PAX Online 2020 is kicking off in just a few hours and I wanted to highlight some of the panels that you won’t want to miss.

In case you’re unaware, PAX Online will be running for 9 days and will be feature non-stop panels both live and pre-recorded. 

There will also be much more going on during the event and I suggest you check out the full schedule and PAX Online website for a look at everything. There are A LOT of panels, however, so here’s something to get your shortlist going.

All times below are AEST. Though, I expect all the panels to be viewable online after they air.

Sunday 13/09 

Storytime with Mike Pondsmith – 03:15 AM – 4:15 AM 

This is your keynote speaker for PAX Online. Mike Pondsmith is the creator and Cyberpunk 2020 and co-creator of Cyberpunk 2077, so in a lot of ways, he’s the grandfather of CD Projekt Red’s upcoming RPG. This is sure to be a great way to kick-off PAX Online 2020

Gearbox PAX Digital Showcase – 5:45AM – 6:45AM 

Will Randy Pitchford do a virtual magic trick? Let’s hope not. Either way, this is an hour of Gearbox news which I’d assume includes their own games like Borderlands 3 as well as their publishing portfolio. 

United Labels Games Showcase 2020 – 8:15 AM – 9:15 AM 

This panel promise’s news on the Eldest Souls and Röki’s Nintendo Switch versions. Having not played either yet — they both look like they’ll be at home on the Switch and I’m keen to learn more.

Film Victoria Funding: How The Goose Gets Made – 3:45 PM – 4:45 PM 

With a fun name like that who doesn’t want to tune in? This panel is going to dive deep into the inner workings of getting funding from Film Victoria in Australia, which has helped make games like Untitled Goose Game possible among others. For developers, this sounds like a must-watch. 

Monday 14/09

Game Maker’s Notebook with Sucker Punch’s Brian Fleming – 3:15 AM – 4:15 AM

For the first time, it’s The Game Maker’s Notebook podcast in video form and on the PAX Online virtual stage. Ted Price, President and Co-Founder of Insomniac Games will be chatting to Brian Fleming the Co-Found of Sucker Punch Productions about making games and the creative process involved in games like Sucker Punch’s recent release, Ghost of Tsushima. 

Black in Gaming (BIG) – 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM

The Black in Gaming Awards is on the PAX Online virtual show floor this year. The annual event recognises the achievement of black gaming professionals and helping create a cultivating and supporting network for promoting Black games professionals. 

State of Queer: The Last Year of LGBTQIA+ Gaming – 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM

This panel features a group of queer folx discussing the last year of gaming and what’s been happening in terms of queer representation in gaming. I’ve attended every State of Queer at PAX AUS since I’ve been too and they’re always very insightful. 

Tuesday 15/09

Gamifying Romance: Why Hearts Should Be More Than a Prize – 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

A deep dive into what is and isn’t working in video game romance. When turning romance into a mechanic, what gets left behind from what makes real-life romance an integral part of a lot of our lives. 

Capturing the Performances in Red Dead Redemption 2 – 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM 

The cast of Red Dead Redemption 2 spent five years working together in secret and only now will a group of them be reunited to discuss what that process was like. From working on the motion capture to crafting the nuanced parts of their characters that made them so memorable. 

Indigenous Game Design of Turtle Island – 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

This panel discusses the incorporation of Indigenous ways into Indigenous developer games and what those unique mechanics are, as well as how future games can be developer towards Indigenous design.

Wednesday 16/09

Panel of Legends – Great D&D Tales BroughTo Life in Core – 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM

An all-star cast of D&D celebs including Deborah Ann Woll, Reggie Watts, Sam Riegel, Jerry Holkins and Xavier Woods discuss their personal campaigns from the first time playing, to their more recent adventures.

Thursday 17/09

Control – Developing a Supernatural Mind Trip with Remedy – 4:15 AM – 5:15 AM 

If you’re a big fan of 2019’s Control, this is a cannot miss panel featuring Creative Director, Sam Lake, Game Director Mikael Kasurinen and some special guests. I’m hoping for some hints at what’s to come… but I don’t want to get too ahead of myself.

Friday 18/09

Designing for Divergence: Making Mentally Accessible Games – 9:45 AM – 10:45 AM

A group of industry veterans across the neurodivergent spectrum discuss how games have treated them well and badly in terms of accessibility. From button remapping to colourblind modes and how to make games more accessible for those with ADHA, PTSD and more.

The Science of Goosebumps: Music in Gaming – 12:15 PM – 1:15 PM

A panel of video game composers and game makers discuss why music is so important in games from Final Fantasy through to League of Legends and so much more.

Narrative Design of Midsommar: What Horror Games Can Learn – 2:45 PM – 3:45 PM

Undoutablty, Midsommar is one of the best horror films of the last ten years and it reaches a level of dread and isolation that games have not. But can they? So this panel dares to discuss! A panel of four narrative designers discusses the audio, visual, narrative and psychological design of Midsommar and how it all relates to interactive storytelling.

Saturday 19/09

The Future of VR – 4:45 AM – 5:45 AM

Virtual Reality is more than just a fun way to look forward to playing Star Wars games and we all know that. It’s becoming a leading medium in psychological practices and hospitals as well. This panel sees a group of doctors from different fields and developers discuss what the future of virtual reality is and how it can be used for art, meditation, medicine and much more.

It’s… Right Behind You! Crafting Video Game Horror – 5:30 AM – 6:30 AM 

I know this is the first panel I’ve suggested that crossed over with another — but you can always watch both! This panel features creatives from Bloober Team (who recently said they wanted to be the Blumhouse of gaming horror) alongside creatives from Boss Team Games, Frictional and Funcom discussing the inner workings of horror games and where the medium can go in the future.

Sunday 20/09

Shocking Tales of Game Dev! The Funny, Scary & Truly Bizarre – 8:00 AM – 9:00AM

A group of game developers discuss how insane and totally mundane game development can be. Featuring a cast of some of games Twitters favourite faces.

Soundtrack Scramble: The Game Music Arrangement Challenge – 11:45 AM – 12:45 PM

In this panel/game show a group of game composers and audio designers will have to recreate music based on a drawing and an emotion given to them by their team. It sounds hectic, fun and a real challenge for all those involved.

Monday 21/09 

Geek Parenting: Tabletop Adventure and Dicey Decision – 3:30 AM – 4:30 AM

Parents and geeks gather around for some helpful advice around what games to share and how to share those games from geeky parents and friends.

That’s a handful to start with on your PAX Online 2020 journey. If you have any panels you’re looking forward, please let me know in the comments section. I may even add them to this list!

Also, I know that EGX is running from 9:00 PM until 2:00 AM each morning and they have their own lovely list of panels but I chose to just focus on the PAX ones since, well, I miss PAX AUS 🙁

Hope you all enjoy your PAX Online 2020 experience and please let me know on Twitter or, again, in the comments, if there’s something you think I NEED to check out or watch.