Here at Random Acts, we are not-so secretly huge gaming fans. That’s why we are excited to be attending PAX East March 28-31 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts. Not familiar with the event? Don’t worry, our own Outreach Manager Kristin Lindsay is one of the original show founders and up until last year has worked the event since its inception in 2004. She had this to say:
About PAX East
“PAX is a series of game festivals which embrace console, handheld, mobile & PC games (ie. “video games”) and tabletop games. In addition to gaming areas where you can play all those various platforms, it includes an extensive exhibition hall of developers, vendors and other game-related businesses. There is also a large performance theater (with geek-themed bands performing concerts at night and panel content during the day) and numerous smaller panel rooms for community and industry panels.
“It began in 2004 on a smaller video game-centered scale but has evolved to include other game communities such as streamers (like YouTubers and Twitch partners), cosplayers and eSports.
“We think it’s an excellent audience for Random Acts because we frequently find that video game and pop culture fandoms overlap. Gamers are also story-tellers and dreamers, and I think those are so often the people who really want to make the world a better place. Gamers are using “modern” fundraising tools like charity web streams. For example, we’re registered on Tiltify, a live-streaming fundraising platform, so that streamers can raise money for us directly when they broadcast.”
You can read more about Kristin’s history with PAX and their charitable organization Child’s Play in her “origin story” staff profile. This is our first time at PAX East, but we were able to attend PAX West last September where Kristin and Executive Director Rachel Miner participated in a panel on the power of fandom for social giving. Additionally, we partnered with Child’s Play for Dream-2-Acts Nicaragua – they sponsored grants to outfit the computer lab for students.
Attending PAX East?
Come play a game with us! You can find Regional Representative Heather Middleton and Director of Programming Amanda Tucker in the hall of the South East Lobby on Level 1, right around the corner from the Handheld and Console gaming areas. We will have a video game station set up where you can challenge us to a game, and swag for you to pick up! We would also love to hear about your kindness adventures – gaming related or otherwise – and chat with you about any ideas you might have for getting involved in Random Acts to perform an act of kindness in your community.
Keep Up With Us
If you are not attending the show, make sure to follow our Twitter for the latest updates on our activities throughout the weekend. After the event, we will be recapping our experiences at PAX East, so keep an eye out!