At least a dozen video game "legends" will be present at this year's event, March 20-21, 2004 at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA.

In recent years the show has featured such notable pioneers as:

• Sid Meier (the "father of computer games" and creator of the Civilization series)
• Bob Polaro (a notable programmer of one of the earliest video game systems - the Atari 2600)
• Leonard Herman (author of the historical "bible" of the industry, Phoenix: The Rise and Fall of Videogames)
• John P. Sohl (creator of Astrosmash for the Intellivision system)
• Cassidy Nolen (author of two new games for the old Atari 2600 - Polo and Frog Pond)
• Christopher Tumber (programmer who wrote numerous classic games for the Vectrex system)
• Walter Day (Founder and Chief Scorekeeper at Twin Galaxies, the "Guinness book of records" for videogames)
• Jeff Anderson (curator of Videotopia, the international traveling museum exhibit of video games)

"This year, we're very excited to have some of our favorite legends returning, as well as several new ones joining us for the first time," says PhillyClassic organizer David Newman of Bryn Mawr, PA. Newman continues, "It is through our visiting "legends" that our show is able to connect videogame past and present in an immediate, hands-on way. Gamers get to talk to the people who created the worlds in which they've spent countless hours. That's a unique experience that you can't get sitting at home!"

The guest list for this year's PhillyClassic expo includes:

* Tommy Tallarico - a veritable video game industry icon. As one of the most successful video game composers in history, he has helped revolutionize the gaming world, creating unique audio landscapes that enhance the video gaming experience. As a well-recognized on-air television personality, Tommy brings his in-depth knowledge, years of experience, and love of multimedia and video games to PhillyClassic 5.

* Leonard Herman - videogame journalist and author of Phoenix: The Rise and Fall of Videogames, Lenny will be bringing a special treat to PhillyClassic attendees: a handmade replica of THE original home video game console, nicknamed "The Brown Box" (and later known as the Odyssey) personally built by Ralph Baer, the officially recognized father of video games. This unit will be available for hands-on play at PhillyClassic!

* Cindy Morgan - in 1981 Cindy played Yori and Lora in the groundbreaking computer-generated Disney film, TRON. In 2003, she returned to the TRON universe as the voice of Ma3a for the PC video game TRON 2.0. Fans may also remember Cindy from her even more famous (infamous?) role in Caddyshack.

* Howard Scott Warshaw - the Atari programmer and designer responsible for classic titles such as Yars' Revenge, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and E.T. Howard will be at PhillyClassic debuting Saboteur - his new game for the Atari 2600 - an enjoyable multi-level shooter. Saboteur was never released by Atari, and at some point work was even done to modify the game to fit the A-Team television show. Howard will be autographing copies of Saboteur purchased at the show!

* Jeff Anderson - curator of VIDEOTOPIA, the international traveling museum exhibit of video games. Jeff has the incredible good fortune to oversee VIDEOTOPIA's massive collection of over 900 arcade video games. Jeff and his team will be hand-selecting 50 of their favorite coin-op arcade games and bringing them to the show floor to serve as the heart of our PhillyClassic arcade. But you won't need any quarters to play - the machines will be set on free play for the duration of PhillyClassic!

* Joe Grand - author of Hardware Hacking. In addition to all sorts of computer modifications, this book has over 120 pages of videogame-related hacks for the Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, 8-bit computers, and the PlayStation 2. The book also covers topics such as custom case mods, iPod hacks, and wireless and mobile device experimentation. Scary!

* Chris Pence - a master arcade technician, Chris will provide a hands-on workshop where attendees can see and document all the steps he takes to make a groovy home arcade machine. Chris has re-built over 50 pinball machines from top to bottom and retrofitted or otherwise worked on countless arcade cabinets.

* Ed Fleming - is the founder of Videogame.net, the fastest-growing videogame education program in America. Through boot camps, summer programs, and continuing education seminars, Videogame.net teaches students of all ages what it takes to make it in today's videogame industry. Ed and his team will be hosting a free hands-on game design seminar on creating videogame characters during the show.

* Deborah Palicia - better known as "Ms. Pac-Man," Deborah is the author of the book, Pac-Man Collectibles. When Pac-Man hit the arcades in 1980, fans were hooked and Pac-Man plush toys, videos, cereal, puzzles, magazines, clocks, phones - you name it - were everywhere. Now, you can see over 400 photographs that document the Pac-Man merchandising phenomenon. A fun book with market values that Pac-Maniacs will gobble right up. Autographed copies of the book, as well as a ton of other Pac-goodies, will be available at PhillyClassic.

* Roger E. Pedersen - has been designing, producing, and programming games since the early 1980s. His cumulative title sales have surpassed 10 million copies on over 50 titles for PCs, videogame consoles, arcade machines, as well as web-based and hand-held games. He is the author of the best-selling book, "Game Design Foundations."

* Aimee Dingman - is an artist who spends a good deal of her time and talent creating paintings based on videogames. Aimee's unique paintings will be on display and available for purchase at the show. Aimee says, "I've been an artist and a gamer all my life. That I have the opportunity to create paintings that express my love of gaming is absolutely outstanding! While Atari art is just a part of all that I do as an artist, it's a big part of how I define myself." Aimee has also donated two paintings as door prizes.

* Cassidy Nolen - is another arcade restoration wiz and programmer of new games for the Atari 2600 system, including Polo and Frog Pond, which will make its debut at PhillyClassic. Cassidy is also bringing with him (for exhibit and free play) the very first coin-op arcade game, Computer Space, and also a rare version of a Pong arcade machine made by Williams Electronics. Cassidy is the webmaster of atarionline.com.

PhillyClassic organizer David Newman concludes, "PhillyClassic focuses on the amusement and wonder of video gaming, and brings together all the elements of our videogame culture. These 'living legends' are a huge part of that."

The 5th annual PhillyClassic video game expo blasts into the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, PA on March 20-21, 2004. Show hours are Saturday 10am-8pm and Sunday 10am-5pm. Admission is $10 for 1 day ($5 with student ID) and $15 for both days. Kids under 10 are free if accompanied by an adult (1 child per adult).

For more information, and to register to win t-shirts, prizes, and other goodies at the show, please visit the PhillyClassic website at: http://www.phillyclassic.com