Pinball: From Arcade to Home TV

by Michael Thomasson | Jan 19, 2021 | 1970s, 2000s, Columns, Opinions, Pinball

During the early 1930’s, Pinball was a staple in drugstores and taverns. It was a rather simple game of luck based on the French game Bagatelle, using spring launchers to score points. Electrification and active bumpers added more excitement, but the game didn’t...

End of Days – Sonic and the Sega Master System

by Mike Mertes | Jan 17, 2021 | 1990s, Columns, Console/Handheld, Magazine Preview

What if you took Sonic the Hedgehog and toned down every gimmick that brought him to the public eye? No, I’m not talking about his love for chili dogs. I’m talking about tweaking his super-sonic speed that SEGA’s marketing department touted was only possible due to...

Video Game Trading Card Spotlight – George Spanos

by Todd Friedman | Jan 17, 2021 | 2000s, 2010s, 2020s, Arcade, Columns

Our next Trading Card Spotlight features George Spanos, who currently is displayed on card number 3333, from the Superstars of 2020 Collection.  George is one of the great arcade mechanics in the Chicagoland area. He has serviced machines at all the top arcade...

The RETROSPECTIVE Mailbag

by Jason Russell | Jan 17, 2021 | Atari 2600 Encyclopedia, Columns, Console/Handheld, Gaming, Opinions, The Story Of...

Long Overdue On account of a seemingly endless series of non-gaming related distractions (sometimes referred to as life), I’ve been regretfully slow at responding to some of the great reader questions that find me on social media. Let’s take a look into...

Atari 2600 Encyclopedia: Do you know Double Dragon?

by Derek Slaton | Jan 16, 2021 | 1980s, Atari 2600 Encyclopedia, Columns

Release Date: 1989 Publisher: Activision Controller: Joystick Players: 1 – 2 Genre: Arcade Alternate Title: N/A Model #: AK-050 Rarity: 5 Programmer: Dan Kitchen This port of the arcade classic came along very late in the 2600 lifespan and stands apart from...

Music is the Weapon – How Aerosmith Rocked the Arcade

by Michael Thomasson | Jan 15, 2021 | 1990s, Arcade, Columns, Magazine Preview

Aerosmith’s signature video game almost didn’t include Aerosmith. In 1993, Midway Games was working on a new coin-op to be titled ‘Generation X’, and if one listens carefully to the opening sequence, Revolution X is referred to by its original title. However, that...