PAX 08: An Exciting Omegathon Reveal

With last year's PAX Omegathon tournament ending in the first reveal of Halo 3's multiplayer, this year's final round was highly anticipated.

"So last year we picked a blockbuster, really," said Tycho to the crowd following a montage of tournament highlights. "This year.. another big blockbuster--from 1987."

The screen went dark, then lit up to a Famicon screen. The game?

Versus Excite Bike, a head-to-head version of the racing classic never released in North America.

As the 8-bit bikers raced on screen, Gabe and Tycho provided color commentary, the crowd oohing and ahhing with each crash.

In the end, the red biker triumphed--Joey Gecko, who won a trip to the Tokyo Game Show and $5,000. The runner-up, going by the handle "Fallout," received a set of custom consoles and a "lifetime supply of shame," according to the Penny Arcade creators.