Melbourne chosen to host PAX game expo

Melbourne - Autralia, from 19-21 July, 2013

Victorian Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher today joined Penny Arcade President Robert Khoo to announce that Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) Australia will be held in Melbourne in 2013 and 2014.

Ms Asher said PAX is the world's premier games festival and the decision to choose Melbourne will be a fantastic opportunity to highlight Victoria's creative capabilities on a global scale.

"This is the first time the event has been held outside the United States and attracting PAX Australia to Melbourne was a major coup for Victoria," Ms Asher said. "It is a great opportunity to showcase games culture in Australia to the rest of the world, and the exposure around the region and the world that Melbourne's games industry will gain from the event, and the number of international and domestic visitors that will be drawn to Melbourne, cannot be underestimated."

Penny Arcade President Robert Khoo said the demands of the global community dictated the expansion to Australia. "When we reached out to our international fans, the response from the Australian community for a local PAX was overwhelming," Mr Khoo said.

"Melbourne has a long history of supporting the games scene, through showcasing cultural game exhibits to supporting world renowned game developers. Holding PAX Australia in Melbourne is the perfect fit for our show."

PAX is the largest consumer games event in North America, first held in Seattle in 2004 and nearly doubling in size each successive year and expanding to a second show in Boston in 2010. A festival celebrating games culture, it connects the world's leading game publishers with their most avid fans while providing an inclusive community environment.

PAX Australia will combine the exciting program from the international shows with local content and community events. International guests, speakers, musicians and developers will join local game industry representatives to showcase games and community events in Australia.

PAX Australia will be held at the Melbourne Showgrounds from 19-21 July, 2013 and will be run by ReedPOP in conjunction with Penny Arcade.

For further information visit www.paxaustralia.com.au or follow PAX Australia updates via official Twitter and Facebook.

PENNY ARCADE

Penny Arcade www.penny-arcade.com is a web comic focused on video games and video game culture, written by Jerry Holkins and illustrated by Mike Krahulik. With over 3.5 million readers, it is the most popular and longest running gaming web comic online. Penny Arcade is also responsible for the Child's Play Charity, the Penny Arcade gaming expos (PAX) in Seattle and Boston, multiple videogames based on the brand, and multiple online video series.

PAX

PAX or Penny Arcade Expo www.paxsite.com is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2012 selling out of tickets in a matter of days. Connecting the world's leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010 and is now the largest & second largest gaming show in the U.S.