[ Fuzzy Memory ] Mouse and Snake Labyrinth Game
Every once and a while, I receive emails from people looking for a certain game, electronic toy, or computer from their distant past. I then pass it on to intrepid VC&G readers to crack the case....
View Article[ Retro Scan ] 9.9.99 – Dreamcast Turns 20 in America
Gaming used to be very painful On September 9, 1999, Sega launched the Dreamcast in America. This is one of its pre-launch print ads. 20 years later, I am still not sure exactly how to interpret this...
View ArticleThe VC&G Christmas Collection (2019 Edition)
It’s that time of year again: the Yuletide. Over the past eight years, I’ve been posting an annual collection of all the Christmas-related tech material I’ve written (both for this site and for others)...
View Article[ VC&G Anthology ] The Ghosts of Christmas Games Past
The Christmas Games of Yesteryear Of the tens of thousands of video and computer games released since the 1970s, few have featured Christmas themes. That’s surprising considering that the holiday is an...
View ArticleAtari 800 Turns 40
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Atari 400 and Atari 800 home computers — Atari released them in the fall of 1979. (Many sources say November 1979, but I found some newspaper references to...
View ArticleBenj Writes History at How-To Geek
Back in February, I landed a full-time job at How-To Geek as a Staff Writer. It’s been a great gig, and I am enjoying helping people with tricky (and sometimes very simple) tech problems. I’ve written...
View Article[ Retro Scan ] The 1989 Game Boy Box
Now you’re playing with…glowing robot hands?! Brother and sister are finally getting along with “Multiple Player Action.” A friend recently noticed I haven’t posted a new Retro Scan since 2019 (by the...
View ArticleWowzers! 46 More How-To Geek History Articles
I joined How-To Geek in February 2020, and I’ve been regularly writing tech history-related features in addition to my usual how-to pieces. At the moment, they’re usually published every Monday or on...
View Article[ VC&G Anthology ] The Making of Pong (2012)
Atari founders circa 1972-73 (from left to right):Ted Dabney, Nolan Bushnell, Larry Emmons, and Allan Alcorn [ Atari Pong turns 50 years old today, and I thought it might be fun to revisit an article I...
View ArticleI co-wrote a book about the Virtual Boy for MIT Press
Platform Studies book from Zagal and Edwards launches May 14, 2024. Attention video game fans! I co-wrote an MIT Press Platform Studies book called Seeing Red: Nintendo’s Virtual Boy with Dr. Jose...
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