The Midwest Gaming Classic (MGC) is an annual trade show open to the general public celebrating all forms of gaming, including

video games A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

arcade games An arcade game or coin-op game is a coin-operated entertainment machine typically installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are presented as primarily games of skill and include arcade ...

pinball Pinball games are a family of games in which a ball is propelled into a specially designed table where it bounces off various obstacles, scoring points either en route or when it comes to rest. Historically the board was studded with nails call ...

TTRPG A tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG or TRPG), also known as a pen-and-paper role-playing game, is a kind of role-playing game (RPG) in which the participants describe their characters' actions through speech and sometimes movements. Participants d ...

, Tabletop

board games A board game is a type of tabletop game that involves small objects () that are placed and moved in particular ways on a specially designed patterned game board, potentially including other components, e.g. dice. The earliest known uses of the ...

, trading and

collectible card games A collectible card game (CCG), also called a trading card game (TCG) among other names, is a type of card game that mixes strategic deck building elements with features of trading cards. The genre was introduced with '' Magic: The Gathering'' in ...

with a focus on

retrogaming Retro gaming, also known as classic gaming and old school gaming, is the playing and collection of computer game, personal computers, video game console, consoles, and video games from earlier decades. Usually, retro gaming is based upon syste ...

. The event has been held in several locations in Wisconsin since launching in 2001.

History

The event that became the Midwest Gaming Classic was first held on June 30, 2001 as Jagfest 2K1. It was the 5th US show titled Jagfest dedicated to the ongoing fan base and homebrew scene of the

Atari Jaguar The Atari Jaguar is a home video game console developed by Atari Corporation and released in North America in November 1993. It is in the fifth generation of video game consoles, and it competed with Fourth generation of video game consoles, fo ...

. In 2001 the show organizers decided to open it to all consoles in an effort to expand attendance and be more inclusive. The show expanded to include a museum area, and started a tradition of having consoles and computers on display playable by show attendees, as well as gaming competitions held on multiple platforms. That first year had 15 tables and 20 games available to play. By 2015, it had grown to over 1,000 playable games. As the event has grown the venue has changed to accommodate its size, and its continued evolution to include more types of games like

(2002),

(2003),

(2011),

claw crane A claw machine is a type of arcade game. Modern claw machines are upright cabinets with glass boxes that are lit from the inside and have a joystick-controlled claw at the top, which is coin-operated and positioned over a pile of prizes, dropped ...

games (2015),

air hockey Air hockey is a tabletop sport where two opposing players try to score goals against each other on a low-friction table using two hand-held discs (mallets/pushers) and a lightweight plastic puck. The air hockey table has raised edges that al ...

(2018) Magic:_The_Gathering (2019), and

LARP A live action role-playing game (LARP) is a form of role-playing game where the participants physically portray their characters.(Tychsen et al. 2006:255) "LARPs can be viewed as forming a distinct category of RPG because of two unique featur ...

and foam weapons (2023).

Events

The Midwest Gaming Classic had a focus on retrogaming, but has grown to cover modern game systems as well. The devices on display range from the newest gaming devices to some of the oldest, such as the original

Pong ''Pong'' is a 1972 sports video game developed and published by Atari for arcades. It is one of the earliest arcade video games; it was created by Allan Alcorn as a training exercise assigned to him by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, but B ...

. The event also attracts video game champions from the past. The event is known for its pinball games, gaming museum and modern game tournaments. It also has a display of gaming systems that never had success due to a superior competitor or change in technology. Nearly all game systems on display can be played by attendees.

Growth History

References

External links

Midwest Gaming Classic
- official site.
Midwest Gaming Classic FacebookMidwest Gaming Classic Instagram
{{Video Game Trade Shows Recurring events established in 2001 Video game trade shows Video gaming in the United States