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The '''Penny Arcade Expo''' ('''PAX''') is a multi-annual gamer festival held in [[Seattle]], [[Boston]], and [[San Antonio]] in the United States and [[Melbourne]] in Australia. PAX was created by [[Jerry Holkins]] and [[Mike Krahulik]], the authors of the ''Penny Arcade'' webcomic, because they wanted to attend a show that gave equal attention to console gamers, computer gamers, and tabletop gamers.  

Created in 2004, PAX has been hailed as a weekend-long celebration of gamer culture. Defining characteristics include an insider keynote speech, game-inspired concerts, panels on game industry topics, exhibitor booths from independent and major game developers and publishers, after-hours parties, tournaments, and freeplay areas. Every PAX also features the [[Omegathon]], a weekend long tournament of randomly selected attendees competing for a grand prize. The final round makes up the show's closing ceremony; past games for the final round have included Tetris, Pong, Halo 3, and Skee ball.  

After many successful years of PAX, in 2010 the first [[PAX East]] was held in Boston, MA, with attendance levels that rivaled those of PAX 2009.  From then on, the Washington conventions were referred to as PAX Prime in order to avoid confusion between the two.

At PAX Prime 2012, two major changes to PAX were announced.  PAX Prime would be 4 days starting in 2013, and the first international PAX, [[PAX Aus]], would premiere in 2013.

At PAX East 2014, a 4th PAX, the 3rd in the USA, was announced. [[PAX South]] will debut in 2015.

Not long before PAX East 2016 badges went on sale, PAX Prime was quietly renamed to [[PAX West]], and will be PAX West starting in 2016.

At PAX South 2017, a 5th PAX, the 4th in the USA, was announced. Focusing on tabletop games, PAX Unplugged makes it's debut in late 2017.

At PAX West 2017, Gabe & Tycho announced that PAX East will turn into a 4-day event (previously 3). Unlike PAX West (which runs from Friday-Monday), it will run from Thursday-Sunday.

=== Dates ===

'''PAX Unplugged'''

November 17-18-19, 2017<br />

'''PAX South'''

January 12-13-14, 2018<br />
January 27-28-29, 2017<br />
January 29-30-31, 2016<br />
January 23-24-25, 2015<br />

'''PAX East'''

April 5-6-7-8, 2018<br />
March 10-11-12, 2017<br />
April 22-23-24, 2016<br />
March 6-7-8, 2015<br />
April 11-12-13, 2014<br />
March 22-23-24, 2013<br />
April 6-7-8, 2012<br />
March 11-12-13, 2011<br />
March 26-27-28, 2010<br />

'''PAX West'''

September 1-2-3-4, 2017<br />
September 2-3-4-5, 2016<br />
August 28-29-30-31, 2015<br />
August 29-30-31 & September 1, 2014<br />
August 30-31 & September 1-2, 2013<br />
August 31 & September 1-2, 2012<br />
August 26-27-28, 2011<br />
September 3-4-5, 2010<br />
September 4-5-6, 2009<br />
August 29-30-31, 2008<br />
August 24-25-26, 2007<br />
August 25-26-27, 2006<br />
August 26-27-28, 2005<br />
August 28-29, 2004<br />

'''PAX Aus'''

October 27-28-29, 2017<br />
November 4-5-6, 2016<br />
October 30-31 & November 1, 2015<br />
October 31 & November 1-2, 2014<br />
July 19-20-21, 2013<br />

'''PAX Dev'''

August 29-30, 2017<br />
August 31 & September 1, 2016<br />
August 26-27, 2015<br />
August 27-28, 2014<br />
August 28-29, 2013<br />
August 29-30, 2012<br />
August 24-25, 2011<br />

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