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Retro Gaming Expo - August 2 and 3, 2008 in Portland, OR

| Comments (4)

A video game expo is coming to Portland, OR at the first weekend in August - the 2nd and 3rd.  This is the third annual video game show put on by NWCGE, this year the show even has its own name!  Retro Gaming Expo.

I've personally been to the first two in the Portland area, and both were excellent.  The last one much progressively better than the first, and I don't see any reason why this year's show won't be the best one yet.  See the excellent writeup of last year's video game expo in Portland, OR to see what you can expect from this year's show.

Also, be sure to talk it up on the devoted Portland Retro Gaming Expo board I set up!!  the official Retro Gaming Expo forum (note:  the official website has since added its own forum, go there!).  See who else is going, talk about your cool finds!! 

Who is the target market for this show?

Really, anybody who likes or plays games

  • For the collector types looking to buy specific titles, systems typically unavailable in most stores - yeah, you will find loads of rare finds
  • For more casual and thrifty game players with no particular titles in mind, but just like to browse for deals - yeah, you will see tons of deals priced below market value
  • For other people that just like to hang out, socialize with like minded people and have a good time (I know I fit in this category!) - there will be plenty of contests and special events going on all day, both days. 
  • If you are a mom, dad or just someone who knows nothing about games and just looking for a single place to go to find that special gift for the big time game player you know - well Retro Gaming Expo on August 2 and 3 in Portland, OR is your chance to find exactly what you are looking for.  Many of the vendors in attendance are easy to talk to, and very knowledgable about the history of video games - so if you've had some esoteric game question on compatibility or an obscure title that the stoner guy who works at GameStop doesn't even understand what you are asking, (apologies to GameStop, and to stoners) well the people here are the right people to ask.

There will be tons of prizes to be given away at this year's show by the various vendors - Nintendo Wiis, a SEGA DreamCast kiosk, a God of War standie, and other cool stuff!!  With so much given away, if you enter all the contests, and are there long enough, I can guarantee you will walk away from the show with at least a little something.

So how much to attend? 

$10 for one day admission, or $15 for both days - but I'd strongly suggest you call up friends and family to do the Family Play, and have 5 people come in for both days for $40 total, that's only $8 per person!!  Sure, its less for just one day.  But trust me, the show is so packed you will want to plan for both days to see everything.

Where is it located? 

Its at the Holiday Inn on Columbia BLVD, off 82nd and near PDX airport.  Just look for the brightly colored NWCGE banner from the street and you'll know you are there!!

Should I go to Retro Gaming Expo?

DEFINATELY.  I know people/vendors are coming down from Washington, and up from California to come to this year's show.  Most likely people are coming in from all over the country as well.  If you live out of the local area, be sure to check on the PRGE website for a special available room rate for the show - but do it quick before it fills up!

--As a small side note, unfortunately I had previous plans prior to the date being chosen for PRGE, so Specialty Gamer will not be a vendor or in attendance to the show this year--


 

Admission 

  • $10.00 for 1 day (Saturday OR Sunday)
  • $15.00 for both days
  • Family Plan - $25.00 for up to 5 people for 1 day
  • Family Plan - $40.00 for up to 5 people for both days
  • Children 5 yrs old and under enter free with paid adult admission

There are no pre-sales - tickets available at the door only.

Hours

Vendor Hall & Exhibition Hours

  • Saturday, August 2 - 10AM to 5PM
  • Sunday, August 3 - 10AM to 5PM

Championships

  • Atari Championships - Saturday after 5PM
  • Nintendo 64 Championships - Sunday after 5PM

Portland Airport Holiday Inn and Conference Center
8439 NE Columbia Blvd
Portland, OR

Links:

Official Retro Gaming Expo website -

Official Retro Gaming Expo forum -

Official NWCGE website -

Writeup (with pictures!) of last year's (2k7) video game expo -

Comments (4)

Creston Gueldner said,

It would be cool to go to I just don’t know if I’d get $10 worth of trading/buying and entertainment out of it.



  Brian Moy said,

Trust me, its worth the price. Just about all the game places in Portland will have a table - as well as people coming down from Seattle, up from Eugene, California to have tables - as far as I know for sure - and other places likely too.

I know you like promo stuff, my friend Josh (and Josh) from Eugene will have a table and I got a TON of promo/trade goods from him for dirt cheap last year.

See the article of last year to get an idea of what will be there. I'd really recommend going both days - just to hang out and meet people. What's worthwhile is staying until the end of the day for the Championships - and entering!! Those are so much fun!!

Its really the only cool big gaming thing to happen in Portland this year anyways. Most of the people there know me so if you go tell em you're a friend of me and they should treat you well.

Creston Gueldner said,

Hmm, sounds interesting will most of the sellers trade or are they after cash (I’d always rather trade than spend cash)?

How does Josh (from Eugene) like Eugene?

Why I’m asking is Portland’s becoming too densely populated, and crime ridden for my liking.
Up half mile from my house some one was murdered a while ago, and last week someone got stabbed at a near by taco bell, and soon my house will be at the end of the new max extension.
And I’m in a good part of town. Eugene’s been looking interesting.



  Brian Moy said,

Yes, many of the vendors will trade! Each time I've been, I've always brought a huge bag of goods to trade. The thing is that most of them are private collectors - so they'll trade if they want something for themself personally usually, most won't just give you like stock trade credit like a GameStop. Any stores that are there might do that sort of thing - but I tend to favor cutting deals with just private collectors.

Yikes! Well, I don't know how Josh likes it there. If you go, you can ask him. His pic is in my article of last year's show - or if you ask, the staff will know who he is as he's a regular to the shows.

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