by Joe Louie
Contributing Writer

This year’s Penny Arcade Expo, as predicted in the summer issue of the Ebbtide, was huge. The three-day event started off with a keynote address by Wil Wheaton from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” that was both engaging and well spoken. It spoke to gamers, families and politicians, while being witty and endearing.

Over the course of the weekend, a five-round tournament known as “the Omegathon” was held. The Omeganauts, a group of 20 contestants, were chosen at random from a list of pre-registered attendees. They battled against each other for the grand prize: a trip to Japan for the Tokyo Game Show and $5,000 cash (previous years prizes included every 8-bit Nintendo game and peripherals, and fully decked out gaming cars). This year’s games included “Jenga,” “Calling All Cars,” “Quake III,” “Karaoke Revolution” and “Puzzle Quest.” The final round of the Omegathon each year is kept a secret until the round actually starts, and in the past has been blasts from the past with “Pong,” “Tetris,” and “Tanks.” However, in a shocker that we haven’t seen since “Super Mario Bros. 3” was shown in the Wizard, the final round of the ‘07 Omegathon included the unreleased “Halo 3.”

Despite the efforts of Penny Arcade to not be another Electronics Entertainment Expo, the sheer size of the exhibition hall denies this notion. Game developers such as Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft and ArenaNet showed what they had coming down the road with plenty of demos and swag. Other companies brought plenty of merchandise to take your well-earned summer job money and school-detailed curriculums to get you into the video game industry. Little known fact, Shoreline CC has a game development class, you just have to look hard to find it. With over 64,000 square feet and 87 exhibitors, it’s paying decent homage to the fallen gathering. Inside sources have told us that next year will probably be bigger, utilizing all of the floors of the convention center.

Graphically, the game is superb. Crisp sharp figures and detailed backgrounds contribute to a very visually immersive experience. Be careful when playing this on a non-HD TV. Some of the text and minute details will blend in with the background, especially on the desert levels. The physics engine makes much of the objects around you interactive, and the general feel while you’re playing is very real. A great deal of attention to detail has gone into the game.

Penny Arcade is just part of a growing trend in Seattle subcultures, gaining notoriety as well as a louder voice, with other conventions such as SakuraCon, Northwest Con and Emerald City Comic Con. Enjoy what the city has to offer and don’t worry about what others think.