Games That Weren't 64

Well, it happened again and I caught the retro buzz once more and decided to go along to the CGEUK at Fairfield, Croydon with my nephew. This time we caught the train up to London, and then down to Croydon, for what was a very quick journey, and a day I didn't need to skive off work for! :)

Sadly, I missed Saturday, but I sure wasn't gonna miss Sunday. Especially with the main guest being present, Matthew Smith. The famous programmer behind classics such as Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy. Apart from looking like the devil, I was pleased to have the chance to get a photo with the god of video gaming.

A quick photo with Matthew... complete with red eye :)

Now Matthew is quite some guy, and had plenty of stories to tell about his past. Even a lot of GTW related stuff and various revelations over Megatree and Miner Willy Meets The Taxman. He like the rest of us like's a pint, and showed everyone that although he is heavily rated as a very important gaming giant of our time, he is no different to you or I... but then he's Matthew Smith :)

Now, I took a load of pictures as usual, and a video cam... but to save you waiting for all the pictures, i'm just providing the links for you to load at leisure... Plus i'm tired after updating webpages and doing various other laborious tasks (Such as job hunting), and couldn't be arsed :) .. but then if you're still on a 56k narrowband like me, then you may thank me? ;-)

So here goes, and apologies for the piss poor photography... but then its not half as bad as my videoing (Ask Keith Ainsworth :) )...

Picture 1 - Kenz's exbitition

Picture 2 - Protovision guys playing Ice Guys, with Mat Allan.

Picture 3 - Yes, its a Commodore 65!

Picture 4 - The Binary Dionosaur Stand

Picture 5 - The Protovision stand

Picture 6 - SX64 playing Hockey Mania on the Protovision Stand.

Picture 7 - Guy playing with a Virtual Boy.

Picture 8 - Mini Space Invaders machine

Picture 9 - /\ The real thing! /\

Picture 10 - Defender Tabletop Arcade

Picture 11 - BBC Micro and a Tatung Einstein

Picture 12 - Arcades to the entrance of the top floor, Retro Gamer in the background.

Picture 13 - Matthew Smith playing Pacman.

Picture 14 - The guys (Minus one) from Protovision

Well, that was it. If I could put a MPEG of the video stuff I got, then I would. But I got a bit carried away and filmed about 2 hours worth of footage, so some *minor* editing is required :)... If you didn't manage to go this year, then please think about going next year!... It was a fantastic event, and i'm definately going next year... you may even see me exibiting! :)

A big thanks to the organisers and the exibitors who made it another special day of the year for me. Being able to go back in time and be surrounded with the things I loved as a kid was a magical moment, and the joys of simply playing a REAL Pacman machine again after all these years was one of many highlights. If only these kinds of things were held every week or month :)

Frank.