Ramblings (Underdog Chamber)

Yup, working on the signs for the UC area today. Got all the stuff in place, and hope I can get it to fit in properly with the new table setup at the Sheraton. I’ll be working on the Placards soon too, before the start of my Active Directory class that starts tonight.

As for extra systems, I’ve decided it is much to late for any consideration there. The only other system I need to verify that it still works is the T/S 1500. Just a matter of pulling it out, and making sure the keyboard ribbon cable is still intact (they break easily over time). Finger crossed, and it should be at the show, running those cool TV iPod ads.

Later tonight, I will be working on the table layout, deciding where each system will be placed. I pretty much know, I just want to verify things. Plus, I need to print up and laminate some signs that I want to add to the UC area. This will be something I haven’t done before, and want to see how it works out for 2010. Thus, I’m mum on this. You’ll have to be there to see it (nothing spectacular, just something extra for people to see and think about).

Finally got done pulling out one of the last TV sets, and hooking it up to an Intellivision console I bought at the show last year. Works like a charm, testing it out with good old Misty Mountain – just love that game. Thus, the Intellivision is officially part of the 2010 Underdog Chamber exhibit (after being gone for a year). This system always draws attention, and I don’t expect 2010 to be any different. Still deciding on wether to do the multi-cart or not (I don’t like folks turning the unit off/on for an hour, going through all the games – which happens – a little too much wear and tear for my liking). But, it beats having separate carts. Decisions, on the drama!

With my almost confirmed table layout change, I will try to get something else done on Tuesday, along with getting the old T/S 1500 out. I hope to have the old T/S unit as I have in prior years, running iPod commercials with music playing, along with the iSkull nearby.

Time for some sleep though…. Here’s to later today… (in which I need to get the old cardboard displays out, and make sure they are in order, and make a few changes on them as well).

Intellivision

Not a huge deal, but found out today that my table layout may be something I asked for about a month ago, when tables were being moved around (as in they only have so many – use certain sizes where you can). I put up a plan to help with distribution, then supposedly the plan was not on. Well, it now appears to have been on all along! I can deal with it, but it means making last minute adjustments again. I’ll be doing that for a bit, plus trying to get that last console up and running. With the table layout change, I probably won’t put in a few extras I was going to. Not worried about that though, as it would have been extra work, and time is running out. I may try to get another system up and running, but it is a long shot.

Will post some more later today, or very, very early Tuesday morning.

I don’t have a lot of time today, due to work and sleep. I did put some new labels on some of the equipment early this morning, but that was about it. I plan to pull out the last TV set to test, and with it, the last game system to be added to the 2010 lineup (at least in theory – very close to the show, so I doubt much more will change, except probably an extra Mac or two running regular one-player games).

On the side here, I have talked about the fact that I name my computers. What can I say, I just don’t like a system were the hard drive is just C:, or Hard Drive. Boring!

The nine iMacs (all G3′s) for this year:

Alice – Strawberry 333 MHz from 1999 (name that goes with the color)
Amber – Tangerine 333 MHz from 1999 (given a name to go w/color)
Blue Raja – Lime 333 MHz from 1999 (name after a character in the Mystery Men movie)
Frosty – Snow (white) 600 MHz from 2001 (named after its color)
Gort – Blue 500 MHz from 2001 (named Gort because it is the controlling iMac for the LAN)
Hawk – Original Bondi Blue 233 (500 upgrade) MHz [rev.B] from 1999 (named from Hawk the Slayer movie)
Invisible Boy – Another original Bondi 233 MHz [rev.A] from 1999 (named after a character from Mystery Men movie)
Ruby – Ruby 400 MHz from 2000 (names after its own color)
Violet Beauregarde – Blueberry 350 MHz from 2000 (named after the character from Willy Wonka)

And that is it for today. Tomorrow, I should be announcing the last video game console for my area, with possibly a few more things too (time permitting).

Spent a bit of time today getting the Ruby colored iMac ready for the Quake LAN. This time, I now truly have nine G3 iMacs ready for the show (no more miscounting). Systems are lined up and ready to go, along with the mice and cabling being boxed up. Just need to put the keyboards back in their boxes. Packing (the fun stuff….).

Now if I can just manage to get in a little extra time, I’d like to so some printing (paperwork) for the show. I need to get some files off my old G5, so I’ll have to get that thing hooked up again. Other than that, I still have more work to do, but little time on this weekend. It will be a mad dash to the show. Seems to be like this every year.

last iMac ready to go

Moving stuff around in my basement today, and I noticed something odd. I only have 8 iMac computers setup for the show, not 9!!! I have no idea how I did that, except I may have included in my mind one that was on the floor that has not been worked on at all. At this point, I’m debating setting up another one, or just pulling a B&W or G4 that I used last year. I wanted an all iMac LAN, but time is running rather short.

Besides that, testing a few more TV sets today, and hopefully will get the next game console pulled out and tested (yeah, a bit more to go).

Rush, rush, rush…

I finally got the Philips G7400 out again, and hooked everything up to make sure it, the voltage convertor, and video convertor were all working fine. As expected, they work great, and the G7400 is now officially in the 2010 lineup. This year though, unlike other years, the G7400 will be sharing a TV set with the Odyssey2. I’ll be swapping back and forth between the two throughout the show, depending on the game, and if anyone wants to see something on the G7400 in action.

One thing is certain, expect to see Route 66+ in action, as I like this game (and had a little hand helping it come to market too – i.e., beta testing)

Philips G7400