My GameCore 2009 Experience
I wanted to post about the expo when I got home on Sunday, but I was way too tired and had too much unpacking to do...here's the report!
I drove down Friday afternoon in order to set up early so I wasn't rushed Saturday morning. Things got off to a great start before I even headed out due to the fact that my Garmin kept telling me the city where the expo center was located didn't exist (I found out when I got there others from out of town were having the same problem). After about five minutes of trying to figure out what the problem was, I just stuck the address of the hotel I was staying at in and headed there first. It rained the entire drive (which was about 4 1/2 hours) so it turned into a ride that just seemed to drag on a bit too long because of the dismal skies and uncomfortable dampness. I was hoping to make it to the expo center somewhere around 4:30 but actually didn't begin unloading my merch until a little after 6. Not too many vendors took advantage of the chance to set up tables early since only as many as ten tables were set by the end of Friday night. I set up the bulk of what I had, but decided to hold back on putting out my more expensive items, just in case something were to happen...you never know. I bought a few manuals which I was pretty pleased about (Wacky Races for $1!) and headed back to the hotel to try and get some sleep.
Saturday morning I got in about 7:15, set up the rest of my table and just wandered around a bit looking at some of the other tables. I bought some more manuals for $1 each and a few uncommon games I still needed here and there, but really didn't find anything out of the ordinary until a ways after the expo started at 10:00. I kept making my fiance watch the table so I could head out onto the floor and check things out..I'll spare the details of what I bought when and where, but I'll post a pic of what I bought and around what I paid at the end of this post. I had a chance to meet and talk with Fantomex, Retrogamer and Famitek from the forums which was pretty cool...I gave everyone that came over who knew me a free service center magnet...it wasn't much, but I hope it was that thought that mattered! I had the chance to watch Marty from TV Death Squad in action and it was pretty intense...I posted a video of it on Youtube so if you have a chance check it out!
Overall I had a great time...the turnout wasn't as high as most had been hoping (I heard there were only around 400-500 people) but I did alright as far as selling went.
Some random highlights to include:
Happiest item to be rid of: A CIB SNES Laser Scope (I was getting so sick of dragging it around)
Best awkward moment of the expo:
Best 'clueless' conversation: Chatting it up with Marty from TV Death Squad...he was pretty stoked about my test station, but I had no idea what he was talking about. Very smart guy with a very wild imagination!
Best awkward moment: Watching people dance to this weird Japanese Wii game they had set up two tables down from me...very scary!
Most Discussed items from shoppers: NES Test Station and IC Chip Tester
Favorite snag from the expo: Wacky Races manual for $1 (Justabum used to talk with me about this manual ALL THE TIME...)
Item I regret not grabbing: Lode Runner CIB in great shape for $6. Doi!
Finds:
~~Manuals:
Batman RotJ, Contra, Defenders of Dynatron City, Dig Dug II, Digger T Rock, Megaman 6, Stinger, Wacky Races: $1 each
Kid Klown, LoLo3, Sword Master: $5 each
Operation Secret Storm: $10
~~Carts:
Bill & Ted, Last Starfighter, Spy Vs. Spy, Three Stooges: $3 each
Defenders of Dynatron City: $5
~~BEYOND
Ikari Warriors III (CIB): Trade
Tetris Korean Version (CIB): Trade
Galactic Crusader (B), Metal Fighter (CIB), P' Radikus(CIB), Tiles of Fate(CB): $50 Total
Tagin Dragon: $30
Comments
Sucks that the expo was back-to-school weekend. In fact this is generally one of the worst weeks for gaming stuff in general, as I can attest to from years in retail/eBay. End of summer = primo, but those first 2-3 weeks of school are just dead. I wonder what they were thinking (probably, it was the cheapest weekend for them to book the center - I hear it's pricey).
Anyways missed you guys, we'll get it right sometime. Anyone have more pics of the broader expo?
Nice pickups, glad you gave the new expo a good mark. My wife was just demoralized and wiped from last week (her first week back teaching HS sophomores) so I spent the day with her, doing her-type-things. This meant wandering around some factory outlets with her for a few hours, taking her to dinner, watching two hours of her cop shows with her without compaint, and generally doing everything non-VG-related.
Sucks that the expo was back-to-school weekend. In fact this is generally one of the worst weeks for gaming stuff in general, as I can attest to from years in retail/eBay. End of summer = primo, but those first 2-3 weeks of school are just dead. I wonder what they were thinking (probably, it was the cheapest weekend for them to book the center - I hear it's pricey).
Anyways missed you guys, we'll get it right sometime. Anyone have more pics of the broader expo?
If ever I do finally meet you...I have no idea on how to finish that thought. As far as I'm concerned the expo was good...there were a number of vendors that seemed pretty unhappy, I suppose I was a bit more optimistic about it since it was only my second expo. I do have more pictures I'll link later, I haven't uploaded them to photobucket yet.
Congrats on getting that Wacky Races manual. What are you holding in the third picture? Is it some sort of peripheral?
That is Marty's keyboard. He was kind enough to let me take a picture with it, though I almost dropped the darn thing because it was so heavy and my hands were sweaty. He made it himself...I forgot to link to the video, but here it is, he did a great job especially considering his set got pushed back, he was the only member there, had to set everything up by himself and was having technical problems with the video to boot. It's pretty funny if you watch this version because you can see bits and pieces of me recording it...trippy!
Wanna sell me that Wacky Races Manual lol
Jeremy
~~NGD
Anyways, it was good seeing you again otto, thanks for the GB test cart. Dan, im sure we will meet sometime. I missed you last show.
I always wondered why these events try to feature collectible/tabletop gaming since the hobbyists really don't intersect. You'd think they would, but I can tell from personal experience - they really, really don't. Both hobbies are an addiction, and there's not much money left over at the end of one for another, usually.
I guess it gets more butts in the door and vendors in tables though.
I know I offered before and nobody seemed interested, but I'm always nearby if you need a little help with future expos. Even a brain to pick
All in all as far as Gamecore goes, Paul did a great job setting it up. It actually looked like a show. It wasnt his fault that not many people showed up.
Very cool, Otto. Do you have like a truck or something to haul all your stuff in? I think a ginormous station wagon would be the awesomest thing to show up to an expo to with (maybe with a trailer attached or something).
I used my dad's blazer..nothing fancy, but it got the job done...I'd love a bomber to drag my stuff around in, I do agree that it would be cool, but a big bummer if you were to break down.