At PAX West 2021, indie developer Fred Wood found an unexpectedly positive side to a much smaller convention: fewer exhibitors made games easier to see, and his small team landed a prominent booth location while showing LOVE 3. That is one developer’s firsthand account, not a measure of how the event worked for every exhibitor or attendee.
What was different about PAX West 2021?
Held in Seattle during the COVID-19 pandemic, PAX West was dramatically scaled back. GeekWire’s Tim Ellis reported that major companies including Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, and Ubisoft were absent. Typical overseas indie developers had not made the trip, and Indie MEGABOOTH remained shut down. The article did not give an exhibitor total or quantify the drop from a typical year.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sea of Stars - Nintendo Switch | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Stray - Nintendo Switch | $28.49 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Indie Game Works: Inside the revolution that's transforming how we play | $37.33 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
My Arcade Atari Pocket Player-Console preloaded with 100 Games, 2.8" Screen | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
One Last Breath - Nintendo Switch | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Why did Fred Wood consider the show a success?
Attendees could spend more time with games
Wood, who traveled from San Antonio to demonstrate his upcoming game LOVE 3, said the smaller exhibitor presence made the games on the floor more visible. “The upshot of having fewer exhibitors at PAX West this year is that the attendees are hungry for games, and this year they’re able to actually see everything,” he said.
A prominent location for a small team
Wood also credited the reduced floor with helping his smaller team secure a high-profile spot. “It also meant that as a smaller developer we were able to get a premium location on the expo hall floor, right next to the skybridge and one of the main entrances.” The article reports his assessment; it does not independently measure booth traffic or visibility.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- A Turn-Based RPG Inspired by the Classics!
- Engaging Turn-Based Combat - Timed hits, combo attacks, boosting, damage types and spellbreaking.
- Unshackled Traversal - Swim, climb, vault, jump off or hoist up as you traverse the world seamlessly.
- A Story Rich Adventure - Dozens of characters and story arcs will take you on a captivating journey. A World You Can Touch - Need a change of pace? Go sailing, cooking, fishing or find a tavern to relax.
- The retail version includes: a double-sided poster with artwork by Bryce Kho.
What was it like from the developer’s perspective?
Wood had not attended a convention since PAX East in late February 2020, just before widespread pandemic shutdowns. After that long break from meeting players, he was eager to return, though he had few expectations for what the Seattle event would be like. “It was impossible to have any rational expectation for what PAX would be after a year and a half of a pandemic, so I’d say they were cautiously very low,” he told GeekWire.
His reaction also included the unease of traveling and being around a crowd. In a social post reproduced by GeekWire, Wood wrote: “I was really nervous to travel and be around so many people at #PAXWest, but now that it’s over (for me) I’m going to miss the energy of the crowd.” He added, “While it was small, this was one of my favorite PAX’s ever.”
Rank #2
- Stray is a single-player third-person cat adventure game set amidst the detailed, neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity
- Untangle an ancient mystery to escape a long-forgotten cybercity in Stray
- Physical edition comes with 6 Full-Color Art Cards
- Don't miss out on this one-of -a-kind third-person cat adventure game developed by BlueTwelve Studio for Nintendo Switch.
What this account does—and does not—show
Wood’s experience illustrates how a sparse expo hall could benefit one smaller developer: attendees seemed more receptive to the games present, and his team gained a prime location. It does not establish that PAX West 2021 was a success for indie developers overall. The report offers no attendance or exhibitor figures, no quantified comparison with earlier conventions, and no broader survey of developers or visitors.
As reported on September 7, 2021, Wood planned to return home, quarantine for a few weeks, work on his next game, and prepare for LOVE 3’s launch later that year. That was his plan at the time, not confirmation of the game’s eventual release schedule.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Silent narrative. Mind-solving puzzles.
- No text – No HUD. Only immersion.
- Nature as a game mechanic.
- Includes game manual.
- Languages: English, French, German, and Spanish.
Rank #4
- 🕹️Officially Licensed: Officially licensed Atari titles, ensuring an authentic gaming experience, includes bonus games.
- Portable Gameplay: Powered by 4 AA batteries (not included) or by a USB-C cable (not included). IMPORTANT NOTE: Please use standard non-rechargeable batteries.
- Collector's Item: A must-own for collectors and fans of video games, celebrating Atari's pioneering legacy spanning over 50 years.
- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm headphone jack lets you enjoy Atari on the go on your own privately. Built-in speaker with volume control and brightness adjustment
- 🎯 Iconic Titles: Relive iconic Atari classics like Pong, Yars Revenge, Breakout, Asteroids Centipede, Missile Command, and many more with 100 games in one compact unit.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
