Penny Arcade Expo Will Be Coming To Australia

12 years ago

September 1, 2012 at 12:30 pm

Forget Europe. Put Canada out of your mind. New Zealand? Not a chance. No, Australia will be host to first international Penny Arcade Expo, if comments today from proprietors Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik are to be believed.

The planned trip to our shores was brought up at a Q&A session at PAX 2012, currently being held in Seattle in the US. At this stage, the pair have yet to announce what city will accommodate the event, though if I had to take a guess at some candidates, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast would all be contenders, with the first two the most likely.

Hopefully we’ll learn more in the coming days — one would think they’d have a venue, or at least a city or state in mind.

PAX coming to Australia, PAX Prime extended to 4 days next year [Joystiq, via VentureBeat]

Comments

62 responses to “Penny Arcade Expo Will Be Coming To Australia”

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Jordan

September 1, 2012 at 12:32 pm

Come on Gold Coast! Though I’d make the trip for Syd/Melb… maybe Perth 😛

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1. Virus__
  
  September 1, 2012 at 12:38 pm
  
  Gold Coast needs more of these types of events so I support this!
  
  Reply
  1. Rowan
    
    September 2, 2012 at 7:44 am
    
    Please be gold coast, less travel and hotel needed as i live on teh gold coast
    
    Reply
    1. MrBS
      
      September 3, 2012 at 7:38 am
      
      I too would like to put my needs before others and suggest Gold Coast! C’mon Gold Coast!! 😀
      
      Reply
2. Bradkckass1000
  
  September 17, 2012 at 7:38 am
  
  Gold coast or brisbane plz
  
  Reply
Jack

September 1, 2012 at 12:34 pm

I’ll definitely check it out if it comes to Melbourne. Hell, I’d probably even consider a trip to Sydney.

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Chanticleer

September 1, 2012 at 12:37 pm

COME OOOON SYDNEY!

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D.C.

September 1, 2012 at 12:39 pm

I think it’ll either be Melbourne or Sydney.

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Jabin

September 1, 2012 at 12:44 pm

REPPIN’ DARWIN!

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1. Crispus
  
  September 1, 2012 at 11:22 pm
  
  haha, good on you mate
  
  Reply
@LiamPomfret

September 1, 2012 at 12:53 pm

Brisbane is a better contender than the Gold Coast. Seriously, the Gold Coast convention center is horrible. It was barely big enough for Supanova Gold Coast and EBExpo 2011, and it’s simply not a big enough venue for PAX.

I agree that Sydney or Melbourne are probably more likely though. Having never been down there however, I don’t know what their convention facilities are like. PAX, and other American cons like it, tend to involve a lot more in terms of keynotes and panels than the conventions here in Australia have tended to have before. Does a suitable venue really exist?

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1. megamarkd
  
  September 1, 2012 at 2:27 pm
  
  Doubt it will be in Sydney as the exhibition and convention center is being rebuilt next year. GC convention center maybe too small, not that it would need to be too big , Good Food and Wine is a larger show with twice the number of exhibitors and pulling over 120,000 visitors annually. Even Sexpo pulls similar numbers to PAX at 60,000 per show.
  All the newer convention centres can accommodate seminar-like addresses at the same time as a large exhibition, with Melbourne actually being the venue that would struggle in that respect.
  Perth is actually the prime candidate, winning on all levels including a bloody lovely town for post-expo fun (the strip joints are out numbered by regular establishments unlike the GC).
  
  Reply
2. Ax0r
  
  September 1, 2012 at 8:57 pm
  
  I’m currently attending an international medical conference at the Sydney Convention centre. I’ve also been to PAX. The entertainment centre has 5 big exhibition halls, which would pretty much cover all the potential exhibitors. There’s also a lot of lecture theatre type spaces in the centre, big and small, so the panels could be covered as well. The biggest issue would be where they’d hold any concerts or similar. There’s the Entertainment Centre nearby, but that is seriously MASSIVE, as in Metallica and Justin Beiber play there, and I doubt PAX could fill it. The other things that would be harder to support would be things like the BYOC rooms and all night tabletop areas. I’m sure something could be arranged though.
  
  Reply
  1. Bstyle
    
    September 1, 2012 at 11:45 pm
    
    I built the Medical show you are attending 🙂
    The Sydney Convention Centre is being demolished at the end of 2013 so hopefully not then
    
    Reply
Mono

September 1, 2012 at 1:13 pm

Obviously I hope it’s in melb since I’m from here but nonetheless I do fail to see how it would be much of an event comped to prime and east. Simply due to our location and publishers probably not caring

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1. Aidan
  
  September 1, 2012 at 1:26 pm
  
  Yeah I’m not sure they’d bother in terms of announcements or flying big names all the way here.
  
  Reply
  1. Darth Obvious
    
    September 1, 2012 at 3:24 pm
    
    Comicon and Supanova manage to get decent celebs over, but i agree that it wouldn’t ever be as extensive a lineup as in the US.
    
    Reply
Jeffy

September 1, 2012 at 1:28 pm

I’d say if it’s Melbourne they’d get Melb Exb Centre (opposite the casino) or possibly the old exhib centre in Carlton. As for Sydney not sure. But both Melb venues could probably handle it.

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Spartaness

September 1, 2012 at 1:36 pm

C’mon, the cheapest one I can fly to (because NZ will never have a decent expo).

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The Captain

September 1, 2012 at 1:39 pm

Probably end up in Melbourne, but I think Sydney would be better.

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Cameron

September 1, 2012 at 1:42 pm

Perth? That’s a little, remote, isn’t it?

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1. Xerox
  
  September 1, 2012 at 1:45 pm
  
  Yeah no way it will be Perth – sorry guys but they want people from nearby cities to come too.
  
  Reply
2. Logan Booker
  
  September 1, 2012 at 1:47 pm
  
  I agree, but it is where GO3 was held in 2007. It’s an outside chance, but not impossible.
  
  Reply
  1. D.C.
    
    September 1, 2012 at 1:48 pm
    
    Brisbane’s holding the g20 summit in 2014. For no manipulative political reasons what so ever… 😉
    
    Bring on PAX. 😛
    
    Reply
Tuxedo Glenny

September 1, 2012 at 1:42 pm

Melbourne would be the better venue, due to having an awesome exhibition centre and great transport. Not to mention the ratio of gamers in VIC is alot higher than NSW will lead to a better turn out.

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1. Lith
  
  September 1, 2012 at 3:16 pm
  
  As a Sydney resident, I was with you right up to that bizarre final remark.
  
  Reply
2. Azza
  
  September 3, 2012 at 10:51 am
  
  I have no idea where this statement of ratios came from.
  
  Reply
Lord_Of_The_Skys

September 1, 2012 at 1:43 pm

COME TO MELBOURNE! The centre of Australian life, forget Sydney, Sydney is just for the tourists.

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cbrate

September 1, 2012 at 2:03 pm

Maybe interested. But something fishy is definitely going on when a crass webcomic purports to be a ‘family oriented’ expo.

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Grandmaster B-Funk

September 1, 2012 at 2:18 pm

man… i’d love it to be in perth… but i can’t see it happening

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Mr.Cheesypie

September 1, 2012 at 2:41 pm

Bring it to Adelaide! 😀

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Blood Apathy

September 1, 2012 at 2:46 pm

Not sure about other cities convention centers, but i do know that Melbourne exhibition center has a lot of auditoriums and what not attatched whilch would be great for panels IF pax is will to fork out the money of course.

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Ben J

September 1, 2012 at 2:58 pm

Come on Launceston!! LOL. Hopefully it’s Melbourne because that’s the only cheap place to fly to from Tasmania!

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1. thyco
  
  September 1, 2012 at 3:21 pm
  
  heh jestar is offering 70 dollar flights from melbourne to hobart and 80 from sydney
  
  Reply
Michael Barnes

September 1, 2012 at 3:11 pm

Are you kidding me!? SWEET! This is like the next best thing to going to E3 in USA!

I cannot miss this being so close to me, saving for a trip! It’ll probably be in Sydney, but a $300 flight to Sydney (probably) is better than a $2000 one to Los Angeles!

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thyco

September 1, 2012 at 3:19 pm

It will most likely be brisbane because thats where Yathzee’s from and bris vegas has held alot of gaming events in the last few years, more than sydney and melbourne.

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1. Darth Obvious
  
  September 1, 2012 at 3:22 pm
  
  None of those things mean anything. It’ll be Syd or Melbourne. Probably Melb because of EBX being at the Sydney showgrounds for the next few years (apparently).
  
  Reply
Darth Obvious

September 1, 2012 at 3:20 pm

Curious when they’ll do it. Late in the year most likely, which would pit it up against EB Expo and at least one Supanova at a minimum.

Sure, we all know and want want want PAX, but the name doesn’t have any real traction in our market (yet). I’d buy a ticket today if I could, but again so much depends on release schedules and publishers and other business-jerk wrangling..

tl;dr: YAY!

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piratejim

September 1, 2012 at 4:18 pm

come on hobart 😛
(as if tasmania was even going to be considered ) 🙁

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William

September 1, 2012 at 4:35 pm

hope its melbourne cause EBGames expo was at queensland and sydeny has 4 year contact ebgames expo!

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Silk

September 1, 2012 at 4:44 pm

FYI you misread, It’s coming to Australia but not necessarily next year. The 2013 was about PAX Prime being a day longer.

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warcroft

September 1, 2012 at 5:47 pm

This comment has been deemed inappropriate and has been deleted.

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1. Cam
  
  September 1, 2012 at 8:54 pm
  
  Damn right
  
  Reply
Darren

September 1, 2012 at 5:54 pm

I care not a jott where it is….just as long as it is in Australia. If you bring it we will come.

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Anthony

September 1, 2012 at 6:16 pm

lol Perth.

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Adrian

September 1, 2012 at 7:44 pm

Sydney is where 90% of the industry reps and such are . It makes a lot of sense to hold it in Sydney.

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1. mobo
  
  September 1, 2012 at 9:48 pm
  
  I’d argue that, because there are more devs in melbourne, it would be better placed here. Plus turn outs for pop/cultural events are usually much higher in general here.
  
  Still I don’t think Sydney is bad. At least the companies flying here can have an Opera house to look forward to which may push a few more publishers to the event perhaps.
  
  Reply
2. Shane
  
  September 3, 2012 at 11:18 am
  
  AGDC, Manabar, Freeplay, ACMI, Game Masters etc are all in Melbourne.
  
  Melbourne is the hub and has a much larger indie scene.
  
  Reply
3. Bradkckass1000
  
  September 17, 2012 at 3:14 pm
  
  No gold coast
  
  Reply
Ramonia

September 1, 2012 at 10:38 pm

This is really interesting to me, because I was one of the few (if not only) Australians to attend the first ever PAX. At one point on the Sunday, Jerry pulled me aside, and commented on how he was impressed that I had come so far, and asked me where I was from. He remembered me from the previous day, and was impressed that he took the time to single me out and ask me, so I told him right away that I was from Perth. Not much of a story, I guess, but I wonder if that conversation stuck in his mind and that is why they decided to bring PAX to Australia, before choosing somewhere like Europe. If so, I hope that maybe that means they might be bringing it to Perth, but honestly that is probably just me adding too much meaning to a small event that was significant only to me.

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1. Gunslinger
  
  September 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm
  
  I dunno man, so many things in PA have had tiny, insignificant beginnings…
  
  Reply
Ramonia

September 2, 2012 at 7:33 am

Enjoy my blog post about my exprience at the first PAX. Can’t wait to go to the first Aussie PAX
http://www.tragedians.com/2012/09/as-australian-who-went-to-first-pax-i.html

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jacob

September 2, 2012 at 11:57 am

Perth…. pft nothing ever happens in perth.

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nerdhats

September 2, 2012 at 1:25 pm

tasmania

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Jacky

September 2, 2012 at 1:47 pm

This could be great, it’ll never have the major announcements of US developers who have a whole raft of local expos to announce their stuff, but this could be wonderful in fostering some more Australian developers and enticing them to stay in Australia instead of everyone leaving the country……and INDIE games!!!

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Memz

September 2, 2012 at 4:46 pm

This has to happen!!!! (preferably Melbourne, but I would go to it anywhere!)

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Luke Plunkett

September 3, 2012 at 9:04 am

COME ON CANBERRA THE NATION’S CAPITAL OH WHO AM I KIDDING

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Azza

September 3, 2012 at 10:56 am

If this happens it will be the first pop culture convention I will have been to.

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edes

September 3, 2012 at 4:24 pm

Has to be Sydney at Homebush or the Convention Center at Darling Harbour.
Either way I’ll travel to attend PAX next year.

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Dafaria

September 3, 2012 at 4:32 pm

GOLD COAST!!!
I’m Brisbane and I’m small (12 years old) so I can’t afford tickets. I’m BEGGING you PAX!!!

Reply
Bradkckass1000

September 17, 2012 at 3:12 pm

GOLD COAST – GOLD COAST

Reply
Bradkckass1000

September 17, 2012 at 3:13 pm

How much are tickets

Reply

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Penny Arcade Expo Will Be Coming To Australia

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62 responses to “Penny Arcade Expo Will Be Coming To Australia”

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