2013 Midwest gaming classic

[98PaceCar]

I spent most of my time working in a vendor's booth, so I didn't get to really experience the full amount of crowds this year. That said, I could easily tell this was the biggest and best show to date. The fact that my friends and I will fly across the country to attend a show in Milwaukee (not really a hot destination) year after year says a lot in my mind. The staff at MGC is doing it right and it shows. I offer my congratulations and heart felt thanks for all the work they do to put on what is THE retro gaming event of the year.

 

Like others have posted, I've never heard of this GameZombie group, though in all fairness I've only been active in retro gaming a little over 15 years now, almost longer than they have been alive. I'm sure the opinions of a couple of unhappy 18 year olds will vastly sway the future direction of the show. It's truly unfortunate that they are so entitled that they feel it's ok to slam the efforts of what I know are a large number of people doing hard work out of enthusiasm for the hobby. Maybe had these kids taken the time to talk to some of the people involved, they might have learned why things are the way they are and gained an appreciation for what was going on. I'd challenge them to put on a better show since they clearly know everything that needs to happen.

[+Allan]

Can someone explain to me who these GameZombie people were?

 

It's just a bunch of fourteen-year-old kids writing stuff on Facebook. Nothing more.

 

Allan

[the.golden.ax]

A) Happy Birthday Marty.

 

B) The incident was in 2005 and so long as they cleaned it up I don't know what the big deal is. I once tried to rent a shop where a store owner was killed. Thought it would bring the Call of Duty customers. I'd have called it "Game Over Dude" and the slogan... "Meet your maker at G.O.D" then do vinyl stickers of chalk outlines on the floor.

 

C) My comment on GZ is pending moderation for 24 hours now.

 

D) State fair would be Gnawsome!

[Crazy Climber]

Out of curiousity was ANYBODY able to get past the first level of Fix it Felix jr?

[S1500]

Quick google search reveals the story. Some church event.

 

So for those keeping score on inciting violence in society.

Religion: 1

Video games: 0

[the.golden.ax]

Quick google search reveals the story. Some church event.

 

So for those keeping score on inciting violence in society.

Religion: 1

Video games: 0

 

[Tempest]

Quick google search reveals the story. Some church event.

 

So for those keeping score on inciting violence in society.

Religion: 1

Video games: 0

Per the rules of the board, lets not go there, Mmmkay?

[the.golden.ax]

What I want to know is what flavor that cake for Marty was.

[BassGuitari]

B) The incident was in 2005

 

Not sure if this was in re: to my post, but I was referring to MCG 2004, not the shooting. As I understand it, it was not a pleasant experience for Dan, Gary, et al. I don't remember the details, but suffice to say, they swore they'd never go back to the Sheraton again after that. I believe it's part of the reason there was no MGC in 2005...2004 just burned everybody out. As an outside observer I thought it was great (it was the first retro-convention I'd ever been to...I was amazed it even existed), but for the organizers, it was not a fun time.

 

Believe me, the fact that we've been back there for three (or four?) years now says a LOT about how much the new management does for us.

 

Anyway...Ax, we missed you buddy! I haven't even seen you in two years now!

[the.golden.ax]

 

Anyway...Ax, we missed you buddy! I haven't even seen you in two years now!

 

I'll be back one day I'm sure. As soon as I get my back in order and a power chair of some kind so I can get around.

[Crazy Climber]

^{Anybody know what the "beat up" guy walking around with the cop looking for someone on sunday morning was all about?}

[Tempest]

^{Anybody know what the "beat up" guy walking around with the cop looking for someone on sunday morning was all about?}

Didn't see that. Afterparty gone wrong?

[the.golden.ax]

Didn't see that. Afterparty gone wrong?

 

Review gone wrong on GameZombie?

[Retro Rogue]

A) Happy Birthday Marty.

 

Thanks!

 

And I told you, we'll give you a throne in the museum room that you can hang out at. Dress you up with lights and you'll be king of the 8-bits.

 

Not sure if this was in re: to my post, but I was referring to MCG 2004, not the shooting. As I understand it, it was not a pleasant experience for Dan, Gary, et al. I don't remember the details, but suffice to say, they swore they'd never go back to the Sheraton again after that.

 

The previous management were a bunch shysters. Changed their mind the last minute on things they promised (tables, food - like what gamer is going to pay $20 for a lunch buffet when what we said we needed were normal concessions), didn't follow through on other things they promised, and then tried to throw in a bunch of extra charges after the fact. It burned Dan out, I think Gary was going off with his Reserves duty at the time, and I just tried to keep some assemblance of momentum going over the year until Dan felt he'd had enough of a break and wanted to continue doing the show. So then JD found Olympia and we moved there after the year off.

 

During our final year at Olympia (when we were more than outgrowing the location, and it became clear they didn't want our show there anymore and would rather deal with dog shows and weddings) we were contacted by the Sheraton again. Now under new management and ownership, they wanted us back really bad and were willing to bend over backwards (understanding full well there's no way we should give the location another chance). Dan was like no way in hell after what happened the last time, but agreed to humor them and stop by to listen to their pitch. They listened to our needs (with us thinking there's no way they'd grant them) and low and behold they did. And it's truly been a great location for us since then.

[goatdan]

The Gamezombie review names a number of issues I've pointed out year after year. I am enjoying the convention...but space is a major problem. They claim there's more space here at the Sheraton than Oconomowoc, but if that's so then space has run out there as well to the point people have trouble navigating the halls. And I have to say also, I stopped to overhear the Fire Marshall voicing major concerns about it after they arrived when the fire alarms were going off.

 

Dude, you bring this up *every* year about how we must be totally wrong about the space. I don't know what else to tell you.

 

The fire marshall, who I happily met with and walked around with, voiced *no* major concerns at all. They were curious about how we did some things, and complimented us multiple times on how the show was being run. They are not the only local government that we work with, for the record, and this isn't our first time working with them.

 

Please don't start stupid rumors about things that you don't know about. If you don't like the show, we're not forcing you to go. If it was too busy for you, by all means, you don't need to go. We have been well aware of the situation for years, we have been following up with the situation in multiple ways for years now, but there isn't yet a good solution for it. You probably didn't stop to listen to me talking with Fox 6 news about *that very issue* at the show on Saturday.

 

I know that you think we have never noticed the issue. I think you'll be very interested in the Fox 6 report that is slated to come out in a few weeks about just how much we have noticed the issue, and depending on what they air, exactly how much time and effort we have spent trying to correct it.

 

Sorry to sound a little mean here, but I have no idea why you cannot believe us that the Sheraton is more than double the size of the space that the Olympia made usable to us and find the need to spread false rumors like this that can hurt us every year.

[goatdan]

I will say I found it discrediting that a couple of 18-year kids criticized the level of "professionalism" of the staff's t-shirts while wearing t-shirts themselves. I will also say I'm annoyed that they were allowed into the E2M afterparty/Marty's birthday party, which was supposed to be a private "event" for we exhibitors in the E2M Wing, a gathering of closely-knit vintage enthusiasts to hang out and enjoy each others' stuff. How would you like it if some smug snot-nosed "media" crashed YOUR party? Also, the cake was cut with a knife; I know this because I cut it myself.

 

In a nutshell, thanks to this fact and the fact that they were bragging about busting into the after parties because they should have been for everyone (because, see, everyone is as big as they are, right? OMG!), security will be notified that if anyone wearing their shirts are around in the future that they should be escorted out of the building.

 

I don't care if you come and don't have a good time, especially if you were expecting this to be a corporate show like PAX. I don't even care if you write a stupid slam article on your site to try to get attention and hits like they clearly were doing. I do care if I feel like I have to increase security because your dumb arses broke into our party at night.

 

They had the balls to write asking for their money back too. Because as "press", they should have been let in free. Right.

[BassGuitari]

 

 

And I told you, we'll give you a throne in the museum room that you can hang out at. Dress you up with lights and you'll be king of the 8-bits.

 

 

And children could get their pictures taken with 8-Bit Claus!

[Nateo]

I had an AMAZING time at MWGC. I didn't get to meet too many people from here, because, well, frankly, I felt a little awkward just walking up to random people and asking "hey, are you from Atari Age?" But still, between the giant pinball hall, great deals with the vendors, and nifty exhibition rooms (I LOVED that 80's room!), I can definitely say that I will be going back again. And next time, I'll bring along some friends!

[BassGuitari]

In a nutshell, thanks to this fact and the fact that they were bragging about busting into the after parties because they should have been for everyone (because, see, everyone is as big as they are, right? OMG!), security will be notified that if anyone wearing their shirts are around in the future that they should be escorted out of the building.

 

I don't care if you come and don't have a good time, especially if you were expecting this to be a corporate show like PAX. I don't even care if you write a stupid slam article on your site to try to get attention and hits like they clearly were doing. I do care if I feel like I have to increase security because your dumb arses broke into our party at night.

 

They had the balls to write asking for their money back too. Because as "press", they should have been let in free. Right.

 

I wouldn't have had a problem with their being at the E2M afterparty if they had just talked to somebody or asked about it (I won't speak for others in this respect), or if they wanted to interview some of us about our stone-age systems (they are "press," after all). I'm more than happy to show off my stuff and really dive into it with anyone who wants to learn about it. The problem I have is the entitled attitude they had about everything; they just kind of demanded to be let in, demanded food and things that were only intended for a pre-planned group of people (and paid for out of pocket), just because they call themselves "press." They weren't interested in our exhibits, they weren't interested in what the afterparty was supposed to be about, they weren't interested that it was also a birthday party held for one of our friends (though in fairness they probably didn't know); they only seemed interested in getting in for the sake of getting in. The whole situation was like a petty power move or something.

 

To me, it came off as like if a neighbor down the street you don't really know that well is having a private barbeque, and you go over and demand some ribs because you write the neighborhood newsletter.

Edited March 26, 2013 by BassGuitari

[Retro Rogue]

I had an AMAZING time at MWGC. I didn't get to meet too many people from here, because, well, frankly, I felt a little awkward just walking up to random people and asking "hey, are you from Atari Age?" But still, between the giant pinball hall, great deals with the vendors, and nifty exhibition rooms (I LOVED that 80's room!), I can definitely say that I will be going back again. And next time, I'll bring along some friends!

 

I actually think I remember seeing you. Glad you had a blast in the E2M 70s/80s room, and cool you came in all the way from Rochester for it.

[BassGuitari]

I had an AMAZING time at MWGC. I didn't get to meet too many people from here, because, well, frankly, I felt a little awkward just walking up to random people and asking "hey, are you from Atari Age?" But still, between the giant pinball hall, great deals with the vendors, and nifty exhibition rooms (I LOVED that 80's room!), I can definitely say that I will be going back again. And next time, I'll bring along some friends!

 

I probably saw you a bunch of times and never knew it. I had the wall with the Intellivision II, Aquarius, Compaq, TRS-80, ZX81, and Apple IIc. I'm glad it was worth the trip!

 

Next year I'll have to rig up an AA nametag...so you won't have to ask!

[Mirage]

 

Like others have posted, I've never heard of this GameZombie group, though in all fairness I've only been active in retro gaming a little over 15 years now, almost longer than they have been alive. I'm sure the opinions of a couple of unhappy 18 year olds will vastly sway the future direction of the show. It's truly unfortunate that they are so entitled that they feel it's ok to slam the efforts of what I know are a large number of people doing hard work out of enthusiasm for the hobby. Maybe had these kids taken the time to talk to some of the people involved, they might have learned why things are the way they are and gained an appreciation for what was going on. I'd challenge them to put on a better show since they clearly know everything that needs to happen.

 

 

Like, whatever, Daddy-O.

[Nateo]

It was absolutely worth the trip. My dad used to take my brother and I to Philly Classic when that was still a thing. My brother was going to come with me but had to back out due to work and school commitments. After telling him about the MWGC, I think he'd shirk those responsibilities in a second. Seriously, this was ten times what the old PhillyClassic was, and I loved that.

[98PaceCar]

Like, whatever, Daddy-O.

 

Yes??

[IAMAMRA]

Reading their article I find it funny that, the interview she did was her first one. What kind of press are you, that you have never done an interview? I love the easy going nature of the MGC, and if I started seeing things going the way they wanted it I would stop attending.