The Midwest Gaming Classic returns to the Wisconsin Center this Friday through Sunday for a weekend of all the games.
The event brings together over 10,000 players for an experience to share their passion, said organizer Dan Loosen. The event promises family fun and everything gaming related, from board games to the latest console games.
Loosen and a group of others from previous years have hosted the event every year — except for one in 2005 — since 2001, with this year being the second at the Wisconsin Center.
“You get to see all the aspects of the game that you don't normally think about,” Loosen said, adding that the event will have enough pinball machines and screens so no one will be bored at the event.
The Midwest Gaming Classic is unlike other popular conventions like Comic-Con or E3. focuses on all aspects of gaming and aims to inform and teach attendees about the history of gaming, Loosen said.
An important aspect of the event is the vendors. With over 100 vendors, there's no shortage of things to buy. Vendors will offer games, art, clothing, console cleaning services and more. This side of the event attracts collectors because many of the vendors specialize in older, hard-to-find games.
“The idea behind our show is that it's a place to participate and do things, and the vendor hall is practically a third of the actual exhibition space,” Loosen said. The other two-thirds of the floor is devoted to playable displays and other activities.
In addition to the many different games and activities that will be present at the event, special guests will also be in attendance. These guests are industry professionals in various aspects of gaming, as well as major pop culture figures.
Two of the featured guests are wrestling legend Eric Bischoff and “Ghostbusters” actor Ernie Hudson.
One thing that sets the Midwest Gaming Classic apart from other major conventions is that special guests are encouraged to walk the show floor and participate like any other attendee, Loosen said.
“Bischoff won't be sitting at the table all day, because that's not what our show is about,” he explained.
The conference will have activities and shows for people of all interests.
“For example, if you're a Nintendo collector, there will be a collection of every Nintendo game ever released,” Loosen said.
Some other attractions include a gaming museum, pinball and video game tournaments, as well as areas dedicated to classic arcade games and board role-playing games such as “Dungeons and Dragons”.
For Samuel Wilsdorf, a sophomore in the College of Engineering, the main attraction of the event is the wide variety of must-see toys.
“I'm excited to see all the collections and the different classic games,” Wilsdorf said. “I've been a fan of video games my whole life, so I'm excited to take a look at some of the older, lesser-known games.”
Nostalgia plays into the event, as many of the featured games and collections come from older consoles, not necessarily the latest games from the most modern companies. Loosen said the event will provide a good opportunity for grandparents to show their grandchildren the kinds of games they played as children.
James Neuson, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, hadn't heard of the event until recently, but said he thinks it looks like a great event.
“From what I've seen, there seems to be something for everyone there,” Neuson said.
Neuson said his older brothers introduced him to video games, and he hopes the event will feature some of the earlier Playstation games he played with them.
Tickets for the Midwest Gaming Classic are available here Website. While three-day tickets and Friday tickets are sold out, Saturday tickets can be purchased for $45, Sunday tickets for $25 and Saturday-Sunday tickets for $55. The $175 Very Important Gamer package includes access to all three days, access to a Saturday night afterparty, collectibles and discounts.
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