PAX Australia - Melbourne - July 19th to 21st 2013

Thanks Bruce! for the comments.

RE: Hotels
LOL! Yeah that was kinda silly, since I get the same problem when people ask me about my local hotels here. Although I've started to see the insides of various local hotels alot more often due to unrelated circumstances.

Good to know that staying close to a direct tram station is a good plan. Switching trams may not be a good idea for a newcomer.

Laksa is good! I'm pretty sure we invented it (Please ignore the people from Penang Malaysia now throwing prawn stock at me).

I've been warned about the weather, looks like I'll need to get a better Jacket then the one I have now. It's barely able to handle computer datacenters that average around 16-20C.

I've actually watched quite abit of Aussie Footie. Won't say I understand all of it, but it's far more entertaining that Rugby that's for sure.

Falchion wrote:

Thanks Bruce! for the comments.

RE: Hotels
LOL! Yeah that was kinda silly, since I get the same problem when people ask me about my local hotels here. Although I've started to see the insides of various local hotels alot more often due to unrelated circumstances.

Good to know that staying close to a direct tram station is a good plan. Switching trams may not be a good idea for a newcomer.

Laksa is good! I'm pretty sure we invented it (Please ignore the people from Penang Malaysia now throwing prawn stock at me).

I've been warned about the weather, looks like I'll need to get a better Jacket then the one I have now. It's barely able to handle computer datacenters that average around 16-20C.

I've actually watched quite abit of Aussie Footie. Won't say I understand all of it, but it's far more entertaining that Rugby that's for sure.

Havent been in that hotel but it looks good - keep an eye out on http://www.wotif.com/ and http://www.lastminute.com.au/ closer to the date for prices (Pneuman and I have stayed at the Hilton South Wharf, Crown Towers, Park Hyatt, The Mint and the Atlantis in the last year if you want any info on those)

I'm sure we can do you better than laksa too Pneuman and I did take Nueans brother to an awesome pub for kangaroo There are a few interesting restaurants in Ascot Vale including a Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana certified pizza place near the showgrownds which is awesome!

Youll want a warm jacket for sure, it gets very windy in the city

Twitter update from PAX peoples

http://twitter.com/PAXAus/status/263...
TICKET UPDATE: Three Day passes to PAX Australia are now 90% sold out.

Falchion wrote:

I've been warned about the weather, looks like I'll need to get a better Jacket then the one I have now. It's barely able to handle computer datacenters that average around 16-20C.

Melbourne weather is notoriously changeable. Be prepared.

Maq wrote:
Falchion wrote:

I've been warned about the weather, looks like I'll need to get a better Jacket then the one I have now. It's barely able to handle computer datacenters that average around 16-20C.

Melbourne weather is notoriously changeable. Be prepared.

Best jacket I ever owned is a Scott eVest. But's it's almost 7 years old at this point and most likely will not be able to get the job done. The website has a new Fleece Jacket model that looks to be light, yet able to keep very warm and even has removable sleeves for variance in weather. Seems perfect for Melbourne. Pity it is a real hassle to order from them since they don't accept credit cards from or ship to Singapore.

3 day passes are sold out and my wife failed me when it came to purchasing. (Curse you anti CC theft systems for not allowing me to use my Aussie card from a Lao IP address!!!) Only got 2 day passes. Oh well.

Looking ahead to the football possibilities of that weekend. Round 17 (Jul 19-21) is a wasteland and the 2013 junk round with teams playing in stupid places away from the home of football. Our Melbourne options are:

Friday night at Docklands. North Melbourne vs Carlton.
Saturday afternoon at Docklands. St Kilda vs Port Adelaide.
Sunday afternoon at the MCG. Richmond vs Fremantle.
There is no Saturday night game in Melbourne that weekend.

The previous week has:
Collingwood v Adelaide at the MCG on Friday night.
Carlton v St Kilda at Docklands on Saturday night
Bulldogs v Essendon at Docklands on Sunday afternoon.

The following week has:
Essendon v Hawthorn at Docklands on Friday night.
Collingwood v Giants at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Melbourne v North Melbourne at Docklands on Saturday afternoon.
Bulldogs v West Coast at Docklands on Sunday afternoon.

If you are only here for the weekend in question I would probably recommend the Friday night North Melbourne v Carlton game.

Booked my hotel room yesterday, woots!
Did it through booking.com and not the online form from the Pax site as I'm coming in a day early and thus need an extra night. Wasn't much difference in cost.

Two down, Airline tickets are next.

Falchion wrote:

Booked my hotel room yesterday, woots!
Did it through booking.com and not the online form from the Pax site as I'm coming in a day early and thus need an extra night. Wasn't much difference in cost.

Two down, Airline tickets are next.

Saweeet!

What dates will you be around?

AP Erebus wrote:
Falchion wrote:

Booked my hotel room yesterday, woots!
Did it through booking.com and not the online form from the Pax site as I'm coming in a day early and thus need an extra night. Wasn't much difference in cost.

Two down, Airline tickets are next.

Saweeet!

What dates will you be around?

I'm coming in early on the 18th of July to settle down, catch back some sleep from the overnight flight, enjoy the city and some shopping for folks back home. Then 19th to 21st for PAXAus and flying out 22th just after lunchtime.

It comes down under and I will be out of the country *tear

Also
Nonsense, Melbourne weather doesn't change, its always the same: Winter overnight, Spring in the morning, Summer in the Afternoon and Autumn in the evening.
(If its a sunny day in the morning, don't believe it, you will need the umbrella)

I'll be present for all three days and super keen for some board gaming if any GWJers are up for it.

troubleshot wrote:

I'll be present for all three days and super keen for some board gaming if any GWJers are up for it.

I'm keen too. But I won't be bringing any of my own as I'm flying in from overseas.

Falchion wrote:
troubleshot wrote:

I'll be present for all three days and super keen for some board gaming if any GWJers are up for it.

I'm keen too. But I won't be bringing any of my own as I'm flying in from overseas.

I'll have a bunch to bring along

Just so you know, when you get to PAX there will be a lending library for boardgames in the Tabletop area to let you play. I don't know how much they'll have this first time through, but they should have the basics.

Am a little late off the mark, but I'm heading to PAX too ... figured it would be cool to meet up with some fellow GwJers!

Awesome. We should line up a GWJ meet up, maybe even some slap n tickle? My main focus will be the board gaming section, may hook up some pub games, and might bring along a few of my own boardgames that are quick to play...
Thanks for the heads up on the lendables Momgamer, hoping they have some good stuff.

troubleshot wrote:

Awesome. We should line up a GWJ meet up, maybe even some slap n tickle? My main focus will be the board gaming section, may hook up some pub games, and might bring along a few of my own boardgames that are quick to play...
Thanks for the heads up on the lendables Momgamer, hoping they have some good stuff.

Absolutely, I suspect a Saturday Night S&T will be on the cards, then adjournment for MOAR boardgames/drinking

Done and done.

Hear, hear!
I'm in.

Tourism Vic & PAX have released their first promo video. It's extremely well done imo.

Just to point out, the big flamethrowers at the end of that video, they've been digitised there, but Melbourne actually has those out front of the Crown Casino, they flare up every hour or so I think. Scared the crap out of me when I first visited and no one warned me.

Redwing wrote:

Just to point out, the big flamethrowers at the end of that video, they've been digitised there, but Melbourne actually has those out front of the Crown Casino, they flare up every hour or so I think. Scared the crap out of me when I first visited and no one warned me. :D

It's for burning the heathens...

So I'm putting in a call that we have a dinner meetup after one of the days at Laksa King (previously mentioned). Love that place and it's super close.
Anyone know decent bars near the showgrounds or should we be looking closer to the CBD for hotel convenience etc?
How many Melbourne local goodjers do we have attending btw?

Holy crap... I think I just spoke to Tycho on the phone...

Edit: Specifically regarding Omeganautdom... umm... squee?

Redwing wrote:

Holy crap... I think I just spoke to Tycho on the phone...

Edit: Specifically regarding Omeganautdom... umm... squee?

:O :O :O :O :O

SO JEALOUS!!

AP Erebus wrote:
Redwing wrote:

Holy crap... I think I just spoke to Tycho on the phone...

Edit: Specifically regarding Omeganautdom... umm... squee?

:O :O :O :O :O

SO JEALOUS!!

It's starting to sink in and I'm actually starting to freak out a bit. I'll get over it, but I suspect I have a weekend of much fun, excitement and sheer, face-melting terror ahead of me. Calling me an "Introvert" is like calling the sun "Kinda warm, a little on the large side".

Redwing wrote:
AP Erebus wrote:
Redwing wrote:

Holy crap... I think I just spoke to Tycho on the phone...

Edit: Specifically regarding Omeganautdom... umm... squee?

:O :O :O :O :O

SO JEALOUS!!

It's starting to sink in and I'm actually starting to freak out a bit. I'll get over it, but I suspect I have a weekend of much fun, excitement and sheer, face-melting terror ahead of me. Calling me an "Introvert" is like calling the sun "Kinda warm, a little on the large side".

Quality Australian understatement there.

I wonder what games they will be!

AP Erebus wrote:

I wonder what games they will be!

Not as much as I suddenly do.

Redwing! I shall be in your corner! You have my axe!...

...Unless I get the call too then "Mess with the best? Die like the rest!"

But seriously, thinking about the sheer magnitude of the Omegatron freaks me out too. Over the years they have included games from all niches including tabletop board games/card games, Mobile phone game Spaceteam and even Pong that one time.

I'm still getting over the fact that I got a phone call from Tycho... I mean that's like getting a phone call from Elton John or something, that's something that happens to other people.

Sorry if I'm hijacking this thread a bit, but I guess this is kind of a big deal! Have there been any GWJernauts before? I'm representing us all! I must do us proud!

Edit:

Falchion wrote:

...Unless I get the call too then "Mess with the best? Die like the rest!"

That'd be great actually, then I could have someone to freak out with.