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Twenty Contestants, Six Games, One Omega Prize

SEATTLE – Aug. 7, 2009 - With less than a month to go until the sixth annual PAX gaming festival, show organizers today unveiled the twenty randomly selected PAX pre-registered attendees that will compete in the 2009 Omegathon gaming competition to be held during the show Sept. 4-6 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center.

Your 2009 Omeganauts are (in alphabetical order):

•  Darin Blanchard

• Noah Callaway

• Matt Carmack

• Thaddaeus Engelmann

• Jackson Foster

• Alejandra Garcia

• Grace Hoang

• Mary Jacobson

• Rachel Kraft

• Ken Lindas

• David Medwid

• Daniel Merritt

• Eric Moran

• Sean Morris

• Mark Petcavage

• Alexander Rakoczy

• Ryan Taylor

• Neal Torres

• Hans Wuerflein

• Isha Zubeidi
  

Over the course of three days, these lucky few will battle it out in six brutally competitive rounds chosen by Penny Arcade’s own Mike “Gabe” Krahulik and Jerry “Tycho” Holkins to test their mettle and gaming skills until just two remain, going head to head in a final round on stage in front of their fellow PAX attendees. Only one will emerge from the melee intact to be crowned the 2009 Omegathon winner, to bask in the adulation of thousands and receive the Omega prize: tickets, airfare and hotel for the Tokyo Game Show, plus $5,000 in spending money.

The 2009 Omegathon will consist of:

• ROUND 1: Mario Kart ® Wii

• ROUND 2: Bookworm ® Adventures

• ROUND 3: Halo 3: ODST

• ROUND 4: (a rhythm game)

• ROUND 5: CONNECT FOUR

• FINAL ROUND: ???????

Only PAX attendees can catch all of the Omegathon action, so don’t forget that “mailed” pre-registration for PAX 2009 is still open and available until Aug. 15; visit www.paxsite.com for more information and to secure your badge.

About PAX: PAX is a three-day celebration of games and gamer culture. The festival includes an exhibition floor filled with playable builds of upcoming tabletop, console, and computer games; a conference program of game industry speakers; music concerts; freeplay areas; industry parties; game tournaments and more. Since its inception in 2004 the show has doubled in size year-over-year, growing from 4,500 attendees to 58,500 in 2008, making it the largest gaming festival in North America. For more information, visit www.paxsite.com.