VGXPO 2007 - Official DP Thread [Archive] - Page 2

rolenta

09-04-2007, 05:33 PM

All I wanna say is I was a vendor at both VGXPO's and I had an awesome time at both shows. Ed has always been nice to me and I have never had a problem with him. Also I will be attending vgxpo this year as an atendee I dont like where ed has taken the show and told him this on numerous ocasions. But i mean a huge arcade and a chance to maybe get somthing for my collection and its 45 mins away what the hell else am i gonna do

I too have been a vendor at the last two VGXPOs in Philadelphia, as well as the fiasco in Washington DC in 2005. I won't be a vendor this year although I probably will attend since it's only 90 minutes away. I know Ed since 2003 and have never had a problem with him although we've disagreed about several things including his decision not to include DP in 2005, and I definitely don't agree with his official counts from last year. Finally I don't agree with his vision. VGXPO would work fine as a small local show like Phillyclassic. It will never be another E3. Although they help pay the rent, I really don't think a show like this should have such vendors as the U.S. Army, Verizon, and Comcast (by way the way, the website still doesn't mention who the exhibitors are this year). Also, I'm not looking forward to this move to Central Philly. As has been mentioned in other forums, the traffic and parking will probably be horrendis and will bring back unfond memories of the DC show where vendors had to pay to park blocks away as well as pay the Union to unload our cars (thankfully Ed took care of this for me).

I really believe Ed's intentions are good. I don't want to comment on this PAX thing because I wasn't there. And the whole thing with DP I can't blame entirely on him. He was put between a rock and a hard place. When you're trying to establish a new show and your biggest vendors say they'll pull out if a certain group attends, it kind of puts you in a tough position. I won't say Ed made the right call but it was a position I never hope to find myself in.

intvsama

09-04-2007, 06:07 PM

I want to extend an open invitation to DP, Atari Age, Penny Arcade, and all other gaming communities, everyone is welcome at all my shows. I would never consider banning a particular group of people because another group of people doesn't want them in attendance. All my events are always very open and very casual, that's something I pride myself on. If I can borrow a line from the great NOA president Reggie FIls-Aime, gaming should be about inclusion, not exclusion.

If everyone enjoyed the feeling the legendary east coast convention PhillyClassic once had I urge you to join us in 2008 and 2009 for our upcoming conventions. We're looking to expand to include discussion panels, more free play gaming stations, guests, perhaps some keynotes from people who are more knowledgable about gaming than most or who work in the industry. If anyone wants to be a part of future TMG and VGC (more on that in the future) shows please, I urge you to contact me and join in the fun!

stonic

09-04-2007, 08:48 PM

Think about the concept of Karma. Bad things happen to bad people, good things happen to good people, etc;

If you do, then right now AFAIC Ed's scorecard is getting balanced. But he's obviously not learning a damn thing from his PAX experience, because right after he just got done telling people...

"I am pissed off, and it is a bunch of BS. I've talked to a lot of people to gage how I should react. Right now, I'm taking the advice to not do anything, just focus on making VGXPO bigger and better. And that's what I'm going to do.

So, for the moment, I am not going to be posting on the forums. If you want to get in contact with me, feel free to email." - Ed Fleming

...he contacts several sites trying to get the PAX incident articles removed, posts here under a fake name, and PM's several people here in an attempt to further spin his side of the story. He was right about one thing in his post- a bunch of bullshit is exactly what it is because that's all I've ever heard from him for the past 2 years, and that's why I have no problem saying he doesn't deserve anyone's support at this point. The show needs to either fold or be run by someone else.

However, I feel that the actions that are currently taking place by DP members are overly harsh, and should put bad blood aside and try to either be somewhat supportive of someone in the gaming community who tries to organize a con.

People on Kotaku are labeling him a pedophile:
http://kotaku.com/gaming/pax/vgxpo-visits-pax-295537.php

People on the PAX forum are nearly as insulting:
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=34228
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=34142

But yet people here are being overly harsh?!

And the whole thing with DP I can't blame entirely on him. He was put between a rock and a hard place. When you're trying to establish a new show and your biggest vendors say they'll pull out if a certain group attends, it kind of puts you in a tough position. I won't say Ed made the right call but it was a position I never hope to find myself in.

You're right, because the vendor(s) in question deserve their share of bad press. So just who were these BIG vendors that held so much sway with Fleming that VGXPO 2005 would have utterly failed w/o their presence (assuming for a moment the 05 shows were a success)? Because they're the ones who truly need to be banned.

rolenta

09-04-2007, 09:33 PM

You're right, because the vendor(s) in question deserve their share of bad press. So just who were these BIG vendors that held so much sway with Fleming that VGXPO 2005 would have utterly failed w/o their presence (assuming for a moment the 05 shows were a success)? Because they're the ones who truly need to be banned.

I don't want to go there Scott because it was my understanding that some of these vendors were also swayed into their actions, just like Ed. And from what I heard, amends have since been made so there is no point in rehashing any of this.

From my vantage point, the Philly show in 2005 was a success (unlike the one in DC. I can't speak for the TX show), although I dispute the numbers that Ed has always claimed. And while I'm sure a lot of people came by out of curiosity while visiting the NBC show, I would bet very few of them spent money.

As I have repeatingly stated, I thought the 2006 show was a complete waste of time.

mindlesspunk77

09-04-2007, 11:17 PM

As I have repeatingly stated, I thought the 2006 show was a complete waste of time.

I totally agree with you there as someone going to have fun. But as a vendor it was the best show I ever did. doesnt make any sense to me being as admission was rediculous and there were barely any vendors who had anything to do with gaming.

skulkingghost

09-07-2007, 12:26 AM

People on the PAX forum are nearly as insulting:
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=34228
http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=34142

But yet people here are being overly harsh?!

I am the guy who wrote the second article there. I do not believe I am being overly harsh, I could tell story after story of helping out at conventions, and working for his company Videogame.net. You would be surprised. I got a couple of nasty voice mails from his brother after I posted what I said on penny-arcade. But, I stand by what I said, if you wish I can upload them here.

I just wanted to chime in saying I was not trying to be overly harsh. Looking back on the post I feel back for using foul language, as that brought them message I was trying to convey down a few notches, but other than that. Just wanted to chime in and say I stand by my previous post.:sob:

skulkingghost

09-09-2007, 03:36 PM

oh ok then. It was a simple misunderstanding. Thank you!

mezrabad

09-11-2007, 07:31 PM

skulkinghost's post over at Penny Arcade, more so than the description of Ed's behavior at PAX or his spineless banning of DP damns Ed pretty well. While perhaps less credible due to its single-source "I wuz robbed!" nature, it none-the-less sounds pretty awful. If there are others who were involved in that program who would come forward and talk about it, both positive and negative, that wouldn't be a bad thing.

As it is, I'm pretty glad I'm not faced with the dilemma of missing VGXpo or helping to support this guy given that I don't live close enough.

skulkingghost

09-14-2007, 01:19 AM

I can give you some good stories you;d love not involving money or anything that directly affected me if you wish. You would love some things I was privy to.

Sothy

09-21-2007, 10:53 PM

I saw a pdf of the show floor layout.

SUBARU WILL BE THERE!

AND MORAL KOMBAT!!!!

RESERVE TICKETS NOW BITCHES

skulkingghost

09-22-2007, 01:40 AM

and if you have already reserved issue a chargeback now bitches!:villagepeople:

Kid Ice

09-22-2007, 02:27 AM

and if you have already reserved issue a chargeback now bitches!:villagepeople:

A wise man once said "Who is more foolish? The fool, or the fool who follows him?"

EDIT: Geez, that wasn't very nice. Let me restate a little more constructively. Maybe some other forums would be interested in your stories?

rolenta

10-02-2007, 08:05 AM

Has anyone heard anything about this lately now that it's just about a month away. I was planning on attending but nw I'm not sure.

1) Ed asked me to make a speech about Ralph Baer's Brown Box. I wrote back to him and said I would be attending but I'm not sure about the speech. I haven't heard from Ed since.

2) The VGXPO site still does not have a list of exhibitors

3) No on-site parking! This gives me painful reminders of the disaster that was called VGXPO 2005 in Washington DC. Vendors had to rush in and have union members unload thier vehicles (for a fee) and then get out quick;y and find off-street parking (for a fee).

4) One thing I thought fuinny was that you could get a discounted room at the Hilton Garden Inn for 'only' $249 a night by using the VGE discount code. If you go to the Hilton website and book a room directly from there without the code it's only $169 a night!

As I said I was planning on attending since Philadelphia is only two hours away for me. However I'm starting to get cold feet because of this silence.

Vectorman0

10-02-2007, 01:00 PM

2) The VGXPO site still does not have a list of exhibitors

Here, I will list some.

Make sure to brace yourself.

Intel
Nvidia
Underground Gaming
Moral Kombat
Subaru
Atari
Comcast
Dell

portnoyd

10-02-2007, 06:07 PM

FUCK YEAH SUBARU! I am pumped for them to tell me how to put a 2600 in my Brue Nissan Versa.

rolenta

10-02-2007, 08:00 PM

At CGE, Ed mentioned that he was also signing up Verizon and the U.S. Army.

MrMAGFest

10-03-2007, 04:01 PM

The only form of communication I've ever been able to use with Ed is email. Not once have I reached him on the phone. If you haven't tried it already, I'd give it a shot.

Sadly, I myself could not even get a proper reply from him, even with the assistance of Blake (who's been helping him out a lot more I hear), in time to help him set a few things up at vgxpo this year. I will probably not attend this year in fear of it being a revival of vgxpo DC, and also in fear that we will not get any traffic.

Dave-Kramer

10-03-2007, 07:21 PM

Hi everyone, I am Dave Kramer, the manager for VGXPO. Recently, Jenn Johnson and I have started running much of the day-to-day operations for VGXPO. While Ed is still involved with the expo, most of the responsibilities for VGXPO are now in our hands. Ed asked me to make sure that I keep the classic gaming communities on Digital Press and Atari Age up-to-date and so I've just created the account on this website - so please pardon me if I don't know all of the etiquette of this site right off the bat. In addition, I'll make an effort to read through this site at least once a week and provide you with updates on the show as events develop.

In addition to Jenn and I, there are a few others that are involved in running VGXPO. This includes Paul Shaffer and Blake Calelo. So if you've been in contact with any of us, we are all capable of answering your questions or getting a question answered in short order.

In addition to these staff updates, we'd like to let everyone know that this year's show is already a lot bigger then ever before. VGXPO has grown significantly over the past year and we've got a huge amount of content in store for you this year. I've also have one more big news announcement for you ... at the expo this year we are starting a new retro-only event simply called: Retro-Con

Here's the run down on Retro-Con:

With VGXPO coming up shortly we wanted to make sure you knew about the newest addition to this year's expo � Retro-Con!

This year brings so many changes to VGXPO (a new and bigger location, new exhibitors, movie presentations, professional gaming tournaments, the Breaking In conference, the VGXPO College Fair, and so much more) and one of the things we wanted to do was make sure that we never lost sight of VGXPO's roots, the classic gamer. With all of the changes to VGXPO over the past few years we took a hard look at how to best accommodate our growth and the passion of so many of our attendees for classic gaming - the result is the formation of Retro-Con.

Retro-Con is a new event that will happen concurrently with VGXPO and take place in the conference center at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on November 3 and 4. From the larger classic vendors to the Videotopia Arcade - there will still be a significant amount of classic gaming on the VGXPO show floor. However, as we started to grow we noticed that, for some of the smaller vendors, the changes to VGXPO just became to overwhelming for them to participate in the main VGXPO hall.

We want to remedy this and are making Retro-Con look and feel like other classic gaming events and swap meets. To do this, Retro-Con will feature a small, intimate atmosphere and focus on classic gaming vendors. As part of Retro-Con's inauguration admission is free (even without a VGXPO pass) and vendor tables are $75 each.

For those vendors that still want to be part of VGXPO's main floor, single tables are $185. These tables come with table-drapery and a single chair, and put you in the middle of the action of the main hall. In addition we also offer full 10x10 booths. These professional spaces come with pipe and drape, and electricity for $1400, plus we offer additional options that also come with carpeting and bigger floor space.

You might be asking yourself, why the difference in price between the VGXPO main hall and Retro-Con. The truth is, that on the main floor we are charged a rental and union fee for tables and booth decorations. In the conference center, however, the rental costs are less, and our team does not have to pay added fees from the convention center.

We acknowledge that the success of VGXPO, and the future success of Retro-Con, is attributed to all of our wonderful vendors and exhibitors. We thank you so much for your support.

We look forward to seeing you at VGXPO and Retro-Con!

Best,

Dave Kramer
dave@vgxpo.com
VGXPO Event Manager
www.vgxpo.com

Dave-Kramer

10-03-2007, 07:46 PM

1) Ed asked me to make a speech about Ralph Baer's Brown Box. I wrote back to him and said I would be attending but I'm not sure about the speech. I haven't heard from Ed since.

I was BCC'ed on this. I think we've been waiting to hear back from you. It would be fantastic if you could come out and talk about the Brown Box - please email me to discuss.

2) The VGXPO site still does not have a list of exhibitors

This may be a mistake on our part, but we're placing logos on the website as they come in. I'll see about making a page.

3) No on-site parking! This gives me painful reminders of the disaster that was called VGXPO 2005 in Washington DC. Vendors had to rush in and have union members unload thier vehicles (for a fee) and then get out quick;y and find off-street parking (for a fee).

There are over 1000 parking spots for the convention center on Arch St. and over 3000 spots within walking distance to the convention site. Yes, you may have to pay for a spot, but that's not uncommon in a major city.

There is a lot of space to find parking - in addition, all of the regional rail lines and subway lines run right under the convention center. The convention center is and market east are a major travel hub for the city.

We've also paid for the 'dryage' union costs. No vendor will have to pay to move in our out of the convention hall.

4) One thing I thought fuinny was that you could get a discounted room at the Hilton Garden Inn for 'only' $249 a night by using the VGE discount code. If you go to the Hilton website and book a room directly from there without the code it's only $169 a night!

Since we are under contract with the hotel, I've even looked into this and asked them about it. They think you may have found something else, and think you might have been looking at the hotel that is listed Philadelphia / Ft. Washington that rate is about $150 a night. The Hilton Garden Inn in Philly is $299 a night without the discount code. This is a wonderful hotel - it has large LCD screens, awesome beds, and a refrigerator in the room. We have a few rooms left, and most of the folks from the west coast are staying there.

On the other hand, some of the other hotels we were working with are now booked up. One more thing, there are a few other hotels listed on VGXPO's website that are more budget friendly, like the Travelodge and Residence Inn. If you are thinking about staying in the city there are lots of options.

rolenta

10-05-2007, 08:18 AM

Since we are under contract with the hotel, I've even looked into this and asked them about it. They think you may have found something else, and think you might have been looking at the hotel that is listed Philadelphia / Ft. Washington that rate is about $150 a night. The Hilton Garden Inn in Philly is $299 a night without the discount code. .

No, what I looked up was the Hilton Garden Inn on Arch street (and by the way, the Ft Washington hotel is $119 a night, not $169.

It could have been a glitch. When I look up that hotel now, it does indeed say $299 - $399 a night. Much too rich for my blood.

Drexel923

10-05-2007, 12:13 PM

Retro-Con is a new event that will happen concurrently with VGXPO and take place in the conference center at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on November 3 and 4. From the larger classic vendors to the Videotopia Arcade - there will still be a significant amount of classic gaming on the VGXPO show floor. However, as we started to grow we noticed that, for some of the smaller vendors, the changes to VGXPO just became to overwhelming for them to participate in the main VGXPO hall.

We want to remedy this and are making Retro-Con look and feel like other classic gaming events and swap meets. To do this, Retro-Con will feature a small, intimate atmosphere and focus on classic gaming vendors.

LOL

Did Ed write this shit for you.

Overwhelmed?...more like underwhelmed by the large area with nothing going on. You guys really are something. You start your show on the backs of the Classic Gaming community, then proceed to not listen to any advice on how to improve the show, try to turn mainstream, fail miserably...and now since we are so important to you, you "generously" stick us in a corner away from the real "show".

Also, if Retrocon is so big and important, don't you think you could have spent a whole 10 seconds and copied that huge list of classic venders you alluded to.

Will you guys just go away. We know you don't care about the community at all. Your in this for money and thats cool...but don't think that we don't know whats up.

This show is not about us here and hasn't been in a long time. Go post on Gamefaqs or the Xbox forums to reach your crowd.

Dave-Kramer

10-05-2007, 02:23 PM

In the past few months some of the vendors have told us that the costs for VGXPO were just too high for them to participate. When a show like Too Many Games is $50 a table and our tables are triple TMG it sometimes makes it harder for someone to be able to know if they will be able sell enough product to cover costs. On the other hand, we've been told by other vendors that they made more money at VGXPO then any other show they've done.

The truth is, with a convention center we have to pay a ton of money for each table we get from them and there is no way for us to reduce that cost. However, we don't have the same fees in the conference center so we're able to make the costs to participate lower.

The scope of VGXPO makes it too big to fit into a smaller meeting space, but we were hoping that Retro-Con might be able to fill the gap. If no one is interested, then there really must be a ceiling for the collectible games market. That's okay if there is, but I hope there's room for it to grow.

Also, if Retrocon is so big and important, don't you think you could have spent a whole 10 seconds and copied that huge list of classic venders you alluded to.

In regards to this we have sent emails out about VGXPO and Retro-Con to all of the vendors in our database. It looks like your a vendor, and I don't know if you're in our DB - I can add you if you would like.

Will you guys just go away. We know you don't care about the community at all. Your in this for money and thats cool...but don't think that we don't know whats up.

We want to grow the community and I take issue with anyone saying were in just for the money. Sure, we are a business, but we're a few people that really love videogames - and the fact is we all grew up playing Atari, and just like you, we collect games. If you look at our community, its a small space - I think shows like VGXPO could be used to grow the classic gaming space.

I've been working on VGXPO since year one and I attended every PhillyClassic, except the first one, but VGXPO is not PhillyClassic. I sure did like PhillyClassic, but the vision for VGXPO was to grow into a multi-layered show, one that includes classic and new gaming, arcades, PC and whatever else might develop over time.

Other then trying to include everything in one show, is what are we doing wrong? And more important, why can't new and retro gaming exist at the same show?

Muscelli

10-05-2007, 03:56 PM

Mixing the two is pointless, there really isn't any point in having vendors provide the newer releases when they can be found in any Gamestop/Bestbuy/ hundreds of other stores... The great thing about the classic gaming shows is that you are able to buy the older games that you cannot normally find in a store.

Drexel923

10-05-2007, 04:14 PM

In regards to this we have sent emails out about VGXPO and Retro-Con to all of the vendors in our database. It looks like your a vendor, and I don't know if you're in our DB - I can add you if you would like.

How does that help those that don't want to be a vender, those that may show up to the show, or those who want proof that this list is really all you and Ed say it is. If your here to promote your show, VGXPO (and including Ed from the past) should be a little more upfront with stuff that we will see. Again, we are not Gamefaqs here, we are a classic gaming community...we don't care about Subaru and Moral Kombat, we want to know if it will be worth our time and money to show up for classic related items/events. In the past we've heard nothing but overblown stats and hype out of Ed with no real facts and 99% of the time those things turn out to be false. So your going to have to try harder to impress us. Your show isn't that far away and people have no idea if they will go or not...that is not a good thing.

Other then trying to include everything in one show, is what are we doing wrong? And more important, why can't new and retro gaming exist at the same show?

If you want to know what "you" (VGXPO) have done wrong in the past, feel free to read up in this thread and all the previous threads about it in the past. I won't waste my time repeating all of these things since most people around here know about it.

These comments are not meant to attack you as a person (as I don't even know you), but at VGXPO as a whole and it's relation between "you" and the classic gaming community (DP and others)

intvsama

10-06-2007, 01:45 AM

When a show like Too Many Games is $50 a table and our tables are triple TMG it sometimes makes it harder for someone to be able to know if they will be able sell enough product to cover costs.

*cough* Our tables start at $27 and go up to $33. And those prices are even UP over past events. We're also now offering booth style setups for people who wish to have more space or prominent locations. We offer a 12'x18' booth immediately inside the main entrance for $275, another one right behind it for $250 and 12'x12' booths for $120

Just because people can't afford a $1000 booth doesn't mean they shouldn't be a part of the main show floor. Our floorplan is available for anyone to check out at www.toomanygames.com/2008/floorplan2.jpg There's no separate rooms, nothing's partitioned off. If you're part of TMG you're part of TMG.

BTW, that enormous area (720 sqft) in the top left is being reserved as hopefully a joint effort between DP and AA. If anyone knows Joe or Al pretty well, start poking and prodding them to make sure they accept our offer of that space for an INSANELY cheap price. 8*)

On the other hand, we've been told by other vendors that they made more money at VGXPO then any other show they've done.

Well, when you're one of only two or three vendors it's hard not to make money if people are looking to spend.

mindlesspunk77

10-06-2007, 01:58 AM

Well, when you're one of only two or three vendors it's hard not to make money if people are looking to spend.

I totally agree with chuck 100% here. Other than me and tom and mike from http://www.collectorscardsandgames.com/ there were no other vendors with a large selection of affordable games. So me mike and tom couldnt help but make lots of money. its like opening up a water store in the middle of the desert if there is no competition really its easy to make lots of money.

And also Ive always supported both ECGX TMG and VGXPO ive always had ten times more fun at chucks shows and always felt like i was just as important as every other vendor. It was for fun there was no buisness side. And that is where VGXPO has gone wrong.

LONG LIVE TMG! MAY 4th 2008 ITS WHERE ITS AT BABY! *FLASHS BUISNESS CARD*

J2games

10-12-2007, 09:02 PM

Sorry kids - J2GAMES HAS DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND THE SHOW. OUR UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OTHER VENDORS HAVE BACKED OUT AS WELL DUE TO MOUNTING COSTS.

$1400 for a table, $250 a night for hotels, travel expense, meals. etc. After last years attendance, we cant justify the increasing cost.

Jay
www.j2games.com

Dave-Kramer

10-13-2007, 03:44 PM

I wanted to give the online community a sneak peak at the exhibitor line up for VGXPO 2007. In the following list you'll see the exhibitors and their placement on the show floor. A PDF map of the floor can be seen at
http://www.vgxpo.com/2007floorplan.pdf (please note the floor plan may change before the show).

Please feel free to post this message on other forums and websites that you think might have an interest.

Thanks,

Dave

COMPANY BOOTH NUMBER Amount of SPACE

Collectors Cards and Games 110,111,112 10x30

Comcast-Corp TBD

Dell 201 20x20

Devry 149 10x10

Digipen 155 10x10

Digital Press 117 10x10

EA's Rock Band 803 70x40

ECA 207 20x20

ECD 173 10x10

Emergent Technologies / Mary Margerate 156 10x10

Full Sail 147 10x10

Future TBD

GAME COCK 206 20x20

GameJOBS.com 148 10x10

Gameloft 146 10x10

Gamer's Gear TT20 na

Gamershield TT10 na

Hardcore Gamer 179 10x10

Ideazon 209 10x10

Intel 801 80x40

J2 Games 115,116 10x20

Lead Stream 178,181 10x20

LOST CAUZE 129,124 10x20

MORAL KOMBAT TBD 10x10

Noob Sauce TT30 na

NVIDIA 301 30x30

Panasonic Tour Bus 802 70x40

Patriot 176,177 10x20

Pelican 180 10x10

Philips amBX 703 20x20

Power Up Games TT40 na

Savannah 157 10x10

SMU 159 10x10

Subaru 601 40x50

Trade My Games 182 10x10

Tyrone McCloud - Track Beat Productions 114 10x10

UGS 501 30x50

VGXPO Autographs TBD - 118, 125? 10x20

GameZone 118,119,120 3 10x10s

GameZone 123,124,125 3 10x10s

LAN Gaming 302 30x30

NES World Champs 107,108 10x20

PMS Clan 173 10x10

Red Storm 10x10

VGXPO T-Shirts 106 10x10

VideoGame Camp 104,105 10x20

Videotopia 1 212 20x20

Videotopia 2 213 20x20

Virtual Rush 187,188,189 10x30

Zdavis Media/ 1 Up.com 101,102,103 10x30

Stage Area STAGE LOUNGE 30x70

Ziddio / Gamer Invasion / Halo 3 305 30x30

** Please note, the floor plan has some white blocks, we are waiting for
contracts back from exhibitors before we fill them, in addition, while AtariAge is on the current version of the floor plan, we have not yet confirmed that they will be at the show.

Dave-Kramer

10-22-2007, 05:54 PM

Turn your old games (and systems) into a free pass to VGXPO!

We�ve teamed up with the VideoGame Museum and children�s charities to provide you with the chance to come to VGXPO for free. All you have to do is donate some of your games to these great groups.

To get your free pass all you need to do is drop off your games (and/or systems) to the VGXPO Will Call desk. Here are the options on how you can get into VGXPO for free:

Option 1
Donate any one of the following game systems and get 2 weekend passes to VGXPO:

PlayStation Portable
PlayStation 2
Game Cube
Xbox
PlayStation 3
Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
Nintendo DS
Pentium 4, or higher, PC (or Lap Top)
Apple Computers (2004 and later)

Option 2
Donate two working games for the following game systems and get 1 weekend pass:

Xbox 360
Nintendo Wii
PlayStation 3

Option 3
Donate five games for the following game systems and get 1 weekend pass:

PlayStation Portable
PlayStation 2
Game Cube
Xbox
Nintendo DS
Any Modern PC or Apple Games (released after 2003)

Option 4
Donate any retro game system and five games and get 1 weekend pass:

Any retro system (non-PC) and any 5 games

Please note, all game systems, computers and games must be clean and be in working order. All game systems must have Power and A/V Wires and at least one working controller. PC and Apple computers must include all internal hardware (hard drive, memory, video card), keyboard and mouse - monitors are not required, however only LCD screens will be accepted.

J2games

10-26-2007, 03:01 PM

One of our J2Games.com readers supplied the following details about cheap parking for those driving to the 2007 VGXpo:

"It's about a 4 block walk to the convention center from the garage but it's a newer, clean garage and it's only $5 a day to park on weekends. Much better than $20 a day for one of the lot's 1-2 blocks from the convention center.

Here's the link to the garage: http://www.philapark.org/findparking/parking_locations.aspx?parking_location_id=5 "

Unfortunately, J2Games has decided against attending the show (as previously annouced.) The table rates, hotel rates, travel fees, etc have escalated to the point that anyone not local will take heavy losses just to attend. (and we don't want to jack up the prices just to cover the costs, no sense in raping our customers just to support attending a show.) It also appears not many other videogame sellers are attending either.

You will be able to find Bill Kunkel, "The Game Doctor" and Rob Faraldi, "Gamer's Unite" covering the show for us. Make a point of saying Hi!

rolenta

10-26-2007, 06:03 PM

You will be able to find Bill Kunkel, "The Game Doctor" and Rob Faraldi, "Gamer's Unite" covering the show for us. Make a point of saying Hi!

Bill informed me last Friday that he and Laurie will not be able to attend the show either. So unless things changed in the past week, I wouldn't count on seeing them.

Dave-Kramer

10-27-2007, 03:39 AM

VGXPO is less then a week away - and the exhibit floor is 90% sold out. We have over 40 exhibitors coming to the event, as well as a few gaming legends, including the Game Doctor himself, Bill Kunkel. This year is sure to be different then years past but VGXPO is growing and is sure to be a great event. I hope you'll consider attending.

rolenta

10-27-2007, 03:32 PM

We have over 40 exhibitors coming to the event, as well as a few gaming legends, including the Game Doctor himself, Bill Kunkel.

I stand corrected. After reading this post I checked with Bill and he told me that he decided to attend after all.

Mangar

10-28-2007, 03:46 AM

(sigh)

I miss the old Phillyclassic

BillKunkel

10-28-2007, 10:39 AM

I stand corrected. After reading this post I checked with Bill and he told me that he decided to attend after all.

I wanted to thank Ed Fleming, who really went out of his way to facilitate my getting to this year's show despite some seemingly impossible scheduling problems and I do look forward to seeing the Usual Suspects and meeting some new faces. Hope to see you all there. And when I say that, please bear in mind that I COULD HAVE gone to Amsterdam instead.

If that isn't validation, then none exists.

Sniderman

10-28-2007, 11:39 AM

...please bear in mind that I COULD HAVE gone to Amsterdam instead.

O_O
Wow.

I certainly hope you feel you made the right choice next week then.

mindlesspunk77

10-28-2007, 01:22 PM

(sigh)

I miss the old Phillyclassic

Come to TooManyGames in Reading PA! Its the closest to philly classic your gonna find in the philadelphia area!

www.toomanygames.com

intvsama

11-02-2007, 07:47 PM

Did anyone go tonight? Any first night impressions?

Sniderman

11-03-2007, 10:01 PM

1UP's VGXPO opening day/set-up blawg (http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8467544&publicUserId=5450684)

Only thing I've been able to find after 2 days...

Phosphor Dot Fossils

11-03-2007, 11:13 PM

I hereby nobly offer to go to Amsterdam on Bill's behalf. ;)

rolenta

11-04-2007, 01:03 AM

Okay, here's what I thought about VGXPO:

It's exactly what I thought it was going to be. Basically, it wasn't good, it wasn't bad - somewhere in the middle.

Ed told me two years ago that his vision was to have a show that rivaled E3. While VGXPO wouldn't eactly rival E3, it's on that path. The show was full of exhibits; and only one classic vendor decided to show up. That was good but he didn't fit in with the rest of the exhibit.

Everything could be seen in about a half hour. There was Suburu and Panasonic, and Intel. The problem was that there weren't really any games! Without a presence of at least one of the three console manufacturers having their games to display, it's not really a gaming expo. Even if there were third party companies showing they're games it would be something. But they weren't there either.

The back of the venue was empty and some smaller booths were either empty, or close to it. The girl from Digipen looked lonely and bored. Then there was one booth of a guy selling videogame hot sauce(?) and it wasn't Billy Mitchell.

I missed the Moral Kombat showing but the showdown between Jack Thompson & Lorne Lanning was interesting at times. The trailer for Postal didn't make me run out and want to see the movie.

I saw people having a good there. Again, if Ed could get more console-related companies there, including at least one of the manufacturers, the show might make it a smaller-E3 type venue. But first we have to see how many of the exhibits who were there this year will return.

mlambert890

11-04-2007, 10:10 AM

Good summary by Leonard. Basically, this show is now an attempt at a Digital Life Jr (for anyone familiar with that show).

Moral Kombat and the debate were great, the side panels were a good idea (if sparsely attended), and the show floor was fun although only about 30% full.

I don't know that vendors like Panasonic, NVidia and Dell will continue to make the kind of investment they made this year though. Dell really spent some cash on this and I can't help but wonder how their local marketing team can justify the spend. They had some good personalities on hand (N'Gai, TommyT, Jack and Lorne, lots of those "pro gamers") and some nice trade show floor exhibits, but it didnt seem like it drew a large enough crowd.

If all involved are willing to accept losses for a few years, and Philly had the appetite for tech that a NY or an LA does, it *might* end up a decent show.

At this stage though, it has nothing to do with classic gaming really and any attempt to try to create that bridge (outside of a panel or something - maybe hosted by Leonard!) would just confuse it. The lone vendor really seemed out of place (although I think he did sell some stuff) so I suspect that all of the vendors that opted out had the right idea.

rolenta

11-04-2007, 10:30 AM

At this stage though, it has nothing to do with classic gaming really and any attempt to try to create that bridge (outside of a panel or something - maybe hosted by Leonard!) would just confuse it. The lone vendor really seemed out of place (although I think he did sell some stuff) so I suspect that all of the vendors that opted out had the right idea.

In Ed's defense, he did ask me to lead a discussion about the Brown Box but I opted out because 1) When he asked me I was in the process of creating three training courses for work and was burnt out from them, and 2) I'm not an expert on the Brown Box

Ed talked about having Retrocon alongside VGXPO. At the time, I thought it was a bad idea because I didn't feel that Retrocon would get the traffic because everyone would be in the main exhibit hall. This was based on last year's show where Videotopia, which was outside the main hall, was packed, yet very few people walked past my table. If enough vendors signed on, Retrocon might have been successful. However Atari Age never responded to Ed's request; J2 games backed out at the last moment. Ed asked DP to have a booth, and Joe turned around and asked me if I wanted to run it. I immediately said yes, which is why DP was listed on the floor plan. However, after I thought about it, I realized I was hasty in accepting and that the logistics were really not doable by me, so I -- and DP, had to drop out a week before the show.

Videotopia, which was not allow to fly their banner because of union rules, only had a handful of machines, as compared to last year. And even they were not packed. At any given time it was easy to walk up to them and have a sleection to choose from without waiting.

Basically, this show is now an attempt at a Digital Life Jr (for anyone familiar with that show)
Very good analogy! But truthfully, I went to the first two Digital Lifes and was totally bored by them and decided to never attend another. I like the idea of merging all aspects of gaming - classic and modern - into one show; if it could be done.

Sniderman

11-04-2007, 11:21 AM

Another review:

Drive by Scenery: VGXPO 2007 � RetroRamma (http://retroramma.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/drive-by-scenery-vgxpo-2007/)

rolenta

11-04-2007, 12:25 PM

Another review:

Drive by Scenery: VGXPO 2007 � RetroRamma (http://retroramma.wordpress.com/2007/11/03/drive-by-scenery-vgxpo-2007/)

Who is this guy? He must have gone to a different show than I went to. Or maybe the Friday show was better than Saturday's (which is historically always the busiest).

Over 150 arcade and 100 console games? Jeff from Videotopia told me he only brought around 50 arcade machines. They were arranged in two circles, each circle containing 15-25 machines. As far as console games were concerned, the only consoles Ieven saw were the PS3s that were set up in the Panasonic trailer to show how the games looked like on Panasonic's TVs. There was a lot of network gaming, but that was on PCs. And the girl from Digipen looked bored and lonely and she was out of there before the show ended.

And finally, does this guy know that when a company wants to get people to their booth, they DRAW them in, not DRAWL them in?

Coldguy

11-04-2007, 02:06 PM

Who is this guy? He must have gone to a different show than I went to. Or maybe the Friday show was better than Saturday's (which is historically always the busiest).

Over 150 arcade and 100 console games? Jeff from Videotopia told me he only brought around 50 arcade machines. They were arranged in two circles, each circle containing 15-25 machines. As far as console games were concerned, the only consoles Ieven saw were the PS3s that were set up in the Panasonic trailer to show how the games looked like on Panasonic's TVs. There was a lot of network gaming, but that was on PCs. And the girl from Digipen looked bored and lonely and she was out of there before the show ended.

And finally, does this guy know that when a company wants to get people to their booth, they DRAW them in, not DRAWL them in?

:oops:

He would be me, and I would like to thank you for point out some typos that I did. I was typing out this review in a car on the way to a family event and wanted to post it up before I got there. I was there on Friday with Pixy and we both had the its sucked attitude. If you were there you could easily have finished the main show room in less then 2 hours. I was waiting for the band but when we all realized they were a no show it was a big let down.

Also the numbers I got from the website for vgxpo, so I would like to thank you for pointing this out. As for Pixy's take, well.....he is Pixy and that is his style to leave nothing out of it. As I said if I was a vendor or had a press pass it would have been worth it, but since I could not justify myself to spend another 40 bucks to go back into the city to see more of the same and attend a press discussion I skipped the other two days. Maybe next year I will go back but it really needs to show me some advances so that the mistakes can be corrected for next year.

rolenta

11-04-2007, 03:31 PM

Whoops, if I knew you were a DP member I wouldn't have sounded so harsh! Sorry!

Coldguy

11-04-2007, 04:05 PM

Whoops, if I knew you were a DP member I wouldn't have sounded so harsh! Sorry!

It's alright, if I am wrong I rather admit that I am wrong and correct my mistakes. I just hope you guys like the other postings on the blog and read it daily. Trying to make a nitche in the retro world.

intvsama

11-04-2007, 04:36 PM

Any attendance estimates before we get the 'official' figure from the VGX camp?

rolenta

11-04-2007, 05:40 PM

Any attendance estimates before we get the 'official' figure from the VGX camp?

I don't know. I would say maybe a thousand on Saturday but that number could go in either direction. The place seemed packed when Patrick Wong and I arrived there around noon.

Coldguy

11-04-2007, 05:56 PM

Any attendance estimates before we get the 'official' figure from the VGX camp?

I say 350 on Friday it was not packed the entire day and the mood was good with no waiting to anything special.

mindlesspunk77

11-04-2007, 07:44 PM

Any attendance estimates before we get the 'official' figure from the VGX camp?

Id say 1000 tops on saturday.

Sniderman

11-04-2007, 08:16 PM

The cosplay folks are starting to post their opinions. Still damning... (http://forums.cosplay.com/showthread.php?p=2158507)

Lady Jaye

11-05-2007, 08:48 AM

Where? I didn't see any mention of VGXPO in that thread? :?

Sniderman

11-05-2007, 08:57 AM

More from a blog... (http://www.gamervision.com/blog)

And the Cosplay link above, check the posts from the second one down, starting with:

Well, I changed my mind about it and decided to go . A lot of people have been talking about it so hopefully it will be fun. I just got back from the VG Xpo and that was TERRIBLE.

Oh... dammit... Was goona go to that, Sounds like i didn't miss much. What was so bad about it?

Out of the entire PA Convention Center there was only one vendor there and they were selling mostly PS1 and old Game Boy games. The 'Video Game Museum' was pathetic; it was just a few shelfs with game systems thrown on them. It look like someone's junk room! The only reason why I knew it was the Museum is because there was a sign over it and me and my friend literally laughed.

Wow, that's a pretty scathing evaluation! I'd like to see someone have a positive review of it but in the meantime it sounds like it was a real disappointment. And to think the guy who thought about it all was trying to woo people at PAX? Fat chance, now.

EDIT:
Another review. More positive than others, but some mistakes made were pretty glaring at "America's VideoGmae Expo:"
VGXPO: Lots of Potential; Stupid Mistakes (http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/11/vgxpo-lots-of-p.html)

RCM

11-06-2007, 09:38 AM

Bill Kunkel and I both did a piece on the show. I think Bill intends to publish more content this week. Enjoy!

Bill: http://j2games.com/new/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=32f31d7e2b8c6ed5fefbf119ac3a1f fd&topic=960.0

Me: http://j2games.com/new/forum/index.php?topic=962.0

J2games

11-06-2007, 12:06 PM

Just to clarify on something Lenny mentioned in his posting, J2Games did not back out last minute. We purposely sat on the fence until the end when Ed Fleming called us with a deal on tables. ($1400 a table is ASTRONOMICAL!) At first I agreed but told him I'd follow up by the end of the weekend. Before Sunday, I actually called and confirmed that we WOULD NOT attend the show.

The show wasn't shaping up to be a good place for us vendors and the costs (even Ed's discounted space costs) were still more then anyone who had to travel could really justify. (if we were still in NJ it would have been simple, but think of $800 in hotel costs, travel fees, meals THEN table rental costs for a show that last year was a total bomb - that's too much risk.)

If you are looking for some reviews from the show, we have them with pics. I think you'll find the same flavor from my guys as what you are reading here. Ok show, not good, not bad.

From Bill's Perspective:
http://j2games.com/new/forum/index.php?topic=960.0

or

From Rob's Perspective:
http://www.j2games.com/new/forum/index.php?topic=962.msg1647#msg1647