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2011 Midwest Gaming Classic March 26th-27th


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At any rate, I heard that last year the cops DID show up because they thought the "GAMING" in Midwest Gaming Classic was GAMBLING. They apparently hassled people setting up the show until it was proven otherwise. When I left the setup on Friday night I went to the ATM. Brookfeild police followed me out of the parking lot at the hotel MGC was at, to the free ATM located on Bluemound road. They parked next to my car as I got out and withdrew funds. Then followed me to my hotel near the highway. I just didn't want to have to try and get money the next morning. :| apparently taking money out of an ATM late at night is a crime.

 

Yeah, they did. A couple of them even stopped by to chat me up while I was setting up the GOAT Store booth. They were friendly enough to me, and seemed satisfied upon seeing all the Atari and Nintendo and Sega stuff (one of them even browsed the 2600 games and reminisced about games like River Raid and Breakout...good thing he didn't notice Casino or Blackjack!). The whole thing was just stupid though. I want to say they got a complaint about the show, and that they were investigating that, but I don't remember how it all came about.

 

Just to put this rumor to rest...

 

The MGC is a really big show now, and yes, we attracted the attention of the state gambling commission and local police last year. But, it was actually for a legitimate reason. Long story short, they came and we had a dialogue between them and Gary and I, and essentially, one of the groups associated with the show had announced a tournament that they were going to hold that *was* actually illegal with how the rules were set up. We called that group, changed the tournament rules and emailed the gaming people back and they were very happy with us.

 

They did actually increase patrols around the show, which honestly as far as I'm concerned is great. I have no clue why they tailed Ax (which I did hear about last year), but they also had a few times where officers just walked through the crowd, and they generally had a patrol car tooling around the parking lot at night. Considering how much gaming goodness is at the show, I have absolutely no problem with them being nice enough to help us keep it all safe.

 

So, from my perspective -- I have absolutely, positively no problem with the questions that were raised last year. In fact, I already emailed them this year to ask them to proactively read through our announcements to ensure we don't do anything illegal again. When you're dealing with a show like this where there are literally thousands of people going through, and everyone's got different ideas, I'd much rather hear one of them isn't right before the show when we can change it than after the show when we're paying a fine or something for doing something that we didn't realize was wrong.

 

Oh yeah -- and while I'm here, pre-order tickets and shirts end on the 10th, so make sure to get in your orders before then! The 10th Anniversary shirts will *NOT* be available at the show unless you preordered, and they will *NOT* be rerun, so if you want one, now is the time!

At any rate, I heard that last year the cops DID show up because they thought the "GAMING" in Midwest Gaming Classic was GAMBLING. They apparently hassled people setting up the show until it was proven otherwise. When I left the setup on Friday night I went to the ATM. Brookfeild police followed me out of the parking lot at the hotel MGC was at, to the free ATM located on Bluemound road. They parked next to my car as I got out and withdrew funds. Then followed me to my hotel near the highway. I just didn't want to have to try and get money the next morning. :| apparently taking money out of an ATM late at night is a crime.

 

Yeah, they did. A couple of them even stopped by to chat me up while I was setting up the GOAT Store booth. They were friendly enough to me, and seemed satisfied upon seeing all the Atari and Nintendo and Sega stuff (one of them even browsed the 2600 games and reminisced about games like River Raid and Breakout...good thing he didn't notice Casino or Blackjack!). The whole thing was just stupid though. I want to say they got a complaint about the show, and that they were investigating that, but I don't remember how it all came about.

 

Just to put this rumor to rest...

 

The MGC is a really big show now, and yes, we attracted the attention of the state gambling commission and local police last year. But, it was actually for a legitimate reason. Long story short, they came and we had a dialogue between them and Gary and I, and essentially, one of the groups associated with the show had announced a tournament that they were going to hold that *was* actually illegal with how the rules were set up. We called that group, changed the tournament rules and emailed the gaming people back and they were very happy with us.

 

They did actually increase patrols around the show, which honestly as far as I'm concerned is great. I have no clue why they tailed Ax (which I did hear about last year), but they also had a few times where officers just walked through the crowd, and they generally had a patrol car tooling around the parking lot at night. Considering how much gaming goodness is at the show, I have absolutely no problem with them being nice enough to help us keep it all safe.

 

So, from my perspective -- I have absolutely, positively no problem with the questions that were raised last year. In fact, I already emailed them this year to ask them to proactively read through our announcements to ensure we don't do anything illegal again. When you're dealing with a show like this where there are literally thousands of people going through, and everyone's got different ideas, I'd much rather hear one of them isn't right before the show when we can change it than after the show when we're paying a fine or something for doing something that we didn't realize was wrong.

 

Oh yeah -- and while I'm here, pre-order tickets and shirts end on the 10th, so make sure to get in your orders before then! The 10th Anniversary shirts will *NOT* be available at the show unless you preordered, and they will *NOT* be rerun, so if you want one, now is the time!

 

Also I just wanted to add that the security guard at the end of our hall was a Madison Police officer. He was a way cool guy

I talked to him several times and he was cool every time I talked to him. He was working the show for some extra cash, so the

security that was hired was good, as they were police. He even came down and played alittle after his shift was over. :)

Edited by Astropuff

At any rate, I heard that last year the cops DID show up because they thought the "GAMING" in Midwest Gaming Classic was GAMBLING. They apparently hassled people setting up the show until it was proven otherwise. When I left the setup on Friday night I went to the ATM. Brookfeild police followed me out of the parking lot at the hotel MGC was at, to the free ATM located on Bluemound road. They parked next to my car as I got out and withdrew funds. Then followed me to my hotel near the highway. I just didn't want to have to try and get money the next morning. :| apparently taking money out of an ATM late at night is a crime.

 

Yeah, they did. A couple of them even stopped by to chat me up while I was setting up the GOAT Store booth. They were friendly enough to me, and seemed satisfied upon seeing all the Atari and Nintendo and Sega stuff (one of them even browsed the 2600 games and reminisced about games like River Raid and Breakout...good thing he didn't notice Casino or Blackjack!). The whole thing was just stupid though. I want to say they got a complaint about the show, and that they were investigating that, but I don't remember how it all came about.

 

They did actually increase patrols around the show, which honestly as far as I'm concerned is great.

 

Really it is a good thing because of everything involved. I wouldn't feel safe with my kids in the pinball room without the officers they had last year, or leaving stuff unattended / mass of gaming goodness on hand, in parking lot, etc... more is certainly better with this scenario.

 

I left the hotel at around 2 AM and went to a bank. Being the only car on the road, and getting money = suspicious to a cop. They didn't find any reason to stop me. Honestly it wasn't a bad thing to have a cop at an ATM at 2am... so long as he was a good cop. The protection is welcomed.

 

 

AX

All the police officers that I talked to last year were very nice. In fact they seemed like they really wanted to go explore the show rather than patrol the area.

 

I'll take one of those badges and a shirt. Where do you order the shirts anyway?

 

Tempest

Really it is a good thing because of everything involved. I wouldn't feel safe with my kids in the pinball room without the officers they had last year, or leaving stuff unattended / mass of gaming goodness on hand, in parking lot, etc... more is certainly better with this scenario.

 

We actually provide those officers, although as was noted, most of them are off duty police looking to earn a little side cash. Great group, they'll be back this year.

Really it is a good thing because of everything involved. I wouldn't feel safe with my kids in the pinball room without the officers they had last year, or leaving stuff unattended / mass of gaming goodness on hand, in parking lot, etc... more is certainly better with this scenario.

 

We actually provide those officers, although as was noted, most of them are off duty police looking to earn a little side cash. Great group, they'll be back this year.

 

 

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

AX

I left the hotel at around 2 AM

 

AX

Case Closed, 2am is bar close ;) Busy time for police officers

 

I would much rather they be tailing Ax at 2am than me...

 

Ax can be the Designated Decoy! :)

I'll move the badge call to this thread. Anybody who wants AA/MGC badges, please let me know. These will be different than the past two years, I'll be basing them off of actual Atari Inc. badges, with the back side having MGC 10th anniversary material on it.

 

Badge me too please!!!

 

So what are the odds of Mr. Baer being at the show? I'd be tempted to bring part of my Odyssey for autographing if he's going to make the trip to the show.

 

Right now it's planned for him to be there, completely dependent on his health though. If he can't physically be there we'll be doing a live skype instead, but either way we'll announce it ahead of time.

 

That's awesome! Time to dig something good out and bring it along!

Anyone interested in my C64 set, I've got one of those rare monitors with the cover over the front as well. Thinking I may try to bring that if there is an interest, since shipping would be a ton. See ebay under the.golden.ax for the system and cart games, I don't have a pic of the monitor. Will trade or use funds 100% on crap sold at the show :D so this is a win win.

 

AX

Anyone interested in my C64 set, I've got one of those rare monitors with the cover over the front as well. Thinking I may try to bring that if there is an interest, since shipping would be a ton. See ebay under the.golden.ax for the system and cart games, I don't have a pic of the monitor. Will trade or use funds 100% on crap sold at the show :D so this is a win win.

 

AX

So does this mean you are coming to the show :) I hope so.... Gee i starting to sound like a nag.

Any way any chance of Jag kiosk? :D :lust:

Anyone interested in my C64 set, I've got one of those rare monitors with the cover over the front as well. Thinking I may try to bring that if there is an interest, since shipping would be a ton. See ebay under the.golden.ax for the system and cart games, I don't have a pic of the monitor. Will trade or use funds 100% on crap sold at the show :D so this is a win win.

 

AX

So does this mean you are coming to the show :) I hope so.... Gee i starting to sound like a nag.

Any way any chance of Jag kiosk? :D :lust:

 

 

Highly unlikely. My van has a finite capacity. The Jaguar Kiosk would inhibit any new acquisitions.

 

AX

Anyone interested in my C64 set, I've got one of those rare monitors with the cover over the front as well. Thinking I may try to bring that if there is an interest, since shipping would be a ton. See ebay under the.golden.ax for the system and cart games, I don't have a pic of the monitor. Will trade or use funds 100% on crap sold at the show :D so this is a win win.

 

AX

Is it a commodore 1702 monitor? If so and it is working I will give you $30 for just the monitor. I will also give you a free trade in of a 1702 monitor that works but only has black and white.

Anyone interested in my C64 set, I've got one of those rare monitors with the cover over the front as well. Thinking I may try to bring that if there is an interest, since shipping would be a ton. See ebay under the.golden.ax for the system and cart games, I don't have a pic of the monitor. Will trade or use funds 100% on crap sold at the show :D so this is a win win.

 

AX

Is it a commodore 1702 monitor? If so and it is working I will give you $30 for just the monitor. I will also give you a free trade in of a 1702 monitor that works but only has black and white.

Hey Ax, let me know on this as soon as you can, I have the option to check out a Craigslist one but would rather buy yours :)

I'd like an AA badge again this year, too, please!

 

I wish I could make it to the cool tour that is scheduled for Friday (I'd pay the $150 in a heartbeat) - unfortunately I started a new job a few months ago and don't have any vacation time yet. :(

 

Any chance of the tour happening again next year or is this a one-shot deal, Marty?

Michael Katz has just been added to the list of speakers. For those not familiar, Mike has a long and storied career in the video game industry. He worked at Mattel in the 70's where he came up with the idea of taking calculator technology and making handheld games from them. Yes, he's the one responsible for the entire 70's handheld industry. Next he went to

Coleco for the Colecovision launch. After that he headed up Epyx, and was then woo'd to Atari Corp in late '85 to start their Entertainment Electronics Division and relaunch the Atari 7800, launch the XEGS and more. Finally he moved to Sega in '89, where he was responsible for the domination of the Sega Genesis in the early 90's.

Michael Katz has just been added to the list of speakers. For those not familiar, Mike has a long and storied career in the video game industry. He worked at Mattel in the 70's where he came up with the idea of taking calculator technology and making handheld games from them. Yes, he's the one responsible for the entire 70's handheld industry. Next he went to

Coleco for the Colecovision launch. After that he headed up Epyx, and was then woo'd to Atari Corp in late '85 to start their Entertainment Electronics Division and relaunch the Atari 7800, launch the XEGS and more. Finally he moved to Sega in '89, where he was responsible for the domination of the Sega Genesis in the early 90's.

Katz is the one that ditched Altered Beast as the pack in and went with Sonic right? What a gamble, but man, it paid off :)

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