PAXWest 2025: A Photo Diary (Part 1 of ?)

My session with Starseeker came near the end of my first day at PAX, a very full day. My mics were dying and I had not time to charge them. I was tired. I was lost. I was even late. I played alongside a staff member while standing, sounds and lights everywhere. I was confused, didn’t do well, and yet loved EVERY second of my time. With the right crew Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions seems like an excellent, exciting co-op session game in the adevnt of these games becoming the very popular norm. Excellent art style, very different gun and tools, different worlds and goals. I’ll be listening to what I was able to record and with provided B-roll attempt a clearer review, but I reccomend. Also the booth itself was amazing, the suits on the staff added to the experience and the merch was top notch. The big carrot fingerling made it all worth it.

One of my earliest sessions on Friday was with Memoria Wake. I generally do not do well with games like this, but I had an amazing time. I loved the art style, found the game play very user friendly and a joy to play with a keen eye to keep my eye on it.

I did not get a chance to play RE: requiem while at PAXWest but I loved the booth presentation.

I have loved the Borderlands world since day 1 and the Borderlands 4 booth was an impressive setup. I only found time to try one co-op 4 v PC 15 minute session during the expo and most of the time it felt like I was just running around shooting at I don’t know what, dying, getting lost and being saved, but damn it looked good and I had fun, plus the free plastic mask they gave out was actually really high quality.

I started playing Acecraft on my phone before PAXWest started as it dropped the day before. I loved the booth and the merch and really wanted to walk away with an Ekko plushie. I did and I am so happy for it and I have continued to play this free to play mobile adventure since. The art style is excellent, the gameplay is fun and its just awesome. If you have a phone that can handle it and want something that is both addictive, but also a good subway, plane, line, passenger in a car time waster, then go download it today.

I do not play Baldur’s Gate, I do not plan to play it either, BUT I love the world and I love watching others play it so I still was mesmerized and fascinated by the booth Larian Studios has at PAX.

I really wish that Limited Run had more at their booth for me to buy in terms of Vault or exclusives, but as I am currently only PC, PS5, mobile and Meta Quest 3 activated and have certain specifics to the games I like the options were very low but I definitely had fun trying out the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe beat em up. It feels like a classic beat em up, nothing particularly special even, but the paint job/story makes it feels special.

I need a new compuer. Something pretty like a PNY Digital Storm would be nice. Is it what I’ll get, no clue, but it is pretty.

The Gauntlet Gaming Glove was definitely a cool product to be aware of. They’re far from mass production but its a good thing to know about.

Daedelic has some great games in development and I’m excited for most of them. I got to spend time with quite a few of them. The new Deponia game and The Fading of Nicole Wilson really got my attention.

There were so many good indie games at PAX West, some favorites were No Stone Unturned and also Call of Elyndra. Two very different games from all aspects, but both compel to our interests.

The MIX Fall Game Showcase was pretty far from where PAX West was, but I am still glad I went. Discovered games not at the expo, hung with good friends, ended up at other parties. PAX West is an adventure.

Pretty cases are pretty. They make a computer that much more expensive, but they are sooo pretty.

The accuracy to the character here was amazing. Not exactly cosplay as a hired model for the booth but damn impressive.

The demo they gave us of Escape from Tarkov 1.0 dumped you into the FINAL level, with no training if you’ve never played before and we did kinda okay. There’s going to be a full PvAI E Campaign (real actual story… what happened here, why do scavs exist, why are we escaping Tarkov, all that jazz. Basically the version we’ve been waiting for.)

Path from Exile booth was another example of just beautiful mind altering activations.

A horse for Gwent. We did not spend much time in Summit, but glad we made the visit. The Voodoo Ranger set up was cool. Exclusive to content creators and media, the PEAK experience from Red Bull was nice.

This photo op for The Blood of Dawnwalker was quite thrilling.

MORE SOON!

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Nerd Notes (Life Updates, Pax West Preview & Much More)-8/26/2025

Planning for PAX West and just living life has distracted us immensley here. So many games, so many trailers, so many shows in the month since the last Nerd Notes. So instead of just a lot of trailers, some reactions to things that have happened in the month.

My schedule for at PAX West is full with appointments for Daedelic Games lineup, No Stone Unturned, Memoria Wake, Astroneer: Starseeker, Terrible Lizards, Aether & Iron, Project ATOM and Mistfall: Hunter while also keeping the schedule free to see games as I see them, as well as non game booths, plus the market, the wharf and the Museum of Pop-Culture time permitting.

Secondly, we are now the owners of a Meta Quest 3 and it is amazing. There are mind blowing experiences such Arkham and less than stellar experiences like experiments that while interesting were not thrilling. Watching a film or TV show on the Quest is absolutely mind changing, a screen over 100 feet but its not even real with basically full blown true 4K and in some cases 8K?!

Peacemaker Season 2 premiered and boy oh boy was that so good, especially watching it in the way I just stated. That one sequence … at larger than life. Yeah, so good, but also the plot and how the trailers really did a doog job of telling you what was coming yet not how and when and messing with that. So looking forward to the rest.

Upload series finale also uploaded to Prime. Only watched episode one of it but it feels like the show will get a satisfactory conclusion and therefore in my mind be one of the best complete streaming shows we might get for a long time.

Wrestling wrestling wrestling. So much wrestling. GCW vs Juggalo 2 Day War and GCW Homecoming AC 2025 were both fantastic events. TWE 12 Years was also another wild affair. There’s just indie show after indie show after indie show. All so good.

Gamescom has come and went. I wish I was there, but boy oh boy did we get announcements, reveals and stuff from that! and I mean beyond just the Gamescom Live: https://popculturespectrum.com/gamescom-2025-from-home-impressions/

Let’s start there with some videos released during Gamescom, some of this will be at Pax West but not all:

This is what pushed me over the edge to just get the Quest 3 since I wanted it anyways.
This will bring you to 42 minutes of a High on Life 2 demo built exclusively for Gamescom at this time.

And now trailers of some games I’ll definitely get to check out at PAX West:

Here’s one game I wish was at Pax West. It wasn’t even at Gamescom. Blippo+ is something I just want and need now.

And now a deluge of streaming TV and Film trailers:

Season one was brilliant, so excited to see how they follow up.
This looks so original even though its actually a remake.
The king of action comedy Shane Black is back with a new one… well not really a new one. It’s Richard Starks’ PARKER, but only the second Parker film where its actually Parker and an all original story from Bagarozzi (Nice Guys) & Mondry (Roadhouse). Looks great & awesome cast.
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Seattle Indies Announces SLICE 2025: A New Conference for Independent Game Developers in the Heart of Seattle

Seattle, WA – August 2025 – Seattle Indies is proud to announce SLICE 2025 (Seattle Loves Indie Creators Expo), a one-day professional B2B conference for game developers taking place at McCaw Hall in Seattle on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Designed for indie and AA developers, platforms, and industry professionals, SLICE offers a full day of panels, talks, roundtables, and networking, capped with a celebratory evening concert and afterparty.

Seattle is home to one of the largest game development communities in the world, and SLICE is stepping up to fill a critical gap by providing a dedicated industry event in the Pacific Northwest. Modeled in spirit after GDC and occupying the calendar slot once held by PAX Dev, SLICE will bring together hundreds of creators and professionals to share knowledge, make connections, and showcase the future of game development.

Event Highlights

  • Industry-Leading Speakers: Hear from world-renowned developers and executives including Stardew Valley creator Eric Barone, Portal designer Kim Swift, father of the Xbox Ed Fries, and Director of Product at Kickstarter Andrew Marks, alongside dozens more experts across design, production, publishing and business.
  • Platform Presence: Representatives from Valve (Steam), Microsoft (Xbox), Epic Games, Amazon Games, Unity and Discord will share platform updates and engage directly with attendees in Q&A sessions.
  • Panels & Talks: Explore topics such as crowdfunding in 2025, pitching to publishers, building and managing studios, AI in development, external production strategies, community growth and legal considerations for small teams.
  • Roundtables: Intimate, 10-person discussions led by experienced professionals covering studio culture, remote work, inclusive design, marketing and more.
  • Speed Networking Session: Get your business cards ready! At the speed networking session, one-on-one super quick meetings facilitate making new connections.
  • Pitch Reviews: Working on a game pitch and want feedback? Bring it! Pitch experts John Polson and Scott Hartsman will help.
  • Playtesting Club: Bring your own laptop and show off what you’re working on in the lobby! Any game is welcome, and this is a great place to get feedback and possibly catch the eye of a publisher or investor.
  • Women in Games Luncheon: A private, RSVP-required lunch and wellness session for women in the games industry – see seattleslice.org for RSVP information.
  • After-Party & Concert: Conclude the day with networking, food and drinks and a live performance by acclaimed game composer dannyBstyle (Super Meat Boy, Crypt of the NecroDancer).

A Conference Made for Seattle

“Seattle is the Hollywood of video games,” says Ty Taylor, Seattle Indies VP and creator of The Bridge and Tumblestone. “With nearly 50,000 game professionals in Washington, it’s time Seattle had its own conference again. SLICE is two days before PAX West on purpose: it occupies the slot where PAX Dev used to be, giving our indie and AA creators the insights and networking they’d normally go cross-country to find.”

Tickets & Registration

Tickets for SLICE 2025 are on sale now at $100 for an All-Access pass (including the evening after-party). A $35 ticket is available for the after-party only, and student passes are offered at $30. Members of the Seattle Indies Discord community can access a 25% discount code.

For tickets, schedules, and full event details, visit seattleslice.org

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ACECRAFT: Sky Hero Brings High-Flying Action to PAX West 2025 with Exclusive Playable Demo and Limited Merch

SAN FRANCISCO – August 22nd, 2025 – Get ready to take to the skies! ACECRAFT: Sky Hero is landing at PAX West 2025, giving players, press, and creators the chance to strap in and experience the upcoming game firsthand. With the game set to launch a day before PAX on August 28th, fans who clear the demo’s challenging levels will not only earn bragging rights but also unlock exclusive PAX West ACECRAFT merchandise… available only at the show!

ACECRAFT: Sky Hero is a fast-paced aerial action game that combines precision combat, daring maneuvers, and cinematic flair. At PAX West, attendees can:

  • Play the Demo – Test your skills in ACECRAFT’s adrenaline-fueled missions designed just for PAX.
  • Win Exclusive Merch – Conquer the skies and clear the demo to walk away with limited-run ACECRAFT rewards.
  • Play Better? WIN MORE – Players who have the best times will get extra tokens to put into the giveaways!
  • Meet the Team – Connect with the developers and hear more about the vision behind the game.

PAX West is the perfect stage to show off ACECRAFT: Sky Hero to fans and the community. We can’t wait to see players push their limits and claim their exclusive rewards as we celebrate launch with you all in Seattle!

ACECRAFT is currently in development and preparing for launch on August 28th, 2025. For the latest updates, follow ACECRAFT on Meta: https://www.facebook.com/ACECRAFTOFFICIAL

PAX West Booth: Arch building #617
Dates: August 29 – September 1, 2025

Pre-Register Today and Earn Exclusive Rewards:

GlobalDOWNLOAD LINK

US:DOWNLOAD LINK

Fly together. Shoot together. Laugh together.
ACECRAFT: Skyhero takes off August 28.

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Capcom Decodes New PRAGMATA™ Artwork and Gameplay Details

PRAGMATA_Logo_White.png

Capcom is celebrating the public’s long-awaited first opportunity to go hands-on with PRAGMATA™ at Gamescom 2025. To mark the occasion, Capcom has revealed new intel on the highly anticipated sci-fi adventure title, decrypting more information on the action-packed Hacking gameplay and sharing an assortment of new character and enemy art.

As protagonists Hugh and Diana journey to escape the lunar research station, a variety of threats stand in their way. These foes include the Walkers. Humanoid bots based off the M4 series, they are among Delphi Corporation’s most successful products. The Walkers’ ability to use tools and work alongside humans made them a popular choice for support roles. In lunar environments, the improved M4AM design is capable of handling low-gravity, vacuum-like conditions.
 
Another powerful enemy players will face is a boss known as the SectorGuard. The SectorGuard, from product line S-35, is a large-sized bot developed by Delphi’s military manufacturing division. It was built mainly to protect sensitive or high-priority installations. The spherical modules located on both its arms are fitted with guided weaponry and low-gravity ballistics. Players will need to utilize Hugh’s thrusters to dodge its attacks so Diana can Hack its defenses.
 
During the fight against the SectorGuard, players will encounter a new Hacking ability called Overdrive Protocol. As its gauge fills up, Diana unlocks the ability to simultaneously Hack the surrounding enemies, forcibly opening up their armor and temporarily halting their movement. It’s a powerful attack, but it’s also one that is best used carefully at the right moment!
 
To enhance Diana’s Hacking abilities, players can also collect Hack Nodes from the environment to use in combat. Activated by passing through them in the Hacking Matrix, these consumable nodes temporarily lower enemies’ defenses. Hack Nodes add a layer of complexity to the game’s unique combat system and provide more opportunities to make strategic decisions in the heat of battle. One of these Hack Nodes, the Decode Node, can lower enemies’ defenses for a limited time. Stay tuned to learn more about how the gameplay experience will continue to evolve.


 
Fans can go hands-on with PRAGMATA this week at Gamescom 2025 and other upcoming events, including PAX West 2025 in Seattle, Washington starting from August 29 to September 1. Players can also get a feel for the Hacking mechanics by visiting the official website and trying a special “Hacking Minigame” that can be played in web browsers.
 
PRAGMATA launches in 2026 for PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam via PC.
 
For the latest updates, follow the game on InstagramX (Twitter)Facebook, and YouTubePRAGMATA is also now available to wishlist on the PlayStation Store and Steam.

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Gamescom 2025 from home Impressions

PAX West is next week and PCS will be there in person but right now gamescom 2025 is happening in Cologne, Germany. We patiently await more showfloor footage, but the Opening Light Live stream hosted by Geoff Keighly featured some amazing premieres and announcements and trailers.

The biggest shock/surprise for I’d say most was Traveller’s Tales Games AKA TT Games announcing and dropping a full trailer for a new LEGO game (their first in three years) and not just any Lego game, but a LEGO BATMAN game that will explore the entire legacy and also play like a Rocksteady Arkham game at points.

A lot of the games that excited us at PCS most had new footage or announcements during the pre-show actually.

Such as Bubsy 4D from Fabraz Games. Hot off the Limited Run Games announcement of a Bubsy collection for modern consoles using Carbon Enginge as well. This is hype.
ATARI on fire as a publisher bringing the old back to life here. Night Dive Studios who have yet to fail in remasters tackled the Lucasarts classic shooter and its look fantastic.
Skateboarding bus and mechs? Oh yes.

There we things during the main Gamescom that got me excited as well. Not much but some.

The story trailer for this makes me want to get my hands on a Meta Quest 3 ASAP.
The new trailer for Bloober Team’s Cronos was definitely enticing, but an even better actual gameplay video from the game’s director gives you a vision of what to expect. Harder than PCS envisioned from trailers and from what Bloober has done before, but still very Bloober and very cool.

The games that excite me MOST outside the announcements at Gamescom and what will also be my focus at PAX West is the indies and the indie arena booth page for Gamescom is a treasure trove. So go check that out, watch trailers, download demos, etc.

and one more trailer as this was posted today as I still seeked showfloor footage. On top of the previously announced single player Hellraiser game coming, this is freaking awesome news. I can only hope that they truly make the single player a campaign and not have this just be Killer Klowns: The Game meets Texas Chainsaw: The Game. The trailer admitdelly doesn’t inspire much hope, but I’m staying optomistic.

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Indie Stamp Rally at PAX West 2025

The Indie Stamp Rally at PAX West is your chance to discover some of the coolest indie games at the show! Visit four hand-picked games, collect unique stamps, and enter to win awesome prizes!

The participating games are packed with charm, creativity, and heart, and we can’t wait for you to experience them. By joining the rally, you’re not just having fun, you’re showing love for indie devs making unforgettable games!

Note: This event is not affiliated with the PAX Together Stamp Rally


Who

Organizer: Caldera Interactive, creators of The Rabbit Haul

Participating Games:


What

  • How it works
    • Pick up your stamp card at any participating booth. 
    • Visit all four participating booths and collect a unique stamp at each one – Don’t forget to play and wishlist the games too of course!
    • Turn in your completed card at The Rabbit Haul booth (#652) to be entered into the raffle.
    • Keep your completed card as a collectible souvenir!
  • Prizes
    • 2× 55” LED TVs — For local participants (must be able to pick up at PAX (Arch North Building) by 6:00 PM on Sept 1. Winners will be notified by text at 2 PM)
    • 1× $100 USD Steam Gift Card — Emailed to the winner after the show
    • Starlight Re:Volver Steam Keys — Emailed to winners after the show
    • ctrl.alt.DEAL Steam Keys — Emailed to winners after the show
  • Rules
    • Open to all PAX West attendees
    • One entry per person
    • Email & phone number (for TV prizes) must be provided on the completed card for raffle entry

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VILE: Exhumed Launches Independently as a Free Shareware Title

Ways to support the game are available on the website, and half of all profits will be donated to charity.

Los Angeles, USA – August 5, 2025 — Final Girl Games–the solo development effort of creator Cara Cadaver– and publisher DreadXP are announcing today that VILE: Exhumed has been released independently as a free shareware title under a CC BY-NC-ND license. The team believes very strongly in the power message of Cara’s very personal game that was unjustly banned from Steam in late July, so creating a way to make it available to everyone was their top priority in the face of censorship. Players can download the game today and play, with optional payment links available for anyone who wishes to support.

VILE: Exhumed was not banned for its use of gore, or its intense themes, but instead it was wrongfully banned for “sexual content with depictions of real people,” according to Valve. The game covers topics of assault, abuse, and entitlement, and uses a combination of FMV and practical effects, predominantly featuring the developer, with the goal of creating images as horrifying as the themes. There are a lot of intense visuals in VILE: Exhumed, but there is no uncensored nudity, no depictions of sex acts, and no pornography present at all. 

“This censorship of my work is a direct attack on creative expression and artistic freedom, and it will not stop with false accusations of sexual content. They will come for anything that speaks more loudly than they do”, said developer Cara Cadaver. “This is our response to being censored, and our rejection of the idea that horror can be defined as acceptable or not.”

VILE: Exhumed launches independently today through the dedicated website www.vileisbanned.com as a free shareware title. Information is available on the website for all players who wish to support the game. DreadXP will be donating all of their profits, and Cara will be donating a portion of hers, totaling in 50% of all profits from the game being donated to Red Door Family Shelter, a Toronto-based charity that works to help families, refugees, and women escaping violence. It is published by DreadXP under the XP Ultra program, a publishing initiative created to support innovative horror experiences. In addition, a physical version of the game is currently being planned for the future with a partner.

“As soon as we realized that the game had been banned, the conversation internally with Cara became about what we collectively could do to do right by her and her work. In the face of widespread attempted censorship, it didn’t feel like a time for half-measures and compromise, so we all decided that releasing the game into the wild where it could never be made unavailable by a single platform felt like the best option, and strongest message.” says DreadXP Director, Hunter Bond.

Originally developed as a prototype in 2024, VILE: Exhumed garnered attention for its unflinching depiction of digital obsession and the violence that festers in the shadows and in front of our eyes. In this new full release, you will explore the remnants of a stranger’s mind through the decaying interface of an old computer, piecing together the disturbing narrative hidden within corrupted files, old abandoned forums, and emails. Solo developer Cara Cadaver has channeled a fiercely personal perspective into VILE: Exhumed, creating a story that feels intimate, upsetting, and deeply human. This is horror stripped of metaphor and of the fantasy or supernatural, laid bare in binary and blood. As the game invites you to confront uncomfortable truths about entitlement, identity, and digital voyeurism, Cadaver hopes you’ll find not just fear, but careful reflection.

Features:

  • Creep through the darkest pits of an old computer
  • Uncover a rat’s nest of photos, messages, emails, and other digital residue
  • Unearth the aftermath of one man’s obsession with adult film actress Candy Corpse
  • Deeply disturbing, gruesome, narrative-driven horror.
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Nerd Notes (July 28, 2025)

San Diego Comic Con just finished. VANS Warped Tour Long Beach happened. Ozzy Osbourne, Hulk Hogan and Chuck Magione among others died. Fantastic Four: First Steps came out. GamesCom is coming and then we got PAXWest (which PCS will be at) and if lucky while in Seattle also Bumbershoot. Many movie, tv, video game, book, comic trailers have dropped as well as music videos and wrestling. Here’s what caught attention to this site that we felt deserved reboost and comment.

new DLC only for this when I already have it on disc is frustrating but this is some major addition to it.
Dan Houser comic looks great.

Mystery Wrestling as a whole needs to be watched but this so far two part London Lightning mini movie needs to be seen. You don’t have to enjoy wrestling, you just need to enjoy surreal humor and quality concepts.

—————————————————————————————————————————————–
First person solo narrative horror. Go to the main website to see the trailer fully uncensored. It’s naughty and violent.
New Good Charlotte!
Aziz Ansari wrote and directed, his second actually but the first was cancelled during production.

Happy Anniversary Double Fine!

What the Fuck!??
New Anamanaguchi!
Game looks good.
Written and Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Benicio del Toro, Regina Hall, Teyana Taylor, Chase Infiniti
A lovely story that should be told
Looks like a return to form from one of the greatest weird film directors ever.
new Tame Impala
Super curious with this airing alongside the The King of the Hill return
When it’s DC and you’ve done everything, you gotta do something new with your characters.
I feel they did this one right.
This show will be sad to say goodbye too, but I also feel The Wall story has mostly ended to a completion so Solar Opposites can as well.
Fuck this looks good.
Fuck this also looks so good. So much cool stuff to watch soon.
4 years since their last single. Still making great tunes.
Just discovered them they’re fantastic.
G.I. Joe and Transformers have excellent stuff in the pipeline comics wise.
This will probably be the show everyone is talking about.
yes, new Cobra Starship. I mean, it’s a remix, but its an official 2025 remix and the live performance of it at VANS Warped Tour 2025 Long Beach was great.
The expansion of the Riceverse looks wonderful.
Posted in Music, Nerd Notes, TV and Movies, Video Games, Wrestling | Comments Off on Nerd Notes (July 28, 2025)

TECH NOIR 2 Loading Now

10 years later GUNSHIP legit reteamed with Lee Hardcastle and got Charlie Simpson and James Carpenter back for Tech Noir 2. Watching Part 1 back to back with the new one is a trip:

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