PAX East 2016 Brings Riot Back, Expands
For gamers (and in my opinion, for everyone) PAX East is probably the best con in the New England area. Not only does it bring out some amazing cosplayers and some of the latest products from and for the games industry, it also shows how much these two components are connected. I’ve been to PAX East twice before. My first time was in 2013 and then again the following year. I missed out on 2015 but this was easily the best PAX East experience I have had.
Many people I’ve talked to seem to agree with that statement, as the con definitely showed that it is one of the best. With three days filled with video games, cosplay and swag grabbing, PAX East has something for almost any con-goer. The games on the show floor this year were amazing, from Gears of War 4, to Overwatch, and even to Lawbreakers. What I enjoyed most however, was the atmosphere. Everywhere there were friendly staff, exhibitors, and even con-goers.
Possibly the best addition to PAX East this year was the return of Riot Games. As stated before, the connection between cosplay and this industry is strong, and maybe strongest when it comes to Riot, which went all out on things for League Of Legends fans. This included things such as the Cospitality Lounge which allowed cosplayers to and make repairs to their costumes, or just find a spot to relax without all the cameras and attention their costumes got on the show floor — something I hope all cons start doing.
For both cosplayers and non-cosplayers alike, the Rift Walk was a fun, unique experience that allowed fans to walk through an interactive recreation of game scenes. They could also pose with props made from the game, and even check out some amazing statues of characters from the game, such as the phenomenal Lucian The Purifier and Baron Nashor. What I really enjoyed was the League cosplay showcase which allowed cosplayers to show off their league costumes to the PAX East audience. This was a huge spectacle and I truly hope Riot comes back to PAX East next year with an even bigger presence and more for their fans.
Bringing Riot back and adding all the extra space it needed meant the show floor was expanded, pushing back to cover almost the entire show floor. This meant that the usually enormous tabletop space was compressed, and pushed back into the space that had been used for seating and food vendors. The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center added many food and drink vendor stations inside, and PAX East recruited many more food trucks outside, and I heard nobody complain about the change.
One thing relevant to add is the metal detectors added to security this year. When I heard there were going to be metal detectors I was worried, mainly because I was reminded of Anime Boston and how bad their metal detector system was. However PAX East security handled theirs very well, making entry quick and easy. At first, looking outside I would notice crowds of people to get in. but the wait wasn’t long. I had a few friends tell me it only was about a 5 to 10 minute wait to get in. Maybe it’s due to the number of detectors deployed or maybe they had a fluid system. But regardless, PAX East is a must go to for fans of cosplay, cons, and video games. It has something to offer for everyone. And if you are fortunate enough to score a ticket for the con you will be in for an amazing con experience at definitely one of the best cons the New England area has to offer.
