PAX 2007 highlights

Created by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, authors of the Penny Arcade comic strip, the third-annual PAX gaming festival has concluded with an estimated record 30,000 in attendance.

Actor Wil Wheaton gave the keynote speech for the three-day event.

PAX 2007 conferences included panels on topics such as "Handhelds Are the Real Next Gen Winner," "Girls and Gamers: The Growing Role of Women in the Game Industry," and "Once Upon a Time: Storytelling in Games Today."

Reflecting the show's humorous roots, attendees could also attend "I'm Getting Old: When Life Cuts Into Gaming" and "How To Ruin a Game For Yourself: Game Testing 101."

Ubisoft presented an exclusive Assassin's Creed demo, and Bungie presented two brand-new maps from the upcoming Halo 3. In addition, Hothead Games showed off its upcoming game Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness.

The episodic game, a collaborative effort from Hothead Games, Penny Arcade's creators, and adventure game designer Ron Gilbert, will be available for download on PC, Mac, and Linux later this year, with an Xbox Live Arcade version coming in early 2008.

Director Uwe Boll showcased a trailer of his upcoming Postal film and defended his game-based films by citing "poor original source material."

Finally, attendees were treated to concerts from Freezepop and the OneUps, among others, and films including Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, The Wizard, and The Last Starfighter.