The Big Event That Almost Wasn’t - Na Meji Nevidnega (NMN) 2022
And it finally happened - the convetion of Na Meji Nevidnega (or NMN or in the English language known as “At the Border of Invisibility”) has finally procedeed. I’ve written a review of this convention back in 2019. It should’ve be at the beginning of 2022, that’s on the 15th of January, but due to COVID-19, it was postponed to the 21st of May this year.
This wart the route I’ve taken this year to this convention.
It was also the first time I had my own retro booth or stall on this event, giving some advertisement to my free time tinkering on retro consoles, called Retro Rok’s Renew. Most of the peope I’ve talked on this event had no clue that something like this even exist in my country! So I was quite amazed by their reception. But let’s beginn from the start.
There were A LOT of people at this event!
Firstly, me and my girlfriend @aquamoon33 came at about 8.05 a.m. at the event, that started right at 9.00 a.m. We had to move out the consoles that I had with me (that is the SNES, PS1, PS2 and GC) as soon as possible! But we managed to make my stall just in time at 9.00 a.m., when the event was starting to open up.
That’s my stall at the front.
And that’s my stall when you’ve entered the Gaming Zone of this event.
So punctually at 9.00 a.m, we opened up our stall with the cartirdge-based SNES console from 1992. We were quite amazed by how many people looked (and played!) on that ancient console. Furthermore, we were amazed at how the reaction of the people on this console were. And even better - even the young ones with their dads played on this system!
A boy is playing together with his dad the 1992 game Super Mario Kart.
Some older/younger people were playing the game as well.
And the main console of our booth. 30 years old, as old as the game is. Like a fine wine :)
After the SNES came the PS1, which lasted also for three hours on display. First, I had some weird issues with my SD-card based system, called PSIO, where the SD Board just couldn’t make connection to the Parallel Port. Turns out it was not the SD Board, but the SD Card that did not made a connection. Thanks to you, soon-to-be-waifu @aquamoon33, for pointing that out to me! :)
There wasn’t so many people as they were on the SNES one, but it was still quite fun.
A youngster playing Gran Turismo on the PS1, while jokingly, there is a Gran Turismo cartridge inside of my PS1 console - though it’s just a dud, ‘cause the game is played entirely over the PSIO SD based cartridge.ž
And there were also girls playing on the PS1, which in my decade, when the console came out, was not that common.
The “beast” (console) itself! It was modded with a PSIO ODE and a PS1Digital SCART to HDMI connection.
Next, there was the PS2 console, for which there was not so much interest in. I don’t know, if it was bad timming our something else that was faulty.
Two player modus was also quite popular.
A gruesome image of the game Mortal Kombat Armageddon on the PS2.
And the behemoth, long before the PS5 came out - the PS2, modded with a tiny, cool and very quite fan and a newer Power Supply Unit (PSU).
Finally, there was the time of the GC or Gamecube, with an ODE loader called GC Loader, added battery holder, changed thermal pads, changed LED light to green, better fan than the stock one (works very, very quiet!) and many, many more mods on this console that I’ve done personally.
There were quite some people on my stall, when suddenly, a fuse broke near the gaming zone, where the computers were shown and a nasty smell came out of there. That’s if you have too many cables connected! I was just nervous that all of the electricity inside of the room would fade away! But thankfully, that did not happen. Just the computers shut down innapropriarly.
The Gamecube is shown. The only console I have currently with four player modus!
The boys (and a girl was watching) were playing Super Smash Bros. Ulitmate in four players. Mayhen was expected!
And looking at the faces of the people was just obnoxius! :)
And here is my baby - the best console I’ve ever owned!
The clock was nearing like 8 p. m., so me and my girlfriend had to move away from our stall, clean it up and move swiflty back to my car. That’s it!
By the visitors, all I can say is that the popularity of the consoles was as follows:
1. SNES
2. PS1
3. Gamecube
4. PS2
Overall, me and my girlfriend had tons of fun on this convention. Everything was well kept, the organisers and volunteer were friendly and the room and mass of people that went to see the event was just huge. Everything was tip top! We were both amazed and surprised at what the people have missed in the 2 years since COVID-19 strucked. And also how all, I say all of the visitors that came by my stall were willing to disinfect their hands, just because they very well knew what had happened two years ago. As a note, me and my girlfriend were the only booth that had disinfection spray with us. This is the only burden I could give to this event, but that is not the event’s fault.
While we were leaving, I was listening to the back panel at the event Na Meji Nevidnega, when suddenly, the main organisers, Mitja, was asking the people about how they were pleased with this years event. And suddenly all were chearing, whistling in the air, very pleased with what they saw on it.
That was a sight to behold.
Forever.
THE GOOD:
- separate gaming zone
- lots of visitors
- following the schedule (the organisers and us)
- lots of food stands (both imported goods and grilled food)
- mostly understanding and respectful visitors
THE BAD:
/
12/10
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