8Bit/Digi

A Weekend for Gamers in Sacramento

As the year comes to an end, Sac Gamers Expo 2024 gave gamers around Northern California one last chance to congregate. This was an opportunity to either cosplay, find a retro game, learn from industry legends, or just hang out with friends or other like-minded enthusiasts.

Sac Gamers Expo 2024 brought together gamers, industry legends, and respected commentators for an exciting weekend. Local indie game developers and retro game merchants were also present. This was the perfect event for anyone who enjoys video games.

The Exhibitors Hall

The Exhibitors Hall showcased numerous merchants, publishers, and artists from the West Coast. It predominantly served as a treasure trove of classic games spanning various eras. Gamers could find titles and accessories for iconic consoles such as the Super Nintendo, the Xbox, or the PlayStation 2. In addition, there were tabletop game accessories along with plushies, works of art, and mangas available for purchase. Overall, there was so much to see and a budget to watch.

Rush ‘N Games has been a staple of the swap meet and flea market scene in the Bay Area. Their table had a variety of games, consoles, and accessories along with collectibles. This included a graded copy of Syphon Filter 2 and a Japanese version of WWE SmackDown!: Here Comes the Pain. This was the ideal spot if you were looking to add to your collection or looking for a new game to play. 

Game Vault is a retro game store based in the Santa Cruz area. They sell and trade a variety of retro game consoles, titles, and accessories. Some of the titles that would get your attention are a copy of Def Jam Vendetta for the PS2 and Persona 2 for the PS1. Their main store is located at the Capitola Mall.

Cal Vintage Retro was back with their cut-up promo of 50 Cent: Bulletproof. This would quickly get your attention given its presence in the Exhibitors Hall. Once the nostalgic trip was done, it was time to check out their table. Here; one could find a mix of video game titles and accessories from different eras. 

Manny’s Cool Findz sells a variety of retro game titles and accessories either online or at game swap events. Their boot had numerous items that would get your attention such as SNES titles and an N64 version of Resident Evil 2.

Indie Games

Sac Gamers Expo was not just about insightful panels and retro games but also a chance for indie devs to showcase their work. During the weekend, I got to try some amazing indie titles that are out now or coming soon.

Born in Reverie is a JRPG that is being developed by Axial Escape. Players take on the role of Dani Fey and lead her party of Guardians who are tasked with defeating the Beasts. This is an indie game that is inspired by the classic JRPGs and numerous fantasy-themed anime titles. During my demo session, I got to learn part of the lore and explore parts of a mountain dungeon. No release date has been set for Born in Reverie but the game is almost halfway completed in its development cycle.  

Threats to Humanity is a Missile Command inspired game that was available in the Gaming Hall. Players take command of several turret guns and must defend Sacramento from a hail of asteroids.

Insightful Panels 

Sac Gamers Expo was also an opportunity to gain some insight into one’s favorite work or the industry. The event organized a series of panels that discussed a variety of topics given by special guests and industry legends. These are some of the panels I got to check out during the weekend:

The Video Game Industry: Then and Now featured industry legends David Crane and Garry Kitchen. This was an inside look at how the industry has changed from its early days to the current state of the industry. It presented a nuanced look into the history of the games industry from two of its pioneers.  

Let’s Talk About Games! was a Q&A panel with several content creators. The panel featured Cake Hoarder, Tofer.A, RectWizzard, and Joey Ferris. Guest got to ask the panelest questions regarding their retro game collection, their best stories or their worst finds.

Cosplayers of Sac Gamers Expo

While not a major aspect of the event, there were several cosplayers present during the weekend. Those present had worked hard to bring their favorite character to life. A few even added their personal touch to it.

My Loot

No story about the Sac Gamers Expo is complete without mentioning the games I walked away with. I walked in with $100 in cash and no shopping agenda. I was on the hunt for any games that interested me or anything that would get my attention.

Here is a list of everything I bought and the price tag:

• The Bouncer (PS2) for $25

Overall, I walked away with a great classic that I have not played in so long.

Did you get a chance to check out Sac Gamers Expo 2024? If so then share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: Sac Gamers Expo provided me with a pass for the weekend.

8Bit/Digi is an independent media outlet that provides insight into the gamer community of the San Francisco Bay Area.