Classic Gaming Expo at E3: Update!

[digitalpress]

Hey, I hope you folks don't mind me crowing a little bit about this partnership. CGE has been a labor of love for me for the last few years. My wife and I haven't had a vacation since I got involved in all of this, so the simple joys of success have BECOME my vacation.

If you missed it, our gig at E3 includes a 2400 square foot "History of Gaming" exhibit, one half of which is an interactive timeline and museum, with playable EVERYTHING from Ralph Baer's brown box right up to 3DO and Saturn (just shy of the PlayStation era, which will not seem "classic" to this crew). The other half contains twin 80's living rooms, where we'll hold our events, live music, and this area is surrounded by about three dozen classic coin-ops.

According to our PR firm, the media response has been incredible - incredbile far beyond his expectations. We're hosting a media breakfast prior to Thursday's show, where some of our alumni (classic gaming developers and notable figures) will meet & greet as everyone else eats eggs :)

We have already received confirmed attendance by the folowing:

MTV
E! Entertainment TV
Reuters
New York Post
New York Daily News
Best Stuff (They provide product/event coverage for Today Show and other morning programs)
Philadelphia Inquirer
Game Informer Magazine
Game Developer Magazine
Game Pro Magazine
Copley Newspapers (Syndicate)
Plus a number of popular gaming enthusiast web sites...

I mean, WOW! It's exciting stuff!

Incidentally, if ANYONE HERE is going to E3 as media and hasn't signed up for this event, please let me know so I can arrange for your attendance. I really want to be able to share this story afterwards!

Sorry, I'm gushing. But this is what we've always wanted - classic gaming in the spotlight, at the world's largest gaming event!

More news to follow!

[Drexel923]

Thats great news Joe...but stop torturing us who can't go to E3 :(

[zmweasel]

This is FANTASTIC news. I'm thrilled that Joe and the rest of the CGE crew are making such an impact at E3. Their presence will introduce some much-needed perspective to a show (and an industry) that's too often obsessed with its future to appreciate its past. I can already foresee CGE and E3 working together on a host of classic-gaming projects and events.

I'll be attending E3 as a professional journalist, but I'll be attending the History of Gaming exhibit and CGE breakfast as a gleeful fan. :)

-- Z.

[YoshiM]

I don't remember if anyone answered my post when the mini CGE was announced, but is the decorating of the "living rooms" going to be 80's style?

Just curious on how true to life or "over the top" (like how some TV shows who have a "retro" day tend to do things) they are gonna look.

And it is damn sweet that it's going to get the attention it and retrogaming deserves. Definitely gonna Tivo and archive any shows that have E3 info.

Oh, for those of you who frequent IGN, there's a contest going on sponsored by the US Air Force where you can win a trip to E3.

[Brisco]

Not going as media, but will be there, and want to stop by. Oobgarm & myself are going to E3 together, and am looking forward to seeing this exhibit very much.

[MarioAllStar2600]

Hey Joe I figure you guys are decorating the living rooms 80 style. Just so you know Ikea has a couple of "retro" chairs and stuff. Just figured you might wanna pop in and check what they have, if you guys don't have all the furniture.

[lendelin]

We have already received confirmed attendance by the folowing:

MTV
E! Entertainment TV
Reuters
New York Post
New York Daily News
Best Stuff (They provide product/event coverage for Today Show and other morning programs)
Philadelphia Inquirer
Game Informer Magazine
Game Developer Magazine
Game Pro Magazine
Copley Newspapers (Syndicate)
Plus a number of popular gaming enthusiast web sites...


Great news! PR is very important. This might spark not only some interest in older games and their history, but maybe shifts the perspective of developers and publishers from "great but outdated/dead games" to "games which are still alive" because there is interest there.

Videogame magazines in general are more open to past games and their events. In the new GI is even the Midwest Classic Gaming Convention listed in the mags new 'calendar' column.