UPDATE 9/13/21 – The organizers of MORTAL KON have informed VEGAS 411 that the event has been canceled due to a surge in COVID-19 in Las Vegas, along with other uncontrollable factors.
Even when I reached my 40’s, my mother would ask “When the Hell are you going to grow up?”. My answer was always a simple “Why would I want to?”. That’s the philosophy behind Player 1 Video Game Bar, a hangout, hideout, and playground for overgrown kids. And as our world continually becomes more troubled and stressful, there’s no better time than now for Player 1’s upcoming Mortal Kon video tournament event.
Player 1 Video Game Bar is located at 2797 S. Maryland Pkwy, just a coin toss away from Commercial Center on East Sahara Avenue. You may remember that historic plaza as the home of other adult fun spots like Cineloggia Movie Prop Museum, Hellbound Horror Collectibles, The Sci-Fi Center, and soon…The 35 Cinema. Together, these establishments are creating a haven for fans of fantasy, adventure, and thrills.
If you recall Fremont Street’s now-closed INSERT COINS or have been to The NERD at Neonopolis, then Player 1‘s concept should feel a bit familiar. But while INSERT COINS was shuttered after an altercation involving their staff, Player 1 excels in great customer service and appreciation:
“Player 1 prides itself on being THE place in VEGAS to celebrate video games and offering the widest selection of Local and National Craft Breweries and a selection of choice Martini Cocktails. A cover charge gets you UNLIMITED access to our rotating selection of classic arcade cabinets, as well as a large variety of consoles from every era.
As Player 1 continues to grow with the support of our loyal patrons and out-of-town visitors, we strive to offer excellent customer service and the geek-friendly atmosphere we are known for. We encourage our guests to join our staff in the fun of cosplaying their favorite video game and pop culture characters.”
Along with an outrageous number of video game choices, Player 1 prides itself on a wide selection of beer and cocktails:
“For beer drinkers, Player 1 is a fantastic ode to the hard work of craft breweries. We feature 50 ice cold taps and over 150 bottled beers. With over 40 ciders, meads, sakes, and our signature Martini cocktails to choose from we are confident we have something for everyone! For our non-alcoholic drinkers, our premium selection of craft sodas and our draft root beer are the perfect fit.”
This September 18th and 19th, Player 1 will be holding “Mortal Kon”, a gathering of cosplayers, gamers, and fans for a weekend of exciting events. Organizer Marc Heller told Vegas 411 all about it:
“We have six people from Mortal Kombat, the ORIGINAL video game, Randal Allen Mihailoff, the actor who portrayed ‘Leatherface’ in Texas Massacre Chainsaw 3, and the voice actor for Akuma, as well as Patrick Rolo, artist for Mortal Kombat comics in the 90’s. Rolo is coming out of retirement for this event.
Throughout the weekend we will have live DJs, a karaoke tournament on night one hosted by The Karaoke Baron (karaoke for Ellis Island Casino), and a video game tournament for an ARCADE 1UP game cabinet signed by the entire group (of celebrity guests).
Player 1 is Las Vegas’ only cosplay and video game bar. The place is a giant arcade! We just want to create something different and fun.”
Join the cast of Mortal Kombat and R.A. Mihailoff for a weekend of fun and Kompetition. Autograph signings, photo ops, panels, karaoke contests, cosplay contests, and a huge video game tournament. MORTAL KON takes place Saturday, September 18th from 4 pm to 2 am and Sunday, September 19th from 1 pm to 2 am. Free admission hours are 5 pm to 2 am on Saturday and 2 pm to 2 am on Sunday. Limited free general admission will be on a first-come/first-serve basis. A wristband or badge will be provided for participants, who must provide a photo ID and be 21 or over. For more information visit the official Mortal Kon website or the Facebook event page.
