I am going to tell you guys a secret right now. Can you keep a secret for me?

I have never been to a gaming convention before.

I mean, don’t get me wrong. I’ve got street cred. I’ve been to 6 Harry Potter conferences over the span of the last 3 years, I’ve been to 2 YouTube conventions, and a sci-fi con, but PAX is going to be a whole new world of experiences for me. So enough about that, let me tell you what I am  most excited for (though I’ll be honest, Brittney and Tara pretty much said it all already).

1. The Overall Conference Mindset: There is nothing more exciting to me than walking through a hotel with your nametag dangling around your neck, passing people in costumes or rolling their suitcases behind them, pouring over schedules and sharing travel woes – Like Britt said, it’s the whole atmosphere of the convention that I can’t wait for. Everyone is there to have a good time, meet people, and have more fun than should be allowed in one weekend.

2. Actually Going to Programming: It’s funny, because as a Harry Potter conference veteran, it’s common (at least in my social circles) to go to all of the “fun stuff” like the dance, the concerts, etc. and skip out on the formal programming because you stayed up too late partying the night before – but from what I’ve heard, the formal programming at PAX is the fun stuff. This is new. This is exciting.

3. Swag: Tara tells me that PAX is all about the free swag. I don’t know about you, but to ME, the only thing better than free stuff is LOTS of free stuff, all over the place, all weekend.

4. The Zaxy Party. The other girls pretty much explained it all already, but I for one am a huge Ken Jennings fangirl (come on, he made Jeopardy so exciting for awhile there) so I’m totally pumped.

5. Raid Warning LIVE!: I’ll admit, World of Warcraft is a game where you spend a lot of time being a geek alone in front of your computer. I do it. I’m not ashamed. However, that is why I am super, super pumped to (finally) be a WoW geek in a room full of other people. And, of course, hearing all the exciting new updates about Cataclysm is also a plus.

See you there! Definitely come up and say “hi” if you recognize any of us while we’re there!

PAX Prime 2010 will be the fourth gaming convention I’ve been to. PAX Prime 2009 took my convention virginity, and after that I went crazy with PAX East in March and then E3 in June.  I’d *like* to think I have a general idea about how these things called “gaming conventions” work, so I can confidentially say I’m looking forward to the following.

The Atmosphere: Rarely are you able to walk into a room, let alone a ginormous convention center, and be surrounded by people that share the same passion as you. I mean, hello, this is an entire CONVENTION about videogames and all things related. For the most part attendees and developers alike are extremely friendly and are always willing to talk shop. How can one not look forward to that type of atmosphere?

The People: Going solo to these kinds of events can be fun, but I personally find it much more enjoyable when you go with a group of friends. You may not stick together the entire time, but regrouping later to discuss what everyone has been playing is something I always look forward to.  It’s also a blast running into people from social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, or any other online community you may be a part of. One of the definite highlights from PAX is meeting people, period.

The Games and Tech: This is totally vague, I know, and an obvious one, but I mean this is PAX. Gaming is a part of it…right? In all seriousness, being able to go hands on and experience hardware and software that not too many people have…it’s a prideful feeling. For example, let me revert to my time at E3 when I dinked around with Move, Kinect, 3DS, Skyward Sword, Fable 3, the new Twisted Metal…okay, I’m going to shut up before I start sounding like a bragging b-word.

The Zaxy Party: Major Nelson! Ken Jennings! Alcohol! Trivia! Alcohol!

I’m extremely pumped for the Zaxy party this Friday. We have some fun things lined up, and I really want to meet you guys! To be completely honest, I don’t really know what to expect (besides the awesome events we have lined up) as this is the first event I’ve been to where I might have a tinge of responsibility, but that makes it all the more exciting. We will also have a camera crew following us around to catch the shenanigans. Remember to RSVP here!

Are you a loyal minion of Microsoft? Are you friends with a minion of Sony? Are you constantly hearing, “Sony doesn’t charge for PSN nyaaa nyaaa” from said minion-friend?

Well, prepare to hear of it a lot more.

Starting November 1^st, the cost of Xbox Live Gold memberships will increase in Canada, Mexico, UK and US.

While I will leave you to fight your own battles, you can head over here until October 31^st if you want to purchase an XBL Gold membership for 40 bucks.

The Zaxy girls are all eagerly anticipating PAX, but for different things. Here are the top 5 things I’m most looking forward to. Be on the lookout for Britt and Kristina’s coming up soon! And if you’re at PAX, follow @Zaxydotcom and @ZaxyTara to find out where I’ll be and when!

1. Dungeons and Dragons
WOTC always comes up with something to bring the boys (and the girls) to the yard, and it sounds like they’ve outdone themselves again. They will have a freakin carriage full of things like monsters and Jones soda (best combination ever?) outside of the convention hall. Plus, they’ll be doing all types of demos and games. I won’t have time for the full Gamma World demo, but I am looking forward to the D&D convention delve of “Lair of the Dread Witch” featuring characters from D&D Essentials. And I’ll probably end up buying some more dice. I dont need more, but darn it, they’re just so pretty!

2. Controller-Free Gaming
Ok, I know some of you are hating on the Kinect. I get it. It’s not hardcore gaming. But I’m not a hardcore gamer. I like stuff that makes my friends look silly at parties and help me stay active while I’m inside “playing video games”. And honestly, Kinect and other controller-free gaming is a great way to test out technology that can end up morphing into something way cooler. I’m picturing Jetsons-style living. It will be amazing.

Kinect’s supposed to have a pretty awesome and flashy set-up at PAX. The Zaxy girls are also psyched for our demo of Kung-Fu Live, which puts camera tech and controller-free gaming into a multiplayer Kung Fu battle that will GUARANTEE that we have a great time and all look ridiculous.

3. Meeting People
Whether they’re bloggers, fans, developers, or random guys who jump on top of me to get a flying free t-shirt, I’m excited to meet them. I will take pictures with people in funny costumes, trade business cards with businessy folks, and chug beers with wizards at the Tri-Wizard Drinking Tournament. I can’t wait. Going to PAX? Please say hi! Take a picture! Tweet at us! Challenge us in a game!

4. Free Stuff
I’m a sucker for free stuff. And PAX has enough free stuff to keep me happy for days. Rumor has it that Death Spank will have ACTUAL thongs of virtue. So I’m pretty much set for life.

5. Zaxy Party!
We partied it up at PAX East, but this time PAX is in our hometown, and we’re hosting our own party.
Place: Neumos on Capitol Hill
Time: 7pm – 2am
Major Nelson will be there–will you? RSVP now to be in the drawing to be a part of our Geek-Off hosted by Ken Jennings. He’ll test your smarts and stamina in exchange for some wicked prizes. We also have bands and food and drink sponsors. What are you waiting for? RSVP!

Overall, PAX is going to be a blast. I already have demos set up with Alienware, J!nx, Kung-Fu Live, Portal 2, Tripwire, Slam Bolt Scrappers, and Glass and have a few more in the works. And in case you haven’t heard, there will be a DeLorean there in honor of TellTale’s Back to the Future game! OMG.

Are you going? What are you looking forward to?

This is addicting. Enjoy.

Archaeologists will find this one day, and think this is an accurate depiction of our culture. And sadly, they’ll be right. I’m a bit concerned. Now excuse me as I go watch this video again.

How many of these clips have you seen before?

I am a whole-hearted Android phone user, but, never being one to want to miss out on fun new technology, I also sport my iPod Touch in an attempt to try all the great new iTunes store games (and, you know, to use as an iPod).

I’ll admit a few months back I fell victim to the addictiveness that is Angry Birds.

Well, a few days ago, it was announced that the tiny little iPhone app may develop a franchise. Rovio (the company that created the game) has been trying to find ways to bring it to other mediums, including toys, comic books, a TV show – possibly even a movie. A movie!

Nothing major is confirmed yet aside from the toys, though the toys alone would make Angry Birds the “first major intellectual property to go straight from iPhone to plush form”. I’m wondering if Rovio thinks this will make Angry Birds the next Pokémon. Does it even have the potential to be the next Pokémon? I think being a Pokémon master is a lot more attractive than throwing birds at sickly looking pigs, regardless of how addictive this game is.

I mean, a World of Warcraft movie was one thing. Even the Pac-Man movie speculation didn’t surprise me all that much.  But if a mere 99-cent iPhone application can hit the big screen, then I’m going to wager that anything can.

Who wants to go to Portland with me, specifically to North William’s Avenue?

Someone thought the bike lane running from Tillamook Avenue to North Cook Avenue needed some pizzazz, and you know what? I agree. Bike lanes are boring. But instead of sprucing the lane up by drawing happy flowers and hop-scotch with neon sidewalk chalk, this person did the awesome.

I will bet you a blue shell everyone is subconsciously avoiding the banana peel.

If all bike lanes looked like this, I might start up biking.

 Alright guys—

There has been a decent amount of videogame controversy as of late. Specifically, I’m referring to the debate over used videogame sales and the more sensitive dispute regarding EA’s Medal of Honor.

This post is going to be dedicated to the latter.

Medal of Honor takes place in amidst the conflict in Afghanistan. The issue people are having with Medal of Honor is its subject matter as a whole, but more specifically the multiplayer where players will have the opportunity to assume the role of the Taliban in order to defeat coalition soldiers.

In fact, UK Defense Secretary Liam Fox is so disgusted that he has called for a retail ban.

Fox said: “It’s shocking that someone would think it acceptable to recreate the acts of the Taliban. At the hands of the Taliban, children have lost fathers and wives have lost husbands.”

“I am disgusted and angry. It’s hard to believe any citizen of our country would wish to buy such a thoroughly un-British game. I would urge retailers to show their support for our armed forces and ban this tasteless product.”

Since Fox’s comment, it has been confirmed that there are no British troops in the game, and Fox was speaking on behalf of his own personal views and not the government.

Fox News recently interviewed Karen Meredith, a Gold Star mom who lost her son in Iraq, regarding the recent controversy.

“War is not a game, period and the fact that they’ve already done games about World War II, that’s far removed from our current history,” Karen said, “People aren’t dying in World War II anymore.”

“I just don’t see that a videogame based on a current war makes any sense at all. It’s disrespectful.”

EA is firing back at the coments, telling Develop “At EA we passionately believe games are an art form, and I don’t know why films and books set in Afghanistan don’t get flack, yet [games] do. Whether it’s Red Badge Of Courage or The Hurt Locker, the media of its time can be a platform for the people who wish to tell their stories. Games are becoming that platform.”

“Games have been set in Afghanistan before. We anticipated this when we decided on the concept of the game—this is about being a special forces solider. What’s really important for us is that we partnered with the US military, and the Medal of Honor Society as well. We’ve gone out of our way to produce the best story for the game.”

I think this pretty much sums everything up.

Thoughts?

Because my love and passion lies with Alistair Dragon Age: Origins, I felt a tinge of sadness upon discovering that the final DLC, The Witch Hunt, will be available September 7^th.

I realize some of you poor, unfortunate souls have yet to visit the continent of Thedas, and due to spoilers, the content of this DLC will be hidden below. Highlight the text….if you dare.

Spoilers: Ooh spooky! Anywho, The Witch Hunt takes place a year after the defeat of the Archdemon. As the title entails, your imported character (or a brand spankin’ new one, your choice) will find and confront Morrigan in hopes of receiving answers as to what the hell she’s been up to. Let’s just hope she doesn’t take after her mama. Bioware has also said that they intend to explore Morrigan’s story in DA: 2, so this may not be the last we hear of her.

Dragon Age 2 hits shelves next March (EEEE!), so it only makes sense that Origins is wrapped up, no matter how much it pains me.

I’m a sucker for a good infographic, especially if it teaches me something. And this taught me a few somethings.

For instance, did you know Stan Lee became Editor-in-Chief of Marvel (then named Timely Comics) at the age of 18? Yikes! So young!

Click on the image for the full view, and learn a bit more about Marvel and its history!