Old School Gamer Latest Issues

Issue #37 (November 2023) - Old School Gamer - Educational Games and Lucas

Broderbund

November is here. November, the month that carries so many great happenings! Thanksgiving and being
with your family, my Birthday (I was born on Thanksgiving and it falls on this date every couple of years), the semiannual Risk game, the semiannual Crappage game (Crappage is just like Cribbage, except you have 7 cards in your hand and one card is dealt face down for the crib. You should try it if you play cards). All in all, November is my favorite month.
Another thing that carries so many great things is this issue of OSG! Our main feature centers on Broderbund, a great game company. We also have an interview with Richard Lowenstein, Modern day Retro games, and a lot more. Happy Thanksgiving to you all! Now loosen that belt and dig in to a great issue!

Bill Donohue, Editor, Old School Gamer.

In This Issue

Broderbund
U-Force
Karateka
Modern Day Retro
You Are What You Play
Interview With Richard Lowenstein
Berzerk
Atari Recharged And Enhanced
Wizardry Redux
The Video Game Life
Indy Update: Intellivision
Reviews: YS:II Novel’ UNICO Monitor
Atari Game Station Pro
Vengeful Guardian Moonrider Review
Football Cheats
GRS Ikari Rotary Super Joystick
Top 5 Best And Worst Pack-In Games
So You Wanna Work On A Magazine?
From Pixels To Pages
We’ve Got Cons!
TI’s Field Guide To Collecting
Heavy Hitters
Old School Gamer Bookshelf
No Quarter Corner

 

Issue #36 (September 2023) - Old School Gamer - Educational Games and Lucas

Educational Games and Lucas

September is here and with it comes a great variety of wonderful things: Pro Football starts up, NASCAR and NHRA are firing up the playoffs, all the little monste… uh, kids, are back in school, all of the TV networks have changed their programs, resulting in the yearly Remote Lottery (which no one ever wins…), and the latest version of Old School Gamer is ready to be read by all the fans of Retro Goodness… and what goodness we have! 

We’re starting out with two great themes: Educational games and the games of LucasFilm/LucasArts… and that’s just the beginning! We’ve also got great interviews with Steve Cottam and Keith Christiensen, an homage to NYC’s twin towers, a large assortment of stories concerning game collection, and a ton of other great articles to wet your Retro whistle. So, leave work early, survive the traffic, grab a cold one, and check out this issue of OSG!

Bill Donohue, Editor, Old School Gamer.

In This Issue

The Evolution of Game
The Oregon Trail
Where is Carmen Sandiego
Five Games
LucasFilm Games
SCUMM
LucasFilm/LucasArts Games
Drip: Building a Game Collection
AntStream: Interview with Steve Cottam
Taito Pinball
Keeping Retro Gaming Alive
TI’s Field Guide To collecting
Heavy Hitters
New York’s Twin Towers
Old School Gamer Bookshelf
We’ve Got Cons
Arcade Heaven
Interview with Keith Christiansen
The Video game Life
Mystic Search of the NESMaker
No Quarter Corner

 

Issue #35 (July 2023) - Old School Gamer - Nintendo and Sega

Nintendo and Sega

Throughout all of recorded history, there have been many periods when someone said or did a stupid thing
and the killing began; Greeks versus Trojans, Romans versus Germanic hordes, Confederates versus the Union, Germans versus the world (twice), Raider fans versus anyone stupid enough to wear a Chiefs jersey to the Oakland Coliseum (the report is still out on the whole Vegas thing…) and, of course, Nintendo versus Sega. This confrontation is the Armageddon of the video game wars. Every gamer has a stance on which console won and which lost or if the fighting is even over.  In light of that, we present to you our Nntendo/Sega issue! We’ve tried to be very impartial and just report the facts and nothing but the facts, but sooner or later, some writer or Editor will say something stupid and we all know what happens then… fortunately, most of us live very far apart…

Bill Donohue, Editor, Old School Gamer.

In This Issue

The Nintendo / Sega Issue
The Big N-trance
Now Playing!
Tom Kalinske on his time at Sega
Forgotten Sega Games
Sega In The Arcades
Sega Pinball
Action 52 and Cheetahmen
Old School Gamer Bookshelf
Once Upon Atari
The Bard’s Tale
TI’s Field Guide To Collecting
We Got Conventions
Buffet of Cheats
Super Cobra
Here Comes A New Challenger
GRS Build a Cade
The Video Game Life
Fulfilling Your Hobby
No Quarter Corner

 

Issue #34 (May 2023) - Old School Gamer - Activision & Namco

Activision & Namco

Welcome to Issue #34 of Old School Gamer Magazine. This is a record-breaking issue, because we have managed to squeeze in more authors in this issue than we have in any past issue. Issue #34 has 16 (count ‘em!), 16 authors who will bring you more interesting stories about all facets of the games we all know and love. Personally, I think this calls for a celebration. It’s not so big a celebration that I would have to open the dreaded “Ancient Bottle of Champagne” that has been sitting on a shelf behind the bar for the last 16 years or so. That’s a good thing, for one can only guess what horrible things have happened to those poor grapes during those long years in that pit of stinky yeast… horrible, horrible things… but I digress. I suggest that you grab any suitable beverage not older than the expired date on the label and settle down in the Comfy Chair with this award-winning issue of Old School Gamer! – Bill Donohue, Editor, Old School Gamer

In This Issue

Activision: Where It All Started
Activision History
Audacity Games
Double Dragon
Top 10 Activision Games in the 1980s
Namco: A History
Antstream: Can’t Miss Namco Games
The Cheat Sheet
RetroExistential
Nox Archaist: Lord of Storms
BBB: X-Com – UFO Defence
SoftDisk
TI’s Field Guide to Collecting
Video Game Capital of the World?
Planet Comicon / MGC / Co Mo Retro
Surf Champ
Bates & The Brewing Academy
Movie Reviews
Indie Update – Pico-8
Ben’s Game Zone
The Video Game Life
No Quarter Corner

 

Issue #33 (March 2023) - Old School Gamer - Stern - Ultima/Lord British

Stern – Ultima/Lord British

Stern. That word immediately shoots me back to my youth and the nuns at Saints Peter and Paul Elementary. My fingers still carry the scars of a viciously-wielded ruler, as Sister Ma… oops! Actually, this edition of OSG is more concerned with Stern, the great arcade and pinball company that changed the way we played games. We’ve got a great interview with Gary Stern, as well as a review of Berzerk, a game that ate many of our quarters, and more history than you can shake a stick at (No! Please! Not again!). We’ve also got a huge section devoted to the Ultima series and the man who created it, Richard Garriott, also known as Lord British! All this doesn’t mean we left out all the great columns from our outstanding cabal of writers: Mertes, Vinson, Hickey, Jr., Feingold, Ibarra, Williams, and Pratt, all of whom are dedicated to supplying you with all the gaming goodness you can handle. So what are you waiting for? A whack on the knuckles, perhaps? – Bill Donohue, Editor, Old School Gamer.

In This Issue

The Rise and Fall of Stern
An Interview with Gary Stern
Stern Poster Art
Berzerk
Stern Pinball Through the Ages
The Age of Darkness
The SRPG Renaissance
The Final Chapters
An Interview with Lord British
Colossal Save – A review
BBB – Crusader: No Remorse
Are You Experienced?
Indie Update – GB and GBC
TI’s Field Guide to Collecting
Heavy Metal Titans
Can’t Miss Arcades
Retro Gold
The Konami Code
You Win! – The Video Game Life
No Quarter Corner

 

Issue #32 (January 2023) - Old School Gamer - Williams - Midway - Raw Thrills

Williams – Midway – Raw Thrills

Here we go again! You’re looking a Issue 32 of Old School Gamer magazine and let me tell you, this issue is chock full of great stories! First up is our coverage of the Williams family of great games. We’ve got history by Roger C. Sharpe and Todd Friedman, a couple of lists of great games you need to play by our Publisher – Ryan Burger, and Patrick Hickey, Jr., cheat codes for NBA Jam by Brad Feingold, and much more. As far as other topics go, we’ve got them covered as well, like an interview with Ken and Roberta Williams on their new release of Colossal Cave Reimagined by Bill Lange, and Mike Mertes literally dies during his article on Wing Commander (haven’t we all?). But wait… there’s more… a lot more! The only way you’ll find out what I didn’t list here is to kick back and dig in to Issue 32 of Old School Gamer magazine! I suggest you start… now!

Bill Donohue, Editor, Old School Gamer.

In This Issue

Williams – The Flip Side
From Williams – We Get Midway
Midway to Williams to Raw Thrills
Raw Thrills
Atari’s 50th Anniversary
NBA Jam
Defender
Williams Pinball
The Video Game Life
Subscriber Spotlight
TI’s Field Guide to Collecting
Heritage Auctions
Indie Update: The NES
The Wizard and the Princess
Colossal Cave Adventure
The Fantastic Phantasmagoria
Prince of Persia
Fighting Against Software
Midway / Bally games
Big Box Boutique – Wing Commander
The Legends Pinball Mini
No Quarter Corner

Old School Gamer 2022 Back Issues

Issue #31 (November 2022) - Old School Gamer - Atari

Atari Special Issue

Welcome to Issue 31 of Old School Gamer! It is with great pride that we present our first 72-page magazine for your perusal… or you could just sit back, read it, and enjoy all the retro goodness. We’ve added some great new writers to the staff – folks who’ve mad a name for themselves in the Retro Community. We’ve got Chris Tang, Brian Hall, and making a return appearance, Leonard Herman! We’ll be adding even more famous – or should I say infamous – talent to the mag in the near future! Of course, all of ur regulars are here, doing what they do best – bribing me with beer to get their articles published… I mean keeping you informed of all the latest in the Retro World, of course. Personally, I’m hoping the Jaded Gamer will make an appearance or two in the coming issues. Editing is a lot of fun, but sometimes you’ve got to let the loony out of the asylum. You should probably get settled in the comfy chair, open a cold one, and dig into the mag. I’m sure you’ll have a great time! = Bill Donohue, Editor, Old School Gamer. Muhahahahaha!

In This Issue

Atari’s Early History
Atari Top Games On All Consoles
Atari’s Donkey Kong Adventure
Interview with Wade Rosen (CEO Atari)
The Atari VCS?
Atari Controllers
Atari’s Foray into Pinball
Arcade Collecting with Retro Ralph
Two Books and Two Movies
Indy Developers Column with Brian Hall
GCE/MB Vectrex
AntStream Arcade
The Krakow Pinball Arcade
Punchout!!!
RetroArcadeHunter: QuarterWorld
RetroGameHunter with Joe Sullivan
Big Box Boutique
Chris Tang’s Video Game Life
Recent Events in Retro Gaming
No Quarter Corner
Issue #30 (September 2022) - Old School Gamer - Creepy Video Games

Creepy Video Games

As far back as I can remember, I have always loved the Horror genre; movies, books, games… it doesn’t matter. I think it all started back when I was 6 or 7 and my parents let me watch Son of Frankenstein on the old B&W TV. I found myself rooting for the monster, probably because he was never told what to eat or when to go to bed. I found out that the local library had lots of scary books, so I got a library card. I found an old, dusty tome that had a bunch of strange tales by a guy called H.P. Lovecraft… and I was hooked.  This is our first Horror issue. I trust you will find it… interesting… Muhahahahaha!

In This Issue

Big Box Boutique
Jaded Gamer
Elementium
Patrick Hickey Jr Suffering
Horror In Video Games
Scary Nes Games
Friday the 13th
Greatest Hits in Resident Evil
Retro Gaming Events
Old School Bookshelf

 

Issue #29 (July 2022) - Old School Gamer - Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat 

You know when a magazine devotes an entire issue (or at least a big chunk of it) to one game, that game has to be very important… life-changing… frenzy-inducing … an “i’ll die if I don’t get it!” type of game. In this case, the game is Mortal Kombat and millions of gamers have proven it to be a very important game. Personally, I don’t like it, but then, I don’t like fighting games unless they involve jet fighters, tanks, all types of firearms, battle axes… well you get the idea. However, I did play Mortal Kombat… once… It was Christmas Day. I was sipping an Irish Coffe (with Bushmills, of course), and my nephew, Nick, had just gotten the game. He’d studied up on it and learned a bunch of the Combos and Fatalities. He assured me that I would die a  bloody, horrific death. Since I was bored, I said I’d play. I set my Irish Coffee down. He set up the game and handed me a controller. The game started and I started pushing as many buttons as I could, as fast as I could. Thirty seconds later, the game was over. I’d won. Nick threw his controller at me (he missed) and loudly proclaimed that I had cheated. It was a bad ending. That’s why I don’t like fighting games. They take up too much valuable drinking time.

In This Issue

iiRcade
MK History
The Genesis Port by Jeff Peters
MK Artist Stories
Long Live MK
100 Greatest Console Games includes Mortal Kombat (no way)
Combat before Kombat
Pinball
End of Days: Atari 520ST
Retro Gaming Events

 

Issue #28 (May 2022) - Old School Gamer - Early Computers

Early Computers

Welcome to the May issue of Old School Gamer! This issue is dedicated to those old computers that we all gamed on in the 80s: the Commodore 64, the Tandy-1000, the Apple II, etc. We also cover some of the best games from that era as well, so what are you waiting for? The mag’s not gonna read itself…

You might notice some changes in the mag this time around. One – we found out our poster was 20% of our printing cost, so we had to cut it, and Two – our font is now smaller. In order to cram in even more Old School goodness, we’ve lowered our font size just a bit. So, no, you’re not going blind, but you might want to get some reading glasses! Look for bigger changes coming early this summer!

In This Issue

iiRcade
Tandy 1000
C64 Arcade Ports
Gamemaker
Apple II and Sir-Tech
Mister FPGA
Cartoon Pinball
End of Days: 3DO
UPlayArcade
Twin Galazies 1999
Con Reviews

 

 

Issue #27 (March 2022) - Old School Gamer - Defunct Gaming Mags

Defunct Gaming Mags

Who doesn’t love magazines? When I was a kid (back when life was in Black and White), I collected a bunch of comic books. I read ’em, swapped them with friends and then, after we moved (military families moved a lot back in those days), I wondered where they all went. I found out much later that some of those old comic books I had (and my Mom always threw out with each move) were worth a ton of bucks! No worries here, though… in this issue OSG covers the best of those now defunct Video Game magazines! The Scribes each got to pick out their favorite mag and write about the fun those tomes brought them. We hope you have fun reading about them.

We’ve also got other good stories, like an interview with Robert Sharpe (the man who saved Pinball), and a chat with Adam Koralik, who knows a guy… who knows a guy… who knows a guy who has a Sega Pluto! So what are you waiting for? Dig in to this amazing issue of Old School Gamer magazine!

In This Issue

iiRcade
Game Players
Diehard Game Fan
EGM
Nintendo Power
Retro Mags
Video Game History Foundation
Pinball – Robert Sharpe
End of Days: Capcom Play System 3
Sega… Pluto?
King-Cade and RetroZone
ATG Expo

 

Issue #26 (January 2022) - Old School Gamer - Rhythm Games

Rhythm Games

The human race has been obsessed with Music ever since Thag hit a big log with a small rock and Gron started dancing. Music has changed through time to reflect the state of humankind, from Gregorian Chant, Renaissance music, and the Grand Masters to Big Band, Lounge, Rock and Roll, Punk, Rap, Thrash, and Rave music. So it was only natural that music would make the leap to video games… and that’s where this issue of Old School Gamer comes in. We cover it all – from the first early beeps and boops to those magnificent Guitar and DJ emulators.

I know I’ve said this before, but wait… there’s more! We reveal Taito’s new line of video game-based pins, the decline of the Street Fighter series, a look at the early VC-4000 game system, a rundown of the Con scene and, for those who still know what a book is, we have a Book Report from Publisher Ryan Burger! So what are you waiting for? Put on those dancing shoes! LET’S ROCK!!!

In This Issue

iiRcade
DJ Hero
Guitar Hero
Frequency
Beatmania
Revolution X
DDR & Pump It Up
Jaded Gamer
Early Music Games
Book Report: Pacman
Taito Video Game Pins
End of Days: Hyper Street Fighter 2
Interton Video Computer 4000
Convention Roundup

 

 

Special Issue (2021) - Old School Gamer Tour 2021-2022

Old School Gamer Tour 2021-2022

This is a digital copy of the con issue being handed out at tour stops in 2021 and 2022.

In This Issue

The Birth of an Arcade Rat – John Tobias
Fun Factory, Laser-X and Show Biz Pizza by Ryan Burger
Arcade Memories by OSG Staff
Back to the Arcade by Adam Pratt
Arcade Memories in Korea and the Usa – by Jong-Wook Shin
Birth of the Legendary Arcade: Twin Galaxies by Walter Day

Issue #25 (November 2021) - Old School Gamer - The X-Box 20th Anniversary

The X-Box 20th Anniversary

Okay, I confess! I started gaming when my Dad brought home a Commodore Vic-20 and a couple of Scott Adams text adventure games. I spent many an hour typing my way through The Count and Voodoo Castle. Then the Commodore 64 came out and I immersed myself into the magic of games like F-14 Tomcat, The Train, and many, many others. Then the Amiga 500 appeared, along with Wings, Cannon Fodder and more. I despised consoles. They were for little kids. Then I got a job at Future Publishing and suddenly I saw the light. Today, I own more consoles than computers.

In This Issue

iiRcade
X-Box 20th Anniverary
J Allard Recalls
End of Days: X-Box
Dark Side of the Drives
Deux Ex
Ghost Recon
Jaden Berk
KISS Psycho Circus
Movie Inspired Pins
Bueller Pin
Convention Roundup

 

Old School Gamer 2021 Back Issues

Issue #24 (September 2021) - Old School Gamer - The Console War

The Adventure Game Issue

Believe it or not, I was not your normal kid. I was obsessed with two things in my childhood – reading, and war. I read Homer’s Iliad at 6, Richard Tregaskis’s Guadalcanal Diary at 8, and countless other tomes on the art of getting your way via vulgar displays of power. Now you faithful readers can read about a great struggle – the Video Game Console Wars – which occurred between 1990 and 2000. The drawnout conflict had many casualties and a few winners, just like all wars. But wait! There’s more… We’re proud to announce our new Pinball section! Every issue, we’ll give you the lowdown on everything PIN. We start this new section with rockin’ coverage of pinball’s hardest-rockin’ machines: Led Zepplin, iron Maiden, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and of course, ELVIS. Check it out!

In This Issue

iiRcade
The Console Wars
Crash Bandicoot
Tommy Tallarico
Genesis vs. SNES
Pinball Palooza!
Zach Sharpe
Jaden Berk
End of Days: AMigao 4000
Convention Roundup
Save The Cade!

 

Issue #23 (July 2021) - Old School Gamer - The Adventure Game Issue

The Adventure Game Issue

Everyone has had at least one adventure. Even that liitle old lady down the block has had some racy adventures at one time… trust me on this one… I’ve had some amazing adventures in my time on Earth, little old ladies not with- standing. Like the time a friend and I thought we had scored the only… Uh, I can’t ell you about that one… There was this time on tour that I ate 3 egg salad sandwiches and on stage, I… Hmm, you don’t need to hear that one… Then there was the time we made a depth charge and put it my Dad’s pool to see what would happen. We set that thing off and… Anyway, my point is that everyone loves a good adventure and this issue of Old School Gamer is packed with plenty of ’em! So put on your Elven cape, grab your walking stick and climb on in!

In This Issue

iiRcade
King’s Quest
Jane Jensen at Sierra
Early NES Adventures
The Jaded Gamer
Click Bait
Sega’s Early Adventures
What’s Old Is New
End of Days: Famicom Disk System
Zelda Hits 35
WWF Wrestlefest
Retromania Wrestling
Issue #22 (May 2021) - Old School Gamer - The Racing Issue

The Racing Issue

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like to race. What’s not to like? That feeling you get when you strap yourself in… the scream of engines being revved to the Red Line… the G-forces pushing you back into your seat as your stomp on the gas pedal… the acrid smell of rubber as white clouds of smoke billow from your tires… the scenery that blurs as you accelerate… the thrill of victory as you blow past your opponent… the red light flashing from the Highway Patrol car behind you… the cold steel of the handcuffs… but I digress… If you love going fast, then this is the issue of Old School Gamer magazine for you! So pull on those Italian leather racing gloves and grab this issue!!! Gareggiamo!

In This Issue

iiRcade – Wanna Know What’s New
Outrun
Pit Stop II
Brett Weiss’s Bargain Bin
Sega Turbo
Hard Drivin’
Cruisi’n USA
Mario Kart
End of Days: C64
Minicab Reviews
Game Gear: Glen’s Retro Show
Save the Cade – Arkadia – Arkansas
Nox Archaist
Once Upon Atari

 

Issue #21 (March 2021) - Old School Gamer - The First Person Shooters Issue

The First Person Shooters Issue

If there’s one thing I love almost as much as I love guitars, it’s guns… all kinds of guns. I’ve fired everything from a pellet rifle to an M55 self-propelled gun. There’s just something special about pulling a lanyard and then seeing the top of a hill 12 miles away disappear with a huge BOOM! Maybe that’s why I’m such a huge fan of First Person Shooters. I just really like that feeling of reaching out and fatally touching someone… it could be an alien, a Nazi Storm Trooper, a Wild West outlaw… heck, it could even be a laughing dog… We’ve got all kinds of great FPS articles in this issue. All you’ve got to do is set your sights on the pages and squeeze the trigger.

In This Issue

iiRcade – Wanna Know What’s New
Strife: What’s Old Was New Again
Powerslave: Play Like AN Egyptian
Light Gun Games
Dragon’s Lair
Wolfenstein 3D
End of Days: 32X and Spiderman Web of Fire
First Person Nausia
Disruptor: Graig Stitt Reminisces
John Romero Reveals All Things W3d
Major Havoc
Old School Gamer Bookshelf

 

Issue #20 (January 2021) - Old School Gamer - The Late 1990s Issue

The Late 1990s Issue

The one thing I remember most about the Late 90s was when they ended at Y2K. 1999 for me wasn’t a Prince song; it was more like a Mad Max movie, as I stockpiled everything I could think of to survive the collapse of society: guns, ammo, body armor, food, water… you name it, I had it! Just like this issue of Old School Gamer magazine! We’ve got the games that made the Late 90s a great time to be alive: Resident Evil, Pokemon, Quake, Croc, Clock Tower, and NHL FaceOff ’98! If that isn’t enough, we’ve also got 25 years of E3 memories (without the hangovers!), another iiRcade Report, a trip into Walter Day’s mind, and my tutorial on demented architecture… no, really! This issue is really packing a lot of heat… just like I am… you know, I look pretty cool in my MOPP suit…

In This Issue

iiRcade: Bring It Home
Tiger Games – Cheaper Was Better?
Game Boy – Early Arcade Ports
Gamegear – Hey It Tried…
The Unpopular Ones – Ever Heard of These
Game Bioy Color – Not Just The Case
Theme vs. Design
Hidden Gems – N64
Diary of an Arcade Employee
Intellivision Amico – The Future is Now!
Barfighter – You Win Beer!!!
End of Days – The Virtual Boy
The Atari 2600 Encyclopedia
Ed Logg – Rock Star Asteroids Rocks!
The Jaded Gamer – SB2 Glossary
Joel Billings – SSI Simulations

Old School Gamer 2020 Back Issues

Issue #19 (November 2020) - Old School Gamer - The Handhelds

The Handhelds Issue

Handhelds… What the heck isn’t a handheld device in this day and age? You’ve got handheld phones (I don’t, but that’s another story…), handheld computers… come to think of it, if you’re reading this printed magazine, even it could be considered a handheld device. What we have here are a collection of stories about all the great (and some not so great) handheld games: Tiger Games, the GameBoy, the GameBoy Color, the Game Gear, and one or two more that you might not even know about! Handhelds… we got your handhelds right here! Plus a whole bunch of other great stuff: Asteroids, BarFighter, SSI games, the Virtual Boy, Squids and an interview with an Arcade Employee! So pick up this handheld magazine and get into it!

In This Issue

iiRcade: Bring It Home
Tiger Games – Cheaper Was Better?
Game Boy – Early Arcade Ports
Gamegear – Hey It Tried…
The Unpopular Ones – Ever Heard of These
Game Bioy Color – Not Just The Case
Theme vs. Design
Hidden Gems – N64
Diary of an Arcade Employee
Intellivision Amico – The Future is Now!
Barfighter – You Win Beer!!!
End of Days – The Virtual Boy
The Atari 2600 Encyclopedia
Ed Logg – Rock Star Asteroids Rocks!
The Jaded Gamer – SB2 Glossary
Joel Billings – SSI Simulations

 

Issue #18 (September 2020) - Old School Gamer - The 1990s

The 1990s Theme Issue

The early 90s was a time for change. I went from being a mainframe programmer at a major telephone company to a Managing Editor at Game Players. Grunge stabbed Hair Metal in the back with a rusty fork and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, except for Axel Rose. Ren and Stimpy took over Saturday mornings and no one would ever look at cartoons the same way again.  Here at OSG magazine, we’ve got Adam Goldberg and Jeff Peters! We’ve got NHLPA 93 and Burning Force, along with Final Fight and Virtual Bart. We’ve also got Revolution X featuring Aerosmith, who still kept a-rolling despite the rusty fork in their backs. So grab your beverage of choice, settle down in your comfy chair, and dig in to Issue 18 of Old School Gamer Magazine – The Early 90s!

In This Issue

Adam F. Goldberg – Still a NES Kid
IIRCADE – Ready For Your Home
NHLPA 93 – Fight For Fun
Final Fight – Hit ‘Em Hard
Virtual Bart – Don’t Have A Cow
Jaded Gamer – Walking The Dog
Burning Force – A Hidden Gem
Gaming News: Robbie Lakeman
World Record Update: Billy Mitchell / Paul Tesi
Revolution X / Kerri Hoskins
Pinball
End of Days: Sega Master System
TETRIS Community Update
NES Reviews
Jeff Peters: The Early Days
OTTUMWA: The Gaming Capital of the World

 

Issue #17 (July 2020) - Old School Gamer - Air and Space

Air & Space Theme Issue

Roger, Houston, that’s an affirmative. The suit is perfoming wonderfully. I can hardly tell I went… Ready to continue with pre-launch checklist, Flight Leader. ToeJam and Earl… check… StarFox… roger that… Warhawk… one moment, Houston… uh, check… Space Invaders is a go… Cobra Commander… COBRA COMMANDER? WHERE IS THAT RAT BASTARD? What? Cobra Command… It’s a game? Oh… Uh, that’s a go… Wild Bill Sealey is good to go… Pre-launch checklist is complete, Houston. Payload inventory is complete: Donkey Kong, and Walter Day’s Trading Cards are all secure in the Payload Bay.

Old School Gamer Issue 17 (Air & Space) is ready for launch. Internals are set. Ignition is in 10… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four… three… Hey, wait a minute… I forgot my lunch… If you’ve got questions, I’ve got answers. If you’ve got comments, I will listen, but I reserve the right to bust out laughing any time I want. Send me what you got. I’ll take it from there. My email is billd.oldschoolgamer@gmail.com.

In This Issue

Toe Jam & Earl
The Starworlds Arcade
Starfox
Space Invaders
Cobra Commander
Yars Revenge
Warhawk
End of Days: Warios Woods
Donkey Kong
Walter Day’s Trading Cards
eSports vs. Chris Tang
Wild Bill Sealey: The Microprose Years
Issue #16 (May 2020) - Old School Gamer - Late 1980's

Late 1980’s Theme Issue

Welcome to the Thunderdome! Two men enter; one man leaves. IT’S DYIN’ TIME!!!… Oops! Sorry… I was reliving the late 80’s… Not an easy task if you were as crazy as I was back then. What we have here is the Late 80’s issue of OSG, loaded with incredible stories about Double Dragons, Robot Monsters, the End Of Days, Defenders, Game-Changing Consoles, Insane Asylums, and a hedgehog named Lizzy. So grab a cold one and dive into gaming history!
I’d like to apologize to Richard Moss for accidently omitting him from The Scribes section. His piece “Mac Attack” was a great expose of shooters that appeared on Apple computers.
Hey, If you’ve got something to say about our labor of love here, feel free to shoot me an email. I’d love to hear from y’all! My email is billd.oldschoolgamer@gmail.com.

In This Issue

Prince of Persia
Robot Monsters!
MSX2: Game Changer
End of Days: Magic Knight Rayearth
Defender: Eugene Jarvis Interview
80’s Arcade Life
The Jaded Gamer: Adventure Writer
Genesis: The Launch Games
Sega Does What Nintendon’t
Double Dragon
The Lizzy Hedgehog Story
Float In The Fizzy Tunnel
Game Gear
Super Arcade Controller
Retron HD Console
Issue #15 (March 2020) - Old School Gamer - Shooters

Shooters Theme Issue

Howdy, folks! My name is Bill Donohue, and it looks like I’ll be filling up this box now. If you know me, you know I’m a huge gun fan, real or pixelated. So I’m real happy about Issue 15… SHOOTERS! We’ve got shooters you’ve probably never heard of. We’ve got shooters that existed only on Macs. We’ve also got the classics: Duck Hunt (You know dog is delicious, right?), Sinistar (Face it, the only thing getting eaten is you), and Airborne Ranger (Foon!). So hunker down and set your sights on Issue 15 of Old School Gamer. Drop me a line sometime. I’d love to hear from the folks we do this for. My email is billd.oldschoolgamer@gmail.com.  Bill Donohue, Editor

In This Issue

Konami Shooters
Duck Hunt
Brett’s Old School Bargain Bin
The Jaded Gamer: MMU812A
Mac Attack
Metalstorm
The Super Spy
Breakout
Video Game Box Art
Interview with Jim Levy
Sinistar: Noah Falstein
The Game Scholar: War Games
You Can’t Call It… #!%%$!
Ultimate Guide to the NES Library 1985-1995
Issue #14 (January 2020) - Old School Gamer - Early 1980s

Shooters Theme Issue

We’re very excited to present issue 14 of Old School Gamer Magazine. I’ve been on board since issue 3 and it’s been incredible to see the response and acceptance of OSGM by the community during that time. In this issue, we have an interview with Bob DeCrescenzo, a preeminent Atari homebrew creator. We also have some excellent ColecoVision stories as well as fantastic pieces from our regular contributors. As always, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out @ brian@ oldschoolgamer.com. Enjoy! Brian

 

In This Issue

Nolan Bushnell Interview
Designer of the ColecoVision
Brett’s Old School Bargain Bin
Modern Retro Programming
A Tale of Two Consoles
The Jaded Gamer
Coins Detected In Pocket
The Game Scholar
Moon Patrol!
The Walter Day Report
2020 OSG Events Calendar
Game Gear
HC One-Up NES Arcade Stick
Hyperkin HDTV Cable
Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro
Bleeps On Wax

Old School Gamer 2019 Back Issues

Issue #13 - Old School Gamer (November 2019) - Puzzle Games

Puzzle Games Special Issue

It’s lucky issue number 13, and in this edition we explore the world of puzzle games. We’ve brought in some exciting new writers for this issue, and we also continue our insightful pieces by Howard Scott Warshaw and Walter Day. This is an issue you need to read from cover to cover (or top to bottom as it were). We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed creating it! Brian

In This Issue

Myst
Myst: Solve the Original in 30 Minutes?
Tetris in Pop Culture
Puzzle De Pon!
Tetris Attack and Zoop
The Birth of an Arcade
OSG Events Calendar
Game Scholar: Plug and Plays
The Best Video Game In The World
Bomb Squad or Boom Goes The Dynamite
30 Years of the TurboGrafx-16
Convention and Event Update
Designing Yar’s Revenge – The Sizzle
Underground Retrocade
1990 NWC vs. Dave ‘DLo’ Lopez
It’s A Burgertime Party
EveoRetroing Out Your Nintendo Switch
Street Fighter Replicade
NES Encyclopedia
Art of Point-And-Click Adventure Game
Killer Queen Black
Coffee Break Shootout and Total Refill
Sorry Sony
Great Retro Shops

 

Issue #12 - Old School Gamer (September 2019) - The 1970's

The 1970’s Special Issue

In This Issue

Magnavox Odyssey
A Conversation with Nolan Bushnell, Part 1
Space Wars
Colossal Cave Adventure 1976
Exploring The Classic Text Adventures
That 70s Show
Space Invaders
So You Want To Be A YouTuber
OSG Events Calendar
Convention Update
eStarland
Entering the Digitized Era – Part 3
Designing Yar’s Revenge – Part 1
8 Bit Hall of Fame
Nickelworld
Then and Now – Pac-Man
Joust and Lonnie McDonald
3 Arcade Cabinets
Faster Than Light
Sega Master System: A Visual Compendium
Great Retro Shops

 

Issue #11 - Old School Gamer (July 2019) - Platformers

Platformers Special Issue

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Brian Szarek, Editor for Old School Gamer Magazine. I’ve been with OSGM since the second issue. After reading the first issue I knew that I had to be a part of this in some way. Old School Gamer Magazine is really quite unique and fills a void in the retro gaming community. While there are some great online resources, podcasts and YouTube content providers out there, a bi-monthly print and digital magazine featuring all-new content from some of the industry’s top writers is always a great read. All of our writers are excellent and bring interesting and unique perspectives.

While we’ve had top industry writers, such as Brett Weiss, Michael Thomasson, and Walter Day, writing for OSGM since the beginning, this issue we’ve added one of the top names since nearly the very beginning of home console gaming: Howard Scott Warshaw.

With this exciting new addition, we’d also like to create a new section called “Ask the Editor”. Email me directly with any recommendations for stories, themes, content, or anything else on your mind as it relates to the publication. In the forthcoming issues we’ll take a random sample of the submissions and respond, in kind. We’re here to make this the best magazine possible, and your input is critical. We
look forward to hearing from you soon! Brian Szarek – Editor brian@oldschoolgamermagazine.com

In This Issue

Ninja Gaiden
Earthworm Jim
Space Panic
Smurf: Rescue / Pitfall Mayan Adventure
Oping On Designing
Analogue In A Digital World
Atari Program Exchange
Ed Hathaway of NE Ohio
OSG Events Calendar
Convention Update
Misadventures in the Golden Age
Honoring A Pioneer
Mysterious Case of Pseudo-Sonic
Kelsey Lewin
Retro games on Modern Consoles
Nintendo 64
Great Retro Shops

 

Issue #10 - Old School Gamer (July 2019) - Platformers

Platformers Special Issue

In This Issue

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Arcades: The Granddaddy of Social Media
Warlords
Warlords and Mega Bomberman
Ice Cold Beer and Arcade Tournaments
Entering the Digitized Era – Part 2
ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove
Tecmo Bowl
OSG Events Calendar
Convention Update
Contra
What’s In A Name?
3 Big Books
The Game Chasers
Retro Games On Modern Consoles
Nintendo Game Cube Pricer
Who’s On The Cover?
Great Retro Shops

 

Issue #09 - Old School Gamer (March 2019) - Simulators

Simulators Special Issue

In This Issue

The Sims
Turn and Burn
Fox’s Game: Lucasfilm, Mirage
Driver and Driver 2
Behind Enemy Lines
Asteroids and Beamrider
Flip Grip: Bullet Heaven
Old Atari on Switch
Entering the Digitzed Era – Part 1
Intruder Alert… Intruder Alert!
Wonderful World of Arcade Simulators
Dan Kitchen: 2600 to Modern and Back
Dr. Mario and Packie
Buying With The Captain!
Game Swappers of SoCal
Frank Schwartraubner
Video Games Debut at Heritage Auctions
New Books on Old School Gaming Topics
Super Nintendo Pricer
Great Retro Shops

 

Issue #08 - Old School Gamer (January 2019) - Shooters / SHMUPS

Shooters / SHMUPS Special Issue

In This Issue

Galaga
An R-Type Revival
Atari 2600 Shooters
Thunderforce
The Art of Shooting
32X – Star Wars Arcade
Retroplace
Origins of the Name Pac-Man
Killer App: Star Raiders
Convention Update
OSG Events Calendar
Darius Series
Tetris and Joseph Saelee
Joel West
Feel The Joy(Stick)
Oh My Gosh, They Are So Small!
Jason Knigge
History of Starpath Corporation / Supercharger
Arcade 1Up
Great Retro Shops

 

Old School Gamer 2017-2018 Back Issues

Issue #07 (November 2018) - Old School Gamer - Fighting Games

Fighting Games Special Issue

In This Issue

Enter the Fatality: Mortal Kombat
Sega vs. Nintendo
My Experience as a Expert Witness
The Untold Story of Highlander
Hopping Zombie Vampires
Requiem for Game Room
Old School Stuff
Shareware
Battlezone
The Adventures of Stuart Smith
Convention Update
OSG Events Calendar
Reading the Classics
Street Fighter II Turbo
Before the Dawn of the Street Fighter Age
Beavis and Butthead
Jayden Burke
Pole Position and Michael Klug
About Atari: Jamie Lendino Books
The C64 Mini
Rec Room Masters: AlphaCade
Game Shell
Game-O-Tron
ARpiCade: Raspberry JAMMA
Great Retro Shops

 

Issue #06 (September 2018) - Old School Gamer - Pop Culture

Pop Culture Special Issue

In This Issue

Super Mario Bros.: The Movie
Tron
Rampage Double Feature
Fat Albert Saves The Day
Stuff
Diff’rent Strokes and the Shoot-Out
Video Games Live: Tommy Tallarico
Intellivision Entertainment
How Contagious Was Pac-Man Fever
Happy Meal Toys and Fast Food Tie-Ins
The Strong Museum of Play
Convention Calendar
The Movie Favs
Game and Market Watch
SNES Favorites
REBOOTED: Making Old New Again
Preserving History
Stacy Burns
The Power of Glove
Convention Update
Digital Press Video Games
CDi, Turbografx16, Vectrex Pricer
Great Retro Shops

 

Issue #05 (July 2018) - Old School Gamer - Sports

Sports Special Issue

In This Issue

Stuff
BoomShakaLaka with NBA Jam
Mutant League Football: The Interview
Early Computer Baseball
I Didn’t Know My Retro Console Could Do That!
The Sporting Life: Sports Controllers
From Pigskin to Pixels: Atari Football
Old School Event Calendar
Going For Golden Eye
Sports Games
‘YER OUT: 2600 vs. Intellivision
Sports in the Arcade
G.O.A.T.’s of the 21st Century Pt 2
Josh Neels
Convention Update
Take Care of Those Consoles
Remembering the Arcade Industry Trade Shows
Cool Control from Retro-Bit
ColecoVision and Intellivision Pricer
Issue #04 (May 2018) - Old School Gamer - Maze Games

RPGs Special Issue

In This Issue

A Selected History of RPGs
Role Playing Games
Nox Archaist
Just for Qix: Cadash
Old School Event Calendar
Wizardry Talk
Evolution of Role-Playing Games in Japan
Lord British Meetup
Brett’s Old School Bargain Bin Dungeons and Dragons
G.O.A.T.’s of the 21st Century
A Few Minutes with Buck Stein
Interview with Video Games Monthly
I Have The Power: Super RetroCade
Boss Fight Books
Convention Update
Man vs. Snake
45 Years of Arcade Gaming: The 1990s
Keyboard Creations
Sega 32x and Sega CD Pricer
Issue #03 (March 2018) - Old School Gamer - Maze Games

Maze Games Special Issue

In This Issue

A Selected History of Maze Games
Pac-Man Merchandising
Just For Qix: Wizard of Wor
Back in the ’80s Was There A G.O.A.T.
Old School Gamer Event Calendar
Hyperkin Supa RetroN HD
Game and Market Watch
Atari 2600 Arcade Companion
Raspi-Boy
Retro City Festival in SoCal
Q*Bert’s Dad Warren Davis
|Official Magazine of RSW
NES Oddities & The Homebrew Revolution
30 Years of Arcade Auctions In Iowa
King of Arcades
Mouse Trap and Ms. Pac-Man
45 Years of Arcade gaming: 1984-1989
Revising History
Mini Arcades / My Arcades
Sega Genesis Pricer
Issue #02 (January 2018) - Old School Gamer - Kong

Kong

In This Issue

Portland Classic Gaming Expo
Old School Pinball and Arcade
When President Ronald Reagan Almost Came To Twin Galaxies
Old School Event Calendar
Nintendo 64 Anthology
A Gamers Paradise in Las Vegas
Game and Market Watch
Free Play Florida
Pinball Hall of Fame
How High Can You Get
Where It All Began
King of Kong Movie Review
35 Years Later We Celebrate
Billy Mitchell
Steve Weibe
Donkey Kong and Beauty and the Beast
45 Years of Arcade Gaming
The Nintendo Odyssey
I Didn’t Know My Retro Console could Do That!
Inside the Play Station, Enter The Dragon
Controlling The Dragon
Playstation 1 Pricer
Issue #01 (November 2017) - Old School Gamer - Premiere Issue

Debut Issue

In This Issue

Classic Game Fest
National Video Game Museum
Billy & Walter Go To The Library of Congress
Old School Gamer Advisory Board
Galloping Ghost Arcade
Get Your Kicks from Qix
Ed Averett is KC Munchkin
KC Munchkin from Odyssey2
Preserving The Past
Old School Bargain Bin: Q*Bert
45 Years of Arcade Gaming: The 1970s
Conversations with Consoles
Hyperkin Retron HD
Retro-Bit RES+
Text Adventures and Early Gaming
Atari 2600 Pricer

Other Great Retro Gaming Magazines From The Past

Old School Gamer has acquired the rights to these magazines to put online for you to enjoy.  They also served the retro gamer market similar to us in the past.

 

Classic Console Magazine

Classic Console Magazine - Five Issues Published in 2014-2015
From their first issue:

Welcome and thank you so much for deciding to read our little publication. In this busy world, you have many choices for your entertainment, and we are honored that you have decided to read our magazine. This first issue is just a single step in what I hope will prove to be a great endeavour. My goal for creating this magazine is to bring together all of us who love retro gaming in one place.

Some of my fondest childhood memories were of being sprawled out on the floor of my parents’ house with NES controller in one hand and guidebook or video game magazine in the other. As I got older, I subscribed to publications such as Game Informer, and enjoyed reading the reviews and tips.

At the time that I thought about starting a magazine such as this several years ago, there was nothing covering retro gaming on the market. This is the cultivation of several years of dreaming and imagining, and I am so happy that it is now becoming a reality.

Now, there are a few other classic gaming magazines that exist, but we have something to offer that they do not. We are 100% FREE and publish monthly! We are here to serve the retro gaming community, and I cannot wait to interact with all of you and read your mail and letters. Remember, this magazine is for all of us, and that includes you!

Josh LaFrance
Editor in Chief

Issue #05 - Classic Console Magazine

Issue #04 - Classic Console Magazine
Issue #03 - Classic Console Magazine

Issue #02 - Classic Console Magazine
Issue #01 - Classic Console Magazine

Classic Gamer Magazine

Classic Gamer Magazine - Eight Issues Published in 1999-2002

In the early 80’s I always looked forward to the next issue of “Electronic Games Magazine.” Month after month the anticipation of waiting for the latest edition would nearly kill me. There was no greater feeling at the time than see- ing the new issue on the magazine rack at my local Long’s Drugstore. Arnie Katz, Bill Kunkel and Joyce Worley delivered, without fail, an informative, entertaining and fun-to- read magazine. After the great video game shake-out in the mid- 80’s, Electronic Games released their final issue. Sadly, it was the end of an era.

As a video game player, the mid- 80’s was a dark time. Atari was a shell of its former self, Activision started producing computer games in order to survive, and the words “video game cartridges” became ob- scene words in the hard hit retail sector. After Nintendo and Sega reinvented the home video gaming industry and the Internet started to explode, people began remember- ing their gaming roots. We dragged our Atari 2600’s out of attics and basements, dusted off our Colecovi- sions, and once again cursed at our

Intellivision controllers (and wished we had kept our Vectrex system!). The magic seemed to be back for us. But it never really left, did it? We just temporarily stored it away.

Once again we manned tanks in Combat and became Star Raiders. We swore along with Q*Bert, swung from vines with Pitfall Harry, and wondered if we could still earn those Activision patches. “Doom and Quake who?” We even paid Pac-Man and E.T. a return visit on the VCS (although, understanda- bly, probably not for very long.)

On the Internet we found we weren’t alone. “Finally! Someone who understands my quest for game cartridges and lost systems!” Now we trade, sell and auction our classic favorites freely on the World Wide Web (and keep each other in line to make sure that we aren’t rip- ping each other off!) We scour the flea markets digging through dusty boxes and when passing a garage sale we can’t help but think, “I won- der if there are any rare cartridges there?” Of course, when we’re done searching and weary from the day’s hunt we log back on to the Internet and brag of our rare finds

or missed opportunities to envious and sympathetic ears.

Since the fun is back in playing these classics we thought it only wise to publish a magazine dedi- cated to the games of yore. Whether you are a hardcore collec- tor, casual hobbyist or just like to play a game of Asteroids every now and again we hope you find this magazine fun, informative, and en- tertaining. Inside you’ll find news, reviews, humor, opinion columns, where to find the best classic gam- ing websites, and of course, “The Legend of BIRA BIRA.”

While our magazine can only hope to achieve the greatness of Katz, Kunkel and Worley’s “Electronic Games,” we hope you enjoy this first issue of Classic Gamer Magazine.

-Chris Cavanaugh Editor-in-Chief

Issue #08 - Classic Gamer Magazine

Issue #07 - Classic Gamer Magazine
Issue #06 - Classic Gamer Magazine
Issue #05 - Classic Gamer Magazine
Issue #04 - Classic Gamer Magazine
Issue #03 - Classic Gamer Magazine
Issue #02 - Classic Gamer Magazine
Issue #01 - Classic Gamer Magazine

Video Game Trader

Video Game Trader - Thirty Five Issues Published in 2007-2015
A new year, a new look. Well, after only one issue, I have decided to make a major change to this project. I am changing the format from simple price guide, to a magazine. 

Why this change? Above all else, I want the magazine to be valuable to people. After some feedback ( I use the word loosely) from the classic community, it is apparent that, simply a price guide is not valuable. 

Therefore the format is changed. Another change is to make the magazine a monthly publication, instead of a quarterly publication. Because of this change, I will need all of your help. The magazine will need articles, reviews, historical documents. Anyone that wishes to volunteer his or her time is welcome to contact me. There are no experience requirements at all. 

Also, if you run a website that contains interviews, articles, pictures. I would like to be able to use them. Any article or picture that I use will be linked to the original. For any printed version of the Magazine, the author will receive free advertising. 

So, what other changes are in the future? I am not sure, but welcome your comments. If you feel we have missed a title or think the prices are incorrect in the guide, please send us an email. Or if you just have a question or suggestion. We will print the letters and answers. Our address is vgtnj@aol.com. Please put PRICE GUIDE on the subject line. The one change we are considering is to make the magazine a completely FREE publication, funded by advertising. 

If you enjoy our magazine and want it to continue, I asked you join our Google group. Even if you don’t participate in discussions, you will be showing your support by just joining. This will give us an idea as to how many people are reading .

Issue #35 - Video Game Trader

Issue #34 - Video Game Trader
Issue #33 - Video Game Trader
Issue #32 - Video Game Trader
Issue #31 - Video Game Trader
Issue #30 - Video Game Trader
Issue #29 - Video Game Trader
Issue #28 - Video Game Trader
Issue #27 - Video Game Trader
Issue #26 - Video Game Trader
Issue #25 - Video Game Trader
Issue #24 - Video Game Trader
Issue #23 - Video Game Trader
Issue #22 - Video Game Trader
Issue #21 - Video Game Trader
Issue #20 - Video Game Trader
Issue #19 - Video Game Trader
Issue #18 - Video Game Trader
Issue #17 - Video Game Trader
Issue #16 - Video Game Trader
Issue #15 - Video Game Trader
Issue #14 - Video Game Trader
Issue #13 - Video Game Trader
Issue #12 - Video Game Trader
Issue #11 - Video Game Trader
Issue #10 - Video Game Trader
Issue #09 - Video Game Trader
Issue #08 - Video Game Trader
Issue #07 - Video Game Trader
Issue #06 - Video Game Trader
Issue #05 - Video Game Trader
Issue #04 - Video Game Trader
Issue #03 - Video Game Trader

Issue #02 - Video Game Trader
Issue #01 - Video Game Trader