This guide is based largely on various pages and sections from the GameX website. Much of the text remains the same as the source pages. Commentary has also been added in some areas. The information has been collected, compacted, summarized, and organized into a short guide on everything you need to know for a pure gaming experience at GameX. For the purposes of this guide, we are skipping over many of the less-relevant things at GameX; the RoboShow, the steampunk fair, the animation festival, etc. For a more generalized show guide, visit the GameX Exhibitors Overview.
New Games
With stunning graphics and unparalleled action, EA is breaking barriers with Dante’s Inferno, pushing the envelope of traditional action game art, design and themes. Dante’s Inferno will be released in 2010 on the PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Portable. Game consumers at GameX will have the chance to play the game hands-on for the PS3.
SEGA will feature their new title, BAYONETTA ™ at GameX, recently debuted to rave reviews at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). BAYONETTA pushes the limits of the action genre, bringing to life its fast-paced, dynamic climax combat. Game consumers will have the chance to play the action game at GameX before the game’s release.
Players can experience the glory of Realm vs. Realm™ at GameX! Online game player can declare their allegiance and join thousands of mighty heroes on the battlefields of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, the MMORPG from Mythic Entertainment, the creators of Dark Age of Camelot™. Enter a grim fantasy world of perpetual conflict to fight for the Realms of Order or Destruction.
Wii and DS fans will get to try out the latest casual fare from Ubisoft, including Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage on the Wii, and Imagine Fashion World Tour, Imagine Babyz Fashion, Petz Nursery, Petz Dolphinz Encounter, Style Lab Makeover and Style Lab Jewelry Design for DS.
Hi-Rez Studios introduces Global Agenda
Hi-Rez Studios will present their new online title, Global Agenda, currently on tour and recently on exhibit at top consumer shows such as PAX and QuakeCon. Global Agenda is a fast-paced action MMO using Unreal Engine 3 and set in Earth’s near future, a spy-fi world of advanced technology and player-driven conflict. The players control the world of Global Agenda, forging alliances with their peers and executing lightning strikes against their enemies.
Spark Plug Games presents Storm
Spark Plug Games and 2BeeGames will be showing early previews of their Storm console product. Spark Plug Games is a leading independent games developer licensed for Sony PlayStation®3, Nintendo Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Sony PlayStation®Portable, Microsoft Xbox 360® and Apple iPhone™ platforms.
Game Tournaments
For a full description of the tournaments and prizes, go to the game tournaments page on the GameX website.
Alienware Arena ™ – The Gauntlet
Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm — Survive to the end for your chance to win kickass prizes courtesy of Alienware®. All players that advance to the third phase will receive an official Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising t-shirt. The Champion player of each run of THE GAUNTLET (3 total winners) will win $250 cash plus a retail copy of the new game Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, courtesy of Codemasters. Players will simply walk-up and register an Alienware Arena account to play during the time leading up to each session of The Gauntlet. Pre-registration will not be required. Each game challenge will have a session/match run-time of approximately 10-20 minutes, with the opening phase taking up to 45 minutes. Gamers will be assigned to teams when applicable. Here is a list of the games for each phase of the tournament:
- Counter-Strike: Source
- Team Fortress 2
- Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Unreal Tournament 3
View the full schedule for more details including the rules, levels, and conditions for each of the five tournament phases.
GameX Rock Band 2 Tournament
The GameX Rock Band 2 Tournament is free to enter and is open to any registered attendee of GameX. Registration for GameX Rock Band 2 Tournament available on-site at our Main Stage. It is recommended that you register as early as possible in the day, as competition slots will fill up quickly. Competing Bands, and each contestant of each Band, will each compete in a final round in this tournament. A contestant must register as part of a single band and have a specific role in such band. Roles consist of Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, and Vocals. A Band consists of four (4) individual contestants assigned to each role. A list of the prizes can be found on the GameX website.
King of the Fighters Tournament
Friday – Sunday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm — GameX is proud to welcome theGXL as their principal tournament partner. theGXL is running all GameX console and PC tournaments. theGXL are providing high quality console systems covering from PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and retro gaming systems with high end network systems and highly experienced tournament staff.
Game Music Performances by MAGFest
For pictures and extended descriptions of the bands, visit the Full list of bands on the GameX website.
The OneUps
Friday & Saturday, 6:30 pm — The OneUps is a band that covers video game music, ranging from The Legend of Zelda to Super Metroid; from Sonic the Hedgehog to God of War. The group has been featured at numerous conventions including MAGFest, the Penny Arcade Expo and performing at the Microsoft headquarters. Come see The OneUps for a auditory and visual experience unlike any other!
Felix Down
Friday, 7:45 pm — Fenix Down abashedly embrace their inner gamer, a fact that has won them the respect of geeks the world over. That’s not to say that their music appeals only to the gamer crowd, however. It’s a sound that treads a middle path between pop-punk and the rock half of Linkin Park, and it’s being embraced as an alternative to indie rock. Fenix Down’s website comes with the band’s official webcomic, a cookie-cutter RPG affair in which the band members each play the part of a character. The music provides something of a soundtrack for the comics, with lyrics often correlating to issues of the comic.
JJ Demon
Saturday, 7:45 pm — JJ Demon is a ghost. He is an artist that is not afraid to let you see him as a transparency. His songs, while catchy and energetic, show us a vulnerability that has been lost in modern music. Honesty is everything to him. His past reads like a pamphlet on troubled youth; riddled with addiction, violence, crime, death, and time spent in prison. Since his April 2009 release from prison, JJ has inked a record deal with Revel Music Group, and has began working on his album with 9 time Grammy-winning producer Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo, President of Revel Music Group and founder of the legendary Ruffhouse Records. JJ’s journey is being filmed for a forthcoming reality show.
Foster Child
Sunday, 6:30 pm — Fosterchild’s sound and style are reminiscent of a time when rock n’ roll still had swagger and music still served as the Saturday night hymnal to its fans. A throwback, if you will, Fosterchild prides itself on respecting the past in order to find it’s future. Launched by former Fuel drummer Kevin Miller and former Octane guitarist Brian Quinn, the band is rounded out by Danny Beissel on vocals and Erik Leonhardt on bass. The name alone should give you a clue there is nothing formulaic about this group.
Rare Candy
Friday & Saturday, 6:30 pm — Rare Candy is a video game cover band based in Baltimore. They have played MAGFest, Otakon and 64-bit Gen, as well as many local venues. Crowd favorites include “Dark World” from The Legend of Zelda, and “Undersea Palace” from Chrono Trigger. Band members include Chris Baines and John DeCampos (both of Entertainment System fame), along with Dom Cerquetti (founder of JamSpace) and some guy named Matt Baros
The Megas
Saturday, 5:30 pm — Since the year 200X (4), The Megas have strived to bring a message from Dr. Light to the people. They have chosen to transmit that message, the tale of a small blue robot named Megaman, directly into the eardrums of the general populace through the power of rock. Composed of four mere humans with no known robot powers, The Megas previously used their face melting abilities in other rock projects including the popular punk act Agent 51, who signed with BIllie Joe Armstrong’s Adeline Records and enjoyed some tour success before disbanding. However, it was not until they rallied behind Megaman that they found a true purpose for their rock: the righteous cause of justice.
Armcannon
Sunday, 4:30 pm & 5:30 pm — Armcannon is an internationally renowned 5 piece band from Buffalo, NY who have made their mark remixing video game classics. They skillfully reincarnate these classic melodies of yore into a progressive-metal triumph of nostalgia. An Armcannon show will reawaken your inner child with the unmatchable power of rock.
Gaming Events in Theater
Live Comedy Improv from X-Strike Studios
X-Strike Studios is an independent film company and improv troupe based out of Buffalo. X-Strike Studios will be both playing in a video game-themed improv comedy show, and presenting their latest feature, “Resident Horror.”
Voice of the Gamers
Join us for a no-holds barred games journalism panel session where speakers Russ Pitts (The Escapist), Yahtzee Croshaw (Zero Punctuation), Ben Gilbert (Joystiq), Chris Grant (Joystiq) and Graham Stark (Unskippable / Escapist News Network), talk about bringing gamer culture to new media. Moderated by Alexander Macris (The Escapist).
GameX Career Forum
Sunday, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm, GameX Theater — For those of you who are thinking of turning gaming into a career, here is a schedule of the GameX Career Forum. For detailed descriptions, you can check the GameX Career Forum page for full details.
“As part of our main GameX consumer programming, high school and college students are encouraged to attend the GameX Career Forum, an informative one-day conference for young people and industry newcomers to learn the ropes from industry experts and educators.”
- 9:30 am – 10:55 am — Pitch Your Game Idea!
- 11:00 am – 12:00 pm — Level Up: Starting a Career in the Game Industry
- 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm — Lunch Break
- 12:30 pm – 1:55 pm — Game Design Workshop
- 2:00 pm – 2:55 pm — Choosing the Right School
- 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm — Portfolio and Resume Review: Put Your Best Foot Forward
Philly Game Jam
Although the entry deadline for this event closed a week ago, it is still worth mentioning as an exciting gaming event at GameX. The Philly Game Jam is a 48-hour game building marathon where professionals, students and amateurs alike can compete to build new game concepts based on a theme announced at the start of the contest. Philly Game Jam begins at 12 pm on Friday, October 23 and end at 12 pm on Sunday, October 25.
The event returns in 2009, this time as part of GameX Industry Summit, October 24-25. Hosted by IGDA Philadelphia, Philly Game Jam invites game developers from all over the Northeast to bring together teams of 3 – 10 developers for 48 hours of game building excitement. Visit the GameX Philly Game Jam page for more details.
The Gamer’s Guide to GameX 2009
Sections
New Games
Game Tournaments
Game Music
Gaming Events in Theater
Career Forum
Philly Game Jam
This guide is based largely on various pages and sections from the GameX website. Much of the text remains the same as the source pages. Commentary has also been added in some areas. The information has been collected, compacted, summarized, and organized into a short guide on everything you need to know for a pure gaming experience at GameX. For the purposes of this guide, we are skipping over many of the less-relevant things at GameX; the RoboShow, the steampunk fair, the animation festival, etc. For a more generalized show guide, visit the GameX Exhibitors Overview.
New Games
Electronic Arts presents Dante’s Inferno
With stunning graphics and unparalleled action, EA is breaking barriers with Dante’s Inferno, pushing the envelope of traditional action game art, design and themes. Dante’s Inferno will be released in 2010 on the PLAYSTATION 3, Xbox 360 and PlayStation Portable. Game consumers at GameX will have the chance to play the game hands-on for the PS3.
SEGA unveils BAYONETTA
SEGA will feature their new title, BAYONETTA ™ at GameX, recently debuted to rave reviews at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). BAYONETTA pushes the limits of the action genre, bringing to life its fast-paced, dynamic climax combat. Game consumers will have the chance to play the action game at GameX before the game’s release.
EA Mythic features Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Players can experience the glory of Realm vs. Realm™ at GameX! Online game player can declare their allegiance and join thousands of mighty heroes on the battlefields of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, the MMORPG from Mythic Entertainment, the creators of Dark Age of Camelot™. Enter a grim fantasy world of perpetual conflict to fight for the Realms of Order or Destruction.
Ubisoft launches Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage
Wii and DS fans will get to try out the latest casual fare from Ubisoft, including Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage on the Wii, and Imagine Fashion World Tour, Imagine Babyz Fashion, Petz Nursery, Petz Dolphinz Encounter, Style Lab Makeover and Style Lab Jewelry Design for DS.
Hi-Rez Studios introduces Global Agenda
Hi-Rez Studios will present their new online title, Global Agenda, currently on tour and recently on exhibit at top consumer shows such as PAX and QuakeCon. Global Agenda is a fast-paced action MMO using Unreal Engine 3 and set in Earth’s near future, a spy-fi world of advanced technology and player-driven conflict. The players control the world of Global Agenda, forging alliances with their peers and executing lightning strikes against their enemies.
Spark Plug Games presents Storm
Spark Plug Games and 2BeeGames will be showing early previews of their Storm console product. Spark Plug Games is a leading independent games developer licensed for Sony PlayStation®3, Nintendo Wii™, Nintendo DS™, Sony PlayStation®Portable, Microsoft Xbox 360® and Apple iPhone™ platforms.
Game Tournaments
For a full description of the tournaments and prizes, go to the game tournaments page on the GameX website.
Alienware Arena ™ – The Gauntlet
Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm — Survive to the end for your chance to win kickass prizes courtesy of Alienware®. All players that advance to the third phase will receive an official Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising t-shirt. The Champion player of each run of THE GAUNTLET (3 total winners) will win $250 cash plus a retail copy of the new game Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, courtesy of Codemasters. Players will simply walk-up and register an Alienware Arena account to play during the time leading up to each session of The Gauntlet. Pre-registration will not be required. Each game challenge will have a session/match run-time of approximately 10-20 minutes, with the opening phase taking up to 45 minutes. Gamers will be assigned to teams when applicable. Here is a list of the games for each phase of the tournament:
View the full schedule for more details including the rules, levels, and conditions for each of the five tournament phases.
GameX Rock Band 2 Tournament
The GameX Rock Band 2 Tournament is free to enter and is open to any registered attendee of GameX. Registration for GameX Rock Band 2 Tournament available on-site at our Main Stage. It is recommended that you register as early as possible in the day, as competition slots will fill up quickly. Competing Bands, and each contestant of each Band, will each compete in a final round in this tournament. A contestant must register as part of a single band and have a specific role in such band. Roles consist of Guitar, Bass Guitar, Drums, and Vocals. A Band consists of four (4) individual contestants assigned to each role. A list of the prizes can be found on the GameX website.
King of the Fighters Tournament
Friday – Sunday, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm — GameX is proud to welcome theGXL as their principal tournament partner. theGXL is running all GameX console and PC tournaments. theGXL are providing high quality console systems covering from PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and retro gaming systems with high end network systems and highly experienced tournament staff.
Game Music Performances by MAGFest
For pictures and extended descriptions of the bands, visit the Full list of bands on the GameX website.
The OneUps
Friday & Saturday, 6:30 pm — The OneUps is a band that covers video game music, ranging from The Legend of Zelda to Super Metroid; from Sonic the Hedgehog to God of War. The group has been featured at numerous conventions including MAGFest, the Penny Arcade Expo and performing at the Microsoft headquarters. Come see The OneUps for a auditory and visual experience unlike any other!
Felix Down
Friday, 7:45 pm — Fenix Down abashedly embrace their inner gamer, a fact that has won them the respect of geeks the world over. That’s not to say that their music appeals only to the gamer crowd, however. It’s a sound that treads a middle path between pop-punk and the rock half of Linkin Park, and it’s being embraced as an alternative to indie rock. Fenix Down’s website comes with the band’s official webcomic, a cookie-cutter RPG affair in which the band members each play the part of a character. The music provides something of a soundtrack for the comics, with lyrics often correlating to issues of the comic.
JJ Demon
Saturday, 7:45 pm — JJ Demon is a ghost. He is an artist that is not afraid to let you see him as a transparency. His songs, while catchy and energetic, show us a vulnerability that has been lost in modern music. Honesty is everything to him. His past reads like a pamphlet on troubled youth; riddled with addiction, violence, crime, death, and time spent in prison. Since his April 2009 release from prison, JJ has inked a record deal with Revel Music Group, and has began working on his album with 9 time Grammy-winning producer Joe “The Butcher” Nicolo, President of Revel Music Group and founder of the legendary Ruffhouse Records. JJ’s journey is being filmed for a forthcoming reality show.
Foster Child
Sunday, 6:30 pm — Fosterchild’s sound and style are reminiscent of a time when rock n’ roll still had swagger and music still served as the Saturday night hymnal to its fans. A throwback, if you will, Fosterchild prides itself on respecting the past in order to find it’s future. Launched by former Fuel drummer Kevin Miller and former Octane guitarist Brian Quinn, the band is rounded out by Danny Beissel on vocals and Erik Leonhardt on bass. The name alone should give you a clue there is nothing formulaic about this group.
Rare Candy
Friday & Saturday, 6:30 pm — Rare Candy is a video game cover band based in Baltimore. They have played MAGFest, Otakon and 64-bit Gen, as well as many local venues. Crowd favorites include “Dark World” from The Legend of Zelda, and “Undersea Palace” from Chrono Trigger. Band members include Chris Baines and John DeCampos (both of Entertainment System fame), along with Dom Cerquetti (founder of JamSpace) and some guy named Matt Baros
The Megas
Saturday, 5:30 pm — Since the year 200X (4), The Megas have strived to bring a message from Dr. Light to the people. They have chosen to transmit that message, the tale of a small blue robot named Megaman, directly into the eardrums of the general populace through the power of rock. Composed of four mere humans with no known robot powers, The Megas previously used their face melting abilities in other rock projects including the popular punk act Agent 51, who signed with BIllie Joe Armstrong’s Adeline Records and enjoyed some tour success before disbanding. However, it was not until they rallied behind Megaman that they found a true purpose for their rock: the righteous cause of justice.
Armcannon
Sunday, 4:30 pm & 5:30 pm — Armcannon is an internationally renowned 5 piece band from Buffalo, NY who have made their mark remixing video game classics. They skillfully reincarnate these classic melodies of yore into a progressive-metal triumph of nostalgia. An Armcannon show will reawaken your inner child with the unmatchable power of rock.
Gaming Events in Theater
Live Comedy Improv from X-Strike Studios
X-Strike Studios is an independent film company and improv troupe based out of Buffalo. X-Strike Studios will be both playing in a video game-themed improv comedy show, and presenting their latest feature, “Resident Horror.”
Voice of the Gamers
Join us for a no-holds barred games journalism panel session where speakers Russ Pitts (The Escapist), Yahtzee Croshaw (Zero Punctuation), Ben Gilbert (Joystiq), Chris Grant (Joystiq) and Graham Stark (Unskippable / Escapist News Network), talk about bringing gamer culture to new media. Moderated by Alexander Macris (The Escapist).
GameX Career Forum
Sunday, 9:30 am – 5:00 pm, GameX Theater — For those of you who are thinking of turning gaming into a career, here is a schedule of the GameX Career Forum. For detailed descriptions, you can check the GameX Career Forum page for full details.
Philly Game Jam
Although the entry deadline for this event closed a week ago, it is still worth mentioning as an exciting gaming event at GameX. The Philly Game Jam is a 48-hour game building marathon where professionals, students and amateurs alike can compete to build new game concepts based on a theme announced at the start of the contest. Philly Game Jam begins at 12 pm on Friday, October 23 and end at 12 pm on Sunday, October 25.
The event returns in 2009, this time as part of GameX Industry Summit, October 24-25. Hosted by IGDA Philadelphia, Philly Game Jam invites game developers from all over the Northeast to bring together teams of 3 – 10 developers for 48 hours of game building excitement. Visit the GameX Philly Game Jam page for more details.