Unofficial Classic Gaming Expo 2004 Announcement!

[digitalpress]

It's been a crazy amount of work to hammer out the details of this move, but it's officially unofficial: Classic Gaming Expo 2004 will be held in the San Jose Convention Center in scenic downtown San Jose, CA on August 21st and 22nd!

John and I toured the area and checked out several locations the weekend before last and the SJCC won our bid. Let me tell you, the facilities are FABULOUS in this area, it's not Las Vegas, but it is night and day with regards to quality of show space, surrounding area and public transportation. We'll have more details over time, we're working out ways to keep the costs for attendees to a minimum.

Of note to gaming folks, the SJCC is where the Game Developers' Conference is held every year.

I'd highly recommend you WAIT to book your hotel, at the very least. We'll have some great discounts available that will save you some cash on the hotels. There are several in the area, including two that are connected to the Convention Center itself.

Here are some sites to check out to get a little familiar with the location:

San Jose Convention Center:
http://www.sjcc.com/index.html

Downtown Map:
http://www.sjcc.com/getting_here/downtown.html

San Jose Mariott (the hotel of choice):
http://www.sanjosemarriott.com/

I'll have some pictures from our visit there, as well as more detailed information regarding discounts over the next few days. Details about the show will begin shortly as well. Block out the weekend of August 21st and 22nd on your calendar, and SEE YOU IN SAN JOSE!

[Mayhem]

Ah finally! :P

As long as getting from the hotel to the centre ain't a hassle, then I don't mind the two not being together

Best mark the calendar and prepare to spend slightly longer on the plane this time around

Hopefully expect to see me and the kitty there...

[digitalpress]

Ah finally! :P

As long as getting from the hotel to the centre ain't a hassle, then I don't mind the two not being together

Couldn't be easier. It's at least as good as the previous arrangement at The Plaza. From either of the two adjoining hotels you don't even have to go outside. Though in San Jose the "outside" in August really is a feature

Best mark the calendar and prepare to spend slightly longer on the plane this time around

Hopefully expect to see me and the kitty there...

Oh yeah, San Jose International Airport is just 3 miles away from the SJCC/hotels.

[Oobgarm]

Wow, that's two trips to Cali this year for me! Hope I can get some folks to share a room with to cut back on costs!

[Mayhem]

All I can say is that I hope the discounts for the hotel stretch further than the weekend, otherwise this could get expensive. Still on the brighter side, the plane trip may well work out cheaper than last year...

[Sniderman]

<pumps fist into the air>

YES YES YES YES! California, here we come! Excellent news! (This also means the mizzus and I get to take another seperate trip to Vegas this year! Whoo-hoo!

[Lady Jaye]

I'm glad that your choice fell on San Jose. Since SJ is located not too far from San Francisco, I'll be able to go visit my uncle-in-law at the same time. Now, the last hurdle is to make sure that I can take one of my 2 weeks of vacation at that precise time (since there's only 2 of us in our department, our vacation time cannot overlap).

It'd be the first time I'd step foot in Cali-for-ny, BTW.

Better start putting aside some money!!!!!!

[Qixmaster]

Excellent! Nice pick guys. Instead of a 17+ hour drive it is only an 8+ hour drive for me now. Making it there in one day won't be as bad as driving to vegas in one day. Consider me already there.

-Josh

[Cav]

This is GREAT news Joe! Excellent Location!!

San Jose is a good town with great weather. Plus you can take your wife/girlfriend up to San Francisco, or head down to Monterey.

However, I will NOT be telling you where all the good thrift stores are!

-Cav

[8bitweapon]

Way 2 go spudz! There are a few gr8 micromusic artists in the area we can round-up for the event too!

evol,

8bw

[FogDogger]

I was raised in SJ and went to SJSU where I ran the Student Union Arcade called "SUGALAND". I'm so happy, I could cry!

Make sure when you are downtown that you grab a meal at Original Joes. It's one of the best Italian restaraunts on the West Coast and reasonably priced.

Also, a few site seeing ideas. (1) The Tech Museum is just a few hundred yards away and also features an IMAX movie theater. (2) The Winchester Mystery House, built by Sarah Winchester, heir to the Winchester Rifle Co. She was haunted by the ghosts of those killed by the guns and the house is crazy, nuts and a spectacular mansion (about 7 miles from downtown). In Monterey, I highly suggest visiting the (3) Monterey Bay Aqaurium. This was built by a daughter of the HP family and is absolutely spectacular. More ideas to come for those that have the time to extend their stay [if you want them]

If anyone has any questions about SJ, fire them at me and I'll do my best to help you with my 30+ year knowledge of the area.

And Joe, if you need any logistical help, I'm still in San Jose about once a month...let me know.

Woohoo!

[Drexel923]

Yay, now its gonna cost me even more money to get to CGE. Maybe that will stop me from buying too many things...nah.

[Needle]

This is great news! With CGE in my proverbial backyard, I won't have any need for air travel. When you're as broke as I am, every little bit helps. It will be my first CGE and with this most recent announcement I can pretty much guarantee my attendance. Hey, maybe if I can get my stupid cartoon series popular enough, I'll be able to get a booth of my own!

[spoon]

Thanks for the update Joe.

Is the new CGE site up yet?

[digitalpress]

Thanks for the update Joe.

Is the new CGE site up yet?

Not yet, this is the *unofficial* word, remember? Just another fringe benefit to being a Retrogaming Roundtable member! Huzzah!

Reality: you'll see the official announcement on the CGE site by the weekend, and ongoing updates as you may have become accustomed to from the weekend on out. We have a LOT of plans this year. The show is getting bigger in more ways than just this move - you'll see what I mean very soon!

[udisi]

I'll have to look and see what attractions are around....Vegas would have been cool last year, cause all I'd have to do is give the little lady some cash and she could spend the weekend at circus circus winning stuffed animals and such, but in San Jose, I don't know yet what I could occupy her time with so that I can go be a game nerd for the weekend

[FogDogger]

You can send your better half to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk and she can win prizes till the sun goes down! http://www.beachboardwalk.com.

Maybe I could get my wife to organize some type of activity day for our temporary gaming widows? Any interest gentlemen/women?

[Querjek]

:/

I can't go this year.

Location doesn't matter--it's the date. The 21st and 22nd are too close to my school starting (26th I believe).

[atariboy]

Woo Hoo! Great location guy's. Plenty of things to do, Such as seeing the Winchester Mystery House it's pretty weird. I will be seeing you all at CGExpo2K4.

[NE146]

Wow! A place I know and am familiar with!

My first videogame show was at the San Jose Convention center. I forget what it was called, but it was circa 1991-ish.. and Sega was showing a sneak peak of their new upcoming game that wasn't out in the stores yet.. it blew EVERYONE away with it's amazing closeness to the arcade game! ..it was Genesis Golden Axe :P