2014 GALACTICON MEMORIES

[Deleted]

Here's a con memory for ya, 1997 was the year the NGO took over.
I'm in the front row, with the Kentucky b-ball shorts on of course.
Most of the guys don't come any more but were staples in the 90s and will always be a part of us.

[Deleted]

Swarm's 2014 Galacticon re-cap

I've been to every con but the very 1st one, and last year. This is one is top 3 for sure, maybe even the best one ever. Hard to beat seeing Virgin ask "What's the game!?" in person.

Ride in is always fun. Played the fart game in Ohio at the rest stop. It's become a tradition as much as anything else over the past 20 years.

Tried to break in Tom's house and steal 2130 but he had the bar in his back door so we couldn't get in. Smart.

Couldn't get into the hotel early to nap so plan B was to go and try to find Dayton Dave downtown for lunch. We failed in our search but we did eventually get into Tom's house and threatened to stay until he'd give us ROH. Chowed a Jones burger It was awesome. I actually ate a lot of great food in Jamestown this year, more on that later.

I can't prop out Todd and Jeff enough on how impressed I was with the Live Event. I wasn't sure what to expect and these guys fing did it. There was 350 + there and they all loved it. I've been to Chikara shows with the same attendance. I've seen Jimmy Jacobs, Marty Jannetty and Necro Butcher wrestle in a bar with less than a 150 fans, and Todd the Tournament Master and Osk's bro ran a show with way more people. I was impressed. And I had tons of fun. I hope they do it again and I hope to see that Greg Valentine vs. Marty Jannetty 'Loser Stays In Town Match' on the card.

My favorite matches from the GWF show were all things Death Knight were in, the big brawl with the Gladiators and Greek Gods/Wolf and the Thantos vs. Star Warrior main event. My favorite thing from the LOW show was Chuck Taylor vs. Stevie Richards (vs. Doink). I hung out with Stevie Richards at the FG table during the main event and rapped about all kinds of things, including playing Madden vs. each other online when 15 comes out. How cool will that be.

Finally got 2130 after zoning out and eating 3 packs of astronaut ice cream while waiting for Tom to bring it in from his car. Again smart, as I tried very hard to locate it while talking with Stevie Richards and was again frustrated by it's absence.

Like most people I was able to locate Chaos on the cover pretty quickly. I gave most of my initial thoughts on the spoiler thread so no need to repeat them here. Obviously I love the set like everyone else.

Game Time has amazing wings. I ate there twice.

I did pretty good in the tournaments. I thought I won the indy tag tournament because Jim Steel told me it was me and him in the finals, and I won. But it wasn't the finals, it was the semi-finals and Jim is a dick.

Then I lost in the real finals to Mike Melesky. Talk about a kick to the balls. It was great to see the Forever Hooligans win the tourament. I was the Briscoe Bros and had crushed everyone up until the finals.

I had Chaos Supreme in the GWF tournament and lost in round 2 vs. Ghena in a match where I had Ghena's PIN up to but just could not finish him. Ghena remains once of my favorites and had no problem losing to him.

Had Swarm in the Canada Cup and squashed Plethador controlled by Wiggy. Lost by DQ to eventual winner Paralyze. I needed to beat Shayne for Paralyze (controlled by Kid Keen) to advance and I did. Was good to see the Kid get the win. For about 2 seconds I felt like John Cena.

Seeing Payback win the Cup and cement Detroit game fans as the Greatest game players in the galaxy was historic.

The core of fans that go now are pretty much the same big group that has been going now forever. BMack and his brother were new, great meeting them, but I think everyone was else is a super familiar face, and exactly how others described it. It really is like a family reunion. I'll admit privately got a little teary eyed standing on the back deck of the Sheldon House and looking down the long driveway of where my dad dropped me off for my first Galacticon in 1992, and here I am in 2014 a father of twins, still hanging out at Galacticon. It was deep. Then later on during the Podcast, Mike Fortune told stories of me and Brett driving through Canada one year a long time ago to pick him him when he didn't have a ride (Mike has of course been to every one of them). Then later Mike told the story about how he drove hours out of his way one night back in 09 to surprise visit me in the hospital when I had been in there for like 3 months. All thanks to paper and dice and wrestling and some dude with a vison named Tom.

It's a miracle that a little game can spawn such powerful life long friendships.

Thanks to everyone who plays their role in this community.

I'll be at the next one too.

[Big Bri]

Glad you guys had so much fun. I still remember the one GCon I went to in 2004. It was surreal meeting other humans who actually played my little fun card and dice game that none of my normal friends understood, LOL.

Detroit people, congrats on your dynasty. Can you help coach our Lions next year?

[DK II]

Jul 14, 2014 12:33:25 GMT -5 @kevinb said:

Here's a con memory for ya, 1997 was the year the NGO took over.
I'm in the front row, with the Kentucky b-ball shorts on of course.
Most of the guys don't come any more but were staples in the 90s and will always be a part of us.

Now that is one picture for the archives!

[Deleted]

Yes it is Mr. Beck, I have it framed on my game room wall. You was an NGO member (far right) and if I'm not mistaken that's the year you drove through a hurricane to get to the con from Mississippi.

[TTX]

I remember most of them, and yeah, basically none of them come anymore except that Tom guy and Tim sometimes (though he had to miss the proper con this year)

[Deleted]

Jul 15, 2014 7:12:40 GMT -5 TTX said:

I remember most of them, and yeah, basically none of them come anymore except that Tom guy and Tim sometimes (though he had to miss the proper con this year)

Tom guy and Tim sometimes.......and Me.

[mikefortune]

Over 25 years of going to this convention I have made many friends and many more memories. I can remember going to the first con at the age of 17 with my best friend Rob Nadon. Gavin and myself talked about the first con and went down memory lane with a few people who asked us.

Yes I have been to all 25 cons and it took a lot of work, sacrifice and help from friends. From driving down with friends and family, the D-town boys picking me up to Tim Dalton picking me up at the border (I did only live 20 minutes from it). I had multiple roommates and I will see if I can list them, Rob Nadon, Tim Dalton, Steve Minskoff, my family, Paul Ramchartar, Kevin Butcher and his son, Colin Brackenridge, Craig Bilicky, The 3 D-town boys and Matts brother, Pete Beck, Broc Atkinson, Sam Luptak and Jeff Manning all in all that is 18 roommates in 25 years.

Lots of close friends have been made Tim Dalton is my daughters God father and I talk with a lot of the guys on line and on the phone at times.

Here are some of my favourite moments over my 25 years in no order.
Kevin Butcher telling me that he was going to take a quick drive up to Alaska from Niagara Falls in a week, he had no idea how big Canada was. Mark Ashby told him to go to AAA and get a map.

Spilling Kevin Wibble's dice bag at a bar and watching 200 dice go scattering across the floor of the Cherry Lounge.

Telling Jeff Manning multiple times that being Canadian in America I am treated differently in a good way and getting to prove it by walking up to the Jamestown Jammers game, walking up to the ticket booth with Jeff and telling the clerk that we are from Canada and would like to go in look around, watch a little of the game and buy some merchandise and the getting free tickets and Jeff standing there in disbelief.

Throwing out the opening pitch at a Jammers game.

Getting my first COTG card and having my official match debut and the people picked for me to fight Matador the current GWF champ in a non title match and winning, Rob B was the Matador.

Multiple nights at the Cherry Lounge enjoying the night with friends in a non game setting.

No matter where the con will be next year I will do my best to the there and see the rest of the boys. I know that the con will be changing with the Sheldon house being sold and the Filsingers moving and like a few people I was upset at this. When I was asked to come up and do the pod cast I actually had to stop myself from choking up. This simple card game has become way more than a game it has been in my life for 27 years and going to a con for a quarter century of my life. I hope we can continue with this con that has grown into a community of friends and family.

[Wiggy]

This weekend was awesome. There were so many highlights, I don't know where to begin. Seeing everyone I met last year and meeting a bunch of awesome new people. Walking into a room to find Stevie Richards laying on the couch (I've loved him since I was a kid and was dying inside). Doing my makeup for the show with Doink (before he Doinked up the show). The show itself. Making it to my first tournament final. Nearly beating Shayne with Danny Havoc in the hardcore tournament (Shayne's fury did not compare to mine when Todd wiped out the 7 tokens I had on him). Punching Todd in the face (by accident!). Todd, Jack and Mike's reaction to me punching Todd in the face. Doing the podcast live again, I cannot tell you guys how much fun a live audience is. Introducing a few people to CZW via IPPV after the podcast and before going out for the night. The look everyone gave me when I told them I drew Plethador in the Canada Cup and the drive home with Mike who regaled me with so many awesome GCon and wrestling stories and helped me fulfill a lifelong dream (Cookie Crisp!). Wherever GCon ends up being next year, I'll do my best to be there again.

One thing I'd like to know though is who everyone is on here. I don't know board names so would you guys mind letting me know who you all are please

[jimsteel]

Hey Wiggy

Jim Karantonis Here from Facebook

Great seeing you at the con again


MEMORIES
This was my 20th straight con. Most behind Mike Fortune and of course Tom
Had a Blast hanging out with everyone
The Show was unbelievable. Awesome seeing Wolf and The Greek Gods live
Disappointed Tom didn't get a hair cut though

Finally got to spend a night at the Sheldon House for the first time but was disappointed I didn't see any ghosts

Meeting Malta The Damager/Brute and his son+Friend on Thursday Night was great. Nice guy
Met Stevie Richards on Friday. Told him I met him back in 1998 when he came by my job and he said he remember me. Great Guy

Winning the Comic Book Tournament even though that wasn't an official tourney
Beating the Tournament Mistress Twice


Riding to the con with Todd and Jeff
Riding around town with Kevin,Troy and Lisa
Riding back with the Meleskys

Looking forward to next year. Hopefully its somewhere closer