I'm still here at the hotel, still processing this glorious show! Random thoughts...
-Seeing all these weird prototype and rare games is in a way humbling...I just can't imagine how these few people have managed to get these one of a kind pieces. That being said, rare doesn't always equal good or fun. M1A, I played your Domino Man! Looks nice, but what a shitty game!
-Exidy games are so shitty! Man, you really appreciate the design and physics of Nintendo, Namco, etc when playing shit like Mouse Trap!
-Meeting new KLOV'rs in person was great, although seeing all the So Cal guys made it seem like I hadn't gone anywhere! Krakboi - I didn't mean to blow you off...I was annoyed that Julie hadn't gotten off the phone yet to get a decent seat with me for the Rock-a-Fire movie.
-I played Donkey Kong 2 fir the first time....I think I hate it. It's hard to the point of not being fun. An interesting hack, but I'll stick with the original
-Meeting pinball design legend Steve Ritchie (and seeing his entertaining panel discussion) was a highlight. He autographed my Spider-Man translight & BK2K backglass.
-Meeting Cliffy (maker of the best pinball protectors and color post sleeves) was great. One of the nicest guys of all time.
-I can't believe the raffle winner took the fucking Multicade over the pinball!!! Sure, it was Stern Indiana Jones, but still!
- $18 for the breakfast buffet at the hotel?!?! Seeeeya!!! Since I'm vegan, that's $18 for fruit and a bagel. Thankfully, there are a ton of food options near the hotel. There's a frigging Togo's on every corner in Santa Clara. We went to House of Bagels this morning, and Parrothead & his wife came in a few minutes later...joined us for breakfast. Sorry about the parking spot dude!
-Finally got to play Big Bang Bar!!!! YAY! Some other good pinball rarities too, like Jolly Park, Orbitter 1, Transporter, etc.
-It was pretty packed the whole time. It was easier to get on the vids than pins...pins were always packed. Sometimes a group would be doing 4 player games on 2 machines at once....grrrrr. Still, I got to play everything I wanted!!!
-Julie's favorite game of the show was a proto puzzle game called Sparks. I didn't think the game was worth a shit - but she must have been on it for 3 hours!!!
-I was SO bummed that the Beavis & Butt-Head cab had a game called "Die Alien Scum" in it. That was the vid I wanted to see the most.
-I really liked the panel with the guy who found ROMs at a flea market containing unreleased Atari & Coleco games. So cool.
Overall, a great event and a grea time! I'm pooped...why is playing games so tiring?!?!