| The Future |  | |  | | | Hey friends! Just a quick update. There will not be a ZapCon in 2025. We are looking at options for other fun events and will keep you informed of ZapCon-sponsored fun in the future. |
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| What is ZapCon? | | | | | | It's a weekend-long classic arcade and pinball party, with all of the games set to free play! It takes place at the convention center in Mesa, Arizona. |
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| News | | | | |
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March 8th, 2024
Pre-sales for passes and t-shirts are now closed, but both tickets and shirts (while shirt supplies last, at least) will be available at the door! It's gonna be a great show this year, hope to see you there!
February 12th, 2024
Pre-sales for passes and t-shirts are now available! Preordering lets you get in an hour early, and prices for passes at the door will be higher. Additionally, only black shirts in limited sizes will be available at the door, so if you want a sweet cardinal red variant, order one now!
January 8th, 2024
We're ramping up for ZapCon 2024! Tickets should go on sale by early February. We'll be sure to send an email to our newsletter mailing list and to post on social media when we have more to share. Excited to see you soon!
May 17, 2022
Another Zapcon in the books! Thank for not forgetting about us and making this one of our best show to date! The love and support was felt. I'd like to thank all of our vendors and volunteers and a special thank you to our game contributors, for there would be no Zapcon without you. It takes a lot of effort and trust to bring your games to the show and we truly appreciate it. We'll see you all next time!
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| About ZapCon | | | | |
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Some of the fondest memories from my childhood were when I or one of my friends could talk a parent into dropping us off at the nearest arcade for a few hours. We'd do our best to stretch $5 worth of tokens as far as possible. Sometimes that meant playing a game that wasn't that great, but you were really good at. Sometimes it meant spending your in between game time taking long, slow strolls up and down the aisles soaking in the lights and sounds, watching the attract modes of games you were curious about, or watching other people play in hopes of picking up a new killer technique or of seeing a level or mode you haven't been able to get to. Sometimes it meant spending a ridiculous amount of time waiting in line to play the arcade's hot new game.
All of it was pure bliss, and none of it exists today as it did back then. The modern arcade has shifted focus to redemption games (ticket spitters), as they can no longer compete with the home console market. All but one of the old guard pinball manufacturers have disappeared. There are precious few places to play the classics and even fewer where one can get the "classic arcade" experience.
That is why we have created Zapcon. We want to relive the joy of going to the arcade, and to share that joy with younger generations who couldn't experience it first hand. We want to give collectors and restorationists a chance to show off their wares and to buy, sell, or trade with other like minded enthusiasts. Most of all we want Zapcon to become an annual event that will promote and preserve classic arcade and pinball culture for years to come.
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Wes,
Classic Game Preservation Society |
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