:::: VGXPO 2007 :::: NOV 2 - 4 ::::

[ed_fleming]

I hope this posting finds you well. Over the past few months, David and I have been negotiating with convention centers regarding the 2007 event. America's VideoGame Expo 2007 will take place November 2 through November 4, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia.

 

To help the expo grow, in both size and attendance, we've moved VGXPO to the PA Convention Center. The new venue is in the heart of Philadelphia and is located above one of city's largest train stations, the Philadelphia's Hard Rock Cafe, the Reading Terminal, and the Market East Mall. In addition, the convention center is just a few blocks for Independence Hall and the Philadlephia river front.

 

At the convention center we will be using Hall C, a 90,000 sq. foot expo hall, nearly twice the size of our expo hall in 2006. In addition to Hall C, we plan to utilize a number of meeting and ball rooms. In the future, if we continue to utilize this facility, we can grow the event size to use over 650,000 sq. feet of expo space and countless number of meeting and ball rooms.

 

VGXPO 2007 single day ticket prices will be $15.00 at the door and will include access to the expo hall, the VGXPO Arcade, VGXPO gaming kiosks, and keynote speakers. In addition to vendors selling new and classic games, the expo will feature a videogame companies showing new product, game tournements, videogame music concerts, COS-Play and special guests from the videogame industry.

 

We'll be making an official announcement about the show next week at the Game Developers Confernce. In addition, the www.VGXPO.com website will be updated in the next few weeks with more information about the show & provide the ability to buy passes at a discounted rate.

 

Kind regards,

 

Ed Fleming

[ed_fleming]

Here's a preview of the Press Release that goes out next week (website update goes online Monday too).

 

AMERICA’S VIDEOGAME EXPO 2007 ANNOUNCED

 

Video Gamers Across America Rejoice:

VGXPO Returns November 2 – 4, 2007

________________________________________________________________

 

San Francisco (from the GDC), March 5, 2007 – Lunar Tide Communications, Inc. announces the return of America’s VideoGame Expo (a.k.a. VGXPO) November 2 through 4, in Philadelphia, PA.

 

“America’s VideoGame Expo is three days of videogame revelry,” stated Ed Fleming, founder and executive director of VGXPO. “Our convention is an annual gaming destination - where gamers and industry insiders can come together to celebrate videogames.”

 

Now entering its third year, VGXPO is a high-profile consumer convention, and is the largest gathering of video and computer gamers in North America. Attendees come to VGXPO to experience the newest games, encounter game industry legends, compete in tournaments, buy games and meet with friends. To make room for its incredible growth, this year VGXPO organizers plan to more then double its size.

 

To expand America’s VideoGame Expo, in both floor space and attendance, the expo has moved to the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Utilizing over 100,000 square feet of convention space, VGXPO’s show floor is now nearly twice the size of previous events. The new location, in the heart of Philadelphia, is located just a few blocks form the city’s historic Independence Hall, Liberty Bell and the Philadelphia riverfront.

 

"As an attendee of this event over the years, I've really enjoyed the history and community aspect that VGXPO creates,” said Tommy Tallarico, video game composer and creator of Video Games Live. “Each year it gets bigger and better and this year is no exception!"

 

Hosting VGXPO at the Pennsylvania Convention Center locates the event above one of the North East’s largest transportation hubs. This station will provide railroad access for attendees coming from the suburbs and regional cities like Boston, New York, Trenton, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington, DC. Easily making VGXPO the perfect day or weekend destination for over 100 million people.

 

“We have one rule for VGXPO - no gamer should be left out. We want to make VGXPO accessible to everyone,” said Fleming. “So to do this, we’ve made single day passes $15.00 and additional discounts can be found online. These passes will include access to the expo hall, the VGXPO Arcade, VGXPO gaming kiosks, and keynote speakers.”

 

"As the game industry continues to grow, so does the involvement of its consumers. They're getting more involved in not just playing but also helping test, design and steer where major projects are going,” said David Perry, CEO of GameConsultants.com. “This kind of event is very special as it brings together the talent that makes these games with the people that matter most, their audience."

 

VGXPO was designed from the ground up to be the perfect convention for game fans and marketers. In 2006, over 50 organizations participated in the VGXPO, including: NVIDIA, Atari, Comcast, Microsoft, Nyko, Tips and Tricks magazine, Game Crazy, 1UP Network, Game Developers Conference, Nubi/Pelican, Nintendo, and many others. This year, the event’s organizers plan to attract even more companies to the event.

 

"VGXPO provides a fantastic showcase for the NVIDIA-equipped PC as a mass-market consumer gaming platform," said Bill Rehbock, Senior Director of Content Partner Relations at NVIDIA. "VGXPO is a great venue for consumers to come and learn how NVIDIA-based PCs are the perfect platform for the gaming capabilities of Microsoft's new Windows™ Vista operating system."

 

This year’s VGXPO will feature: game publishers and developers will showcase new products, pro and armature tournaments, videogame music concerts, COS-Play, guests from the videogame industry, and vendors selling new and retro-classic games. Additionally, VGXPO will host the largest videogame job fair on the east coast, a conference seminar for students, and many other exciting events to be announced in the coming months.

 

For more information regarding America’s VideoGame Expo, visit us on the web at www.VGXPO.com

 

###

 

America’s VideoGame Expo, based in Philadelphia, is part of Lunar Tide Communications, Inc. a company that develops videogame related events and educational services. It’s core service, the VideoGame.Net Experience, is an educational program that teaches students in 6th through 12th grades videogame design and production. Since 2003, the VideoGame.Net Experience curriculum has been taught to over 2500 students.

[PacManPlus]

I had a superb time at the October '06 VGEXPO (my first attendance). First off, I finally met some *great* people from here are AtariAge. Secondly, it very interesting speaking to some of the people at Atari and seeing all of the classic games at the vendor's tables again.

 

I hope that AtariAge, Legacy Engineering (Curt), and Atari are there again this year.

 

Another wonderful thing was the classic arcade that was there for people to play. I had a blast! I do have one comment, though. Most of the games I played last year had some issues with them (i.e. buttons not working, monitor on the fritz, etc...) It seems like some of those games needed some TLC, but other than that it was awesome!

 

If I may make a suggestion: At the last expo there were a few 'contests' with regards to current gaming. I noticed that there was a lack of any contests for some of the classic games (arcade, console). Maybe some can be included this year?

 

Again, I really enjoyed myself at the last VGEXPO, and God willing I will be making this one as well!

 

Bob

[z28in82]

Well a nov show gives lilmiss bean a chance to grow a lil before so hopefully we will all be in attendance

[crunchysuperman]

I may try to go this year. I ain't been to anything since '01.

[Duke 4ever]

Can't wait. Love it the past 2 years and cant wait to see how this year is.

[ed_fleming]

We've made a MAJOR website update and put pre-registation tickets are on sale... Just $12.50 for adult tickets.

 

Be sure to check it out.

[Tempest]

Well a nov show gives lilmiss bean a chance to grow a lil before so hopefully we will all be in attendance

 

Just stay away from hand eating elevators...

 

Tempest

[+Wonder007]

I might try going to this event....sounds like people had a lot of fun.

[mert]

Hubby doesn't know it yet...but we're going! Looks like it'll be a blast.

[Duke 4ever]

Ill be there!

[zmweasel]

Ill be there!

 

You might want to reconsider, given this info:

 

http://www.penny-arcade.com/2007/08/29

 

Scroll down to "Stories from PAX" and prepare to laugh and cringe.

[Mark Wolfe]

Just hope Ed stays away from the ALCOHOL!!

 

edit update: http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac...7E7C25C27123761

 

 

seems a lot of people are becoming upset over this. I will leave MY persopnal experiences with Ed out of this for now but I will say, what goes around, comes around.

 

 

 

 

from: http://www.penny-arcade.com/ <--- see site for verification and scans of ed's business card

 

That's certainly funny but it's not the best story about other exhibitions invading PAX. At one point during the evening a table full of Enforcers told me a tale that was so awesome I just had to pass it along.

 

Late Friday night Amber was called down to the lobby of the convention center to deal with a drunk and belligerent member of the media who was apparently yelling at a couple of our Enforcers. Amber arrived to find the man obviously hammered and harassing our security. She approached him and explained that the show was over (which it wasn't) and that he should just go home and sleep. Upon seeing Amber his behavior changed quite drastically. He stopped arguing with the Enforcers and instead stared hitting on her. He bragged that he'd been out all night drinking with Incubus. Then he suggested the two of them go see a movie, get some drinks and "see where it goes." I think we all know where it goes. Sloppy drunks twice her age really aren't Amber's type so she politely declined the offer while still trying to move him towards the door. He leaned in at this point and said "this Penny Arcade shit is weak!" and then asked her if she wanted to know a secret. He said it would "impress her" and with that he produced his business card.

 

 

 

He pointed at it and slurred "this is where it's at baby."

 

Now we'd seen this guy all weekend taking photos of our game rooms and exhibition hall. Since he was pretending to be media he also interviewed all our Enforcers about how the show was organized and managed. A few of our Exhibitors even complained that he was in the exhibition hall trying to sell them on his convention.

 

Amber took the card and asked him to find her the next day after he had sobered up. She had every right to pull his badge right then but was a little worried about how he might react. The next morning she happened to meet up with him on the escalators in the main hall. "Hey I remember you" he said, "but I don't remember your name."

 

"I'm Amber the event coordinator for PAX and I need you to give me your badge." she replied.

 

He looked around at the group of colleagues around him and laughed. I guess he thought she was joking. Security arrived and she pressed him again for his badge. He tried to apologize for hitting on her but she informed him that while that was certainly inappropriate it was the drunken tirade that we didn't appreciate at PAX. He reluctantly handed over his badge and was escorted out by a group of Enforcers.

 

I was told this story by a dozen or so other Enforcers who witnessed or took part in the event. When they gave me Ed's business card as physical proof of their encounter I couldn't believe it. I was already laughing when I turned the card over and noticed the back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

-Gabe out

Edited August 30, 2007 by Ruddygore

[Snider-man]

Just hope Ed stays away from the ALCOHOL!!

 

edit update: http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac...7E7C25C27123761

 

 

seems a lot of people are becoming upset over this. I will leave MY persopnal experiences with Ed out of this for now but I will say, what goes around, comes around.

 

 

It appears that the posts in question are now being deleted as fast as they pop up. Damage control is fully in progress, apparently, as VGXPO's in - what? - a little over 2 months?

[Albert]

I just cleaned up this thread and I don't want to have to do it again. Please keep your comments on-topic.

 

Thanks,

 

..Al

[Snider-man]

Interesting development. Ed posted the following at DP Friday around 3:30 p.m. Haven't seen him post anyplace else addressing what happened or his take on it. So, here it is - Ed's first and thus far only reaction/explanation to the PAX fiasco:

 

The PAX story is a significant embellishment of what really happened... I am not going to go into details, but I was at PAX and, for the most part, had a fantastic time at the show.

 

For the record:

 

- The story on the PA site is contrived.

 

- I never talked shit about PAX, its was a great show. First and foremost, like you, I am a gamer, so attending shows like PAX and CGE are fun for me. With regard to CGE - I never had the chance to say, your show rocked! I look forward to your next event.

 

- I am a journalist (I write a few articles each year and have written since I was in high school - for about 15 year), and was invited by the PAX PR team to attend as a member of the media. Sure, at the show I was also talking up VGXPO, but I also had meetings with media reps from a few companies. I often joke about wearing two hats - one as a member of the press and the other as an evangelist for VGXPO - that's why I am bald --- It's crazy for them to say I was at their show spying. I talked with Jeff and Robert at the show. In addition, staff from PAX were at VGXPO last year.

 

- When I see a pretty girl sometimes I'll flirt with her. I was flirting with Amber, but she wasn't happy with that. However, in hindsight, it was 2:30 in the morning and Amber probably was up all day and it was the last thing she wanted to hear. My behavior wasn't out of control and I was just trying to make these people laugh, they were all very serious and very tiered. Also for the record, Sue (my wife) is aware of what happened and she knows that I am flirtatious.

 

- On Saturday night, around midnight (not the morning before), I saw Amber and wanted to apologize to her for being forward with her the night before. I could see that she was tiered and wasn't in a chipper mood - we talked for a few minutes and then asked me to leave the convention. I was a little flabbergasted at first, but my friend and I left.

 

- Last, I've asked PA to take the post off of the site, but they wont. In emails back and forth, they recently sent me, and my staff, emails saying I was also smoking pot at the show and was high. It's just a bunch of craziness.

 

I am pissed off, and it is a bunch of BS. I've talked to a lot of people to gage how I should react. Right now, I'm taking the advice to not do anything, just focus on making VGXPO bigger and better. And that's what I'm going to do.

 

So, for the moment, I am not going to be posting on the forums. If you want to get in contact with me, feel free to email.

 

- Ed Fleming

 

Discuss.

[Snider-man]

And it gets even more interesting with each passing day. After a bit more scorn and abuse got heaped on Ed over at DP for his last post, a new defender named "captainspotlight" signed up and posted the following rebuttal (he was replying to the italicized post...):

 

Why do I disagree? Because, when it comes down to it, this is a "he said, she said" sort of thing. If it were just "Ed vs. Amber" involving a discussion in her office, then I'd believe that there's perhaps more that isn't being said. But, it was "Ed vs. Amber plus countless PAX security." When there were that many Enforcers around who actually saw the event first hand, it's hard to believe that not one of them has come forward and said, "Hey, actually, that's not really how it happened."

 

I will have you to know that those Enforcers that you give so much credit to happened to be a bunch of teenagers who were half asleep that evening!

 

I saw a lot of it. From what I saw it looked like Ed was just having a good time and just trying bring levity to those sleepy "enforcers". There were others around also, not just the Enforcers.

 

And where are those Enforcers? Why don't they come forward and tell the truth. He seemed like a nice enough guy from out of town.

 

You guys have got to cool it with Ed and give him some slack until you know what really happened. God, I wish I had a camcorder that night so you guys could see. Something seems to be going on with this story that is out. They made him out to be the stupid beast. He was no more intoxicated then a lot of the others. I just had to sign up and write what I saw because I am getting sick and tired of it.

 

It was interesting to us that there seemed to have been an "outside witness" to the event that may have been able to clarify one way or the other what happened. But an IP Address check deflated that hope.

 

"captainspotlight"'s IP Address is a perfect digit-for-digit match for Ed Fleming's.

[Bruce Tomlin]

LOL SOCKPUPPET

 

[rolenta]

Has anyone heard anything about this lately now that it's just about a month away. I was planning on attending but nw I'm not sure.

 

1) Ed asked me to make a speech about Ralph Baer's Brown Box. I wrote back to him and said I would be attending but I'm not sure about the speech. I haven't heard from Ed since.

 

2) The VGXPO site still does not have a list of exhibitors

 

3) No on-site parking! This gives me painful reminders of the disaster that was called VGXPO 2005 in Washington DC. Vendors had to rush in and have union members unload thier vehicles (for a fee) and then get out quick;y and find off-street parking (for a fee).

 

4) One thing I thought fuinny was that you could get a discounted room at the Hilton Garden Inn for 'only' $249 a night by using the VGE discount code. If you go to the Hilton website and book a room directly from there without the code it's only $169 a night!

 

As I said I was planning on attending since Philadelphia is only two hours away for me. However I'm starting to get cold feet because of this silence.

[keilbaca]

I'm really hoping to make it, but as time goes by, and still no license, and no car on the road, its looking more and more grim...

[Albert]

Has anyone heard anything about this lately now that it's just about a month away. I was planning on attending but nw I'm not sure.

I've been getting marketing messages from them periodically. A recent one included a floor plan, which I've attached to this message. I have to assume that the red and blue booths are taken and the white ones are still available. No list of vendors, but you can see the names of some of them:

 

- Subaru

- Underground Gaming

- Moral Kombat

- Comcast

- Dell

- Intel

- Nvidia

- Atari

- ECA

- Arcade (2)

- VGXPO

 

I was somewhat aghast to see that "Moral Kombat" had a booth, as this is an upcoming movie that has been reviled by the gaming community and industry. I wrote Ed Fleming asking about this and never received a response. That they would sell a booth to them makes me want to stay away, and without a complete list of vendors I don't see much above that would make me interested in going (Subaru?? Comcat? Dell? Intel??) Not a hint of classic gaming there, except for the arcade since they have Videotopia listed on the front page as attending.

 

3) No on-site parking! This gives me painful reminders of the disaster that was called VGXPO 2005 in Washington DC. Vendors had to rush in and have union members unload thier vehicles (for a fee) and then get out quick;y and find off-street parking (for a fee).

That's fun.

 

..Al

floorplan_v11.pdf

[+Nathan Strum]

I'd go to the Subaru booth.

 

(I own a Subaru, and their cars are all over racing video games, but having a booth there is just weird.)

[PacManPlus]

I really wish we (the community) could put together our own Classig Caming (only) Expo / swap meet / etc... I'd be willing to go in on it; basically do the same thing that's being done here but only involve classic games.

 

No disrespect meant to Ed and the VGEXPO, but it just seems like they are getting away from the Classic Games with each year.

[Albert]

I'd go to the Subaru booth.

 

(I own a Subaru, and their cars are all over racing video games, but having a booth there is just weird.)

I also like Subaru (the WRX was on my short list the last time I bought a car) but that's really not what people are expecting when they go to something called "America's VideoGame Expo". It's possible the booth will be videogame-centric, but even then I doubt it's something that'll be interesting for more than a moment ("OOoooo, they installed a racing game inside an '08 WRX STi!")

 

..Al

[keilbaca]

The two reasons I'm going (if I can) is the arcade, and meeting Todd Rogers

 

Well, I can always talk to Intel about the new stuff that's coming out in 6 months or so, when DDR3 is going to become standard. Knowing my luck though, they're probably just dumb sales reps that don't give two craps about computers.

Edited October 2, 2007 by keilbaca