with lots of pictures! I think it would be fun to do a speech panel at the show, but I wouldn’t know what to talk about. But that’s OK, I would just wing it like I do everything else! 🙂 –Cary
August 19th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Hey, I meant to ask earlier — do you think PAX would be OK to attend with a 1-year-old and 3-year-old? Carting them around in the crowds sounds tough but doable, but I’m a bit worried about how in-your-face the non-age appropriate stuff is going to be. Do they have Dom chainsawing somebody in half on a big screen overhead? I’m kinda-sorta trying to talk the wife into it.