ECCC Day 4: Closing and Sandwiches
Tuan’s roommate had people over, but I didn’t really talk to them. I was tired, but not as tired as the day before. I told him I found the game he had on his table, but it was way too expensive for me to buy. We chatted a bit, and I gave him the key to his house. It was a good visit. We said goodbye a couple times, but still it was time to say so long to evil Bill and Ted.
The display was already set up again, which didn’t bother me too much.
I don’t think I interviewed too many people that day. It was simply work until time to close. On the other hand, my courage went way up, and I took a lot of cosplay pictures.
Almost all of the people I took pictures of were checking out our booth. This includes Superman’s father Jorell. I just realized that was a modified prom dress. Nice!
I was sitting right next to the Asteroids machine, so every morning I had set the high score and saw how long it lasted. Two gentlemen spent the entire time trying to beat eachothers high score. Mine didn’t even last an hour.
The Asteroids machine was a great indicator in someone’s interest. I would watch the eyes of passerbyes, and call out to anyone that kept watching the machine. Giving them the spiel on the arcade show was way easier. My legs began to hurt because I was going to anyone that looked interested, or was actively playing a game. This day was the first where people started telling me I had given them a card already. I felt sort of foolish about it.
The card game competitions were intense throughout the time. I had to give instructions on where they were, and the bathrooms so often, the minions said I needed a green T-Shirt. There was a guy with a rolling suitcase of cards. He went 0-2 in the early parts of his match, but seemed to enjoy it anyway. The hallway with the arcade also had all of the competitions, and the bathrooms. It became part of my spiel.
“Beyond that far wall is an arcade.”
“Is it near the Pound Ponies Creative Cards match?”
“It will be down the same hallway.”
Around this time, I realized that the ticket the parking meter gave me was to be in my car and visible. So, I had to run out to place it properly. Seattle has a lot of hills. Just saying.
While at the convention, I saw a woman dressed as Thor. There were a lot of women dressed as Thor, but she was my size and held the character perfectly. Needless to say, when I saw her walking down the hallway, I got my picture with her.
I think I also took a picture of my buddy Dustin, but didn’t realize it. He had an amazing costume though.
I also got a shot of Lost Link, and the Ghostbusters playing Ghostbusters.
The Ghostbusters had heard about the arcade game and specifically came to have their picture with it. By this time cameramen were there taking pictures of anyone dressed up. The arcade was a great spot to find Cosplayers. My only disappointment was that I didn’t get the girls face, she really is pretty from the neck up as well.
The ghostbusters game was a played a lot. There seemed to be someone playing it at any given moment. It was donated by Dorky’s, and was placed entirely to remember Harold Ramis -Egon Spengler.
Every game had a card on them, saying when the game came out, and who donated it. It was cool to tell people that whatever game they played was from someones basement. Not the same basement, but several.
I spotted another Comic Book Girl.
There was another girl dressed with the dots, but I didn’t get a picture of her.
As the day went, people began trailing off, and soon the convention was over. I found out that the Occulus Rift was on display in the main convention hall way too late. I never saw it. In fact, I did not get a chance to go back in at all. It was Saturday, and that was it.
Packing up was way faster than I expected. In fact, I wasn’t really needed. They could move with two dollies and that was it. So, for the first time all day, I sat down. I hung out with the children of the arcade folks.
During this time, someone handed out Sandwiches from the Minion lair. I had a fair share of them. I hadn’t eaten yet that day so it was good just to eat. Before you start worrying, it was a traditional fast day for my faith, and the sandwiches arrived when I was ending my fast.
It is sort of strange to realize I have more in common with the children of the arcade enthusiasts, but not all. Some are around my age, and the kids were working at the exhibit as well. Packing up was so fast I only had time to take pictures of what everything looked like after the fact.
That table is where our booth was set, and soon it was gone as well. The arcade was just as empty.
I drove home with mostly nothing happening. My gas tank drove back and forth from Renton to Seattle for four days, and still had enough gas to make it to North Bend. I was tempted to see if I could make it to Ellensburg, but thought better of it.
The biggest problem I had was sort of demanding parents at the gas station. Nothing big, but sort of annoying when going to the bathroom. Their kids needed to go, and I was in the way.
Also, there was a cookie sale at the rest stop near Sprague. The guy was asleep so I let him continue on without disturbance. The drive was fast enough, and I got home around 11.
