While IDG World Expo will launch their first consumer video game show E For All Expo in Los Angeles in mid-October, they have already announced the dates for the planned 2008 edition of the show which is currently scheduled to be in LA on Aug 28-30, 2008. That happens to the the same traditional weekend as the Penny Arcade Expo which held its fifth event last month in Seattle with over 37,000 attendees (almost double their 2006 numbers and well over their predicted 2007 numbers of 30,000 attendees). So will the two expos clash in late August 2008? FiringSquad contacted Penny Arcade's head business person Robert Khoo to get his input:
FiringSquad: First, what was PAX's reaction with IDG officially announced E For All Expo's plans for their Oct 18-21 launch?
Robert Khoo: My first reaction was "that's... interesting?" Of all the times to plan a show, the middle of the school year doesn’t seem ideal. October historically just isn’t a good month for gaming shows.
FiringSquad: When you first learned that IDG had decided to hold their 2008 event on Aug 28-30, the same weekend as PAX is usually held, was was your reaction?
Robert Khoo: It was in early June that they announced their 2008 dates, so by that time we already realized PAX 2007 was going to be insane because of the prereg ticket sales. I actually gave (IDG World Expo CEO) Mary Dolaher a ring and told her that for the past four years PAX is on the last weekend of August. She actually had no idea who we were, but I told her that it would be in everyone's best interest if she reconsidered the date given our size. She said she would call me back "next week…" and that was 4 months ago, so I don't know- maybe she lost my phone number?
FiringSquad: IDG's CEO stated in an interview a couple of weeks ago that she planned to chat with PAX organizers within the next week to try to resolve the conflict with the 2008 dates. Has PAX organisers heard anything from her at all since that statement was made?
Robert Khoo: This is where I tell you she is a liar.
FiringSquad: An E For All Expo street team appeared during PAX 2007 to try to pass out info about the show. Did IDG tell you beforehand that they would do such a thing and how did you feel about a rival show trying to force their literature on PAX attendees?
Robert Khoo: IDG didn't let us know beforehand, which was great because it gave me the opportunity to kick them out of the show. After doing so I immediately called up Mary to let her know how I felt - I think the term I used was "low rent." I didn’t get a call back.
FiringSquad: Does PAX have any plans at all to change their 2008 dates to accommodate E For All Expo's announced date or are you prepared to deal with E For All and PAX sharing the same dates?
Robert Khoo: If we change our dates at all, it won't be because of this- it's always a challenge to wrestle and negotiate for as much space as possible at the convention center, and since we're expecting 45-50k next year, we take what we can get. :) Right now we are planning for that same weekend, but if for some reason even more space opens up two weeks before, we’ll take it.
But I'll be honest with you- since PAX started I've seen my fair share of consumer shows come and go (take IGNLive for instance). It's super hard to run one of these things, and I'd be surprised if E For All lasts longer than this year.
FiringSquad: Finally is there anything else you wish to say about PAX's opinion on E For All Expo?
Robert Khoo: I think the big difference is that Gabe and Tycho call the shots at PAX, whereas I get the feeling E For All is being run by a bunch of suits. We try to throw this super cool party each and every year that's focused around the culture and the community- E For All seems to be about some corporate agenda. But that's fine. We don't mind. :)
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