Hard Time Justifying Going To Too Many Games Expo

[VectorGamer]

http://toomanygames.com

 

I'm really struggling trying to justify attending the Too Many Games expo this year. I missed last year's event for the first time after going the previous 3 years.

 

The first Too Many Games expo I went to was a blast. Admission was only about $10 per person, I had just started collecting and I left the show with a hefty bag full of 2600, 5200 and ColecoVision cartridges.

 

The cost for going to Too Many Games this year (for Saturday only) will be $53 for my son and I (plus gas to travel 1.5 hours to the show). The only thing I'm interested in is the marketplace. But as I'm concentrating on collecting ColecoVision and Vectrex games, those games are hard to find at Too Many Games. Even if I find ColecoVision and Vectrex games at Too Many Games, those prices are generally higher than what I can get through the AtariAge marketplace or eBay.

 

The only other attraction there is the Minecraft panel discussion my son may be interested in. Sometimes there are a handful of arcade games available on free play, but more often than not those are games I can already play in my home arcade. The only tournament game appealing to a me is Dr. Mario, which is a game I'm not good at. Previously they would have 2600 tournament games but they're not even doing that anymore.

 

Too Many Games used to be a fun show when it was in the smaller venue. The admission cost was reasonable. Now I walk through the door with my son and I'm already $53 in the hole. I have a hard time justifying that expense with limited and overpriced pre-NES games in the marketplace, no pre-NES tournaments and only one panel discussion that my son may be interested in.

 

 

 

 

[Crimefighter]

Why don't you just go to play games? I'd hit it if it was close to me. What other gaming expos are there nearby that are better?

[+save2600]

I too am primarily attracted to the marketplace scene of these "expo's", but the cost of admission these days is prohibitive to say the least. Of course, the solution is simple: charge per appropriate interest. Example: if you're only there to scout the marketplace (which really shouldn't cost the consumer anything in the first place), said room should be cordoned off and that way, the event coordinators could sell certain colored wrist bands that would get you into certain rooms. Make sense?

[fiddlepaddle]

I prefer the smaller shows also. Once they start to get bigger, the entry price usually rises with bigger venue, and the game prices tend to be higher and less negotiable. When sellers have to recoup a larger table cost, it filters out the "just gotta get rid of my doubles" sellers and all that's left are the full time retailers, who obviously NEED to make a profit. All the side-show stuff (games to play, contests, drawings, interviews, etc) are OK, but not what attracts me.

 

Fortunately, there always seem to be new groups of people starting up new small-time shows. The trick is finding them. If you're a seller, you like the bigger shows because more attendees means more sales.

[VectorGamer]

Why don't you just go to play games? I'd hit it if it was close to me. What other gaming expos are there nearby that are better?

 

The only other shows in the area are Video Arcade Armageddon (which I attended in April) and the White Rose Game Room Show (which I attended last October). I plan on attending those shows again, but those are pinball and video arcade shows. There was a seller at Video Game Armageddon with console games for sale but they were all pricey. Other than that, Too Many Games is a one of a kind show in the area.

 

 

I too am primarily attracted to the marketplace scene of these "expo's", but the cost of admission these days is prohibitive to say the least. Of course, the solution is simple: charge per appropriate interest. Example: if you're only there to scout the marketplace (which really shouldn't cost the consumer anything in the first place), said room should be cordoned off and that way, the event coordinators could sell certain colored wrist bands that would get you into certain rooms. Make sense?

 

I absolutely agree. I would find a $10 admission charge to the marketplace only as a fair price and would definitely attend.

[TMGChristie]

Heya, everyone!

 

Just a couple things I want to share with everyone. 8*)

 

I understand that you might only be coming to the show for the marketplace, but thousands of other people are coming to the show for the whole experience. We try to make the show affordable to everyone who's coming, but our cost of renting the venue increases annually, we have to buy new equipment every year, guests and bands cost money, etc... The convention is a business, and we have expenses to cover to be able to put on the event.

 

If you attend TMG mainly for the marketplace, maybe you'd be interested in attending one of our Game Swap events. They're smaller events we hold at Classic Game Junkie in Glenside, PA. There's no cover fee, people are able to bring trade boxes and make sales and trades, plus we have a musical performance and tournament during the event as well!

 

Vendors are at liberty to bring the merchandise they see fit. A lot vendors have shared with us that they used to bring lots of pre-NES stuff and didn't make many sales, so they started focusing on the newer systems. They're at the show to make a living, so it's tough to justify bringing and giving space to merchandise that won't bring them any income. I understand your concern, and we're trying to make the show more appealing to classic gamers, so we'll pass this concern on to our vendors again.

 

Unfortunately, it's extremely tough to make every single person who attends TooManyGames have the best time ever. We do listen to everyone's concerns and advice, and if it's logistically feasible, we try to accommodate those requests. This is true at any convention, you won't be interested in every event happening at a convention, but if you find enough that you're interested in we hope we made it worth your trip.

[Troy_Whelan]

I agree with the comments regarding having a lower cost at events for those wanted marketplace only and standard price for those who want access to all. Perhaps you could conduct a survey from the event site or even here to guage interest. I feel that you would actually get more participants if the lower cost market place option was also available. I doubt that many of people who are planning on going would downgrade to a marketplace only pass, but I think there would be several people who are not going due to the cost who would change their mind and go to the marketplace only section.

 

Troy

[VectorGamer]

$10 for access to marketplace only and I am there. Perhaps this could be an option for next year's show.

 

What to do...