Attention
all retro video game nerds: to those of you who still have your Super Nintendo
out and ready to go, get excited. On Mar. 17, Gamedeals Video Games will be
hosting a Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo full of fun, social activities, and, yes,
there will be alcoholic beverages available.
Brian
Hughes, the owner of Gamedeals, a video game store in Vancouver, and creator of
the Retro Gaming Expo, thinks that retro video games have a unique appeal.
“I
find that a lot of people prefer retro games to modern ones,” he says. “These
are the games we grew up with, and like the music we listened to in high
school, they will always have a special place in our hearts.”
This
appeal reaches all ages. Hughes says that he has been aiming to attract a
demographic ranging from ages 16 to 35 for this event.
Hughes’
inspiration to create a Vancouver version of the Retro Gaming expo came from the
hype and popularity created by other cities, like Seattle and Portland: “I've
only ever been to the Portland Retro Gaming Expo, and it was awesome,” states
Hughes.
This
past experience has given Hughes not only the drive, but also the proper
knowledge and networking in order to create a successful event.
The
Expo will take place at the Columbia in New Westminster. When asked why the event
wasn’t to be held in central Vancouver, Hughes points out that the layout and
size of the Columbia was a right fit for the event, and the fact that the space
is fully licensed is definitely a plus. The venue is strategically close to
both the Columbia Skytrain station, and Hughes’ own Gamedeals store.
There
is a long list of different performers and presenters who will be attending the
event, one of whom is none other than John Hancock. Described as “a long-time
video game collector, enthusiast, and historian,” Hancock’s love of video games
has resulted in a large video game collection that has been reviewed and publicized
by the media. He was also one of the organizers for the Portland Retro Video Game
Expo.
Causing
a bit of a media stir for the expedition is the up-and-coming new Youtube game
show, Game To Win.
Game To Win will
be featuring one of their episodes live at the event, choosing guests at random
and putting them up to diverse retro gaming challenges, with prizes for the
winners.
There
will also be performances, such as Geeks After Dark, a nerdy yet classy array
of burlesque performers putting on a show geared to the tastes of the retro
gaming crowd.
Hughes’
main objective for the event is, quite simply, “to have an awesome time.
Anytime we can get like-minded people together for a party is a win in my
books.”
The
event will take place at the Columbia Theatre at 530 Columbia Street in New
Westminster, on Mar. 17. Tickets are available online through the Vancouver
Retro Gaming Expo website.
//Niggie Purrahnama, writer
//Niggie Purrahnama, writer
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