Category: Events

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Imagine My Surprise Finding This Goomba Statue

Goombas don’t respect social distancing rules.

One of the many tragedies of our current COVID-19 pandemic is our human struggle with isolation and new limitations on exploring this big and beautiful world. Now, going to a museum, arcade or airport is nearly impossible.

Last month, my wife and I were flying back from Florida. Running between flights, I snapped a few photos of this fantastic life-sized, triple-tall, Gooma statue wearing a Super Mario Bros hat.

Goombas don’t respect 6′ social distancing.

As a collector of video game kiosks and marketing items, I was blown away that Nintendo would be cool enough to stage this display in the middle of the Dallas Love Field (DAL) airport. It was appropriately tagged #NintendoSwitchOnTheGo.

At this point in mid-February, COVID-19 was hitting the news, but I didn’t see anyone on the plane wearing a mask, and travel was still pretty easy in the US. Now, I’m guessing my beloved Goombas are gathering dust.

Since we’re all sheltering in place, I’m sure people are getting to know their old and new video games pretty well. I’m wondering if Nintendo switched their hashtag to #NintendoSwitchOnTheStop rather than …Go.

Oh yeah, about the Nintendo Switch Lite, it played nicely. The Nintendo reps were super friendly and gave me a coupon and swag. At home, we’re playing the Wii U but getting tempted to use that coupon.

Since you’re probably stuck inside too, I share my experience so you can digitally check out Nintendo’s incredible (now probably inaccessible) airport display featuring the Nintendo Switch Lite.

Since COVID-19 only lives a few days on plastic surfaces, I think the Goombas will survive. For once, it’s good to be a Goomba!

PS…Hey Nintendo, I’ll trade you my stash of toilet paper for that Goomba statue!
PSS…Not joking, I’ll give you every roll. (I’m sure the Goombas will protect me when my wife figures out we’re out of TP.)

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Throwing a NES Zapper into Comic-Con

Being too big of a chicken to dress up myself, I threw my favorite retro gaming twist on San Diego Comic-Con 2016 by getting some of the incredible costumed folks to pose with my ole’ faithful NES Zappers and Power Glove!? Pretty much everyone was game, and the result is the following retro gamer / costume mashup.? Enjoy!
#SDCC #SDCC2016 #Zapper

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Between the Toes of the Giant: Gam3rCon

San Diego Comic Con is a beast.? It’s the biggest, baddest giant in town.? Yet, surprisingly, growing between its toes is an event called Gam3rCon!? Rather than withering in SDCC‘s shadow, Gam3rCon is thriving!

In some ways, I scratch my head that there are gamers who live in the San Diego area and don’t attend Comic Con.? Some are just not interested, or they’re interested but couldn’t get a ticket.? Others would attend SDCC but hate all the hype and crowds.

That’s where Gam3rCon comes in.? It’s small. It’s gaming.? It’s not Comic Con.? This was our first year to check it out, and I have to say I was impressed!

Ok, so Gam3rCon is small and independent…but not really that small.? These guys and gals rent out a five story building and pack it with an insane amount of content.? Upon entering, a gamer walks into an old church sanctuary that has been converted to a shrine to gaming with dozens of Xbox 360s and PS3s.? Shooters, fighters, and DoTA seemed to dominate the scene, while a driving simulator was projected on the wall.

All the while, upstairs is a retro gaming room complete with Atari, NES, SNES, N64, Dreamcast, PS2 and a freak’n rad Fairchild Channel F!? Yup, that’s the room where I parked for a bit.

Down the hall is an art gallery with some solid works of art, and if you’re interested in creating your own art, we spotted some graffiti and silk screening going on as well.? Did we mention the huge, green-screen photo booth for those of us who are less than artistic?!? Check out our interview with Mr. Benja from The 8-bit Cubist for more on that art gallery:

If tabletop gaming is more your thing, there was plenty of that going on in the tabletop gaming lounge.? Up on the roof was pizza and comedy.? Add to that film screenings and a bunch of other stuff that we probably didn’t even find, and there’s something for everyone.

If you’re thinking about doing both San Diego Comic Con and Gam3rCon, we wish you all the best.? Both are great and worth checking out.? As a pretty active guy in his 30s, I was hurting after packing both into one day.? If they were staggered by a week or two, I would have loved spending more time at both.? Yeah, I know, cry me a river, right?

Regardless, I’m stoked that there is one more gaming option in Southern California.? Best of all, this small, independent gaming con is thriving!? Game on!

Check out the gallery below for a closer look at Gam3rCon.

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Imagine Finding Retro Gaming at the 2013 San Diego Fair

If you live in the San Diego area and love gaming, today is the last day to Game On at the San Diego Fair!? Besides all the rides, great food, pig races, and other goofy fair stuff, this year’s theme was perfect for us electronically minded folks.

Our favorite part?

Collections!? Little did we know that the Fair allows people to display their collections.

Hand-made Items!??Created by adults and students, we were blown away by the talent and creativity of these gaming-inspired creations.

Retro Arcade!? Let’s be honest, shouldn’t every fair have a retro arcade?

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MeatBun’s Love for the Neo Geo AES

Compared to the Neo Geo MVS arcade machine, my beloved childhood Nintendo seemed like an ant among giants. In the small Michigan town where I grew up, the only arcade in town was at the local roller rink. I was simply in awe of the MVS, and perhaps even more perplexed by the idea that some kid, in a galaxy quantum leaps away, could have a home version of the Neo Geo.

At the recent 2012 San Diego Comic-Con, I was delighted to meet Jason Rau! Not only does meatbun.us create fantastic retro gaming themed clothing, but Jason Rau is also one of the few people I’ve met who had a Neo Geo AES as a kid / young adult!

Check out this video if you also dreamed of owning Neo Geo’s home version and if you’d like to learn about the radness that is MeatBun.us. These guys make some pretty stink?n creative retro-gaming-inspired art?that conveniently takes the form of lovely t-shirts.

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Double Dragon vs Double Abobo Fists!?

So, you’re playing Double Dragon and get thumped on by a big dude named Abobo…

Do you lie awake wondering about Abobo’s back story?
Do you ask yourself if Abobo is actually ALSO fighting to save someone he loves?
Do you daydream about whether or not Abobo could fit into a Megaman suit or about whether or not he could hold his own as one of the Contra guys?

Well if you’re answered “YES” to any of these questions, you’re not alone! All the answers and more lie within Abobo’s Big Adventure!

Seriously, who would be crazy enough to rewrite NES gaming history around the Double Dragon character Abobo?! Clearly insanity and brilliance go hand in hand, because Abobo is both bad & rad enough to knock the socks of the 8-bit generation!

Our thanks to Nick and Roger from?Abobo’s Big Adventure for doing an interview with us at the 2012 San Diego Comic Con!

Interested in building your own Abobo’s Big Adventure arcade cabinet?? These guys were kind enough to include instructions here.

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Is Magneto the Perfect Pinball Villain?

Any X-Men fan knows that Magneto+metal makes for a pretty serious foe?one that very few of us would be crazy enough to tackle.? Given pinball machines? usage of steel balls, that makes him a nearly perfect villain for Stern Pinball?s newest machine.? Not only is it X-Men themed with great graphics, but its play field seems to consist of tons of great Magneto themed game play twists!? While thumping away as our favorite super heroes, we experienced enough challenge to keep pinball wizards busy at their local bar, arcade, or in their beloved game room for hours.

Additionally, I’m not sure which impressed me more, seeing a new X-Men pinball machine or realizing that Stern Pinball is still dedicated to developing new machines.? It was great to meet Waison (Go Blue!) at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con.? You’ve got to hand it to these guys for keeping pinball alive and growing!

If you haven’t already, check out this new machine at http://www.sternpinball.com