CGE 2005 Date, Venue Announced!

[digitalpress]

Why waste any time? We loved the area - a few small adjustments and we'll have addressed any and all of the 2004 areas for improvements.

We really wanted to show our commitment to the area, our attendees, and our sponsors. By setting things in motion early we won't run into the last minute (and sometimes TOO late) issues we had during the move in 2004.

I've got some pictures of the new digs online and will share them here in a future post. Out-of-towners will LOVE this place - it's an excellent hotel and area to take a spouse or significant other, a shuttle to both the airport and the BART mean you can get just about anywhere quickly and without a car (which was an issue at the San Jose Convention Center this year). Further, the hotel itself is gorgeous and has outstanding convention facilities. We'll actually have as much floorspace in total as we did in San Jose!

Stay tuned for more details.

http://www.cgexpo.com

[digitalpress]

Inside the Hyatt from the door of a room up high:
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_15.jpg

Dark photos of the exhibitor hall (a doll show was running when we were there):
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_05.jpg
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_04.jpg
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_06.jpg

The room we had pegged for the keynotes:
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_10.jpg

Concourse and registration area outside of main hall:
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_02.jpg
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_16.jpg

Dark photo of what will likely be the museum:
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_11.jpg

Probable swap meet room. Another adjustment to the feedback we received to "make this room bigger!":
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_12.jpg

An addition to the show, the Hyatt has a very large and very cool OUTDOOR pavillion. We may host the after-show parties here.
http://digitalpress.5u.com/cge_bay/hyatt_09.jpg

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

Cool i'm planning on going to it
________
VH platform (http://www.ford-wiki.com/wiki/Ford_VH_platform)

[RetroYoungen]

Awesome! Simply beautiful! I'm already watering at the mouth for 2005!

[98PaceCar]

Joe,

When are you going to start laying down the plans for the specifics (events and what not)? A friend of mine and I have an idea for something we want to host next year, so we'll need to coordinate with you. I'm sure it's still early, but wanted to plant the bug now!

98PaceCar

[DTJAAAAMJSLM]

Now the trip will take an extra 30 minutes from my cousin's place, but I still plan to go!

[punkoffgirl]

That hotel looks SO nice! That "inside the Hyatt" picture, is that area all roofed in or open air? Just curious, because it's so HUGE, but I see a piano in there :)

[Boboduo]

Wow-looks nice. Can't wait till next August!

[Arqueologia_Digital]

Hope i could go...so i´ll be the first argentinian to do it (i think)...

[digitalpress]

That hotel looks SO nice! That "inside the Hyatt" picture, is that area all roofed in or open air? Just curious, because it's so HUGE, but I see a piano in there :)

It's enclosed but as I recall the ceiling was translucent. It's very bright in there during the day and atmospheric at night.

While I'm at it, allow me to add a little about this place. When John and I arrived there last winter we were greeted with a digital sign in the lobby "Welcome Classic Gaming Expo". This was just the first sign that the place really cared about our business - the suites were more like apartments than hotel rooms, they had left very personalized gift baskets in each of our rooms, and not only did they take us to breakfast that next morning but what did it say when we opened up the menu? "Welcome Classic Gaming Expo". I'm not kidding. Printed right on the menu.

If that wasn't enough, our contact at the Hyatt actually showed up at this year's event at the SJ Convention Center to see how it all looked when it was laid out. It's pretty hard to visualize "a museum", a keynote room, or the type of custom exhibitor floor we've had, even in pictures. That kind of care really sealed the deal.

What does any of this mean to you? I don't know. But if they treat all of their guests this way then you can prepare yourself for some world class service as well as a world class Expo next year :)

[Oobgarm]

/me makes mental note to get all funds and time off secured as quickly as possible to avoid 2k4's money debacle.

[john_soper]

The hotel's fine but that doll show is what really looks exciting:
"HI, I'M GINNY"

hmm, maybe classic gamers are in no position to judge :)

[Chunky]

all your missing is a shuttle from port to hotel...........hint.

[Drexel923]

That place looks great. Next year will be my third CGE and they all are in different locations. Easy way to check out new places. :)

[Qixmaster]

That place looks great. Next year will be my third CGE and they all are in different locations. Easy way to check out new places. :)

check it out, nicks doing the mod thing. excellent man!

can't wait until next year. I'll be looking forward to seeing everyone that i met this past year and i cannot wait for the party. The whole place looks amazing! thanks for all the heads up Joe.

-Josh

[rolenta]

Burlingame is very important in the history of videogaming. It was at the Airport Marina in Burlingame that Nolan Bushnell went to Magnavox's advance preview of the Odyssey.

[vectrexer]

I heard about this place before and at CGExpo 2004. I am just glad they confirmed the venue.

I can offer a hearty fifth opinion of the place and being a good show location. Having helped to put on event at the Hyatt before with the company I work for.


Someone assign me a task. I already have my vacation marked off for next year! And no excuses this time!!!

[Queen Of The Felines]

all your missing is a shuttle from port to hotel...........hint.

Ahem. :)


a shuttle to both the airport and the BART

Kristine

[Kamino]

Looks great. I should be there. Just have to iron out travel. Can anyone out that way reccomend a campground out there? nothing fancy, just a place to pitch my damn tent, no way am I paying the exorbitant hotel room fees.

[Qixmaster]

Looks great. I should be there. Just have to iron out travel. Can anyone out that way reccomend a campground out there? nothing fancy, just a place to pitch my damn tent, no way am I paying the exorbitant hotel room fees.

there is a KOA in petaluma i once stayed at. not bad, but by the time you paid for camping there, plus transportation to the expo and back you would be spending just as much as you would if you would have just stayed at the hotel. It really isn't that expensive. Plus... you wouldn't want to miss the party. Just sell some games you don't play and you will have the cash for the hotel. Or start saving up your soda cans and make a trip MI and cash them in since they give 10 cents a pop for them there.

there is tons of ways to make money. Don't stay at a campground, trust me, you will hate it.

-Josh

[Kamino]

Looks great. I should be there. Just have to iron out travel. Can anyone out that way reccomend a campground out there? nothing fancy, just a place to pitch my damn tent, no way am I paying the exorbitant hotel room fees.

there is a KOA in petaluma i once stayed at. not bad, but by the time you paid for camping there, plus transportation to the expo and back you would be spending just as much as you would if you would have just stayed at the hotel. It really isn't that expensive. Plus... you wouldn't want to miss the party. Just sell some games you don't play and you will have the cash for the hotel. Or start saving up your soda cans and make a trip MI and cash them in since they give 10 cents a pop for them there.

there is tons of ways to make money. Don't stay at a campground, trust me, you will hate it.

-Josh
...good point, i forgot about the party. *sigh*
well, i'm still driving. I've been looking at motorcycles lately.....if i have to drive the tempo, it will be a bit high on gas, but if i have a cycle by then as planned...helllo cross country harley ride 8-)

[vectrexer]

Hostel possibly? I know there is one on the cost. I think there is also at least one in SF.

With the BART ride basically available to the hotel, you should be able to find a decent place.

I know hostel are not as well reguarded in the US as in other areas, but there can be some good deals to be found.

[Flack]

well, i'm still driving. I've been looking at motorcycles lately.....if i have to drive the tempo, it will be a bit high on gas, but if i have a cycle by then as planned...helllo cross country harley ride 8-)

Let me just throw this out KK ... I recently took a 2 hour motorcycle trip after not having ridden for a month or so, and I was almost so sore that I couldn't walk. Motorcycle trips are VERY tiring -- most websites recommend that you rest between 10-15 minutes per hour on a cross country road trip.

[Kamino]

well, i'm still driving. I've been looking at motorcycles lately.....if i have to drive the tempo, it will be a bit high on gas, but if i have a cycle by then as planned...helllo cross country harley ride 8-)

Let me just throw this out KK ... I recently took a 2 hour motorcycle trip after not having ridden for a month or so, and I was almost so sore that I couldn't walk. Motorcycle trips are VERY tiring -- most websites recommend that you rest between 10-15 minutes per hour on a cross country road trip.
What kind of motorcycle?
Japanese ninja bike(i believe the kids call these "crotch rockets" these days),
a Japanese "Touring bike"(knockoff of good ol' Milwaukee Iron), or good old Milwaukee Iron(Harley Davidson)?
I can see getting HORRIBLY sore on a ninja bike.....I'll admit that Jap touring bikes are a "smoother" ride than Milwaukee Iron......But i've ridden on the back of a 1200 sportster for 2.5 hours on several summer days running up to Marinette, and usually it just incurs roughly 15 minutes of jelly-legs.

[GunPanther]

OMG.


O_O


You're just getting closer and closer to me every year, CGE!


Okay, that tears it. I'm going this year! Especially since it's literally only about a 20 minute drive from my house. :D



Maybe I'll geek out and dress up as a video game character. LOL





:rockets: GunPanther :2gunfire:

[Dimitri]

This is going to be so much better than last year -- my only complaint last year was the swap meet where I got crushed by people surrounding some guy with a suitcase full of games...and the only driving will be to the Dublin BART station, and that's like a ten minute drive. I think I'll go order my ticket as soon as I get a couple more bucks in my Paypal. :D Hopefully I'll find a place to make a custom shirt by the time this rolls around...

Speaking of which, anyone see a guy with a sombrero buying loads of NES carts last year? :P He tells me he's bringing that stupid hat again next time...

[rick weis]

CGE guys please check your e-mail.

:D

Rick

[Darth Vader]

CGE guys please check your e-mail.

:D

Rick

I hope this means you'll be selling there again, Rick! :D I'll be sure to check out your table and I suggest everyone do the same. Fair prices on quality products!

Danny