Why would anyone in her right mind drive for 14 hours twice in five days? To attend one of the (now) biggest video gaming conventions in the United States: the illustrious Penny Arcade Expo.

From August 25-27, the city of Bellevue, Washington was invaded by almost twenty thousand gamers. Famed Penny Arcade creators Tycho and Gabe were throwing a party and everyone was invited. The convention center featured panels and demos, an entire floor dedicated to wireless gaming on your DS or PSP, free console and PC gaming tournaments, nightly concerts and an exhibition hall. There was even a satellite convention area for 24-hour tabletop gaming in a hotel accessible by walking or shuttle. In a single word: Awesome.

I spent much of the weekend meeting new people, getting in some Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne, playing some Meteos and just basking in the complete gamers’ paradise. I tuned in to hear several Q&A sessions with Tycho and Gabe (aka Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik) via the Ventrillo system they set up. I was also able to watch as Mike illustrated the strip that was put up the Wednesday following the con from the comfort of the Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) room three floors above the stage. What’s better than playing a game and watching two of your favorite artists engage in their work (and play) while discussing various topics about the comic, their lives and other videogames?

In addition, I attended the Ubisoft demo/discussion panel for Splinter Cell: Double Agent and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.