2014 Video Game Meet on Nov 2 in Cambridge, Ontario

[Rick]

If you're in the Cambridge, Ontario area on November 2, come over to the 11th Annual Video Game Meet! I'm going to be there, with a table full of arcade parts and components for sale. It's hosted by CGCC.ca, a Canadian arcade enthusiast forum and group.

CGCC Fall Swap Meet 2014
Sunday, November 2nd, 1-4 PM
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #126
334 Westminster Drive North
Cambridge, ON, N3H 1S5

General admission: $5 per person (kids get in free)
 
Hope to see you there!

[menace]

If I'm not too hung over from the post halloween adults only party--I'll be there!

[Rick]

If I'm not too hung over from the post halloween adults only party--I'll be there!

Sweet deal. Hope to see you there! I won't have a bartop there as I'd hoped to, but I am trying to have a bunch of my LED buttons and some LED strips set up and alight to bring in the crowds.

[menace]

Is there a cgcc thread for this?  I went back to sept and didn't see it?

[Rick]

Is there a cgcc thread for this? I went back to sept and didn't see it?

LINK!

[ChanceKJ]

...we have a Canadian arcade enthusiast forum?


no ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---.



It's a little close to the GTA, not sure i'm allowed back into that part of the province just yet...  Apparently the RCMP look down on you for [STORY REDACTED]

 

[yotsuya]

It's a little close to the GTA, not sure i'm allowed back into that part of the province just yet...  Apparently the RCMP look down on you for [STORY REDACTED]

 

You're not supposed to stick your privates into the poutine. At least, not in public.

[opt2not]

...we have a Canadian arcade enthusiast forum?

I would call it more of an Ontario forum.  Not many west-coasters there.

It's an "ok" forum, but the content and discussions are few and far between, while most of the guys there only want to buy & sell locally or within Ontario. I still don't know why I continue to go there, but hey, the arcade scene in BC & Alberta is pretty lackluster, so I guess I'll take what I can get.

[Rick]

I would call it more of an Ontario forum.  Not many west-coasters there. It's an "ok" forum, but the content and discussions are few and far between, while most of the guys there only want to buy & sell locally or within Ontario. I still don't know why I continue to go there, but hey, the arcade scene in BC & Alberta is pretty lackluster, so I guess I'll take what I can get.

Do I need to create a new forum? More 'inclusive' to the West Coast?

[opt2not]

Well we have a BC sub-group on KLOV, but as you know, it's all yankee-doodle-dandy over there.

We also have a Google group going, which is made up of the same guys who frequent the KLOV group...again not sure why. But hey, if you make a west-coast forum, make me a mod. An all-powerful, stern but just,  moderator.

[Rick]

But hey, if you make a west-coast forum, make me a mod. An all-powerful, stern but just,  moderator.

You got it, buddy.

[ChanceKJ]

Why does that picture look like Oz's head is coughing out a goldfish as he's getting the Heimlich maneuver?


I'm kinda happy with being part of the rustic west. More people are like bonkers surprised when they say "You build a what!?" "Crazy".  I've met like one semi-serious builder out here. Oh, and I guess Josh Wolf (the howler board inventor) lives here. But he never returned my emails. So...

[Rick]

The truck is packed, and I'm on my way!



I'll try and take a bunch of pics throughout the day, and post up an update later tonight.

[zaltec]

Thanks for the heads-up, I've talked the wife and kids into a bit of a roadtrip (with bowling and minigolf, thanks groupon) to go check out the show

[DeLuSioNal29]

So how did it go?  Any pics?

D

[yotsuya]

Rick's not allowed to post from Canadian Jail.

[Rick]

So how did it go?  Any pics?

It went pretty well! I took a nice leisurely 90 minute drive out to Cambridge, and got setup about a half-hour prior to the opening.



I took the above shot just before they opened the doors, which turns out to be the last chance I got to take pictures. (In all honesty, I really wanted to walk around and take a bunch of pics, but got so caught up in the show that I forgot.)

There were mostly tables set up with people selling consoles and cartridges, but that's really all I saw. It was more of a gaming swap meet, and there were definitely distinct groups who visited - most of the attendees would either take a wide path to avoid my table to jump from console table to console table to either side of me, or they'd beeline over as soon as they saw what I had brought.

All in all, I sold quite a bit of stock, and met a number of great CGCC forum members. I'd definitely attend again.

Rick's not allowed to post from Canadian Jail.

Ha! (Actually, I got $50 and out early on good behaviour.)

[yotsuya]

Sell any kits?

[Rick]

Sell any kits?

No, but not for lack of trying. There were a few people who thought it was "cool" but didn't have a need for it, and one person who marveled in the construction of it. (I was incredibly happy of all the things he noticed.)

My biggest failing was in the presentation of it. I didn't have a good demo, didn't have a label, didn't have a sign, and didn't even have it on the price list. I'm sure that if I had presented it properly, with an open kit someone could see prior to construction, and fully functional playing some games on a TV, that I would have had more success. I kicked myself the minute I set it up for forgetting all of that.

[zaltec]

Hey Rick, I think you actually short-charged me (the beardo) by $20 for my 2x joy's and 14x buttons, unfortunately I realized after I'd already left (I think you asked for $45 instead of $65?)... shoot me your paypal address, and I'll send it over.

[Rick]

Hey Rick, I think you actually short-charged me (the beardo) by $20 for my 2x joy's and 14x buttons, unfortunately I realized after I'd already left (I think you asked for $45 instead of $65?)... shoot me your paypal address, and I'll send it over.

Wow, that's great of you sir. Thanks very much! I'll forward you my paypal in a PM.

It was great to meet you over the weekend. With most of the people there for console stuff, it was nice to have conversations with various people about REAL games.

[HaRuMaN]

Sell any kits?

No, but not for lack of trying. There were a few people who thought it was "cool" but didn't have a need for it, and one person who marveled in the construction of it. (I was incredibly happy of all the things he noticed.)

My biggest failing was in the presentation of it. I didn't have a good demo, didn't have a label, didn't have a sign, and didn't even have it on the price list. I'm sure that if I had presented it properly, with an open kit someone could see prior to construction, and fully functional playing some games on a TV, that I would have had more success. I kicked myself the minute I set it up for forgetting all of that.

I ran into this at Zapcon.  I'm definitely going a different route next year.  A completed bartop set up, and the same bartop in kit form so they can see just how easy it is to make on their own. 

[yotsuya]

Sell any kits?

No, but not for lack of trying. There were a few people who thought it was "cool" but didn't have a need for it, and one person who marveled in the construction of it. (I was incredibly happy of all the things he noticed.)

My biggest failing was in the presentation of it. I didn't have a good demo, didn't have a label, didn't have a sign, and didn't even have it on the price list. I'm sure that if I had presented it properly, with an open kit someone could see prior to construction, and fully functional playing some games on a TV, that I would have had more success. I kicked myself the minute I set it up for forgetting all of that.

I ran into this at Zapcon.  I'm definitely going a different route next year.  A completed bartop set up, and the same bartop in kit form so they can see just how easy it is to make on their own.

I've got some great marketing ideas for you too, bro. Or for sale to the highest bidder.

One of them involves the booth babe...

[HaRuMaN]

Sell any kits?

No, but not for lack of trying. There were a few people who thought it was "cool" but didn't have a need for it, and one person who marveled in the construction of it. (I was incredibly happy of all the things he noticed.)

My biggest failing was in the presentation of it. I didn't have a good demo, didn't have a label, didn't have a sign, and didn't even have it on the price list. I'm sure that if I had presented it properly, with an open kit someone could see prior to construction, and fully functional playing some games on a TV, that I would have had more success. I kicked myself the minute I set it up for forgetting all of that.

I ran into this at Zapcon.  I'm definitely going a different route next year.  A completed bartop set up, and the same bartop in kit form so they can see just how easy it is to make on their own.

I've got some great marketing ideas for you too, bro. Or for sale to the highest bidder.

One of them involves the booth babe...

Lol.  Don't forget who hooks you up... 

[Rick]

Lol.  Don't forget who hooks you up... 

He's right, Yots. Besides, Haruman needs more help than I do.

[yotsuya]

Lol.  Don't forget who hooks you up... 

He's right, Yots. Besides, Haruman needs more help than I do.

I dunno, HaRuMaN actually sold a bartop at ZapCon. I know, because I saw it happen.... 

[pbj]

"Hello, I sell bartops and bar top accessories"

"Where are your bartops?"

"I did not bring any bartops"



 

[Rick]

"Hello, I sell bartops and bar top accessories"

"Where are your bartops?"

"I did not bring any bartops"

A truer story has never been told.

[yotsuya]

Lol.  Don't forget who hooks you up... 

SHILLLLLL!!! SHILLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChanceKJ]

I think in a lot of cases the people I've encountered over the last year are turned off by the woodworking aspect. I get it. Some people either fear power tools or just plain suck at it and get discouraged before practicing to get better. I ---smurfing--- hate painting myself, but whatever... 

These kits you guys sell are awesome. And I think more people would be open to getting one if it was presented in the right way. I'm not saying your doing anything wrong, not at all. But expanding your customer base is all about presentation at this point. The odd established arcade builder might buy one rather then building from scratch, but the real expansion I'd say is to have them presented as a kit with the right directions to solve common problems like where to print art, what controls to get, what to do for a CPU/PCB, etc. 

Make it as easy as possible for someone with little or no skill but tons of aspirations to get involved. It will benefit us all in the long run. More money to vendors to innovate cool products and drop prices, more people in the pool with cool ideas and cool cabs to push the bar.