1990 Nintendo World Champions Thor Aackerlund (1st Place) and Robin Mihara (3rd Place) will speak at the 2nd Annual Cowlitz Gamers for Kids Classic Video Game Show on April 9th, 2011 in a special panel discussion. They will share their experiences competing in the 1990 Nintendo World Championships and answer attendee questions. Additionally, they'll compete in an exhibition match on the original NWC competition cartridge used by Nintendo for the 1990 NWC.

Our friends from the Portland Retro Gaming Expo put up a fantastic show in Cowlitz last year. The 2011 show promises to be even bigger and now with the added star power of Thor and Robin it will be a blast!

Robin will discuss the upcoming release of the tentatively titled film "Ecstacy of Order: The Tetris Masters" that follows several top gamers as they compete in the 2010 Tetris World Championships. Some footage for Ecstacy of Order was shot at last year’s Cowlitz Gamers for Kids Classic Video Game Show!

On the heels of last year's successful event, our own John H. is organizing the 2nd Annual Cowlitz Gamers for Kids Classic Video Game Show on April 9th in Kelso, WA. Last year we helped John raise over $1,300 for the Childrens Justice and Advocacy Center (CJAC) and we're convinced we can do better this year with your help! PRGE is absorbing much of the cost of putting on this show so that 100% of the admission will go directly to CJAC.

The show will be on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the Kelso Red Lion Hotel in Kelso, Washington. Kelso is about 1 hour north of Portland or 2 hours south of Seattle on I-5. Doors open at 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 to CJAC, although we invite you to contribute more if you can! The event is child-friendly so please feel free to bring the entire family!

Kelso Red Lion
510 Kelso Dr.
Kelso, WA 98626
See map

More information and all the details can be found right here!

Posted by CyRo at 06:28 PM | Permalink

PRGE kicked off this morning at 9:00 with a big crowd of pre-sold ticket holders rushing the main exhibition hall. Within minutes the main hall was full and soon after that the console play tables filled up as well. What a great start for this year’s show.

I saw some amazing deals for classic hardware and software, some at less than a quarter than the usual Ebay prices and that without shipping costs of course. Tonight there will be a classic gaming auction and items I have seen so far include a HALO Master Chief statue, a LaserActive console, SEGA Genesis, Nintendo and Atari rarities and some 8-Bit home computer stuff.

Tomorrow the show continues, head over to the official PRGE website and check out the details!

Posted by CyRo at 04:24 PM | Permalink

It’s that time of year again! “Wockawockawocka” sounds from TV speakers, the smell of old capacitors fills the air and joysticks have just one fire button = it’s time for the 2010 Portland Retro Gaming Expo!

Since this event started 5 years ago it has gotten bigger and more popular every year and 2010 promises to be the biggest and best ever. There are tons of vendors (see photos below) setting up, the museum and console play area is huge and there are XX arcade machines on free play and growing. In addition we have keynotes with noted speakers such as Bill Carlton (“High Score” movie), Robin Mihara (3rd place winner of the 1990 Nintendo World Championships) and Bob Smith (20 year veteran Atari, Imagic and Accolade game programmer). This promises to be an awesome show!

Here are some pictures from the vendor setups, notice tons and tons of classic games!

They even set up a little retro corner with wood cabinet TV, scary looking couch, wood paneling and the mandatory black velvet painting – relive the past in style! (or lack thereof)

So come to Portland this Saturday and Sunday and geek out at the PRGE 2010!

Posted by CyRo at 11:32 PM | Permalink