The Commodore 16 was the first home computer I ever owned. It wasn’t the first I had ever used. Oh no. Being British, that honour went to the BBC Micro. Like many of my peers, I was introduced to home computers through my school, and the BBCs computer literacy program. And I wanted a computer …
Start reading The Commodore 16: My first computer.Shenmue has a very special place in my heart. More so than any other videogame, Shenmue helped keep me alive. And I’m not kidding. You see, back when Shenmue came out, I’d not long since finished doing my degree. As I graduated, my father sadly passed away due to bowel cancer. So I came home …
Start reading Shenmue: How a videogame helped save me.The Evercade is quite possibly the most mainstream emulation device yet. But is it any good? Well, after a few days usage, I have to say that the answer is… Yes. Released in early 2020, the Evercade is a handheld console. Similar in form factor to many of those emulation boxes available on Amazon & …
Start reading Evercade: First ImpressionsThe Master System was my first console. I’d played on one at my godparents house, and I’d fallen in love with it. After battering my way through Double Dragon, I (and my brother) began a relentless campaign to have our parents get us one for Christmas. And we succeeded. On christmas day, we unwrapped a …
Start reading The Master SystemFanboys. I’ll be honest upfront, in that I absolutely hate fanboys. They are the worst aspect of not just gaming, but anything that has a subculture surrounding it. Everything they say or do casts a negative light upon the rest of us. And it is our responsibility to call them out, and shut them down. …
Start reading Fanboys…The problem with Gatekeepers The retrogaming community is for the most part a wonderful, open, welcoming place. You see people from vastly different backgrounds mixing together, enjoying their shared love for old video games and hardware. Sadly, there is a negative element to the community. I’m talking about the self appointed guardians of retrogaming: Gatekeepers. …
Start reading The problem with GatekeepersEnter the 3DO Way back in the early 1990s, the Sega Megadrive (or Genesis for my North American readers) and SNES were the kings. They brought unprecedented power into the homes of gamers, unless you were rich enough to own a Neo Geo. But there were rumours of a new kid on the block. Headed …
Start reading The 3DO and me.The early 1990s was an amazing time to be a gamer. Nintendo and Sega were going head-to-head with their 16bit consoles, in a “war” for the hearts and minds of teenage boys. Nintendo had their reputation for “reliability” and high production values, but Sega were “edgy” and “cool”. Sega dove headlong into new technologies, with …
Start reading FMV games: A potted history.In a change to my usual approach, I’ve done a 2 part video looking at the Data East All-Star Collection. This is a new, officially licensed cartridge for the NES. It features 5 games, and is presented with some nice extras in the box. You can watch the videos below. Part 1 https://youtu.be/HJohvk6pamU Part 2 …
Start reading Data East All-Star Collection: 2 part video review!Ah, Tetris. Quite possibly the most perfect videogame yet devised. Tetris is easy to pick up and learn, yet difficult to master. Tetris is a game that can be enjoyed by everyone. In this video, I look at the iconic Nintendo Game Boy version. I also examine the version released for the Game Boy Color. …
Start reading Tetris! A true videogame classic.