Valley Life

ZapCon 2014: Pre-Registration Now Open for Phoenix Arcade and Pinball Convention

Like a "Game Over" countdown clock urging you to drop in another quarter after getting annihilated by an arcade game bad guy, the days and weeks are ticking away until ZapCon 2014. But if the mid-April vintage arcade and pinball convention can't get here fast enough for you, some additional...
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Like a “Game Over” countdown clock urging you to drop in another quarter after getting annihilated by an arcade game bad guy, the days and weeks are ticking away until ZapCon 2014. But if the mid-April vintage arcade and pinball convention can’t get here fast enough for you, some additional event details recently announced by organizers may help make the time go by more quickly.

See also: ZapCon Announces 2014 Dates

According to ZapCon’s website, pre-registration has opened for the weekend-long event — scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. until midnight Saturday, April 14, and 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15, at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel — and admission is $25 for a single-day pass and $35 for both days.

A recent press release reveals further information about the convention, including the fact that organizers Wes Cleveland and Zack Johnson are planning to feature just as many games and events as last year, if not more.

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Much of ZapCon’s programming will make a return, including screenings of arcade-related documentaries (last year featured such films as High Score and Tilt: The Battle to Save Pinball).

“As far as movies go,” Cleveland says, “It’ll probably end up about the same amount as last year.”

Vendors also will be part of the con, as will the various button-smashing tournaments and competitions, including the popular Pinball Rodeo.

Cleveland and Johnson are working on pulling together an impressive selection of both retro arcade and pinball machines for ZapCon 2014 from the stashes of local vidiots and collectors. Last year featured around 200 games, and they’re hoping to have more this year.

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“We’d like to top last year’s numbers, but it’s too early to tell,” Cleveland says.

ZapCon 2014 takes place on Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13, at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

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