PAX 2011

At PAX this year we attended a panel that included authors of Dogs in the Vineyard and Panty Explosion.  There were some interesting views espoused about creating and promoting Role-Playing Games:

1. Self publish - in today's publishing world, most outside publishers just aren't bringing enough the table to be worth their offers.  Since you have to do all your own promotion anyways, don't use an outside publisher at all.
2. 2nd Editions happen because it's hard to edit and test a game sufficiently the first time through.  Having an editor (who works for you or is someone you know,) will make for a better 1st (and 2nd) edition.
3. For finding late stage playtesters, find an appropriate online community with interest in your project.

We noticed an extremely strong Pathfinder presence at PAX, which was a pleasant surprise.

There were also some very interesting displays from Geek Chic involving using a computer touch screen table top, which was used for both table top gaming and playing PC action RPG titles.

In video games, I found the whole Defense of the Ancients trend in so many of the new major titles to be a refreshing change from the usual Counterstrike & WoW type games that have dominated the computer game market for so long.  The Free to Play model that some of these League of Legends type games use is particularly appropriate in today's austere economy.