Grab your controllers! Game On Expo hits Mesa this weekend

From the 60 frames per a second modern marvels, to the 8-bit adventures in nostalgia, the Game On Expo aims to have something that appeals to everyone. The convention is a three-day gaming event on Aug. 28-30 to be held at the Mesa Convention Center. 

The expo will boast a vendor hall, tournaments, panels, costume contest, movie screening, and much more over the entire weekend. Competitions for Killer Instinct, Mortal Kombat X, Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and Ultra Street Fighter IV are planned for the Saturday of the event.

In addition, there will be a special gauntlet-style Super Nintendo game tournament dubbed “RetroFest.” Attendees will have a chance to prove themselves by playing the ultra rare PowerFest game cart and eventually go head to head against an original Nintendo World Champion finalist, Mike Iarossi.

It’s not all about the competition at the Game On Expo though, as there will be numerous panels featuring special guests Mark Soderwall (President of Indie Game University), Keith Robinson (President of Intellivision Productions), gaming Youtubers Norman Caruso (The Gaming Historian) and John “Gamester81” Lester, to name a few.

There will also be a large free play area full of retro arcade machines, an Xbox One experience, and a Retro Game Living Room where attendees can play classic consoles like the Atari 2600.

Tickets are currently on sale at $15 for a Friday pass, $25 for Saturday, $15 for Sunday, and $35 for a weekend ticket. Kids age 3-12 can receive passes at a discounted rate, and children 2 and under get in for free. For more information, please check the Game On Expo website.