Revival 2014 run-down

It’s been a week since we got back from Revival and what a great show it was too! Craig, Chris and the Revival team did an amazing job again. Plenty of consoles, computers, arcade cabinets, light gun machines, driving games, pinball machines, traders, talks, costumes, chip-tunes, special guests, competitions…

surface tension was there with our stand again this year in the chill-out zone. With us we had our Dual, Arcane and forthcoming upright, Retrograde. Plenty of couches to crash out on too. We had our Rubik’s Cube seat on one side of the Dual, but also built some quirky seating for the other side. A 555 timer seat modeled on the 8-pin through-hole IC, which got plenty of attention! If you’re interested, you can see how it was made here.

We had a good buzz around the stand all weekend with all ages.

The 555 seat with the Dual arcade table.

Super Hexagon worked a treat on the upright. Though the surface tension team were battling it out between us for the highest score, only to be beaten by a 12 year old (not pictured). Meh.

Our feeble attempts before being out-done :(

If you didn’t get hooked on this 20 years ago, what were you hooked on?!

Loads of consoles and home computers to bring back the memories.

Plenty of systems to buy as well as play.

A plethora of pinball machines, but never a spare one!

There weren’t quite as many stand-ups as last year, but more than enough to keep you occupied. Plus with all of the pins, you weren’t left twiddling your thumbs.

John Romero was there for a Q&A session, and to kick your ass at Doom.

Craig’s Revival Survival cabinet made its debut…

…which surface tension feature in as we helped Kickstart the project!

Chip-tunes supplied by SIDMAN.

That’s about it. We look forward to next year but aren’t quite ready to go at it again just yet! It was a long and tiring weekend, plus a busy run up to it.

18th August 2014 Surface Tension , , , , , , No comments
Surface TensionRevival 2014 run-down
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Revival 2014

With Revival 2014 just around the corner, we’re just chilling out counting down the days. Yeah right! We’re busy getting everything ready so we don’t arrive at midnight again, have to set up then back to the hotel for an hour of sleep! That’s the plan anyway.

If you’re wondering what we’re talking about, Revival is a retro games expo which premiered last year. Taking place on the 9th and 10th August this year, it’s everything from Magnavox Odyssey to Megadrive, pinball to Playstation.

There’s plenty on at Revival again this year. Once you’re in, there’s 60+ arcade machines, 20+ pinball tables 150+ retro gaming systems, plus 2 VR systems linked up this year! John Romero will be there for you to challenge to a game of multiplayer Doom, plus a Q&A session. There will be other Q&A sessions from Andrew Hewson (Hewson Consultants), Andrew Oliver (Dizzy series), Ocean and US Gold employees.

Turnarcades will also be unveiling their own Revival Survival arcade cabinet which succeeded on Kickstarter which surface tension backed, so we look forward to our inclusion there!

surface tension will be there again in the same location, so come and say hello. We’ll have our Dual, Arcane and Retrograde systems with us. As well as arcade games, we’ll have our Retrograde upright showing off plenty of games on the Steam platform which play, look and sound great on our home arcade systems!

We will also be offering discounts on all of our products purchased at the show.

Take a look at our photos from last years show.

31st July 2014 Surface Tension , , , , , No comments
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r3play video games expo. Blackpool 6/7 November

surface tension will be at r3play - the arcade, retro and video gaming expo in Blackpool on the 6th and 7th November.

R3PLAY is a brand new show celebrating four decades of gaming history. Presented in association with Retro Gamer and gamesTM magazines, this unique event will offer gamers of all ages the chance to experience gaming systems from the 1970s to present day.

Hosted by TV personality and videogame fanatic Gail Porter, the R3PLAY Expo will take place at The Norbreck Castle Exhibition Centre in Blackpool on 6/7 November 2010 – the final weekend of this year’s famous Illuminations.

So if you’re up in Blackpool for the weekend, live in that neck of the woods or want to discuss any possibilities, come see us on the stand on the Saturday or Sunday.

17th August 2010 Surface Tension , , , , , , No comments
Surface Tensionr3play video games expo. Blackpool 6/7 November
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Insert coin ’09

Well, it’s taken me a few days to get around to posting about the show. All in all it was a great success. Alan, Grant and their team did a great job in getting all the machines together. On the day (well, the day before) it seemed everything was against them and the show was almost a non-starter. All of the Egrets were stuck at customs and after being released late on the Friday afternoon, half of them reached their destination at about 9 o’clock at night. The rest of them were due in at 6am Saturday! When we arrived at 11pm on Friday to set up, the electrician was setting up the supply for the hall whilst PCBs were installed in the machines. It was an all-nighter for most of the IC’09 team.

23rd July 2009 Surface Tension , , , , No comments
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Insert coin arcade video expo… soon

Well it’s just over 2 weeks away now. The first Insert Coin arcade show will be held in Northampton at Northampton Saints on the 18th and 19th July.

It is 2 days of gaming, events, tournaments and prizes. There will be a couple of candy cabs up for grabs, a tech repair talk, PCB and spare parts for sale and much more.

surface tension will have a stand there. Come say hi and have a seat on the couch for a game of Track & Field!

If you pre-order your ticket online, you can gain entry at 10:00 rather than 12:00.

Insert coin ’09

1st July 2009 Surface Tension , , , , No comments
Surface TensionInsert coin arcade video expo… soon
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