I must say that this year's NWCGE 2009 Portland Retro Gaming Expo (I'm going to call it "Purge" from here on so I don't have to write out that long name) was very impressive.  As some people know, this was Specialty Gamer's first year officially as a vendor.  This year's Purge I kept hearing was to be a big deal and much more organized than years past, and it did not disappoint!

Some of the interesting events happening at this year's Purge included:

• A live performance from Chiptune and Crunchy Records recording artist Leeni, who sings to a background of 8-bit influenced trip hop beats. 
  
  Great stuff, and dancable too! 
• Live auction including various collection pieces
  
  The NWCGE table and display of the goods to go up for live auction
• The video game tournaments
  
  Tournament field was so huge this year, it was ongoing almost the whole dayNeat Championship trophies!!
• Costume contest!
  
  Wow!! Its Purple Tentacle from Day of the Tentacle!! My fave costume of the day and I had to put my arm around it!!

This year was the most packed I have seen a NWCGE event in the four years since I started going, and the turnout was excellent at OVER 800 people strong for a single day.  I missed last year's show in 2008 because I was out of town, but this was a MUCH bigger show than the last NWCGE expo I went to in 2007.  The Specialty Gamer table got plenty of action thru the day.  Creston was there with me and at the end of the day, both of us were very tired. 

Creston organizes the table

The only downside I can think of was that it was so busy, that people kept buying from us one after the other and it didn't give me much of a break to hang out or to really shop around myself - but really that's okay.

Almost certainly next year will just as big, if not bigger.  (no pressure guys...)  

Table of Ground Kontrol , host of show parties

Recycled Gamer's wall of electric play cubes!!

Chase the Chuckwagon.com in attendance

Scott Boothby brought his R2-D2!!

Ken working the Recycled Gamer table!

Peeps relaxing in the classic lounge area

Show sponsors Video Game Wizards very well represented

Console Freeplay / Console Tournament area

Video game sweetheart Jeanne does the work (hi Toby!)

Corey was busy at his table the whole day

Various rarities from Dan and friends

Danny at the Game Trader booth (I swear, my camera does not like to take clear picks of you...)

There was so much going on and the show was SO busy, I know for certain that I wasn't able to meet and mention everyone who took part so apologies for that.  I was behind a table for most of the day and I tried the best I could!

My pictures aren't the greatest using my old-ass camera, so check out a ton of much better pictures taken by show volunteer, Charles:  Setup The Show The Costumes The Auction

Links:

AtariAge

Billy Galaxy - 912 W Burnside, Portland, OR

Chase The Chuck Wagon.com

Deep End Gear

Game Trader - 3205 SW Cedar Hills Blvd., Beaverton, OR

Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade - 611 NW Couch St., Portland, OR

Leeni

NintendoAge

NWCGE

Recycled Gamer

Retro Gaming Expo

The Nerd Report

Video Game Wizards - 9712 SE Foster Rd., Portland, OR