Austin SNK fans?

[Majors]

Lucus aka Dark Geese is in Texas, I know he drives to OK just to play SNK games. He is hard core SNK <period>. He is on neo-geo.com and SRK.

[wip3outguy7]

I thought Dark Geese lived in NY...

Anyone know of a good place to host a get-together? Gameover Video Games hosted a summer video game fest last year. They put out a request for suggestions for this year's event. I sent an email to them suggesting an SNK day. Someone replied back with this:

A NeoGeo day is a great idea, and we'll definitely add that to our list of
suggestions. Hopefully, we'll have some dates set soon, and then the
games/events planned by May. Check our website from time to time for any
updates, and (if you haven't already!) sign up in store for our store email
list. That way you'll get all of our store emails and info that we send out
about this year's Classic Game Fest.

Thanks!

However, even if they do a SNK/NeoGeo day, last year's event was in August. That's a long time to wait.

[grittykitty]

game over is one of the things i really miss about austin. it was a really welcoming place, and i loved to just go in a nerd out with the employees (at the north lamar location anyway, i lived a mile away from it). most of the stuff they sold was a bit pricey, but it definitely has a non-corporate *cough*gamestop*cough* friendly vibe to it.
http://gameovervideogames.com/

[andythebadass]

game over is one of the things i really miss about austin. it was a really welcoming place, and i loved to just go in a nerd out with the employees (at the north lamar location anyway, i lived a mile away from it). most of the stuff they sold was a bit pricey, but it definitely has a non-corporate *cough*gamestop*cough* friendly vibe to it.
http://gameovervideogames.com/

gameover is a badass place. they have an awesome selection, and lots of rare stuff, collectables, and misc gaming goodness. i would rather give them money than any other game store i have been to even if its a few dollars more.

[CaptainWeasel]

game over is one of the things i really miss about austin. it was a really welcoming place, and i loved to just go in a nerd out with the employees (at the north lamar location anyway, i lived a mile away from it). most of the stuff they sold was a bit pricey, but it definitely has a non-corporate *cough*gamestop*cough* friendly vibe to it.
http://gameovervideogames.com/

gameover is a badass place. they have an awesome selection, and lots of rare stuff, collectables, and misc gaming goodness. i would rather give them money than any other game store i have been to even if its a few dollars more.

You both just sold me. Now I'm definitely taking a trip up there. Are the Play N Trades there any good?

[grittykitty]

captainweasel, i tried to go to a play n trade located in round rock a little bit north of austin, but i couldn't find the place! so, i can't really say it was good or not

[wip3outguy7]

At this moment in time, Austin is the used/classic gaming mecca. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before rent can't be made and at least a few of the stores start dropping like flies.


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Gameover's prices have come down a bit since the they started expanding. I would now compare their more expensive items to eBay prices with shipping added. So, you get to buy the game/equipment and inspect it locally without worrying about shipping issues or crook sellers. They tripled the size of the original store at Lamar & 183. They now have a locations in South Austin (not sure of the exact address) and in Round Rock at I35 & 620.

The original store is incredible. It's worth making a day trip to Austin. The store really is a labor of love for the owner. The Round Rock store almost never has any shoppers and the inventory shows. They seem to receive the overflow from the other two stores. The South Austin location has a pretty decent selection and is worth a visit if you are in the area.

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The Round Rock Play N' Trade is in an odd place. It's at I35 & Louis Henna (also known as Tollway 45) in the Target shopping center. It's in the middle of the shopping complex in one of a two buildings... facing "away" from I35. The store is well taken care of and the employees usually bend over backwards to help me when I'm there. I bought a $5 game from them yesterday and the co-owner spent 15 mins trying to find the manual for me. He also let me try out multiple games to make a buying decision. No pressure. He let me play for over 30 mins before deciding to purchase.

Their selection is decent and prices are great. They also have a small "classic" games section.

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There is a new mom n' pop game shop called Gamerz in Lakeline Mall (about 20 mins North/West of Austin). They have a pretty good selection but their prices reflect their undoubtedly high mall rent. They have a truckload of Dreamcast games.

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Just South of the Lakeline Mall at Lake Creek PKWY & I83 resides Gamefellas, probably the oldest Austin mom n' pop games shop. They have moved 3 times in the last two years. The old Northcross mall they used to call home is gone. Walmart bought the land and demolished most of the complex to make room for a new Walmart Super Center. It was a controversial build and the store may never be built at this point... but poor, old Northcross is no more.

Gamefellas still has an astounding selection but they have been struggling financially for awhile now - mostly because they've been living out of boxes for the past two years (this is what one of the employees told me). And they may not be there anymore. I haven't been to the store since December, for good reason. It's a difficult place to shop. About 75% of the staff really doesn't seem to want to be there. And even though you can clearly see title ____ behind the counter on a shelf, they will tell you they don't have it in stock. You have to wave money around and lean over the counter and point at said game before they will acknowledge its existence.

[grittykitty]

wip3outguy7, that's a damn good scene report!

i moved in july 08, so i haven't seen the new gamefellas, but i did find a few good games though for nice prices on occasion. i do agree the employees sometimes lack enthusiasm and don't seem to wanna be there, but it's worth a look for sure. when they were closer to guitar center was about 2 1/2 years ago, i found one of those rare ascii FT dreamcast controllers for a great price. i hope they're still staying afloat in the new location...

how about that little store in dobie mall? (forgot the name)... is that still there? i've bought a few games from them before. seems to always be just one guy, and the store is crazy small, but i love the atmosphere and the prices are sometimes good.

[wip3outguy7]

I have actually never been to the Dobie mall. I've eaten across the street from it countless times. I just never bothered to walk across the street to see what was inside.

Oh, and Einstein's Arcade closed last year. Someone bought most of his machines and opened another arcade called "UFO" just North of UT. I haven't been but people say it's great... They are actually one of the few places in the United States with a Street Fighter 4 arcade cab.

[wip3outguy7]

Back on topic:

I sent Dark Geese a PM on SRK asking about his location and if he wanted to be involved in a "meet" or if he could refer me to someone locally who could help put this together.

Post up some ideas. I would like to see this happen. I'm even down with a San Antonio event if that makes things easier. Currently I have no AES or MVS equipment so we would need a donor or donors involved.