Retro Video Game Conventions in 2022 - Brett Weiss

There are TONS of great retro gaming cons all over the country this year, and I will be at several, including some this summer. I love gaming cons for their vendor rooms, free play arcades, live music, VIP parties, and more. I’m also a huge fan of traveling to various cities and exploring on foot and checking out the local restaurants. To keep things organized, and to let you guys and gals know where and when I’ll be, I decided to post my schedule below.

I hope to see you at a video game convention very soon! Come by my booth, and let’s talk games! If you’re a writer, or you enjoy reading about video games and pop culture, let’s discuss!

Earlier this year, I did the Midwest Gaming Classic. I had an absolute blast hanging out with John Riggs, Metal Jesus Rocks, John Hancock, Adam Koralik, and others, and it was an incredible show with a huge arcade. I sold a bunch of books and had fun game hunting and exploring Milwaukee. You can check out my video report on the con HERE.

***And here's where I'll be in the near future. Click on the title of each show to go to the website.

►Southern Fried Retro Gaming Expo in Atlanta, July 15-17. I’m going to do a panel on The Great Video Game Crash of 1983 at 7:00 PM that Friday night. This will be my second time in Atlanta, but my first time at SFRG. My wife Charis will be going with me, and I’m looking forward to seeing other guests like Mr. Wright Way and ZapCristal, who are also based in Texas. Can’t wait!

►Classic Game Fest in Austin, July 23-24. I do this show every year and always sell a ton of books and other merch. Hosted by Game Over Videogames owner David Kaelin, who has been a big supporter of my work, it’s the biggest retro gaming con in Texas and one of the most enjoyable in the country. This show is always extra special because we visit my niece Cara and her family while we’re in town.

►Game On Expo in Phoenix, Aug. 5-7. This will be my second time doing Game On Expo, and I’m super stoked to go back! It’s a massive show run by John Lester, a good friend of mine and one of my favorite YouTubers. Like Classic Game Fest, they have live music, a big vendors room, an excellent arcade, and cool guests.

►Long Island Retro Gaming Expo, Aug. 12-14. I’ve been to New York twice, but this will be my first time visiting Long Island, and I’m super excited to check out the city and the gaming con. They contacted me years ago about being a guest at the show, and I’m glad it’s FINALLY going to work out with my schedule. As with SFRG, I'll be doing a panel on the Crash. I’ve heard GREAT things about this con!

►Portland Retro Gaming Expo, Oct. 14-16. Returning after a two-year pandemic absence, the long-running PRGE is one of my favorite expos. The always have excellent panels, a fantastic vendors room, and a terrific auction with lots of neat artifacts for sale. Cool guests as well. This show is the closest thing in spirit to the late, lamented Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. It has that great super-old-school vibe!

►Retropalooza in Arlington. Texas, Oct. 22-23. I had to miss this show last year because I was doing CORGS in Ohio, but it usually works well for me because it’s only about a half-hour from my house. Plus, they always have a great vendors room with tons of games. It’s always good catching up with 8-Bit Eric, Tyler Esposito, Okchief, and various other guests when I do this con.

►TORG Gaming Expo in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 5. Not to be confused with CORGS, which is also in Columbus, TORG is a show that I’ve never done before, but the promoters have absolutely convinced me it’s going to be great. They’ve done a spectacular job getting the word out on the con, and they are going to have a massive gaming museum with tons of rare consoles. I’ll be there with John Hancock for the TORG Gaming Power Exhibit, talking video game history with attendees.

►Houston Arcade Expo, Nov. 11-13. I love this show, which is always a big party. It’s a total blast! I had so much fun last year hanging out with Rampage creator Brian F. Colin and Sam “Flash Gordon” Jones, and they had a killer arcade and swap meet. I'll be doing this show again this year, thanks to an invitation from organizer Keith Christensen. Thanks, Keith!