The Washington secretary of state set up a booth at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle over Labor Day weekend, offering visitors a chance to spin a prize wheel and collect items such as buttons, pins of the office mascot Finn, and custom 20-sided dice.
Secretary of State Takes the Stage at PAX
Steve Hobbs, who has held the post since 2021, greeted attendees at the expo’s main hall and used the opportunity to remind Washington voters about mail-in ballots and drop-box locations. He highlighted a “low-key fight with the USPS” after the Supreme Court halted a new barcode rule that 25 states, including Washington, had challenged.
During a Thursday-night networking event hosted by Hobbs’ office, local tabletop publishers met representatives from Japan, Poland and other markets. The gathering was intended to spark trade relationships that could expand the reach of Washington-based game creators.
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When asked why he was at a gaming convention, Hobbs explained that the event attracts a young, diverse crowd, making it an ideal venue for civic engagement. “PAX is where all the young people are at,” he said, adding that the outreach also serves to encourage voter registration and participation.
Linking Local Designers to Global Markets
The secretary’s office estimates the state’s tabletop sector generates roughly $2 billion annually, with companies ranging from the Renton-based Wizards of the Coast to solo indie creators. Under state law, the office can run a citizens’ exchange program aimed at boosting tourism, business ties and trade.
Trade missions organized by the office provide booths at overseas conferences such as Game Market in Tokyo, covering costs that would otherwise fall on developers. Hobbs said the team also assists participants in handling federal grant applications to offset expenses.
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Strong connections with German and Japanese commerce departments enable Washington designers to pitch their games to major publishers abroad. Hobbs cited the success of Lethal Shadows, a Snohomish County miniatures maker that secured a partnership with a Lithuanian firm, allowing the company to move from a garage to a warehouse and expand its staff.
While the tabletop initiative has shown tangible results, Hobbs said, “It’s more of a lack of bandwidth. We want to take baby steps. We didn’t want to take a big step into it. And frankly, I didn’t realize that it was important to go to these conventions. In Japan, Germany, and Poland, we’re seeing if there might be an opportunity to do the same thing on the digital side.”
Balancing Election Duties and Trade Promotion
Hobbs’ team continues to coordinate with the U.S. State Department and foreign commerce ministries to schedule meetings for Washington developers at international events. These efforts are designed to reduce barriers for indie creators seeking exposure to larger publishers overseas.
