Lin knows that the experience vision scientists could bring to a game development team could be vital in the future. “Vision scientists have the tools and skills to help developers tackle problems from how to reduce motion sickness some experience in FPS titles to how to make games more accessible to the color blind,” said Lin.  “My goal is to eventually prove to game developers that vision scientists would be a valuable member of any developer’s team.”

Combining these disciplines is what impressed the scholarship selection committee in the first place. The winner is chosen based on leadership, service, character, potential to have a positive impact and financial need.

“Lin represents an intriguing future where an interdisciplinary approach to game design embraces professionals from vision scientists to economists, from city planners to linguists and everything in-between,” said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade.  “As each successful generation of game development becomes more advanced, the ability to draw from diverse fields will become more important.”

If you’re interested in applying for next year’s scholarship, information will be available this spring at http://www.penny-arcade.com/pas/.

You’ll be able to get your indie game fix at Pax East coming up on March 26- 28 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston. Pax East is concentrating on the Boston indie scene showcasing games from Fire Hose Games, Dejobaan Games, MIT’s Gambit game lab and more. The idea is to showcase companies that may not get to be shown at the larger indie festivals.

“Boston welcomed us with open arms and we wanted to give a little of the love back. We knew there are some great companies in Boston that can’t normally take booth space, so the Showcase was born,” said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. “Our winners have put together a selection of titles that are fun and original; but most importantly they show what gamers with passion and dedication can do.”

The winning entries are:

· Slam Bolt Scrappers – Fire Hose Games – A unique combination of engaging in building challenges while fighting off wacky, cartoon baddies in a beat ‘em up brawler

· AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! – Dejobaan Games – Jump off buildings floating above Boston performing stunts and making split-second decisions as you weave around buildings to score points

· Dearth – MIT Gambit Game Lab – Save the Tribal Lands from monsters and drought playing as a great shaman in this exciting co-operative action-puzzler

· Waker – MIT Gambit Game Lab – Players are challenged to use both mind and reflexes to solve puzzles, creating platforms to form a path in this puzzle/platform game set in the world of a child’s broken dream

· Turba – Keith Morgado – A puzzle game where each song played will generate unique game boards on which players much create combos of 3 or more of the same color

· Miegakure – Marc ten Bosch – A platform game where you explore the fourth dimension to solve puzzles.

Of course there are tons of things to see or do at Pax East. Our very own Cherith and Stealthyslyth will be covering the con along with The Married Gamers!

PAX

Tickets are now on sale for PAX East 2010. The infamous Seattle games conference is now heading to Boston. The show itself will take place on March 26 – March 28 at the Hynes Convention Center.

PAX East will feature the sort of things that PAX is known for such as pen-and-paper tabletop games, CCG, PC and video games as well as concerts, panels and new games on the show floor.

“We’re bringing the craziness the fans have come to expect from PAX, but with an East Coast twist,” said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. “Most of all this will be a place where you can be yourself with fellow gamers.”

The three-day pre-registration cost is $45. It’s $10 more at the door. You can find all the information on registering here.

PAX

Penny Arcade Expo’s Robert Khoo has announced the final numbers at PAX 2009 and it’s pretty large. PAX tickets sold out early and in the end, 60,750 people attended.

Hopefully a very small portion of those took home a swag that no one wanted, swine flu.

Because it sold out this year, if you are anticipating attending PAX East in March 2010, you may want to consider getting your tickets now.

PAX

The organizers of the sixth annual Penny Arcade gaming festival announced exhibitors and the first programming details. To get you excited if you’re going and sad if, like me, you aren’t.

PAX is held September 4-6 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. There will be almost 100 exhibitors there including, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Ubisoft, Blizzard and Wizards of the Coast.

Some of the panels are the first live demonstration of Star Wars: The Old Repbulic, demos of Ubisoft’s anticipated titles, PAX 10 independent game showcase, sponsored parties, and two nights of nerdcore concerts.

“PAX IS SO GREAT,” said Robert Khoo of Penny Arcade. “SO GREAT.”

Yeah soooo great. Actually it really is. It was my favorite con of the year last year and I would give anything to be able to go this year. We’ll have quite a few staff there this year, so make sure you say hi and get a button!

Here’s the complete list of exhibitors in case you needed to visual see how awesome PAX is going to be:
1up
- 2K Games
- Aeria Games & Entertainment
- Alienware
- Alteil
- Ankama Games
- Antec
- Astro Gaming
- Atari, Inc.
- Bethesda Softworks LLC
- Big Fish Games
- Bioware
- Black Sheep Studios
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
- CCP Games
- CDV Software Entertainment USA
- Chessex
- Disney Interactive Studios
- Dolby Laboratories
- ECA
- Electronic Arts
- Eminence Group Pty. Ltd.
- Fallen Earth LLC
- Flying Frog Productions
- Flying Lab Software
- Frogster America
- Funcom
- Garage Games
- Geek Chic HQ
- Gunnar Optiks
- Harmonix Music
- Hi-Rez Studios
- Hothead Games
- Hudson Entertainment
- iGlove Inc.
- Ignition Entertainment
- ITT Technical Institute
- Jones Soda Co.
- Klei Entertainment
- Mana Energy Potions
- Mega64
- Microsoft
- Microsoft-XNA
- Mythic Entertainment
- Namco Bandai Games America inc
- Namco Networks America Inc.
- NCsoft
- Nexon
- Nintendo of America Inc
- NVIDIA
- Omni Consumer Products (Tru Blood)
- Oni Press
- Patriot Memory
- Phantom EFX, Inc.
- Pink Gorilla LLC
- Playlogic Entertainment Inc.
- Privateer Press
- Riot Games
- Rockstar Games
- Rooster Teeth Productions, LLC
- Runic Games
- SEGA
- Sony Computer Entertainment America
- Stardock Entertainment
- SteelSeries
- Sweet Kitty
- Swell Games / Simon Fraser University
- Telltale Games
- The Behemoth
- The Dreaming Comics and Games
- The Guildhall at SMU
- THQ
- TN Games
- Tozai, Inc.
- Tritton Technologies
- True Games Interactive
- Turbine
- Turtle Beach
- Twisted Pixel Games, LLC
- Ubisoft Entertainment
- Unknown Worlds Entertainment, Inc.
- Upper Deck Entertainment
- Valve Software
- Vancouver Film School
- Wacom Technology
- Warner Bros. Games
- Wizards Of The Coast
- Y-Bot Classic Video Games
- Zalman USA Inc.

• CarneyVale: Showtime by the Singapore-MIT GAMBIT Games Lab (Xbox 360)
• Closure by Tyler Glaiel and Jon Schubbe (PC)
• Fieldrunners by Subatomic Studios (iPhone/iPod touch)
• Liight by Studio Walljump (Wii)
• Machinarium by Amanita Design (PC)
• Osmos by Hemisphere Games (PC)
• Puzzle Bloom by Team Shotgun (PC)
• Tag: The Power of Paint by Tag Team (PC)
• Trino by Trinoteam (Xbox 360)
• What is Bothering Carl? by Story Fort (PC)

I’m really looking forward to seeing some of these games at PAX.  If you’re going to be in Seattle for the show, September 4-6th, make sure you stop by and try and see some of these winners.