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    From Pac-Man to cosplay: Retro Game Con returns to Moose Jaw this weekend

    JamesBy 1 Comment4 Mins Read
    From Pac-Man to cosplay: Retro Game Con returns to Moose Jaw this weekend

    Saskatchewan Retro Game Con is ready to level up this weekend as gamers, collectors, cosplayers and vendors descend on Moose Jaw.

    The event returns to the Temple Gardens Centre on Saturday and Sunday, marking the first time the convention has expanded to two days.

    Jared Dormer, co-creator of Saskatchewan Retro Game Con, said organizers are counting down the days until the doors open.

    “We’re counting down sleeps at this point, and everything is coming together exactly the way we dream, so we’re very excited,” said Dormer.

    Games, tournaments and special guests

    The convention will feature more than 15 retro video game tournaments, with competitors battling it out in games ranging from hockey and Twisted Metal to The Legend of Zelda.

    More than 130 vendors from Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba will also be on hand.

    This year’s convention will feature special guests for the first time, including Brian Colin, CEO of Game Refuge and co-creator of the arcade game Rampage, voice actor J.S. Gilbert, known for voicing Sweet Tooth in Twisted Metal, and Saskatchewan’s Tonya Laird, who worked on Dragon Age II and Dragon Age: Inquisition.

    “On top of all that, we have tons of free-to-play games ranging from a gaming bus to retro games to a scavenger hunt,” said Dormer. “So, lots of things to do for everyone of all ages.”

    Attendance expected to grow

    Organizers are hoping to welcome more than 2,400 people through the doors over the weekend.

    Dormer said advance ticket sales have already surpassed last year’s numbers, although the expansion to two days makes it difficult to predict exactly how many people will attend.

    “We’ve already passed our pre-sale numbers from last year, and it’s our first year with quite a few things,” said Dormer. “I mean, we’re hoping to see over 2,400 people, but we have honestly no idea at this point.”

    The move to a two-day convention isn’t the only first for Saskatchewan Retro Game Con this year.

    Dormer said adding special guests and expanding the convention wouldn’t have been possible without support from the Temple Gardens Centre and event partners and sponsors.

    “They’ve really allowed us to, and all of our sponsors have allowed us to really push this thing faster and further than we could have ever dreamed,” he said.

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    Cosplayers take the stage

    Cosplay will also play a significant role in this weekend’s convention.

    Dormer said the event is hosting Saskatchewan’s first Cosplay A qualifier, with the winner earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Montreal to represent Saskatchewan on the national cosplay stage next year.

    “We’re really excited for that,” said Dormer. “And even if you’re not in that competition, we have other cosplay competitions, whether you’ve it’s your first time making something or you’ve bought something at the store you want to show off.”

    Dormer added there will be opportunities for cosplayers of all experience levels, with registration available throughout the convention.

    Tickets still available

    Those who haven’t secured their tickets still have an opportunity to attend.

    Single-day and full-weekend admission will remain available online throughout the convention at the Saskatchewan Retro Game Con website.

    Tickets can also be purchased at the Temple Gardens Centre box office during both days of the convention.

    Saskatchewan Retro Game Con runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Temple Gardens Centre.

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