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Welcome to Gaming History 101
This is designed to be more encyclopedia style than anything else, so feel free to browse as you choose. You can check up on the daily posts via our blog in the archives to your right, look here for features, or simply search to your heart’s content. Below highlights some of our main feature articles (aka “lessons”) that have recently gone live.
Why Go Retro? – Contributing writer Derek explains why retro gaming is not only educational and fun, but necessary.
This Month:
- Review: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 – Third time is a charm for this modernized form of the JRPG.
- Podcast: 9/9/99 – Fred and Trees celebrate the launch of the beloved Sega Dreamcast.
- Podcast: Top Scores - Fred flies solo and plays some of his favorite tunes from gaming’s past.
- Check This Out: Game Vault – While out of town with the family I discovered a great retro store in Omaha.
- Interview: Super Icon – Developers of Playstation Mobile retro love share their thoughts on development of Life of Pixel and personal retro tastes.
- Podcast: It’s Pronounced La-Ra – We discuss the Tomb Raider series and the pop culture icon protagonist that overshadowed the game.
- Genre Study: Roguelikes and MetroidVania Titles – Learn about these classic genres that are making a comeback.
- Review: Revolution X – Aerosmith + light gun, what could go wrong?
- Getting it Backwords – We delve into the world of backwards compatibility.
- Podcast: Found in Translation – Fred flies solo to tackle the history and world of fan translated games.
Last Month:
- Review: Terminator 2: Judgement Day – This light gun shooter in the arcades was just as popular as the 1991 film and came home to everything.
- Podcast: DC Bullet – Fred and Trees talk about DC Comic licensed video games in honor of Injustice: Gods Among Us.
- Podcast: It’s-a Me! – This week we reflect on the development history of Nintendo’s world famous plumber.
- Review: The Punisher (NES) – In a clear precursor to Revolution X, Beam proves that just because you’re a license game doesn’t mean you can’t be a great experience.
- Review: Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams – This former Super Mario Bros. clone returns after more than 20 years and gives the recent plumber iterations a run for its money.
- Review: Operation Wolf (Arcade) – The advent of a different type of light gun shooter.
- Review: Hogan’s Alley (NES) - Nintendo learns a lesson and creates the building blocks of modern light gun shooters.
- Podcast: Game Club – Salamander/Life Force – This month’s club is all about the organic Gradius spin-off shmup series.
- Review: Duck Hunt (NES) – We take you back to the light gun shooter that started it all.
- For the Love of the Light Gun – I share my admiration for the genre that will dominate April’s coverage.
Be part of the Gaming History 101 game club: For the month of April we are playing Guardian Heroes for the Saturn/XBLA. Play along!
Great articles man! Love the jcpenny catalog!
avsrok
December 20, 2011 at 7:55 pm
horrible facts i didnt even get the info i need
angela
October 15, 2012 at 4:32 pm
Horrible facts? Can you be more specific? Are my facts incorrect or do you feel that the facts I’ve chosen to share not to your liking. Furthermore, what info were you seeking? If you can tell me what you want I’d be more than happy to specifically get you any info I can and/or write an article pertaining to the subject.
spydersvenom
October 17, 2012 at 11:11 am
so how is everyone liking one direction i LOVE THEM COMMENT BELOW IF U LIKE THEM
angela
October 15, 2012 at 4:34 pm
I can understand how it seems this site is designated for the love of video games and that criticism is few and far between. On the surface you couldn’t be more correct. I must stress that this site is not a traditional review site where we cover everything, as a retro site games and topics must be selected and it’s typically best to cover strong/popular/well designed titles rather than the horrendous games of the past (although I’m considering a poor game section). As for the “I love them comment below if you like them”, I don’t recall ever writing that at the end of any article. I welcome useful comments from all opinions – good, bad, or indifferent. Please comment if you don’t agree, please comment if you hate the game, and if possible tell us why. I don’t ask that you comment only if you like something I like, comment in general. If I only posted positive comments how did this one go live?
In addition, I stress that gameplay videos are completely indifferent, as typically are stories and historical data. There’s nothing positive or negative about the release date of the Atari VCS, it just happened. I do show much love for a majority of the games I cover, but I do point out the flaws of a game as well and in some cases point out my issues with the game. The only true reviews I’ve performed on this site are pretty much limited to Sine Mora (which isn’t specifically a review), Abobo’s Big Adventure, and the upcoming Retro City Rampage.
If you’ve seen this exact text you complain about, please tell me what article and I will promptly change the phrasing.
spydersvenom
October 17, 2012 at 11:26 am
Hi there,
Keep up the good work with your blog!
Looking forward to read more from you in 2013.
I’ve brought up my old SVI Spectravideo (MSX) up from the basement today, ready to try out a few old games.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Old School Game Blog
December 26, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Love the blog Fred. Recently listened to the silent hill 2 podcast you sometimes mix your facts up a bit but I can see you were trying to go free flow rather than reading off a script word for word. Very impressed how entertaining you make your podcast with just one person.
Jamalais
May 2, 2013 at 7:33 am
Thanks. Silent Hill 2 was the last time I ever go into a game club without notes, haha. Never living down the blatant factual mistakes of that plot, especially because Silent Hill 2 is so rightfully beloved. Won’t happen again, for Chrono Trigger I took extensive plot notes as with all future titles.
spydersvenom
May 2, 2013 at 7:45 am