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(PICS) Castelli's first Convention CANCON/AGE 2011 AUSTRALIA
JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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I originally thought I would not be able to attend the Australian Gaming Expo in Canberra this year. However I decided early friday morning that I would make the drive, no plans, no accomodation booked, nothing organized. The Expo runs over 3 days of which I was only able to attend the Saturday (opening day). My Fiancée was happy to come along which made me even happier, although she's not a gamer she really wanted to do some sight seeing in Canberra, of which there is plenty to see.
This is my story.
(I will add more in the coming days).
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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First things first, packing the essentials.
Next we hit the road for the 4 hr drive across state lines. The last time I left N.S.W was about 20 years ago, I'm 27 now. I loved the scenery and it was exciting for me to go to another State, even though the A.C.T is within N.S.W.
Map of N.S.W and the A.C.T
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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With the long drive we took a needed coffee break at a vineyard we were passing by.
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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We successfully crossed the border and within about 10 minutes we could see Parliment House.
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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After getting some ice cream, wondering around the city and eating dinner at a Thai resteraunt. We began the search for Accomodation.
Most places close to the convention centre had no vacancies (the signs that something big was in town). We found a nice place around 8pm and bargained ourselves a nice last minute deal that included a buffet breakfast, just what I needed to settle my nerves Saturday morning.
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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I dropped the Mrs off in the city which is where she wanted to go and I headed to where I needed to go
 Exhibition Park In Canberra (EPIC).
Parking was not really an Issue and I felt so comforted at the geek culture I Immediatley ran into, people carrying games, wearing comical shirts only a gamer would get.....ahhhhhh I was amongst friends.
Inside the first Hall the first thing I noticed was the gaming area.
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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There were 2 halls packed with both gaming, and tons of retail goodness. I had to show great restraint
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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It didn't matter whether you were into Blood bowl, Miniature systems, board games, card games whatever your tastes, there was something being played somewhere in one of the halls that you'd find interesting.
Alien Frontiers
There was even Laser Tag.
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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I sat down with a mate Pat and some other geat guys at the Rio Grande booth for a game of Asteroyds. Fast Chaotic fun, If i see this at a reasonable price I'll pick it up.
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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At the Rio Grande booth was the star of a few podcasts one of which is The Dice Tower Podcast
Giles Pritchard
Australia
Shepparton
Victoria
y'know that's the podcast Tom Vasel is a contribuor on , Giles was a Top bloke .
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10.
Board Game: London
[Average Rating:7.54 Overall Rank:106]
JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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Treefrog games were at the expo, I stupidly thought I'd pick up London at a later time
 . They ran out quite early, that was my biggest regret of the day.
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11.
Board Game: Steam
[Average Rating:7.88 Overall Rank:22]
JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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I was able to meet Martin Wallace he was running games all day long at the Treefrog booth, one of which was a game in it's early stages, I do believe it was set in Terry Pratchets Discworld
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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I was recignised twice at the convention from my Video Reviews, once was by someone that had a tag on saying Mr.Baggy, nice bloke and again by Lee and it was nice to know I had at least 2 views on youtube.......I became their biggest fans
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I sat down with with Lee, his girlfriend and Paul for a game of Rallyman, I lost .
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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I met up with Jason, Nathan from www.herebegamers.com and Rob all friends of mine from Newcastle. Jason, Paul and myself sat down to try Mob ties, hmmmmmmmm Not really a good 3 player game. We encouraged a 4th player to join in and it was a bit better. I was almost eliminated in the 1st turn by Jason
 , mind you Jason is the sort of player you don't like to sit next to during a game of Twilight Imperium.
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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This year I participated in The Dice Tower's Secret Santa, I recignised my Target at the z-man booth. It was great to meet him in person.
Terry Furness
Australia
Monash
ACT
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JAMES CASTELLI
Australia
Hornsby
N.S.W
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It was an adventure that unfortunatley had to end
 . We began the trip home.
My small haul, I was on a very tight budget and even the I blew it.
Mall of Horror was at a second hand booth many of the components were still unpunched.
Tammany Hall I've wanted to get since seeing Boardgameblogger's video review on it. It was at the Treefrog booth.
Famiglia was cheap mafia themed and designed by Friedemann Friese so I thought ahhh what they hey.
Toscana out of all the Wine games released in 2010 this is the one I really wanted to try.
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