RIP Billy Chaser - Interview from 2019: The Game Chasers, Adventures in Game Chasing Movie & More

With the tragic passing of Billy Hudson, aka Billy Chaser, I decided to share the interview I did with him for CultureMap when The Game Chasers Movie—which ultimately became Adventures in Game Chasing—starting filming, way back in November of 2019. Bill was generous with his time and provided some interesting history on The Game Chasers’ YouTube channel and lots of background info on the film. RIP, Billy, you were loved by many.

BRETT WEISS: How did you meet Jay?

BILLY CHASER: Blockbuster Video. We worked together at a store in Grand Prairie.

WEISS: Were you guys movie buffs?

CHASER: More gaming than movies, but yeah, we liked movies, too. We’d work our shift then go play video games. I lived in an apartment at the time and was studying at The Art Institute in Dallas. This was in 1999.

WEISS: How long did you work at Blockbuster?

CHASER: Less than a year. After that, I got a job at a television station.

WEISS: When did you guys start The Game Chasers channel?

CHASER: We started it in 2010 and began making videos in 2011.

WEISS: Was the channel your idea, and you approached Jay with it?

CHASER: Yeah.

WEISS: Was he receptive to the idea right away?

CHASER: Yeah, he’s generally up for anything. He loves video games and that sort of thing.

WEISS: I assume you guys were going around looking for video games long before you started the show?

CHASER: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Three to four years before the show started, we would go out to flea markets and pawnshops and Craigslist finds. It was a competition in a way. We didn’t go out together as much as we would separately. After work, I’d hit a pawn shop and show Jay what I had, and he’d get mad and say, “I can find better stuff.” So he’d go to a Good Will or a Salvation Army and find stuff. He and his wife at the time were double-teaming it and finding all those games at different places and collecting them.

WEISS: Lots of good finds, I’m guessing?

CHASER: During that three-to-four-year time frame, we probably amassed about 70 percent of our collection. It was much easier to find stuff back then.

WEISS. Oh, I can relate to that for sure. What was the germ of the idea for the Game Chasers show? What inspired you?

CHASER: I was already making videos on YouTube. My professional background is in video and film. We were watching a show called American Pickers. I don’t know why, we just liked it. I’d go over and hang out, and we’d watch American Pickers. It was entertaining, and one day it hit me that we should do a show like this, but make it about video games.

We were watching one episode, and they went to this place that had a bunch of junk, but in the corner they had a Vectrex just sitting there. They never mentioned it, they never touched on it, they never talked about it, and I’m sitting there like, “Dude, there’s a Vectrex in there, why aren’t you picking that up? C’mon, man!”

WEISS: They probably thought it was just a crappy old black-and-white TV or something.

CHASER: Yeah, the Vectrex is amazing. It drove me crazy, so I’m like, “Dude, let’s just do this with video games. We’ve got a Toy Chasers show as well. We collect toys, too. G.I. Joes, Transformers—basically all the stuff we grew up with, because we’re still big kids.

WEISS: What are some of the challenges and annoying aspects of filming The Game Chasers?

CHASER: The annoying aspect is that since we keep it 100% real, sometimes we go out and find nothing, which is getting more and more common. Getting kicked out of flea markets, the pressure to produce something that you have no control over is a challenge because we can’t control if a flea market is going to have vendors that carry games. A regular show like American Pickers has all these producers and people who work on them. They can send them out to places to look for stuff, because in TV, time is money. There’s no way that if we were on TV they would do it the way we do it, because that’s a waste of resources, going out on a weekend and potentially finding something or finding nothing. On TV, you have to meet a schedule. It’s just us, and we have no control over what we’re going to find.

WEISS: What is your favorite aspect of creating the show?

CHASER: I like the technical aspect. I hate going out and shooting because it’s stressful trying to find something so we can make a decent video, but once I sit down in my cave to edit it, I can relax and do my thing. Probably the best part is reading the comments after we post a video. When people say that they love it. We get messages from people saying they really appreciate the videos, that they helped them when they were going through a rough time. It makes it all worth it.

WEISS: The show is definitely entertaining. I find myself cracking up when I’m watching it. Do you guys have a background in comedy? Do you enjoy comedy films?

CHASER: We grew up liking the same type of 80s and 90s comedy road movies. We share the same type of humor. We incorporated a lot of that into the show naturally. Our animated cartoons are where we go really crazy, where we get as creative as we like. That’s what I really enjoy doing. The more scripted stuff. I love creating something out of thin air that never existed before. I can’t really do that with Game Chasers, because whatever happens, happens, depending on the situation. But with cartoons and a movie, I can create something from my mind that never existed.

WEISS: What is the movie going to be about? Is it going to be similar to the show, or maybe something completely different?

CHASER: Think of it as a fictionalized retelling of the Game Chasers in a prequel kind of way. It’s kind of how the Game Chasers came to be, but fictional. It’s a road trip comedy, but with elements of…it’s deeper than that. It’s not an hour-and-a-half of raunchy comedy with fart jokes. It’s got heart and soul and a lot of that kind of deep stuff. It’s basically Jay and I tracking down the original NES that we used to play as kids and how we use that to reconnect with our youth.

WEISS: But it’s fictional and scripted.

CHASER: Right. It’s fictional and scripted, but with elements of reality. Real life is boring. The things that happen to us in real life are boring, so you’ve got to “movie it up” and make an entertaining movie. The core soul elements of why we go and connect with these games and why we play them—that’s there, the essence of the movie, the heart and soul of the Game Chasers. While it may be in a different format, the basics of the Game Chasers are still there at the epicenter of it all.

WEISS: What can you say about casting at this point? Other than you and Jay, who is going to be in the movie?

CHASER: It’s going to be a combination of people fans have seen on The Game Chasers, people they’ve grown to know and love. There will also be a few people fans haven’t seen that will add a great deal of interest to the film. We’ve got our eyes set on one well-known Hollywood actor for a role. I want people to know that the movie won’t be just us taking the camera out and shooting the movie ourselves. We’re going to be hiring a professional film crew, a cinematographer, a VX artist who works on The Walking Dead and The Orville.

WEISS: What are some of the challenges associated with putting on a video game convention?

CHASER: One challenge is how many of these shows are popping up now. There’s over saturation to some degree, which can be both good and bad. A good thing is that people are used to them and know what they’re about. They can come out and have a good time and know what to expect, but also the vendors only have a finite amount of things to sell. If somebody visits one show, maybe they don’t want to go to another. A “been there, done that” sort of thing.

WEISS: Did you and Jay start Retropalooza because you noticed that the Dallas/Fort Worth area didn’t have much in the way of retro gaming conventions?

CHASER: That’s something we talked about. At this point, it’s mostly Jay who does it. Originally, we tossed around the idea of doing a show…crap, at this point is was more than six years ago. There was Screwattack Gaming Convention [in the Dallas area], but it wasn’t really like the other conventions we went to. It was more like a party for Screwattack fans. Sure, there was a vendor room where people could buy and sell, but it was more of an afterthought. We wanted to do a really big convention with a ton of vendors where people could come out and buy, sell, find anything they want.

WEISS: Yeah, Retropalooza is much more mainstream than Screwattack. That show was great fun, but they definitely catered toward their audience. They didn’t really do that much outreach to the community, at least for the first couple of shows.

CHASER: It was nothing like what we had in mind for the area. We tossed around the idea for a convention, and I kind of wavered on it at first, because I’m not a fan of organizing things. I’m the “artsy” guy for lack of a better word. I hate making calls and all that other stuff that goes into putting on a convention. I was like, “If you want it done, you’re going to have to do most of it. He kind of took it over and to where it is now.

WEISS: For you, what is the retro gaming culture like in the Dallas/Fort Worth area?

CHASER: It’s still going really, really strong. Every month, Facebook groups get together to buy, sell, and trade at a store or whatever. There are so many stores that have popped up in recent years. The DFW retro gaming scene is probably the best in the country. It seems to have the most people, the most competition. It’s a hotbed for buying, selling, and the overall celebration of it.

Dallas Fan Festival 2025 Preview – Celebrities, Collectibles, and Pop Culture Fun

 

Dallas Fan Festival is coming up October 4–5 at the Irving Convention Center, and I’m already buzzing with excitement. This year’s guest list is packed with familiar faces from across television, movies, gaming, and fandom. William Daniels will be there—Mr. Feeny himself—as well as Ed Begley Jr., and Dean Butler, who fans know from Little House on the Prairie and Buffy the Vampire Slayer (one of my favorite shows). Glenn Morshower from 24 will also be making an appearance, and of course two of my personal favorites, Kathy Coleman and Wesley Eure from Land of the Lost. As a huge fan of that show, a nostalgic favorite, I can’t wait to see them again, and it’s always extra fun since we’ve become Facebook friends over the years.

Another guest I’m looking forward to is Robbie Rist (I definitely grew up Brady—he was Cousin Oliver on the show), along with Melody Anderson from the Flash Gordon movie (another favorite). That colorful and quirky film holds a special place in my heart, and getting to see Melody again is a real treat—the first time was way back in 2006 at Comic-Con San Diego. Even better, Sam J. Jones will be back—Flash himself—and I have great memories of hanging out with him at the Houston Arcade Expo when we were both guests.

As a hardcore gamer, it will be cool seeing Samantha Kelly (Princess Peach) and Kenny James (Bowser). Adding to the mix will be a roster of talented voice actors from anime and video games, plus an array of comic book creators, making this event a true celebration of fandom across generations.

But Dallas Fan Festival isn’t just about the celebrity encounters. The weekend will be full of Q&A’s where fans can hear behind-the-scenes stories, autograph and selfie opportunities to make those memories tangible, and an incredible vendor room packed with comics, toys, memorabilia, collectibles, artwork, retro games, and more. There will also be cosplay, trick-or-treating for kids and families, and panels, demos, and workshops that give fans a chance to dig deeper into the creative worlds they love.

For me, part of the magic of a convention like this is the sense of discovery. You never know what you’ll find in the vendor hall or who you’ll meet in the halls—maybe a favorite actor, maybe a fellow fan who loves the same obscure show you do. I’ll be filming the event for my YouTube channel so you guys can come along for the ride, and you can bet I’ll be on the hunt for retro games and vintage toys to show off. It’s a mix of nostalgia, community, and the thrill of the hunt for something new to add to the collection. With so many favorite guests on the schedule and so much to see and do, I can already tell this Dallas Fan Festival will be one for the memory books.

PAX West 2025 Gaming Expo Report - MY FIRST!

Labor Day weekend in Seattle was unforgettable—my first-ever PAX West (and my first time in Washington state!), and I was struck by just how huge and full of energy the event was. From wandering the vendor booths to checking out demos, there was something exciting around every corner. One of the biggest surprises was the number of retro games on the vendor floor—NES, SNES, N64, Genesis carts and consoles filled three large booths. I even came across a few rarities I never expected to see at a show like this, making it feel like a collector’s dream. A short walk away, near the tabletop and retro console sections, the free-play arcade was buzzing with Japanese candy cabs, pinball, and classic machines that instantly brought the nostalgia flooding back.

The showroom floor itself was nonstop—rows of booths filled with indie experiments and AAA heavy-hitters side by side, including a forthcoming Masters of the Universe game I’m excited about. I picked up three titles from Limited Run Games (couldn’t resist!) and showed them off in my video recap, which you can watch HERE. Still, the highlight of the whole trip was Nintendo’s enormous setup. Their two massive booths showed off the brand-new Nintendo Switch 2, with playable demos of big titles like Kirby Air Riders, Pokémon Legends: Z-A – NS2 Edition, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Borderlands 4, and more. Kirby Air Riders was the real standout for me—it was the first time the game had been playable in the U.S., and it’s already shaping up to be something special ahead of its November release. Entry even required a “Warp Pipe Pass,” which added a fun, exclusive feel. Getting hands-on time with the Switch 2 and catching a glimpse of what’s coming next was easily the most memorable part of the weekend. Aside from seeing friends, of course.

A Real-Life Mario Kart Track CRASH… in Someone’s Backyard?! | Utah Retro GamExpo VIP Party Recap

 

What happens when you take the creativity of a retro gaming fan, the charm of a backyard course, and the chaos of Mario Kart—then invite a bunch of gaming legends and fans to try it for real? You get one unforgettable VIP party Saturday night after the Utah Retro GamExpo! You can watch my party recap by clicking HERE.

I was honored to be a guest at this year’s convention, and the after-party was nothing short of epic. Hosted by the event’s owner at his own home, the backyard featured a fully realized real-life Mario Kart track—complete with sharp turns, tricky straightaways, and the potential for a little friendly mayhem. And yes, there was a spectacular crash during the night. Fortunately, the driver lived to tell the tale, adding a bit of real-world drama to the evening’s fun.

The party lineup was stacked with talent and personalities from across the retro gaming and pop culture scene: artist Paul Neimeyer (Mortal Kombat logo), game designer Warren Davis (Q*bert), YouTubers Mr. Wright Way and GameDad, Gary from Roxolid Productions, Gini Holtzman (Peppermint Patty from Peanuts), and even the actor who portrayed Jax in the original Mortal Kombat game! With such a guest list, the conversations were as entertaining as the activities—it was great getting to know the convention host and catching up with Warren and talking about writing.

And speaking of activities—the Mario Kart course wasn’t the only attraction. A home arcade was connected to the backyard, loaded with retro arcade cabinets, Skee-Ball, and more. It was the perfect place to recharge between races and enjoy a hit of gaming nostalgia.

We were also treated to some amazing BBQ, fueling us for the night’s adventures. The combination of great food, great company, and the surreal experience of racing karts in a retro-themed backyard made this one of the most unique gaming parties I’ve ever attended.

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to step inside the chaotic fun of Mario Kart—and live to tell the tale—this is the video for you!

Casey's Gold Atari 2600 Review - Dan Kitchen & Audacity Games

 

Casey’s Gold is a remarkable adventure platformer that pushes the Atari 2600 to awesome heights. Designed by Dan Kitchen for Audacity Games, the title evokes the polish and responsiveness of a vintage Activision release—Casey moves with a smoothness and precision, making every jump and crouch feel natural.

You guide Casey across trains, mines, and frontier towns, collecting lost gold while avoiding hazards like bats, lizards, vultures, rattlesnakes, and fire ants. The game blends platforming with exploration and puzzle-solving in ways rarely seen on the system. Players can climb ladders, enter train cars through roof hatches, use TNT to blast through mine walls, and uncover cleverly hidden collectibles in shadowed corners.

The level design is creative throughout. Warp flags allow instant transport across train cars, wells hide underground mines or teleport you across town, and buildings may require keys to enter. Each stage feels layered with secrets, encouraging you to search every nook and cranny. The hidden items—conductor hats for extra lives, pocket watches for time, and balloons for bonus points—add to the fun of discovery (to borrow a phrase found in ColecoVision manuals).

Casey’s Gold is not a quick playthrough. It’s a long, addictive adventure with multiple gold rushes, mine expeditions, and train raids to complete. While fun and rewarding, the game cries out for a password system or save states to preserve progress, since sessions can run long and test endurance as much as skill. Pause would be nice as well. For this reason, playing the digital version, exclusive to the Collector’s Edition, is the preferred method.

From the instantly recognizable train cars to the desert backgrounds and eerie mines, Casey’s Gold looks fantastic for a 2600 title. The character design of Casey himself is memorable—he certainly looks the part of a train conductor—and the locomotive engine is a graphical highlight.

Audacity Games was founded by Dan Kitchen, Garry Kitchen, and David Crane, three of the most important figures from Activision’s legendary Atari 2600 era. In the early ’80s, they created some of the most enduring and inventive games for the console, and with Audacity they’ve reunited to continue that tradition. Their philosophy is unusual in today’s market: every release comes as a deluxe physical cartridge package—complete with box, manual, overlays, and often special extras.

Their debut game, Circus Convoy, proved that the 2600 still had untapped potential even four decades later, and Casey’s Gold carries that torch forward. I’m fortunate to know Dan, Garry, and David personally, and I often see them at retro gaming conventions and events at the National Video Game Museum. Their enthusiasm for preserving the spirit of classic gaming is infectious, and having Dan sign my copy of Casey’s Gold makes it even more meaningful.

Casey’s Gold is a fun, ambitious title that could easily sit alongside Activision’s finest. It rewards exploration and persistence and is one of the most impressive adventures ever created for the Atari 2600.

A big thanks to Dan Kitchen for designing such a creative game—and for signing my copy!

The Top 10 First Party Atari 2600 Shooter Games

 

When people think of classic video game consoles, the Atari 2600—originally known as the Video Computer System (VCS)—almost always springs to mind. Released in 1977, this legendary system helped popularize home gaming, setting the stage for everything that followed. Long before modern-day shooters dominated our screens, Atari was creating early examples of the genre, right in your living room. In my latest YouTube video, I take you back to that golden era with a countdown of the Top 10 First-Party Shooters for the Atari 2600—that’s right, only official Atari releases, no Activision, Imagic, or Parker Brothers this time! So, no Demon Attack or River Raid!

These first-party titles are still incredible fun to play day, brimming with innovation, intensity, and surprising variety. The video walks through some true greats—like the unforgettable Missile Command, a nuclear nightmare of twitch reflexes and edge-of-your-seat defense, and Yars’ Revenge, arguably the system’s most imaginative shooter, which combines colorful visuals, coded backstory, and an almost hypnotic gameplay loop. Not to mention, it was the best-selling original Atari game for the system (not based on an arcade game).

But that’s just scratching the surface. The countdown features ten titles, ranked from #10 to #1, highlighting not just the classics but also a couple of slightly deeper cuts you might have missed. These are the games that pushed the limits of what the 2600 could do—technically, creatively, and gameplay-wise—offering everything from fast-paced action to arcade-style thrills.

If you're a longtime collector, a nostalgia-chaser, or a younger gamer who is simply curious about what Atari was doing when it owned the home gaming industry, this is a must-watch. I bring the perspective of a retro historian and lifelong fan to each pick—and yes, I expect some debate!

Watch the full countdown on YouTube by clicking HERE.

Did I overlook your favorite Atari-published shooter? Was your personal #1 ranked too low? Let’s talk shop in the comments—because celebrating gaming history is even better when we do it together.

Inside Pins Mechanical Co: Austin’s Best Retro Arcade with Free Games, Pinball, and Bowling

 

Looking for the best retro arcade in Austin, Texas? Join us for a full tour of Pins Mechanical Co., a standout destination for classic gaming, pinball action, and family fun. In this video, we explore one of the coolest arcades in Austin, featuring a massive lineup of free-to-play retro arcade games like Donkey Kong, Super Pac-Man, Gauntlet, Asteroids, Mario Bros., Popeye, and Kangaroo. My wife Charis shows off her Centipede skills, my son jumps into Kangaroo, and even beats us on the Elton John pinball machine.

Pins Mechanical offers a deep selection of modern and vintage pinball machines, including X-Men, Pulp Fiction, Scared Stiff, The Mandalorian, The Godfather, Iron Maiden, Guns N’ Roses, Hot Wheels, Looney Tunes, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Pinballs cost $1 per play, while all arcade games are free. Even better, the quarters you do spend benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities, combining gaming with a great cause.

But the fun doesn’t stop with games. Pins also features duckpin bowling, arcade basketball, patio pong, and foosball. There’s a retro-styled lounge setup that looks like a 1970s–90s living room—complete with working NES and Sega Genesis consoles you can actually play. It’s the perfect spot to sit back, sip a cocktail, and enjoy the nostalgic atmosphere.

Don’t miss me shooting hoops and taking on the strength meter—will I ring the bell or come up short? Whether you're a retro gaming collector, pinball wizard, or just visiting Austin with family or friends, Pins Mechanical is a must-visit arcade and bar experience.

Watch the full video now to see what makes Pins Mechanical Co. in Austin, TX one of the most unique arcades in the country. Be sure to like, subscribe, and drop a comment if you’ve been to this amazing place—or are planning to go!

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