Even when I got there about an hour late (hey, it took close to 45 minutes by subway!), there was still a decent sized line waiting to get in. Turns out they were letting people in very slowly as members were forced to read a detailed rules sheet before they were granted entry. There was even this small, old TV setup running the SNES version of Street Fighter II at the registration table.

There were several Super Street Fighter Turbo HD Remix kiosks set up in the first floor room that were swarmed with people. The walls were decorated with a variety Street Fighter-related graffiti while a video projector aimed at the ceiling displayed a SF anime. I grabbed a slice of pizza (what was left of it, anyway) and a Pepsi while observing some matches. After about 10 minutes, though, I realized Street Fighter IV was noticeably absent in this room, along with about 100 other people. I noticed a stairway off to the side with the word “Murder” written above it. I figured either I’m going to die when I go down there, or that’s where the rest of the Street Fighter kids are.

Well, there wasn’t any death, just a hot, sweaty basement filled to the brim with people playing Street Fighter IV. It was shoulder-to-shoulder just about anywhere you tried to walk. Some brought their own sticks to use while others used ones that were already there. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions were made available, so no console bias here! After talking to some folks for a while, I decided I wanted to get at least one match in before I left. Despite the number of people, the wait to play wasn’t too bad. Everyone was respectful and friendly to each other when it came to allowing turns. I ended up playing someone who had won what seemed like eight or nine in a row. As usual, I got my ass kicked in two straight rounds.

On my way out I was given a gift bag full of all sorts of goodies. Besides an awesome, one-of-a-kind Street Fighter shirt by Meat Bun (co-owned by Michael McWhertor), I got a red headband, a bar of Street Fighter soap, a comic book, a can of soda, and some other stuff. Overall, it was a great night (free food is always a plus). My only real complaint was the location. Brooklyn? Really, Capcom? There's plenty of room right here in Manhattan! I should also mention on my way to the subway, I came across a fight taking place across the street between some guy without a shirt and a group of people passing by. Nice way to cap off the night! Check out the rest of the gallery below!

Wow, just wow. Yesterday's local Child's Play fund raiser was truly a humbling experience. I drove down to Denver about 2ish to unload all of the schwag (including donations from Mark and Joel) and then figure out how exactly to split the signal from an Xbox 360 so it could go into a house sound system, a ceiling mounted video projector and an off-stage television.

We finally got the whole thing figured out and tested about ten minutes before doors were set to open at 6 p.m. Five minutes after six I was still standing in an open room, starting to think that perhaps I had over estimated the interest in a local Child's Play fund raiser... but then the booking manager came up and asked if she should start letting people in.

"People? You mean there are people?"

Turns out there was a line, a line that didn't really dissipate until closer to when the event ended at 10 p.m. In fact at one point they had to stop letting people in because we had exceeded the 142 fire code capacity for the back room... by a lot I suspect.

Attendees included members of the local Game Developers Association, people from the local studios (I talked to people from SOE Denver and NetDevil and suspect Idol Minds was in the house as well) and a lot more readers then I had thought would make it. One couple drove the 100 miles or so from Pueblo to attend, even getting a room for the night in Denver. Wow.

The entire night was spent watching people up on stage playing Rock Band, something that never seems to get old, especially when a light system and concert sound is involved. There were some amazing singers, guitarists and drummers there last night, including not a few expert level players.

I ended up giving out the schwag over the course of the event, and even got a few on-site donations of stuff from Game Daily and Dave Thomas (who snuck a free copy of the Videogame Style Guide into his donation). About 9 p.m. I gave away that amazingly cuddly Companion Cube, but not before giving it a big hug. (For the record Luke, I did not have sex with that Companion Cube.)

The winner, Mike Kappus, of Broomfield, took to the stage and admitted he had no idea what a Companion Cube was, and then shouted out to the audience that he would sell it to the first taker for $50, which he wanted to go to the fund raiser. The first-taker, Erik Rieger, of Denver, ended up giving $80 to Child's Play and then hoisted it above his head with a bit of a maniacal look in his eyes... I told him that the cake was in the other room and we all had a good laugh.

It was a good time for a good cause and I can't thank the people who came enough for helping to make this happen. Thanks again to Robert Workman for the donations, taking pictures for me and helping out on the stage and to the NetDevil folks for donating a ton of LEGOs, which were shipped direct to Brooklyn for Joel's Funde Razor.

I'll be posting an update later today with the final amount raised from the Denver event and more photos, but we definitely topped $1000. Joel tells me his Brooklyn event blew away past Funde Razors.

Ps. Send any pics you may have taken at the event and we'll add them to our gallery.

Big, big thanks to Phillip, Robert and others for the snaps!

Funde Razor

Donations are taken at the door and many coveted things will be given away to lucky raffle ticket holders. For more details on the event that puts the fun back into fund raiser, hit up the official site. Keep in mind, it's limited to those 21 and over. This may be your only chance to see Brian Crecente in a bird shirt or Joel Johnson in frilly scarf in person.

Funde Razor

Next week, next Wednesday (Dec. 12 to be precise) I will be hanging out at the Walnut Room in Denver hoping to help raise a bit of cash for Child's Play through the first ever Denver Funde Razor: Hall of the Mountain Gods! OK, I made that last bit, the Gods bit, up, but it does have a nice ring to it.

If you're interesting in stopping by to play some Rock Band on stage, drink some beer and perhaps win some goodies all for the good of Child's Play check out the official Funde Razor site for details on both the Denver event and the Brooklyn one, hosted by Mountain Man Joel Johnson. If you do plan on coming to the Denver event hit up the Walnut Room from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. If you plan on Brooklyn, get to Barcade between 8 p.m. and midnight.

Funde Razor

While most of Friday will be spent blogging and trying not to kill one another, Friday night is all about the Par-Tey. Don't forget to head on over to Brooklyn's Barcade tomorrow night to drink some brain-killer on us and talk games.

Hit the link for the full details or to go post about how we should be holding this party in your hometown. Brian Crecente

Party With the Kotaku Crew, Yes Even Ash [Kotaku]

Don't forget that Funde Razor is 8 p.m. tonight at Brooklyn's fabulous Barcade.

Where else are you going to have a chance to drink, play classic arcade games, rock out with Guitar Hero on a big screen and raise money for sick children?

So get on over there, Kotaku needs a presence. I want to hear about all of the rowdiness and Kotaku chanting that went on from Joel when I talk to him tomorrow. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor

Former Gawkerite and hellofaniceguy Joel Johnson is hosting the second, we can now say it, annual Funde Razor at Brooklyn's Barcade next Wednesday.

The event, officially-sanctioned by Penny Arcade's Child's Play Charity, will be raising money specifically for The Children's Hospital of Montefiore in the Bronx.

While giving cash to sick kids is a wonderful excuse to go out and get drunk at a bar packed with arcade games, you also will be able to play Guitar Hero on a giant screen and sign up for a chance to win dozens of ROFL RAFL prizes including several custom Guitar Hero guitars, a DS and, if I can get off my lazy ass and send it to Joel, a bunch of swag I've collected over the year.

Last year the event raised $1,600, this year Joel is hoping to double that. So get out there, give cash, get drunk and be rowdy. I expect to hear at least one story of people shouting Joel down with chants of Kotaku. Brian Crecente

Funde Razor