Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade

Ground Kontrol’s Video Game Quiz Show is ready to crown its first champion, during November’s Third Thursday Free Play Party!

Over the past several months, we’ve been testing your video game knowledge with a gauntlet of questions and your video game skills with highly-competitive surprise game play challenges. Now it’s come to this – the very first championship round, featuring past winners Alex Massa, Chris Hirschler, and Ryan Reid!

But first, we’ll let some newbies give it a shot. How do you play? A 9pm, we’ll kick off a round of “pub quiz” style trivia. Teams of 5 can participate in these rounds to rack up as many points as possible. The top 3 teams then choose 1 player each to represent them in the final “Jeopardy” style round! Game play challenges randomly hidden during the final round offer teammates a chance to tag in and help earn points! After the regular episode, we’ll invite our finalists on stage for an ultimate test in obscure and awesome video game trivia!

Not only is it fun to play, it’s a blast to watch, too. So whether or not you know the difference between a Koopa and a Goomba, come on down!

WHAT: Ground Kontrol’s Video Game Quiz Show – Champion Edition!
WHEN:  Thursday, November 18, 9pm sharp! Future Quiz Show episodes will occur on Last Thursdays (although we are taking a break in December.)
COVER: $5 to enter Ground Kontrol during the Free Play Party. No additional charge to participate in or watch the Quiz Show! 21+ only.

The Autumn Society (a world-wide collective of artists) and Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade are proud to present 8-Bit Calavera, an art installation featuring 40 Nintendo Entertainment System cartridges hand-painted with “Day of the Dead” themes by 40 artists, assembled in the shape of a pixel skull.

The Mexican holiday Día de los Muertos (or “Day of the Dead”) is typically celebrated with toys, masks, sugar skulls and art inspired by and in honor of the dead.  The Spanish word for skull, calavera, is also used to describe any art representing a skull.  The holiday is celebrated by many in the U.S., and the art has evolved with the passing of generations.  In that spirit, we are excited to present one of the most unique Day of the Dead art shows ever seen!

8-Bit Calavera will debut this First Thursday, November 4, at 7pm. It will be on display on Ground Kontrol’s stage through the month of November. The paintings will also be individually priced for sale.

Our tremendous thanks to The Autumn Society and its artists for making this happen!

This month, we’re featuring a special spooktacular edition of one of our most unique events: The Video Game Quiz Show! Ground Kontrol’s Video Game Quiz Show is not just another pub quiz, it’s a full-on big screen game show – complete with lightning rounds, buzzers and fabulous prizes!

Your charismatic co-hosts Brandon and Dan will be presenting questions based on the most fearsome, frightful, bone chilling games of all time! Only the bravest and brainiest can come out ahead without losing their head… or their minds!

How do you play? A 9pm, we kick off 2 rounds of “pub quiz” style trivia. Teams of 5 can participate in these rounds to rack up as many points as possible. The top 3 teams then choose 1 player each to represent them in the final “Jeopardy” style round!

Game play challenges randomly hidden during the final round offer teammates a chance to tag in and help earn points!

Not only is it fun to play, it’s a blast to watch, too. So whether or not you know the difference between a Koopa and a Goomba, come on down!

WHAT: Ground Kontrol’s Video Game Quiz Show – Halloween Spooktacular!

WHEN: Thursday, October 28. Round 1 starts at 9pm.

COVER: 21+, no cover! It’s also free to watch, too!

Whether you’re masked as Mario or guised as a Goomba, Ground Kontrol wants to see your amazing Halloween costumes!

Come down between 8 and 9pm on Thursday, October 28 in costume to participate. Before the Video Game Quiz Show begins at 9pm, we’ll call all participants up to the stage. The top 2 winners will win some cool prizes!

Stick around after the costume contest for a special spook-tacular edition of Ground Kontrol’s Video Game Quiz Show!

FINE PRINT: Video game-themed costumes are great, but ANY costume is welcome. For security and safety, we ask that you do NOT wear a mask inside Ground Kontrol, and do not wear full face paint. We need to be able to match you to your ID at the front door. You will, of course, be able to don your mask for the contest judging. Just make sure it’s removable!

WHAT: Ground Kontrol’s Costume Contest!

WHEN: Thursday, October 28. Be at the stage by 9pm to participate in the judging! And of course, show up early to admire your competition!

COVER: No cover! The top 2 winners will get some cool prizes.

The City of Portland is  holding its first Sunday Parkways event downtown on Sunday,  September 26.  Sunday Parkways is described as a “2-way route of city streets open to walk, bike, roll, run, jump, and skip – without having to watch out for cars!” The route will close Couch St. to car traffic from 11am-3pm and street parking will be closed 8am-4pm, so if you’re planning to come down for some gaming on Sunday afternoon, you may want to take the bus or park a few blocks away!

We’re looking forward to seeing the Sunday Parkway crowd, which is expected to be several thousand strong!

More info is available on the City of Portland’s Northwest Sunday Parkways page.

Micropalooza, a celebration and showcase of chiptune music – original music composed using old-school video game hardware – debuted at Ground Kontrol in 2003. Chiptune artists from around the world have invaded our stage with their unique blend of 8-bit sound and contemporary composition, and this year, the focus is squarely on the Pacific Northwest’s ever-growing chiptune scene for Micropalooza 2010, on Friday, September 24 at 8pm.

Six artists – four from Portland and two from Washington – will be featured at Micropalooza 2010, blasting their pixelated pop and deconstructed dance music all night long. Returning favorites Operation Mission and Plain Flavored will be joined by first-time Micropalooza artists Oven Rake, Seanbad, Mechlo and Ondoh.

For more details, including artist bios, check out the Micropalooza 2010 Press Release!

WHAT: Micropalooza 2010 featuring Operation Mission, Oven Rake, Seanbad, Mechlo, Plain Flavored, Ondoh.
WHEN: Friday, September 24, 8pm.
WHERE: Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade, 511 NW Couch St., Portland, OR 97209.
COVER: $5-8 sliding scale cover. 21+ only.

We at Ground Kontrol are obviously big fans of retro gaming, and Portland’s Retro Gaming Expo is no exception! Now in its fifth year, PRGE has welcomed Ground Kontrol to participate in their show since the first one in 2006. We’ve bought, sold, traded and talked classic games with fellow vendors and enthusiasts as the show continued to grow in size. For the past few years, we’ve also invited attendees to congregate at Ground Kontrol after the expo’s close. This year, that simply wasn’t enough – so we’ve got three nights of PRGE fun planned at Ground Kontrol!

Thursday, September 16, our Third Thursday Free Play Party will feature special PRGE giveaways and contests. In addition to free play on all of our games (for one low cover), you’ll be able to win PRGE passes and t-shirts in console tournaments and other giveaways. Doors open for free play at 5pm, PRGE giveaways begin at 7pm. 21+ only, please!

Friday, September 17 is the official PRGE Pre-Party at GK! Whether you’re a PRGE vendor that’s in town early to set up, or an attendee eagerly awaiting the show’s opening on Saturday, come on down to Ground Kontrol to play games and enjoy a drink or two. Starts at 7pm. 21+ only, please!

After the PRGE auction closes on Saturday, September 18, come down to Ground Kontrol for one last night of classic gaming celebration. Bring your PRGE badge or wristband for special deals at the bar! Starts at 7pm. 21+ only, please!

We hope to see both familiar faces and new ones at Portland Retro Gaming Expo and Ground Kontrol! Let’s show everyone why Portland is the best city for classic gamers!

For more information on Portland Retro Gaming Expo and to buy your pass, visit http://retrogamingexpo.com! Tickets can only be purchased online through Wednesday, September 15th, so don’t delay!