ChristopherChandler.net

Dave setting up our booth at MGC

I recently took a trip to Wisconsin to vend at the Midwest Gaming Classic convention in Oconomowoc, WI. Going in I had low expectations, especially after comparing cons to the old days of Philly Classic 3, 4, 5, etc. as well as CGE back in San Francisco & Vegas. I was reassured by many in the online classic gaming community that it was worth the trip. After working some details out with my friend Dave, I decided to help load & unload as well as run their booth in exchange for some table space.

I shipped three boxes of random retro gaming goodness out to Wisconsin, packed up some clothes and hopped a plane to Green Bay. We loaded a 26 foot Penske truck full of Arcade machines, cartridges, boxes, manuals, discs, memorabilia, and more. After arriving at Oconomowoc, I immediately sensed something different. Vendors were actually vendors! Now what I mean by this, is that the vendors who had tables actually sold items. Recently, I have noticed the disturbing trend at cons where a vendor will pimp out one or two products, or even just try to promote their business, with selling little or no items at all. However at Midwest Gaming Classic, there was none of that. Every vendor had parts, games, and/or memorabilia at their table, very impressed. Arriving at the show, the staff was very helpful in helping us unload and directing us to where we were supposed to go.

As the show floor opened on Saturday, I could immediately tell that this show was going to be different. This show is a buyer & sellers show. Deals were to be found everywhere. Vendors giving discounts, free games, and more. People had the money. I don’t care what the economy is like, there are still a lot of people who have a lot of disposable income to burn on copies of Shaq-Fu and Mario Party 3.

Some of the Arcades at MGC: Punch Out!, Street Fighter II, Area 51, Ms. Pac-man, Dig-Dug, Galaga, and a ton more.

If you had no money, that was okay, because there were over 25 arcade machines to play for free, as well as over 30 or so pinball machines to play as well. This doesn’t count the 20 or so console stations that were setup to play anything from classics to XBOX 360. There were a bunch of tournaments including Guitar Hero / Rock Band, Pinball tourneys and a bunch more!

All in all I would say that MGC 2009 may be the best game show of the year, and that CGE is the only show that could potentially give it a run for its money. I definitely would go back again, and be in as a full force vendor. I hear they sold the floor space of the show out quickly, and that there are rumors of a larger venue being acquired. I am all for it, especially if they move it closer to a major city like Milwaukee or Green Bay! -C

If you watch one youtube video today, let it be this one.

-C

I just got me some Rock Band 2 this past weekend, along with a new set of wireless drums.  The graphics are cleaned up, everything is easier to navigate.  A main gripe I had with the first game was that the menu system was a bear to get through, adding and signing in and out band members was a chore.  But no more!  MTV / EA / Harmonix has heard your gripes and has made everything superior to the original!  

All 84 tracks are original master recordings, no more “as made famous by” cover tracks.  In addition, if you pay $5.00 you can import your entire Rock Band 1 song library (minus 3 or 4 songs due to licensing rights) into Rock Band 2.  So that expands upon your library, plus the whopping 84 songs on the disc (list below)  The drums are quieter, and allow for cymbal expansion (which is awesome) The biggest surprise for me though was one that no one could have predicted.  On the back cover of the instruction manual, there is a code for 20 free downloadable songs, putting the total song count for the game to 104.  I am excited for what the future holds for what could possibly be the best party game of all time. -C

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List: 

Rock Band 2 Special Edition (XBOX 360)

Artist Song Title Decade
1. AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s
2. AFI “Girl’s Not Grey” 2000’s
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s
4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s
5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s
6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s
7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s
8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s
9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s
10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s
11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s
12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s
13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s
15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s
16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s
17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s
18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s
19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s
20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s
21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s
22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s
23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s
24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s
25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s
26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s
27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s
28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s
29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s
30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s
31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s
32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s
33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s
34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s
35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s
36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s
37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s
38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s
39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s
40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s
42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s
43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s
44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s
45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s
46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s
47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s
48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s
49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s
50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s
51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s
53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s
54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s
55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s
56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s
57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s
58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s
59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s
60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s
61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s
62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s
63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s
64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s
65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s
66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s
67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s
68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s
69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s
70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s
71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s
72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s
73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s
74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s
75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s

Bonus Artist Bonus Song Title Decade
76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s
77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s
78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s
79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s
80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s
81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s
82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s
83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s
84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s