Gameboy in the dirt

Blowing in the Cartridge: Retro Gaming’s Favorite Fix

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, chances are you remember the ritual. The game wouldn’t start, the screen flickered, and before long you found yourself removing the cartridge, giving it a good puff of air, and trying again. Magically, it often worked, or seemed to. The blowing method became a universal reflex […]

Pikachu figure in grass

Catching Them All: The Story of Pokémon’s First Two Generations

Few game franchises have captured hearts (and wallets) quite like Pokémon. What began as a pair of humble Game Boy cartridges in 1996 became a worldwide cultural phenomenon that still thrives nearly three decades later. The first two generations of Pokémon games not only defined the series but also helped shape modern handheld gaming itself. […]

Virtual Boy console

The Nintendo Virtual Boy: Gaming’s Boldest Misstep

In the mid-1990s, Nintendo stood atop the gaming world. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System was thriving, and the company’s next big console was already in development. Yet between the 16-bit and 64-bit eras, Nintendo took a strange detour, one that remains one of the most infamous experiments in gaming history. That detour was the Virtual […]

Mario and Luigi toys

The Evolution of Mario: From Arcade Plumber to Global Icon

Few characters in gaming history have achieved the legendary status of Mario. Since his debut more than four decades ago, Nintendo’s mustachioed hero has become one of the most recognizable figures in entertainment. His journey from a humble arcade sprite to a worldwide cultural icon mirrors the growth of the video game industry itself. 1981: […]

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