Making plans to attend...

Classic Gaming Expo 2007!

I turn 40 August 7, which my body seems to understand, but my mind doesn’t. Playing basketball, reading, listening to rock ‘n’ roll music, and killing alien invaders are things I still enjoy, but I am now sore the day after a game of full court hoops, I oftentimes fall asleep midway through the first chapter of a book, hair metal is more of a nostalgic pleasure than an actual musical preference, and my reflexes aren’t quite what they used to be when it comes to saving planet Earth from annihilation.

The above admissions would be depressing, but for a couple of things: my favorite activity these days is spending time with my kids, whether it’s swimming, bowling, watching movies, going to the park, or playing with the untold number of kitties that occupy our yard. Another aspect of my life that staves off old age angst is my ever-loving, ever-amazing wife, who got me a simply awesome gift for my 40^th: a trip to the Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas! I haven’t been to CGE since 2003, so a voyage to the Valhalla of video games is long overdue.

At CGE, the convention floor is lined with vintage arcade video games set up on free play, meaning once you pay your admission at the door, you can play Tron, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, or any number of other classics as many times as you’d like. In addition, there are dealers set up selling rare and unusual items, such as vintage ColecoVision games still in the box, copies of Electronic Games magazine, Atari 2600 prototypes, and much more. Common items abound as well, meaning gamers of any budget can find something to purchase and enjoy.

Other attractions include: a swap meet, an auction, panel discussions, video game tournaments, and appearances by such celebrities as David “Pitfall!” Crane, Steve “MegaMania” Cartwright, and Al “I designed the Atari 2600” Alcorn (to cite three examples of guests who will be at this year’s convention). Amazingly enough, there are still companies and individuals producing games for the older systems, and CGE is the place to introduce these types of games. New cartridges making their debut at CGE 2007 include Rent Wars, N.E.R.D.S., and The Last Ninja for the Atari 2600, Pitcher’s Duel for the Vectrex, and a number of other titles.

I hope to make my mark (in some small way) at CGE this year by toting along copies of my new book, Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984. Hopefully, I can sell a few books, make some new friends, and hand out a few business cards. Regardless of what happens, I’m sure I’ll have a great time, so much so that I may forget to act my age.

The 2007 edition of the Classic Gaming Expo takes place at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas , Nevada, July 28-29. For more information, click on the following link: http://cgexpo.com/index.htm.