Jen, you'll definitely want to visit the "Sierra Legends" exhibit in the PRGE museum section this year. (Rooms D135-D136, first floor.) Josh will know all about that. And while you're there (same spot), be sure to check out A Rum Case in Fogtown. (Game I'm working on.) I won't be there, being on the opposite side of the continent, but it'll be well-represented.
Co-founder, Editor-in-Chief, Adventure Game Hotspot (perhaps you've heard of it?)
I already wishlisted A Rum Case in Fogtown after I saw it in one of your articles earlier this year. I’m glad to know progress is being made. I’ll definitely check it out. I’m going to beeline to the PC stuff then go look at all the old console games. I started as a gamer on consoles and had just about every console made between the original NES and the first Xbox. I’m sad I can’t try out for the Tetris tournament. I doubt I still have the chops, but back in the NES day, I achieved what I thought might be a world-ranking high score. Of course there was no way to know what with there being no internet back then :p
This year would definitely be the year to go.
AGH Co-founder, Owner, Business Management, Pop Tart lover
I and my daughter went to this today. I was surprised how big of a show it was. We got there when it opened and headed straight for the kitten cuddle, and a good thing too. It got booked up really fast. We bought the maximum time (20 minutes) because kittens! I don’t know how the kittens relate to gaming; regardless, that was hands down the highlight for me.
We played quite a few old arcade games and pretty much sucked at all of them, even the ones I or she used to be good at. We saw part of the finals of the Tetris tournament, and I would not have stood a chance even back in the day when it was one of the only two games I had. All of the consoles and old computer games were free to play, which was nice.
The main exhibit hall was about 50% vendors of all different kinds of stuff. I got a Snorlax metal water bottle (while the sloth is my spirit animal, Snorlax is my spirit Pokémon) and a No Face key ring. Daughter got a couple of plushies, a weird angry Pikachu (probably unlicensed) and a Kuromi from Hello Kitty, out of claw machines.
We looked at everything.
We attended a panel discussion with Mark Seibert (game music composer), Corey and Lori Cole, and Josh Mandel talking about the genesis of Quest for Glory and Hero-U. It was a lot of Corey and Lori Cole reminiscing like the old married couple they are. Which was fine, I guess, but ultimately pretty uninformative. They seem like nice folks, though. They didn’t really have anything prepared, and the moderator let them ramble on. We didn’t hear a whole lot from Mark or Josh. Josh did say he was in the original D&D TV commercial way back when and that it’s available on YouTube.
We left during the Q&A and went into the Sierra room. That was a great exhibit, very nostalgic. They were showing off a couple of upcoming games of old series too, which my increasingly senile brain already forgot. And the upcoming game A Rum Case in Fogtown had an exhibit in there. It is being made with live-filmed puppets on 3D backgrounds. We chatted a bit with the woman who does the puppets and even played with one a little. This game has been on my wishlist for a while now, but unfortunately it looks like I’ll be waiting a while longer.
I have some pics (not very many) but can’t upload them because the file size is too big. I will try to shrink them down next time I’m on my computer and post a couple of them. @JoshMandel, I have a pretty good one of your panel. I am not sure of the etiquette of posting it publicly, though, so I’m not gonna. If you want to see it, let me know where to send it.
We played quite a few old arcade games and pretty much sucked at all of them, even the ones I or she used to be good at. We saw part of the finals of the Tetris tournament, and I would not have stood a chance even back in the day when it was one of the only two games I had. All of the consoles and old computer games were free to play, which was nice.
The main exhibit hall was about 50% vendors of all different kinds of stuff. I got a Snorlax metal water bottle (while the sloth is my spirit animal, Snorlax is my spirit Pokémon) and a No Face key ring. Daughter got a couple of plushies, a weird angry Pikachu (probably unlicensed) and a Kuromi from Hello Kitty, out of claw machines.
We looked at everything.
We attended a panel discussion with Mark Seibert (game music composer), Corey and Lori Cole, and Josh Mandel talking about the genesis of Quest for Glory and Hero-U. It was a lot of Corey and Lori Cole reminiscing like the old married couple they are. Which was fine, I guess, but ultimately pretty uninformative. They seem like nice folks, though. They didn’t really have anything prepared, and the moderator let them ramble on. We didn’t hear a whole lot from Mark or Josh. Josh did say he was in the original D&D TV commercial way back when and that it’s available on YouTube.
We left during the Q&A and went into the Sierra room. That was a great exhibit, very nostalgic. They were showing off a couple of upcoming games of old series too, which my increasingly senile brain already forgot. And the upcoming game A Rum Case in Fogtown had an exhibit in there. It is being made with live-filmed puppets on 3D backgrounds. We chatted a bit with the woman who does the puppets and even played with one a little. This game has been on my wishlist for a while now, but unfortunately it looks like I’ll be waiting a while longer.
I have some pics (not very many) but can’t upload them because the file size is too big. I will try to shrink them down next time I’m on my computer and post a couple of them. @JoshMandel, I have a pretty good one of your panel. I am not sure of the etiquette of posting it publicly, though, so I’m not gonna. If you want to see it, let me know where to send it.
This post was last modified: 10-12-2026, 02:08 AM by Jen.
Jen,
Well, I hope that, overall, you enjoyed the Expo and the PC Museum Room in particular! Many of the ex-Sierra people, designers included, spent a lot of time in that Museum room from Friday to Sunday...Al Lowe was there a lot, as were Mark Seibert, Mark Crowe, Ken Allen, Corey and Lori, Don Munsil (co-designer of Larry 7, among others), Neal Grandstaff, myself...it really was well-attended by ex-Sierraites. I wonder if you and I were there at the same time?
I didn't even know about the Kitten Cuddle, but there WAS a llama there one day!
I would love any/all photos you think would interest me...I will DM you my email.
Many thanks,
Josh
Well, I hope that, overall, you enjoyed the Expo and the PC Museum Room in particular! Many of the ex-Sierra people, designers included, spent a lot of time in that Museum room from Friday to Sunday...Al Lowe was there a lot, as were Mark Seibert, Mark Crowe, Ken Allen, Corey and Lori, Don Munsil (co-designer of Larry 7, among others), Neal Grandstaff, myself...it really was well-attended by ex-Sierraites. I wonder if you and I were there at the same time?
I didn't even know about the Kitten Cuddle, but there WAS a llama there one day!
I would love any/all photos you think would interest me...I will DM you my email.
Many thanks,
Josh
I missed the llama, but llamas, while kinda cool in their weirdness, can't hold a candle to a passel o'kittens.
I had a blast at the expo. It brought back a lot of good memories. I didn't attend any of the presentations aside from the QFG one. And I only went to that one because you were on the panel
I looked around for you a little while but couldn't find you, and then we left because we were starving by then. Now I know what you look like but you still don't know what I look like. I was the fat, old, white woman with glasses. My superpower is invisibility. Even if you were looking right at me, you wouldn't have seen me.
Josh, I only have the one photo that I'm not posting here. I'll email it to you in a bit.
One thing that struck me, only in hindsight, was the presence of so many Sierra staffers, whereas LucasArts didn't have any presence at all outside of the vendors' stock. Even though my general preference was for the LucasArts games, I loved the sense of community that Sierra always fostered, and still do. I love that the creative staff makes their games for the players and not just with an eye to the bottom line. I loved that Sierra room at the expo.
I reduced my pics in dimension and file size, and they're still way over the limit, so I give up. Here's a link to my Google drive where you can look at them if interested.
Portland Retro Gaming Expo (and Kittens)
I had a blast at the expo. It brought back a lot of good memories. I didn't attend any of the presentations aside from the QFG one. And I only went to that one because you were on the panel
I looked around for you a little while but couldn't find you, and then we left because we were starving by then. Now I know what you look like but you still don't know what I look like. I was the fat, old, white woman with glasses. My superpower is invisibility. Even if you were looking right at me, you wouldn't have seen me.Josh, I only have the one photo that I'm not posting here. I'll email it to you in a bit.
One thing that struck me, only in hindsight, was the presence of so many Sierra staffers, whereas LucasArts didn't have any presence at all outside of the vendors' stock. Even though my general preference was for the LucasArts games, I loved the sense of community that Sierra always fostered, and still do. I love that the creative staff makes their games for the players and not just with an eye to the bottom line. I loved that Sierra room at the expo.
I reduced my pics in dimension and file size, and they're still way over the limit, so I give up. Here's a link to my Google drive where you can look at them if interested.
Portland Retro Gaming Expo (and Kittens)