The annual NWCGE Meeting was held Saturday, 24th of February in Kirkland, WA and over 50 people attended! Hardware and software on display ranged from Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, 8-Bit home computers, Lynx, Jaguar, Odyssey2 (with The Voice), Videopac (G7400), Intellivision, ColecoVision, Vectrex and various Pong units and clones to Sega Master System, Nintendo NES, LaserActive, handhelds (Coleco, Nintendo and others) and an excellent classic video game trivia game running on a PC (need more info on this one!!!!).

Everybody had a good time, played video games, exchanged (not only thriftstore success) stories and discussed the revival of the popular videogame (Dreamcast, PS2, Gamecube and Xbox).

Johan playing Road Prosecutor on the LaserActive system.	Intellivisions (even the ultra-rare Bandai version!)	Quickly becoming a classic: Nintendo NES games!	Discussing 8-Bit home computers...
Rob (sitting), Lee, ?, Camille, Layne, ? (left to right)	Little Johan and Rob's 8-Bit machines...	Lee's Atari 2600 prototypes and home-mades.	Videopacs, Odyssey2, Pong and others.
Rick playing Frogger on a European G7400 (Odyssey2-equivalent with built-in screen)	Nortlake UU Church in Kirkland, WA.	Another future classic: SEGA Master System.	John and his plethora of handhelds: even had a Crazy Climber!
Steve showing his home-made Vectrex driving controller.	Two linked Jaguars playing 4Play's Battlesphere - sweet!	Johann checking out the PS1...	Coleco Kid Vid in box, Atari and Coleco Magazines!
Spectravideo Compumate.	Exus Video Jogger - nice!	Gemini - Atari 2600-clone.	Coleco Super Sketch!
Rick showing off his Activision Jacket - very impressive!	And here is the back side of the jacket!		One more shot!
Videopac G7200 in action!	Videopac G7400 with BASIC.	Table full of goodies!	The Intellivision section.
Handhelds...	...and more handhelds.	Two linked Jaguars playing 4Play's Battlesphere - sweet!	Turbo Grafx, Jaguar and Atari 2600 cases!
Atari 5200 with A.E.	Some guys had this awesome classic videogames trivia game running on a PC	Look what I found at Goodwill!	Some guys showing off their excellent Classic Videogame Trivia game - I need more info on this!
Special controllers in box!

5th Annual Seattle Atari Championships

The very cool poster designed by  Brent from Squeegees of Fury and Beth from Hi*Score!

Sunday, the 25th, was the day of the 5th Annual Atari 2600 Championships and this time it was the most popular and intense contest ever! Again Hi*Score Arcade was the fitting place with their mix of new and classic arcade games and pinballs. Due to time constraints the entry list had to be closed after 50 contestants and unfortunately some 10 -15 people couldn't join.

Beth, Zach and the others had chosen some tough games: Jr. Pac-Man, Super Breakout (in progressive mode) and Centipede for the general round. The 16 best contestants then moved into the semi-finals where squared off in head-to-head games of Warlords, Combat and finally Bowling. The best 3 went on to the finals where a special version of Space Invaders waited: similar to Coke Wins the invaders were replaced by the letters NWCGE and the base cannon was the Seattle space needle moving horizontally (like in the recent earthquake).

My girlfriend had a car accident and I had to drop out, the guy that was previously in spot 17, John Benner, thus moved into the semi-finals and ended up winning the competition - how is that for cool? During the general round the free pizza from Hot Mama's arrived - big hot slices - very yummy! And in the breaks we took to the classic arcade machines like Mrs. Pac-Man, Assault, Super Cobra, TRON etc.

The tournament happened on five screens and the MC Jake kept a fast pace. High scores were rewarded with solid applause and cheers and the crowd really got into the retro-spirit. Many people were sporting Atari shirts or other classic video game paraphernalia. The big Wico joysticks didn't go over well with some folks but we wanted equal conditions for everybody and it's something we'll think about for next year.

The winner, John Benner, got the NWCGE-Invaders cartridge (a one-of-a-kind!), a silver Atari jacket, video game book, Atari mug, a joystick trophy and other collectibles. The runners up, Mike Messersmith and Darren Hembd, also got all kinds of cool prices from donated by the sponsors (2600.com and Twin Galaxies). During the tournament random competitor's names were drawn and won things like Atari posters etc.

All in all a great Sunday afternoon, everybody had a blast! I'd say the total number of participants and spectators was just below 100 - if this thing keeps growing at the current rate next year's Atari 2600 Championship may need a bigger venue! Thanks to everybody, especially the great folks from Hi*Score, my fellow NWCGE buddies, the sponsors and the participants.

Super Breakout competition.	Lee losing another life in Junior Pac-Man.	Everybody played with Wico joysticks...	Junior Pac-Man competition.
Keeping score...	Junior Pac-Man was very quick!	Hi*Score Arcade.	Super Breakout and Centipede.
Zach announces the games!	John, Rob, Rick and Lee (and me taking the picture).	John, Rob, Rick and Lee (and me taking the picture) - again!	Dig Dug mural with real hose :)
Tough Super Breakout competition!	Hi*Score Arcade - coolest venue in Seattle!	Super Breakout in progressive mode made for very quick eliminations!	The place was packed!!!
Space Invaders mural...	Did I mention? The place was packed! :)	John, 2nd place winner Mike, Lee, Rob (left to right).	Elaine and Beth from Hi*Score Arcade
John, 2nd place winner Mike, Lee, Rob (left to right).

Thanks To:

 And

Hi*Score Arcade

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