Wow.

PAX has definately outgrown the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue. Even moving table top gaming to a hotel has still left the need for more space. However, that isn't the purpose of this post.

I arrived at PAX around 2:30 or so, and the first thing I noticed, that I had to see was the Neverwinter Nights 2 Developer Demo. (Showing between 3 and 4, before the keynote). I was able to get in, and I must say; Wow! I was very impressed with how much more immersive the game looks. I hope to have a chance to chat with the developers later today (Saturday) and perhaps give it a try. I'm not sure, at the moment, what platforms it will be available for beyond windows, but regardless, it's still beautiful. NWN 1, as I'm sure most of you know, was developed by the Canadian developer, Bioware (makers of Kotor 1, Baldur's Gate: Icewind Dale, etc). NWN 2, however, is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment. They have kept what was great about the first, and made it even better. No more radial menu. Fully modular toolkit for building levels (and creating 400 foot gnomes).

Now, seeing NWN2 was awesome. But it gets better. Around 8:30 or 9:00, I was heading out to get in line for the concert (starring the Video Game Pianist, Optimus Rhyme, and the NESkimos) and passed what looked to be Sam and Max on a laptop. I stopped and looked closer, and, indeed, it was someone from Tell Tale Games demoing Sam and Max: Episode One for a couple press guys. I stayed and watched, and I was hyped before, I can't wait now.

Sam and Max was an awesome game. Witty, adult humor, and a fun story line. Episode One, really does capture what Sam and Max is all about, the comedy. The game looks absolutely beautiful, and well done. Great game play that looks similar to the way classic LucasArts adventure games were played (like Sam and Max, and Day of the Tentacle), and Tell Tale's new stuff like Bone (which, by the way, is also an awesome little game). For Sam and Max, we get Episode One in October, nothing in November, and then one a month for December, January, February, March and April, for a total of six episodes for season one. Initially, it'll be available via GameTap only, but will be available later through more traditional channels and through Tell Tale themselves.

And one last thing, before I got get a couple hours of sleep. I left the concert early (cause I'm damn tired right now), and on the way out, the Video Game Pianist (I apologize for not knowing, or researching his real name, I'll do that later) came up and started chatting. Simply amazing. Cool guy.

I feel so lucky, it's been one hell of a day. Day two has a lot to live up to now...

--nullpuppy(out)