Best Gaming Convention You've Been To

Post by **jjgames** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:09 pm

What is the best gaming convention you've ever been to?

I went to E3 three times back in 04-06 but after seeing this E3 I don't think I will see that again. What are some other good conventions you have been to so I can pick one to attend? They can be retro or new games, I like it all.

Post by **Majors** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:07 pm

Best convention with a game room is MINE at Animazement, every year! Otacon and Magfest are nice. Can't say too much good about Carolina Games Summit or Anime Weekend Atlanta. Most tournaments I hit don't have a freeplay area other than the room partys...and it's all about the room partys!

E3 has bored me the last few times I went. The exibitors only care about you if you a regional buyer of some famous porn star. They treat the "exhibits only" folks as second class citizens. If they don't want me, then screw 'em, I can spend my money on cool retro stuff instead of plane tickets and hotel rooms and read all about the show on-line. I'd rather goto a car show. Then at least you still get booth babes and all the splash and hoopla plus vendors _want_ you there.

You might want to try PAX, or Comic conventions. I think Toyfare had something. For retro there is Philly Classic that'd Id like to visit. Also, for more retro events: http://www.atariage.com/features/events/index.php

Post by **fastbilly1** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:57 pm

Even though I have not been, I am going to say Majors... I also like my Retro Room at Momocon, but that is just because I get a lot of space to put out games most people have never heard of. Anime Weekend Atlanta and Dragoncon have piss poor retrogaming - granted that is not what the cons are for. As much as I love the cons the gaming departments are run very poorly. I even offered to bring stuff to AWA for free, I already had a pass, and they pretty much told me to piss off (they used a more verbose word).

PAX is going to be your best bet hands down. But if you want to travel down to the south for a con, well ours is free...

Post by **jjgames** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:32 am

Does Animazement have much gaming stuff? The website I found made it sound like it was just Anime. I didn't see anything about gaming.

Thanks for that link to the AtariAge page. That is helpful.

I really want to attend PAX, it sounds like a really good convention.

Did anyone attend E for All last year? Sounds interesting but not sure how it actually was.

Post by **NeoRage** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:19 pm

Nintendo Powerfest in 1990 was amazing! To me it never felt better to be a gamer. The bright colors, laughing and smiling from gamers AND gamer parents at the Powerfest were a far cry from the new Jack Thompson "ALL GAMES ARE EVIL" bleak future we live in now

Post by **Peffico** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:07 pm

I went to comic con and they have a pretty nice game room. Too bad I couldn't get into any tournaments. I got there too late

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Post by **Haoie** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:05 pm

Living where I am, I've never attended a proper gaming oriented convention.

Post by **gradualmeltdown** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:17 pm

During PAX I soon realized that I am really not king nerd, in fact I am a very normal human being. Ever been around that nerd/dork that talks way to loud, never stops, and never listens/cares what anyone else says? PAX is that guy multiplied by 10,000.

The featured events and activities can be cool enough to balance out that guy, but they have to be worth it. One thing that bugs me is that PAX keep booking the same music acts too, and there is a wikked underground Chip tune and Nerd Core scene in the PAC NW. The Minibosses and Front Alot are cool, but open doors for other cool artists.

Post by **otaku** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:58 am

I haven't attended one yet. Most likely my first (and I hear its a nice event) will be a local one known as fandemonium (it covers games, anime, fantasy/scifi in general) I also hope to attend CGE (vegas is cool!) and eventually tokyo game show (while on my first trip to japan!)

Post by **ZenLogikos** » Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:41 am

NeoRage wrote:Nintendo Powerfest in 1990 was amazing! To me it never felt better to be a gamer. The bright colors, laughing and smiling from gamers AND gamer parents at the Powerfest were a far cry from the new Jack Thompson "ALL GAMES ARE EVIL" bleak future we live in now

You mean Nintendo World Championships, I think. Only the '94 was called Powerfest, but it was also called World Championships II.

That was a great time. All I remember is playing Gargoyles on Gameboy, playing Castlevania III in beta form, and of course competing in the contest. That day was a blur.