Pinball is waiting for you at the Arcade Expo.: Fotolia• Oni-con - the game is almost on
The upcoming Oni-con can provide you with hours of cosplay, gaming tournaments and art show fun. Too bad you'll have to wait until Halloween weekend to enjoy it. Luckily, though, you can gather with other con-men (and women)this weekend to prepare for the event. The Oni-Con staff will be hosting a Oni-Con Pre-registration party at The Coffee Groundz on Oct. 9. Show up and you'll be entertained by a guest DJ from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. And DJ Greg Ayres from 9 p.m.-midnight. There will be drinking, food, dancing and, if you're into the cosplay thing, a costume contest at 8 p.m.

And if you can't make the pre-reg party this weekend, just register online and head out to the Houston Marriot Westchase on Oct. 30- Nov. 1 for Oni-Con.

Oni-Con Pre-reg Party
Fri. Oct 9, 7 p.m. - midnight
The Coffee Groundz

• His Name is Bruce. And he's a toy.
If you're a fan of Bruce Campbell (and come on, who isn't?), you'll love this news from Dark Horse. The've teamed up with the mighty Bruce to bring you a 12-inch doll of him, complete with accessories including a big honkin' gun (price tag still attached), a miniature Chins book and, my favorite, Shemps Olde Tyme Whiskey. Dark Horse claims that the "fully articulated doll is formed from a 3-D scan of Campbell himself."

Don't know if that means it's anatomically correct. Any thoughts?

• I know it's a month away. But planning is key.
My brethren in arcade love - our wait is almost over. The Houston Arcade Expo is coming up on Nov. 6-7. At the Expo, you'll find over 150 Arcade and Console games, plus tons of pinball machines, tournaments, trivia contests, guest speakers and clinics (including one on pinball repair!) and ... well just about anything to tap your inner arcade geek.

Houston Arcade Expo
Friday, Oct 6, 6 p.m.-2 a.m. and Saturday, Oct. 7, 10 a.m.-2 a.m.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
8686 Kirby Drive