ICON 2016 NEWS!

Written by Michelle Ireland on . Posted in Events

ICON 2016: Homecoming is less than a month away!

Check out our links below to make the most of your trip to The Video Game Capital of the World!

 ICON 2016

Ottumwa, Iowa -- long famous as the "Video Game Capital of the World" -- flexes its video game muscles
during the weekend of August 5 - 7, 2016, when it plays host to a Video Game Festival, an Iowa Film Premiere
of Man VS Snake, the induction of the Class of 2015 for the International Video Game Hall of Fame (IVGHOF),
and the inauguration of a Video Game "Walk of Fame". 

ICON 2016: Itinerary FUN for everyone beginning Friday, August 5th through Sunday, August 7th.

AmericInn Ottumwa is the "OFFICAL" ICON 2016 Hotel  SAVE $15 per day when you use offer code "ICON2016". Rates begin at $84.90 and up (offer ends 7/29) Rooms are limited...Book yours today!

Explore Ottumwa Ottumwa... the name means place of perseverance and land of rippling waters.
Ottumwa embodies the westward expansion of the United States, plentiful game, good fishing,
and the river's rippling waters. Ottumwa is once again growing and thriving. New businesses continue to
open and expand, preserving Ottumwa's place as regional economic center. Now more than ever, there are
more reasons than ever to come to Ottumwa, stay in Ottumwa, and take pride in Ottumwa.

More information on the International Video Game Hall of Fame can be found here: International Video Game Hall of Fame

 

 

Trading Card Spotlight - Dan Iacovelli

Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight

Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Dan Iacovelli, who currently is displayed on card number 247, from the Superstars of 2012 Collection.  He is also featured on cards 1142 and 1267.  Dan has devoted the last 10 years promoting and running the Video Game Summit in the Chicagoland area.   Over the years, many vendors, gamers and people of all ages have attended VGS and it grows bigger each year.   Dan also has created his own video games such as Laserman ‘88 and Laserman 2K3 Keystone Kappers hack for the Atari 2600.   

What are your opinions about today’s generation of video games?  How do you compare them to older, classic games?

I prefer the classics to today generation, the classic have the fun factor with no blood or guts most of today games are about fighting or combat, I’m not much into that.

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Trading Card Spotlight - Greg Freres

Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight

Happy Valentines Day!

Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Greg Freres, who currently is displayed on card number 787, from the Superstars of 2014 Collection.  Greg is a skilled artist of the pinball world and you have probably seen his work if you have ever played pinball.  Some of his work includes Medieval Madness, Star Trek: The Next Generation and Elvira. Currently Greg is the Art Director at Stern Pinball where he continues to express his art in the new pinball games.  On October 16, 2004 Greg was inducted into the Pinball Expo Hall of Fame.  

What was the best era for Pinball gaming in your opinion?

Each era of pinball has its own unique highlights but for me the 90’s was the culmination of all elements – art, music, sound, rules, and overall mechanical tricks and gameplay. Having been in the industry since the late seventies it was great to see the growth of the overall experience that pinball had to offer as an entertainment piece.

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Trading Card Spotlight - Geoffrey Lin

Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight

Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Geoffrey Lin, who currently is displayed on card number 16, from the Superstars of 2011 Collection.  Geoffrey Lin is a full time college student. Geoffrey offers his insight on various games and systems. He holds many world records in video gaming on such games as Platoon on the NES and No More Heroes on the Wii.  Outside video gaming Geoffrey enjoys digital photography. 

What are your opinions about today’s generation of video games?  How do you compare them to older, classic games?

I think that a lot of games today have much bigger stories to tell, but sometimes they feel too easy just so we could find out what happens next.

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Trading Card Spotlight - Ken Williams

Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight

Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Ken Williams, A.K.A “Sushi-X”, who currently is displayed on card number 30, from the Superstars of 2011 Collection.  Ken was on the staff of Electronic Gaming Monthly in the early 1990’s.  In 2006 Ken, along with Terry “Trickman” Minnich, founded the website VGEvo.com which was followed by Retroids.com.  Ken has been and still is a huge supporter of the video game culture and has helped many charitable causes such a “Child’s Play” and “Extra Life”.   Some of Ken’s all-time favorite games include Street Fighter and Bubble Bobble. 

What does it take to be a Video Game Journalist?

Integrity, humility and bravery. At least, that’s what it used to take so you could write about games objectively without political agendas. I’m allergic to political correctness, so I avoid much of the industry today.

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