Retro Ramblings
The Game That Turned My Room Into a Highway
Rad Racer arrived and instantly convinced me I was a high‑speed prodigy, even though I spent most races wrapped around a palm tree. …
Nintendo
Retro Ramblings
Thirty Lives and a Dream
Beating Contra felt like conquering a childhood mountain. After years of failed runs and Mountain Dew fueled determination, I finally won the war that every kid in the late eighties dreamed of surviving. …
Special Feature
Highlights From the 1990 JC Penny Christmas Catalog
In my neck of the woods, the Christmas season always officially kicked off with the arrival of the yearly Sears Wish Book and JC Penny catalog, which was usually sometime …
Retro Ramblings
Going to Grandmas When I Was Sick
I’ve been laid up the last few days, and let me tell you, it’s been rough. The kind of sick where your nose won’t stop running, your throat feels like …
Retro Ramblings
Mortal Monday 1993
I still remember the buzz in the air on September 13, 1993…Mortal Monday. It wasn’t just a marketing gimmick. For kids like me, it was a full-blown cultural event. The …
Time Capsule
The Official Nintendo Player’s Guide From 1987
When a lot of kids got their first Nintendo Entertainment System, they probably got the version that came with the Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt combo. I wasn’t one …
Retro Ramblings
16-Bit Christmas
The image above has been circulating around online for years now. It’s probably been at least 10 years since I first saw it. Back then, I was enamored with it, …
Retro Ramblings
It’s Called Nintendo
For people who are my age, Nintendo was probably a pretty big part of their childhood. I’m sure we had all spent our fair share of time in arcades pumping …
Time Capsule
Nintendo Power Magazine Issue #1
Nintendo Power magazine debuted in 1988. From the beginning, Nintendo Power focused heavily on providing game strategy, reviews, and previews of upcoming games. It was an oasis for young Nintendo games, and …
Retro Ramblings
Nintendo Cereal
In 1988, I was all about Nintendo. It had probably taken over as my favorite toy by that point if you want to consider it a toy. And I was …