Cast your mind back to 2013, when Tomb Raider made a triumphant return with a reboot of the ‘96 classic and The Last of Us was released on PlayStation (did anyone even know who Pedro Pascal was back then?). It was also the first year that PAX festival launched in Melbourne, and to celebrate ten years of the gaming community coming together, PAX is returning bigger and better than ever from October 6-8 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
This year, you can look forward to a packed schedule of everything from panels and tournaments to tabletop gaming sessions, cosplay championships, concerts, esports, special guests and miniatures painting events. Whether you use a PC or a console or prefer analog games, there's bound to be something here that tickles your fancy.
In exciting news, Nintendo will be returning to the PAX expo floor with Super Mario Bros. Wonder – which will be playable before its release on October 20. Sega will also be in attendance with a booth showcasing Sonic Superstars and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Highlights from the line-up of panel discussions and speakers include a talk about the future of gaming, a special retrospective on PAX 2013 and a cosplay beginners workshop.
Games are big business; the 2017 convention drew more people than the Queensland State of Origin match and was the third-most tweeted about event in Australia for the year (coming in after the Melbourne Cup and AFL Grand Final). And considering this is the ten-year anniversary of PAX coming to Melbourne, it's shaping up to be a can't-miss event.
For more information on registration and purchasing your early bird badges, head to the website.
