Midwest Gaming Classic

[SammyWI]

Anybody going to the Midwest Gaming Classic this year?  http://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/  It's going to be held March 26 - 27, 2011 in Brookfield, WI (just outside Milwaukee).  I missed it last year, but I plan on going this time around.

[isucamper]

I've never been able to tell what kind of presence classic arcade games have at this show.  Any idea?

[NipRing]

I'm gonna try and make it. Its been a few years since i went last. I'm just considering if taking my kids (ages 9 and 10) would be a good idea  ...or reality  .

[nick3092]

I went last year for the first time.  I was hoping to find more arcade related stuff.  But I found the show is about 90% console and 10% arcade/pinball.  They did have some tournaments set up for arcade and pinball games, and from what I recall there was a good sized room dedicated to pinball all set to free play.  I think there were a handful of arcade games also set to free play.  And I think some of them might have been for sale too.  As far as parts go, I don't recall seeing many arcade related parts for sale.  Maybe only one vendor, and even most of his stuff was pinball related.

That being said, I'm still planning on going again this year.  Of course, it's easy for me to say that living about 15 minutes from the hotel the show is at.  I have a pretty good sized console collection that I've been neglecting since I started building my cab, so I think I'll pick up some more console stuff.  Maybe even a few extra console controllers to hack to USB for my cab too.

[SammyWI]

Sorry to hear that the arcade stuff is pretty limited.    But I still plan on going.  Old consoles are fun too.  Maybe I'll just go on Sunday when it's only $10 instead of $20 on Sat.

[flashiv]

I went last year and have to agree w/ Nick on the 90/10 %.  But I also am going to try and go this year.  I am only about 2 hours away, so probably take the nephews again.

[jeffhlewis]

I'll be there Saturday. More interested in Arcade than Console, but it should be a fun time. At the very least a good excuse to check out some cool retro gaming stuff, spend some bucks and people-watch.

[nick3092]

I'll be there Saturday. More interested in Arcade than Console, but it should be a fun time. At the very least a good excuse to check out some cool retro gaming stuff, spend some bucks and people-watch.

People watch... Yeah. Last year there was a fair amount of cos play. Some FF VII, a vault dweller, and some I'm forgetting. Oh, and you can buy your very own full sized anime pillows!

[SammyWI]

Probably going on Sat. now.  Do we have a secret BYOAC handshake or something to recognize each other?   

[CrazyKongFan]

I'll be there with my DK/D2K cocktail (which should be in Mario's Birthday Bash room) on Sat/Sun.

[NipRing]

Just keep an eye out for this handsome guy  

Possibly with or without wife accessory.

[jeffhlewis]

I'm dragging my girlfriend to this - if this event doesn't scare her off then she's a keeper.

[Dazz]

If anyone is taking a camera to this... I NEED more pics of the Bill Paxton Pinball.   Ben has just been too busy to get them over to me, but I need the images on the side of the ramps.  I also need good shots of the car, top, sides & front.  A good shot of the sign with the sun on it and pretty much whatever ever pics are possible.

[Angry_Radish]

I'll be there Fri-Sat-Sun, bringing a Merit Boardwalk conversion and a Defender pin (pin is sold), should be picking up an Fun Fest pin and a Black Hole pin 

If needed, I have warehouse space about 10-15 minutes from the show.

See you there!

[flashiv]

I'll be wearing a "Back In The Day" t-shirt with Pac-Man and a Blue Ghost on it.  Goatee and glasses.

[Angry_Radish]

Today I'll be racing for a cure for something, if you see me introduce yourself!
I hate going to these things then finding out later you were at the bar next to someone you know online but don't find out till after:)

[nick3092]

I was greatly saddened by the lack of cosplay this year. Waldo and Carmen Sandiago were it. An no Japanese body pillows. I think I may have seen NipRing with wife and kid accessories. Not 100% sure on that though.

[NipRing]

I was greatly saddened by the lack of cosplay this year. Waldo and Carmen Sandiago were it. An no Japanese body pillows. I think I may have seen NipRing with wife and kid accessories. Not 100% sure on that though.

Yeah, we were there. As far as cosplay goes, i saw a little girl (13 maybe) dressed as something blue and white (Felicia maybe from darkstalkers? i dont know anime too well) But you had to have seen that guy dressed as Mario   He had to be 6'3" 350ish, he was with the black guy with the giant penny  medallion necklace, and some serious b o

[Angry_Radish]

Hehe.

[CrazyKongFan]

Didn't see anyone from here, but I did see a couple people from KLOV. Also got a kill screen on the Crazy Kong cocktail in Star Worlds room yesterday

[SammyWI]

Went early Saturday.  Very crowded.  Great to see that much interest in classic games but the place was just packed.  Seems like they could use a bigger place.  Hard to move around and the occasional BO clouds made things  at times.  I wasn't feeling too great Sat. so that have affected things for me and I ended up leaving pretty early. 

Vendors definitely were mostly console items with some pinball stuff (as someone mentioned earlier).  There was some arcade marquees and art in one corner.  I was looking for some Tee shirts but all I saw was modern gaming prints.

The museum area was pretty cool.  Saw some things that I remember having (before mom 'cleaned' out my old room!  ).  I think that was the first time I've seen a Vectrix in person.  Very cool - that vector screen is really impressive for a home system at that time (or of any time, really). 

I think if I go again, I'll try to pick a less crowded time.  Maybe Sunday afternoon?

[NipRing]

Hehe.

Lol! That's the Mario!

[jeffhlewis]

I was greatly saddened by the lack of cosplay this year. Waldo and Carmen Sandiago were it. An no Japanese body pillows. I think I may have seen NipRing with wife and kid accessories. Not 100% sure on that though.

Yeah, we were there. As far as cosplay goes, i saw a little girl (13 maybe) dressed as something blue and white (Felicia maybe from darkstalkers? i dont know anime too well) But you had to have seen that guy dressed as Mario   He had to be 6'3" 350ish, he was with the black guy with the giant penny  medallion necklace, and some serious b o

I actually wound up going both days (went back Sunday to purchase stuff I saw on Saturday). Saturday was slam packed especially on the vending floor. Totally agree that the space is not ideal for that kind of event - seemed kind of like they just used whatever space they could find. stuff was all over the place. Some of the particularly rare stuff was sold out Sunday but if you were just looking for fun games to pick up there was plenty to be had with fairly reasonable prices. I bought a Supergrafx ($175) and some games from the mad-gear.com dude who was just an awesome guy and really knowledgeable. Had a great selection of imports. also picked up a bunch of NES, Genesis, PC-Engine and SMS completes for less than $50 total. Everyone was willing to haggle.

Arcade stuff was lacking as I suspected. Very pinball-dominated show but there were some good machines in the basement (from Galloping Ghost) and in the main arcade area. Played some good competition in SF2 and Mortal Kombat 2. Decent amount of arcade boards for sale and marquees. Not much in the way of parts, sideart and NOS stuff. couple machines for sale on the floor here and there but nothing earth-shattering. There was a Marvel vs. Capcom deluxe standup in really good condition for $800. Some guy had after burner there but it wasn't for sale. I would have paid him cash on the spot.

The console museum piece was really cool, if a little disorganized. The die-hard room had an XBox steel battalion setup, an FM towns marty, neo geo, supergrafx, nec pc-fx, Killer Instinct running on a supergun, and some other obscure stuff. In the older computers room there was a guy who had a tandy running a nearly arcade-perfect port of Donkey Kong. It was jaw dropping given the technology.

Kind of light on the people watching - I saw waldo/carmen and the dude with the pendant. Saw a girl dressed as Poison from Final Fight (I think). interesting choice of dress i must say.

All in all, good show. Worth the $10 admission on Sunday for sure. Always nice to meet a bunch of people who share an interest in our wonderful but extremely niche hobby. I might bring some systems and/or machines next year for everyone to play.