Popular Internet comic Penny Arcade announced today that the fifth Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) will be held August 29-31, 2008.

The 2007 expo brought in 37,000 gamers at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle, and outpaced any other event of its kind.

PAX is a three-day “celebration of games and gamer culture,” the company said.

The festival includes an exhibition floor filled with playable builds of upcoming tabletop, console, and computer games; a conference program of game-industry speakers on gaming topics; music concerts; freeplay areas; industry parties; game tournaments and more. Since its inception in 2004 the show has doubled in size each year, with 4,500 attendees in 2004, 9,500 in 2005, 19,300 in 2006, and 37,000 in 2007.

Last year’s keynote speaker, Wil Wheaton attacked video game stereotypes and questioned opinions that gaming was related to antisocial behavior. PAX is consistently filled with the notion that gaming is a social interaction. Last year, groups competed face-to-face, and played new games like Rock Band and SingStar

“PAX has always been about community,” said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade, “and I think that was really reflected in the overall vibe of the show. PAX celebrates what it means to be a gamer, and walking onto the show floor gives you this sense of kinship … it just feels right.”

Exhibitor packets are available now, and attendee registration starts in January, according to Michael Meyers PR.

About The Author

John Guilfoil is the editor-in-chief of Blast: Boston's Online Magazine and the Blast Magazine Network. He can be reached at [email protected]. Tweet @johnguilfoil.

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