Pre-registration started a week and a half ago for local gaming celebration/spectacle PAX Prime, but between taxes, Portal 2, and weather-related feelings of worthlessness, we've only just gotten around to noticing. Go right now and jump all over that shit—PAX sells out every year (though it usually takes a while, you should still get on it now to avoid massive regret). At $35 for a day pass or $60 for the whole weekend (8/26-28), you can soak up inhuman amounts of play per dollar. Board games, demos of upcoming console blockbusters, hot geeks in costume, chiptunes and nerdcore and hella more. Overwhelming, exhausting fun.

Are you a game developer? PAX is launching PAX Dev this year for you to meet up with others like you and discuss the finer points of game development, free of pressure from the media, fans, suits, and onlookers. It takes place on Wednesday and Thursday 8/24-25 at the Sheraton, costs $249 for early registration, and is limited to about 750 entrants. It should be a great time for the high priests of gaming; we hope they won't be too tired to entertain the rest of us through the weekend.

The Stranger Testing Department is Rob Lightner and Paul Hughes.