August 30, 2024 marks day one of PAX West in Seattle, Washington. Media gather for badge pick up at 8 a.m. with Media Hour at 9 a.m. David, Stephanie, Corey, Ed, and Pat from the Boss Rush Network begin their journey covering various indie games and merchandise.

Stephanie: Copy Editor, Co-Host of Boss Rush Podcast

Day one of PAX West kicked off strong. With minimal appointments and a clear focus, I began the day with Nintendo. I’m sure my other colleagues will mention this as well, but the The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom was the most memorable game of the day–and possibly for the rest of the trip.

However, this was also a day about people. I reunited with a bunch of media colleagues and friends in the video game industry. While walking the Expo Hall, I spoke with the lovely team at Toge, Z at Serenity Forge, Kimchica, and many more. It was wonderful catching up with them and getting to know future plans and projects.

Lastly, I took part in a little panel called…Video Game Trivia. I got to compete–and laugh–with some of the best. I want to shout out Jacob McCourt for allowing me to be part of this epic memory!

David: Editor In Chief

One thing I love about PAX is that I get to wander the show floor between appointments and scout out indie games and indie developers that might be flying under the radar. Today, I stopped by and chatted with the Seattle-area developers for the artsy indie game War of the Western Deep. The game has been in development for nearly four years and is a dream realized for the art meets game design dream team. The story and art are taken directly from the graphic novel series of the same name.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to step off the beaten path and talk about the state of game design, the possibilities of video games as high art, and the challenges of finding a publisher. These conversations make me proud of our industry and proud of the art we create and the stories we tell.

Pat: Chief Games Officer

I let my “Wild”-side out today by trying out the Monster Hunter Wilds demo. The game is absolutely incredible! I plan on writing my impressions of the game, but my laptop might have finally died. RIP. Thanks, Stephanie, for letting me use yours!

Another fun game I got to try out was a small game that’s currently available on Apple Arcade and soon to be released on PC, What the Car? It a racing game that is not a real racing game. You play mini missions as a car that has legs. If you played What the Golf?, then you don’t want to miss out on this one!

It was fun to see old friends again. It’s one thing to interact with them on Twitter, but it really is special to see them in person.

Ed: VP, Co-Host of Nintendo Pow Block Podcast

PAX West 2024 Day 1 was a welcoming experience for me. I got to play my first geolaction RPG with NantGames’ MythWalker. I got to learn some in interesting facts about German culture used in Pioneers Of Pagonia.

I also had my first, “Oh, this is questionable content” with a title that is out now but doesn’t quite speak ‘Ratchet and Clank”. Other than that, it was very calm and friendly with the crowd and the devs at the booths.

Corey: CEO, Co-Host of Boss Rush Podcast

Day One at PAX West was one of the weirdest days in the best way possible. Our day began with David, Stephanie, Ed, and I sprinting to the Nintendo booth to play The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. I couldn’t believe how much fun it was and how well they translated the “solve the puzzle your way” feel from the recent 3D games. It actually felt better in the 2D space in my opinion, at least in this opening area. 

After Zelda, we engaged in a friendly Mario Party Jamboree battle, switching controllers and enjoying the newly added mini-games in the challenges presented. My favorite was the competitive bridge building game, choosing the right pieces to make it across. 

Though I checked out various games around PAX like Marvel vs. Capcom, Infinity Nikki, and a select few others, the main goal of my day was to connect with new and familiar faces, and to find out more about them. Today did not disappoint. 

Doing this for as long as I have, it’s always energizing when you talk with people who have the same aspirations and goals, have that mindset of getting stuff done, and have the drive to make it happen. I always have a great time with fellow creators, including Roger Reichardt from Gamerheads and his newly added team member Trina; Baron and the team at LV1 Gaming; Adam Gumbert from Respawn, Aim, Fire; and Jacob McCourt from Crossplay Conversations. I also loved seeing Matt Storm and Geoff Moonen from “Fun” and Games; Asa GreenRiver; Cam Hawkins; and Jess Rappaport from Zelda Universe. 

One of the best things, however, is meeting the people who you don’t know, and this year was no exception. I met the team from Rusty Rupees today and had a great discussion about growing and what they’re all about. I can’t wait to work more with them in the near future.

I met some of the most recognizable people in the content space today in a way I never expected. I ran into Alex Van Aken who is spinning up his own Patreon for Viewport Video and talked about his new venture after the sudden closure of Game Informer. I met Kit and Krista, former Nintendo employees and hosts of Nintendo Minute, currently hosting their own content. I made it a point to see the people we’ve come to know and love as well, like Toge Productions, Scalisco, and others. Building those relationships with these teams is important to us, and hopefully we all can continue to build on them thanks to the work of David, Stephanie, and the others who work incredibly hard on the content for our website. 

I have to say the highlight of the day was finally meeting the person who inspired me to do something creative in this space, not just wishing or wanting to. I met Greg Miller of Kinda Funny and meeting him was one of the most surreal experiences. When he left IGN with Colin, Nick, Tim, and Kevin to do Kinda Funny full time, it inspired a lot of people to try content creation and pioneered what Patreon is today. And he didn’t have to say anything to me. He was with his child, and I tried to make it a quick hello and debated if I should say anything at all, but he still stopped me from leaving, shook my hand, and talked to me for a good five minutes. It was the first time in a long time I was nervous to talk to someone, and the words matched the nerves. I’ve had a lot of memorable interactions, including many this year at PAX East, but this hit differently. Though Boss Rush is my third attempt at this, the fact that I met the person who inspired me to finally do something in this space was moving. 

The night ended with the Trivia Panel where Stephanie teamed up with Asa GreenRiver and a lot of our other creator friends, making it a perfect way to end the day. I’m ready for Day Two! 

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Have you been to PAX West? Share your highlights from this year or years past in the comments below! You can also join in the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Twitter, and Facebook.

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