As I mentioned in a previous post, this year’s Penny Arcade Expo was highly enjoyable. Taking the kids as much as I did allowed me to see things in a way that I normally wouldn’t, and allowed them to see just how big and varied video games can be. August has more of an idea than the other kids because he is not only older, at age 12, but also has more experience and reads up on upcoming games.
First things on Friday was to show Ciárán the enforcers and direct him to seek their help in case anything happened. August, who had been to PAX a few times before, knew the drill. What with it being Ciárán’s first time going for any significant amount of time, he needed some pointers.
After that we headed over to the Telltale booth. We initially went to the Expo Hall just to see what we could and were greeted by an amazing building that appeared to be straight out of Minecraft. I did not have an appointment with Telltalle, but I went up and asked if I could get placed on their schedule so August and Ciárán could check out the upcoming Minecraft: Story Mode. Get us in they did.
August and Ciárán got their hands on Minecraft: Story Mode, playing through the demo. This game was easily a highlight and would be tough to beat as it was an early favorite to these Minecraft loving kids. The game plays out like an adventure game with choices to make (though both action and dialogue) as well as some light crafting. Starting out searching for your pet pig, eventually you wind up battling Creepers, giant spiders, and more. Towards the end of the demo there is a choice to be made as to whom to save, and the implication is this will affect how the rest of the game will play out. It is still a ways out from being released, but my kids are already looking forward to it.
After wandering around the hall a bit more we stepped outside and were greeted by a Dalek. This is easily one of the best bits of cosplay any of us were to see all weekend.
Instead of trying to be unfriendly and shout out cries of “Exterminate!” he was quite pleasant company.
Heading downstairs we saw Nintendo’s 3DS area and avoided the (long) line to play Legend Of Zelda: Tri-Force Heroes and opted to try out Skylanders: Superchargers. This is a racing game in the Mario Kart style using the familiar Skylander figures and the new to the franchise vehicles. What is more the WiiU and 3DS versions of the game will also be compatible with some upcoming Nintendo Amibo characters, such as Donkey Kong and Bowser, along with their vehicles to use in the game. These figures will have the ability to switch back and forth between being and Amibo and working as those normally would with Nintendo games and being compatible with Skylanders. Players select their vehicle and character, and they are off to the races.
It should be noted that Ciárán beat August.
What followed was the most painful part of PAX – the line for Starfox Zero.
August saw the game and wanted to check it out. Ciárán and I agreed, got in line and waited. And waited. And waited. Then we moved up in line. And waited. And waited.
I think you get the idea. While the line wasn’t overly long it did take over 2 hours to get through. August says the wait was worth it, though Ciárán holds a slightly different opinion. Two of the demo stations were set up like the cockpit of an Arwing (the vehicle in the game) with six others standard demo kiosks. In line you were randomly assigned to a demo station, and Ciárán won the lottery (so to speak) getting one of the deluxe demo stations. Both kids did not do so well, which is interesting because August broke out Starfox 64 just a few days previously. Ciárán had never played a Starfox game before. Both boys started out in a “training” level and Ciárán actually survived further in the game than August did – though it did take quite a bit of coaching (and patience on the part of the person conducting the demo).
After lunch we made our way back upstairs to the expo hall, though we wandered lazily about for a bit. We looked at the classic gaming free play rooms and the tabletop games available to check out and enjoy, but we were on to what was to be the most played game (by my family) at this year’s Penny Arcade Expo – LEGO Dimensions. At the head of the entrance to the demo location was a large LEGO sculpture of Doctor Who’s 12th incarnation.
August and Ciárán had brought their 3DSs to the convention and were getting a lot of street passes (if you don’t know, don’t ask) but just as the two of them were about to go up for their turn August saw somebody with a sign announcing they were giving away some rare Pokemon. I don’t know what it was, but I do know August was excited about it and ran up wielding his 3DS. Ciárán went up for his turn at the demo station and August returned a moment later grabbing Ciárán’s 3DS to get him his rare Pokemon.
While August was gone (about 15 feet away) Ciárán got to choose what to do in the LEGO Dimentions demo. Did he want to play a level or open world. He chose open world, and then chose Wizard of Oz over The LEGO Movie setting. Interesting. Even more interesting was his choice to play as The Doctor.
August missed out on playing as The Doctor, and Ciárán doesn’t even watch “Doctor Who” so he doesn’t have much attachment to the character. He did enjoy going into the TARDIS and switching around the various incarnations of the famous time traveler.
When playing in Oz players will be able to drop down to Kansas at one (if not more) point on the map and get back to Oz by finding themselves in a tornado. This was something Ciárán found quite enjoyable.
Finally we went to Nintendo’s main booth and stood in line to check out Super Mario Maker. The only problem was we got cut in front of in one line, so we moved to another. Then we got cut in front of again. Time was not on our side as the Expo Hall was closing soon and Laura would be on her way to pick us up.
August got in one line and I took Ciárán to another, trying to get them both in. The person conducting the demo where Ciárán was in line informed us (politely) as we arrived of who was ahead of him, and his turn was coming. I replied that was fine, and expressed my frustration at getting cut in front of at other lines. He asked if we would be back and I replied that I would be back, but my boys would not be (at the time, that was the plan). The person conducting the demo then worked it to make sure Ciárán was able to get on the machine and check out Super Mario Maker before time ran out. Normally players who demoed the game would receive a button containing an image from the game. This guy gave us pins before getting our hands on the controller “in case we don’t make it.” Really nice and accommodating.
Just before Ciárán was able to jump on to the demo station August was able to get ahead in his line and try out the game. That meant both were able to get their hands on the game before we had to go.
What I found interesting was how Ciárán played the game. Instead of trying to get through levels he immediately started editing them. It is almost as if he were trying to find a way to break the game. Using the different tools available he moved or added pipes and platforms, increased enemy sizes and more. There is a lot to this game that both boys liked and I can see why. The game comes with several levels preloaded to play through or alter, but it is the level creation that will have players coming back over and over.
And with that we left. I have more, but that will be for another post.