Okay, so I originally planned this whole thing out in my head to play like a slide show with some cheesy music like "Good Riddance (Time of your Life)" by Greenday, but then I realized that would be horrible, and so I'm just going to write up my feelings and impressions on (hopefully) everyone I met at PAX. I know the site has been bombarded by our PAX ramblings as of late, but maybe this will give all of you a little bit of insight on not just the insanity that occurred over the near-week that many of us spent in Seattle, but also a little bit of humanity behind all those screen names you may or may not see on a regular basis.

Dtoid Staff:

Niero: I didn't get enough chances to really talk with you, but a few handshakes and hugs was good enough. I really hoped that I conveyed how amazing it is that you've been able to bring this many people together under a common flag of loving videogames and knowing how to have fun, with style. Thanks for letting me see what it's like from the perspective of Mr. Destructoid's metal visage. You're so cool that you can wear sandals in the snow. Waiting outside with us at Gameworks really shows how much you care about your readership.

Colette: Even more cooler in person than you are on all the podcasts. You really showed how generous and thoughtful you are in regards to those of us that read Dtoid with a fervent passion. Thanks for trying to get us into Gameworks on Saturday a bit early, even if it didn't pan out. I hope your pillow-dog survived Ted's rape trap.

Nex: Had a great time on Sunday at the Econolodge talking with you. Good to see you open up a bit and mix with us lowly commonfolk ;). Keep up the great work on Podtoid and 3AM editorials. I understand you have a good hookup on top-loading NES consoles...

Orcist: You suck at Tekken 5. Just kidding, you gave me a run for my money and likely the closest matches I've experienced the entire time I was playing that damn game. Had good times on Sunday as well. Remember, there's no such thing as bad publicity.

CTZ: Sorry you couldn't sleep in my room, hope you understand. Get a fucking mic already when you get into stickam. You've been gifted with the facial expressions of Marcel Marceau, use them to your advantage. Cereally though, you were a ton of fun to hang out with the entire time, even if we had to scramble to edit some naughty bits out of Cblogs at 2AM. BATMENG!

Furniss: Didn't get to chat with you, but you have impeccable taste in velvet blazers.

Dale North: Didn't talk to you much, but your band kicks ass, and you're still the number one contender for the title of best Asian Brian McKnight.

.tiff: We never got the chance to sell your bottled cuteness behind any dumpsters, but you're still one of the sweetest people I've ever met. Epic times were had on Saturday, but I only wish you could have stuck around on Sunday with us all at the Econolodge. It was definitely 'Ontinental. It truley was a pleasure to finally meet you without a pillow on your head. Thanks for all the hugs and interesting pictures with Mandi. Oh yeah, awesome pics taken all around, but thanks especially for the candids shot of Mandi and me in the lobby... so cute!

Dyson: You truly are my brother from a different mother. The lengths that you went to to even show up for one day was truly amazing. Thanks so much for all the school girl giddyness after you got your gift. I can't think of anyone more deserving. Pink Godzilla was full of win and awesome, as was Saturday night. I'm sorry you're a Scorpio, us Libra's can only do so much to help out those of you with birthdays in the latter half of October. Mandi pointed out that we even have similar watches. Springing epic rape traps bred hilarity, as did our chest "hair-off" pictures. My most sincere thanks for letting me be on the podcast. Hopefully Skype will stop sucking ass for me and I'll be able to give the bucket back to Topher. I'll need to put you on speed dial from now on whenever I venture out to pawn shops, rummage sales, thrift stores, and retro gaming places. I hope you find a cure for your yellow fever that isn't just more cowbell.

Tristero: Congrats!!!! I can't think of anyone more deserving of an official editor's position with Dtoid. Not only are you one of the kindest people I've ever met, you completely offset that with one of the most hilarious hobbies I've ever seen. I had great times from the moment my plane touched the tarmack in Seattle. Thanks for staying with us on Sunday and I hope to see more pictures of you and your hobby really soon, and never lose that blanket, Linus.

Topher: SLURPEE!!!! For reals though, you are the coolest motherfucker I know over 6'. So glad to finally meet you face to face and not just through stickam or gtalk. You should own stock in Guiness if they're publicly traded in the states. Great times had sitting next to each other on the vintage arcade cabs, even if the controls were ass. You were the member of Econocrew that just happened to only stay there one day. Thanks for helping get me on the podcast and throwing me a few bones when I couldn't get a word in edgewise. The conversations we had at PAX only solidified how fucking truly cool you are from previous conversations on the innernets. You are a gentleman and a game/art scholar, even without any official papers. Thanks for covering for me and Mandi when we bounced out on Sunday. I knew if anyone would understand, it'd be you. Now that I'm back home, you'll have to pour out a little bit of Full Throttle Slurpee for me whenever you get the opportunity.

Chad & Rev: I wish you both could have made it to PAX. Thanks for putting up with me on the podcast Sunday night. Chad, I only hope I did you justice with all the "Chad Faces" I made in all the pictures taken. It was a pleasure talking with you both before, during, and after the show. Thanks.

Ron: It really sucked that you weren't there to partake in all the fun and debauchery we had. In the end, real life does indeed trump things of this nature. I only hope that all is well and as back to normal as things can be in your life. The letter that Niero read to us all was both poignant and hilarious at the same time. Thank you so much for helping form this incredible community of people. I look forward to seeing you at the anniversary party, whether it be in Miami or Los Angeles.


Sheraton Crew:

Mac, Dopefish, and "Mike": You guys give me faith that Canada is actually a cool place to live, other than that creepy bagged milk thing. Hope you guys keep Mac in line when he drinks too much. Glad you guys made it down for PAX.

Lark & Sarah: You make better videos than Puppet. Didn't really get a chance to talk to either of you that much, and for that, I apologize. I did remember the ibuprofen though, so bonus points to me there. Hope you both made it home safely. Lark, don't try to steal my prizes :P.

Uber: You should be studied by scientists on the effects of caffeine on the human body. Good to finally see you in person and not just on stickam... all the time! Hope you liked your Jolt drank that I flew from half way across the country.

Puppet: You're only a dick on the internet. Didn't get to really hang out or talk much, but I think Lauren is a pretty lucky girl, even if she does want to hump everything that's put in front of her. I guess that makes you the lucky one, right?

Lauren: So fucking epic to finally meet you. You've got enough energy to power a small country on a daily basis. Thanks for all teh secks and hugs. I hope you got enough time with your man to break him in proper. I never got to see your "swimming costume", only your panties. You need to record yourself saying "water" and "aluminum" for all of us yanks that were at PAX. It was heartbreaking and sweet to see you cry when we all left. Hopefully you'll be back in America soon.

Ted: I can't believe that more people on this earth actually call you by that name instead of your real name. Thanks for getting me on Treasurebox, even if I did suck ass. Regardless, the prizes are going back to the community, so that accounts for something, right? There are few people in this world that can pull off an afro, plaid shorts, slip on boat shoes, and a blazer. You're one of those few. You were so damn funny the entire time, thanks for all the laughs. Also, thanks to you, most of us now have a new catchphrase: "It's that same nigguh mang!"

Charlie: I fucking hate you! Just kidding. Thanks for the Goomba (and thanks to Blank, too) and all the good conversation. You are a honorary member of the Econocrew. Glad you had a good time with us on Sunday. Thanks for being there for Mandi when I was on the plane. You truly are a stand-up guy, and all the work you put into taking all those pictures just proves that. I can't believe you took over a thousand of them. I'll wear my sexy red turtleneck for you any time.

Honorable Mentions:

King, Toneman, Dex, Mole, and other PAX attendees: I know I didn't get a chance to talk with you that much, but thanks so much for coming out and helping represent the best damn video game community on the planet. I hope you all had as much fun as I did.

Flynn: Thanks for knowing what the fuck Gama-Go is.

Summa: Thanks for making the Gametrailers Party at the War Room uncomfortable.

ECONOCREW!!!!:

Phist: I'm sorry that the airlines hate your wide-screen vision ass. Glad you finally made it in when you did. PAX wouldn't have been the same without you. Your generosity with gifts and such was simply outstanding. Sorry you encountered so many problems while you were there. I think karma will find its way back to you in spades very shortly, however. Thanks for teaching us all how to play real life Frogger when it came to crossing all those streets. We'll have to eat Bahn Mi again very soon. You did a great job looking out for all of us and keeping us organized when chaos seemed to be the controlling factor in most of our larger gatherings. Good on ya, kid. My Mario plush now sits comfortably between my Big Daddy and Orange Castle Crasher figure atop my TV.

AngelsDontBurn: MY POCKET SPANIARD!!! I can't believe all the crazy shit we went through from booking the hotels to checking out the rooms. You kept me laughing nearly the entire time we were there. I knew if I had to get ahold of anyone the entire time I was there, you were ready to bring out the epic phone from its holster. Thanks so much for the gift, it really meant a lot. Even if you are violent with your buttsecks, and I really wish we would have spooned, you're one of the nicest and most generous people I think I've ever met in my entire life. It was great when we were all delirious from the flight in and none of us were making sense, just waiting for Phist to finally get in from the airport. You can do your crazy burps whenever you like. Next time you ever feel like visiting Kansas, I'll send a mutant seagull your way. Thanks again, Miguel, you really are an awesome friend.

Mid3vol: I know that Puppet and Lauren were supposed to be the "it" internet couple of the event, but I know we gave them a run for their money. From the moment you surprised me at the airport when I arrived, to the moment you cried when I was leaving that Sunday morning, and the subsequent painful departure of watching you walk away as I waiting in line at the security gates, you really showed me a time I haven't experienced in far too long. I'm a changed person for having met you and I only hope the small bits of generosity I could contribute to your life during our time spent together can measure up in the least bit to how you made me feel when I was around you. Thank you, Mandi. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. PAX was merely a means to getting to see all of these wonderful people, and you walked away with my affection. I love you baby, and I hope to see you in Kansas very soon.


Finally, to everyone that couldn't make this year's event: Plan ahead for the next big Dtoid gathering. Save money, work hard, and save those vacation days. I can promise you, you won't be disappointed.

Fuck, long post is long.