Michael Thomasson

Returning in 2026: Author, Historian, TV Personality

Michael Thomasson is widely celebrated as one of the most esteemed and knowledgeable videogame historians in the entire gaming industry today. His expertise extends beyond mere history; he teaches a diverse range of college-level courses that explore the captivating worlds of videogame history, design, and graphics for various esteemed colleges and institutions. In the realm of television, Michael has made significant contributions by conducting thorough research for MTV's popular videogame-related program Video MODS. With much recognition and acclaim, he had the honor of contributing to the pivotal publication on the Inventor of Home Videogames, namely Videogames in the Beginning, authored by Ralph Baer. Additionally, he has left his mark with a variety of historical videogame texts, including his own solo project Downright Bizarre Games: Video Games that Crossed the Line, which presents his distinctive perspective on the industry. Over the years, Michael has diligently crafted numerous business plans for many videogame vendors and has adeptly managed nearly a dozen game-related retail stores that span an impressive two decades. His insightful historical columns have engaged audiences globally, finding homes in newspapers and magazines worldwide. Moreover, he has played a key role in contributing to or publishing dozens of entertaining games across multiple beloved consoles, such as the Atari VCS, Sega CD, Colecovision, Atari Jaguar, Intellivision, 3DO, CD-I, and Vectrex, each exemplifying his enthusiasm for the medium. A notable highlight of his remarkable career is that Michael once held the record for the World's Largest Video Game Collection, an achievement officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records!

To learn more about Michael and Good Deal Games, please visit www.gooddealgames.com/Staff.html, where you can explore in greater detail his achievements and influence within the gaming community!

Paul E. Niemeyer

Artist, Game Designer/Developer, Owner

Paul E. Niemeyer is probably best known for being the artist of the first Mortal Kombat game cabinet, control panel, and header, including illustrating the Mortal Kombat logo, but Paul's artwork appears on dozens of other iconic and famous games as well. The most notable are TRON, Tapper, Satan's Hollow, Spy Hunter, Wacko, Super PacMan, PacMan Plus, Professor PacMan, Demolition Man Pinball, just recently he did the sculpts for the American Pinball game "Legends of Valhalla", and a myriad of other games and prototypes in the years of doing electronic game art, including being an employee of Bally-Midway from 1982-1984. From the mid 1980's, Paul freelanced in the big ad agencies on movie licenses like Jurassic Park 2, Men in Black, Star Trek 6, Little Mermaid, Hercules, Star Wars Phantom Menace, Pirates of the Caribbean, and many more.

From 2000-2005 he was part owner of Eagle Games Board Game company, which is now Eagle-Gryphon Games. Paul designed and illustrated dozens of games and their components, as well as being the overall creative director. Eagle Games published titles like "Railroad Tycoon", "Age of Mythology", "Sid Meier's Civilization", "Napoleon in Europe", "the American Civil War", and dozens of other board and tabletop games.

After selling Eagle Games, Paul designed and illustrated many games in Europe and the US, including the very popular "Through the Ages" and the hugely successful PopCap games, Peggle and Bejeweled 2. Paul owned and ran ABYSS Haunted House, a top 10 haunted attraction in the Chicagoland area, from 2006-2014 and has recently done packaging artwork on 9 Nintendo Switch Games (Super Blood Hockey, Pigeon Dev Games Bundle, Demons Tier +, A Robot Named FIGHT, Cathedral, Rack 'n Ruin, Super Dungeon Maker, and Turbo Kid) for Premium Edition Games, and very recently the packaging art for the re-release of the 1982 cult classic, Satan's Hollow.

Paul now designs and builds props & dark rides for theme parks, escape rooms, seasonal fests, and haunted attractions all over the world. Paul's murals and sculptures are in dozens of restaurants and venues all over America. Paul has an endless treasure trove of behind the scenes stories and experiences from the early gaming days of the 1980's and 30+ years in the Chicago ad agencies.

John Anderson

Actor

John Anderson is an actor, comedian, and self-proclaimed professional "Trick Talking Meat" who hails from Birmingham, Alabama. He currently is the co-host of the acclaimed show "The Trick Talking Meat Podcast" on Itunes and Spotify every Friday at 10am. John landed his first major motion picture role as a Ravager in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. John also appeared in Jumanji: The Next Level, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Tag, Black Panther, Stranger Things, Sleepy Hollow, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Discovery Channel's Manhunt: Unabomber, Logan Lucky, Pitch Perfect 3, I, Tonya, Jumanji, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Case for Christ, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, MacGyver, The Front Runner, The Leisure Seeker, Hell Fest, Being Mary Jane, and Tyler Perry's Too Close to Home. He also appeared in Make-up Artist Magazine, displaying his alien movie make-up as a Hurctarian Ravager. He recently appeared in Variety and Rolling Stone's review of the movie Tag.

John was given his first speaking role by Oprah Winfrey in her production of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. He was one of 10 Ravagers from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 selected to attend a 2016 Comic-Con surprise celebration in San Diego. The event was filmed and is now airing on CONtv. Further, art featuring John's likeness as a Ravager was included in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: The Art of the Movie.

RetroWolf

Game Enthusiast, Collector, Content Creator

RetroWolf is an enthusiastic retro toy and game collector who is on a thrilling quest to complete his collection of GameCube games. He is diligently documenting this adventure through an intriguing series of entertaining videos! Alongside this endeavor, he explores a variety of captivating collections and stunning game rooms, all prominently showcased on his channel. Here, he not only highlights his own collection but also visits retro toy and game stores that hold extraordinary treasures from the past!

Matt, the devoted collector, joins us from Chattanooga, TN, and he will be attending not just to offer some of his distinctive collectibles but also to further his own collection journey! He will be capturing exciting footage for his YouTube channel to share with his followers! Don't forget to stop by his booth to say hi, share your passion, and connect with a fellow enthusiast of retro games and toys!

The Rushmore Show

Game Enthusiasts, Collectors, Podcast Hosts, Content Creators

The Rushmore Show is a captivating weekly podcast that revolves around the dynamic theme of "Your Top 4 and Nothing More!" In each episode, the hosts explore a plethora of fascinating and varied topics, from video games and movies to food and an array of other intriguing subjects! Tune in every Thursday evening at 8pm EST on YouTube to catch The Rushmore Show, where it is skillfully hosted by the engaging duo of Kirk Patrick Plaisance and Andy Ricketts. Their unique insights and infectious energy shine through in every episode. Beyond their podcasting talents, Kirk and Andy are also actively engaged in their local communities and churches, dedicating their time and efforts to uplifting youth and families throughout Georgia and Louisiana! Their dedication to creating a positive impact resonates far beyond the microphone and into the hearts of those they serve.

Immortal Coil

Brand New Indie Game

Joe Wetmore is the developer and designer of Immortal Coil! 

"I've always loved card games and I decided to make my own as a passion project.  I designed the game combining various elements of my favorite games in the genre and added my own spin.  I'm also the programmer of the game, which has been created in GameMaker.  Some of the sprite work for the game is my own, but most of the art comes from some great artists I met during this project.  I've gathered concepts for the setting for everything from old movie inspirations such as Jim Henson's Dark Crystal to cultural inspirations from my time traveling abroad.  I've always loved game design, in digital and tabletop formats, but this will be my first time releasing a game."

Please welcome Joe and Immortal Coil to Augusta Video Gaming Exposition's Family!

PnX World

YouTube Content Creators and Collectors

 Introducing PnX World! Pammy and Xavi are an amazing duo who have captured the hearts of retro video game collectors with their extensive collection and exhilarating real-world game hunting adventures. They've built a stellar reputation through their remarkable finds and their ability to demonstrate that significant treasures can still be unearthed in today's market. From complete-in-box (CIB) classics that many aspire to own, to surprising rare gems that leave us all amazed, PnX World provides a wealth of knowledge for dedicated enthusiasts. They generously impart valuable advice on how to care for, restore, and safeguard your collections, ensuring the games we cherish can be appreciated by future generations. Their content exudes enthusiasm, nostalgia, and the thrilling pursuit of discovery—each new finding narrates a distinct tale, letting you partake in their exciting journey.

Be sure to give a warm welcome to Pammy and Xavi when they stop by the show!

Royal Hearts Gaming

YouTube Content Creators and Collectors

TK&CK of RoyalHeartsGaming have been passionate gamers for their entire lives. As dedicated content creators, they make appearances at gaming conventions across the United States. What started as a hobby of collecting and selling games on WhatNot to enhance their collections has evolved into a partnership with Nintendo. They now have the opportunity to travel and film at gaming conventions while engaging with the vibrant gaming community. Fans are encouraged to stop by, take pictures, and chat about all things gaming. You can find them on WhatNot at Royalheartsgaming2nd, on YouTube at RoyalHeartsGaming TK&CK (just click the image above), and you can also follow them on Instagram and Facebook! They look forward to seeing everyone at the convention!

Bait N' Switch

YouTube Content Creator and Collector

HeadHuntaz06 is an influential gaming content creator and passionate YouTuber best known for his consistently engaging channel Bait N' Switch, where he meticulously covers various aspects of video game collecting, offers comprehensive reviews, showcases his latest pickups, and dives into discussions about rare and unique games. His content has a particular focus on the beloved Nintendo Switch and the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. An avid and enthusiastic gamer as well as a dedicated collector, he is widely recognized for his deep passion for all that Nintendo represents and his love for all things Retro. Bait N' Switch brings the hype to the gaming community with its lively and fun discussions, fresh takes on the latest video game releases, and a spirited love for the thriving gaming scene that fans, both old and new, simply can't get enough of. Whether you are a seasoned collector or just someone who loves the world of gaming, there's something for everyone in his vibrant content that keeps viewers coming back for more.

Derrick Moore

Video Game Art and Design, MLB Operations

In his very first convention as both a guest and panelist, Derrick Moore offers an exceptional chance to delve into the insights of an experienced video game artist, designer, and independent developer with a remarkable portfolio that spans over 25 years. Throughout his illustrious career, he has made a significant impression on the gaming industry through crafting unforgettable multiplayer settings for legendary titles like Halo: Combat Evolved. His notable legacy includes art and design contributions to cherished games such as Crimson Skies and MechWarrior 4, as well as groundbreaking early work in the interactive universe of Warhammer 40,000. Furthermore, Derrick's expertise extends beyond the realm of game development; he has also contributed substantially to defense and intelligence visualization, collaborating on classified systems that incorporate cutting-edge remote and analytical technologies. Additionally, Derrick has devoted 16 extraordinary seasons to live operations with prominent sports franchises such as the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Mariners, where he has played a crucial role in advancing zero-waste initiatives and pioneering the very first peanut-free accommodation zone in Major League Baseball, demonstrating his dedication to fostering inclusivity and sustainability within the sports sector.