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| Everything the modern gamer needs. |
In “Harry Harrison’s Final Message,” I mentioned how the
World Science Fiction Convention and Dragoncon were held on the same
weekend. I rued that such head-to-head
scheduling prevented some fans from attending both. In researching that post, I discovered that
another convention also occurred on Labor Day.
PAX Prime, which stands for Penny Arcade Expo, is a gaming convention
held each year. Its 2011 event attracted in excess of 70,000 attendees, making it
the largest of all three conventions.
Once I discovered that it was a gaming convention though, I lost
interest. After all, people who attended
conventions to play games weren’t interested in real Science Fiction and
Fantasy, were they? But watching so many
people playing at Stan Lee’s Comikaze, and learning about the time and
love that some lavish on their games, whether collecting their card sets or
painting their figurines, I realized that this was another way people interacted with the Fiction they love. While I’ve heard of conventions devoted entirely to gaming, they didn’t intersect with my interests of discussing literature and media
Fiction, and thus failed to rouse my interest. Now I cannot help but be impressed by how PAX has grown over the years, held three events this year in the United States, and has one planned for Australia next year.
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| Tables designed for gamers of all shapes and sizes. |
Perhaps the most surprising discovery of Stan Lee’s
Comikaze, and the vendor whose work impressed me most, was a company called
Geek Chic. As readers of my blog know,
I’ve pursued woodworking in the past, and would like to do so again. I can appreciate all the work and attention
to detail that go into crafting fine furniture.
Geek Chic’s selection of tables blew me away. I couldn’t believe how they had tailored
specific models of tables to enhance the gaming experience. Through their innovative rail system, and
with the pull out drawers, as well as their other accessories, I could see how
they make hours centered on one’s favorite activity even more enjoyable. Whether it concerned where one would roll
one’s dice, to where to place one’s wine glass, the numerous ways the company
can accessorize each table simply blew me away.
I especially liked the diagonal supports for manuals and game cards,
which reduced eye-strain and prevented others from reading player-specific
information.
Far from being a guilty pleasure, or something one does when
it can be crammed into an otherwise busy life, such tables elevate the status
of such interactive storytelling, and serve as another example of how much
value we place upon Fiction in our lives.
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| As their website claims, the Sultan is grand. |
Interestingly, the firm that makes these specialized game
tables, Geek Chic, operates out of Seattle Washington, where PAX Prime takes
place each Labor Day.
Due to the author's time constraints, this blog will conclude
tomorrow. Your indulgence is craved.
Dragon Dave
Related Dragon Cache entries
Related Internet Links
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