California Extreme Announces Speakers, Tournaments, and mo..

Here is the latest news for the upcoming California Extreme Arcade and
Pinball show to be held at the Hyatt Regency Santa Clara on July
11-12, 2009.

Tournaments

For the first time this year, California Extreme presents the Guitar
Hero Arcade World Championship, sponsored by Raw Thrills and Betson.
The grand prize winner receives the "Ultimate Guitar Hero Package",
including a Wii console, full band kit, and four Guitar Hero games
(Smash Hits, World Tour, Aerosmith, Guitar Hero III). The top 16
players will win prizes, including wireless drum and guitar kits and
Guitar Hero games for all consoles.

California Extreme also features three big pinball tournaments, one
each for modern machines, solid state classics, and electromechanical
classics, with each tournament's prize pool expected to exceed
$1,500. Additional side events include pinball tournaments for kids
and casual players, and a timed challenge called The Gauntlet.

For detailed information about California Extreme's tournaments, visit
http://www.caextreme.org/tourney.

Speakers

California Extreme will have a full schedule of speakers and features
on both pinball and video topics, including some of the big names.
While the schedule is being finalized, the following are scheduled to
speak this year:

• Steve Ritchie (topic to be announced)
• Aaron Giles - “12 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Do With MAME”
• The Rock-afire Explosion Movie
• Backbone Entertainment panel –“Old School Gameplay, New School Tech”
• Brett Davis – “Pinball Electronics”
• Mark Alpiger, Todd Walker, and Franz Lanzinger – “Video Tips and
Tricks”
• Rob Welkner – “Coin-Op TV Celebrates Five Years: A Retrospective
Look Back with Founder Rob Welkner”
• Alex Handy – “Digital Archeology: How I Found Unreleased Console
Games at a Flea Market, and What That Means for Our Digital History.
• Rick Stetta and Andrei Massenkoff – “How to Play Pinball”
• James Hakola – “From Games to Toys: Sculpting the Arcade Classic”
• Lenoard Taylor – “Mastering Video Games”
• The Arcade Trivia Contest will also return to test your knowledge of
both pinball and videos – win prizes!

See the speakers’ page on the forum at http://www.caextreme.org/forum/index.php?topic=127.0
for many more details and descriptions. Once the schedule is
finalized, it will be posted on the forum. The above list is subject
to change.

Vendors

This year’s show will have several vendors at the show, including:

• Marco Specialties
• Steve Ritchie
• This Old Game
• Playland-Not-at-the-Beach
• Backbone Entertainment
• Tim Paule
• Mr. Dandy Sculpture – James Hakola.

Pay them a visit to see what they have available. The vendors will be
located just inside the hall as you enter. Check the forum at
http://www.caextreme.org/forum/index.php?topic=128.0 for updates.

Raffle Prizes

The grand prize in the raffle this year will be a choice of a Stern
Indiana Jones pinball or a Global Arcade Classics machine. Other
prizes will also be available. For more details, go to
http://www.caextreme.org/forum/index.php?topic=129.0.

Registration

New this year – want to cruise through the line? Tired of filling out
your registration forms on a clipboard? Download the forms in advance
and bring to the show! The registration forms can be found at
http://www.caextreme.org/forms. If you pre-registered, please use the
Pre-Registration Form. If you will be paying at the door, please use
the Registration Form.

The pre-registration deadline has been extended for PayPal and
TicketWeb until July 7th. Register in advance to get a cool laminated
badge, early admission, and discounts on the show t-shirts. Tickets
can be purchased at http://www.caextreme.org/ticket_information.

For more information, please see our website at www.caextreme.org.
See you at the show!

The Extreme Team