Las Vegas Classic Gaming Expo - worth seeing?

[RCmodeler]

Hi. Newbie here. I saw it on the net. Is it really the biggest and best?

 

Can't decide- CGE or Otakon? Both are the same weekend.

[Snider-man]

Well, I can't remotely be seen as impartial, but I'll try to give ya an honest answer.

 

CGE (as it's more easily called) may very well be the biggest, simply because it's been around the longest. It draws a global audience of 1,000+ attendees each year. So, as for biggest? Yeah, I would have to say so - though I admit that PhillyClassic is swelling in size each year too.

 

As for "best," that's a matter of opinion obviously. The local cons that have more of a "regional" feel and are obviously fun, for you get to meet folks in your area and are a bit more "intimate" at times. I know that the smaller cons are releasing Introductory games as well, so that's always nice to get something early, before it's released to the masses.

 

Having said that, I personally feel CGE is the "best," and here's why. First up, the seminars with classic programmers. Sitting there and having david Crane and Al Alcorn describe the early days of Activision and Atari is fascinating. I sat in on an Alcorn seminar where he explained - in detail - how "Combat" came into existance. Last year, Warren Robbinett describe the genesis of Adventure - as well as the famous Easter Egg.

 

CGE has the Classic Museum. It's a walkthrough of classic gaming items and one-of-a-kind protos not to be seen elsewhere. Tres cool history stuff.

 

Vendors, vendors, vendors. Usually 20+ vendors are selling, trading, and buying everything from 2600 to Colecovision on up to modern systems. Plus, there's a huge auction where you might walk away with something for a song!

 

Plus, it's VEGAS for criminy's sake! The whole city looks like one big videogame! Plus, when you're done with the Expo for the day, go explore the city!

 

Sorry to ramble on. I do enjoy the other cons - Cinci and Philly being two of my obvious faves - but CGE is quite fun and is something you must do at least once in your life.

[Mendon]

I'm planning on attending CGE this year and looking forward to it. But....

 

... its kind of a problem with justifying the cost it will have for me as I'd be coming out only for CGE. I've been to Vegas and it doesn't really interest me to return (I'm not into gambling, the show's are often toooooo expensive, I've seen the free shows, Star Trek: the Experience, Hoover Dam, etc) so its kind of hard to justify the $$$$ for air & hotel it will cost just to attend CGE.

 

But I still want to come just to experience CGE.

 

Mendon

[Snider-man]

I see what you're saying. Me? I love vegas - and not just at CGE time. I don't gamble much (Video poker and maybe a roll at the craps table is about all). So what's there to do?

 

- Vegas is CHEAP as long as you ain't gamblin'. Food is cheap, alcohol is cheap. Hell, even the hotels (off-strip) are cheap. Air fare is about the most expensive outlay of $$$ I've encountered - and I still got tix for less than $200.

 

- The Plaza (location of the CGE) is right across the street from the Freemont Street Expereince - a huge-ass nightly sound, light, and video show. It's great having a beer and watching this specticle. Plus, the Freemont Street strip ALWAYS has something going on - free again! I've seen live band concerts and a taping of the TV show "Street Smarts." Just a week or so ago, I saw Fear Factor and they had stunts in vegas. Yup, one of them took place under the Freemont canopy.

 

- There's more to do videogame-wise than just the CGE show floor! There are always great room parties breaking out left and right with systems you've never seen before up and running. (Sadly, the great AA room party of last year won't happen this time.) So keep your ears open - you'll find one!

 

- There are indeed a lot of free crap to do and see - the casinos offer it to get you in there and spend your money. Treasure Island's pirate battle. The fountains at the Bellagio. A walk through New York, New York or Paris. Take a gondola ride through the Venetian. Cesar's Palace has animatronic shows throughout its halls. Explore and you'll find stuff.

 

I tell ya, I love to visit the city, for I'm never bored and always entertained. And I'm a cheapskate! vegas is - in my experience - one of the least expensive places to visit in the US.

[Room 34]

If you're going to Vegas but you're not "into" Vegas, may I suggest a day trip to Zion National Park?

 

It's only about a 90 minute drive from Vegas, but in many ways it's as far away from "Vegas" as you can get on Earth.

 

Don't get me wrong... I kind of dig the excitement of Vegas, even though I'm not big into gambling. But I've spent more time there than I've wanted to in the past, and it gets depressing really fast.

 

(Oh, another tip... no matter how close it may look on your map, DON'T walk from the Strip to the Hard Rock Hotel. Especially when it's 103 degrees. And when you know you'll be walking BACK in the dark. Trust me.)

[sku_u]

If you are looking for some diversions outside, but not far from Vegas, may I suggest the following attractions:

 

1. Red Rock Canyon has some nice hiking trails and beautiful land formations. Just make sure you bring lots of water and decap the bottles before setting out. I made the mistake of forgetting to decap and two of the three bottles I was carrying exploded.

 

2. Primadonna is a small town with two casinos featuring one of the longest rollercoasters in the world

 

3. Mt. Charleston is a mountain in the middle of the desert. Only about an hour from the Strip. Bring a thermometer and watch the temperature drop from 110 to 60 as you drive/hike up the mountain.

 

These are enough to occupy one's time for three days.

[Mendon]

You might be right, Snider-man.

 

Just from my experience, Vegas wasn't that cheap but maybe I went with the wrong expectations. For example, I had always heard that the buffet's were cheap as heck to get you into the hotels to gamble. But when I went there 2yrs ago (for a Trek convention), just about every buffet was $25 min per person and they were no better than a $7.95 Ryan's Steak House or Old Country Buffet. Wanted to ride the coaster at New York, New York and that was $15 per person. Went to see Space Station 3D at the Bellagio and it was $12 per person. Even the Motel 6 (loved that even they and McDonalds had neon-glittering signs) was $99.00 a night. And on and on....

 

But there are a lot of FREE things to see and do and you listed them (I especially liked the Fremont Experience). Just for me, once you've seen the pirate battle or the volcano its not really worth the $$$ it would cost to fly out to see them again right away when there are so many other new things to see. I've lived in Florida for 5yrs and saw all the attractions here once and I have no urge to go back right away (except for NASA; I'm a season pass holder and go at least once a month). Guess its just me.

 

I can give a cheap hint for Vegas though... when we went, we stayed at the Residence Inn near the Hilton. Cost was like $100 a night and that included meals. They put on a full breakfast every morning (eggs, meat, rolls, etc etc) and then had a GREAT supper every night: one night a Burger bar, another night a Taco bar, another night a Submarine Sandwich bar, etc. Lots to eat and all the free beer and wine you wanted. By staying and eating here, we saved a lot of money over the casino hotels.

 

Helped with expenses also when my wife won $1,300 at the crap's table one night. She gambles, I don't. And yes, I invited her to go with me to CGE to help pay for any purchases but she declined; said her last trip to the casino's in Biloxi, MS cured her of gambling for a bit when she dropped a grand in less than an hour.

 

To each is own, I guess. For some, going and experiencing Vegas every year is a very enjoyable thing to do; for me I like to experience new things and don't return to something I've been to recently unless major things have been added/changed.

 

Now maybe if there was a major fight going on (like a Del a Hoya fight) and I could get a ringside seat by trading a boxed Combat cart for it, I'd go in a minute!!!!!!

 

Mendon

[Atari and Beer]

Vegas is a great city and I go there once or twice a year. To me its hard to budget there and truly have fun. You do have to splurge a little. But thats just my opinion. Thats probably why I go only once a year

[Lost Monkey]

Vegas is cheaper if you book a "package" through a travel agent rather than trying to book your flight and hotel separately. I haven't paid more than $500 for flight/ hotel for a 5-7 night stay. I fly out of Detroit and have stayed at the MGM Grand, Harrah's, Rio and Paris.

[Nintendo Penguin]

I planned my Vegas Vacation last year to coincide with CGE on purpose. I enjoyed gambling and have been back once since CGE2K2. I have got to say I probably liked gambling because I won money.

 

Anyway, I have not been to Philly, although I plan to try and make the trip in '04. As for CGE, I spent a good 3 or 4 hours there on Sunday last year. I got some good deals on games and generally liked the show. The museum was very cool! Hotel rates are not too bad as long as you stay away from the big hotels on the strip. If you stay at stateline (California/Nevada boarder) it is only about $20 -$30 a night and only about a half hour from Vegas. Since laster year was my first Vegas experience, I wanted to stay on the strip so we opted to get a room at the Flamingo. (I felt it was worth it)

 

Besides the whole "Vagas Thing" I can think of one more reason for you to go to CGE this year.... VintageGamer.com will be there! I have requested a booth next to or across from DP or AA.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

I'm planning on going this year, though financially it's been a rocky road (just in general). I've wanted to go to CGE since 2000. Gotta go this year, even if I gotta sell blood plasma.

[jsoper]

"Worth seeing?"

 

Well when I went two years ago, there was a lady in a silver bikini selling beer in front of the hotel. Was worth the trip just to see her.

[Dan Iacovelli]

Well I went to CGE twice 2000 and 2002 and I had fun both times.

where else do you get to see programers from yesteryear and play arcaeds like tempest or major havoc.

in the words of Jim Ross: "CGE is the granddady of all of gaming trade shows".

it will be worth the trip.

Dan Iacovelli

[cx2k]

This year's show is really shaping up nicely. Be sure to check the updates at the show web-site... http://www.cgexpo.com

 

Also, if you're looking for things to do in Vegas besides CGE, check out our things to do page at.... http://www.cgexpo.com/info/todo/index.html

 

Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

 

John

[Snider-man]

"Worth seeing?"

 

Well when I went two years ago, there was a lady in a silver bikini selling beer in front of the hotel.  Was worth the trip just to see her.

 

Sweet Jesus! I remember her! Ahhhhh...thank you for firing up that particular memory. A beautiful woman in a bikini giving me beer. Damn near a Hallmark Card moment.

[Atarinuts]

Well she wasn't there last year!! Where do I sign the petition to bring her back?

 

Is CGE Vegas worth going to? Definately, I didn't get to stay nearly as long as I wanted to last year. I bought some great Homebrews though and got some good deals on some older 2600 games as well. All in all it's a GREAT show. I look for it to get bigger every year!

[GrizzLee]

John,

 

I think you may want to check the incorrect factoids on your site:

Classic Gaming Expo enters it's sixth year as the world's first and largest event paying tribute to the people, systems and games of yesteryear.

 

I disagree about it being the world's first. The NorthWest Classic Games Enthusiats (http://www.NWGE.com) have had events of this type since 1997. Longer is you count the Annual Seatle Atari Championship ....long before World of Atari. The B.C. Vancouver Video Club has had mini events long before NWCGE, although they have never sponsored an expo or gaming event like NWCGE.

 

You might want to say that CGE is the first "non-regional" or international event of its kind. Definitely the largest and best IMHO. NWCGE will have a booth there this year :wink:

 

But returning to the subject.......

I don't gamble and the smoke filled casinos really burn my eyes and nose, but despite all that, I reallly enjoy the parties and meeting fellow friends. With Hotel and flight, it usually costs me not much more than $200 for a trip to Vegas. More than worth it for me. I do, however, wish the event was held in the winter and the organizers would choose a different venue every year (the Plaza is getting to be old and monotonous). It would be neat it if it traveled from city to city every year. I mentioned some of this to Joe last year. All-in-all though, these are minor complaints compared to all the fun I have.

 

See you there,

-Lee