Since then, it has become a staple of the gaming community, attracting thousands of attendees and showcasing the latest in gaming technology, entertainment, and culture. PAX has evolved significantly over the years, adapting to the changing landscape of the gaming industry. It has expanded its reach beyond the Pacific Northwest, hosting events in major cities across the United States and internationally.
“It started as two people just handing out cookies to people in line, just as a community thing for fun,” said Hayden Kane, the social media manager for Cookie Brigade. “People kept wanting to give them money for the cookies, and they said, ‘No, we’re not selling them. We’re just giving them out for the community.’ And then they eventually decided to start collecting money for charity. And then eventually that zip bag turned into a Tupperware, and then two Tupperwares, and then a backpack, and then a wagon. And now we have a full size booth on the show floor.”
PAX West is a major gaming convention held annually in Seattle, Washington. The organization’s mission is to provide free, high-quality cookies to children in need. They achieve this through a network of volunteers and a robust online platform.
This student’s struggle, coupled with his own experiences in Japan, led him to create a game that would make learning Japanese fun and engaging. Hamaker’s game, “Learn Japanese with Anime,” is designed to be a fun and engaging way to learn the Japanese language. It utilizes the popularity of anime to make learning more accessible and enjoyable.
A Corgi’s Cozy Hike Created by the Seattle-based Daniel Scalise of Scalisco, in collaboration with Johnson Do, “A Corgi’s Cozy Hike” is a special “therapeutic adventure” game where you play as a corgi exploring an island, while raising money for local animal shelters. “I used to work at Amazon as a developer, and then I quit my job because I just wanted to do something more fulfilling. And so I saw how dog shelters needed so much help and I just thought, ‘What if I put my skills to good use?’ And so I said, ‘What if we make games that donate to animal shelters?’,” said Scalise. “For this game in particular, I did a short hike and thought, maybe we could try to make something like that, and cross it with “Banjo-Kazooie” or “Spyro”, and that’s kind of what this has turned into.”
Scalise has been a vocal advocate for animal welfare, and his passion for dogs is evident in his work. He has also been involved in various animal-related initiatives, including volunteering at a local animal shelter and participating in dog adoption events. Scalise’s commitment to animal welfare extends beyond his games and initiatives.
Johnson Do and Daniel Scalise of Scalisco created “A Corgi’s Cozy Hike” which is available on Steam. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing. Cookie Brigade has been a staple of PAX since 2007. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing. Among Us is one of the most popular games of the last few years. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing. Tabletop game play is a major highlight of PAX West. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing. PAX guests play “Sonic Roll”. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.