gaming
Role Played
Thoughts on getting back into modern-day gaming later in life after taking a very long break. (Warning: This is a very elder millennial post, leaning on geriatric.)
The Game Genie Generation
For an unlicensed game accessory, the Game Genie sure casts a long shadow. It reshaped the games we already owned—and had a profound effect on copyright law.
Bridge To Nowhere
Trying to understand why bridge is an influential enough game that the BBC felt it was deserving of its own dedicated video game console in the ’80s.
Intellectual Pinball
Q: Following the great video game crash of 1983, where did arcade operators and bar owners go next? A: Trivia games!
A Requiem in Stereo(scope)
More than just a gimmicky gadget, the Nintendo 3DS was a marvel of handheld gaming in the 2010s. And now, a decade after it appeared, it’s gone for good.
Total Edutainment Forever
The problem with edutainment in the 1990s was that, while it covered the education, it didn't do enough to entertain the kids. Sorry, Math Blaster.
Saved, But Not Forgotten
The evolution of saving in video games, from the password to the cloud, and nearly every obscure memory card format in-between.
In Total Control
From the arcades to the living room, how the controller has evolved—and why one tech historian, Benj Edwards, started building his own.
It’s New To You
The story of FuncoLand, the retailer that made the used video game market a thing—and how GameStop, which bought Funco, sort of bastardized that mission.
Sharper Pixels
The push for pixel perfection at the heart of the enthusiast retro movement—and the company that wants those pixels to look better than you remember.
“It's Weird That it Didn't Seem Weirder”
Don’t Die’s David Wolinsky, a fellow traveler in the world of tech and gaming, offers his take on NESticle’s place in the broader culture of video games.
Big in Brazil
The Sega Master System was an also-ran in the United States, but in Brazil, it's still on the market—and still moving units. Here's how it happened.
8-Bit Archaeology
Retro gaming is a culture that holds a soft spot for any kid born in the '70s or '80s. Here's a deep dive into the world of retro gaming enthusiasts.