MICHIGAN Forum Gathering, August 2nd!

[Sega Hitman]

I just got done reading that post about a Canadian gaming expo, and I thought to myself, "Michigan probably has more collectors alone". I remember a year or so ago, somebody started a thread about people in Michigan, and it ended up being a few pages long. There are a whole lot of us here. Well, I was bored out of my mind anyway, so I went to the member list, and counted the number of people in MI, IN, OH, and Ontario. Folks, there are 78 people on this board alone. Also, the vast majority of people didn't list a location, and there are a lot of people with funny comments as their location. I'd estimate that there's probably 100 people in this general area from this board alone. Thats not even counting the Atari Age and Video Game Bible people.

Well I don't really know that many of you. I do know a guy in Grand Rapids with a basement full of classic arcade games. I know a guy a few miles away with a dedicated I Robot. I know that Tempest has, in my estimation, the biggest collection of Atari prototypes known to man . His collection alone is one hell of a "museum" section. I'm pretty sure we've got enough people and games to have some kind of an expo/convention type deal.

Is too many convetions a bad thing? I certainly don't think so. I know for a fact that I won't be able to make it to something like CGE or Phillyclassic any time soon. They're too far away, it would cost too much too get there. Cinciclassic is the nearest thing I can think of, but thats still a 6 hour drive. With this many in Michigan alone, wouldn't it be worth it to have something? Right?

Thoughts?

-Hitman-

[den68]

yes, I think it would be well worth it. I wouldn't know the first thing about organizing a convention, though there are plenty here to ask advice from.

maybe if we organized something simple like a swap meet. if we found a location (I have a possible one I will look into) and a good date we could announce it here and at the other boards you mentioned and see who shows up. that might be a good gauge for interest and could possibly evolve into a convention one day.

it would at least give a bunch of us a chance to meet and trade some games. maybe have some pizza and some sodas. I'd say beer but I believe some of the youngens' are from MI and we wouldn't want to exclude them.

[Six Switch]

Sounds like fun.

I'm not sure where everyone is located but would it be around Detroit?I know a lot of people are located there.And a new shop that sells classic games just opened up by me,I'm sure the guy would love to come.

I hope this works out...

[Sega Hitman]

Out of curiousity, what shop are you talking about? My dad lives down that way. I may have to go "visit him"/go stop by the game store by his house.

-Hitman-

[davidbrit2]

Hey, I'm in the Grand Rapids area. Where's that guy with the basement full of arcade games? I have access to a van and heavy, blunt metal objects.

[norkusa]

I'm in Grand Rapids too. I can't afford to go to CGE this year, so a meet somewhere in Michigan would be real top. I belong to a private Polish club/bar, so I can get a hall rental (200-300 capacity) for dirt cheap if needed.

I think I've been to that guys basment arcade in GR. I it's the same guy I'm thinking of, I bought a Commando and Ikari Warriors off of him a couple years ago.

[Sega Hitman]

His name is Pete Mathis. Here's a link:

http://wolf.mystarband.net/default.html

I bought a battered Arch Rivals from him a few years ago. He still has a couple games for sale, some pretty nice stuff if you're interested. Be sure to check out his "Big Score" page, he manged to buy like 30 games from a warehouse or something.

From what I remember though, he was into console stuff as well. There are probably pictures of his Dreamcast in a cabinet somewhere on there. If we ever did have a convention, he's definitely somebody we want to come.

-Hitman-

[Gamereviewgod]

I'm just below you in Toledo. It would be great to see a close convention.

[Dan Iacovelli]

I don't know the distance from Mi to IL,
but I'm holding a video game and computer trade show( yes it's a convention ,but a trade show sounds more profesional)
in IL next week (july 12th)
if anybody from MI want to come please do more the merrier.
heres the url: http://avc.atari-users.net/Events/FestVGS.html
(Advance payments have ended on june 30th, but you still can pay online)

Dan Iacovelli

[Starcade]

If I could drive yet, that would be a fun thing.

I think a good idea would be for sometime, everyone pays their way, and then chips in, rent a building, and we all can hang out, trade games,ect. I think it would be really fun fun for all (or most) of us to hang out sometime.

[digitalpress]

Don't forget to consult with the Official Collector's List from the link above, too - you may get some more names of local MI folks.

It's great when this stuff happens - please do keep us "non-Michigan" folk in the loop.

[Darth Vader]

Don't forget us Wisconsinites! There are many of us that collect too! Including me and dave2236.

Hey, I'm in the Grand Rapids area. Where's that guy with the basement full of arcade games? I have access to a van and heavy, blunt metal objects.

Danny

[ubersaurus]

From what I've noticed, there's a number of michigan collectors located in SE Michigan...with a couple towards the central region.

If you give us a place and time, I'm sure myself and a few others could show.

[Gunstarhero]

I'm about 3 miles from the Michigan line in North-Central Indiana. Very close to South Bend/Notre Dame.

[Ed Oscuro]

We very well could have a convention in Michigan...I live in Battle Creek, myself.

[maxlords]

I'd be up for it....I'm about 2-3 hours away in Southern Ontario. Detroit is fairly close by I'd buy a booth!

[Ed Oscuro]

Bah, stay away from De Troit (unless you're gonna do it on the outskirts). Detroid (hmm little energy suckers flying around there, interesting typo) is still looking pretty bad from the riots forty years ago.

Maybe we could have some sort of small get-together on some campground or other. I've got an acre on each side of my house (quite a long driveway) but I doubt that's long enough (nevermind the lack of power for however many arcade machines would be coming).

CGE, watch out! Here comes the MICGE ;)

[Zaxxon]

I'm in Rochester. Is that close enough Hitman?

[Sega Hitman]

It's a wonder I find anything in this town. 3 DP'ers is too many!

I definitely think we all need to have some kind of swap meet when there is this many people in southeast Michigan alone. Where and when is up to whoever wants to host it, but as long as it's close, I'll be there.

If there really is enough interest, we should see about renting a hall and going all the way with this. There's a place in Livonia called "Knights of Columbus", or something to that affect, that has comic book shows all the time. It isn't the biggest place, but it may be just right to fit in a few booths and arcade games. It's about as close to Ontario as we can get too. Does anybody else have any suggestions?

-Hitman-

[Ed Oscuro]

We should hire out the Kellogg Arena for the weekend :D

That place is huge.

On a serious note -- Rochester? I've heard the name many a time. Small place, isn't it?

[ubersaurus]

You think thats bad? There's like 6 or 7 downriver where I'm at!

[Zaxxon]

It's a wonder I find anything in this town. 3 DP'ers is too many!

I definitely think we all need to have some kind of swap meet when there is this many people in southeast Michigan alone. Where and when is up to whoever wants to host it, but as long as it's close, I'll be there.

If there really is enough interest, we should see about renting a hall and going all the way with this. There's a place in Livonia called "Knights of Columbus", or something to that affect, that has comic book shows all the time. It isn't the biggest place, but it may be just right to fit in a few booths and arcade games. It's about as close to Ontario as we can get too. Does anybody else have any suggestions?

-Hitman-

I'm not taking your stuff. I haven't actively sought stuff for a few years now and I never bothered looking in Rochester/Rochester Hills much. I'm not in the market for used baby clothes. I had suggested Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum http://marvin3m.com/ in the previous thread as a meeting place. It's an arcade that doesn't suck. It's at 31005 Orchard Lake Road
Farmington Hills, MI 48334, U.S.A.
(248) 626-5020

[davidbrit2]

Yes, Marvin's is AWESOME. I go there occasionally to play DDR, Guitar Freaks, and Drummania. It's the most incredible fire code violation I've ever seen. I think holding a good sized gathering there would be foolish, given that moving from one end of the building to another requires practically crawling over several arcade machines. Heh. But everyone must go there at least once. As long as you aren't claustrophobic, that is. ;-)

Oh, hey, I'll be in the Detroit area this weekend, so if anyone wants to meet at Marvin's on Sunday to screw around for a few hours, I'm game.

[Tempest]

Marvin's rocks! I remember when that whole area was still Tally Hall. I actually used to live down in West Bloomfield so I went there alot. I'm up for meeting there on Sunday.

Tempest

[davidbrit2]

Cool. Any suggestions for when we should all saunter over there? I'm going to hit Pinball Pete's that day, too, so I want to work both of them in. The web site says Marvin's is open from noon until 9:00 PM.