Jet City Retro was a NWCGE (Northwest Classic Gaming Enthusiasts) expo held this last weekend in Seattle's U District at the Hotel Deca. This is the first time I've seen the Deca since it's remodel, but like many boutique hotels in the area, Hotel Max, etc., the Deca blends its old world architecture with modern design and lighting. And while it was a perfect place to hold a small expo, the expo itself was...well...underwhelming.
The problem was a lack of information, while I was interested in the vendors, I had a hard time adjusting to the lack of people who had shown up for the event. There were three rooms: vendors, free play, and Rock Band. Had I, or the rest of the individuals showing up known there would be a Rock Band tourney, and NES competitions etc. I imagine the turnout would have been better. That being said, I did have fun in the freeplay room, the highlight was some quality time on a Mame cabinet playing Rolling Thunder. In the vendor room I almost bought a Electronic Quarterback game that I remember playing as a child, but it's condition/price was beyond what I was going to pay for it. The other noteworthy item from the vendor showing was a Classic Game Watch handheld that was overpriced.
Thankfully I live close to the city so this really wasn't a disappointment, but for those who drove from Portland, or parts of E. Washington, Idaho, Montana, Canada, I feel that it may have been not worth their while. If I go to another NWCGE it'll be larger with more to offer in terms of entertainment and interaction. Besides this was a two hour stop, I had other plans which included a trip to Pagliacci's, a visit to my old elementary school, now a U District community center, and the Husky Spring Game.
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