Ooopy and PMS Harlequin put on their spy (aka stalker) goggles and went searching (aka trolling) about various gaming communities to find out who planned to attend PAX and why. With their list of lucky candidates in hand they sent out private messages (aka spam) to said candidates (aka unwitting prey) inquiring what they most looked forward to at PAX. Here are a few of the responses…

PAX for me is always about the people. It’s about putting faces to the names of people that I’ve known throughout the year in a digital form. We all share a common interest, - a love for games, and that just culminates at PAX.
GT: bapenguin
Community: Co-Optimus.com and EvilAvatar.com

I am really looking forward to the Pre-Pax party this year. It will get things started off right and looks to be bigger, better and have a lot more community members in attendance.

I can’t wait for PAX mainly because it’s the one show where I can relax a little more and really hang out with all the friends I’ve made in this industry. Since we’re all so spread out, it’s awesome to have an event that we can all attend and have fun at. It really is a great social gathering for geeks (me being a HUGE one!). See you guys and gals there!
GT: DirtyDiva
Community: GamerscoreBlog

The thing I am most looking forward to is spending time with my fiance, obviously. However, as far as actual PAX events, I’m not really sure. I’m looking forward to just meeting lots of people who have an interest in games. I’m also taking part in a game of Assassins at PAX, so that should be fun as I haven’t played that in about 14 years. All in all, I am just looking forward to getting away from work, meeting up with some friends, and just enjoying the atmosphere that is PAX, and let whatever happens, happen.
GT: Trixies Marine
Community: XboxMatureGamers (XMG)

This is my first ever trip to PAX, or better yet, any gaming event in general. There is so much to look forward to like the hot upcoming titles like Gears of War 2, Fallout 3, and so much more. Although this trip is more than just playing games, it’s about meeting the developers behind the games and attending some of the panels to help me become a better journalist for SFX360. Most importantly, it’s about the massive community of gamers coming together for a three day expo of madness and fun. Of course how can I forget about your Pre-PAX Party!
GT: SFX BuzzKiller
Community: SFX360 Co-Founder & Head Writer

I am heading to the Penny Arcade Expo (aka “PAX”) to see many things. A few highlights are: my first hands-on experience with the Ghostbusters videogame (the 20 seconds I got at Comiccon really don’t count), and of course I want to see Bungie, Red vs Blue, and several games being demoed. The main reason I return to PAX each year is actually to see my friends from all over place and to make new ones.
GT:LairdSVF
Community: Halo.Bungie.Org

I am really looking forward to the Pre-Pax party this year. It will get things started off right and looks to be bigger, better and have a lot more community members in attendance. I am also looking forward to seeing Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour on the show floor. I want to see the pros and cons for both games since I enjoy the original Rock Band as well as the series of Guitar Hero games. Wil Wheaton as the Keynote Speaker was amazing last year so I hope Kevin Levine can match the same excitement the audience felt. I enjoyed a few panels last year and hope to squeeze more in this year. The Omegathon will be interesting since it isn’t focusing on just one game, but a variety of them. PAX is great because it is an event open to the public where all gamers/people can go to hang out and see what is coming in the near future from all platforms. Seeing people in person and putting a Gamertag or forum name to a face is a blast. I cannot wait until PAX 2008!!
GT: Hpaladino
Community: GamerCastNetwork.com

Well, I think what I’m most looking forward to at PAX is just meeting all the people that I converse with on a daily basis, but have never met. I’m looking forward to putting a face to the crazy pirate nicknames that I talk to and argue with everyday. Mostly, I’m looking forward to finally meeting Rothbart and hanging with Doc and Dave and all of the Sarcastic Gamer Community for the weekend.
… and hopefully playing a ton of games…
GT: Lono
Community: Sarcasticgamer.com - Editor

For the past year, every time I’ve gotten into a conversation with someone about gaming events, PAX has come up as being “the greatest event EVER!!! Zomg!!”

There are three main things I’m most anticipating at PAX ‘08. I’m always interested in getting quality hands-on time with unreleased games and possibly talking with people involved in development. Games of particular interest to me this year are LittleBigPlanet, Killzone 2, and yeah… also Gears of War 2. I’m also interested in checking out a few of the panel discussions, particularly the Gamercast Network Podcasting Panel (big surprise there, I’m sure.) Lastly, I’m anxious to catch up with the awesome people I met at PAX last year and I’m looking forward to meeting new people this year from the various online communities I’m active in. I interact with some of those people on a daily basis online, but PAX presents a real opportunity to meet up and hang out in person. My son attends Boy Scout summer camp each year and my daughter attends Girl Scout camp… I kind of look at PAX as my summer camp. It’s a few days shorter than scout camp, but I typically have the same level of anticipation, enjoyment, and fond memories as my kids do from their camps. Now if I can only find a spot on the exhibition floor for a campfire and smores…
GT: GCN Rothbart PSN ID: Rothbart
Community: Sarcasticgamer.com, GamerCastNetwork.com

My favourite response when people ask me about attending PAX is “I may have had to sell a kidney to afford it but it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to go.” It’s when they ask to see the scar that I have to that I disappoint them and explain that I’m speaking figuratively. In all honesty though, for me, coming from Australia to attend; PAX is one of the remaining Mecca’s for game “consumers” since the retarding of E3 and I’ll be damned if I’d miss it while I’m staying in North America even if I am all the way on the East Coast living in Canada.
GT: wobagger PSN ID: brownian
Site: http://idontquiteknow.com

This is my first PAX, so I will be busy taking it all in. It’s exciting to go to a convention that is specifically for gamers. Most of all, I am looking forward to meeting people. I’m really excited for the Sisters in gaming panel on Saturday.
GT: GamingAngel
Community: GamingAngels.com

I’m most looking forward to meeting everyone from the gaming community and finally putting a face to so many names. It’ll be most interesting to me to talk about games face to face for once with people who truly care about video games.
GT: nc454
Community: GamerCastNetwork.com

The thing I am looking forward to most at PAX is just meeting the community. This community I have been talking and gaming with online, getting to talk to them in person for the first time. Also, Rock Band 2, because Rock Band is my addiction, and Fallout 3!
GT: sedington86
Community: 360sync

As a first time PAX attendee, I’m really excited to see what this event is like. For the past year, every time I’ve gotten into a conversation with someone about gaming events, PAX has come up as being “the greatest event EVER!!! Zomg!!” So I’m really hoping my friends aren’t building it up too much for me. I’d like to draw some inspiration from PAX as well. I help run a charity foundation called Gamers Outreach Foundation, which takes video games and uses them for charity purposes. Each year, we have an annual fundraising event called Gamers for Giving that acts as our main source of revenue for charity endeavors. We’re trying to grow our event, and I’d really like to see what exactly has made PAX so successful. Besides that, I’m hoping Blizzard will be showing off some Starcraft II material (come on Blizzard, let us play some demos!!). I’d also like to meet Marty O’Donnell from Bungie, to thank him for the kind letter he wrote to my town’s newspaper which helped to start Gamers Outreach Foundation (read our history at www.GamersOutreach.org). PAX 08, here I come!!
GT: Sayper
Community: Gamers Outreach Foundation