For the first time in history, the Penny Arcade Convention has completely sold out. Before 2009, there have been tickets for sale at the door, but this time, many video game enthusiasts and geeks alike will be left out in the cold (and possibly rain) in Downtown Seattle.

Craigslist wanted ads for PAX ‘09 tickets have been popping up almost by the hour to try to snatch up leftover tickets from buyers that are unable to attend, or have extra tickets. One ad was entitled “Will trade first born for PAX ‘09 tickets!” while others are offering to pay any (monetary) price asked by a seller.

With this news, I can say without any argument, that the Penny Arcade Convention’s sellout is a glimpse of the bright future for the video game industry, gamers, and the convention itself. PAX began in ‘04 and oddly enough sold 1337 pre-order tickets, which should have given us some kind of idea of what we’re dealing with here in Seattle. Last year, PAX ‘08 sold over 50,000 tickets, and this year’s number has not yet been released but I would imagine it to be closer to 100,000.

Since the downfall of E3 to the real gamer community when it officially became closed to the public and was turned into a strict media event, PAX has become a diamond in the rough, and immensely valuable to the west coast (and international) gamer.

Good luck to those of you that have tickets, and for those of you that don’t… well, looks like you’re shit out ofluck. But either way, I will be there and will plan on documenting PAX ‘09 and posting about it here. And yes, I will be in full ninja garb once again.

The end has come to the most glorious time of the year for any gamer in the northwest, and possibly soon to be the United States – Penny Arcade Expo. This annual event, for those of you who are unfamiliar with it, is a convention and gathering of games and gamers alike to see new games, make connections with other gamers, and have a damn good time. Penny Arcade is an online comic strip that has become influential enough to create PAX. From console games, PC games, tabletop games, and handhelds… there is nothing leaving any gamer wanting more.

PAX 2008 had 60,000 attendees, which almost doubles last year’s visitors. It was felt as well. There is nothing like walking through the hallways at PAX in the Seattle Convention Center packed in with a bunch of smelly nerds. But then again, I will brave any horrid fumes for the sake of seeing and playing new video games… and not to mention the free shwag. In line to get in I talked to quite a few guys that were literally from all over the country – Maine, Utah, California, and a few from New York City. People are coming from far and wide to experience PAX, especially since the downfall of E3.

Along with the new game demos and previews, there are many panels to go to during the PAX. They range from instructionals for the average Joe who wants to make video games, female gamer panels, comic strip advice, and there was even one titled, “How to Get Your Girlfriend Into Gaming”. There is also a competition of gamer wit and skill called the Omegathon, in which the contestants (Omeganauts) compete in randomly selected games to win awesome prizes.

Oh and here’s pictures of me at Pax…

I am on the left, my pirate accomplice Megan is on the right.