The 2009 CAGDC Tourney at Richie Knucklez' Arcade in NJ

[MDARULZ]

OK, gang - you've been reading various 'teasers' about the 4th annual edition of the CAGDC Tournament on these forums.  Well, it's now set for Richie Knucklez' Arcade, located in Flemington, NJ !  For most contestants that have come to past events, it's closer than our previous locations, and with this particular place, there's a choice for anyone flying in.  It's just an hour from either various NYC airports, or from Philadelphia's.  For more details, click here for the tourney page.  And, for a look at Richie's place, check out the first 14 pictures here. 

We'll be setting the dates (in March, for sure) soon (I'll likely put up a poll on the date choices very soon, so wait for that), and I'll also put up a poll, as in the past, regarding games that you guys most would like to see make it into the event.

Right now, I have a list of 29 potential titles for the event.  We'll be paring this down to about 20, plus maybe one or two 'mystery titles' that will be announced the day before the event.  The current potential games list is:

720°, Crossbow, Defender, Dig Dug, Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong II, Donkey Kong Junior, Elevator Action, Food Fight, Frogger, Galaga, Gyruss, Indiana Jones ATTOD, Karate Champ, Millipede, Missile Command, Monaco GP, Moon Patrol, Ms. Pac-Man, Paperboy, Phoenix, Pole Position, Robotron, Satan's Hollow, Star Wars, Super Breakout, Thief, Track & Field, Turbo

What I'd like you guys to chime in on for now is if you know of any problems with any of the games in the list that might make it a title that should be removed from consideration.  Examples would be games with continues where that feature either can't be shut off, or doesn't set the score to zero on the continue.  Also, games with cheats or leeching problems are also ones we'd like to avoid.  But, if I've noted a problem of issue in the section to the right of the game name, you don't have to make note of the issue, of course, as I'm already aware of it.  So, please read the entire table first before posting about an issue.

Also, please look at the 'threshold' scores I have up in the table.  For those who are unfamiliar with this term, it merely means a minimum score that has to be made on a game in order to have the score eligible to be turned in for the event.  We do this to avoid taking down 'crummy' scores (like 50 points on Ms. Pac).  No doubt a few thresholds need tweaking, but the criterion was that a player with some propensity / ability at playing the title would be able to achieve the score after maybe around 30 or 40 (lifetime) plays.  Remember, the key is ability, so if you can't possibly get near the Millipede score because you're bad with trak-balls, then you shouldn't make note of the threshold score being too tough, since you aren't a very good player at that title.

OK, here's some final notes.  I'll be opening registration on Friday afternoon (I'm not sure of the exact time, but it will likely be early in the afternoon, ET).  For the first 5 registrants (that aren't locals to Richie's place), you will have the 'early bird' bonus of choosing a game to appear in the event, from the list in the table.  After the first five (on 'my' end, and there's 5 'spots' on Richie's end too) are signed up, the next four each, on both ends, can still have a pick of a game, if they wish; but it will no longer be included with the registration fee (which is the same amount as last year - $40, which includes FREE play on all the games !).  Instead, the game-pick privilege will be an additional $10.  So... sign up early !!

Oh, BTW - there are some nice perks in store for you guys this year.  First, the prize purse is at a record amount - $400 !!  And, there's a record amount of winning contestants - eight will win prizes, ranging from $10 to $200 !  Oh, and Richie has also generously committed to bringing in a meal for players on one of the contest days (still to be decided).  Talk about a great event !

Well, I look forward to everyone signing up, and it's great that we also have the announcement coming out many months in advance !  Again, the exact date of the tourney weekend will be set very soon, so you can all put in for time off, in order to come out, and make your mark, at the best arcade contest there is ! 

[Permafrostrick]

not sure I like the fact the early birds get to choose a game to go into the contest...then next several have option at a price to add one.

ok, I might even be one of those early ones....but actually wouldn't want that advantage.

as we know these contest especially with the log-based scoring are really really close...so you don't want someone to finish a place lower just because the person above them got to choose their best game...or choose a game they know they are decent at but Donald doesn't like or isn't very good at....like Pole Position.   hehe

it's cool he has a Thief!!!
does he have the voice tape?  if so...hopefully a copy...not the original or some mp3 modified thing in there for it.

[MDARULZ]

not sure I like the fact the early birds get to choose a game to go into the contest...then next several have option at a price to add one.

Well, since the contest is months away, it helps to give an incentive for people to sign up now.  Thus, the 'early birds' get to chose a game, as part of their entry fee, as a perk.  And, to drive home that perk, and also to 'accommodate' those who might not sign up fast enough to get to pick for free (maybe they were busy, or couldn't find out if they could get off work in time, etc.), I wanted to still have the chance for a game pick out there, but at a price.  Conversely, Richie and I could have let there be a 'free' game pick for everyone (up to the limit of around 18), but had the entry fee be at $50.  However, I wanted to keep the entry fee the same as last year, yet finance the increase in the purse via the non-early bird entrants who wanted a game choice.  Thus, the fee for game picks, past the first ten.  Remember - the $10 fee is optional; if you're not one of the first ten sign-ups that get a 'free' game choice, you can still sign up for the $40 entry fee, and choose to not pick a game, thus saving the $10 fee.  Also, an 'early bird' can sign up, and opt to not choose a game, if they wish (as you indicated that you might do, Rick).  The game choice would then still be available for someone else.

or choose a game they know they are decent at but Donald doesn't like or isn't very good at....like Pole Position.   hehe

Yep, I hope that people don't continue to pick games that Don's good at, like the last two events !  Dig Dug was picked in March, and then Tron at the mini-tourney in October.  Hey, I'm not raggin' on people's choices, or trying to hurt Donald's chances, but... at least try not to hand Don the winner's check so easily !  Make him earn it...  As Rick mentions, Don hates driving games... 

it's cool he has a Thief!!!
does he have the voice tape?  if so...hopefully a copy...not the original or some mp3 modified thing in there for it.

I included Thief in the mix so you and Les had some incentive to show up, Rick !  Oh, and that goes for Mike (the wr holder) too !  So... maybe you will sign up early, and pick that one !  Trust me - it's one of the ones that likely won't go in, unless it's picked by someone.  Richie and I will be picking 3 or 4 games for the event, so it would still have a chance, but not a good one, as it's not a fave of ours... 

As far as the tape, Richie can answer you on that.  You can PM him if he doesn't post about it here, Rick.

[CrazyKongFan]

Yep, I hope that people don't continue to pick games that Don's good at, like the last two events !  Dig Dug was picked in March, and then Tron at the mini-tourney in October.  Hey, I'm not raggin' on people's choices, or trying to hurt Donald's chances, but... at least try not to hand Don the winner's check so easily !  Make him earn it...  As Rick mentions, Don hates driving games... 

Yeah, I'm not making that mistake again (I'm the one who picked Tron, which is one of my favorites...unfortunately for me, we both can play it for an hour, but Don scores quicker on it than I can) I can't complain though. I came in 2nd, which is better than I expected to do.

[superpacwus]

Thief....................

Maybe Zman will come and destroy his record.

Maybe Zman's brother will come and destroy Galaga.

Could very well be a reality.

[MDARULZ]

Yeah, I hope Mike (and his brother !) can come out to the event.  But, I think you said Mike's game was about 24 hours, so he'd have to make arrangements with Richie to come out another time and go for it.  This is because there's a one-hour time limit during the contest, in order to not have marathoners tying up machines.  Also, the time limit helps 'lesser' players compete with the pros, as a lot more players can play an hour on many titles than they can marathon the same game...

I hope both Rick and you can make it out, Les, and also bring along some of the great gamers that you both no doubt knew from the 80's.

[Gehn]

I'm in! This is one that is nearly impossible for me to miss. So add me to the definite list...looking forward to registering.  I see some mighty interesting titles on there, specifically one that starts with a "P".  I know this is early in the game, but I will need to figure out some kind of traveling arrangement, as I do not own a car. I will wait and see who ends up registering and then sort it out from there. Looking forward to my first CAGDC tourney. We should have a JFK van or something.

[Permafrostrick]

Thief....................

Maybe Zman will come and destroy his record

actually likely there are 1 hour timed games again...but Mike could easily set WR level mark for 1 hour of play given his extreme juking and konging on that game.  has he played the one he has anytime recently?

tell him to get fresh for it!

if I end up having a choice I might just choose a game I want to see destroyed versus for my personal gain.

[rwm741]

Doesn't this arcade also have Tempest?  The high score list from Richie Knucklez' web site lists a score for that game.

[superpacwus]

Mike has a Thief at his home.     

Someone bought him one on Ebay.

Someone learning how Ebay worked.

I won't tell you who is the someone.       

[richieknucklez]

it's cool he has a Thief!!!
does he have the voice tape?  if so...hopefully a copy...not the original or some mp3 modified thing in there for it.

Yes, I do have a thief and I cant stop playing the damn thing. great game. The police banter/loop tape make the game IMHO.
My machine came with an 8track.
I researched it and uncovered two different models, one with oval speaker grills, single door coin door and a cassette deck. I have the version with an over under coindoor rectangle speaker grills and the 8 track. I was able to resurrect the existing 8track and tape. Although there is a dead spot on the 8track (where it sat exposed to the tape heads for who knows how many years) but in 3 or 4 seconds it clears up fine. I can almost break 100K is that a decent score?

[richieknucklez]

Doesn't this arcade also have Tempest?  The high score list from Richie Knucklez' web site lists a score for that game.

Yes I do have a Tempest and it is the pride of my fleet....
Our contest concerns are based in the abillity to continue at higher levels.
I am downloading a manual now to see if it can be turned off in the dipswitch settings.

[CrazyKongFan]

Didn't know there was 2 models. Funspot has a Thief, but they have the other version, with 4 oval speakers (actually they look round in my photo), and a single door. I don't know if it has a tape player in it though. I only played it once and didn't even know about that. Most of the time I was there, it was dead

[rwm741]

Richie,

I don't believe that the option to continue at higher Tempest levels can be turned off.  But I still think it should be a possibility for a tounament game and I'm surprised that it is not.

[yankeebest]

I see that you suggest players to play as the "2nd" player. If this is the case the players should get the extra couple of seconds per man to make up for the killing of player 1 (if the couple or few seconds mean anything), otherwise the second player would be playing for less than 1 hr.