Old School Gamer Magazine chats with legendary competitive gamer and The Video Game Summit promoter Paul Zimmerman, who lets us know why this year’s event is going to be a special one.
*Writer’s note- Patrick Hickey Jr. will be appeared at The Video Game Summit as a special guest this year.
Old School Gamer Magazine: What makes this year’s Video Game Summit special?
Paul Zimmerman: Always the special guests (the most ever! – arcade designers, game designers, pinball designers, artists, authors, youtubers, arcade/pinball restorers), the panels (new this year! – a different panel every hour!), the tournaments (my Kaboom 44th anniversary tournament among others), the raffles, the free play area, the arcades (from Galloping Ghost arcade and their sister arcade Headless Horseman), the vendors, the new location! I help organize the special guests and tournaments.
Old School Gamer Magazine: Who are some of your guests this year?
Zimmerman: Well, you are! and me! Plus Mr Wright Way (youtuber), Jeffrey Wittenhagen (author), Todd Tuckey (owner of TNT Amusements celebrating 45 years this year!), Warren Davis (game designer), Jeff Lee (game designer, artist), Paul Niemeyer (artist), Doug Watson (artist, game designer)(rare opportunity to meet him!), Garry Kitchen (Audacity/Activision), Dan Kitchen (Audacity/Activision) and David Crane (Audacity/Activision) and other surprises!
Old School Gamer Magazine: Any special vendors?
Zimmerman: All vendors are special. don’t forget, all the special guests will have vendor tables selling their wares and signing autographs. Todd Tuckey will be walking around, meeting attendees and signing autographs. he will have his trading card. I will also have my trading cards #1 and #2600 plus others. We sign them for free. So, you can say, the special guests are also special vendors.
Old School Gamer Magazine: What other things do you have going on this year?
Zimmerman: Panels are new this year, 1 every hour. different tournaments every year. This year I will be hosting Paul Zimmerman’s Atarimania: Kaboom! 44th Anniversary high score tournament located at the Activision/Audacity booth (so you can show off your skills for David Crane! The Grand prize is Dan Kitchen’s Casey’s Gold!). free play area is different every year. Galloping Ghost arcade and Headless Horseman arcade will have some arcades for attendees to play. will there be rare games? As Doc from Galloping Ghost would say, who knows?
Old School Gamer Magazine: Bottom line, why should someone come to the con this year?
Zimmerman: To buy video games and other game related items, to watch the panels – some might be Q&A with the attendees, to meet the special guests, to get autographs, to play in free tournaments for prizes, to play in the free play area, to play for free the arcades from Galloping Ghost and Headless Horseman arcades, etc.
Old School Gamer Magazine: Anything else you’d like to add?
Zimmerman: I will see you there!
Old School Gamer Magazine: Where can people go to find out more?
Zimmerman: videogamesummit.net
