So this was the first day of my first time at PAX, and I keep coming back to one entirely unremarkable observation: This is not a convention to be covered by the press; it is a convention to be enjoyed by the attendees.

　　There was a keynote from bonafide industry luminary Ken Levine, but he offered no insight into the way the industry works, or how he made great games like BioShock or Freedom Force. There was a show floor full of unreleased games, but it was sprinkled with retail booths as well, so gamers could go home with more than just impressions of sometimes buggy gameplay. There was a Subway selling less-than-savory sandwiches in the convention hall, but unlike at a "real convention," they weren't $13 a pop.

　　Not all the unusual characteristics of PAX are good ones. There's a "Line-Up Room" that serves as nothing but a holding pen for attendees waiting for the exhibit hall to open, or for big panels or concerts to begin. I stepped in there 15 minutes before the show floor opened to the public for the first time and it felt like a massive DMV.

　　Even so, this show has been pretty amazing so far, especially for gamers who aren't in the media and don't get to see games before release. And the first day technically isn't even over yet. I won't be hitting tonight's concerts or freeplay stuff, but that's because it's not really for me. I'm just press, and this thing's for the gamers.