SC3 Apr. 22, 2017: Trade Overload at 2084!

Tapper: You can be too young to drink beer, but never to serve it

The vibe at the April 22, 2017 SC3 meeting can be summed up in a single word: Trading. Oh boy, was there ever trading! This was perhaps the single best-attended event in SC3 history with over 250 people in attendance, and it seemed like every one of them brought merchandise. The 18 six-foot tables we provided filled up fast, but lots of traders brought their own. By the end of the evening, trade tables extended down the length of the building, overflowing with NES carts, PS2 games, mini model arcade cabs from Japan, Amiibos, pretty much anything you can think of. We even saw a "heavy sixer" 2600 joystick for sale that somebody had spliced with a TI99 controller (why, we don't know). The amount of stuff was overwhelming.

Not to harp on the trading, but it really dominated the evening. We've known for a long time that there's a lot of pent-up demand for video game wheeling and dealing, but this level of activity surprised us. More than one person commented that it was like being in the middle of a video game swap meet – because it pretty much was!

We've said it here before, but we're not sure how to feel about this. SC3 started off, and continues to be, a venue for game collectors to get together and unload their extras while hopefully checking off items from their "most wanted" lists. Back when SC3 started, this took the form of a handful of collectors swapping Atari 2600 carts. Now we're seeing dealers, flippers and the like. On the one hand this is good because it increases supply, which is important because the Internet has made the common stuff easy to find and collectors are always looking for something new. But on the other hand, things have really drifted from the "trading with fellow collectors" philosophy that SC3 was founded on. What's really confusing for us is how many attendees seem to be only interested in buying games, not playing them. Seriously, who comes to an arcade packed with 100 coin-ops and doesn't play? That's not what we're about!

So all of that is stuff we're keeping in mind when planning future SC3 events. As for this one, lots of people did show up to play, and there was plenty for them to choose from. Aside from 2084 Arcade's usual amazing collection of coin-op video games and row of pinballs, SC3 provided a cross-section of home consoles from the Atari 2600 through the original PlayStation. William D. brought his usual max-quality NeoGeo setup. i-Mockery gave attendees a playable preview of Grave Chase, their new retro-styled 2D game which will be soon be available on Steam. Arcade 2084 even provided Tugboat, a mini-cabinet that was allegedly made for kids despite its unfair collision detection. Truly there was something for everyone. To all those who were disappointed in the absence of the ColecoVision: sorry, it'll be there next time.

The ever-popular SC3 raffle was once again organized and conducted by Mark W. of VideoGameMuseum.com, with lots of goods donated by attendees. Thanks to Mark and to everyone who chipped in! Also, big thanks to Jason F., who went above and beyond making sure everyone received a wristband. We also need to thank Lorraine and her crew, who were busy grilling up hot dogs and burgers all night and selling them for low prices – a welcome alternative to the restaurants at the nearby Packing District, where the food is great but can get pricey. As SC3 continues to grow, all this additional help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks to 2084 Arcade and to all our attendees! We were glad to see some new attendees as well as all our regulars who have been coming for years. We're happy you're still enjoying SC3 events after all this time.

The date of the next SC3 event has yet to be decided, but if our usual pattern holds, expect it sometime in the fall. As always, keep an eye on this site and our Facebook page for announcements. Until then, keep your joysticks plugged in and your fire buttons pressed!

More Coverage

Photos

The entrance to 2084 Arcade: truly a welcoming sight
2084's row of pinball machines was constantly occupied
Nothing is better than qube-hopping together
Millipede: it's like Centipede but with more DDT
The console area filled up with people as the evening went on
i-Mockery demoed Grave Chase, the new retro-inspired game soon making its way to Steam
Tugboat is a cute little arcade cabinet for kids, and model tugboat enthusiasts like Mark W. here
Atari 2600 Demon Attack to TG-16 Blazing Lazers... witness the evolution of shooters in one photo
The trade area, and crowds browsing it, seemed to stretch on forever
Pikachu kept a constant watch over the trade area
Folks crowd around for the raffle. Were you a winner?
A lucky winner snags one of i-Mockery's great pixel-art posters