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Author: Art

Categories: Arcade News

Slugfest VIII – Super Street Fighter IV Tourney – Saturday 1/22

UPDATE: The 2v2 tournament has now become a 3v3 tournament! Read on for more info!

It’s time once again to show Ryu & Ken what you’re made of! Ground Kontrol and Best Bout present Slugfest VIII – another in our series of Super Street Fighter IV tournaments!

This month introduces a new challenge: The 3v3 tournament! Three friends (or temporary allies) can join forces for a Team Battle tournament – it’s sorta like a relay race, but with less running and more punching!

If you prefer to go solo, we’re also featuring the singles tournament that has drawn dozens of players month after month!

The 3v3 tournament has a $21 entry fee (per team of 3) and the singles tournament has a $7 entry fee (per person). You’re also welcome to sign up for both tournaments – the registration fee of $5 will cover you for both tournaments (entry fee is charged separately.) As always, cash and Ground Kontrol gift certificates will be awarded to the top players.

Sign-up for the 3v3 tournament begins at 10am, and the 3v3 tournament starts at 11am. Sign-up for the singles tournament begins at 12:30pm, and the singles tournament starts at 1:00pm. All ages are welcome to compete, but remember, Ground Kontrol is 21+ after 5pm, so don’t be late!

That’s not all – if you’re 21+, stay for the Slugfest After Party! Enjoy complimentary casual play of Super Street Fighter IV and more special events (including, perhaps, a Bomberman tourney?) from 5-8pm. (Happy hour is 5-7pm, too, so how about a cold drink for that flaming uppercut scar?)

WHAT: Slugfest VIII – Super Street Fighter IV Tournament

WHEN: Saturday, January 22. 3v3 sign-ups begin at 9:00am, 3v3 tourney starts at 11:00am. Singles sign-ups begin at 12:30pm, 2v2 tourney starts at 1:00pm

WHERE: Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade’s “Warp Zone” at 10 NW 5th Ave (between Couch & Burnside)

COVER: 3v3 tournament is $21 per team. Singles tournament is $7 per person. Registration fee of $5 is charged once per person. Play in both tournaments for one registration fee (entry fee is charged separately.)

OTHER INFO: Tournament is all-ages. Those 21+ are invited to stay for the Slugfest After Party from 5-8pm. RSVP on Facebook!


Categories: Arcade News, Bar News

Party in the Warp Zone for New Year’s Eve! Friday December 31

We’ve had an insane – yet awesome – year at Ground Kontrol. There’s no better way to put a cap on 2010 than by setting all of our games to free play, making sure we’ve got plenty of cold drinks, and inviting YOU down for the most unique New Year’s Eve party in Portland!

The party’s happening at Ground Kontrol’s temporary location, 10 NW 5th (between Couch & Burnside), which we’ve nicknamed the Warp Zone.  In addition to free play on our entire lineup, we’re featuring DJs Capcom, Epor and Ghostdad, who will lay down a suitably epic soundtrack to your trans-dimensional experience! And at midnight, join your friends for a champagne toast, included in your cover!

Doors open at 5pm, and cover is $15 per person (good all night.) Access is limited by capacity, so get there early! Of course, this is a 21+ event – bring valid I.D.

NOTE: We are not holding Free Play on Last Wednesday this month, instead, join us on New Year’s Eve!

WHAT: New Year’s Eve Free Play Party!

WHEN: Friday, December 31st, 5pm – close.

WHERE: Ground Kontrol’s temporary location, the Warp Zone – located at 10 NW 5th Ave., between Couch and Burnside. (It’s just around the corner from our permanent home!)

COVER: $15 at the door. 21+ only – please bring valid I.D. For security & safety, please do not bring any large bags or backpacks.


Categories: Arcade News

CLOSED Friday December 24 & Saturday December 25

Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade will be CLOSED Friday, December 24 and Saturday, December 25. We will resume normal hours Sunday, December 26 at Noon.

Have a very Mario Christmas and we’ll see you soon!

Pictured: The Pac-Man Christmas Tree at Nuevos Ministerios in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Diego Muñoz.


Categories: Arcade News, Bar News

Limited Hours Thursday December 16

Update (3:22pm): We are OPEN with our shiny new doors and windows at the Warp Zone (10 NW 5th, between Couch & Burnside!) Note: No Free Play tonight since we’re closing early at 8pm. However, we’re extending Happy Hour from 5-8pm! 21+ only after 5pm – see you tonight!

First: Ground Kontrol plans to open around 2 or 3pm on Thursday, December 16. Our new glass doors at our temporary location (on NW 5th between Couch and Burnside) are scheduled to be hung Thursday morning, and we can’t open until that work is complete. Follow our Twitter and Facebook feeds, we’ll announce when we’re ready to open!

Second: Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade will be closing at 8:00pm the evening of Thursday, December 16. Why? To see the new TRON movie, of course!

Join us along with Cort & Fatboy and Chronicles of the Nerds at the Roseway Theater for the midnight premiere of TRON: Legacy!


Categories: Arcade News

Ground Kontrol on Cort and Fatboy – Monday 12/13

http://cortandfatboy.comOn Monday, December 13, Ground Kontrol co-owner Anthony Ramos and general manager Art Santana will be guests on Cort and Fatboy, the online radio show of choice for discerning Portland geeks! We’ll be talking TRON in anticipation of our TRONTest event on Wednesday 12/15, and Thursday’s midnight premiere of TRON: Legacy at the Roseway Theater!

Listen live at 10am Monday or download the episode later via iTunes!


CLOSED Thursday December 9 and part of Friday December 10 – Remodel Insanity!

Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade will be CLOSED Thursday, December 9 to move (a very short distance) to our next temporary home at 10 NW 5th Ave.. We will still be located in the Goldsmith Building on NW 5th Ave. between Couch St. and Burnside St.

UPDATE (Thursday 12/9 3:37pm): We need a little more time to set up our new temporary home, so Ground Kontrol will be opening at 5pm on Friday, December 10.

See you then for happy hour (5-7pm), 21+ only!


Categories: Arcade News, Bar News

TRON and Discs of TRON Tournaments – Wednesday, December 15

TRON Marquee Discs of TRON marquee

Greetings, Programs! Ground Kontrol has chosen YOU to serve your system on the Game Grid in TRONTest, a TRON and Discs of TRON video game tournament presented in association with Cort & Fatboy, the Roseway Theater and Chronicles Of The Nerds.

To celebrate the release of TRON: Legacy, Disney’s long-awaited sequel to the original TRON, we’re holding tournaments on the classic arcade games TRON and Discs of TRON. The top winner in each tournament will receive free passes to the midnight premiere of TRON: Legacy in Disney Digital 3D at the Roseway Theater on Thursday, December 16. The losers’ fates will be determined by the MCP, so make Flynn proud!

We’ll raffle off some cool TRON merchandise and memorabilia as DJ Cache presents TRON music and visuals spanning the franchise’s nearly 30-year history.

Tournament details: We’ll run separate contests for each game. In the first round, players compete to achieve the highest score within a  fixed time limit. The four highest-scoring players will then compete head to head with only one life each for the chance to win two passes to the midnight premiere of TRON: Legacy (in 3D) at the Roseway Theater on  December 16th.

Players may compete in one or both tournaments, but they must sign up at Ground Kontrol on Wednesday, December 15, before 7PM. The games begin at 8PM, and are free to all who want to enter, or just watch the battles. Remember… “It’s all in the wrist!”

WHAT: TRONTest: The TRON and Discs of TRON Tournament

WHEN: Wednesday, December 15. Tournament sign-up:  7:30PM, tournament begins at 8PM. DJ Cache spins from 8pm until ?.

PRIZES: The winner of each tournament receives two passes to the midnight premiere of TRON: Legacy (in 3D) at the Roseway Theater, late night Thursday December 16. Runner-ups receive a GK gift certificate, and surprise TRON merchandise.

COVER: Free to participate or watch! 21+ only.

Sponsored by:

Cort & Fatboy

Roseway Theater

Chronicles Of The Nerds


CLOSED Tuesday November 30 and part of Wednesday December 1

To allow us to move our entire arcade’s contents to our temporary home at 32 NW 5th Ave., Ground Kontrol will be CLOSED Tuesday, November 30 (all day and night) and Wednesday, December 1 (Noon-9:30pm).

Please join us at 9:30pm on Wednesday, December 1 for the unveiling of The Warp Zone, Ground Kontrol’s temporary home! For more on our remodel progress, please see these recent posts:

Thank you to everyone for your patience and flexibility. We are extremely happy we can still bring you the awesome arcade experience you love while construction is ongoing.

Please stay tuned to our website, Twitter and Facebook feeds for the latest news!


The Warp Zone – Our Temporary Home! Beginning December 1



View Larger Map

First, the most important piece of news: Beginning Wednesday, December 1 at 9:30pm, Ground Kontrol will be temporarily relocated to 32 NW 5th Ave., less than one block away in the Goldsmith Building on the corner of NW 5th & Couch. For a Google Map of the location, click here!

Here’s why: In order to remodel our current space, we need to get everything out of the way! We’ll be demolishing some walls, creating new ones, installing new flooring, lighting, etc.  Dust and debris can shorten a game’s lifespan, and most significantly, our customers can’t play games while sledgehammers are swinging above their heads! (Although that sorta sounds like Wrecking Crew…)

We’re calling this temporary home The Warp Zone, but we’re bringing as much of the awesome Ground Kontrol experience possible along for the inter-dimensional trip: Our tremendous selection of arcade games and pinball, along with beer & wine service after 5pm, will still be available.

For a quick update on how the Ground Kontrol 3.0 remodel is progressing, please check out this blog post from The CEO. At every stage, we’ve encountered a new obstacle to overcome or puzzle to solve, fortunately, that’s what video game and pinball geeks are good at! With the help of Jessica Helgerson Interior Design and Lackey Construction, we still plan to bring you an even more amazing arcade experience in a couple of months.

So, remember: Beginning December 1st, when you arrive at Ground Kontrol’s permanent address, 511 NW Couch St., you’ll be greeted with directions to the Ground Kontrol Warp Zone.  It’s simple: Turn east, cross NW 5th Ave., turn south, and cross NW Couch St. Congratulations: You’re there!


Ground Kontrol 3.0 Update: Bad News, Good News

What’s up with Ground Kontrol’s remodel plans? They’re still moving ahead, but we’ve encountered our share of obstacles along the way. Please read The CEO’s latest post for an update on Ground Kontrol 3.0!

Thanks for your patience, everyone!