ZAPCON April 18-19, 2015: BIGGER AND BETTER!

[toxicwes]

The 3rd annual ZAPCON is right around the corner!  Are you ready?

If you haven’t heard yet, we outgrew the Renaissance and are now at the Mesa Convention Center.  That means twice as much space, more power than we could ever use, FREE PARKING, a WAAAAAYYY better load-in/out situation and cheaper hotel accommodations at the neighboring Phoenix Marriott Mesa (make reservations prior to March 16th to get the ZapCon rate).

ZapCon needs YOU!  for every working game you bring you get a weekend pass, a super-awesome exclusive personalized badge & lanyard, early access to the game room, and our eternal gratitude for being an important part of the AZ arcade/pinball community.  If you have games but no way to get them to the show, there may be a couple of options.  I will do my best to put you in touch with other folks that may have room on their truck, or that might be willing to split the cost of a rental 2-3 ways.  Just PM me your actual name, email, phone number, and we’ll get to work on it.

We’re also looking for sponsors/advertisers and vendors.  If you’d like to get your name or business in front of the AZ classic gaming community, this is great and affordable way to do it.  PM me if you or someone you know is interested.


THIS YEAR'S HIGHLIGHTS (so far):

-Arcade competitions!  Last year we didn’t organize any arcade competitions, but this year the folks at This Old Arcade are stepping up and hosting a Tetris competition and a couple of fighting game contests.  Thanks Tim & Ricardo!  Details to follow.

-Best of Show contest!  Firebird Pinball will once again host a ‘best of show’ contest with prizes and trophies for best pinball machine and arcade game in a couple of categories, so bring your “A” games!  More details to follow.

-Pinball Tournament!  As always the AZ Pinball Players League will be hosting an IFPA pinball tournament.  Format details will be available closer to the event.

-Pinball Rodeo!  Danger Dann and his Pinball Rodeo will be returning, with a new wacky game or two to mix things up. 

-NES Lounge!  The Atari Lounge was such a hit that we’re also including a NES lounge this year!


Together we can make this an event to remember… and spread the word!

More info at ZAPCON.COM

[yotsuya]

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Super Spacefortress Macross will be there again, along with a special project in the works.... 

It's a great show. If you are anywhere in the Phoenix area, come hang out with me and HaRuMaN!!!

[yotsuya]

Oh, and kudus to toxicwes and the other show organizers for their tireless efforts to make this happen.

[DeLuSioNal29]

Man, I'm seriously considering this...  I'd have to fly in of course.  It looks pretty awesome.

D

[yotsuya]

I'm actually looking forward to the Tetris competition. I'm a pretty decent Tetris player myself...

[melvinbates]

This is great news.  Wasn't able to make it last year, but am looking forward to this year.

[Le Chuck]

I'm going to try and come to this. 

[pbj]

Who will be carrying?

[yotsuya]

I'm going to try and come to this.

WHOOOOOO!!!! Future ZapCon 15 photos:

[Slippyblade]

I'll be there as well.  It'd be great to meet a few more of you guys face to face!  Last year was my first attendance and I had a blast.  I even brought my kids out and they had a great time as well.

Anybody know when pre-reg opens?

[yotsuya]

We'll do the BYOAC photo around Macross whenever you can get there, Slippy!

[horizon]

Wait, what?  I had no idea about this.

This is awesome!  Going to check in with my social event coordinator when I get home from work.

[Cardphan1]

Darned if I didn't stumble upon Saint's book and this site at the perfect time! 

[RetroGreg]

I'm glad it's bigger and I'll probably go again, but I have to be the guy that bitches that it's all the way in Mesa. Not everyone lives in the East Valley! 

[jdbailey1206]

I'd go but some creepoid stood in the shadows and took pictures of all the ladies that played the Macross machine and posted them online.  In short I fear for my wifes life.

[yotsuya]

Darned if I didn't stumble upon Saint's book and this site at the perfect time! 

Cardphan? As in Arizona Cardinals?

[yotsuya]

I'd go but some creepoid stood in the shadows and took pictures of all the ladies that played the Macross machine and posted them online.  In short I fear for my wifes life.

Dat ass tho!

[yotsuya]

I'm glad it's bigger and I'll probably go again, but I have to be the guy that bitches that it's all the way in Mesa. Not everyone lives in the East Valley! 

I'd drive to north Mexico (Tucson) for this show!!!

[RetroGreg]

Lol I still have to go. It was a lot of fun last year.

[yotsuya]

Lol I still have to go. It was a lot of fun last year.

Do you know any of the Phoenix regulars?

[RetroGreg]

I've just met Haruman so far. He did a pad hack for me several years ago and I recently bought a wood grain cocktail kit from him that I am close to finishing. I did play your Macross cabinet last year. Top notch work 

Oh and I recently met jawhn from KLOV and got a gutted Joust from him.

[yotsuya]

Sweet!!! Jawhn is the patron saint of classic arcade gaming in Phoenix. Sooner or later, everybody gets to meet Jawhn.

I did the pilot builds on those cocktail kits. I love them. HaRuMaN and does a great job. If you have any questions, let me know.

if you're a collector in the Phoenix area, your next step is to start going to the local repair parties.

[Slippyblade]

I've yet to make it to one of the parties.  Always on days I have to work.  Stupid real life getting in the way of my hobbies!

[yotsuya]

The last one was awesome. We ended up going to StarFighters afterwards.

[ChanceKJ]

Hmmm, is Arizona one of the States I'm allowed back in or not... ?

I'll have to look into it.

[Cardphan1]

Cardphan? As in Arizona Cardinals?

Yup short drive for me. Starting my first cabinet this week (will post up a project announcement later for everyone to critique)  so the timing is great.  I'll get to see some examples in person and maybe pick some brains.

[jdbailey1206]

Dat ass tho!

You got that far?  I couldnt get past the nape of her neck.

[yotsuya]

[yotsuya]

Dat ass tho!

You got that far?  I couldnt get past the nape of her neck.

Dat neck tho!

[ChanceKJ]

This place is turning into reddit one day at a time.

[RetroGreg]

Sweet!!! Jawhn is the patron saint of classic arcade gaming in Phoenix. Sooner or later, everybody gets to meet Jawhn.

I did the pilot builds on those cocktail kits. I love them. HaRuMaN and does a great job. If you have any questions, let me know.

if you're a collector in the Phoenix area, your next step is to start going to the local repair parties.

Yeah, the cocktail kit was really nice. Pretty straightforward to get together.

Jawhn was really cool. I put an ad on Craigslist looking for a gutted cab for about $50 not expecting to get a response really, or at least for a few days. He responded within an hour with a selection of several cabs to choose from, let alone a gutted Williams cab with no structural damage! I figured it must be my lucky day so I rushed over and made the big mistake of bringing my wife because she was already with me. All the cabs were cool, but it kind of freaked the wife out.

I was promptly told that I could only have the cocktail and one upright inside the house unless I wanted to buy her a bigger one lol. Problem is I think I'm getting hooked on these projects and know I'll want another one after I work on the gutted Joust. Do any of you Phoenix guys keep any playable cabs in the garage? I'd really like to work on a couple more. I'm just afraid the heat would wreck them.

[yotsuya]

Sweet!!! Jawhn is the patron saint of classic arcade gaming in Phoenix. Sooner or later, everybody gets to meet Jawhn.

I did the pilot builds on those cocktail kits. I love them. HaRuMaN and does a great job. If you have any questions, let me know.

if you're a collector in the Phoenix area, your next step is to start going to the local repair parties.

Yeah, the cocktail kit was really nice. Pretty straightforward to get together.

Jawhn was really cool. I put an ad on Craigslist looking for a gutted cab for about $50 not expecting to get a response really, or at least for a few days. He responded within an hour with a selection of several cabs to choose from, let alone a gutted Williams cab with no structural damage! I figured it must be my lucky day so I rushed over and made the big mistake of bringing my wife because she was already with me. All the cabs were cool, but it kind of freaked the wife out.

I was promptly told that I could only have the cocktail and one upright inside the house unless I wanted to buy her a bigger one lol. Problem is I think I'm getting hooked on these projects and know I'll want another one after I work on the gutted Joust. Do any of you Phoenix guys keep any playable cabs in the garage? I'd really like to work on a couple more. I'm just afraid the heat would wreck them.

Heh. Yeah, Jawhn's place can be a bit overwhelming for any wife. 

Those of you guys that are local to the Phoenix area, PM me if you're interested in joining the local message board group. It's a great place to network and get new ideas. 

[jdbailey1206]

This place is turning into reddit one day at a time.

Dont they play with their joysticks over there also?

[yotsuya]

We need to get PBJ to ZapCon. It's about $300 round trip to fly from Houston to Phoenix. He can spend the night at HaRuMaN's next to a bunch of weecades.... Figure $100 for admission, food, and incidentals. Should I get a Kickstarter going?

[Malenko]

I want a badge and lanyard

[pbj]

We need to get PBJ to ZapCon. It's about $300 round trip to fly from Houston to Phoenix. He can spend the night at HaRuMaN's next to a bunch of weecades.... Figure $100 for admission, food, and incidentals. Should I get a Kickstarter going?

Frontier Airlines is less than $200. 

[HaRuMaN]

He can spend the night at HaRuMaN's next to a bunch of weecades....

I'll take things that ain't happening for $200, Alex...

[Louis Tully]

.

[yotsuya]

He can spend the night at HaRuMaN's next to a bunch of weecades....

I'll take things that ain't happening for $200, Alex...

You can have him autograph them all! Imagine that - The PBJ Signature Series Weecade. 

[Nephasth]

He can spend the night at HaRuMaN's next to a bunch of weecades....

I'll take things that ain't happening for $200, Alex...

You can have him autograph them all! Imagine that - The PBJ Signature Series Weecade. 

They can all have authentic PBJ inspection stickers.