Annual Classic Arcade Gaming (dot com) Tournament Holds Seventh Year of Event this March in Chicago

March 13, 2012 - PRLog -- The big seventh edition of the annual Classic Arcade Gaming (dot com) Tournament will be held this year at the Logan Hardware arcade in Chicago, Illinois, from 4 PM Friday, March 23 through 4 PM Sunday, March 25. The arcade (which features almost 50 classic game titles !) is centrally located in the city, at 2410 West Fullerton Ave., and owner Jim Zespy is co-organizing the event with classic arcade gaming advocate Mark Alpiger. Both Mark and Jim have made the format and features such that this event is totally designed for, and around, the players (a number of which are some of the most famed in this hobby, including multiple world record holder Don Hayes !). A total of about 22 arcade games will be featured in the tourney, including a majority that are popular classics from the 80's. The list of finalized games includes the major titles Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Robotron, Track & Field, Tron, Zaxxon, and Punch-Out!!, plus lesser known, but nonetheless great games, Donkey Kong Junior, Tetris Plus 2, Elevator Action, Popeye, and Gyruss.

In a continuation of the previous six event's popular contest format (a first for arcade tourneys), the players actually get to choose the games that they play, so it's like being able to design your own contest ! Each gamer's 7 best game score results, out of a minimum of 7 titles played, will determine their final score, and finishing place in the event. There is a monetary purse of $425 (one of the highest amounts ever offered at the event) that will go to finishers in places 1 through 4, and part of that amount will also be allocated to providing an additional five prizes (for non-placing players) who have the topmost scores on randomly picked game titles in the tournament. So, players of most any skill level have a chance to win a prize !

The more than 20 gamers who are already signed up for the event include the incredible four-time champion, and multiple world record holder, Donald Hayes (http://www.classicarcadegaming.com/players/hof/index.htm#dbh); Hector Rodriguez (Track & Field world record holder); David Cruz (Tron world record holder); Mark Sellers (Track & Field and Tron expert); Rick Carter (Nibbler world record holder and multi-game marathoner); and many other gaming greats. Additionally, numerous players who can 'killscreen' Donkey Kong will be competing, and all three 80's arcade variations of the latter game are in the tournament ! Note that if you're a King of Kong movie fan, at least two of the co-stars from the film are scheduled to be at the event (organizer Mark Alpiger, and entrant Donald Hayes). You can get autographs, and chat with them about the real story behind the documentary !

Within a few minutes walk from the arcade's location is the local train stop (with direct service to O'Hare, and numerous low-cost convention area lodging choices). There are a multitude of restaurants in that area, and along the way to the arcade. Thus, the level of convenience for tourney entrants on all those fronts is quite remarkable, and will serve to make the event all the more enjoyable.

For complete information on the tournament, including an information section for out of town travelers, go to the following web link for all the details: http://www.classicarcadegaming.com/contests/CAGDCT2012/. You can contact tourney organizer Mark Alpiger with any questions (his contact info is listed on-page), after reading through the complete web page first.

With the rarity of arcade locations nationwide, tournaments are that much more rare, with only two or three held in the U.S. each year (and, probably just that many worldwide, as well !). So, be sure to come out and support the only one that's designed with the wishes of the true classic arcade gamer in mind. Jim and I will enjoy seeing, along with everyone there, some incredible records being made this March during this world-class event !

# # #

Classic Arcade Gaming (dot com) website owner Mark Alpiger is a long-time advocate of the hobby of classic arcade gaming, and has appeared in the 1987 Guinness Book for an arcade world record. He has attended 32 major arcade contests / tournaments (starting in 1985), including co-organizing and running 12 of them. In addition, he co-starred in the hugely popular documentary film The King of Kong.

The website is a result of his endeavors in the hobby, and documents the history of classic arcade gaming, plus features the most popular forums about the hobby on the Internet today.