NAVA = North Atlantic Videogame Aficionados. This is a FREE event bringing gamers together for competition, trading, and chatter.

Previously at NAVA...
- In our last episode, we asked "Have You Played Atari Today?" and regardless of your answer, you played at NAVA.
- The arcade game challenge was Missile Command. Walter A defended the world best at 18,540 and took the $20 prize.
- At 6pm we hosted a "Random Retro" challenge on the Atari 2600. Walter A won this one too! Is the "A" for "Atari"?
- Games and systems traded hands between attendees who brought their own trade boxes.

See it all in our photo gallery section at the store's website and feel free to comment!
http://dpvideogames.com/galleries/

IMPORTANT NOTE: THE EMPLOYEE AREA AT THE BACK OF THE STORE WILL BE RESTRICTED TO EMPLOYEES ONLY. BEVERAGES AND SNACKS CAN BE BROUGHT AS USUAL AND WILL BE KEPT ON THE ISLAND COUNTERTOPS.

In This Month's NAVA: Though we rarely revisit NAVA themes, a long-time NAVA member requested that we bust out the Vectrex systems again. So... Let's all take a trip down a very specific memory lane and discover the wonder of vector graphics all over again. Vector graphics, which wikipedia describes as "the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon(s), which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics". The first arcade game to use this style of graphics was Leijac's "Space Wars" in 1977, though certainly Atari's 1979 hit "Asteroids" made the style popular. In late 1982, GCE launched the first and to date ONLY vector-based game console, the Vectrex. This console will be very prominent at NAVA, we're planning on having at least four of them up and running.

Arcade challenge! There are actually a lot of great point-busting games to choose from the world of vector graphics, but we're choosing one that's a little less popular, highly challenging, and something that if you haven't played before, need to be introduced to. Cinematronics' 1980 space shooter "Star Castle" controls a bit like Asteroids in that you control a ship that can fly off the edge of the screen and appear on the other side, fires bullets, and thrusts and turns as the popular Atari game. In Star Castle however, your goal is to break down a three-layer shield of what is essentially a level boss sitting in the middle of the playfield. Be the best at this game on this one day by logging the highest score on our arcade cabinet by 9pm and win a nifty $20 gift certificate and possibly get your name added to the "House Champion" tournament plaque on the Wall of Fame just above the arcade section of the store. Arcade challenge games are set to FREE PLAY all day, but please remember to let everyone get a shot. If you get the high score, move on, and no hogging the cabinet! Also if you have won last month’s arcade challenge you are no eligible to win this month’s challenge.

Tournament! We always look for great head-to-head games for these tournaments and the world of vector graphics has one perfect choice in that regard. It's Cinematronics again, this time their 1980 tank combat game "Armor Attack". The game plays a lot like Atari's (tank) Combat but there are enemy drone tanks and helicopters to contend with as well. Who's the best tank commander? Let's find out. Sign-ups begin at 3pm, the tournament starts around 6pm and its first-come, first-served in this FREE-to-join tournament.

Remember to get your trade boxes in order so we can all buy, sell and trade together. Wear your NAVA or Digital Press t-shirt for the maximum discount on store purchases. Also, bring your Nintendo 3DS to share street passes... it's NAVA time!

RSVP (optional): http://www.facebook.com/digitpress?sk=events
When: Saturday, JULY 28, 3pm to midnight.
Where: Digital Press Videogames: http://tinyurl.com/7nobzcr
What happens: Gaming, trading, tournaments, big prizes! Extra game stations are set up around the store. Attendance is FREE. Half price for kids!
What can I bring?: It's nice to share. Snacks, soda and water are always appreciated. Cakes have been very popular as well.