Atar1G1rl
05-13-2004, 12:42 PM
I just don't know where to begin with this. First off, I'm am sooo tired this morning. And I'm a complete wuss because I didn't do any of the moving, setting up, clean up or anything. I have a whole new appreciation for people who put these gaming shows together, no matter which one it is. You folks do a LOT of work! And Joe, Sean, John, Larry, and the rest of the gang totally out-did themselves, let me tell you! (and it gave me renewed appreciateion for my sit down job- standing all day- yikes!)
So let me just say on day 1 the exhibit had an effect that I don't think anyone involved with it could have imagined! Now I've got no ego to boost, I don't play sides (mines bigger than yours- blah!) whatever. But I have to say that this totally kicked ass! You have to keep in mind that this is being held in Kentia Hall and isn't your main hall with the big time names like XBOX or Sony or Nintendo, which normally get the most traffic. So it was astounding to see how huge the crowd got as the day progressed. Even after official closing time people were hanging out on the systems.
Why the big interest? I think because it's easy for us involved with classic retro collecting and gaming to forget that not everyone sees this stuff everyday. CGE touched a whole new group of folks I think that had totally forgotten about their past computers and gaming systems. The show also touched another group of younger folks who really never had a chance to play with this "old timer" stuff. Although most were at least familiar with NES on up a bit since you had to be 18 or older to get in the show. So I would think that almost everyone had something to play with again from their past.
You ask anyone there and they will back me up on this. Repeatedly we would see people walk by who would peer at the set up and kind of stop and then crack a HUGE smile or go "Holy crap! I had one of these!" and get sucked into whatever old system they used to have all over again. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen! It was sooo freaking cool to talk to these people who would tell you stories of their past and see them unable to shake the grins plastered on their faces!
Michael and I talked to one older gentlemen who I think was from the UK. He spoke with obvious fondness of the Atari 800 set up and how he had not seen one in 20 years. It was the first computer he ever programmed with and, my favorite part, he said it still is one of the most beautiful machines ever made. A man after my own heart! ;) That doesn't even count all the attention it got- I mean people actually posed for photographs with the computer!!! (And not just with the Atari 800) That's just a little crazy, but in a good way and you can see what an impact this all had on people who hadn't seen their toys from the past in many many years! I believe a thanks goes out to o2william for selling John the kiosk? I think that's right. It rocks!
There's so much to talk about, I'm trying to pick and choose what would be best to write about. One guy, who I thought looked like a young Mark Hamill and came in from Canada, really stands out. He came up while Joe and I were talking and just blurts out "Thank you man! This is sooo great! I'm spending my whole day here tomorrow!" I kid you not! He went on about how he loved these old games and how these were the only ones he could play well (I knew I wasn't the only one). I mean there is just story after story of these folks coming up and saying this same type of stuff. I am so happy and truly honored that I got to be a part of it.
Oh, and I got interviewed by some Japanese television show. Actually, I was pointed to stand in a spot, a mike was handed to me, and then I was on my own. :( Joe took a couple of pictures, but I think now that I am glad I probably won't get to see the spot ever. Larry and Joe suggested now I'd be in Japanese porn and Michael suggested that when I finally "aired" I'd have bunnies and captions hopping all around me in the final product. Who knows. :)
Since I need to get my butt moving and head back out there in a bit, I'll just hold off on stories for now and post some pics and a link to the pics I have so far. I didn't get to go everywhere (lunch took, let's just say, an extremely ungodly amount of time to obtain and by the time I got to look around, I was beat.) If I don't get more pics today, hopefully tomorrow. There's no Sony or Nintendo so if you're looking for that, you'll have to go with the main gaming sites still.
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/thiswaytocge.jpg
A sign pointing the way to classic gaming goodness.
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/HappyFaces.jpg
All slots on that side are full!
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/Joeontvagain.jpg
HAha- we made Joe look away from the camera! ;)
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/missilecommand.jpg
John's kiosk and my Atari 800 were the perfect match!
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/AllMachinesInUse.jpg
It got more than a little bit crowded...
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/classicmario.jpg
Cameras roll in the background as peeps catch up with some old school Mario.
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/larrysvanishingthumb.jpg
People in the background don't seem to be interested in the amazing vanishing thumb trick performed by Larry.
For all the pics I have so far, go to http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/. What sucks is that I totally forgot to go take pictures of the living rooms!!!! D'oh! So please don't say "it would have been really better if you had gotten this pic or that pic and at this angle..." We just didn't get everything we wanted first day. But to make up for it, I have some Dukes of Hazzard Booth Babes in Daisy Dukes posted for you fellas (and gals) on my pictures link. :)
So let me just say on day 1 the exhibit had an effect that I don't think anyone involved with it could have imagined! Now I've got no ego to boost, I don't play sides (mines bigger than yours- blah!) whatever. But I have to say that this totally kicked ass! You have to keep in mind that this is being held in Kentia Hall and isn't your main hall with the big time names like XBOX or Sony or Nintendo, which normally get the most traffic. So it was astounding to see how huge the crowd got as the day progressed. Even after official closing time people were hanging out on the systems.
Why the big interest? I think because it's easy for us involved with classic retro collecting and gaming to forget that not everyone sees this stuff everyday. CGE touched a whole new group of folks I think that had totally forgotten about their past computers and gaming systems. The show also touched another group of younger folks who really never had a chance to play with this "old timer" stuff. Although most were at least familiar with NES on up a bit since you had to be 18 or older to get in the show. So I would think that almost everyone had something to play with again from their past.
You ask anyone there and they will back me up on this. Repeatedly we would see people walk by who would peer at the set up and kind of stop and then crack a HUGE smile or go "Holy crap! I had one of these!" and get sucked into whatever old system they used to have all over again. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen! It was sooo freaking cool to talk to these people who would tell you stories of their past and see them unable to shake the grins plastered on their faces!
Michael and I talked to one older gentlemen who I think was from the UK. He spoke with obvious fondness of the Atari 800 set up and how he had not seen one in 20 years. It was the first computer he ever programmed with and, my favorite part, he said it still is one of the most beautiful machines ever made. A man after my own heart! ;) That doesn't even count all the attention it got- I mean people actually posed for photographs with the computer!!! (And not just with the Atari 800) That's just a little crazy, but in a good way and you can see what an impact this all had on people who hadn't seen their toys from the past in many many years! I believe a thanks goes out to o2william for selling John the kiosk? I think that's right. It rocks!
There's so much to talk about, I'm trying to pick and choose what would be best to write about. One guy, who I thought looked like a young Mark Hamill and came in from Canada, really stands out. He came up while Joe and I were talking and just blurts out "Thank you man! This is sooo great! I'm spending my whole day here tomorrow!" I kid you not! He went on about how he loved these old games and how these were the only ones he could play well (I knew I wasn't the only one). I mean there is just story after story of these folks coming up and saying this same type of stuff. I am so happy and truly honored that I got to be a part of it.
Oh, and I got interviewed by some Japanese television show. Actually, I was pointed to stand in a spot, a mike was handed to me, and then I was on my own. :( Joe took a couple of pictures, but I think now that I am glad I probably won't get to see the spot ever. Larry and Joe suggested now I'd be in Japanese porn and Michael suggested that when I finally "aired" I'd have bunnies and captions hopping all around me in the final product. Who knows. :)
Since I need to get my butt moving and head back out there in a bit, I'll just hold off on stories for now and post some pics and a link to the pics I have so far. I didn't get to go everywhere (lunch took, let's just say, an extremely ungodly amount of time to obtain and by the time I got to look around, I was beat.) If I don't get more pics today, hopefully tomorrow. There's no Sony or Nintendo so if you're looking for that, you'll have to go with the main gaming sites still.
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/thiswaytocge.jpg
A sign pointing the way to classic gaming goodness.
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/HappyFaces.jpg
All slots on that side are full!
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/Joeontvagain.jpg
HAha- we made Joe look away from the camera! ;)
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/missilecommand.jpg
John's kiosk and my Atari 800 were the perfect match!
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/AllMachinesInUse.jpg
It got more than a little bit crowded...
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/classicmario.jpg
Cameras roll in the background as peeps catch up with some old school Mario.
http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/larrysvanishingthumb.jpg
People in the background don't seem to be interested in the amazing vanishing thumb trick performed by Larry.
For all the pics I have so far, go to http://atarigirl.org/E3CGE2K4/. What sucks is that I totally forgot to go take pictures of the living rooms!!!! D'oh! So please don't say "it would have been really better if you had gotten this pic or that pic and at this angle..." We just didn't get everything we wanted first day. But to make up for it, I have some Dukes of Hazzard Booth Babes in Daisy Dukes posted for you fellas (and gals) on my pictures link. :)