tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67826303202349374592024-03-18T05:04:07.016-05:00Brett Weiss: Words of WonderBretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.comBlogger956125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-26934845701735933712024-03-17T14:58:00.005-05:002024-03-18T05:04:06.321-05:00Celebrating 25 Years+ As a Freelance Writer<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4HTxlf1qvK0-NRnPjDiKzS07hJyGO4qML5dmLYA7viFZT9ofrhMHBQUx7fZhKXcRlC5_VTCORAWu-FFOAE40RjdtWeUThE9jIQmEjnb7igzudtWJar39KDMuKpdrh2kN86JGqBr0VuXTn0kDSZGGk4VK_Sg1XhIQCn7lFmdL1Xur1CbFal7L_CJDvhQ/s960/1_25years.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo4HTxlf1qvK0-NRnPjDiKzS07hJyGO4qML5dmLYA7viFZT9ofrhMHBQUx7fZhKXcRlC5_VTCORAWu-FFOAE40RjdtWeUThE9jIQmEjnb7igzudtWJar39KDMuKpdrh2kN86JGqBr0VuXTn0kDSZGGk4VK_Sg1XhIQCn7lFmdL1Xur1CbFal7L_CJDvhQ/w538-h402/1_25years.jpg" width="538" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve always wanted
to be a writer. At least as far back as I can remember. And last year, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr6BzInlsbA&t=2063s&pp=ygUOYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgMjU%3D">I celebrated 25 years</a> of being a professional in my chosen field.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WuceEdPwQbb2HfFIOeKduGcPlFmpx6vBpi1jWYndsORT5zwQsmnOmF28NX7yO4Dg3CoHyzd3mYHJnIWSH-S_Pl0Ea9QyTCFMBfTyxuRr68rzxt-DP19tfj_myB3eGZRzablhva5Csw_Q_uhJ_VEbz7xWyJa2k-4smM23VEA2UCgFdvab1eoOFO8UzL8/s1280/25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WuceEdPwQbb2HfFIOeKduGcPlFmpx6vBpi1jWYndsORT5zwQsmnOmF28NX7yO4Dg3CoHyzd3mYHJnIWSH-S_Pl0Ea9QyTCFMBfTyxuRr68rzxt-DP19tfj_myB3eGZRzablhva5Csw_Q_uhJ_VEbz7xWyJa2k-4smM23VEA2UCgFdvab1eoOFO8UzL8/w550-h310/25.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">My interest in
books, reading, writing, and the like goes back to when I was a little kid and
would read anything we had lying around the house, whether it was the
children’s books in my room—Billy Goat’s Gruff, Flat Stanley, and Charlotte’s
Web immediately come to mind—to the more grownup stuff in the living room,
including a pair of encyclopedia sets: a standard edition and one based on
science. And I absolutely LOVED the Guinness Book of World Records; I would
pour over that thing for hours, marveling at all the freaks, geeks, and amazing
feats. I still remember the name of the world’s tallest man—Robert Wadlow!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENmF6IwotOS-Kihat708Ei8QyZmFfw8ZluNmZ91xbFcE1PZE1sW9npUZsMS0MX0G6CYhRNJtWurxdbPD_lsp8PSiZFljkrdI6XrNBf5fAcypyrulNKn0REsmF8N3aUxztV-KSpxEz_xdcebxiHKz7oToNOxVnS32hEVZKvRrH7IiId1NsPoFzEQoqG6Q/s431/guinn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="300" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENmF6IwotOS-Kihat708Ei8QyZmFfw8ZluNmZ91xbFcE1PZE1sW9npUZsMS0MX0G6CYhRNJtWurxdbPD_lsp8PSiZFljkrdI6XrNBf5fAcypyrulNKn0REsmF8N3aUxztV-KSpxEz_xdcebxiHKz7oToNOxVnS32hEVZKvRrH7IiId1NsPoFzEQoqG6Q/w386-h554/guinn.jpg" width="386" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">My mom, who introduced me to writers like Tom
Tryon and Mary Higgins Clark, would take me to used bookstores, where I bouight
as many Peanuts paperbacks as I could afford, as well as comic books. We also went
to thrift stores. I distinctly remember buying a stack of Mad magazines at
Thrift Town for 10-cents each—a bargain even back then.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwMgiqsUFGIuUL2LyTWYIFJY2oeBOYW7A8g5PDj_T-o3ROyDB6UMWG7it6nf98MJL59vsTB80HMfdvspQbJp-M1JJr8EgKj-CI-q28EYV3PLLPBhS0H_5df9l__61QqX0ZlYc3hjBzqByZILeo6QoIRCv4P7KVgMJ3cuv6iUBGVICeIql2Yk52TwJ0g0/s720/mom.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="720" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwMgiqsUFGIuUL2LyTWYIFJY2oeBOYW7A8g5PDj_T-o3ROyDB6UMWG7it6nf98MJL59vsTB80HMfdvspQbJp-M1JJr8EgKj-CI-q28EYV3PLLPBhS0H_5df9l__61QqX0ZlYc3hjBzqByZILeo6QoIRCv4P7KVgMJ3cuv6iUBGVICeIql2Yk52TwJ0g0/w462-h458/mom.jpg" width="462" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Mom let me order
three items per month from the Scholastic Book Club. I always selected Dynamite
Magazine—a pop culture treasure trove of fun celebrity profiles, cartoons,
puzzles, etc.—and two books, usually a non-fiction title like Ripley’s Believe
it or Not or Strange But True Tales and a novel. This is how I discovered
the greatness of H.G. Wells. War of the Worlds is the first “grownup” novel I
remember reading. Later, I got into Stephen King, Richard Matheson, Rod
Serling, Dean Koontz, Ray Bradbury, Clive Barker, and too many others to count.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAHNbuZerTr4OR28cwMBHOBSMr_5AnqdUpmV5eQp8lS0JRCRcqv0SpEW6dxfku2FcKhZrlfvjeevEO3Ow4SR-uR98u4ry1GGB2xuYtZiZ3hNWmDtVqZmw_JUWsEwIfEGTTqv1F8m0zsBh4VFgCAvmLsy5JcCiXZ2yk7gFdDMJvfjEUdjgmrrmnnk6S54/s1920/dynamite1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1485" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAHNbuZerTr4OR28cwMBHOBSMr_5AnqdUpmV5eQp8lS0JRCRcqv0SpEW6dxfku2FcKhZrlfvjeevEO3Ow4SR-uR98u4ry1GGB2xuYtZiZ3hNWmDtVqZmw_JUWsEwIfEGTTqv1F8m0zsBh4VFgCAvmLsy5JcCiXZ2yk7gFdDMJvfjEUdjgmrrmnnk6S54/w370-h478/dynamite1.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In short, I was a
veracious reader from a young age, which played a big role in my opening a pair
of comic book stores with my brother-in-law during the early ‘90s and later
working at Waldenbooks. During my stint at Waldenbooks, which was a lot of
fun—I got to hang out with Charlton Heston, Richard Simmons, Waylon Jennings,
and other celebrities during autographings—I tried writing fiction, which was
met with limited success. I had a few short stories published in small press
magazines, I got a hand-written letter of rejection from The New Yorker asking
me to submit more stories, and I was a quarter-finalist in the L. Ron Hubbard
Writer’s of the Future Contest. This was an interesting and fun time of
creativity, but it hardly paid the bills. (I’ve since collected these stories
in a book called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Arcade-Other-Strange-Tales-ebook/dp/B078TT4NYR?ref_=ast_author_dp&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Yu1_4zVGhOu3hPpemmOTdW4R2-39_o73dbZf7nrC72lFg2EgqENTVgtUxo56ql_KKEKTpehASesmOdn3EJvdJezR04qcIqputwO2GBeaE5prc4T5k6wyDqgJrLU3gXb7oehda8WiwyQH9XQm0RyxEDunNqA0fVHLaplTCojBgoJJuD7KHQ33Sck-HAqxAD2_auczMGFloJ3wGxYUZ4AFC1jVIzhEjPqvHUjJZ_K_nJE.MJYYt2qAUtu4VcTW9-HcEjAVaWhsFvizTxoYdWrX4kw&dib_tag=AUTHOR">The Arcade and Other Strange Tales</a>.)</span></p></span><p></p></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-juw07rYWCeWyi8tp8tNpwyVqizE4lK5Lru6LosKohjysE8L4xviCy4vVg-gX6UlapEI1FfLo8c0ebg04VCBOAEQy4myS6bWyZXO0-_jVEVy6Eat-utZu5zoc1sIUdIBpwmtoODzSvqXEd31ZdOtmo2vKY9J0W0IkHPd6V1qZz5K_tFsp8RjspRJpUM/s1733/captaincart20200626_12485187.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1733" data-original-width="1191" height="607" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-juw07rYWCeWyi8tp8tNpwyVqizE4lK5Lru6LosKohjysE8L4xviCy4vVg-gX6UlapEI1FfLo8c0ebg04VCBOAEQy4myS6bWyZXO0-_jVEVy6Eat-utZu5zoc1sIUdIBpwmtoODzSvqXEd31ZdOtmo2vKY9J0W0IkHPd6V1qZz5K_tFsp8RjspRJpUM/w417-h607/captaincart20200626_12485187.jpg" width="417" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 1997, my
aforementioned brother-in-law emailed me a want-ad from a company looking for
people to write about video games for such vintage consoles as the Atari 2600,
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0nqKrdmjR0&pp=ygUYYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgY29sZWNvdmlzaW9u">ColecoVision</a>, and Commodore 64, as well as for what were then newer systems
like the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDSavYV1EQU&pp=ygUXYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcGxheXN0YXRpb24%3D">PlayStation</a> and Nintendo 64. This began my association with the All
Media Guide, the company behind the <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/">All Music Guide</a> and the late, lamented All
Game Guide, which was an amazing website dedicated to describing, reviewing,
and cataloging every video game ever published for every console, handheld, and
computer in the history of forever. I was dumbfounded that I actually got paid
real money to write about old (and new) video games.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPBqg36c-Q1yXtAcbHsme0Z8BeYmm_NIl4MxejhJWVCNaQS2d9vvqMm8mDm9PiTGEEz3NT-lM1XeK-jzD-2eiaV6UphHVKYYLopxxXCh-rrf8tmGCOeocu6jnZVqnYoxrIktOMI26sr8hGuW5WNo1CFQD2xonKoIsbADAc2bV5awTEc4Dv6rhjx25hxA/s474/allgame.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="474" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPBqg36c-Q1yXtAcbHsme0Z8BeYmm_NIl4MxejhJWVCNaQS2d9vvqMm8mDm9PiTGEEz3NT-lM1XeK-jzD-2eiaV6UphHVKYYLopxxXCh-rrf8tmGCOeocu6jnZVqnYoxrIktOMI26sr8hGuW5WNo1CFQD2xonKoIsbADAc2bV5awTEc4Dv6rhjx25hxA/w586-h328/allgame.jpg" width="586" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Oh, did I not
mention that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs-z8y0unJE&t=269s&pp=ygUOYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgMjU%3D">I’m into video games</a>? I’ve been gaming since 1975 when I
discovered Pong and<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLfQUy6uFYc&t=441s&pp=ygUYYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXJjYWRlIGNoZWFw"> Midway’s Gun Fight</a> at the local bowling alley, and I’ve
been collecting since way before retro gaming was considered cool. During the
1990s, you could find tons of older games for pennies on the dollar at garage
sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and discount bins at various retail stores.
Working for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LFmGSirkAY&t=220s&pp=ygUdYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgZmlyc3Qgd3JpdGluZyBnaWc%3D">All Game Guide</a> kicked my collecting bug into overdrive. After
all, video games were both research and a tax write-off!</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In addition to
cranking out a ton of game synopses and reviews, I became an editor with the
All Game Guide. I also began writing for the <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2008/09/recently-published-in.html">Comic’s Buyer’s Guide</a> (which older readers may remember as The Buyer's Guide for Comic Fandom), as well
as other publications. Between these writing gigs and selling stuff on eBay, I
was able to quit my job at Waldenbooks and work at home, which was awesome: I
was living the dream! And changing a lot of dirty diapers as our kids—Ryan and
Katie--were little at the time. Speaking of family time, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFFgcNOXhEc&t=11s&pp=ygUQYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgd2lmZQ%3D%3D">my wife Charis</a>—a high
school English teacher—was a HUGE help during this point in my writing career.
She’s a <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/11/snes-omnibus-writer-spotlight-36-charis.html">fantastic writer</a> and editor in her own right and would look over my
work on a regular basis, offering all kinds of great advice for polishing up my
prose.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZLF04CXDRhVjSlZvyY0erXWWFf5tu8ZcPyCHBxL6i6ajF5NSIjlJht3fhsP_0GK6jnumLmMIJbWN-OShJf5LzwSuP0QrnS7mr18d6z5z4yXkEca6cEr7Hd9EwC_4tGjO-A6oeBkHgZwpVNuFAcf-Ml7UgFg4RL3lGvdYyBYpEiQbrfp6aSwi7Vb4lN4/s960/baby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="960" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZLF04CXDRhVjSlZvyY0erXWWFf5tu8ZcPyCHBxL6i6ajF5NSIjlJht3fhsP_0GK6jnumLmMIJbWN-OShJf5LzwSuP0QrnS7mr18d6z5z4yXkEca6cEr7Hd9EwC_4tGjO-A6oeBkHgZwpVNuFAcf-Ml7UgFg4RL3lGvdYyBYpEiQbrfp6aSwi7Vb4lN4/w527-h348/baby.jpg" width="527" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Writing steadily for the <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/12/rip-all-game-guide.html">All Game Guide</a> and the <a href="https://www.comichron.com/faq/comicsbuyersguidehistory.html">Comics Buyer’s Guide</a> helped me hone my craft to the point where I was ready to write a
book. In 2006, I went to San Diego Comic-Con, where I met an editor with
<a href="https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/classic-home-video-games-1972-1984/">McFarland Publishers</a>. I left a business card, and three days after I got home,
they emailed, asking if I had any interesting book ideas. This contact and my
fascination with reference volumes and electronic entertainment led to my
<a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/classic-home-video-games-series/5?cs=true&cst=custom">Classic Home Video Games series</a>, the first installment of which came out in
2007—right around the time retro gaming started becoming super mainstream.
Later, I wrote more books, including some for Schiffer Publishing, such as <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-snes-omnibus-the-super-nintendo-and-its-games/2?cs=true&cst=custom">the Omnibus books</a> and my
newest, <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1988-1998/7?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWAPLzka3e_Io-I1C7GZ698jC_a88aymgUL0S8DAzR93bQCTxUA1t9k-7YfgsrF0VJKGmTw2ruEHCE4VxG479lERq3I7sNwvV7Vbhsm-sdSpqlMyShyphenhyphenwrNBTLPcVk-AN7TWVjzeoSirOmpz_WOtcIyf6n4n98XloBifzsPjbUo41zbo4ukurM-oYcQMo/s1280/100greatestVOL2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1280" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWAPLzka3e_Io-I1C7GZ698jC_a88aymgUL0S8DAzR93bQCTxUA1t9k-7YfgsrF0VJKGmTw2ruEHCE4VxG479lERq3I7sNwvV7Vbhsm-sdSpqlMyShyphenhyphenwrNBTLPcVk-AN7TWVjzeoSirOmpz_WOtcIyf6n4n98XloBifzsPjbUo41zbo4ukurM-oYcQMo/w548-h365/100greatestVOL2.JPG" width="548" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 2009, I wrote my first cover feature for AntiqueWeek, where I have a pop culture column. My friend—former <a href="http://issues.antiqueweek.com/issues.php">AntiqueWeek</a>
contributing writer Rick Kelsey—gave me contact info for the paper, which is
obviously still going strong. My first AW article was about video games (the
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4V5zXPyVk&t=527s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXRhcmkgMjYwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600</a>, in this case), but I’ve written about countless other topics
related to collecting. In 2010, I started a near-decade-long career as a
freelancer for a major metropolitan newspaper, the <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2013/08/my-first-story-for-fort-worth-star.html">Fort Worth Star-Telegram</a>. I
loved that job, but they downsized like so many publications during the past
few years and now rarely use freelancers for entertainment-related articles.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEz1Uafs2d2B31cDQBpRyIgk8ugtZBaMoOw305Yipy1Jr8E8TyqAG5H1YrVzcEzl6WDbyl_qB8WtxyK_FjM2MODRiXU09kre2gDBUcKSJSWgtsqWcDw9xgvuP2XaZ4-ew_nfU2-bxgEkbaftoXNrxNn_mRUJ6G8eh9FyYGOzfxZ5b02dcpGSORWRTQ2A/s960/paper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEz1Uafs2d2B31cDQBpRyIgk8ugtZBaMoOw305Yipy1Jr8E8TyqAG5H1YrVzcEzl6WDbyl_qB8WtxyK_FjM2MODRiXU09kre2gDBUcKSJSWgtsqWcDw9xgvuP2XaZ4-ew_nfU2-bxgEkbaftoXNrxNn_mRUJ6G8eh9FyYGOzfxZ5b02dcpGSORWRTQ2A/w517-h388/paper.jpg" width="517" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The past
two-and-a-half decades have been hugely gratifying careerwise. At least most of
the time. Writing articles for <a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/02/22/retro-games-author-talks-pioneering-video-game-journalism-upcoming-snes-book.aspx">Game Informer</a>, Filmfax, Fangoria, Robot, Native
Peoples, Back Issue, Alter Ego, and other mainstream publications has been a
dream come true. I’ve interviewed numerous celebrities. I called <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/01/adam-west-interview.html">Adam West</a>, and
he answered the phone, “Hello. Batcave.” I had an argument with William
Shatner. I’ve been on tons of press junkets, getting wined and dined at museum
galas and restaurant and bar openings. Getting press passes to <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2017/04/fan-expo-dallas-report.html">comic book conventions</a> is always fun. Even better is being invited to video game
conventions across the country as a guest author, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG82B55XF1Oc8Km2Kcu_55g">YouTuber</a>,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and panelist.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6tgfOPtgs_IFk6mPV6u4j2XUz_DmWdPzZvrBM4XRH8IpORK3sQixqZMb0jwTCuwnXsZ3W3AcPo2npL3mrQha9xVkHoi_VnYDTwVVr9lnkGCj8Ru9QHVIEcUtg-WT-hnzH9K7eVsxi9IZvm7XKGDJV9ucJv1_JyesmxCk19d3YwbwZF4ONi-rXLibdwo/s1988/gameon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1988" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6tgfOPtgs_IFk6mPV6u4j2XUz_DmWdPzZvrBM4XRH8IpORK3sQixqZMb0jwTCuwnXsZ3W3AcPo2npL3mrQha9xVkHoi_VnYDTwVVr9lnkGCj8Ru9QHVIEcUtg-WT-hnzH9K7eVsxi9IZvm7XKGDJV9ucJv1_JyesmxCk19d3YwbwZF4ONi-rXLibdwo/w558-h431/gameon.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />It’s been a good
run, but I’m far from finished. These days, I’m cataloging video games and
writing blog posts for <a href="https://blog.ha.com/author/brett-weiss/">Heritage Auctions</a>, as well as continuing to do
<a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2024/03/top-5-reasons-retro-video-games-have.html">my own stuff</a>. I hope to keep at it in one form or another
for another 25 years!</span><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As always, thanks for reading! And thanks for your support!</span><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcochyphenhyphenNzpXJ_eAcBK8CBWknr1ffcd6sHdSWg31bjtlIPenFsUGnRiNSz48Xe6f4NyovrPlJxJQp-WeiyeEshBu92p6KC6d8_C1NQpOekhCxbmacnFcVM0Psuf92Bsh5KtfxG9uyzt-dyrB3g1axWQtHxdy3M6ZMcYcESAg86qSQlKLpJ_lojIarh59rOk/s592/2_25years.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="592" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcochyphenhyphenNzpXJ_eAcBK8CBWknr1ffcd6sHdSWg31bjtlIPenFsUGnRiNSz48Xe6f4NyovrPlJxJQp-WeiyeEshBu92p6KC6d8_C1NQpOekhCxbmacnFcVM0Psuf92Bsh5KtfxG9uyzt-dyrB3g1axWQtHxdy3M6ZMcYcESAg86qSQlKLpJ_lojIarh59rOk/w591-h390/2_25years.jpg" width="591" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p></div>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-15445053583348325312024-03-12T21:20:00.000-05:002024-03-12T21:20:46.553-05:00Atari 2600 Game Review - Squeeze Box (1982) by US Games<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HpjmZTldVzjrbdLkgIpU-Nhopo5TjmNGqreSs5VfXj_IPPApWb8q8y229aaROD2p0ixJVtYkjat-P65QkQb5hW4c7Qzbtpl8Nbmx1MWqYD7WuwbvK9LFnq0OLpoeybKpA_mjZJpTzl5VuWSeV_sg3bpMtSuvmNA20T9wmaTQDMNJgWVOr_Zf1wZyOhI/s2016/IMG_9859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="413" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HpjmZTldVzjrbdLkgIpU-Nhopo5TjmNGqreSs5VfXj_IPPApWb8q8y229aaROD2p0ixJVtYkjat-P65QkQb5hW4c7Qzbtpl8Nbmx1MWqYD7WuwbvK9LFnq0OLpoeybKpA_mjZJpTzl5VuWSeV_sg3bpMtSuvmNA20T9wmaTQDMNJgWVOr_Zf1wZyOhI/w550-h413/IMG_9859.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Squeeze Box</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G1RToXzdTg&t=286s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXRhcmkgMjYwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Publisher: US
Games. Developer: James Wickstead Design Associates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Genre: Action<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">1982</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Squeeze Box</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPO2c1Pd4kE&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXRhcmkgMjYwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600</a> intrigued me right from the start, offering a concept reminiscent of the
MCP level of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb-RGogt8gs&pp=ygUQYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgdHJvbg%3D%3D">classic <i>Tron</i></a> arcade game from 1982. In <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/a_PFev7xhJI">Tron</a></i>,
players face off against the Master Control Program, breaking through rotating
walls in a colorful environment. <i>Squeeze Box</i> attempts to capture a
similar vibe, placing players, as a jailbird, in a claustrophobic scenario
where the walls literally close in on them from the sides. Despite the
potential excellence, <i>Squeeze Box</i> falls far short of delivering the
well-balanced and strategic gameplay that made the MCP level of <i>Tron</i> a favorite.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW3qw-kGIncp92TiAfYBL-Ph6zrS-pRPyNsrcYlqtfMGmhDtcdCeXvYG4Iz11mbfKENYaXnVrioMnEwIPHJeuayAKg1I9c7hwNJaWsfBo9KpHtnqJnTi2xiMOdA0S0hqJtUekWBTwDb8dpL8JMzoJzsNOeZpPpLMVPlV-MTdJI9Y-98afRfqbIoqhvNI/s320/squeezebox2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="320" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvW3qw-kGIncp92TiAfYBL-Ph6zrS-pRPyNsrcYlqtfMGmhDtcdCeXvYG4Iz11mbfKENYaXnVrioMnEwIPHJeuayAKg1I9c7hwNJaWsfBo9KpHtnqJnTi2xiMOdA0S0hqJtUekWBTwDb8dpL8JMzoJzsNOeZpPpLMVPlV-MTdJI9Y-98afRfqbIoqhvNI/w441-h275/squeezebox2.jpg" width="441" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The protagonist is
significantly larger than most characters found in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4V5zXPyVk&t=527s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXRhcmkgMjYwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600 games</a>. This size
aspect adds an interesting dynamic but also contributes to the game's
imbalance. The prisoner is trapped in a continuously shrinking jail cell, with
the goal being to shoot at the walls to create an escape route before being
crushed. Conceptually, this setup is engaging and should offer players a tense,
strategic challenge. However, the execution leaves much to be desired.</div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the main
issues with </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Squeeze Box</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is the lack of balance in gameplay. As the walls
inexorably close in, players quickly find themselves in situations that feel
cheap and unavoidable. Unlike </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHUkB_w2s9c&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgdHJvbiBsZXZlbA%3D%3D">Tron</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, where skillful maneuvering and
timing provide a fighting chance, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Squeeze Box</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> soon puts players in
positions where any escape attempt is futile—it goes from easy to impossible
with not much in between. This feeling of helplessness detracts from the
overall experience, making the game feel more frustrating than fun.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsswME0D5p3mpawLAaZIoGx28MrCNyZ76GWvIMiMldlBKNEMUtVu1FeX017SFPAvhDTEZryxI4znPPY7u17cjWBx1KvDWdQq0jI6Uoz-hu1GgP_w4tzTjiKDsUMEtu8zNQ91qwRLW0RbvJjr-LWawuOTLQsPcFzh_Agaz6F_3ikGnJ21XR_qLPcEhlRs/s320/squeezebox3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="320" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsswME0D5p3mpawLAaZIoGx28MrCNyZ76GWvIMiMldlBKNEMUtVu1FeX017SFPAvhDTEZryxI4znPPY7u17cjWBx1KvDWdQq0jI6Uoz-hu1GgP_w4tzTjiKDsUMEtu8zNQ91qwRLW0RbvJjr-LWawuOTLQsPcFzh_Agaz6F_3ikGnJ21XR_qLPcEhlRs/w458-h287/squeezebox3.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Moreover, the game
suffers from a lack of strategic depth. In superior games, even when the action
becomes frantic, there remains a sense of control—a belief that a clever
strategy or a well-timed move can turn the tide in the player's favor.
Unfortunately, </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">Squeeze Box</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> lacks these moments of strategic brilliance.
The gameplay devolves into a doomed scramble to shoot at walls, with little
room for tactical decision-making or foresight. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLfQUy6uFYc&t=441s&pp=ygUSYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXJjYWRl">Arcade-style games</a> inherently
make you feel like you are doomed, but the better ones give you a fighting chance,
or at least trick you into thinking you can survive.</span></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Squeeze Box</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> tantalizes with
its concept but ultimately disappoints in its execution. The potential for a
compelling, strategy-based challenge is undermined by unbalanced gameplay and a
lack of meaningful strategic options. The comparison to the MCP level of <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ffh4Z6mVhrE">Tron</a></i>
highlights what <i>Squeeze Box</i> could have been—a game where skill and
strategy lead to satisfying victories against daunting odds. Instead, players
are left feeling that their fate is more often dictated by the game's brokenness
than their own actions. While <i>Squeeze Box</i> may hold some nostalgic appeal
or curiosity for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al9uC7qKy9s&t=17s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXRhcmkgMjYwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600</a> collectors, it does <i>not</i> stand up as a nicely
programmed example of the system's capabilities. What a missed opportunity…</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-35106955275590041172024-03-08T23:14:00.001-06:002024-03-09T08:36:02.150-06:00The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998 Writer Spotlight - Patrick Hickey Jr.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HyKMW16bhnCDkZCzX-hnXrs5cShIeb2Mp5doR5OQQCA_mlVClEPxhpx21IE2ffgMFd4SV2ah10TD0DOM3jS8l6mu5rBVEXhTVVMDsjW0yUW87XuC1RF0PHArZzqmnYHTynuMglnPtlnOdtVTYP1mdh22HRh4WEPpmpMwZCFOM3d6WjvPx4wnkRw8tBI/s1440/hickey3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HyKMW16bhnCDkZCzX-hnXrs5cShIeb2Mp5doR5OQQCA_mlVClEPxhpx21IE2ffgMFd4SV2ah10TD0DOM3jS8l6mu5rBVEXhTVVMDsjW0yUW87XuC1RF0PHArZzqmnYHTynuMglnPtlnOdtVTYP1mdh22HRh4WEPpmpMwZCFOM3d6WjvPx4wnkRw8tBI/s320/hickey3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back in 2017,
Patrick Hickey Jr. sent me a DM, asking if I wanted to write <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/08/foreword-by-brett-weiss.html">the foreword</a> for
his forthcoming book, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Minds-Behind-Games-Interviews-Developers/dp/1476671109">The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews with Cult and Classic Video Game Developers</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. He was a pro introducing himself and told me
that my 2016 book, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1977-1987/4?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, inspired
him to write a book of his own. Better yet, the book was going to be released
by McFarland Publishers, the company that published my </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/classic-home-video-games-series/5?cs=true&cst=custom">Classic Home Video Games</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> series. Needless to say, I was incredibly flattered and happily
agreed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFOvA7ajkwk89TZWtvtEaNb2K4MzA-BxUcGZunVxIgOarAmBAxkDnwcIP0b1xOIv1PhWo8NY8hfkY1BU0uylAHw_yJoEO-VVSYIxC7UpP-dWmRAq2Aw7kN4awuMhK2jhUCwxWdi4EdFNZ98S55e2SZ3fbcyGwOSItLhlHEfAVXakgLOC3blLddZVu4BU/s1000/hickey4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="700" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFOvA7ajkwk89TZWtvtEaNb2K4MzA-BxUcGZunVxIgOarAmBAxkDnwcIP0b1xOIv1PhWo8NY8hfkY1BU0uylAHw_yJoEO-VVSYIxC7UpP-dWmRAq2Aw7kN4awuMhK2jhUCwxWdi4EdFNZ98S55e2SZ3fbcyGwOSItLhlHEfAVXakgLOC3blLddZVu4BU/w278-h398/hickey4.jpg" width="278" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the intervening
years, I’ve <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2020/10/nes-omnibus-contributing-writer.html">gotten to know Patrick</a> and discovered him to be a big personality
with a big heart and an even bigger desire to succeed as an author, a professor,
and, most importantly, as a good husband to his wife and a caring and attentive
father to his two kids. Via speaking with him in person and observing his (many)
social media posts, it’s clear that he <a href="https://www.legacycomix.com/my-brother-and-the-ladybug-now-available-digitally/">gets his kids involved</a> in his projects
and makes sure they know why he works so hard—it’s for them. It’s also to leave
a legacy behind. And to be sure that many of the unsung heroes in the video
game biz—namely the developers and programmers—<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJGKLQBIIwE&t=1s&pp=ygUaYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcGF0cmljayBoaWNrZXk%3D">get the credit they deserve</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AYcV3v9TsPO-nbSC4-sGewMW5XP0yNsiGP2ErX4VeRIk52-QXvHS71tP77nFlwz3nhvAXZU5Ixsu5_FkcENJGPO4N43TpuxHIN8ZuVcm_5Wog7Mchd5MendNAqIGtmkKgGAQkywgLnTfvytCtuL50-h2aHStNVeIe81zhsdTuLW1K-UVIivk6AYH8Iw/s2048/hickey1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AYcV3v9TsPO-nbSC4-sGewMW5XP0yNsiGP2ErX4VeRIk52-QXvHS71tP77nFlwz3nhvAXZU5Ixsu5_FkcENJGPO4N43TpuxHIN8ZuVcm_5Wog7Mchd5MendNAqIGtmkKgGAQkywgLnTfvytCtuL50-h2aHStNVeIe81zhsdTuLW1K-UVIivk6AYH8Iw/w307-h409/hickey1.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the coolest
things about <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2019/08/snes-omnibus-writer-spotlight-51.html">Patrick</a> is that he loves to support other content creators by encouraging
them, sharing their successes and posts, and collaborating with them. He wants his
friends and other content creators he respects to succeed; he’s pretty much the
opposite of a gatekeeper. He sees the retro gaming community as just that—a community.
He’s a positive force in this business, which is nice considering all the
ridiculous drama that occurs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ll always be
thankful for my friendship with <a href="https://reviewfix.com/">Patrick</a> and the fact that he wrote a pair of
awesome essays for my latest book, <i><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1988-1998/7?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games:1988–1998</a></i>. Thanks, Pat! See you on Facebook and at a future convention!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZB8wSBMJLiBGbB0AQJR72ua5Ij1-_mrfqDcKOVORoWlPuoVSh4On3_SlyM04CI1RD1UW1e6Uu4dqMDKZqz0G9Xw-5-2YNSft43z-8qXhcxzdBr6AUR49xqlShCBIRtKuBNFjt730VESAqYf7tEVjbPwhr7Pyi1LdPX9lau0GO70Pyn8WIXWjHsfSZ9w/s960/hickey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZB8wSBMJLiBGbB0AQJR72ua5Ij1-_mrfqDcKOVORoWlPuoVSh4On3_SlyM04CI1RD1UW1e6Uu4dqMDKZqz0G9Xw-5-2YNSft43z-8qXhcxzdBr6AUR49xqlShCBIRtKuBNFjt730VESAqYf7tEVjbPwhr7Pyi1LdPX9lau0GO70Pyn8WIXWjHsfSZ9w/w316-h421/hickey2.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-51986822031767800742024-03-04T21:29:00.006-06:002024-03-04T21:35:39.627-06:00Top 5 Reasons Retro Video Games Have Gotten Expensive: An Historical Perspective<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNjNZ-H2tJQDa7ReOawI7xzlUTDo7T9hsF5voKfbdnRQfM6AZKfLUcnuj-Up316a9x2RPvJ7kWgD5YsS5SCs2mPqyzLxLCb_xNdNl5CWq6YRWKHDOxhXwuoHgWApZHP5iD0z5ZHShDSCDAGLNdbergwmRQ_7pGbg31oW9q_UidLQKeA_TdDgvXeDk5UU/s1280/expensive.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmNjNZ-H2tJQDa7ReOawI7xzlUTDo7T9hsF5voKfbdnRQfM6AZKfLUcnuj-Up316a9x2RPvJ7kWgD5YsS5SCs2mPqyzLxLCb_xNdNl5CWq6YRWKHDOxhXwuoHgWApZHP5iD0z5ZHShDSCDAGLNdbergwmRQ_7pGbg31oW9q_UidLQKeA_TdDgvXeDk5UU/w564-h318/expensive.jpg" width="564" /></a></div><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Top 5
Reasons Retro Video Games Have Gotten Expensive<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The escalating
prices of <a href="https://youtu.be/Zs-z8y0unJE?si=2O1vW9D_r1gRMUnR">retro video games</a> have sparked excitement, frustration, and
widespread bewilderment over the years. This intriguing rise in the value of classic
games is more than a fleeting trend; it's an historical journey worth
exploring. Delving into this phenomenon reveals a wide array of factors that
have propelled these plastic pieces of old technology to the status of prized
collectibles, along the lines of coins, stamps, trading cards, and comic books.
Let’s explore <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOMtIUjY8tc&pp=ygULYnJldHQgd2Vpc3M%3D">five key reasons</a> behind this evolution—beyond the fact that many retro
video games are still a ton of fun to play and offer unique experiences—shedding
light on why video games have become treasured collectibles and not “just”
entertainment.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. The Rise of
Fanzines</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the early 1990s,
the gaming community saw the debut of fanzines like </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Atari 2600</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.digitpress.com/">Digital Press</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Slap-Dash</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, dedicated to the celebration and discussion of
retro video games. Along with reviews, nostalgic stories, and the like, these
publications sometimes included cartridge listings and rarity/price guides,
serving as an early form of market analysis for collectors and enthusiasts. By
cataloging and assigning value to games, these fanzines—<a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/">and books</a>, namely the </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.digitpress.com/dpg_plug_classic.htm">Digital Press Collector’s Guides</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—laid the groundwork for the collectible market,
instilling a sense of rarity and worth among previously overlooked titles. This
early documentation and valuation of games have played a significant role in
shaping the perceived value of vintage games today. While many gamers of this
era viewed outdated video games as junk (old consoles and cartridges in fine
working condition were routinely thrown in the trash), a collector’s market was
emerging.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnTY2sNG6q-7h1m3TQ-o0rpD0STrHi3Ah7i4Vn32xF7AJheXGpDXJeCT_cATrAzzv-G_V-Lr7y3_7JtiINQy2GRy4zLa0jL62VEpqubauxfXXfKidFIlpT-19o4pAT3cWplf2iTtP-AzMcv_ucHXuTXUGFlH2gA1nYMwmifOOxF3S9_t9_TaLlplMkaA/s2560/digitalpress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="2009" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmnTY2sNG6q-7h1m3TQ-o0rpD0STrHi3Ah7i4Vn32xF7AJheXGpDXJeCT_cATrAzzv-G_V-Lr7y3_7JtiINQy2GRy4zLa0jL62VEpqubauxfXXfKidFIlpT-19o4pAT3cWplf2iTtP-AzMcv_ucHXuTXUGFlH2gA1nYMwmifOOxF3S9_t9_TaLlplMkaA/s320/digitalpress.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1V3bvfIVUQm3JwW6fEbxN5UvqBeMjGKUbu6hj4iD0WZdeK8UR1k1KtAnwgRcS2yxaZZcQ0PI-vvo-qZ-8nxESE7RIqJsuzVeYKz2jOpARhEofYikMhGzh2OWXRTgp1KDmw0Lo6voHmDUz7Rs4fVT2uYXH7ef9NrxSPUXNM-7rmvdJSmffltxuhR0tZ4/s1458/digitalpressbook.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="1183" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1V3bvfIVUQm3JwW6fEbxN5UvqBeMjGKUbu6hj4iD0WZdeK8UR1k1KtAnwgRcS2yxaZZcQ0PI-vvo-qZ-8nxESE7RIqJsuzVeYKz2jOpARhEofYikMhGzh2OWXRTgp1KDmw0Lo6voHmDUz7Rs4fVT2uYXH7ef9NrxSPUXNM-7rmvdJSmffltxuhR0tZ4/s320/digitalpressbook.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. The Advent of
Retro Gaming Conventions</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The late 1990s
marked the birth of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgPXSzI7E3s">retro gaming conventions</a>, with events like the Northwest
Classic Gamers Enthusiasts meetups, which evolved into the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9z85sJmVrA">Portland RetroGaming Expo</a>, and the Classic Gaming Expo, originally called World of Atari, setting
the stage. These gatherings brought together hobbyists, collectors, vendors, and
developers, creating a vibrant marketplace for buying and selling retro video
games. The communal experience of sharing passion and knowledge about older
titles and consoles contributed significantly to the increased interest in
retro gaming. As demand grew, so did the prices, fueled by the competitive
spirit, the desire to own a piece of one’s childhood, and the endless endorphin
rush of filling holes in the collection. Today, some of the bigger retro gaming
cons, such as <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoNgTYGUcIk">Classic Game Fest</a> in Austin, Game On Expo in Phoenix, and Too
Many Games in Philadelphia, each host more than 10,000 attendees. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L81W_2rs8Hc">PRGE</a> is still
going strong, and you can’t have this conversation without mentioning the
Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_PIKifp7s18I0ABVroXFe5fy7S7_AjdQfmEtZ8t7zAPhWQfvYJuh1cJDh7Rs39cMWZ6SRehLWBYvikO9NIcsY5gNlDGJdQEsIClBneEVEH6PL9R0CrrpprCYmmVGfnD5mSXaiTMlvVCYHk90xhq61-2lxQjqRrB-ZcvqBsSoYPxkOVCyMVrUheCYvCc/s1200/convention.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1200" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_PIKifp7s18I0ABVroXFe5fy7S7_AjdQfmEtZ8t7zAPhWQfvYJuh1cJDh7Rs39cMWZ6SRehLWBYvikO9NIcsY5gNlDGJdQEsIClBneEVEH6PL9R0CrrpprCYmmVGfnD5mSXaiTMlvVCYHk90xhq61-2lxQjqRrB-ZcvqBsSoYPxkOVCyMVrUheCYvCc/w602-h202/convention.jpg" width="602" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. The Impact of
eBay and Online Sales</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The advent of
eBay, initially launched as AuctionWeb in 1995, revolutionized the way <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLDQiJlkdNI&t=187s&pp=ygUXYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcmV0cm8gZ2FtZXM%3D">retrogames</a> were bought and sold. This platform allowed sellers and buyers from
across the globe to connect, significantly expanding the market. The
convenience of online shopping, coupled with the ability to find almost any
title, no matter how obscure, led to an increase in demand. This demand, paired
with the auction format encouraging competitive bidding, drove prices upward.
As more platforms emerged and the online marketplace matured, the accessibility
to rare and sought-after titles became easier, further inflating the cost of vintage
games. There were even auction sites, such as Game Gavel, dedicated strictly to
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI0FqqVyei0&t=11s&pp=ygUXYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcmV0cm8gZ2FtZXM%3D">video games</a>. Similarly, online message boards such as <a href="https://www.atariage.com/">AtariAge</a> and Digital
Press (an outgrowth of the fanzine) helped collectors connect for buying and
trading. Today, many people buy, sell, and trade video games through such
outlets as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. The proliferation of retro
gaming stores, both online and brick-and-mortar, has also played a significant
role in expanding the market.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpjGtkgJGY1q6lUdUXW8jtNK2BbZKby650cP2Jc7nv8IuRN0JU-Rx1fERLg2GzX2-tDvMeK01PgT3ZL_09a9kJty-mgI7VXgM1rsYxcNZPiCh4bJUW6pNdxMqbcow4JOl6nZEZmoxmUBn3whwkn8pq3s4LHGLc97LL8sZbv_vAfK9kJIup2AuZC5sxNM/s1100/ebay.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="1100" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTpjGtkgJGY1q6lUdUXW8jtNK2BbZKby650cP2Jc7nv8IuRN0JU-Rx1fERLg2GzX2-tDvMeK01PgT3ZL_09a9kJty-mgI7VXgM1rsYxcNZPiCh4bJUW6pNdxMqbcow4JOl6nZEZmoxmUBn3whwkn8pq3s4LHGLc97LL8sZbv_vAfK9kJIup2AuZC5sxNM/w488-h214/ebay.png" width="488" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. The Influence
of The Angry Video Game Nerd and the Wii Shop Channel</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In 2006, the world
first witnessed the phenomenon of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meVkCHW4uAw">The Angry Video Game Nerd</a> (originally The
Angry Nintendo Nerd) and the launch of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGEO0DdYOjk&t=112s&pp=ygUPYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgd2lp">Wii</a> Shop Channel. AVGN, through his
comedic rants about the frustrations of retro games, inadvertently sparked
renewed interest in the titles he critiqued. Similarly, the Wii Shop Channel,
by offering classic games for download, rekindled nostalgia for the original
cartridges and consoles. This dual push of modern media celebrating retro
content led gamers and budding collectors to seek out physical copies, driving
up demand and, consequently, prices. Over the years, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BrettWeissRetroGamer">YouTube</a>, Twitter, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrettWeissCHVG/">Facebook</a>, Twitch,
TikTok, and other such platforms have kept old video games in the spotlight.
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ityTdjOADHo">Hidden gems</a> videos in particular seem to accelerate the desirability and value
of harder-to-find titles. Certain famous influencers, such as <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2016/09/the-metal-jesus-interview.html">Metal Jesus Rocks</a>, have even been highly criticized for their roles in popularizing old
games and, therefore, increasing the demand for them. Since MJR’s job is to
discuss video games, and since that’s what his fans want, this criticism is pointless
and even absurd.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprvTLnWr44GaMA4oJylkQF_jaQdnD6vL2vRKTzwslDK2h7fTONCcV5ItYQZ9YdbnRY0Vus1AcRHd-2WOpYkG5V1CWQj7EVEfojESKI3nve7I4jI4_zhAGy0pZvVadyMONT9PSLjPlGmUfOBRpojRLLcQEX3OCHbf0ysHq-t4zo5krZtZHoIVW8ZVZN9s/s2048/avgn.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhprvTLnWr44GaMA4oJylkQF_jaQdnD6vL2vRKTzwslDK2h7fTONCcV5ItYQZ9YdbnRY0Vus1AcRHd-2WOpYkG5V1CWQj7EVEfojESKI3nve7I4jI4_zhAGy0pZvVadyMONT9PSLjPlGmUfOBRpojRLLcQEX3OCHbf0ysHq-t4zo5krZtZHoIVW8ZVZN9s/w429-h322/avgn.jpg" width="429" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. Collecting
Sealed and Graded Games</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">A more recent
phenomenon impacting the cost of retro video games is the collecting of sealed
and graded games. The practice of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIgt3k_wS6M&pp=ygUYYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgZ3JhZGVkIGdhbWVz">grading games</a>, evaluating their condition, cataloging
the variants when applicable, and sealing them in protective cases, has turned
game collecting into a serious investment hobby. Collectors vie for the
highest-graded copies of key titles, seeing them as valuable assets. Wealthy
investors who may not even be gamers themselves nevertheless diversify their
portfolios by purchasing retro games. Collectors from other categories, such as
baseball cards and <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2021/09/the-time-machine-comics-more-store-fort.html">comic books</a>, have taken an interest in retro game
collecting. This shift towards viewing video games as collectible commodities
rather than mere entertainment has significantly driven up prices, especially
for titles that are complete-in-box (CIB) or factory-sealed. Early and rare
variants (such as a hangtab </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bRIstMvOCo&t=4s&pp=ygUdYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgc3VwZXIgbWFyaW8gYnJvcy4%3D">Super Mario Bros.</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">), factors that were barely
noticed previously, are highly sought-after in today’s collector’s market. More
desirable games can sell for six figures and, in rare cases, seven figures.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeekxzM1GDMKe0RZaMOrSnNeN9VsHk3w5bkYmzF91NH5gBCQKxuva22ceuxBSVqhF0LTKr946suXZxzAiZVWM3L0UYsFsobOgsHg7FyUSoYR9ykw3Td4PyIuTBbLVqGdetJG9QXG2GJx660c18CXBxwvYS3_hKs1IPwHJt4zxKfbZ9TlswUzVm617q1U/s2048/centipede.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1538" data-original-width="2048" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeekxzM1GDMKe0RZaMOrSnNeN9VsHk3w5bkYmzF91NH5gBCQKxuva22ceuxBSVqhF0LTKr946suXZxzAiZVWM3L0UYsFsobOgsHg7FyUSoYR9ykw3Td4PyIuTBbLVqGdetJG9QXG2GJx660c18CXBxwvYS3_hKs1IPwHJt4zxKfbZ9TlswUzVm617q1U/w488-h366/centipede.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">In Conclusion</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
rising prices of retro video games can be attributed to a complex interplay of
cultural, economic, and technological factors. From the early days of fanzines
and conventions to the modern era of online sales, media influence, and
professional grading, each has played a part in transforming the landscape of
game collecting. As nostalgia remains a powerful force, the community around
retro gaming continues to grow. There are even new consoles coming out, such as
the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU30jXabOsQ&t=334s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXRhcmkgNzgwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600+</a>, that can play original software. With this in mind, it’s likely
that the demand for these digital relics will only continue to increase, at
least for the foreseeable future.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">While recent
trends have seen some marquee titles dip from their peak highs, a significant
number of games continue to climb in value. For example, a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h5a6qRqohFA">CGC 9.2 A+ Early
Production copy of </a></span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h5a6qRqohFA">Pitfall!</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> for the Atari 2600 recently sold for $8,400
through Heritage Auctions (Ha.com), breaking a record for that title. On Feb.
23, a <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/MBJdqCKtgO4?si=aLI0tT4HHl92DO7S">VGA 90+ copy of </a></span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/MBJdqCKtgO4?si=aLI0tT4HHl92DO7S">Super Mario Bros.</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> for the Famicom went for $26,400
via Heritage, far surpassing the previous record for that version of the game.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As the gaming
consoles of today gradually transition into the classics of tomorrow, their
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWod4PVAzxE&pp=ygUVYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgZ2FtZSByb29t">game libraries</a> will inevitably gain the "retro" label, sparking a new
wave of nostalgia-fueled demand. Collectors on the fence about acquiring these
soon-to-be classics might find themselves regretting not securing these games
when prices were more accessible. However, the timeless advice for enthusiasts
remains unchanged: focus on acquiring games that resonate with you personally,
whether for the joy of playing or the passion for collecting. This approach
ensures that, regardless of market fluctuations, the true value of your
collection is measured in the enjoyment and satisfaction it brings to you.</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-92026615404832977262024-02-29T16:12:00.002-06:002024-02-29T16:32:00.952-06:00Why I Don't Pay the Contributing Writers for My Retro Gaming Books<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR3D0Hzcj4LsoOzb_lxXjZvY14Eodl4Sun83rX6awaqEqJehxtiEzuIOGbnGpXpmbSBunqKs4or-iBps4o5zD6l_6rgXlUcRdtH-0LZtzrVfGuZLSxfzWPd5XXepbSYV4jS7jUAt5O5pdht8eL2uWH4k0o4kxCKsx1mfaFQff_e7nBB-8FLTScK3Ycy0/s1280/WRITERS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR3D0Hzcj4LsoOzb_lxXjZvY14Eodl4Sun83rX6awaqEqJehxtiEzuIOGbnGpXpmbSBunqKs4or-iBps4o5zD6l_6rgXlUcRdtH-0LZtzrVfGuZLSxfzWPd5XXepbSYV4jS7jUAt5O5pdht8eL2uWH4k0o4kxCKsx1mfaFQff_e7nBB-8FLTScK3Ycy0/w570-h321/WRITERS.jpg" width="570" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Greetings!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve been asked by
various people online why I don’t pay the contributing writers for <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/">my books</a>, my
NES and <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-snes-omnibus-the-super-nintendo-and-its-games/2?cs=true&cst=custom">SNES Omnibus</a> volumes in particular. It’s a fair question and one I’m
always happy to answer. Since it seems to be an ongoing concern with certain
people, and in fact some keyboard warriors have been <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2024/02/pat-contri-hating-me-and-using.html">downright hostile</a> about
it, I’ve provided a longer explanation here.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">For those who
aren’t in the writing business, you may not know that there are two kinds of
writer’s markets: paying and non-paying. It’s always been this way, and you can
find writer’s guidelines for both online and in magazines and books. During the
’90s and early 2000s, when I was still learning my craft, I gladly wrote for
several non-paying markets, including </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2012/06/interviewed-in-classic-gamer-magazine.html">Classic Gamer Magazine</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Scary
Monsters Magazine</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, and a couple of other publications. I did this to
support the magazines, to get my name out there, and to help hone my writing
skills. To get good, writers must write. A lot. It’s hard work, but it can be a
lot of fun when you are writing about your favorite hobbies.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In recent times,
I’ve written for free for a handful of projects, including my memory of meeting
Walter Day for the first time for <a href="https://thewalterdaycollection.com/articles/trading-card-spotlight/196-trading-card-spotlight-rewind-brett-weiss">Todd Friedman</a>’s </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Walter-Days-Gaming-Superstars-Two-ebook/dp/B09KDN9F5C/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=7DqDo&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=138-3455921-6911749&pd_rd_wg=cAGl1&pd_rd_r=6c27038b-f74f-4700-b586-89db66e960d8&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk">Walter Day's Gaming
Superstars: Volume Two</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. Todd, a good friend of mine, told me up front that
it was a voluntary project, and I happily wrote the story for free—it was fun
recalling the time of how I met Walter at the Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas
and putting it down on paper. For Rob Strangman’s </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="Greetings! I’ve been asked by various people online why I don’t pay the contributing writers for my books, my NES and SNES Omnibus volumes in particular. It’s a fair question and one I’m always happy to answer. Since it seems to be an ongoing concern with certain people, and in fact some keyboard warriors have been downright hostile about it, I’ve provided a longer explanation here. For those who aren’t in the writing business, you may not know that there are two kinds of writer’s markets: paying and non-paying. It’s always been this way, and you can find writer’s guidelines for both online and in magazines and books. During the ’90s and early 2000s, when I was still learning my craft, I gladly wrote for several non-paying markets, including Classic Gamer Magazine, Scary Monsters Magazine, and a couple of other publications. I did this to support the magazines, to get my name out there, and to help hone my writing skills. To get good, writers must write. A lot. It’s hard work, but it can be a lot of fun when you are writing about your favorite hobbies. In recent times, I’ve written for free for a handful of projects, including my memory of meeting Walter Day for the first time for Todd Friedman’s Walter Day's Gaming Superstars: Volume Two. Todd, a good friend of mine, told me up front that it was a voluntary project, and I happily wrote the story for free—it was fun recalling the time of how I met Walter at the Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas and putting it down on paper. For Rob Strangman’s Memoirs of a Virtual Caveman, I was happy to contribute two nostalgic stories free of charge. Like Todd, Rob is a great dude, and I wanted to help him out and appear in a great book at the same time—win-win! There are other retro gaming books out there—some that have sold more copies than mine—that are non-paying markets for contributing writers as well. My Omnibus books are hardly alone in this regard. When it came time to solicit contributing writers for my first Omnibus book, The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A–M), I quickly decided it would be a non-paying market, and of course I told the writers upfront. I was looking for authors, YouTubers, programmers, store owners, and others in the industry who wanted to tell nostalgic stories about some of their favorite and most memorable video games for the sheer enjoyment of recalling those great times. They were welcome to include critiques with their stories, but I didn’t need them to actually review the games—I primarily wanted them to help capture the culture of gaming, particularly the SNES during the 1990s (though more recent memories regarding the console were certainly welcome). Of course, there were pragmatic reasons for making my Omnibus books a non-paying market. With 79 contributing writers on The SNES Omnibus Vol. 1 alone, most of whom wrote multiple stories, it would have been cost-prohibitive to make it a paying market. As a full-time freelance writer at the time, this made the most sense to me. During the writing of the Omnibus books, it took a ton of time away from my primary and more profitable job of being a journalist for various magazines and newspapers, including AntiqueWeek and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In short, each book was a passion project. The books have sold very well, thankfully, but all things considered, I made the correct business decision. Regarding the contributing writers who have done the yeoman’s work of telling all these stories, they have done an amazing job, and I’m incredibly grateful. And virtually all of them I’ve spoken with have been thrilled with how the books have turned out. For one YouTuber in particular, he called it a “dream come true” to have his writing appear in a hardcover book that was for sale at Barnes & Noble and other brick-and-mortar stores. Another writer and friend of mine, Blair Farrell, said it was his first published work in print. Farrell has gone on to write books of his own, including Avengers in Video Games: A Guide to Solo Adventures and Mighty Marvel Team-Ups, with Creator Interviews. Without these Insider Insights in my Omnibus books, they wouldn’t be nearly as interesting or entertaining. Reviews and synopses are fine, but stories are more fun to read. Countless noteworthy gamers, content creators, and industry insiders contributed amazing anecdotes to the Omnibus tetralogy, including such popular figures as Kelsey Lewin, John Riggs, John Hancock, Tim Lapetino, Blake Harris, Shawn Long, Rob McCallum, Adam F. Goldberg, Kurt Kalata, Brittney Brombacher, Benjamin Reeves, Steve Woita, Greg Sewart, Patrick Hickey Jr., and too many others to mention. I’m forever grateful for these amazingly talented people—too many to mention them all! You may have a problem with me not paying my writers, but they certainly don’t—they were happy to be involved and help me out! I’m friends with most of my contributing writers, which makes me incredibly happy. Some of the coolest, most interesting, and most enjoyable people to hang out with I’ve met through my interest in retro gaming. Rather than disrespecting these contributing writers as I’ve been accused, I’ve shown a great deal of respect and repaid them in kind by sharing links to their books and YouTube channels, writing about them on my website with my Writer Spotlights, and more. In fact, I’ve collaborated for free with some of them on their projects. In short, it’s a win-win for everyone! Occasionally, I might make misstep, such as not recognizing someone at a convention or being too distracted or busy to chat—apologies all around! It can be stressful and overwhelming to set up at a show and deal with a bunch of customers, but this is no excuse—I’ll try to do better! When it came time to write The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988–1998, I put the word out on social media and via email that I was looking for people to write essays for many of the games. While I wrote all the essays for the first book in the series, The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977–1987, I wanted help for 1988-1998 from other writers in order to get a diversity of opinions and perspectives, to save time and my sanity (I was juggling an insane amount of stuff in my personal and professional life), and to write about games that are incredible but that I’m not super passionate about, such as several of the RPGs that made the cut. I decided to stick with my format of the book not being a paying market since it had worked so well with the Omnibus volumes. Some writers I asked to participate in the second 100 Greatest book declined because the essays are much longer than those for the Omnibus books. In fact, one writer who had contributed to the Omnibus books told me the proposed longer essays for the 100 Greatest book sounded too much like work—perfectly understandable. Conversely, other writers happily hopped onboard and were super stoked to write full essays about some of their favorite games. In my solicitation correspondence, I said I would send a free signed book to every contributing writer free of charge, but some of them supported the Kickstarter anyway—I was beyond moved by such a gesture. I’ve got an amazing support network of friends, colleagues, and fellow writers—just incredible. Regarding free books in general, my publisher sent out a bunch of review copies to many of my contributing writers—over half of them—since the vast majority have outlets to promote the books. As such, most of the writers ended up getting a free book anyway. If you aren’t convinced that writers sometimes write for free and do so gladly, or you can’t imagine why they would do such a thing, here are some general reasons that apply across the industry: Exposure and Recognition: Having one's name appear in print can be a significant draw, offering writers a form of recognition that extends beyond monetary compensation. For emerging writers, this exposure can be invaluable, serving as a portfolio piece that opens doors to future opportunities. Passion for the Subject: Many contributors are motivated by a genuine love for the subject and a desire to share their insights and experiences with a like-minded audience. This passion can make the act of writing its own reward. Community and Collaboration: Projects like these often foster a sense of community among contributors, who can form valuable professional networks and friendships. The collaborative nature of contributing to a collective work can be fulfilling in itself. I’ve seen this first-hand the numerous retro gaming cons I attend each year. Professional Development: Contributing to such projects can also serve as professional development, allowing writers to hone their craft, experiment with new writing styles, and receive feedback from peers and editors. Building a Portfolio: For writers starting out, contributions to published works can be a powerful addition to their portfolio, demonstrating their ability to write professionally and meet publication standards. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for your indulgence! And, as always, thanks for reading! ~Brett Weiss">Memoirs of a Virtual Caveman</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, I was happy to contribute two nostalgic stories free of charge. Like
Todd, Rob is a great dude, and I wanted to help him out and appear in a great
book at the same time—win-win! There are other retro gaming books out there—some
that have sold more copies than mine—that are non-paying markets for
contributing writers as well. My Omnibus books are hardly alone in this regard.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When it came time
to solicit contributing writers for my first Omnibus book, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/SNES-Omnibus-Super-Nintendo-M/dp/0764355325">The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A–M)</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, I quickly decided it would
be a non-paying market, and of course I told the writers upfront. I was looking
for authors, YouTubers, programmers, store owners, and others in the industry
who wanted to tell nostalgic stories about some of their favorite and most
memorable video games for the sheer enjoyment of recalling those great times. They
were welcome to include critiques with their stories, but I didn’t need them to
actually review the games—I primarily wanted them to help capture the culture
of gaming, particularly the SNES during the 1990s (though more recent memories
regarding the console were certainly welcome).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Of course, there
were pragmatic reasons for making my <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/NESOmnibusVolumes1-2/1?cs=true&cst=custom">Omnibus books</a> a non-paying market. With 79
contributing writers on </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The SNES Omnibus Vol. 1</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> alone, most of whom
wrote multiple stories, it would have been cost-prohibitive to make it a paying
market. As a full-time freelance writer at the time, this made the most sense
to me. During the writing of the <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2019/09/a-new-review-of-both-volumes-of-snes.html">Omnibus books</a>, it took a ton of time away from
my primary and more profitable job of being a journalist for various magazines
and newspapers, including </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">AntiqueWeek</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and the </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Fort Worth
Star-Telegram</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. In short, each book was a passion project. The books have
sold very well, thankfully, but all things considered, I made the correct business
decision.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regarding the
contributing writers who have done the yeoman’s work of telling all these
stories, they have done an amazing job, and I’m incredibly grateful. And virtually
all of them I’ve spoken with have been thrilled with how the books have turned
out. For one YouTuber in particular, he called it a “dream come true” to have
his writing appear in a hardcover book that was for sale at Barnes & Noble
and other brick-and-mortar stores. Another writer and friend of mine, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2019/03/snes-omnibus-writer-spotlight-47-blair.html">Blair Farrell</a>, said it was his first published work in print. Farrell has gone on to
write books of his own, including </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Avengers-Video-Games-Adventures-Interviews/dp/147668345X">Avengers in Video Games: A Guide to Solo Adventures and Mighty Marvel Team-Ups, with Creator Interviews</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-x02RtV5-5-ozVek8tmC0epGmCZWXKZCJcga2FuoPd_jiLpHaO9M7K5oRu1tLMrtMGCR_7c_yTFomsw-5edvH0dF2J93TbSfRxEDww13P1zIuk1waico_C1ozNmxCuMI7ku6J3vT5EgTpYSL96H1sW7aUlzzfM_FPiwMuWib9L3KjzarVM_GwdKG5wpU/s960/kelsey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-x02RtV5-5-ozVek8tmC0epGmCZWXKZCJcga2FuoPd_jiLpHaO9M7K5oRu1tLMrtMGCR_7c_yTFomsw-5edvH0dF2J93TbSfRxEDww13P1zIuk1waico_C1ozNmxCuMI7ku6J3vT5EgTpYSL96H1sW7aUlzzfM_FPiwMuWib9L3KjzarVM_GwdKG5wpU/w274-h360/kelsey.jpg" width="274" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX337hSrEjtrveLD7fCK_rBGsDpyTVcDX5YcI1pdyLwaktllRTSod9hKBjF10JhMkvx9kTFYqUyJIWMjkz4mh3ob6npYLUYYR5Jo05-QnkfbAG9nQK5mTS53-UW54j8RR_o06ycbSV8ET2rS1s7xPWsy_Yqo1vemDLaLc2VvHG1p2KjR261KN36CZN6Mg/s960/brittney.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX337hSrEjtrveLD7fCK_rBGsDpyTVcDX5YcI1pdyLwaktllRTSod9hKBjF10JhMkvx9kTFYqUyJIWMjkz4mh3ob6npYLUYYR5Jo05-QnkfbAG9nQK5mTS53-UW54j8RR_o06ycbSV8ET2rS1s7xPWsy_Yqo1vemDLaLc2VvHG1p2KjR261KN36CZN6Mg/w270-h359/brittney.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Without these
Insider Insights in my Omnibus books, they wouldn’t be nearly as interesting or
entertaining. Reviews and synopses are fine, but stories are more fun to read.
Countless noteworthy gamers, content creators, and industry insiders
contributed amazing anecdotes to the Omnibus tetralogy, including such popular
figures as <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2019/05/snes-omnibus-writer-spotlight-49-kelsey.html">Kelsey Lewin</a>, John Riggs, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2022/05/chris-irate-gamer-wrote-foreword-to-my.html">Chris Bores</a>, 8-bit Eric, </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYlbGm0JP3A&pp=ygUYYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgam9obiBoYW5jb2Nr">John Hancock</a>, Tim Lapetino, Blake Harris, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/04/snes-omnibus-contributor-spotlight-20.html">Tyler Esposito</a>, Shawn Long, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2021/04/foreword-to-nes-omnibus-vol-2-m-z-by.html">Rob McCallum</a>, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2023/02/for-my-book-nes-omnibus-nintendo.html">Adam F. Goldberg</a>, Kurt Kalata, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/04/snes-contributor-spotlight-17-brittney.html">Brittney Brombacher</a>,
Benjamin Reeves, Steve Woita, Greg Sewart, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2020/10/nes-omnibus-contributing-writer.html">Patrick Hickey Jr.</a>, and too many
others to mention. I’m forever grateful for these amazingly talented people—too
many to mention them all!</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyulEywVePBl8N_tdBtPVbI3EXYhmQ-ps59i2CguA5FxHusWzv96fyaVSz5tY9MXr17n0qd1JDrya5kImNLCd8IM4cMBlKmhRbiCiPciXjcC4qrww5WRA3pkb6B7ArrUkdRcH_Q0MyG6xDnr31k23crrQI-kYgJHQm4L5una3kxscTowPPHNT9urWcuE/s1280/chris.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFyulEywVePBl8N_tdBtPVbI3EXYhmQ-ps59i2CguA5FxHusWzv96fyaVSz5tY9MXr17n0qd1JDrya5kImNLCd8IM4cMBlKmhRbiCiPciXjcC4qrww5WRA3pkb6B7ArrUkdRcH_Q0MyG6xDnr31k23crrQI-kYgJHQm4L5una3kxscTowPPHNT9urWcuE/w554-h312/chris.jpg" width="554" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">You may have a
problem with me not paying my writers, but they certainly don’t—they were happy
to be involved and help me out! I’m friends with most of my contributing
writers, which makes me incredibly happy. Some of the coolest, most interesting,
and most enjoyable people to hang out with I’ve met through my interest in
retro gaming. Rather than disrespecting these contributing writers as I’ve been
accused, I’ve shown a great deal of respect and repaid them in kind by sharing
links to their books and YouTube channels, writing about them on my website
with my Writer Spotlights, and more. In fact, I’ve collaborated for free with
some of them on </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyb9F3A6t8">their</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jyb9F3A6t8"> projects</a>. In short, it’s a win-win for everyone!
Occasionally, I might make misstep, such as not recognizing someone at a
convention or being too distracted or busy to chat—apologies all around! It can
be stressful and overwhelming to set up at a show and deal with a bunch of
customers, but this is no excuse—I’ll try to do better!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When it came time
to write </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1988-1998/7?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988–1998</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, I put the word
out on social media and via email that I was looking for people to write essays
for many of the games. While I wrote all the essays for the first book in the
series, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1977-1987/4?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977–1987</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, I wanted help
for 1988-1998 from other writers in order to get a diversity of opinions and
perspectives, to save time and my sanity (I was juggling an insane amount of
stuff in my personal and professional life), and to write about games that are
incredible but that I’m not super passionate about, such as several of the RPGs
that made the cut. I decided to stick with my format of the book not being a
paying market since it had worked so well with the Omnibus volumes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Some writers I
asked to participate in the second 100 Greatest book declined because the
essays are much longer than those for the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Brett-Weiss/author/B001JS0BCO?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true">Omnibus books</a>. In fact, one writer
who had contributed to the Omnibus books told me the proposed longer essays for
the 100 Greatest book sounded too much like work—perfectly understandable. Conversely,
other writers happily hopped onboard and were super stoked to write full essays
about some of their favorite games. In my solicitation correspondence, I said I
would send a free signed book to every contributing writer free of charge, but
some of them supported the Kickstarter anyway—I was </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">beyond</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> moved by such
a gesture. I’ve got an amazing support network of friends, colleagues, and
fellow writers—just incredible. Regarding free books in general, <a href="https://schifferbooks.com/search?type=product&q=brett+weiss">my publisher</a>
sent out a bunch of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxvuZBqVMN8&pp=ygUiam9obiByaWdncyBicmV0dCB3ZWlzcyBib29rIHJldmlldw%3D%3D">review copies to many of my contributing writers</a>—over half
of them—since the vast majority have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JNyyj4c6qE&t=7s&pp=ygUbYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYm9vayByZXZpZXcgOGJl">outlets to promote the books</a>. As such, most
of the writers ended up getting a free book anyway.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you still aren’t
convinced that writers sometimes write for free and do so gladly, or you can’t
imagine why they would do such a thing, here are some general reasons that
apply across the industry:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Exposure and
Recognition: Having one's name appear in print can be a significant draw,
offering writers a form of recognition that extends beyond monetary
compensation. For emerging writers, this exposure can be invaluable, serving as
a portfolio piece that opens doors to future opportunities.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Passion for the
Subject: Many contributors are motivated by <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2021/03/epic-swamp-thing-story-preview-from-nes.html">a genuine love for the subject</a> and
a desire to share their insights and experiences with a like-minded audience.
This passion can make the act of writing its own reward.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Community and
Collaboration: Projects like these often foster a sense of community among
contributors, who can form valuable <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhCKhvjXflo&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgam9obiByaWdncw%3D%3D">professional networks and friendships</a>. The
collaborative nature of contributing to a collective work can be fulfilling in
itself. I’ve seen this first-hand the numerous retro gaming cons I attend each
year.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Professional
Development: Contributing to such projects can also serve as professional
development, allowing writers to hone their craft, experiment with new writing
styles, and receive feedback from peers and editors.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Building a
Portfolio: For writers starting out, contributions to published works can be a
powerful addition to their portfolio, demonstrating their ability to write
professionally and meet publication standards.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you’ve made it
this far, thanks for your indulgence!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">And, as always,
thanks for reading!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">~Brett Weiss</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-23563478977561873722024-02-25T22:34:00.003-06:002024-02-25T22:34:50.577-06:00My Last Intellivision Amico YouTube Video? Your comments!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbK30jGYUmaXfqkSIchYYW6omo1LSYjyBRlmxgcdu8TXqZFTIwfXwlmk7o4ZvVVY_J0xwMZdvQX2j1ZKLbpS4hLGsAAKKbra1fFt1nftLHxPy8l_l7vJvdAp2goQKbriIUT0jr60nYodfECRqbRbIZlei_Tv_P1-r5cDDg7GX4nKcXiBkn3QYI4hcb4Y/s1280/AMICO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbK30jGYUmaXfqkSIchYYW6omo1LSYjyBRlmxgcdu8TXqZFTIwfXwlmk7o4ZvVVY_J0xwMZdvQX2j1ZKLbpS4hLGsAAKKbra1fFt1nftLHxPy8l_l7vJvdAp2goQKbriIUT0jr60nYodfECRqbRbIZlei_Tv_P1-r5cDDg7GX4nKcXiBkn3QYI4hcb4Y/w522-h294/AMICO.jpg" width="522" /></a></div><br /> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve uploaded a new video
on the Intellivision Amico and how I just don’t care that much about it
anymore. You can watch it <a href="https://youtu.be/N597nNmQc-c?si=BX7DgZeLHZyjFd75">HERE</a>. I got some great comments on the vid, which you
can read below. Thanks to everyone for weighing in on such a fascinating topic!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@forcedfeedbackclassicgamer5499</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Couldn't care less about
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MBBowhUknA">the Amico</a> at this point, and Tommy's probably going to prison in the end, but
the one thing that really pisses me off about the whole ordeal is the limbo
that Earthworm Jim 4 now finds itself in. I was genuinely looking forward to a
new Earthworm Jim game hearkening back to the franchise's actual 2D roots with
so many of the original devs attached to the project. I can only hope that
somehow the game finds a new publisher, though if what I've heard is true, the
game never actually saw any substantial development to begin with (comparable
to much of what was promised regarding all things Amico), so there's probably
no real loss there when all is said and done.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@SomeOrangeCat</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The thing about Rigid
Force Redux is that it already exists on Android and iOS. No crappy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfHqarguCY">Amico</a>
middleware required, and its a pretty fun R-Type clone. I probably paid three
bucks. Why would I want to re-buy it for $15?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@OriginalGrasshopper</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I also had one
pre-ordered YEARS ago and have canceled it. I couldn’t care less about Amico
Home; I wanted an actual console that hooks up to our TV. Mobile games are
already oversaturated, so I certainly have no interest in them. The new <a href="https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrhQhlMFNxlKZIFg79XNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1710131533/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.brettweisswords.com%2f2015%2f02%2fradarlock-atari-2600-publisher-atari.html/RK=2/RS=foQ3.oVh2fuJfX0hZc9RWU7.Pgg-">Atari</a>
products are AWESOME (I own both the 2600+ and the Game Station Pro) and it’s a
shame that Intellivision didn’t follow this path.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@koolaidbomber</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">To me, the system concept
seem very cumbersome. The Evel Knievel game seem cool, but the cost was too
high. This was not well planned-out system.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@martinhelling7248</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Good video! I was excited
about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhhwJJ7-o5k">the Amico</a> at first, but I thought <a href="https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrFcA.8E9xltiQS5TJXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj?type=E211US105G0&p=brett+weiss+tommy+tallarico+interview&fr=mcafee&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.hJepySs8DMXjvDHq8uQCGgEsDh%26pid%3DApi%26w%3D296%26h%3D156%26c%3D7%26p%3D0&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DmE60hQXdKz8&tit=Backstage+Interview+with+Tommy+Tallarico%2C+President+of+Intellivision%2C+Spokesman+for+the+Amico.&pos=01&vid=c718d35437934e7351e00a8fd79b0e59&sigr=TP5wc14h6OjV&sigt=kQ.2a3_M1NiJ&sigi=8zVQJDOb9lmL">Tommy</a> was full of it pretty earlier on, and when he started attacking Nintendo it was over for me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@pttn975</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Just a dumpster fire all
around. I think even if it did come out it would have been doomed based on the
price alone. Yes, older gamers and people into retro would buy it, but put it
next to a switch for $300, and no one is going to buy it over a Switch.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@puzzler4972</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Totally understand <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/">Brett</a>,
but I'm sure most of us Supporters still like you and will welcome you back
when you're ready.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The console was always
just an Android based hub for the controllers, really nothing more, and it also
turned into a nightmare to produce for a small company. Having said that, we
never needed it anyway, Brett. There are many, better Android boxes in MILLIONS
of homes right now that the controllers will play on as a console. Many are
dirt cheap, too.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://popcultureretrorama.wordpress.com/2020/03/14/top-3-concerns-about-the-intellivision-amico-with-smash-jt-and-tommy-tallarico/">Amico</a> will actually be a
much better product now IMO.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I know you want a
proprietary console, but an nVidia Sheild is more than capable, and it will be
the future of console gaming for the Non-Big Three. When this works out for
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ32P5KOLXo">Intellivision</a>, look for <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/classic-home-video-games-series/5?cs=true&cst=custom">Sega</a>, Neo Geo, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2024/02/off-wall-atari-2600-game-review.html">Atari</a>, etc, to come out with
"consoles" of their own on it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@dynamicvoltage9765</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I feel like they should
have gone the pure retro route. Make a console that's JUST for retro games, not
these low-end 3D games that look like mid 90s Mac games. That visual style is
so unappealing. Give us pure retro gaming with a normal controller, not a
gimmicky one. It could have been a $50 console. Do achievements, online
co-op/versus, leaderboards, etc. Something like that would have been great.</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-28448703493637239012024-02-22T22:43:00.014-06:002024-02-25T10:39:33.890-06:00Pat Contri Hating Me and Using Emulation for His N64 Book<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3H1eIAJTIgTxKT3C8yJdFxpZt0bgFHAwJwisOKBLznVmqZ_mfpvvhSn_vjJLedC_7wsSY0K0TZyQbk1NNU58vwSTPMFLfCXlPPzhc68wnyo9tECi3nDmw_45ZEAhrekGGrOORGbx89SVzQjBQEEqlvUKpd9IGe3saJjy_Q0eH7Foa_VqeTJxyq_aJJA/s949/pat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="949" height="383" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3H1eIAJTIgTxKT3C8yJdFxpZt0bgFHAwJwisOKBLznVmqZ_mfpvvhSn_vjJLedC_7wsSY0K0TZyQbk1NNU58vwSTPMFLfCXlPPzhc68wnyo9tECi3nDmw_45ZEAhrekGGrOORGbx89SVzQjBQEEqlvUKpd9IGe3saJjy_Q0eH7Foa_VqeTJxyq_aJJA/w507-h383/pat.jpg" width="507" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pat reluctantly posed for this photo at a convention. I thought we were still friends at the time.</i><br /> </div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">My buddy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKgEhrHZ__k&pp=ygUUYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgc21hc2gganQ%3D">Smash JT</a>
did a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLfVyVzkUaA&pp=ygUIc21hc2gganQ%3D">video recently on Pat Contri’s forthcoming N64 book</a>. He mentions me in
the video as someone Pat has unfairly insulted on his YouTube channel and podcast,
which I appreciate – thanks, Smash. But just to be clear, I wasn't consulted for the video, and I've never commented
on Pat’s N64 book before this blog post. I've also never commented on his and his contributing writers’
use of emulation to write the reviews. I figured that was his business, and it
didn’t really affect me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve discussed other retro gaming books by other writers on <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2016/06/the-complete-nes-officially-licensed-us.html">my blog</a> and my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJGKLQBIIwE&t=1s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcGF0IGhpY2tleQ%3D%3D">YouTube channel</a>, but I don’t really
feel comfortable commenting too much on the N64 book until I take a look at it.
As far as emulation in general is concerned, it makes sense for rare and
expensive games, but less so for common ones. Those should be fairly easy to purchase (and later resold if needed to recoup the money) or at least borrow and play on original hardware. I love physical media, and original cartridges are always preferable, but it is what it is. Regardless, if he wants review games using emulators, that’s his prerogative and not really my concern--it's actually a common practice. It's certainly NOT a scam to write a gaming book using emulation, as Smash JT's video states. It's not a perfect solution for games you don't have access to, but it's a solution. My issues with Pat run much deeper.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">One thing is
clear: had </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnIegT2bXsU&t=364s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcGF0IGNvbnRyaQ%3D%3D" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pat</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, who I was friends with for almost 10 years, not only turned on me and
started trashing me on his podcast as soon as </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/SNES-Omnibus-Super-Nintendo-M/dp/0764355325/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=awrc2&content-id=amzn1.sym.cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_p=cf86ec3a-68a6-43e9-8115-04171136930a&pf_rd_r=138-3455921-6911749&pd_rd_wg=KQ5LB&pd_rd_r=6c2aca7f-b1cd-47d9-ba8c-04e208da822f&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">my first Omnibus book</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> came out (his
attitude change toward me was instantaneous when he saw me as a competitor), I would
probably be congratulating him and maybe even helping him promote the N64 book—after
all, we were friends and had an amiable working relationship. I promoted the
hell out of </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O813fGBhrY&t=47s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcGF0IGNvbnRyaQ%3D%3D" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">his NES book</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> during </span><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/11/youtube-superstar-pat-contri-a.html" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">the Kickstarter</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and for weeks after it came out,
because I was proud to be a part of it, and to help him out. I even message him
congratulations on his Super NES Kickstarter, which he ignored.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2kUof7FOzzhRpl1EGLO4beI3hj7qBN9DoHpdEH4KOcyQmwJhk2YxuQPZytuOm427fxNDG6L2XmiEEu2mjOhM9e6H-qO-D7LF8jgK3vfX_jUgnmzUN4Dl-8vEHX0Q-ctYkdVH4XId5MNBG_YMfLFcdf8y22D2-NJL-rhGxjyP1NZhUfR9f86FeBK2arw/s952/patmogamecon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="952" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2kUof7FOzzhRpl1EGLO4beI3hj7qBN9DoHpdEH4KOcyQmwJhk2YxuQPZytuOm427fxNDG6L2XmiEEu2mjOhM9e6H-qO-D7LF8jgK3vfX_jUgnmzUN4Dl-8vEHX0Q-ctYkdVH4XId5MNBG_YMfLFcdf8y22D2-NJL-rhGxjyP1NZhUfR9f86FeBK2arw/w593-h280/patmogamecon.jpg" width="593" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>Pat was thrilled that I was a guest at Mo Game Con.</i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">But, as soon as he
saw me as competition instead of a friend and colleague, he started lying about
me repeatedly on his podcast and calling me names. Among other things, he called me a "passive aggressive asshole," presumably because I've tried to deal with this pointless conflict in a cordial manner. He said my reviews for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-2dH-rJyCw&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcGF0IGNvbnRyaQ%3D%3D">his NES book</a> were “garbage” after he deleted them for the publication of the THIRD edition. He
brought me up on his podcast periodically, just to say bad things about me and
my reviews, which is totally strange and disingenuous since he complimented
them repeatedly during the production of the book. In 2015, he said "great job" and that I was a "backbone" helping keeping his NES book going, as you can see by the email below. During the writing process of his NES book, and while the first two editions were in print, he was cool to me and said nice things about my reviews (while sometimes suggesting edits), but then things changed. Even before he started getting really
nasty with me, he began ghosting me at conventions and acting uncomfortable around me—but
only after my <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-snes-omnibus-the-super-nintendo-and-its-games/2?cs=true&cst=custom">SNES Omnibus Vol. 1</a> came out.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWfHvpDGKX7NPGI1VMepCadj_BaniCiRAyhgNItaeRLy98YMCqTstJsxjeDR77JY_g_Nnf-noBQwGcF5YbJDJiCfe42KlxSOyv55uXCL2AsJ1Je3-Fc663IhSpzijFvQN7n2tuRH1ODiU2MugEFVD5knhhhCmeVg5U3jQw7YbfRw2nkGHr50UB8qP1fc/s1286/patnice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1115" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWfHvpDGKX7NPGI1VMepCadj_BaniCiRAyhgNItaeRLy98YMCqTstJsxjeDR77JY_g_Nnf-noBQwGcF5YbJDJiCfe42KlxSOyv55uXCL2AsJ1Je3-Fc663IhSpzijFvQN7n2tuRH1ODiU2MugEFVD5knhhhCmeVg5U3jQw7YbfRw2nkGHr50UB8qP1fc/w440-h508/patnice.jpg" width="440" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">To provide <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2023/01/clearing-air-pat-contri-aka-nes-punk.html">a backstory on how things went south with Pat</a>, when it was time for the third
edition of his NES book to be published, he announced that there were going to
be 60 reviews completely rewritten. I remembered that I had done approximately that
amount and messaged him to inquire if he was taking out my reviews. He saw the
message but didn’t answer me, which was odd. I wish he had given me a heads-up
because I was still mentioning that I had written reviews for his book in my bio
and my resume—freelance writers like myself are constantly sending out pitches
to various editors, using their credentials when submitting article ideas.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFSRq1RGTGQ3CRVYUhEk3UVrtQrBYLCfWrYNeSFFPx3YELifchmNbgYt1dbFt-vbDhlz1p3tIXua5d2B5N7-r-paYXKQC9pEqgrp0PDhXiovTLKo31gNLjyWAN91JG2qHYNIHhty7O5j75dAnRudvTJsdqEx82Li0gCNabguu0pcaHB2aK-oR-QLYinY/s517/patmessage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="517" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFSRq1RGTGQ3CRVYUhEk3UVrtQrBYLCfWrYNeSFFPx3YELifchmNbgYt1dbFt-vbDhlz1p3tIXua5d2B5N7-r-paYXKQC9pEqgrp0PDhXiovTLKo31gNLjyWAN91JG2qHYNIHhty7O5j75dAnRudvTJsdqEx82Li0gCNabguu0pcaHB2aK-oR-QLYinY/w394-h403/patmessage.jpg" width="394" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pat had every
right to remove my reviews from his book, but I just wish he would have given me
the professional courtesy of letting me know. It really did cause problems for
me. For example, leading up to the <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2017/10/portland-retro-gaming-expo-2017-report.html">Portland Retro Gaming Expo</a> around that time,
my guest bio on their website, which I had submitted months before, mentioned
that I had written for his NES book. Well, if someone only had the third
edition of the book and then saw that bio, they would be confused or think that I was lying. So, I had to contact PRGE and have them delete that bit of
information. First-world problem to be sure, but annoying. Much worse, his
followers began harassing me online, based on Pat's harsh words about me. Pat</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;"> even insults me “privately” on his Patreon. (Message for Pat – nothing online is private.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The bottom line is
this: Pat only started being a jerk to me after <a href="https://schifferbooks.com/products/snes-omnibus-v1-a-m?_pos=1&_sid=77533c746&_ss=r">my first SNES Omnibus book</a> came
out. It is a large full-color hardcover, unlike my more basic <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/classic-home-video-games-series/5?cs=true&cst=custom">Classic Home Video Games books</a>, which he didn’t see as competition. He’s spreading false information
when he says he thinks my reviews are garbage. He paid me for them and complimented them several times. And even if thinks they are garbage, and even if he heavily edited a few of them (a common practice for editors), is that really the
way to treat one of your writers and supposed friends? I’ve written hundreds and hundreds of
articles for various publications and never once did any of my other editors start
insulting me about it later. In fact, Pat’s is my only editor to have ever
insulted me at all. Sure, I had work rejected before, like any working writer, but those
editors acted like professionals.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">People
had warned me about working with Pat—that he might turn on me, which he ended
up doing—but unfortunately I ignored them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Oh, and one more
thing: if my NES reviews in Pat's book were indeed garbage, then he should be soundly criticized for publishing them in the first two editions of his book. None of my other editors/publishers would have published and sold what they thought was awful writing. Those "terrible" reviews of mine would have simply ended up in...the garbage.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>More evidence that Pat was happy with my work during the writing of the book:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9zktQ-c5iVhTaMzg2lhe2s8FX_Yo17DSemtCV-VwK8ksXoohQoE92POx90b9pdPFxlcI9TTnBVYfdPJ67cp2Y0LmkqZS176lYlu7KJZngSj2w6arsFJN9-UOMj1DZU441iq_I5B2Wa3B9fzJPxVLC0eI_OqB6vbI54kpvYFMJSbu8Ge4uwHvC86PFgw/s573/patnicer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="573" height="431" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9zktQ-c5iVhTaMzg2lhe2s8FX_Yo17DSemtCV-VwK8ksXoohQoE92POx90b9pdPFxlcI9TTnBVYfdPJ67cp2Y0LmkqZS176lYlu7KJZngSj2w6arsFJN9-UOMj1DZU441iq_I5B2Wa3B9fzJPxVLC0eI_OqB6vbI54kpvYFMJSbu8Ge4uwHvC86PFgw/w633-h431/patnicer.png" width="633" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span><p></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-5941931650723341622024-02-21T22:24:00.001-06:002024-02-21T22:24:26.557-06:00Off the Wall - Atari 2600 Game Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_0gRtA549v2L57gNDsmhBnytmBWXzDH7PW8a-BA19FHkfE5RJu1whyphenhyphenTKv9jhUFTkUhzywzl69NSx0GqJNWATVdhAhE24yfYZwBSbOLnmpzpBZnGEl7SF_lNpfc8YVcp_SDZEi4sQT1yIuBQuFzPqwFIpQPwzsA7Luk-2q5DioS0rzkkck1SjGunynfY/s2016/IMG_9461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_0gRtA549v2L57gNDsmhBnytmBWXzDH7PW8a-BA19FHkfE5RJu1whyphenhyphenTKv9jhUFTkUhzywzl69NSx0GqJNWATVdhAhE24yfYZwBSbOLnmpzpBZnGEl7SF_lNpfc8YVcp_SDZEi4sQT1yIuBQuFzPqwFIpQPwzsA7Luk-2q5DioS0rzkkck1SjGunynfY/w492-h369/IMG_9461.jpg" width="492" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Off the Wall</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Atari 2600</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Publisher: Atari.
Developer: Atari.</span></p><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Genre: Ball-and-Paddle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">1989</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the last games
released for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXM4sOBlkYU">Atari 2600</a>, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Off the Wall</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> takes the classic formula we
all know from </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2016/01/breakout-for-playstation-review.html">Breakout</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and spins it into something more detailed and
fairly entertaining. The game puts you in the shoes of Kung Fu Lu, on a mission
to smash through a mysterious and evil wall, brick by brick, with a bouncing
ball as your weapon of choice.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The game tosses in a
twist with a mystical dragon perched atop the screen, guarding the wall. To
complete a level, you must demolish every brick or defeat the dragon itself
with six strikes. Just when you think you've got a handle on things, enter the
blackbird. This feisty creature appears after the first level, fluttering close
to the wall, ready to bounce your ball in the wrong direction and amp up the
challenge.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch67QA3yo0a1y2S6Wv8pTxcY0tazKoSl3GipjhyrXuICQL7uGQ89ibgCYgmFEzPINXv7gftvhYm173OvUeaA8H4Z1h2TGTLqRwIa-1eG4hrGZhvctr_5FGR5MO2-4wn3-c22BnbG8oLWtHY5wEkj0swHbWiYJ4oZDRuFGn8KK7ucIM6xOy5xkPOhwDqo/s800/offthewall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="579" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjch67QA3yo0a1y2S6Wv8pTxcY0tazKoSl3GipjhyrXuICQL7uGQ89ibgCYgmFEzPINXv7gftvhYm173OvUeaA8H4Z1h2TGTLqRwIa-1eG4hrGZhvctr_5FGR5MO2-4wn3-c22BnbG8oLWtHY5wEkj0swHbWiYJ4oZDRuFGn8KK7ucIM6xOy5xkPOhwDqo/w322-h444/offthewall.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>Periodically, the game
throws you a bone with magical tokens that drop down. Catch one of these, and
you're rewarded with an </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyFPYKB1pgM">Arkanoid</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">-like special power. One makes the
paddle magnetic, allowing it to draw the ball to Lu. Another enlarges your
paddle, making it easier to hit the ball. One turns your ball into a powerhouse
capable of blasting a large chunk of bricks while another makes the ball travel
in a zigzag pattern toward the bricks. There’s a mystery token as well that
will provide any one of the four power-ups.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKIVsoWVh8SDKEyNDy062u_nfhG6rm15mlx6IF3q7ynDcYpFPN9lRVbPg7I947pekMap2NVEm-iThRO7YsKU0Oym8EygoQnuTTKEnyoZEqF19IYEX_KbfFe91W5dQSQ8kuW3ZbcWXmRMzL5OwKI1tv7a3s9eSywG2z2Sy2AwCrYeVHiIMTR0pSNyd5hU/s320/offthewall2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="320" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKIVsoWVh8SDKEyNDy062u_nfhG6rm15mlx6IF3q7ynDcYpFPN9lRVbPg7I947pekMap2NVEm-iThRO7YsKU0Oym8EygoQnuTTKEnyoZEqF19IYEX_KbfFe91W5dQSQ8kuW3ZbcWXmRMzL5OwKI1tv7a3s9eSywG2z2Sy2AwCrYeVHiIMTR0pSNyd5hU/w452-h283/offthewall2.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You begin the game as a
humble peasant, but your skill and determination will see you rise through the
ranks with every four waves of bricks you clear. But beware: losing a ball off
the bottom of the screen costs you a life, and with only five lives on hand,
every move counts.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Now, here's huge bummer
for fans of classic Atari and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtBRHfp9KtE&t=355s&pp=ygUdYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgcmV0cm8gZ2FtaW5nIGxvdmU%3D">retro gaming</a> in general. Unlike </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rLfQUy6uFYc&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2iv0u7b2606I8UTGeQzgwPlN7y191qKc9Dd1VjgRXAYP2_gm9qhVcE4TI">Breakout</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Off
the Wall</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> doesn't work with the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxIRVzVPIwo">Atari</a> paddle controllers – you must use the
standard joystick. It's a HUGE missed opportunity, especially considering how
well-suited the game's mechanics would be for that kind of precise and speedy
control. I’m guessing that this late in the life of the 2600, Atari either
didn’t care or figured that consumers wouldn’t care. Even with this massive
oversight, the game manages to be more than just playable – it’s entertaining.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrm1sPXztk0ugJSpcRNrNkPCp1FPTsNSmSq3oZzz2COFuTFWy5bUlrJoHZLn-lrfJbmFsj5cvMf8HrAWncFMu3rVfVZNC2zrQH7JBxux5aaskI90Da96a2RC8ox1ya62tqBLSkEqhyphenhyphenJvU7dxS9i_J_oGddzXWH1C57aphG5s5o8A_y672Ur33-J-IzIxo/s320/offthewall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="320" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrm1sPXztk0ugJSpcRNrNkPCp1FPTsNSmSq3oZzz2COFuTFWy5bUlrJoHZLn-lrfJbmFsj5cvMf8HrAWncFMu3rVfVZNC2zrQH7JBxux5aaskI90Da96a2RC8ox1ya62tqBLSkEqhyphenhyphenJvU7dxS9i_J_oGddzXWH1C57aphG5s5o8A_y672Ur33-J-IzIxo/w458-h286/offthewall3.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>Overall, <i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Off the
Wall</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> is a largely forgotten title for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUzsEpLD6AA&t=47s&pp=ygUQYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgMjYwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600</a>. While it shares the same
genre with Atari’s own 1991 <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iqwCh9hahc&pp=ygUSYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXJjYWRl">arcade game</a> of the same name, they are very
different. It’s not good enough to be called a hidden gem, and it’s certainly
not as good as </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Arkanoid</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, but it does offer some simple, old-school fun.
There are certainly worse ways to kill half an hour than to play this game a
few rounds.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-35720898252467524392024-02-20T22:48:00.003-06:002024-02-20T22:48:58.993-06:00The Top 5 Reasons Retro Video Game Collecting is Expensive<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQBHSRpKo3mb4LcTy_gusD6C5F9F-pQwxvOGPwKQw3iEVZX7ufj8hgyoCSRiDbrt4AAn_o6Q85vmrkbnF4T5tMcsC6vH3_BgaKjFBYK_OdTyllh3KuCv3_2aTFVUaM7T8bvnt1DKpLKbPGOi7s_KxB9-uIbFE00xBOo9J-DzuctlJfvAurPxDHa1hB5U/s1280/gamesexpensive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPQBHSRpKo3mb4LcTy_gusD6C5F9F-pQwxvOGPwKQw3iEVZX7ufj8hgyoCSRiDbrt4AAn_o6Q85vmrkbnF4T5tMcsC6vH3_BgaKjFBYK_OdTyllh3KuCv3_2aTFVUaM7T8bvnt1DKpLKbPGOi7s_KxB9-uIbFE00xBOo9J-DzuctlJfvAurPxDHa1hB5U/w563-h317/gamesexpensive.jpg" width="563" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I recently uploaded
a video on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BrettWeissRetroGamer">my YouTube channel</a> giving my top five reasons retro video games have
gotten expensive, especially <a href="https://youtu.be/zX6tddYNk54?si=MVEIbKH_WY5KXkrg">sealed</a> or at least complete-in-box. You can watch
it <a href="https://youtu.be/YsVrd7KP9Vs?si=5u5e0jwjCVujZMXU">HERE</a>. My list goes all the back to the ‘90s up until the present day. Below
are some of the comments on the video. Feel free to weigh in as well over on
YouTube, or here. Thanks for watching! And commenting!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@smog-097 says:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">It only seems
ridiculous because people were giving away 80s and 90s video games for pennies
on the dollar.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When a console was
considered obsolete, people literally threw them away. Even though it seems
expensive today, and I agree there are ridiculous examples out there, the vast
majority of classic games still barely sell for the original MSRP, and most are
far less. I mean if you paid $50 in 1989 for a new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-2dH-rJyCw&pp=ygUUYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgbmludGVuZG8%3D">Nintendo</a> game, and it may
have gone for $2 used at flea markets in the ‘90s…most of them have rebounded
to what?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Like $20?</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">That's not a real return on investment after
4 decades unless you happened to be the one hoarding them out of clearance
bins.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@MrShady365:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">One of the major
factors imo is that a lot of the games still hold up. There’s still a demand
from people like me who didn’t even grow up with them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@80s_Gamr:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I first got
into collecting, I used to tell people that the lowest barrier to entry was the
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKl2eaR0qNM&list=PL_TS66KSdEOt_8EMIQHaZJFIpLpBDSIV6&pp=gAQB">VCS/2600</a>. You could get a working console for $10-$20, and games typically were
$1-$3. My, how times have changed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@segaherman6458:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want to collect
my childhood, but it can be tough to collect video games now a days</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@enfieldjohn101:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's getting
harder to find, but still once in a while I find Atari games cheap. Got a box
of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXM4sOBlkYU&pp=ygUQYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgMjYwMA%3D%3D">2600 games</a> for $1 a piece last week when a local game store was having a
sidewalk sale. None were rare, but a lot of them were in very good condition.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Found two <a href="https://youtu.be/Wl8u1Essn-I?si=QiO91bdqs1nXjCKd">NES games</a> for $11 each that are good ones and a CIB <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyKi86Ax0hI">Sega Genesis</a> game of the
Williams Arcade Collection for $11 too. Glad to see sales l</span><span style="font-family: "Segoe UI Emoji", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">😅</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ke that still.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sealed, graded
collectibles are silly indeed. I figure that if I wanted to just look at a game
box, comic book cover, toy box, etc, I'll take or download a photo of it and
hang that on the wall.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I've done that
already with covers of the super expensive first appearance comics.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another reason why
demand has gone up for some of these games is because of emulator consoles like
the HyperKin consoles and the Atari 2600+ which can play original cartridges.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">@benaiahburns4046:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I have been
playing since the 70's, but I didn't have the available income to start
<a href="https://youtu.be/qWod4PVAzxE?si=gBOr5rbXoNYzEAPU">collecting</a> before 1997.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The most amount
of games I had at any one time was 60 games before 1997.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">However, at Christmas that year, I broke 100
games, and I haven't looked back since.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today, I own over 13,600+ games, 363 consoles and 44 complete libraries.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I will say
however, that to me, collecting ended with the 360, PS3 and <a href="https://youtu.be/gXjVwKnufQ0?si=mEKURU7QJzlVBPFZ">Wii U</a>.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today, with the PS4/PS5, One,Series X and
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB3wDD669po&pp=ygUSYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgc3dpdGNo">Switch</a>, most games REQUIRE an update before you use them for the first time,
WHICH MEANS, that in the future, when these games are no longer supported,
those games will be worth about as much as a coaster.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thus, I only buy what I will play for those
consoles.</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-53005219175517124212024-02-18T08:51:00.000-06:002024-02-18T08:51:04.338-06:00Top 8 Celebrity Deaths in 2023 - Suzanne Somers, etc.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckhPpSWduSuG08g8aKaFTn2BrcbARlm7tiyF-CFYHQGUpCKLH1eKrV2PlTSxq8TXRl7AFBKzAbgwTGGZ6MYFekQ49Yw3Za7igv-3OveAokHX07gXJVWRkp5b9DBJa2BOxZVOxknlM-Nn2MwDEM9IaNtMfMz9VpMziAN2rOIBjoWRz8PJyK0Xok48xbpU/s492/crissy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="492" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckhPpSWduSuG08g8aKaFTn2BrcbARlm7tiyF-CFYHQGUpCKLH1eKrV2PlTSxq8TXRl7AFBKzAbgwTGGZ6MYFekQ49Yw3Za7igv-3OveAokHX07gXJVWRkp5b9DBJa2BOxZVOxknlM-Nn2MwDEM9IaNtMfMz9VpMziAN2rOIBjoWRz8PJyK0Xok48xbpU/w511-h292/crissy.jpg" width="511" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The year 2023
unfolded as yet another challenging chapter for celebrities. Despite their
towering personas, these individuals are mortal like the rest of us, inevitably
facing the embrace of the Grim Reaper.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The resonance of a
<a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2022/01/top-celebrity-deaths-in-2021.html">celebrity's passing</a>, particularly those whose work has left an indelible mark
on our lives, invokes a sense of loss within me. Critics may dismiss this
sentiment as trivial, arguing that mourning should be reserved for those we
personally know. However, the reality is that celebrities hold pivotal roles in
people's lives, mine included. Beyond mere entertainers, they possess the
ability to infuse vitality and enlightenment into our sometimes-mundane
existence.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">After careful
contemplation, I produced this (alphabetical) list of <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2021/01/top-celebrity-deaths-in-2020.html">celebrities</a> whose passing
last year affected me the most on a personal level. Call it a tribute of sorts
to eight people I didn’t know, but who impacted me significantly nevertheless.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">David Crosby</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – I’m heavily
into heavy metal. Bands like Dio, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upKAqZcGwBs&t=484s&pp=ygUQYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgb3p6eQ%3D%3D">Black Sabbath</a>, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden
“get my motor running” (to paraphrase Steppenwolf). But I love a variety of
other musical genres, including folk rock, which was perfected by Crosby,
Stills, Nash & Young. Both lyrically and harmonically, the band is one of
my favorites of the psychedelic era and beyond. One of the earlier
“supergroups,” CSNY created some of my all-time favorite tunes, including such
timeless classics as “Helpless,” “Southern Cross,” and “Woodstock.” Crosby, of
course, was the most outspoken of the band members (with Young a close second) and
a great singer and songwriter.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pqf4RDKjoOo2hEhirQyiyQJ1cCRrwnOk9Lyfmp9Be2Lj7g3Mg89YdqWI2u_tvP2_1SeyAIOcOSGlxYFEz4r2-Uoz9AKYrmGwocO_ra_yRioUfKVevH452_KIUEKdLrMKXc8NHUayiY13WVa45bLcO5YIal3k11LXOaLj5MU9qaGIMVZ3lXAenvWKkL4/s1964/David%20Crosby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="1694" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Pqf4RDKjoOo2hEhirQyiyQJ1cCRrwnOk9Lyfmp9Be2Lj7g3Mg89YdqWI2u_tvP2_1SeyAIOcOSGlxYFEz4r2-Uoz9AKYrmGwocO_ra_yRioUfKVevH452_KIUEKdLrMKXc8NHUayiY13WVa45bLcO5YIal3k11LXOaLj5MU9qaGIMVZ3lXAenvWKkL4/w274-h320/David%20Crosby.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">William Friedkin</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Back in the
early ‘90s, when I was dating my now-wife, she came over and we watched <i>The
Exorcist</i> with my roommate. It was terrifying, and the three of us were
genuinely spooked afterward. My roommate even brought his Bible out from his
bedroom and placed it on the coffee table. I had seen it before, but for some
reason it seemed especially scary this time around. Admittedly, I haven’t watched
many of Friedkin’s other films (<i>The French Connection</i> being a notable
exception), but <i>The Exorcist</i> alone is enough to earn him a spot on my
list. While I don’t believe in real-life exorcisms or any of that hoo-ha, <i>The
Exorcist</i> made all previous <a href="https://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video;_ylt=AwrEt6jNFtJlhOQEdZhXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Nj?type=E211US105G0&p=brett+weiss+horror+films&fr=mcafee&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DOVP.WHpppksfGmJ02tjYN0KrIAHgFo%26pid%3DApi%26w%3D296%26h%3D156%26c%3D7%26p%3D0&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D1-qrd9EaqrA&tit=My+EPIC+Classic+Horror+Movie+VHS+Video+Collection%21&pos=01&vid=7d36b7c945582d03310c15220ba411e3&sigr=Og0Y9yrfJVLG&sigt=FtQmThWmZIz.&sigi=s8OHryYdQ38J">horror films</a> seem less realistic and less horrifying
to me in comparison.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolxfu1x8Pr7oyVlyalt_j5MoJlMGUDrRLKgUKRfLPM1hs6ZI6fzr-3w1gFVaBRA7BBVWAk6aeiDCQ7Xq-7wBwDh1XOHImX0Jhx-dezX8MVhl6A1wKvMUQhtHXy2iB3YOTCj7oXyqdj3jMSXFLrDW-Wra6GgF6qQaxT-pzJWuj2zjxOouH7jXPuVZE0KY/s2500/William%20Friedkin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1701" data-original-width="2500" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolxfu1x8Pr7oyVlyalt_j5MoJlMGUDrRLKgUKRfLPM1hs6ZI6fzr-3w1gFVaBRA7BBVWAk6aeiDCQ7Xq-7wBwDh1XOHImX0Jhx-dezX8MVhl6A1wKvMUQhtHXy2iB3YOTCj7oXyqdj3jMSXFLrDW-Wra6GgF6qQaxT-pzJWuj2zjxOouH7jXPuVZE0KY/w404-h275/William%20Friedkin.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Marty Krofft</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – More than <i>Star
Trek</i>. More than <i>The Super Friends</i>. The most influential television
show in the history of my life is <i><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2017/10/land-of-lost-my-routine-adventure-with.html">The Land of the Lost</a></i>, produced by the
brothers Sidney and Marty Krofft. Featuring Marshall, Will, and Holly on a
“routine expedition” gone awry, the program debuted when I was seven years old,
and I was absolutely mesmerized by it. Written by such sci-fi legends as David
Gerrold and Larry Niven, it played a huge role in my becoming obsessed with
fantasy and science fiction, which in turn played a big role in my various occupations
of comic book store owner, bookseller, writer, etc. The Krofft brothers also
created such wonderfully creative shows as <i>H.R. Pufnstuf</i>, <i>Sigmund and
the Sea Monsters</i>, and <i>Electra Woman and Dyna Girl</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGSevitBsNCGzN3pdjWIjAVu_RoBbse8ORWbzj6HS1vq-tJdPz2gAgjdsGKrnJoiHbEUSqZa19Is65QC_Efzc4h0M9ll13nOK73OjWuWMuZNc9N0Z_QChNgJcSIlyy51BQmjVFG6pXCIIm3pMXpVITxmlDSlpe4AH0CEPcJMT5SCmX_6PHz6XoD3SOPA/s620/martykrofft.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="620" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGSevitBsNCGzN3pdjWIjAVu_RoBbse8ORWbzj6HS1vq-tJdPz2gAgjdsGKrnJoiHbEUSqZa19Is65QC_Efzc4h0M9ll13nOK73OjWuWMuZNc9N0Z_QChNgJcSIlyy51BQmjVFG6pXCIIm3pMXpVITxmlDSlpe4AH0CEPcJMT5SCmX_6PHz6XoD3SOPA/w437-h295/martykrofft.jpg" width="437" /></a></i></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Norman Lear</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Like so many
kids who grew up before the internet and smart phones, I spent a TON of time
playing outside. However, I also watched a lot of television, especially during
windy winter days when severe bronchitis forced me to stay indoors. Norman Lear
created and produced many of my favorites of that era, including <i>All in the
Family</i>, <i>Sanford & Son</i>, and <i>One Day at a Time</i>. Remember
the talk show parody <i>Fernwood 2 Night</i> starring Martin Mull and Fred
Willard? Probably not, but my brother and I loved it. Unlike so much TV, which is
sheer fluff, Lear’s shows used humor to deal with serious and often controversial
topics—he was a trailblazer for the medium like no other. He lived to be 101, a
testament to his timeless talent.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys8cc4l63_bEBijyLncEfxVPXZU2pPv8mjV93RF8e5PX-8Ew1Fhn4zyPbZGBAzpPU_vPOxA-1oYG7FsCC0kif_cUVJ5DDl_PuvKVnhUOp7yuUVn0RidHRlnIFX7kO2mJqvRvwuatHHrVixDCJiHca4v8GMYBVDHUWHM8T9XIrQCKxt6TGyvoeEvQK6zg/s2000/normanlear.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1396" data-original-width="2000" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys8cc4l63_bEBijyLncEfxVPXZU2pPv8mjV93RF8e5PX-8Ew1Fhn4zyPbZGBAzpPU_vPOxA-1oYG7FsCC0kif_cUVJ5DDl_PuvKVnhUOp7yuUVn0RidHRlnIFX7kO2mJqvRvwuatHHrVixDCJiHca4v8GMYBVDHUWHM8T9XIrQCKxt6TGyvoeEvQK6zg/w452-h315/normanlear.jpg" width="452" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mathew Perry</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – As with
countless other celebrities, the funny and charming Mathew Perry, who played
Chandler on <i>Friends</i>, showed that you can have it all—fame, fortune, good
looks, great friends—and still be a miserable mess. In his memoir, he said that
he never really felt good or even normal unless he was on some type of
mood-enhancing substance. A true addict. Sad. <i>Friends</i> hit the air when I
was dating my <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/11/snes-omnibus-writer-spotlight-36-charis.html">now-wife Charis</a>, and it's been with us ever since, like an old
friend. She even has a big part of her office devoted to <i>Friends</i>
memorabilia. It’s a highly likeable show with numerous hilarious, memorable,
and even iconic moments, and Chandler was a big part of that. Could he have <i>been</i>
any funnier?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMS_CyHfwRxgpMVc1ra3k7ToZdkG4vwa5iUn4FJPRQ8R3c7cRN1aDYHHawnKGIalMhDhKMcy88EVwtX1X-YjAj3Sd_fSLs-bzHDSA6GLS68gCW4iLv7N8E4sK5rRRY1uOdx34ScLOXxVe0s7tTmO-MWzuQLqXVedQZ96FHe_A5oms2QfgREmQrXBTHvI/s3000/Mathew%20Perry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2238" data-original-width="3000" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMS_CyHfwRxgpMVc1ra3k7ToZdkG4vwa5iUn4FJPRQ8R3c7cRN1aDYHHawnKGIalMhDhKMcy88EVwtX1X-YjAj3Sd_fSLs-bzHDSA6GLS68gCW4iLv7N8E4sK5rRRY1uOdx34ScLOXxVe0s7tTmO-MWzuQLqXVedQZ96FHe_A5oms2QfgREmQrXBTHvI/w433-h324/Mathew%20Perry.jpg" width="433" /></a></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">John Romita Sr.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Decades before
comic book stories got so convoluted, and when continuity was still important
to publishers, John Romita Jr. took over for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmllS01mqUk">Spider-Man</a> co-creator Steve Ditko as
the artist on <i><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/03/spider-man-and-his-amazing-friends.html">The Amazing Spider-Man</a></i> (in 1966 with issue #39), one of
Marvel’s flagship titles. Romita aped Ditko’s style initially, but after a few
issues, he embraced the book and began crafting the character and his
adventures in his now-iconic style. In 1973, Romita took over as art director
for Marvel and played a major role in defining the look of the company’s output
and in designing new characters. From a long list of great craftsmen, he’s my
favorite Spidey artist of all time.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovAkQIrm3amyf2ytEWU5ukf1wzf0LOP5R74ieNXc4ImEsv_RpazL2K2q2OsG_iNjzkb61sp5_64wtbkIq3-SZYjGLUpMeoEoyKSgV08P-7J1fkiVRclQOvm-B-hV-DEn0glnKyOSXAcA9G1xrClKzPBvmGKlXUwhZevbOPLF1Z8ESDl8WYx8lrR7L7-8/s950/John%20Romita%20Sr..jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="950" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovAkQIrm3amyf2ytEWU5ukf1wzf0LOP5R74ieNXc4ImEsv_RpazL2K2q2OsG_iNjzkb61sp5_64wtbkIq3-SZYjGLUpMeoEoyKSgV08P-7J1fkiVRclQOvm-B-hV-DEn0glnKyOSXAcA9G1xrClKzPBvmGKlXUwhZevbOPLF1Z8ESDl8WYx8lrR7L7-8/w463-h342/John%20Romita%20Sr..jpg" width="463" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Suzanne Somers</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Freud spoke of
a latency period, but I never had one. I was girl-crazy all throughout my
childhood. One of my biggest crushes was Chrissy Snow, the gorgeous, but ditzy
blonde roommate of Jack Tripper (John Ritter) and Janet Wood (Joyce DeWitt) on <i>Three’s
Company</i>. Although he had to pretend to be gay to live with Chrissy and
Janet to get landlord approval, I thought Jack was the luckiest dude in the
world. He was smitten with both girls, but ultimately the show was about the
trio’s close friendship and their misunderstandings and misadventures. I loved
it. And, in my own childish way, I loved Chrissy.</span><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvIAXhFAamZDh0pKQ0oJwGmRg5giE8A8kXmL3Y55JGOsJpo9VUIdjxEFe6PZ60hLrNRtswMFm3L2Gkp87L6lcsvh6Mp-RcfPkmy6o5bTdzY8ZwFu5FBSi5Jf1CQ5I-lQ9tsTX5uz4RrowmjiGvm5raX08cSjfawHbkXzUBYrvM2x4-nADHaxLfqWA_6s/s5000/suzannesomers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2617" data-original-width="5000" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvIAXhFAamZDh0pKQ0oJwGmRg5giE8A8kXmL3Y55JGOsJpo9VUIdjxEFe6PZ60hLrNRtswMFm3L2Gkp87L6lcsvh6Mp-RcfPkmy6o5bTdzY8ZwFu5FBSi5Jf1CQ5I-lQ9tsTX5uz4RrowmjiGvm5raX08cSjfawHbkXzUBYrvM2x4-nADHaxLfqWA_6s/w536-h280/suzannesomers.jpg" width="536" /></a></div></span><p></p><p></p><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cindy Williams</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> – Numerous
sitcoms had a girl that “got around,” and that was part of their appeal and a
big part of the comedy. <i>Alice</i> had Florence Jean Castleberry. <i>Golden
Girls</i> had Blanche Devereaux. <i>Laverne & Shirley</i> had Laverne
DeFazio, who was played by Penny Marshall opposite “good girl” Shirley Feeny,
played by the incredibly cute and affable Cindy Williams. Like her boyfriend
Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa, I adored the virginal Shirley, who I far
preferred to loose Laverne. She was the ultimate “girl next door type,” rivaled
only by Mary Ann from <i>Gilligan’s Island</i>. And she just seemed so sweet.</span><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJimJLoreQE_6Ou3j70Ss4LGxYveF6VaKGVfz0iBt9GUY6git-sZ4sbHGuZRTX68ZTE5zmmYd_-vF6vXAawUhlBPLuIlcn8UAMfhnovPcoeq7NEk6vLVZbh4zGCHNFSFKvYB4IGQnpiQk3-pwE7NQ4UzoeWlW5CC4zqlOQoooWBLenopd9pVrNDfFZ9Dw/s500/cindywilliams.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJimJLoreQE_6Ou3j70Ss4LGxYveF6VaKGVfz0iBt9GUY6git-sZ4sbHGuZRTX68ZTE5zmmYd_-vF6vXAawUhlBPLuIlcn8UAMfhnovPcoeq7NEk6vLVZbh4zGCHNFSFKvYB4IGQnpiQk3-pwE7NQ4UzoeWlW5CC4zqlOQoooWBLenopd9pVrNDfFZ9Dw/w486-h274/cindywilliams.jpg" width="486" /></a></div></span><br />While I limited my
list to just eight, there were many <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/02/celebrity-deaths-of-2017-ones-that.html">more celebrities</a> who died last year who
played a key role in my life as a fan and content creator. These include Jeff
Beck, Riccou Browning, Jimmy Buffet, Phillis Coates, Bert I. Gordon, Keith
Giffen, Al Jaffee, Piper Laurie, Gordon Lightfoot, Paul Reubens, Adam Rich,
Robbie Robertson, and Raquel Welch.<p></p></div></div></div></div></div>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-57516217851837595352023-11-26T09:32:00.001-06:002023-11-26T09:32:51.310-06:00The 40th Anniversary of the Video Game Crash of 1983<p style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">The
40</span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: center;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> Anniversary of the Video Game Crash of 1983</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Back in 1983, I
was 16 years old and living the dream. I had a car, I had money, and I was
unencumbered by a spouse, kids, or anything else resembling real
responsibilities, or than my job as a Quality Supervisor at a barbeque
restaurant. Yes, at the ripe young age of 16, I was telling 20-, 30- and
40-somethings what to do. (They loved it, let me tell you, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">he said
sarcastically</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">.)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Before I digress
into my life story, let’s zero in on a certain newspaper ad I saw during this
time. Yes, teenagers and even people younger than that read the newspaper in
those pre-social media days. Not only for the funnies, and not only for
baseball box scores, but also for celebrity gossip, headline news, local
interest stuff, and more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Each Sunday, the
paper was massive, thanks in part to ads from retail stores. I would scour
these ads for gaming bargains, and one day I found a whopper: a variety of
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKl2eaR0qNM&list=PL_TS66KSdEOt_8EMIQHaZJFIpLpBDSIV6&pp=gAQB">Atari 2600</a> titles for $9.99 to $14.99 each, including popular first-party
titles like </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/e_bPA6yekO0?si=67ZHq2NXDnPyMHJn">Asteroids</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgCE1J8QPuY&t=274s">Space Invaders</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. This was a huge
discount from the regular selling price of $30 to $45 or so for most video games.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxpxsfJlUrJ3YBdGHUuAYeukNAiIQaS3vMDMGtV_ovk6k_VTEC6TxxaphtyhL5UVJ6vnJs95Rn1FtCM7V9-o0vuY2y9gdyyJbbqdu3LYwBMnvk3ql9gNnenq1fmPgfbSC1l9ZUhzDNHKWWh2sfiBmRik5SsZBDJSLaxtDvmkISJzWWLO-V0IqHi5Qd2g/s1024/videogamecrash1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="639" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxpxsfJlUrJ3YBdGHUuAYeukNAiIQaS3vMDMGtV_ovk6k_VTEC6TxxaphtyhL5UVJ6vnJs95Rn1FtCM7V9-o0vuY2y9gdyyJbbqdu3LYwBMnvk3ql9gNnenq1fmPgfbSC1l9ZUhzDNHKWWh2sfiBmRik5SsZBDJSLaxtDvmkISJzWWLO-V0IqHi5Qd2g/s320/videogamecrash1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Over the next few
weeks and months, I began seeing titles for the Atari 2600, Intellivision,
ColecoVision, Odyssey 2, and other consoles selling for $4.99 each…then
$2.99…then .99 cents. Yes, brand new video games for under a buck! I’ve spoken
to certain people around my age who recall seeing new video games marked as low
as .25 cents each. Amazing!</span></p></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As a hardcore
gamer and collector, I was driving from store to store, adding to my collection.
I would buy pretty much any game that looked fun to play, and I would buy
pretty much any <a href="https://youtu.be/oEU71fisW3A?si=5xIfl0UZfAd94jA_">ColecoVision</a> game no matter what it was because that was my
favorite console. Stores like Toys “R” Us, Kay Bee Toys, Circus World, and even
Walmart and Target would have huge bins with tons of discount games, and I
would practically leap into these pits and swim around, catching as many “fish”
as I wanted and throwing back what looked unappealing.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WS4BHuz4nnp0tU8TlUSqhX3U3yBww9Jr9BzHEyZBeSfDiMepPb5U7z4rzMIgKdWMN77MXyVsU07AqQLti0YvBdBnTEARcUzHpeeh5UWhVtepQ654B7DoTeBtac343GMW2xDpys-2fBACM4FQUEVGQu_VShPD32c9dAe_ll8FYFXTKfaib3rnETVToaA/s1200/videogamecrash3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-WS4BHuz4nnp0tU8TlUSqhX3U3yBww9Jr9BzHEyZBeSfDiMepPb5U7z4rzMIgKdWMN77MXyVsU07AqQLti0YvBdBnTEARcUzHpeeh5UWhVtepQ654B7DoTeBtac343GMW2xDpys-2fBACM4FQUEVGQu_VShPD32c9dAe_ll8FYFXTKfaib3rnETVToaA/s320/videogamecrash3.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br />It was exciting
and fun, but I had no idea what it all meant beyond being able to purchase
video games for pennies on the dollar, amassing a cool collection, and playing
a bunch of games that I would never have had access to without the Video Game Crash
of 1983. I had no idea it meant the video game console industry in North
America was dying. It didn’t really sink in for me until 1984, when the writing
was on the wall that my beloved <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/12/10-best-colecovision-games.html">ColecoVision</a> was on the way out. It was
officially discontinued in 1985, and I was incredibly bummed. The Atari 2600
and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0UsntnpQ4s&t=82s">Intellivision</a> hung on for a few more years, but just barely.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xHWRcNcP_fXFdZBWuXrtWmMk1CQQyihJ9NY0msJb2f6HBzI7SgAJAQG61yllbrGvJZ2iZ-Tdg7co0T_0xhFDnRFVW4bQ8obp7_KnhbXZ2bNhfs1ELitytLr-c4Ju5re4LVP7xHrgKTJ3knTnku8Bv1iLk1mOyWmBBjEEG0bU7rSBenpkiYxQPIteZEs/s640/atari2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4xHWRcNcP_fXFdZBWuXrtWmMk1CQQyihJ9NY0msJb2f6HBzI7SgAJAQG61yllbrGvJZ2iZ-Tdg7co0T_0xhFDnRFVW4bQ8obp7_KnhbXZ2bNhfs1ELitytLr-c4Ju5re4LVP7xHrgKTJ3knTnku8Bv1iLk1mOyWmBBjEEG0bU7rSBenpkiYxQPIteZEs/s320/atari2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Video game sales
dropped 97% from $3.2 billion in 1982 to $100 million by 1985. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI0FqqVyei0&t=473s">The reasons for the Crash are many.</a> Too many random companies had jumped on the video game
craze of the early ’80s and were cranking out lousy games for the Atari 2600,
the most ubiquitous console of the era. There were also too many consoles on
the market in general. This created consumer confusion and dissatisfaction, and
retailers struggled to find adequate space for new games on store shelves.</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two of the most
highly anticipated 2600 titles, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pac-Man</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/PPO2c1Pd4kE?si=dpBhldx6Jb0td8WW">E.T. the Extra Terrestrial</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, were big disappointments as the former was a bad port and the
latter was confusing for most kids who played it. These and other titles were
over-produced, and Atari ended up burying thousands of games in a landfill in
New Mexico, as told in the 2014 documentary, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Atari: Game Over</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">By 1983, many
gamers who had grown up with the Atari 2600, which was released in 1977, were
moving on to other interests like cars and dating. The 1982 follow-up to the
2600, the Atari 5200, was largely a bust, thanks in part to its fragile,
imprecise, non-centering joysticks. Coleco had announced they were going to
produce a Super Game Module for the <a href="https://youtu.be/m7BZ_MtxP98?si=laMv6cXg5eB-CeXC">ColecoVision</a> that would have meant games
with more levels, better graphics and sounds, etc., but they cancelled that
eagerly anticipated peripheral and released the Adam Computer instead. While
great in theory, the Adam was a huge failure because so many units were
bug-ridden or downright inoperable right out of the box.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Speaking of
computers, they were a big reason for the Crash. Many parents felt more
comfortable purchasing a computer for their kids than a “mere” video game
console. Most of the big consoles at the time promised computer add-ons, but
those were all unsuccessful, such as Mattel’s Entertainment Computer System for
the Intellivision. The Odyssey 2 had a computer-style keyboard, but it was a
video game console, not a fully-functional computer.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Commodore 64,
which Guiness cites as the top-selling computer model of all time, played a big
role in the Crash. Why buy a console when you can get a computer that also
plays games that are at least as good as the <a href="https://youtu.be/ny26SjBVmDI?si=Ed6JJUWs-a_CA4bw">ColecoVision</a> and in some cases
better and more sophisticated? And you can pirate those games for free? I saw
evidence of this first-hand. After my best friend’s dad brought home a C64 with
around 200 games copied illegally onto floppy discs, his family rarely touched their
<a href="https://youtu.be/9ZESFRjVmSY?si=KFHWsuORah5r55yE">ColecoVision</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">While the video
game market in North America crashed in 1983, the industry didn’t stay dead for
long, thanks in large part to a certain Japanese company’s cool console, savvy
marketing, and mustachioed Italian plumber. Test-marketed in 1985 and released
nationwide in 1986, the Nintendo Entertainment System, which was the North
American version of the Japanese Famicom, introduced a new generation to video
games, with </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://youtu.be/6bRIstMvOCo?si=U8KyvwkallU-h4Ti">Super Mario Bros.</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> taking center stage. More than any video
game before it, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">SMB</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> dazzled gamers with expansive gameplay, cartoonlike
graphics, hidden secrets and surprises, and pitch-perfect controls.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I received my
NES for Christmas in 1987, I barely believed what I was seeing. The closest
experience I can think of to playing </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQW96iCKjhE&t=312s">Super Mario Bros.</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> for the first
time was my initial reading of Lewis Carroll’s </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Alice in Wonderland</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—simply
mind-boggling!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Numerous great
games followed on the console, including such legendary titles as </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Contra</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">,
</span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Castlevania</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Metroid</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLt8nLETUjs&t=325s">The Legend of Zelda</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Super
Mario Bros. 3</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, the last of which was heavily marketed in 1989’s </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The
Wizard</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">. An entire culture was built around the NES. Players would exchange
tips and tricks for beating games (as well as call Nintendo’s hotline number), bring
issues of </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nintendo Power</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> magazine to school, rent games from movie
rental stores, pause their system all night so they could continue that long
adventure game the next morning, etc.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Even more than Atari,
<a href="https://youtu.be/Wl8u1Essn-I?si=RUKtCNRsKKsCpDKn">Nintendo</a> brought video games into the mainstream, and the industry has been
thriving ever since.</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-29024209348317969752023-09-13T21:43:00.005-05:002023-09-13T21:44:08.382-05:00Nostalgic 1980s ColecoVision Story by ChatGPT<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBLe7jBJLHialbQJzPOhrzSerU7S2xJk_8RivawE4JaFcH88-P42-aLLu-6EW9725PpuMF5j7tUxvCWEXOYaLbLKmNnNZasnCsX4Om7BYIETikDVVsTy4OElpHGBsXrcX1OBtyyACdWcYtKFwGyO_tfkTxjfTG5HE10Q3zUu-vnT38no4eS1rSs4VePU/s720/coleco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="720" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBLe7jBJLHialbQJzPOhrzSerU7S2xJk_8RivawE4JaFcH88-P42-aLLu-6EW9725PpuMF5j7tUxvCWEXOYaLbLKmNnNZasnCsX4Om7BYIETikDVVsTy4OElpHGBsXrcX1OBtyyACdWcYtKFwGyO_tfkTxjfTG5HE10Q3zUu-vnT38no4eS1rSs4VePU/w499-h351/coleco.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I asked <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Cl6siCVI4&t=8s&pp=ygUTYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgY2hhdGdwdA%3D%3D">ChatGPT</a> to tell a
nostalgic story about playing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny26SjBVmDI&t=1s&pp=ygUYYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgY29sZWNvdmlzaW9u">ColecoVision</a> during the 1980s, written in the style
of Dr. Seuss. I think it’s actually quite good (if a little disturbing). Let me know in the comments
what you think.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">ColecoVision<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">In the quirky, colorful
era of the 80s, lo and behold, A box called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDqWTiamwzQ&pp=ygUYYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgY29sZWNvdmlzaW9u">ColecoVision</a>, stories untold. With
buttons of fire and a joystick to steer, It was more than a console, let's make
that quite clear.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Post-school, children
would gather, winding down the day, In a living room beaming with game's
vibrant display. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoaV952Nf5M&pp=ygUXYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgZG9ua2V5IGtvbmc%3D">Donkey Kong</a> flinging barrels, or a cosmic ride, In the realm
of pixels, we would confide.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Harrowing moments and
triumphant feats, Our hearts would race with every end beats. High scores were
like treasure, locked in our hearts, A tale of our childhood, where memory
starts.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Eyes wide and twinkling,
in the TV's soft glare, Two-dimensional worlds, we'd bravely dare. There we'd
be, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkOxa_8iYPA&t=1s&pp=ygUUYnJldHQgd2Vpc3Mgam95c3RpY2s%3D">joystick</a> in hand, In our own universe, spectacular and grand.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">The 80s may end, and the
children do age, But in our hearts, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/09/digger-for-colecovision-reviewed.html">ColecoVision</a>, our kind-hearted sage. Its
keys unlocked chapters, experiences, and more, A flashback to a time, truly we
adore.</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-67790841864555415522023-04-23T09:02:00.000-05:002023-04-23T09:02:13.810-05:00ABC To The VCS: A Directory of Software For the Atari 2600 by Leonard Herman - New Foreword By Brett Weiss<p> </p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3KOIY2r5CtevwzAadAEp1HQU7xNlQ9SgwTr4YOEc5TY_VtZkcZL4SDLArzXLWotVCQ13fy3NombS3jOy7NMctqeNYf71ZJUjFyjngnaj-TUOPakCpBdxoJd4t8tiOTfy32SZhaHlJ7ffAD5sS5fQpSkylqetYlpNs8Pu74BXOzH7_lgX1QRGn6Xs/s1280/abccover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3KOIY2r5CtevwzAadAEp1HQU7xNlQ9SgwTr4YOEc5TY_VtZkcZL4SDLArzXLWotVCQ13fy3NombS3jOy7NMctqeNYf71ZJUjFyjngnaj-TUOPakCpBdxoJd4t8tiOTfy32SZhaHlJ7ffAD5sS5fQpSkylqetYlpNs8Pu74BXOzH7_lgX1QRGn6Xs/w571-h322/abccover.jpg" width="571" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Introduction
(a foreword to the foreword, if you will)<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKl2eaR0qNM&list=PL_TS66KSdEOt_8EMIQHaZJFIpLpBDSIV6&pp=gAQB">Atari 2600</a>, originally
released as the Atari VCS, is one of the most important video game consoles of
all time. Not only did it popularize home gaming, and not only did it make “Atari”
synonymous with the word “videogame” for a decade (among countless other
accolades), it was the first console to inspire a complete reference book for
its library of games. Said book—</span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC To The VCS: A Directory of Software for
the Atari 2600</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—was written by my good friend and colleague <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/01/leonard-hermans-tribute-to-ralph-father.html">Leonard Herman</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Herman’s titanic
tome was a huge inspiration for me, and it was an historical first in an
industry I love, so imagine my delight when he asked me to write the foreword
for the new edition. It was a huge honor and one I’m extremely grateful for.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC to the VCS was
out-of-print for years (too long, if you ask me), but now it’s <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ABC-VCS-Directory-Software-Atari/dp/B0C2SJ25VV/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2WLY0OFTBUFXR&keywords=abc+to+the+vcs&qid=1682256871&s=books&sprefix=abc+to+the+vcs%2Cstripbooks%2C232&sr=1-1">available on Amazon</a> for anyone who wants to grab a copy. If you want to read my foreword to
the book, you can do so as I’ve reprinted it in its entirety below.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As always, thanks
for reading! And thanks to Leonard Herman for the honor!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Foreword</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">ABC
To The VCS: A Directory of Software for the Atari 2600</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The reference
volume you are holding in your hands is nothing less than historic.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When the
groundbreaking first edition of </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC to the VCS</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> was originally published way
back in 1996, it was the first book of its type: a complete guide to a
videogame console—the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUzsEpLD6AA&t=47s&pp=ygUWYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgYXRhcmkgMjYwMA%3D%3D">Atari 2600</a>, of course—with a write-up for every game for
the system. To my knowledge, no one had attempted such a herculean task up
until that point, and certainly no one had followed through.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The book is also
historic in nature because it was written by Leonard Herman, rightly dubbed The
Father of Videogame History. “Lenny” earned this moniker with the 1994
publication of </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, the first
lengthy and serious history on the topic. (I was the fourth person to purchase
a copy of <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2016/01/phoenix-fall-rise-of-home-videogames.html">the original </a></span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2016/01/phoenix-fall-rise-of-home-videogames.html">Phoenix</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> from Lenny, but that’s a story for
another day.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">During this same
time period—the mid-1990s—I was working on a book of reviews of Sega Genesis
and Super Nintendo games, but I couldn’t find a publisher. That’s because retro
videogame books—and videogame books in general—were barely a thing during this
era (with the notable exception of tips/tricks books and strategy guides). Sure,
there were a few titles here and there, but nothing like today, where several
publishers, including <a href="https://mcfarlandbooks.com/?s=brett+weiss&search_id=product&post_type=product">McFarland</a> and <a href="https://schifferbooks.com/search?type=product&q=brett+weiss">Schiffer</a>, have entire lines devoted to
retro gaming books. There are even publishers, such as Bitmap Books, who
publish almost nothing but books in this category.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lenny couldn’t
find a publisher for his books either, but, to his credit, he forged ahead and
self-published them, which was a much harder, much more complex task back in
the ’90s before the days of such convenient services as Lulu and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Retro-Pop-Culture-Atari-Zombie/dp/1495234800/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Amazon Createspace</a>. Further, before the internet really took off during the late ’90s,
it was much more difficult to do research. Remember the days of calling up the
local library’s reference desk to get information about various topics? Remember
studying old magazines and newspapers via clunky microfiche machines? I’m sure
Lenny remembers!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Regarding </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC
to the VCS</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> specifically, Lenny wrote it years before you could hop online
and find instruction manuals (HTML and PDF) for every Atari 2600 game. It’s
true that many games for the console are of the pick-up-and-play variety, but
some are basically incoherent without the manual, and many are more fun, more
playable, and easier to write about when you know all the intricacies detailed
in the manuals, such as the storylines, gameplay variations, and the like. Lenny
also wrote the book before you could play the games emulated on other devices.
In short, it was much more difficult to research for and write such a book back
then than it is now.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Without </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC to
the VCS</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (which is now
in its fourth edition as </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-IV-History-Videogame-Industry/dp/1539031292">Phoenix IV: The History of the Videogame Industry</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">),
my own </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Classic Home Video Games</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> books series might not exist.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">During the late ’90s
and early 2000s, I wrote for the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LFmGSirkAY&t=220s&pp=ygUdYnJldHQgd2Vpc3MgZmlyc3Qgd3JpdGluZyBnaWc%3D">All Game Guide</a>, a late, lamented website
devoted to cataloging, describing, and reviewing every game for every console
and computer. The company was working on a book series as well, which I was up
to my elbows in cartridges helping write. When the books were cancelled, it
gave me the idea to do the project on my own, and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC to the VCS</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> gave me
the confidence to tackle entire console libraries by myself. “If Lenny could do
it, then maybe I could do it,” I surmised. Thus, in 2007, my first book, </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/classic-home-video-games-series/5">Classic Home Video Games: 1972-1984</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, was published.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC to the
VCS</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">, which I had been badgering Lenny to reprint for years (thank you for
finally doing so, Lenny!), you’ll find objective, no-nonsense summaries of more
than 700 games. Lenny writes clearly, concisely, and without pretension, which
betrays his former vocation as a technical writer. This isn’t a book of reviews.
Lenny has said something to the effect of, “Who am I to say if these games are
any good or not—why should my opinion matter more than anyone else’s?” He wants
people to explore the games and form their own opinions, and </span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">ABC to the VCS</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">
is an excellent reference guide pointing players to the Atari 2600 titles they
may find interesting or entertaining. It’s also a useful book for tracking your
collection and keeping the memories of these games alive.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve known <a href="https://www.twingalaxies.com/feed_details.php/2075/the-first-gaming-historian-an-interview-with-leonard-herman">Leonard Herman</a> for 20 years. I met him back in 2003 at the first Classic Gaming Expo I
attended, and I made it a point to shake his hand. We’ve been friends ever
since, sharing a booth and panel at Too Many Games, traveling together, hanging
out at Corgs, PRGE, and other gaming expos, corresponding online, and in
general having a good time. He even wrote <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/12/back-in-2010-when-i-was-working-on-my.html">the foreword to my third </a></span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/12/back-in-2010-when-i-was-working-on-my.html">Classic
Home Video Games</a></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/12/back-in-2010-when-i-was-working-on-my.html"> book</a>!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are several
authors today writing complete guides to various videogame consoles, but Lenny beat
us all to the punch and did something historic in the process.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">There’s that word
again. “Historic.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">There’s a reason
Leonard Herman is called The Father of Videogame History.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">And I’m proud to
call him a friend and colleague.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">~ Brett Weiss</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Brett Weiss has
been a gamer since 1975 and a professional gaming writer since 1997. He’s the
author of 13 books, including </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The NES Omnibus Vol. 1-2<i>, </i><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-snes-omnibus-the-super-nintendo-and-its-games/2?cs=true&cst=custom">The SNES Omnibus Vol. 1-2</a><i>, </i>The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1977-1987<i>,
and his latest, </i><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1988-1998/7?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998</a><i>. With
his </i>Classic Home Video Games<i> series, he wrote the world’s first complete
guides to numerous video game consoles, including the Atari 5200, Atari 7800,
ColecoVision, Intellivision, Vectrex, Odyssey2, Nintendo Entertainment System,
Sega Master System, Neo Geo, TurboGrafx-16, and Sega Genesis. He also wrote the
world’s first and only encyclopedia about the rock band KISS.</i> <i>He’s had
articles published in countless magazines and newspapers, including </i><a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/09/featured-in-game-informer-magazine-snes.html">Game Informer</a><i>, </i>Old School Gamer<i>, </i>Filmfax<i>, </i>Fangoria<i>, and the </i>Fort
Worth Star-Telegram<i>, to name just a few. When not writing, he uploads videos
to YouTube for his </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BrettWeissRetroGamer">Tales from a Retro Gamer</a><i> show.</i></span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-71864834685924044982023-03-28T20:49:00.002-05:002023-03-28T20:49:30.380-05:00The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998 by Brett Weiss - GET YOUR SIGNED COPY!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVYy8I0UWwqUciDKxvmD-7znvYIMPguXMm-uoEh7rHGZCHffeR2kF-uDbFMJwhL7R_mQbL20_k-4Y_tv5VZt2bgnBGm9t0GKP2-DInSHHiM2v7AlkN_fEXatnB7rRPguEM3jDW_y7H4UXM8B-9UmdUhAnL785MIz5t7MvgD6O4tGJIm0HEh07Wsx-/s2560/BOOK%20AD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="2560" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVYy8I0UWwqUciDKxvmD-7znvYIMPguXMm-uoEh7rHGZCHffeR2kF-uDbFMJwhL7R_mQbL20_k-4Y_tv5VZt2bgnBGm9t0GKP2-DInSHHiM2v7AlkN_fEXatnB7rRPguEM3jDW_y7H4UXM8B-9UmdUhAnL785MIz5t7MvgD6O4tGJIm0HEh07Wsx-/w604-h340/BOOK%20AD.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Thanks to
everyone for your kind words, your orders, your reviews, your support, and much
more!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Reminder
that signed copies are available direct from me!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">***PayPal
$50 to brettw105@sbcglobal.net<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(Includes US
shipping)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">***Or pay
via credit card <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1988-1998/7?cs=true&cst=custom">HERE</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*272-page
hardcover book<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*Hundreds of
full-color photos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*Box art,
screenshots and vintage magazine ads<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*Essays,
nostalgia, history, and deep-dives on the greatest games for PlayStation,
Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, Nintendo NES, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, and other
awesome consoles<o:p></o:p></span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-1761295212364023002023-02-02T16:27:00.001-06:002023-02-02T16:27:34.645-06:00Adam F. Goldberg Wrote the Foreword to My NES Book!<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Mc9w_6sCWDCl4U6zTZulLLdcxFvXapQkJQL8LhrN_cULs2kfp9YA4gHUbDjdB1nTLeMiX1aOVRyQx_eqYAQ13lm1xg-_k68j-5U3lnTInkMeSGKb4FA0ugLcdei_XCrEGY0q_kFDAJkn5pSNR6RBkTpb6g5N1BZ2I-vPRzI3_eyNRNtgQgLZLabE/s735/adam3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="735" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Mc9w_6sCWDCl4U6zTZulLLdcxFvXapQkJQL8LhrN_cULs2kfp9YA4gHUbDjdB1nTLeMiX1aOVRyQx_eqYAQ13lm1xg-_k68j-5U3lnTInkMeSGKb4FA0ugLcdei_XCrEGY0q_kFDAJkn5pSNR6RBkTpb6g5N1BZ2I-vPRzI3_eyNRNtgQgLZLabE/w530-h353/adam3.jpg" width="530" /></a></div><p></p><p>For my book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/NES-Omnibus-Nintendo-Entertainment-L/dp/076436068X/ref=pd_bxgy_vft_none_img_sccl_1/137-0544658-6970326?pd_rd_w=BQVyZ&content-id=amzn1.sym.7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_p=7f0cf323-50c6-49e3-b3f9-63546bb79c92&pf_rd_r=C2PCS3P8EJ5J904P2CES&pd_rd_wg=kVr2J&pd_rd_r=d310b067-3abb-48f3-9989-63de38a71000&pd_rd_i=076436068X&psc=1">The NES Omnibus: The Nintendo Entertainment System and Its Games, Volume 1 (A–L)</a>, I wanted someone famous to write the foreword. I considered reaching out to actor Sean Astin, who narrated a gaming documentary I was in, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meVkCHW4uAw">The Angry Video Game Nerd</a>, the most influential of all retro gaming <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BrettWeissRetroGamer">YouTubers</a>.</p><p>But then <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okdugzp5ptM">Adam F. Goldberg</a>, the creator and producer of The Goldbergs television series, fell into my lap. (Thankfully, he did so metaphorically). My buddy <a href="https://www.seantiedeman.com/projects">Sean Tiedeman</a>, who directed The King of Arcades (2014), suggested Mr. Goldberg and got me in touch with him. Much to my surprise, Adam was delighted to participate in the project and has been very supportive.</p><p><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2712740/">The Goldbergs</a>, which captures the zeitgeist of the 1980s in fun, over-the-top fashion, is an homage to Goldberg’s decidedly nerdy childhood. The show has featured the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-2dH-rJyCw&t=10s">Nintendo NES</a> prominently, as well as classic ’80s-style arcades. There was even an episode with a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb-RGogt8gs&t=13s">Tron</a> theme. Best of all, Goldberg, who co-wrote the screenplay for <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489049/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">Fanboys</a> (2009) and has produced several video game documentaries, is an avowed NES fan.</p><p>With his super geeky street cred, Goldberg, a gifted writer, had all the potential qualities as a forewordist for a retro gaming book. And, unsurprisingly, he turned in an absolutely killer account of his days growing up with <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2023/01/clearing-air-pat-contri-aka-nes-punk.html">the NES</a> and the impact it had on is obviously fun childhood.</p><p>Without further ado, here’s Mr. Goldberg’s fantastic foreword. The dude really loved him some NES! And shouldn’t we all!</p><p>FOREWORD TO <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/NESOmnibusVolume1/1">THE NES OMNIBUS VOL. 1</a></p><p>By Adam F. Goldberg</p><p>“Dude, look at those graphics! It’s like having an arcade in your house!!!”</p><p>Those were the EXACT words I screamed when I laid my eyes on the Nintendo Entertainment System for the very first time. The moment has been vividly burned into my brain. It was January, 1986. I was sleeping over at my friend John Gaines’ house. I assumed we’d spend the night making prank calls, eating Fritos, and playing his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZESFRjVmSY&t=377s">ColecoVision</a>, as we did at most of our sixth-grader sleepovers. But my pal had a new game system, one that he boldly declared was infinitely better than <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7BZ_MtxP98&t=2s">ColecoVision</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ32P5KOLXo&t=526s">Intellivision</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al9uC7qKy9s&t=17s">Atari</a> put together. It was called NINTENDO.</p><p>At that point, the system only had a handful of titles to its name—but that didn’t matter—because one of those games was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bRIstMvOCo&t=4s">Super Mario Bros.</a> I vividly remember sitting on John’s bed, watching in sheer awe as that little plumber shot fireballs and dodged jellyfish and used drainpipes as warp zones. It really did put Atari to shame. The Mario brothers made Pitfall Harry look like a total ass clown. In that moment, I knew the future had arrived. And it was called Nintendo.</p><p>When my mom picked me up the next morning, I was fully converted to a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A0zlaZrr6s">Nintendo</a> kid and never wanted anything more in my life. Just one problem. My frugal father had JUST upgraded me to an Atari 7800 for Hanukkah, which at that moment I thought was the future of gaming. Murray Goldberg could not understand how the new and improved <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl4V5zXPyVk&t=527s">Atari</a> was deemed obsolete a mere two weeks after he purchased it. I desperately tried to explain that the Nintendo had superior graphics and cooler games. Hell, it came with a friggin’ gun that let you hunt ducks and a robot named R.O.B. that…did something. No one really knew, but still! Owning a Nintendo system was like having an arcade in your den! Think of all the quarters our family would save! It pays for itself! What’s not to understand!?</p><p>Naturally, my old man refused to make the leap to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga9kQrXCFHg">Nintendo</a> because our family had already invested a pretty penny into the Atari. I had a ton of games, an official Tron joystick, and a sweet hard-shell carrying case to lug around the Atari console. Buying an NES game system was a battle that raged on in the Goldberg house for the next four agonizing years. Luckily, my best friend Chad Kremp lived across the street, and he owned a Commodore 64, which his parents had bought in 1982. The Nintendo upgrade was a much easier sell to his parents. The moment Chad got a Nintendo for his birthday, it meant that I owned a Nintendo by proxy. It didn’t matter that I mostly sat and watched him play. I was thrilled to be Nintendo adjacent, and it was glorious!</p><p>I’m proud to say that many of my fondest childhood memories center around playing video games in my best friend’s room. I’m convinced that Chad and I are so deeply bonded largely in part to beating games like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6WinRhAUNk">Contra</a>, Mega Man II, Kid Icarus, and Metal Gear. Even though, again, I watched most of the time. We had inside jokes for each game. To this day, we still randomly call each other and say, “I’m still in Okinawa,” a reference to how we could never beat the typhoon level of the Karate Kid game. We even came up with our own nonsensical lyrics to the chiptune game soundtracks, my favorite being “RAMMA LAMMA JAMMA!” from the castle level of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOF6xg0V_hg&t=560s">Super Mario Bros.</a></p><p>Chad and I even spent an entire summer creating our own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLt8nLETUjs&t=325s">Legend of Zelda</a> map, planting bombs on every screen to uncover every single secret cave. The idea was to sell photos of our map at school, netting us a pretty petty. Unfortunately, Nintendo Power released an awesome three-page foldout cheat map, instantly destroying our brilliant business scheme. Most people would say that we completely wasted three months of our lives charting a Zelda map, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.</p><p>The greatest part of creating The Goldbergs TV show is that I’ve met many people on Facebook and Twitter that cite the NES as a formative part of their childhoods as well. I always thought I was alone, but it turns out that being an NES kid is a universal experience. One we all still cherish to this day.</p><p>Being a NES Kid means you know the Contra Code by heart and you had a subscription to Nintendo Power magazine.</p><p>It means you smacked the power pad with your hands because it made the games easier, and you madly blew into the guts of your cartridge when your Nintendo would glitch out.</p><p>It means you desperately wanted a Power Glove after seeing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A96ggvj0Lw&t=3s">The Wizard</a>…even though you never actually ended up buying one.</p><p>It means you felt a rush of adrenaline every time your player got into a hockey fist fight in Blades of Steel.</p><p>It means you never felt as cool as when you taught a friend the Infinite 1-Ups trick in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXjVwKnufQ0&t=422s">Super Mario Bros.</a></p><p>It means you bought an NES Advantage because it would help you cheat in Track & Field.</p><p>It means you played countless rounds of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66aoGGRk2Dk">Ghosts ’n Goblins</a> but never could get past stage one, because “F” that game.</p><p>It means you know that repeatedly punching in A-B-B-A gives you endless lives in Ikari Warriors…unless you accidentally reappear behind a wall, which meant game over.</p><p>It means you still debate to this day if <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyqRmpDsxGM&t=28s">Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest</a> is better than Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse. Not that I actually played either. I just had to sit and watch Chad play. But part two sure looked better!</p><p>It means that your friend had an uncle who had a brother who had a second cousin who could actually beat Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! Of course, you knew this was impossible because you typed in the 007-373-5963 code a million times and still never came close to beating the lightning-fast dude.</p><p>In late 1989, we Goldbergs finally became a Nintendo family. My mom was tired of hearing me say, “I’m going over to Chad’s to play Nintendo” every weekend. All Beverly Goldberg ever wanted was to have her kids under her roof, and it drove her bonkers that Nintendo stood in the way. Naturally, my Dad was beyond aggravated that my <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2013/02/the-new-issue-of-video-game-trader.html">Atari 7800</a> had spent the last several years collecting dust in my closet. Thanks to pressure from my smother, Murray Goldberg finally broke down and bought me a Nintendo Entertainment System for my birthday in eighth grade. At long last, I would be playing with power!</p><p>For a few months, at least.</p><p>In 1991, the Super Nintendo was released, and dammit, I never wanted anything more. Needless to say, my Dad was not receptive to the idea of upgrading our now-obsolete NES to the newer, cooler, 16-bit Super NES. I tried to explain that the <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/NESOmnibusVolumes1-2/1?cs=true&cst=custom">SNES</a> actually did have the graphics of arcade games, if not better. Yes, I may have said that when the NES was released—but this time it was true!</p><p>Goes without saying, but I never got my Nintendo upgrade and still have my classic NES from 8th grade. To this day, I am still an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzl3PX1H-Y&t=312s">NES</a> kid and still love those old-school games…even though Chad was the one who actually played them as I sat and watched. Not sure if I mentioned that.</p><p>***<i>Adam F. Goldberg created the TV series Breaking In, Imaginary Mary, and The Goldbergs, as well as the spinoff Schooled. Adam wrote the screenplays for Fanboys, Aliens in the Attic, and How to Train Your Dragon. He also produced a number of retro video game documentaries, including The New 8 Bit Heroes, Button Bashers, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/05/the-bits-of-yesterday-video-game.html">Bits of Yesterday</a>, and The Power of Glove.</i></p><div><br /></div>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-21232264598220662812023-01-30T21:26:00.003-06:002023-01-31T08:45:36.192-06:00Hangin' with The Last Starfighter Cast - Lance Guest and Catherine Mary Stewart - at the Houston Arcade Expo<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0mnqdPO-woauhMGr3Cikxazmf2ZKsI_mPk5e3piKSPOZtDsXIMCa05ZFUTPydDJiQssxl4B72j0v8kP8-lEoVRcRbEEonuxBf53FFVDAF21iYpEr4dk-jgjrgHAyprAIUxVYiLxLc2p2XQyJArgI6i0OhUzgGZTN5fvXtXtYo6MlA7T49nMkZKXQ/s2048/LastStarfighter1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0mnqdPO-woauhMGr3Cikxazmf2ZKsI_mPk5e3piKSPOZtDsXIMCa05ZFUTPydDJiQssxl4B72j0v8kP8-lEoVRcRbEEonuxBf53FFVDAF21iYpEr4dk-jgjrgHAyprAIUxVYiLxLc2p2XQyJArgI6i0OhUzgGZTN5fvXtXtYo6MlA7T49nMkZKXQ/w540-h322/LastStarfighter1.jpg" width="540" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">This past year was
incredible for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWTiybaqlsk&t=621s">retro gaming conventions</a>. After numerous <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIsS-wul724&t=535s">covid cancelations</a>
the previous couple of years, gaming cons were back in full force, and I got to
attend many of them as a guest author, gaming historian, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BrettWeissRetroGamer">YouTuber</a>.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">None was more
special than the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIoH2OdapF0&t=5s">Houston Arcade Expo</a> (held November 11-13 at the Houston
Marriott Westchase), where I got to hang out all weekend with actors <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0oyYveE1eA">Lance Guest and Catherine Mary Stewart</a>, stars of the 1984 sci-fi classic, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A96ggvj0Lw&t=3s">The Last Starfighter</a>, one of my favorite films. The plot borrows from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPNnyDrLUxA&t=195s">Star Wars</a>—frustrated
young man living in small town gets recruited to fight in an interplanetary
war—but with a video game plot device.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Guest is also
known for appearing in Jaws: The Revenge (1987) and Halloween II (1981), and he
played Johnny Cash on Broadway in the musical, Million Dollar Quartet. He’s a
fine, often-under-appreciated actor, and he’s a heck of a nice guy.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’m certainly a fan
of Guest, but I was even more excited to meet Stewart, star of such films as
Night of the Comet (1984), one of my favorite B-movies, and Weekend at Bernie’s
(1989), where she starred alongside Andrew McCarthy. I discovered Stewart when
I was a teenager and saw her play Kayla Brady on Days of Our Lives, which my
mom watched religiously. I was struck by Stewart’s beauty, found her to be
incredibly likeable onscreen, and quickly developed a crush. At that point in
my young life, it never would have occurred to me in a million years that I’d
get to meet the gorgeous actress, much less hang out with her.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMndEnoPcvKa_D5u7gQKcq395G3L6e2KscH-J0m1HnFybj1fzrCEst_XF41mYKbqP0k3OtSTDMb6CdkMf7lMphPHyX0Bp1BxR_cUxmBUwkUAYJShd0MmqRGd3XmFoWrNN-1muuShJu5q-6SbOMzdRvC_mU7Yvnkhs0B-6Oisjmkngwd4jONkvec8Gc/s1000/LastStarfighter2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMndEnoPcvKa_D5u7gQKcq395G3L6e2KscH-J0m1HnFybj1fzrCEst_XF41mYKbqP0k3OtSTDMb6CdkMf7lMphPHyX0Bp1BxR_cUxmBUwkUAYJShd0MmqRGd3XmFoWrNN-1muuShJu5q-6SbOMzdRvC_mU7Yvnkhs0B-6Oisjmkngwd4jONkvec8Gc/w366-h353/LastStarfighter2.jpg" width="366" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Since Guest,
Stewart, and I were guests at the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvOZgZTXh9Q&t=827s">Houston Arcade Expo</a>, along with such
luminaries as Mortal Kombat artist Paul Niemeyer and NBA Jam voice actor <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayed9gI9-G8">Tim Kitzrow</a>, the five of us spent a fair amount of time together throughout the
weekend. Our tables, where we signed autographs, posed for photos, and talked
with fans, were lined up in a row, and we spoke periodically during breaks in
the action.</span></p></span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPsthwZVceGOJKvCw_7ipwgG-wIstFekL6xf8rdyNI9y-1SbfTQsOimcKHz--8h-_mzu5u97L-JECaMnkG9zOB-09I_q36lDJz1E4Kvd4fNOI-2Rp2wgErF-2hfWJZL4duMj7sTcUlLeuwSzYpuJccqCc8XJFyAO1IbMv0iD1DxucNW3_vYMDc0YT/s2048/LastStarfighter4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPsthwZVceGOJKvCw_7ipwgG-wIstFekL6xf8rdyNI9y-1SbfTQsOimcKHz--8h-_mzu5u97L-JECaMnkG9zOB-09I_q36lDJz1E4Kvd4fNOI-2Rp2wgErF-2hfWJZL4duMj7sTcUlLeuwSzYpuJccqCc8XJFyAO1IbMv0iD1DxucNW3_vYMDc0YT/w308-h320/LastStarfighter4.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Among other fun
facts, Stewart and Guest told me they weren’t gamers at all. Stewart said she
recalls playing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5AxFO_MFiw">Pac-Man</a> a little back in the day, but that’s about it—she joked
that the other games were too complicated. In Night of the Comet, she was an
expert at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al9uC7qKy9s&t=17s">Atari</a>’s arcade hit Tempest, but she told me she wasn’t actually
playing the game. She was just going through the motions, and Hollywood magic
did the rest. My son Ryan, who helped me at the show, joked around with Guest
about the fact that Jaws: The Revenge is hardly a great movie, but that he
loved it and watched it over and over when he was a little kid.</span></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46IargROrZU&t=273s">Houston Arcade Expo</a> is hardly a typical gaming con. It is more like a weekend-long party, with
live music, confetti and glowsticks, long hours (vending, gaming, and more goes
on late into the night), plenty of drinking and revelry, and in general a highly
festive atmosphere. The Saturday night cover band was a big hit, with
convention goers dancing to the music. Lance, Catherine, Paul, Tim, and I
gathered near the front of the stage during the set, singing along and having
an absolute blast.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">And then something
unexpected happened: Lance got up onstage and jammed with the band. He played
guitar and took lead vocals on three tunes, including an inspired take on Tom
Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Last Dance with Mary Jane.” As he belted out the
tune, I was wedged at the front of the stage between Cathy (as she told me to
call her), who was dancing along, and Keith Christensen, who was rockin'<br /> his
head off. Keith runs the show, and I’m eternally grateful to him for inviting
me to such an awesome event--what a fun and absolutely unforgettable time!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfLm53-xp2hey84WKThxDymRrqF8VT18hfqprt6jPN8BoUPvlx_JWQlOsNSuskqW_kjErYK4KfKjLc1tvf-k0cUtz8QD3Mx49SeThh9BskX4aJN95iVR0USvaNWX-xskO1VnwnnGfdBmKC6jeM9HYEOlGz8EZcDRM36NPtL_byGB5sfNcymlGSS_q/s1537/LastStarfighter3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="953" data-original-width="1537" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvfLm53-xp2hey84WKThxDymRrqF8VT18hfqprt6jPN8BoUPvlx_JWQlOsNSuskqW_kjErYK4KfKjLc1tvf-k0cUtz8QD3Mx49SeThh9BskX4aJN95iVR0USvaNWX-xskO1VnwnnGfdBmKC6jeM9HYEOlGz8EZcDRM36NPtL_byGB5sfNcymlGSS_q/w539-h334/LastStarfighter3.jpg" width="539" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A man who loves to
party, Keith got onstage and sang with the band. Cathy also joined in, playing
guitar, and Paul and Tim took turns playing drums. Did I get up onstage? Heck
no! The only instrument I know how to play is the stereo, and trust me when I
say that no one wants to hear me sing.<p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">While hanging with
fellow guests was the highlight of the weekend, the 2022 Houston Arcade Expo
was a great time all around. I got to play modern and vintage pinball machines,
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxbFdAl8_xw">I did a panel on the 40</a></span><sup style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxbFdAl8_xw">th</a></sup><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxbFdAl8_xw"> anniversary of the ColecoVision</a>, I had
some great conversations with attendees about retro gaming and other topics,
and I sold a <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/">bunch of books</a>. As they say, a good time was had by all!</span></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the 2021
Houston Arcade Expo, which narrowly missed being canceled because of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdPnQY1TEKQ">covid</a>, I
had the pleasure of appearing with fellow guest Sam Jones, who played Flash
Gordon in the 1980 camp classic. That was amazing, and he was super cool and
friendly--we even worked out a trade: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdegQfW6IM8">one of my books for a signed Flash Gordon movie poster</a>! Since <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2016/09/flash-gordon-serial-turns-80.html">Flash Gordon</a> is one of my favorite fictional characters,
and since I love that film, I couldn’t imagine anything topping that, but the
2022 show was even more exciting.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Keith has yet to
announce his special guests for 2023, but he has posted on social media that
the show will be held the weekend of November 10. That’s obviously a ways off,
but I’m already counting down the days. Will Keith top 2021? <a href="http://www.arcadecenter.com/">Is it even possible to top 2022</a>? I can’t wait to find out!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXWri1mzdeq6NcQhh8xg953AuavHJP-Jetjn_Ouiwh6VDPy6Y3WaQZ6s_v-Ujud4b3t6e1Et-pXPK63b5KsWs2KNoCBqaE7YLg4IbCHFhTKDDh2qQeZLr8asUvnGaWoAw6Vi9S5OlBtwtnHPwGMD7l8er1Sn6-cwqFvHGCbNGDqdu5Tr0GWgzmYjH/s2048/flash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1268" data-original-width="2048" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXWri1mzdeq6NcQhh8xg953AuavHJP-Jetjn_Ouiwh6VDPy6Y3WaQZ6s_v-Ujud4b3t6e1Et-pXPK63b5KsWs2KNoCBqaE7YLg4IbCHFhTKDDh2qQeZLr8asUvnGaWoAw6Vi9S5OlBtwtnHPwGMD7l8er1Sn6-cwqFvHGCbNGDqdu5Tr0GWgzmYjH/w549-h340/flash.jpg" width="549" /></a></span></div><p></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-58032365829104291292023-01-26T08:51:00.007-06:002023-02-08T00:53:26.268-06:00Clearing the Air: Pat Contri, a.k.a. The NES Punk, Trashing Me On His Podcast & YouTube Channel<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xt-5YYmAVRYA4HHggivfX-cQn1Pk9VMgvcN71ZdqrTE9vxBiVvYpHb0KkN-tbPAk0-o6dCjR2DGvF5G81tYHdPteJPvU8gaXZ1i6I8ZOAIU20zV5BobdRdIIGuYw4nze56TiOrY6AK94gTBRUjBBBaSpZEMU2zMUw7vtQDmDWtBquo6EZSDt5S7I/s949/pat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="949" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xt-5YYmAVRYA4HHggivfX-cQn1Pk9VMgvcN71ZdqrTE9vxBiVvYpHb0KkN-tbPAk0-o6dCjR2DGvF5G81tYHdPteJPvU8gaXZ1i6I8ZOAIU20zV5BobdRdIIGuYw4nze56TiOrY6AK94gTBRUjBBBaSpZEMU2zMUw7vtQDmDWtBquo6EZSDt5S7I/w501-h351/pat.jpg" width="501" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">Years ago Pat
Contri, who plays the character The NES Punk on YouTube, asked me to contribute
to his then-forthcoming NES Guide Book, which came to be called the Ultimate
Nintendo: Guide to the NES Library (1985-1995). It was released in 2016. I
wrote 60 reviews and reflections (nostalgic stories, cultural impact, etc.) for
the book and was proud to take part. Pat was and is a popular YouTube
personality, and I was excited to be part of such a high-profile (relatively
speaking) project. Pat was fun to work with, and he was actually a pretty good
editor on the project, making some suggestions for me to beef up some of my
reviews with more detail.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unfortunately, a
few years after the book was published, things went south. He deleted my
reviews from the third edition of the book (which was his prerogative, and which
I wouldn’t have minded if he would have handled it better), began ghosting me
at video game conventions (which got awkward), and starting saying nasty things
about me on his podcast and YouTube channel (which was part irritating, part
amusing).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In his comments about
me on his podcast, he would refer to me sarcastically as “the famous author,”
and he even called me a “passive-aggressive asshole.” I always assumed he
didn’t mention me by name because he didn’t want to draw attention to my
YouTube channel or my books, which is probably true. I think he began viewing
me as a competitor instead of a friend once my Omnibus books started coming
out, which I’ll get to in a bit. However, in a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdBM-vglH3I&t=1161s">recent podcast/video</a>, he threw
the gloves off and called me out by name and said some things I’d like to clear
up and correct.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">To answer a few
quick questions brought about by Pat and his pal Ian’s recent take on me, here
you go:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">1. Yes, I played all
the games I reviewed in Pat’s NES book thoroughly, though I didn’t beat them
all. Yes, Pat paid me to write the reviews upfront, and I never expected
royalties (sorry if this was ever unclear). I genuinely liked the
oft-criticized Magic Johnson’s Fastbreak, though I admit nostalgia for the game
colored my opinion. (I would have given Double Dribble 4 stars, BTW.) Pat rewrote
my Rad Gravity review and gave me full credit for it--that’s the type of thing
editors do sometimes, so not a big deal.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. As far as I can
tell, Pat thought my reviews were perfectly fine (he even said I was doing a good job) until he saw me as competition
when </span><a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-snes-omnibus-the-super-nintendo-and-its-games/2?cs=true&cst=custom" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">my Omnibus books</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> started coming out. After that, he called them “garbage”
on his podcast. If he thought my reviews were garbage, he wouldn’t have published
most of them in the SECOND EDITION of the book as well. My reviews in his NES
book are no better or worse than his or Ian’s or the other writers—they’re
about on-par with the other entries (this isn't rocket science), which you can see for yourself if you have
either earlier edition.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Further, and this is the most important point, in a friendly email marked Dec. 07, 2016, he implied that he WANTED ME TO WRITE FOR HIS SUPER NINTENDO BOOK MONTHS AFTER HIS NES BOOK WAS PUBLISHED. This proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that he was happy with my reviews in his book until he saw me as competition. It also shows that I was forthcoming in telling him I was working on a large SNES book with high production values.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe-awpaLR41icSyDodwaY2zhXN3gBTjC2lwBP1HG_tAWNXP37s_WUEsdPWNNVwtS6J-pL77UGy5VcsTMk6vNYGQ2OWGzGfR6y8LJh3pSwv5oVjKQvFacSSVaGDL33gFnC4LrVtoYqFWvkG9WMQ65OhO7ziSRGV1KUixm0BFKVh732Bd11wNeKU5C8/s1334/pat9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="784" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe-awpaLR41icSyDodwaY2zhXN3gBTjC2lwBP1HG_tAWNXP37s_WUEsdPWNNVwtS6J-pL77UGy5VcsTMk6vNYGQ2OWGzGfR6y8LJh3pSwv5oVjKQvFacSSVaGDL33gFnC4LrVtoYqFWvkG9WMQ65OhO7ziSRGV1KUixm0BFKVh732Bd11wNeKU5C8/w441-h784/pat9.png" width="441" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4juPl_eu7WGYEHTkcDGGZFNB79mUXkEg0s4PgSwLUEN8XxE-i0Q_lNJcUxXYaE_AooJN7g0iUd_Nx7VRjYjpxaBQbz_khCfW7CyhsViAc5MAqS6oy7KrrjyCyySNFHgV-xU9iSUlRilnnYlpR-7sdtcvT7BHnDWqR76B5CizPj55BJIu-50xo1Zw/s901/pat8.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="745" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4juPl_eu7WGYEHTkcDGGZFNB79mUXkEg0s4PgSwLUEN8XxE-i0Q_lNJcUxXYaE_AooJN7g0iUd_Nx7VRjYjpxaBQbz_khCfW7CyhsViAc5MAqS6oy7KrrjyCyySNFHgV-xU9iSUlRilnnYlpR-7sdtcvT7BHnDWqR76B5CizPj55BJIu-50xo1Zw/w438-h530/pat8.PNG" width="438" /></a></div></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. I don’t have
“animosity” toward Pat because of him deleting my reviews from the third
edition of his NES book. I was irritated and in fact felt betrayed by him for not
telling me ahead of time (or ever) and having to discover it on my own. He
subsequently ignored my very polite DMs inquiring about it, and he even ignored
a message I sent congratulating him on his highly successful Kickstarter for
his SNES book. He had every right to do with his book what he wanted, including
removing my reviews, but he didn’t handle it professionally in my opinion.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRZ3awZlKSsfwzQP9tdXcyRgw11RCInKF0175P9_bFfsWsaEFZQVVjq1um1qXXtT3jpEciPdDY7FkYF_cLvtb-0yhIjklOSeQWs1qK9MyuJkzHTvp8ORMJOrVLrUO6Pu_zcY4qAPNw-M9-mVhpKOijOxk_pwtL04mhpx8W7eNW-jq8D0WmVdQH-ZF/s567/pat2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="517" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRZ3awZlKSsfwzQP9tdXcyRgw11RCInKF0175P9_bFfsWsaEFZQVVjq1um1qXXtT3jpEciPdDY7FkYF_cLvtb-0yhIjklOSeQWs1qK9MyuJkzHTvp8ORMJOrVLrUO6Pu_zcY4qAPNw-M9-mVhpKOijOxk_pwtL04mhpx8W7eNW-jq8D0WmVdQH-ZF/w486-h436/pat2.jpg" width="486" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>4. After Pat
deleted my reviews from his NES book without telling me, and without answering
my DMs about it, and ignoring me at conventions, I made an objective, extremely
fair video about who wrote the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-2dH-rJyCw&t=10s">first complete NES book</a> (it’s complicated),
giving credit to several authors, including <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/12/interview-with-national-videogame.html">Joe Santulli</a>, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/02/snes-omnibus-spotlight-8-jeffrey.html">Jeff Wittenhagen</a>, and
Pat himself. Each of the NES books by these authors has merit. I could have
simply trashed Pat in the video, but that’s not my style, and I didn’t view him
as an enemy or anything like that anyway. I figured an objective video with
some history was more useful and more substantive than a drama video, but the
latter would’ve certainly gotten more views. I try to get along and be
reasonable and civilized with everyone, and I never take personal shots at
those I disagree with (which they do briefly admit to in their recent video). I
suppose this is one reason why Pat and Ian call me passive-aggressive.<p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. They said in
the video that I “suddenly glommed onto the Intellivision Amico” immediately
after they got skeptical about it. That’s completely untrue. I’ve been a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ32P5KOLXo&t=526s">fan of the original Intellivision</a> since I first played it in 1980, and I love the idea
of retro-reimagined games. My interest had nothing to do with them, and I was
onboard with the idea behind the console the first time I heard about it. When
they started making nasty remarks about the Amico and former Intellivision CEO Tommy
Tallarico (which turned out to be justified in many cases), did I root even
more for the console to succeed? Yes, but that’s much different than me being
for the Amico simply because they were against it.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. Were Pat and
Ian ultimately right about the Amico in many respects, such as it not coming
out? And about people getting screwed out of their investments and pre-orders? Sadly,
yes. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJB9vJpxsys&t=8s">I thought the Amico was a cool idea</a>, especially early on, but Tommy and
Intellivision mishandled it horribly. As such, I did a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLfHqarguCY&t=612s">video on the mistakes they made</a> and how I <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kidYRC_tWBY&t=31s">canceled my pre-order</a>. I never got hateful toward Tommy
about the Amico—I simply stated my views as objectively as I could—which I
guess makes me passive-aggressive.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO_LgUCCr-8">My video about the Play Date</a> was actually pretty even-handed. I said I didn’t “get” the handheld
console, the same way a lot of people didn’t “get” the Amico, so I could
empathize. Was my Play Date video a response to Pat and Ian’s video about the
Play Date? Not really, as I recall. I simply thought the system was an interesting parallel to the
Amico: an underpowered, overpriced console that I wasn’t interested in,
compared to the Amico, which I was interested in, despite it being underpowered
and eventually overpriced. I saw some irony there and felt it was a good topic.
I was honest in my assessment about the prospective Play Date at the time,
based on what I saw of the thing in action on YouTube. I was unimpressed with
the tiny (if clear) black-and-white screen and the awkward crank that shook the
system when you played it. I would have said so if I thought that it looked
cool—I try to be as objective and as honest as possible in my videos.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">For some added perspective
on all of this, let’s go back to the first time I met Pat and our subsequent
encounters.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I was a vendor at
the 2009 (or perhaps 2010, I forget which) ScrewAttack Game Convention in the
Dallas/Fort Worth area. This was a fun (and fondly remembered) show hosted by
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD2Xh-u0j2s&t=108s">Craig Skistimas</a> and company. Pat approached my table, said hello, and started
flipping through a copy of my then-most recent book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Classic-Home-Video-Games-1985-1988/dp/0786469374/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Classic Home Video Games:1985-1988</a> (the cover dates refer to console era—the book features a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmjJY9PzQIg">write-up for every US release for the NES</a>, Master System, and 7800). He told me that he
was planning on writing an NES book of his own, but that he had something
bigger in mind: a full-color hardcover book with screenshots and the like (my
<a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/classic-home-video-games-series/5?cs=true&cst=custom">CHVG book</a> is more like an encyclopedia with game synopses and relatively few
black-and-white images).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">At some point—I can’t
remember exactly when or where—Pat asked me if I’d like to write some reviews
for his book. He said he would write the majority, but that he was going to include
some contributing writers on the project. I expressed interest, and we had a
series of highly congenial phone calls. We share a lot of common interests and
had some interesting conversations about writing, pop culture, the NES, and
more. He had a clear vision for his book, and I was excited to take part. At
the time, I was a full-time freelance writer and always grateful for paying
work as well as added exposure. We agreed on a sum that suited us both (he paid
me upfront for my work as I turned it in), and over the next few months, I played
and replayed more than 60 games and wrote up my reviews and reflections for
those titles. I repurposed some of my reviews from my previous projects, which
I told him upfront I was going to do, such as the website (the late, lamented <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LFmGSirkAY&t=220s">All Game Guide</a>) that Pat references in his recent video, but I played the games
anew and polished up my reviews accordingly. Admittedly, some of my opinions of
retro/vintage games are colored by nostalgia.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWrAdL6yVzCmRiJcA-wIshyocybl0LY-Tj7m4ZSmJBcIgpQi4Jx9oBQBKifZTI7_IhT9Jb30yfTXBOBKfrIe6flIe5WxuJKbuJ9iiWJ5n_LB9HSOihaFEaTSBRlX7tiCJ5D4QQavzjt9CVmjkPAO0q3AzfBYce6TaVYYpjtGRcQYhQQaH4I9mMW1E/s1080/pat6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNWrAdL6yVzCmRiJcA-wIshyocybl0LY-Tj7m4ZSmJBcIgpQi4Jx9oBQBKifZTI7_IhT9Jb30yfTXBOBKfrIe6flIe5WxuJKbuJ9iiWJ5n_LB9HSOihaFEaTSBRlX7tiCJ5D4QQavzjt9CVmjkPAO0q3AzfBYce6TaVYYpjtGRcQYhQQaH4I9mMW1E/w465-h349/pat6.jpg" width="465" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When Pat’s NES book
came out in 2016, I was super excited and did an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O813fGBhrY&t=47s">unboxing on my YouTube channel</a>. The previous year, I <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/11/youtube-superstar-pat-contri-a.html">promoted the book on my website</a>. I shared the full Kickstarter
campaign on my website (which I deleted when it was no longer relevant). <a href="http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/print_only/video-game-books-that-will-score-big-with-old-school/article_67e51d9a-4334-59bf-b2ae-5fc875174956.html">I even included the book in a roundup of retro gaming books I did for the Fort WorthStar-Telegram and a few other outlets</a>, being sure to include a disclaimer that I was a contributing
writer. I didn’t expect further compensation—no royalties or anything like that—but
I was happy to help promote the book without him or anyone else asking me to. I
was just pumped up about it!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">From time to time,
Pat and I are guests at the same retro gaming convention, such as the <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2017/10/portland-retro-gaming-expo-2017-report.html">Portland Retro Gaming Expo</a> and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWTiybaqlsk&t=621s">Midwest Gaming Classic</a>. We always said “hey” to each
other in the past, and sometimes people would bring me Pat’s book to sign. I
would also tell people to check out Pat’s book if they hadn’t already. I asked
Pat at a PRGE if he wanted to do a book panel sometime, and he said no, which
of course was his prerogative—not a big deal. One time at Retropalooza, I
volunteered to take him to a shop to get his phone repaired, but he had already
called an Uber. He did a panel at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoNgTYGUcIk">Classic Game Fest</a>, and I stood in line to ask
him a question. When it was my turn to as my question, he referred to me as the
author of <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1977-1987/4?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games</a>, which I thought was cool. I
texted him from time to time, and he would usually respond. In short, we were what
I considered to be acquaintances and even friends. Pat published a second
edition of the book, and most of my reviews and reflections were in that
edition as well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Then things got a
little off-kilter, which I’ll explain in a bit. Instead of doing a fourth
volume in the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmjJY9PzQIg">Classic Home Video Games series</a>, I decided to do a full-on Super
Nintendo book, complete with box art, cartridge photos, screenshots, vintage
ads, and the like. I also included Insider Insights (supplemental stories about
certain games from other content creators), the idea of which I got in part
from the stories in Rob Strangman’s <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/01/theres-new-video-game-book-out-called.html">Memoirs of a Virtual Caveman</a> book. I was
also inspired by the “Lore” stories from Digital Press. I didn’t pay for these
Insider Insights, but the contributing writers were very excited to tell their
stories and see them in print, especially in a professionally published (by
Schiffer) book that would appear in actual brick-and-mortar stores, such as
Barnes & Noble. These “contributions” were literally that: contributions.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">And I am eternally
grateful for the from-the-heart work people have written for the Omnibus books.
The Insider Insight writers list reads like a retro gaming all-star squad.
Everyone from <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2019/05/snes-omnibus-writer-spotlight-49-kelsey.html">Kelsey Lewin</a> to <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/02/snes-omnibus-contributor-spotlight-2.html">John Riggs</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usPlAKQeJ6U">Shawn “RGT 85” Long</a> to Console Wars
author Blake Harris to Intellivision programmer <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2021/03/superstar-programmer-david-warhol.html">David Warhol</a> to New York Best-Selling Author <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/02/snes-omnibus-update-new-york-times-best.html">John Jackson Miller</a> has contributed
awesome tales about games they had a particular interest in. And this just
scratches the surface—I have had probably more than 200 contributing writers,
most of whom have worked in the industry in one way or another. Pat is always
quick to ridicule me for not paying these contributing writers, but I’m not
forcing anyone to do anything they don’t want to. The contributing writers have
been extremely supportive, and many share my posts and videos. I've had my publisher send some of them <a href="https://reviewfix.com/2017/11/review-fix-exclusive-brett-weiss-talks-snes-omnibus-super-nintendo-games-vol-1-m/">review copies</a> as well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">After </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/SNES-Omnibus-Super-Nintendo-M/dp/0764355325?ref_=ast_author_dp" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The SNES Omnibus: The Super Nintendo and Its Games, Vol. 1 (A–M)</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> was published in 2018, Pat stopped by my booth at a show and flipped through a copy, and we spoke
briefly. The encounter seemed friendly enough. I went by his booth later to get
a pic with him and his NES book and me with my SNES book. I sort of detected he
wasn’t thrilled to be in the pic, but I may have been misreading the situation
(so to speak)--I wasn’t sure. Regardless, he did take the time to be in the pic.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">As I referenced
earlier, my Classic Home Video Games books, while professionally published (by
McFarland), are relatively simple guides to numerous old consoles, with brief
write-ups for each game. Pat didn’t seem too concerned about those books. As a
matter of fact, he once told me via FB messaging that my CGVG 1985-1988 covering the 7800, NES, and Master System “wasn’t
an NES book.” However, my Omnibus books are very slickly produced with deluxe
hardcover binding, thousands of full-color photos, hundreds of thousands of
words, etc. As far as I can tell, Pat’s attitude toward me changed when he saw
my first Omnibus book. I believe he suddenly felt like I was competition, and
he didn’t like me encroaching on “his” territory, even though I have been at it
much longer than him. My Omnibus books are fairly similar to his Guide books in
terms of basic structure but with plenty of differences to make them stand
apart. You can <a href="https://www.amazon.com/NES-Omnibus-Nintendo-Entertainment-L/dp/076436068X?ref_=ast_author_dp">check out sample pages</a> on Amazon too see the differences.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ31Uuit_VQxBv2kKuY90dgOU2FLCj5nau1Cttw2qdtTpoLjVTXViu1wl_iwL-4mkv_MwekB8rBQRDOaA15JPCSrU2dYCc3fg1o5OfIia_tjVQ-6Tffex_kib9jGlQVH6bIuj51-wYpDqwfQPXy0-F3RLeuhCeWNQUqE6_PMFMRsdKC0qxfjY60d3/s960/pat3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="960" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQ31Uuit_VQxBv2kKuY90dgOU2FLCj5nau1Cttw2qdtTpoLjVTXViu1wl_iwL-4mkv_MwekB8rBQRDOaA15JPCSrU2dYCc3fg1o5OfIia_tjVQ-6Tffex_kib9jGlQVH6bIuj51-wYpDqwfQPXy0-F3RLeuhCeWNQUqE6_PMFMRsdKC0qxfjY60d3/w559-h267/pat3.jpg" width="559" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">After Pat saw my
SNES book(s), I saw his behavior toward me begin to change. The timing sure
seems to suggest that, anyway. He suddenly stopped mentioning my name on his podcast
when he would talk about guests at video game conventions we were both doing,
and he started acting strangely around me at said conventions, like he would
rather be anywhere else than around me. I would still try to make small talk with
him, but he seemed uncomfortable. He also blocked me on social media. And then
the trash-talking on his podcast began. My support for the Amico and his
conflict with Tommy, who I was friends with for many years before the Amico
debacle, only made things worse. Somehow, things have gotten to point where we are
what…enemies? Seems silly, really. I don’t like drama, nor do I see Pat as an enemy,
so I hope we can at least be polite to one another moving forward, but that’s
entirely up to him.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Pat can always reach
out to me via social media or give me an email (brettw105@sbcglobal.net) if he
wants to clear the air. He can also call me any time. It’s possible he has
misconstrued what has transpired over the past few years regarding all of this,
and I’ll be happy to discuss it. It’s possible I have misunderstood his
perspective as well. If his attitude towards me changed for reasons other than him
seeing my Omnibus books as competition, I’d appreciate him telling me. After
all, there are two sides to every story, as they say. Or am I just being passive-aggressive?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thanks to everyone
who has made it this far, and to everyone for your continued support!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Brett</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-90485871619818039652023-01-08T22:11:00.003-06:002023-01-08T22:11:48.316-06:00My Video Game Convention Plans for 2023 - Guest Author & YouTuber Brett Weiss<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5GzEeZlnrr86WBJe8Yr9Zwohk-GI2-VtGrKj9-RIvzWHQ1leN_xkdAqH7lQ6PYIMPnaqYDU2RvHCADkrYCH68hu76W3V_GLsMfXvjEx49W_4IKIcazwd3vRCluHkvcEZgkkFF7m-8zEgvn4J9tYNjIARAcvcCIqz5YBEuG7K28PABDDHISB3xETM/s2048/houston3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="2048" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5GzEeZlnrr86WBJe8Yr9Zwohk-GI2-VtGrKj9-RIvzWHQ1leN_xkdAqH7lQ6PYIMPnaqYDU2RvHCADkrYCH68hu76W3V_GLsMfXvjEx49W_4IKIcazwd3vRCluHkvcEZgkkFF7m-8zEgvn4J9tYNjIARAcvcCIqz5YBEuG7K28PABDDHISB3xETM/w561-h335/houston3.jpg" width="561" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>I'm so excited for
convention season!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Here’s my schedule for
2023 so far:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*<a href="https://www.midwestgamingclassic.com/">Midwest Gaming Classic</a>
(Milwaukee): March 31-April 2<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*<a href="https://www.corgscon.com/">Corgs</a> (Columbus, OH):
May 13<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">*<a href="https://classicgamefest.com/">Classic Game Fest</a>
(Austin): July 22-23</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">I'm sure I'll be doing
several more. If you're a gaming/pop culture convention promoter and would like
me to come to your event as a guest author/YouTuber, feel free to give me a
shout, and I'm sure we can work something out. Thanks!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Here's my updated bio:
National columnist Brett Weiss has been a gamer since 1975 and a professional
gaming writer since 1997. He’s the <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/">author of 13 books</a>, including The NES
Omnibus Vol. 1 and 2, The SNES Omnibus Vol. 1 and 2, The 100 Greatest Console
Video Games: 1977-1987, and his latest, <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/pre-order-the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1988-1998/7?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games:1988-1998</a>. With his <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/classic-home-video-games-series/5?cs=true&cst=custom">Classic Home Video Games series</a>, he wrote the world’s first
complete guides to numerous video game consoles, including the Atari 5200,
Atari 7800, ColecoVision, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2015/11/brickout-and-copter-command.html">Intellivision</a>, Vectrex, Odyssey2, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A0zlaZrr6s">Nintendo Entertainment System</a>, Sega Master System, Neo Geo, TurboGrafx-16, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMHqLGipTe8&t=1s">Sega Genesis</a>. He also wrote the world’s first and only <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/encyclopedia-of-kiss-music-personnel-events-and-related-subjects/6?cs=true&cst=custom">encyclopedia about the rock band KISS</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">A frequent guest at
video game and pop culture conventions around the country, Weiss appeared in
the 2021 documentary “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3shFcqKuSK0&t=296s">Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story</a>,” and he was in
The History Channel’s Nintendo episode of “The Toys That Built America: Snack
Sized.” He’s written for countless publications, including <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/11/blog-post.html">Game Informer</a>,
Fangoria, Filmfax, Robot Magazine, The Writer, Mystery Scene, The Comics
Buyer’s Guide, Alter Ego, Back Issue, AntiqueWeek, Video Game Collector, Video
Game Trader, Classic Gamer Magazine, Game Room, The Pingame Journal, and <a href="https://www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com/">Old School Gamer Magazine</a>. He’s also worked for AtGames and Opcode Games as a
consultant, editor, and writer, and he’s the host of the YouTube show, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BrettWeissRetroGamer">Tales from a Retro Gamer</a>.</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-10470734360135634072022-09-18T09:54:00.003-05:002022-09-18T09:54:53.792-05:00On-Board v Dedicated: Which Is the Future for GPUs?<p> </p><h1>On-Board v Dedicated: Which Is the Future for GPUs?<o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">The world
of graphics processing unit is changing. On-board graphics chips and CPU
combinations are challenging the supremacy of the dedicated graphics card.
Which direction will the future take for the GPU? Read on to find out.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What Is an On-Board
GPU?</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On-board
or integrated graphics processing units are used predominantly in laptops but
can also be used in desktops. Most smartphones, tablets, and smaller computers
use an integrated GPU.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They come
with a number of advantages, such as lower power consumption and lower price,
but for a long time they could not compete with the power or potential of a
dedicated GPU. The technology has come on in leaps and bounds since then,
driven by the desire for more powerful laptops and smartphones. Now there are
on-board graphic setups that can challenge dedicated graphics cards.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The <a href="https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/faqs/intel/intel-graphics/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">Intel Arc GPU</span></a> architecture covers both
integrated and dedicated GPUs. Though some are more powerful than others they
all provide a similar standard of graphics and video output. This is allowing
laptops to finally compete with gaming PCs and provide similar gaming
experiences to desktops.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What Is a Dedicated
GPU?</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This type
of GPU is mostly found in gaming PCs and high-end systems. Integrated GPUs have
taken over the low and mid-range PC market, reserving dedicated GPUs for
high-end PCs for gaming or video processing. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">GPUs are
commonly called graphics cards, and the graphics processing unit is just one
component. Many graphics cards have their own RAM to use, dedicated to holding
graphic data. These cards are <a href="https://www.techspot.com/article/1988-anatomy-graphics-card/"><span style="color: #1155cc;">similar to a small computer</span></a>, with their own
motherboard-like card forming the foundation for a GPU, RAM, and other
processing components to run on. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The
bigger size and the extra help from dedicated RAM mean that dedicated GPUs have
more power and potential than integrated GPU setups, but this comes at a cost.
Graphics cards are power hungry, and the more powerful they are, the hungrier
they become. Feeding these beasts often means more fans in the system and a
more powerful power unit, all of which adds to the cost.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #00b050; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Which Is Better?</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you
want absolute peak performance at the highest possible definitions at eye-water
framerates you are going to have to use a graphics card, or dedicated GPU. Be
prepared to spend a lot of money on one, as much as a whole mid-range laptop
would cost to buy, plus accessories. To really push the envelope takes multiple
graphics cards. You can spend thousands on graphics cards alone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On-board
GPUs are catching up. They are capable of providing great gaming experiences at
a better price point. Pairing the right motherboard with a powerful and
compatible CPU is often more than enough to play the latest games in crystal
clarity. The framerates may not be quite as high, and the definition may be HD
and not <a href="https://www.techradar.com/news/what-is-4k-resolution-ultra-hd"><span style="color: #1155cc;">4K</span></a>, but only the most hardcore gamers would
tell the difference. <o:p></o:p></p>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">The
future of GPUs is on-board. This is the most common setup across all computers
when you add smartphones, tablets, and micro-computers like the Raspberry Pi.
They will only become more powerful as time goes on and will eventually catch
up to their dedicated GPU competition.</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-17718516402390042032022-09-03T21:35:00.003-05:002022-09-30T17:21:14.124-05:00Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story - Signed Blu-rays For Sale! - Brett Weiss<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrL5hNNBp8ucoDxjgaLqLl0eltVU4R7T0FKuCZQcTZRFfKbSj3_tey0ErStsAY9CkaebtAqNRNxQVfKrhVklNBmYSPEa923Uz9bZ2j52M3SqwJD3KVNp1EFhDNzWRyrXJsCylUY9OdRc7_UiAExdybPTyrEF3xRaP27bk-A3w0-2yrdXn0Kcnp2Zx/s1280/playing4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLrL5hNNBp8ucoDxjgaLqLl0eltVU4R7T0FKuCZQcTZRFfKbSj3_tey0ErStsAY9CkaebtAqNRNxQVfKrhVklNBmYSPEa923Uz9bZ2j52M3SqwJD3KVNp1EFhDNzWRyrXJsCylUY9OdRc7_UiAExdybPTyrEF3xRaP27bk-A3w0-2yrdXn0Kcnp2Zx/w527-h296/playing4.jpg" width="527" /></a></div> <p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">Thanks to everyone
who has ordered a signed (by me) copy of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3shFcqKuSK0&t=296s">Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story</a>! The response has been overwhelming (in a good way), so I'm really
excited. I was able to put in a big order from the publisher, so I've got more
copies for sale. <b>If you are interested in a signed copy of the Blu-ray (I will
remove the shrink wrap and sign the inner sleeve), please PayPal $30 to
brettw105@sbcglobal.net. This includes U.S. shipping.</b> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">*****Send $40 for
Canada orders or $50 for the UK.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiISoFm6H9dy1zuHrXPJQCnPTOR4ILQCx_Jsq6C5DSp0VKgOI-AN9ykFBqs232D_Whzetz6AJGRT4sxSZpVR42dU9tQ_UtZAYqjy9hdvDuimJ-qNvz-HGZbE924SCWitn-e0LL4EEHOwFvFx8q4RXYpIe901iQM2wmsl6_cMoBFHbOLOkJJWGb9cvj/s1342/movie3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1342" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiISoFm6H9dy1zuHrXPJQCnPTOR4ILQCx_Jsq6C5DSp0VKgOI-AN9ykFBqs232D_Whzetz6AJGRT4sxSZpVR42dU9tQ_UtZAYqjy9hdvDuimJ-qNvz-HGZbE924SCWitn-e0LL4EEHOwFvFx8q4RXYpIe901iQM2wmsl6_cMoBFHbOLOkJJWGb9cvj/w537-h280/movie3.jpg" width="537" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Here's the
official description of the 5-part documentary: "How did Nintendo go from
niche playing card company to global juggernaut of gaming? This </span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Crackle
Original series brings together the creators of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_7AQZhV6ko">Video Games: The Movie</a> and
Executive Producer Sean Astin to pull back the curtain on the famously
secretive company. The electrifying story is presented by an ensemble of
Nintendo personnel, celebrity icons and industry veterans, including Wil
Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Alison Haislip (Robot Chicken),
Reggie Fils-Aimé (Nintendo Direct) and Xbox’s Phil Spencer."</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">I'm in all five
episodes, and you'll see such gaming luminaries as Nolan Bushnell, Tom
Kalinske, Chris Kohler, and Phoenix author <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2014/12/back-in-2010-when-i-was-working-on-my.html">Leonard Herman</a> in the documentary as
well. The audio/visual quality for the Blu-ray is AMAZING, and it's loaded with
special features. 5-hour series, plus extras!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">***Here are some
Amazon reviews:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">*I LOVE this
docuseries!!! I had no idea the story of Nintendo—this was so fun! This gave so
many nostalgic moments for me! Very, very, well done!!! Can’t wait to see the
behind the scenes and extra footage! ~ Casey Danner</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">*Wow! I wasn't
expecting to get teary-eyed at a video game documentary but this got me!! Lots
of great, surprising facts about the history of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oecgh33V14Y&t=186s">Nintendo</a> mixed with emotion,
nostalgia, and fun. Took me back to my NES and SNES days in the 80's and 90's.
My wife and kids dug it as well. Highly, highly recommend this for anyone who's
ever played a Nintendo!! ~ Amazon Customer</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13pt;">*It's a great
series! What I really like about it was that the story goes way deeper than
Mario or anything you think about when you hear the word "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-S6OnpfGw-0">Nintendo</a>."
The company has a long and deep history and this series showcases it perfectly!
Highly recommend that you take the time to watch it. ~ Craig Shetterly</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-14174007305903338772022-07-09T10:08:00.005-05:002022-08-15T20:46:36.665-05:00Retro Video Game Conventions in 2022 - Brett Weiss<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNHGNWviSXf-jSDMVpE1iXDyPOEiFD7xYuy1zo4uYgOfhlhbCL9LY5zlwc-5jthdBtXHfFMNMgdO3kTCTJtNS_a5GXFqNS_UwnXIfiClLA2Q-LtWuX0L-0O1M1NZIyqPkurb9tGDnE8Wvcp6-cZ9KowRRQlkAiYNzM-L57Vgh9Z_NL5mZGDHo1Hld/s1280/CONVENTIONS%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNHGNWviSXf-jSDMVpE1iXDyPOEiFD7xYuy1zo4uYgOfhlhbCL9LY5zlwc-5jthdBtXHfFMNMgdO3kTCTJtNS_a5GXFqNS_UwnXIfiClLA2Q-LtWuX0L-0O1M1NZIyqPkurb9tGDnE8Wvcp6-cZ9KowRRQlkAiYNzM-L57Vgh9Z_NL5mZGDHo1Hld/w613-h344/CONVENTIONS%20(1).jpg" width="613" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">There are TONS of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kbiI2YdKvQ">great retro gaming cons</a> all over the country this year, and I will be at several,
including some this summer. I love gaming cons for their vendor rooms, free
play arcades, live music, VIP parties, and more. I’m also a huge fan of
traveling to various cities and exploring on foot and checking out the local
restaurants. To keep things organized, and to let you guys and gals know where
and when I’ll be, I decided to post my schedule below.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I hope to see you at a video
game convention very soon! Come by my booth, and let’s talk games! If you’re a
writer, or you enjoy <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/">reading about video games</a> and pop culture, let’s discuss!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Earlier this year, I did
the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWTiybaqlsk&t=621s">Midwest Gaming Classic</a>. I had an absolute blast hanging out with John
Riggs, <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2016/09/the-metal-jesus-interview.html">Metal Jesus Rocks</a>, John Hancock, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeUXlmBC-jc&t=622s">Adam Koralik</a>, and others, and it was an
incredible show with a huge arcade. I sold a bunch of books and had fun game
hunting and exploring Milwaukee. You can check out my video report on the con
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWTiybaqlsk&t=621s">HERE</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">***And here's where I'll
be in the near future. Click on the title of each show to go to the website.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">►<a href="https://gameatl.com/">Southern Fried Retro Gaming Expo</a> in Atlanta, July 15-17. I’m going to do a panel on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI0FqqVyei0&t=473s">The Great Video Game Crash of 1983</a> at 7:00 PM that Friday night. This will be my second time in
Atlanta, but my first time at SFRG. My wife Charis will be going with me, and I’m
looking forward to seeing other guests like Mr. Wright Way and ZapCristal, who
are also based in Texas. Can’t wait!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">►<a href="https://classicgamefest.com/">Classic Game Fest</a> in Austin, July 23-24. I do this show every year and always sell a ton of books
and other merch. Hosted by Game Over Videogames owner David Kaelin, who has
been a big supporter of my work, it’s the biggest retro gaming con in Texas and
one of the most enjoyable in the country. This show is always extra special
because we visit my niece Cara and her family while we’re in town.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">►<a href="https://www.gameonexpo.com/">Game On Expo</a> in Phoenix,
Aug. 5-7. This will be my second time doing Game On Expo, and I’m super stoked
to go back! It’s a massive show run by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbuzjF0PID8">John Lester</a>, a good friend of mine and
one of my favorite YouTubers. Like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoNgTYGUcIk">Classic Game Fest</a>, they have live music, a
big vendors room, an excellent arcade, and cool guests.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">►<a href="https://liretro.com/">Long Island Retro Gaming Expo</a>, Aug. 12-14. I’ve been to New York twice, but this will be my first time
visiting Long Island, and I’m super excited to check out the city and the
gaming con. They contacted me years ago about being a guest at the show, and I’m
glad it’s FINALLY going to work out with my schedule. As with SFRG, I'll be doing a panel on the Crash. I’ve heard GREAT things about
this con!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">►<a href="https://www.retrogamingexpo.com/">Portland Retro Gaming Expo</a>, Oct. 14-16. Returning after a two-year pandemic absence, the long-running
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L81W_2rs8Hc">PRGE</a> is one of my favorite expos. The always have excellent panels, a fantastic
vendors room, and a terrific auction with lots of neat artifacts for sale. Cool
guests as well. This show is the closest thing in spirit to the late, lamented
Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. It has that great super-old-school vibe!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">►<a href="https://retropalooza.com/">Retropalooza</a> in Arlington.
Texas, Oct. 22-23. I had to miss this show last year because I was doing CORGS
in Ohio, but it usually works well for me because it’s only about a half-hour
from my house. Plus, they always have a great vendors room with tons of games.
It’s always good catching up with <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2018/04/snes-omnibus-contributor-spotlight-21.html">8-Bit Eric</a>, Tyler Esposito, Okchief, and various
other guests when I do this con.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">►<a href="https://www.torgevents.com/">TORG Gaming Expo</a> in
Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 5. Not to be confused with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yq6W0kbUxUk&t=1170s">CORGS</a>, which is also in Columbus,
TORG is a show that I’ve never done before, but the promoters have absolutely
convinced me it’s going to be great. They’ve done a spectacular job getting the
word out on the con, and they are going to have a massive gaming museum with
tons of rare consoles. I’ll be there with John Hancock for the <a href="https://www.torgevents.com/exhibit">TORG Gaming Power Exhibit</a>, talking video game history with attendees.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0xoT9rsbM30JPgAPyI1BcJzIqJsPugKWRa5C-YIZSOSoU5cktfuenuw8YzJDGI92JzWnu_f6-xedVi9v1it8Uu2Pq8zjwBxaBvxBAqCYcolztZo_toxsGxYI99ZhPsBujclQ9SlL6wJ5AVaQI6QYYe_KbnaZiKkKgEeAWKmGea8V7fCEECp_dtGm/s1080/torg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0xoT9rsbM30JPgAPyI1BcJzIqJsPugKWRa5C-YIZSOSoU5cktfuenuw8YzJDGI92JzWnu_f6-xedVi9v1it8Uu2Pq8zjwBxaBvxBAqCYcolztZo_toxsGxYI99ZhPsBujclQ9SlL6wJ5AVaQI6QYYe_KbnaZiKkKgEeAWKmGea8V7fCEECp_dtGm/w358-h320/torg.jpg" width="358" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b></span><p></p><p></p>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">►<a href="https://www.arcadecenter.com/">Houston Arcade Expo</a>,
Nov. 11-13. I love this show, which is always a big party. It’s a total blast!
I had so much fun last year hanging out with Rampage creator <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2019/07/lets-play-gaming-expo-2019-rampage.html">Brian F. Colin</a> and
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdegQfW6IM8">Sam “Flash Gordon” Jones</a>, and they had a killer arcade and swap meet. I'll be doing this show again this year, thanks to an invitation from organizer Keith Christensen. Thanks, Keith!</span>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-3350307042658233082022-06-26T08:35:00.000-05:002022-06-26T08:35:10.003-05:00Great Video Game Find! Plus -- First Gaming Console!<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI59AvLGVGDtn-yW6stdAH3UqvRgZPXhChgOcsSrc3Isnng6FUtXWomDo5X9WGRr8caIjwXYi1i5nCIdOgBZvonayvaG8ORcKJoTmY-ijbsuvzpxZvRRBbXd_uscIiNYJu8HoAALNFF16fsBA2XpaPCasai-lsWT5E46c05e24wfP-903uz2a6-1OD/s1280/ARCADEHISTORY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI59AvLGVGDtn-yW6stdAH3UqvRgZPXhChgOcsSrc3Isnng6FUtXWomDo5X9WGRr8caIjwXYi1i5nCIdOgBZvonayvaG8ORcKJoTmY-ijbsuvzpxZvRRBbXd_uscIiNYJu8HoAALNFF16fsBA2XpaPCasai-lsWT5E46c05e24wfP-903uz2a6-1OD/w560-h315/ARCADEHISTORY2.jpg" width="560" /></a></div><br />I recently uploaded a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUeKTzScohY&t=36s">video about a cool gaming find</a> my wife made in an unlikely place. I show
off my find as well, and read a fascinating article about video games from 1983.
When I posted a link to that video on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrettWeissCHVG/?ref=pages_you_manage">Facebook</a>, a “Top Fan” of my FB page named
Keith Maldonado left a great comment: a story of how he got his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDqWTiamwzQ">first video game console</a>. I’ve reprinted that story here—ENJOY!<p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Great video! I’m
really cracking up at the article’s author…Particularly when he called video
games a waste of money! My mother thought the same thing back in 1982. I had
wanted a console system pretty much since <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G1RToXzdTg&t=286s">Atari</a> introduced its <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPO2c1Pd4kE">2600</a> in 1977.
Well, my mother wanted to go shopping at Coronado Center in Abq NM, but knew I
would be quite bored. I told her that I could keep myself busy with a mere
dollar. She didn’t believe me BUT my grandmother took me up on it and gave me
the dollar, which came with the lecture from my mother about asking for more
money. Well, I had mastered Joust, which had been out a couple months at this
point. Well, I spent only one quarter and was still playing when my mom and
grandma came looking for me. I was on the game of my life that day! I had put
away a few million points and had an unknown number of spare “lives” still to
go. Anyway, when my mother discovered I had been entertained for hours on ONE
quarter, she changed her mind on home video game consoles. She offered to get
me that <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2022/06/adventure-for-atari-2600-100-greatest.html">Atari 2600</a> (finally!) for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bRIstMvOCo&t=4s">Christmas</a>! Well, it got better because we
were watching television and lo and behold, Coleco advertised its new system,
the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7BZ_MtxP98&t=2s">ColecoVision</a>! She asked if I’d rather have that. Totally jumped on that
(because in the ad, they mentioned an expansion that played 2600 carts… win
win)! That’s how I ultimately got my first home console! …no waste of money
there! Mom even bought me a cartridge a month and I soon got a paper route to
continue more purchases on my own! </span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-76757624523377101082022-06-22T18:58:00.006-05:002022-06-22T19:01:21.449-05:00Super Smash T.V. for the Super Nintendo - Essay by Todd Friedman<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_OlehZc0-SRScmihoLRct2N2IdsUAlDeVP6GNs80JjwiDdmLy5fxj3EDBDsghpVzO3roZ8jLFMYuKcxPnyHKF9zLmMtgFB3bz4bUHtw6wUGginmo17OaWW78Sdf6B7e-mON3EXpVyTontdLoral0vzy4FcwctHbExbKbvpzn4aWLvGeNsAtHkRq0/s800/super%20smash5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="800" height="387" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_OlehZc0-SRScmihoLRct2N2IdsUAlDeVP6GNs80JjwiDdmLy5fxj3EDBDsghpVzO3roZ8jLFMYuKcxPnyHKF9zLmMtgFB3bz4bUHtw6wUGginmo17OaWW78Sdf6B7e-mON3EXpVyTontdLoral0vzy4FcwctHbExbKbvpzn4aWLvGeNsAtHkRq0/w558-h387/super%20smash5.jpg" width="558" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Todd Friedman, host
of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1088938304916194">Smash TV - The Video Game Facebook page</a>, wrote a killer essay on Super
Smash T.V. for the Super Nintendo for my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY9fwSYCm84">forthcoming book</a>, <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/pre-order-the-100-greatest-console-video-games-1988-1998/7?cs=true&cst=custom">The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998</a>. I decided to share the text from the chapter with
you guys and gals months ahead of the book’s release. The book will be out in
November, and the <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brettweissnes1/100-greatest-console-video-games-19881998-hardcover-book?fbclid=IwAR1LYykfSS_qxdS_SeK0YPkW2oJh5yuvmblgZQmkytei5_jpLe8gECwjxwY">Kickstarter campaign</a> is doing very well. ENJOY!</span></p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">SUPER SMASH T.V.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">SUPER NINTEDO<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">GENRE: TOP-DOWN
SHOOTER<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">PUBLISHER: ACCLAIM
ENTERTAINMENT<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">DEVELOPER:
WILLIAMS ELECTRONICS<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt;">1 OR 2 PLAYERS
(SIMULTANEOUS)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">“The Year is 1999. Television has adapted to
the more violent nature of man. The most popular form of television remains the
game show. One show in particular has dominated the ratings.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">That show is Smash T.V. The most violent game
show of all time.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Two lucky
contestants compete for cash and prizes. Each contestant is armed with an
assortment of powerful weapons and sent into a closed arena. The action takes
place in front of a studio audience and is broadcast live via satellite around
the world. Be prepared, the future is now.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">“You are the next
lucky contestant!”</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">-</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">From the Super Smash T.V. manual</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">With the huge
success of the original arcade version of Smash T.V. (1990), it was only
natural for home consoles to jump onboard. The <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/NESOmnibusVolumes1-2/1?cs=true&cst=custom">Nintendo Entertainment System</a>
had an 8-bit version of the game, and then a 16-bit <a href="https://brettweiss.square.site/product/order-the-snes-omnibus-the-super-nintendo-and-its-games/2?cs=true&cst=custom">Super NES</a> rendition called
Super Smash T.V. followed. Despite the name change, it is a straight-up port of
the arcade classic. (Smash T.V. was also ported to the Game Gear, Master System,
and Genesis. For the computer market, Ocean published ports for the ZX
Spectrum, <a href="https://www.oldschoolgamermagazine.com/the-commodore-64-by-brett-weiss/">Commodore 64</a>, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, and Amiga).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9rv-ThzsZPKwVFmqJfeT4XfSccKIfj6riG970BE-eVxzzzrPueVPXFJMZ-vq-7soAp9uANP88S_M6Q0jy55R8r8goNqFgCj78M7d_v0a8dz56-2cotuGWX06PF4k8YNXpyn7HuskK7m1TlFd4P3uwzDsP8_LTZ2moQAIaZ5XZ1X2SDT98D0YNe42/s640/supersmash1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="640" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP9rv-ThzsZPKwVFmqJfeT4XfSccKIfj6riG970BE-eVxzzzrPueVPXFJMZ-vq-7soAp9uANP88S_M6Q0jy55R8r8goNqFgCj78M7d_v0a8dz56-2cotuGWX06PF4k8YNXpyn7HuskK7m1TlFd4P3uwzDsP8_LTZ2moQAIaZ5XZ1X2SDT98D0YNe42/w497-h335/supersmash1.jpg" width="497" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The concept for the game was the brainchild of Eugene Jarvis, who
created various other historically important classics, including Defender and
Robotron: 2084. Gameplay is similar to Robotron, and the plot and design were
influenced by the 1987 films The Running Man and RoboCop. In fact, one of the
announcers’ lines in the game is “I’d buy that for a dollar,” which is a direct
quote from RoboCop.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">According to the
programmers of Smash T.V., among them Mark Turmell of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ayed9gI9-G8">NBA Jam</a> fame, the
original layout of the game had blood, but just a pixel here and a pixel there.
However, they decided to test the limits and go above and beyond most gory
games such as Mortal Kombat, and they did not disappoint. The blood quotient is
in a class of its own, bringing many people to the game just to see how bloody
it really was. Then, many of these players would get hooked and put in more
quarters to see what the next screen would bring.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Unsurprisingly,
the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHtPq4Q9GxU&t=650s">arcade game</a> has higher resolution graphics than the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slrHxO7VeAU">Super Nintendo</a> port,
but the home game looks great nevertheless and retains most of the blood (only
the big bloods sprays from certain bosses are missing). Better yet, the game
manages to display dozens of sprites with little to no slowdown. The SNES game
isn’t quite as fast as its coin-op cousin, but it’s a speedy game nonetheless.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a recent
interview I conducted with Jamie Rivett, the lead developer of the SNES port,
he revealed that he was happy with the game and provided some behind-the-scenes
info.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">“All the heavy
optimizations and work really paid off because the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrE-_Djb7lg&t=125s">Super Nintendo</a> version was
actually a pretty faithful conversion of the actual game,” he said. “We never
got source code, but I was able to replicate the various enemies by playing the
game, and in some ways, this was more fun than if I had been given the code for
everything. The one thing that Mark [Turmell] did give up was the spawn tables
for each level. That defined which enemies, how many, max on screen, and what
rate they came in. I think this is what really gave the SNES version the
authentic feel.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOnmzV6_uLq1-Kz1qCed11Hrzbb0Zc-GmigSKkv3bSXSnkIAUklZE-Gdymz_xNj-pz9RnU7A11_dQxYQTJVDZgEK1T3uZ5Qm-8qFluVXqFxToKGCjXh22JaZyJoMlSLOruBj7ScgEy0o3RdUg6bfhRNvYvQGV4IooHbHn2BSSPw-p58OXHUfaV5Hx/s256/supersmash2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="256" height="401" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnOnmzV6_uLq1-Kz1qCed11Hrzbb0Zc-GmigSKkv3bSXSnkIAUklZE-Gdymz_xNj-pz9RnU7A11_dQxYQTJVDZgEK1T3uZ5Qm-8qFluVXqFxToKGCjXh22JaZyJoMlSLOruBj7ScgEy0o3RdUg6bfhRNvYvQGV4IooHbHn2BSSPw-p58OXHUfaV5Hx/w458-h401/supersmash2.png" width="458" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I was 16, I
absolutely loved Smash T.V. The announcer’s voice, the gameshow-style
presentation, and the intense shooting action made it super appealing to me. I
was excited for the home versions because the arcade game was taking all my
money—it is one of the hardest coin-ops to finish on just a few credits. At
home, I could play the game again and again without spending loads of money
(except for the money it took to purchase the game, of course). To this day, I
still play it when I have a chance. If given the choice, I will always play the
SNES version as it’s the most realistic of the vintage ports.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Super Smash T.V.
is likely not the first game you think of when it comes to the Super Nintendo,
but it is a nice change of pace when you want a break from all the
family-friendly, first-party titles like Super Mario World and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLt8nLETUjs&t=325s">The Legend of Zelda</a>: A Link to the Past.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In this hardcore
shooter, you are a contestant on a vicious, violent game show. With the cameras
rolling, the announcer says, “Good Luck, You’ll Need It!” The action begins
with you (or you and a friend in simultaneous two-player mode) entering the
first room on the gameshow stage. Armed with a machine gun, you must run for
your life in a series of closed arenas, avoiding bullets and bombs while
blowing away baseball bat-wielding gangs, laser-firing orbs, exploding tin
soldiers, and other killers bent on your destruction. There at times up to 20
different enemies onscreen at once in the Super Nintendo version and up to 30
in the arcade game. There are few breaks to catch your breath as more enemies
come out the instant you kill the others. Each arena has different enemies and
attack patterns for you to contend with.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdekYcpME6GZ6QslLuSt9hHcIe-2gaHKdkCaTenl1Rx-cViR6LwJsaUqoCWRWW6cXFD-uF78okPUsNCvZGwjgDwmWh1kBnGbkHGnnoZwNyc7P_t8RmeRchkNHGmG8XCybNacKhY66p16n-tccjapMs3HNBCjC8tJ3UNS6-tdlhW8EFrQG9N-9rie4/s256/supersmash3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="224" data-original-width="256" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdekYcpME6GZ6QslLuSt9hHcIe-2gaHKdkCaTenl1Rx-cViR6LwJsaUqoCWRWW6cXFD-uF78okPUsNCvZGwjgDwmWh1kBnGbkHGnnoZwNyc7P_t8RmeRchkNHGmG8XCybNacKhY66p16n-tccjapMs3HNBCjC8tJ3UNS6-tdlhW8EFrQG9N-9rie4/w445-h389/supersmash3.png" width="445" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Along the way,
you’ll pick up such prizes as money and gold bricks—be careful, though, they
may be sitting on top of a hidden landmine. You’ll also find grenade launchers,
photon guns, missile launchers, and other weapons. After you clear a stage, you
will have the option of going to a couple different rooms. Over time, you’ll
learn which routes are easiest to travel and which arenas have more prizes for
you to grab. At the end of each of the four rounds of play, a boss awaits:
Mutoid Man, Scarface, Cobra Head, or The Game Show Host With The Most. Regular
machine gun fire won’t work on them, so you must use your special firepower.
There are more than 45 levels of carnage, plus bonus stages.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Playing Smash T.V.
can be difficult at home. One of the coolest things about the arcade version is
the dual-joystick control that lets you move your character in one direction
and fire in another at the same time. The challenge was to replicate that for
consoles. The NES did a good job of utilizing both controllers for a one-player
game and four controllers for two-player action. <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/p/the-snes-omnibus-vol-1-m.html">Super Nintendo</a> controllers
have extra buttons, so you can use them to shoot up, down, left, or right while
you guide your character with the d-pad. It’s not a perfect solution, but it
gets the job done. In fact, it works pretty well.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">When Super Smash
T.V. was released, it garnered high marks from such publications as Computer
and Video Games, which called it “the most awesome home arcade blaster yet
seen,” and <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2019/03/snes-omnibus-writer-spotlight-45-greg.html">Electronic Gaming Monthly</a>, which hailed it as a “winning effort that
fans of the coin-op should not miss.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The action can get
a little repetitive, as certain magazine and website reviews point out, but
most gamers agree that it is a highly entertaining shooter overall.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">In my interview
with Jamie Rivett, he further described his satisfaction with the port: “All
the conversion shops said no to Smash T.V. because they thought it was
impossible to replicate on the home consoles. I guess we proved them wrong!”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">FUN FACT</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">After finishing
Super Smash T.V., programmer Jamie Rivett realized that he had optimized the
game so much that it could run faster, so he added a turbo mode after
completing the regular game. After he implemented this, he would only play the
game in that mode.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">WHY IT MADE THE
LIST</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Super Smash T.V.
is a controller gripping, heart pounding shoot-'em-up that will blow your mind.
No cutscenes, prolonged build-up, or rescuing princesses here—just lots of ass
kicking and taking names. Experience everything that made the arcade game great
in the comfort of your home—it’s a great way to “kill” an afternoon.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">~ Todd Friedman,
author of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKjDj3vVFDQ">Walter Day's Gaming Superstars</a>, writer for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEkYBHgZEXw">Old School Gamer Magazine</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-1507166641171780802022-06-20T18:57:00.003-05:002022-06-20T18:58:47.510-05:00Rare Game Boy Color Prototype that Sold for $14,000 in Action! Playing Tetris!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXLcZIpqq_SZteBgUy3VXeRCl7wSwwfYTwGtNDqxTMHquPWy_-ViGz4T-T5Bh66nY4NQ15geYnOd1ZHs6gjXzCcvOGMcD2wJ6ifKfPQWwMqsEbxXGfjRL2GNeewnMohGP5XOc7z_t0nJsNE0S5AXtobpWNvxDIUSXOfU-ndgjhpAtxitS5Zh5K_I2/s1280/GAMEBOYCOLORP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXLcZIpqq_SZteBgUy3VXeRCl7wSwwfYTwGtNDqxTMHquPWy_-ViGz4T-T5Bh66nY4NQ15geYnOd1ZHs6gjXzCcvOGMcD2wJ6ifKfPQWwMqsEbxXGfjRL2GNeewnMohGP5XOc7z_t0nJsNE0S5AXtobpWNvxDIUSXOfU-ndgjhpAtxitS5Zh5K_I2/w542-h306/GAMEBOYCOLORP.jpg" width="542" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Earlier this year, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc8fds7MMt4&t=97s">Heritage Auctions</a> sold a rare Game Boy Color prototype for a whopping $14,400. I actually got a chance to watch the system in action, with someone playing Tetris on it. You can check out my video <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZo25n6jmvY">HERE</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And here’s the auction write-up from Heritage, describing this incredibly cool item:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is certainly something you don't see every day. A complete prototype board, not for a game, but for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga9kQrXCFHg">Nintendo</a>'s iconic "Game Boy Color" system.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Units like this were sent to developers and game publishers for the purpose of testing their games. It was necessary to get the hardware for <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rzl3PX1H-Y&t=312s">Nintendo</a>'s new system into the hands of developers before its official launch. The unit contains all of the main components of the <a href="http://www.brettweisswords.com/2021/02/gameboy-early-arcade-ports-despite.html">Game Boy</a> Color system, giving this board full functionality. It includes all the features you'd expect on a handheld system - including a screen, speaker, volume control, IR sensor, and microswitch buttons. For power, the system uses a standard <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTqYkcM4B6E">Super Nintendo</a> power cord rather than AA-batteries. We can confirm that the unit functions properly. There's no cooler way to play Tetris than on this! And, yes, we have played Tetris (and Harvest Moon) on it because this prototype is fully functional.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The board sports a "NOA", likely "Nintendo of America", product number. Additionally, the board is labeled as "CGB-STB-X2". This follows Nintendo's standard "CGB" naming convention for Game Boy Color systems, games, and accessories. A very similar <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtHxkTENV3M&t=595s">Game Boy Advance</a> prototype system does exist\. Its product code of "AGB-STB-03" follows the same format as this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtYvkwneZw8&t=305s">Game Boy</a> Color prototype.</span><br /></p><div><br /></div>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782630320234937459.post-47778831729747300452022-06-11T06:07:00.001-05:002022-06-11T06:07:22.622-05:00The 100 Greatest Console Video Games: 1988-1998 - PlayStation - Nintendo 64 - Super Nintendo - Sega Genesis - NES - And More!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ceeR4bpy1JLpvwqSCjijUcJUAYg3LwkeOZ2aAXcHjxo7OyST68mqKYc-gUp8zcpRe7a-Rnqwxxoy30cFGFzIpM2nokf_xu_-H6WMuX62M-K7VCwork3Y93EVwR9AOOFrivnOEYHUQqpUMG3SXjJZ5dITshl04Un87e94RevABLYc3QXLTRVdHk-O/s4088/100gggg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2712" data-original-width="4088" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ceeR4bpy1JLpvwqSCjijUcJUAYg3LwkeOZ2aAXcHjxo7OyST68mqKYc-gUp8zcpRe7a-Rnqwxxoy30cFGFzIpM2nokf_xu_-H6WMuX62M-K7VCwork3Y93EVwR9AOOFrivnOEYHUQqpUMG3SXjJZ5dITshl04Un87e94RevABLYc3QXLTRVdHk-O/w561-h371/100gggg.jpg" width="561" /></a></div> <p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Hit a big milestone yesterday on Kickstarter and still
going strong!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">You can check out my Contra chapter in the book <a href="https://www.patreon.com/brettweiss">HERE</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And back the book on Kickstarter <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brettweissnes1/100-greatest-console-video-games-19881998-hardcover-book">HERE</a>.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">*272-page hardcover book</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">*Hundreds of full-color photos<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">*Box art, screenshots and vintage magazine ads<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">*Production histories<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">*Reviews, author anecdotes and nostalgia<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">*Gameplay details and much more!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">*Spotlights the greatest games for PlayStation,
Nintendo 64, Super Nintendo, Nintendo NES, Sega Genesis, Sega Saturn, and other
awesome consoles<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Thanks for reading!</span></p>Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01743936963196280752noreply@blogger.com0