Where did my summer go? We are already into August, which, believe it or not, is only a few weeks away from September. Two months of nice weather (I’m from Canada) and a few weeks of vacation time never seems to be enough.

Summer is, for many gamers, a relatively quiet time as there are few high-profile games being released. This means that it’s an excellent time to enjoy the company of family and friends; members from numerous gaming communities have all reported that their forums are quieter and Friends Lists are less-populated.

Relationship Tip: Spending some time with acquaintances during the summer game drought can (partially) make up for the inevitable neglect that always results from the holiday game-frenzy.

Social Conduct Tip: Trying to power a gaming console using batteries taped onto an electrical socket while sitting on the beach places you on the same social level as the man wearing a tin-foil hat and speaking to fruit.

Reality Check: The above action does not make you “cool like MacGyver.” No one but you and the tin-foil-hat-guy remember who MacGyver is. Everyone else thinks you’re nuts.

However, not everyone in the gaming world is taking time off. Console manufacturers are announcing their first-party holiday game releases, game developers are focused on finishing up games before the looming holiday release dates, publishers are handing out enormous amounts of money to advertisers who will convince you to buy Generic Mega-Action Shooter Space-Marine Game12, and E3 has moved into the summer; but more importantly for gamers who aren’t willing to risk the humiliation of getting thrown out of the L.A. Convention Center for using fake media credentials, the end of summer means one thing: Penny Arcade Expo (P.A.X.).

To help prepare for the gaming event by gamers and for gamers, the September issue of T.B.S. is dedicated to P.A.X. (being held in Seattle from August 29 to31). As most of my writers have taken the summer off (I’m looking at you Surplus and fatherwags )we figured we’d fill the issue with something that many of our TBS staff are attending—Mulderesque, Kiki Kat, kwynn, Pinksage, PMS Harlequin and myself will all be drinking and laughing our way through the weekend—along with a bunch of our faithful readers from various other communities.

What I am looking forward to the most at PAX is meeting up with the gaming (and TBS) community. Many people attending PAX this year are people who I met at last year’s event, as well as other events throughout the year. I could start to list all the communities attending and who I wanted to meet, but there isn’t enough space in this editorial. I do know that the Second Annual Ooopy and Kiki Pre-P.A.X. Party on August 28th is sold out and something that we can’t wait to enjoy.

I would also like to invite TBS readers attending P.A.X. to join some of our staff at the Tritton Technology booth (#131) on Friday, August 29th from 5:00 pm to 6:00pm. You should all come out, say “Hello,” and check out the latest Tritton Headset, the AX PRO Audio Xtreme Pro Headsets, which are being revealed for the first time at the show. The AXPRO is the flagship of gaming headsets. Features include Hear Everything Technology, digital 5.1 surround sound, simplified microphone connection for XBOX Live, and a USB port for microphone connection to a PS3 or computer. Just for stopping by during that hour and identifying yourself as a loyal TBS reader (by singing each of the staff bios to the tunes of Britney Spears’ songs) you’ll be eligible to win AX360 (original headset). Actually you won’t have to sing unless you want to, but you will need to be at the booth to win.

I hope you all have had a wonderful summer; and for those coming to PAX, I can’t wait to see you there!

<3

Ooopy