Here’s What You Missed At CA Extreme 2009
I spent most of my time at California Extreme reminding myself why I never beat Dragon’s Lair, but other people were busy winning tournaments and stuff at the massive arcade and pinball show.
Keith Elwin, number one pinball player in the world, walked away from the modern and solid state tournaments with a couple of trophies and $US1,290 in prizes. Local player Neil Inn scored the top spot in the electromechanical tournament (conducted with games from the ’60s and ’70s), winning $US550. Finally, 14-year-old Los Angeles teenager Alec Castillo ranked highest in the Guitar Hero Arcade tournament, winning the Wii and Guitar Hero World Tour package plus four other Guitar Hero games.
“Overall, the tournaments at California Extreme gave away over $US7,500 in cash and prizes, even more than we had hoped,” says tournament organizer Bowen Kerins. “It was our largest show ever, both in terms of attendance and number of games on the floor, and we can’t wait for the next one.”
Weirdly enough, I hear that Castillo appears for a few seconds in the Video Games episode of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! that aired earlier this month.
Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
@Primed: Probably came for a Frogger tournament.
Meeps
@GrYnder: I was thinking "Is that Jason Alexander?" but hey, Tomayto, Tomahto...
@CHU BOI: And Raptor Jesus descending from the clouds...and the Monty Python Giant Foot crushing all the haters....
Hardcore
@Primed: I was asking myself the exact same thing.
Did anyone have a Daytona USA 2 twin cab on display?
twinturbo2
Is that George Costanza?
I went to the show this year, and while there was more there, I'd have to say it was a cramp fit (to say nothing of the plus sized gamers that prevented people from playing neighboring games) compared to years past.
An important tip if you're going one day to this thing, go on Saturday- There's lots of movies, panels, quiz shows and other stuff to be had then. Sunday goers get jack-squat outside of the games and raffles.
wirebrain
Why would they give more Guitar Hero games to someone who mastered it? I never really understood prize giveaways giving you the game you won the prize on. Oh well, he can turn 'em in to Wal-Mart for cash!
@Pitchswitch: You forgot the raptors doing moto-X stunts off cliffs. Now that's extreme!
@Pitchswitch: Brutal Legend EXTREME?
Just because I didn't go doesn't mean I missed it.
Oh snap!
If it really were "Extreme", everything would be in caps, on fire, and a dragon with teeth made of both lightning and sharks would recite the Declaration of Independence. Just sayin'.