At our house, we enjoy playing our Atari 2600 quite a bit, since the games have such a simple brilliance. Sometimes though, it’s nice to play something on our main flat screen TV, not the Trinitron (CRT television). When I discovered that the RetroN 77 emulation console lets you do Atari in HD, I got interested. 720p, here we come.

I got my start playing video and computer games as a kid in the mid 70s, so I have seen how dramatically they have changed over the years. Yet, I keep being drawn back to the old-school gaming experiences. I initially wondered if it was just nostalgia, but after watching how kids react to them, I figured it must be something more.

I started out on text adventures as a kid, so it was natural to introduce my daughter to them when she got to be about the same age. Coming back was like stepping into a favorite book I hadn’t opened in a long time, and I was surprised at how refreshing the contemplative style and pacing are in today’s world of sensory overload.

I was astonished when I discovered text adventures in the early days - the perfect combination of written stories and computers. It felt like stepping through the looking glass. Even today, they still radiate that deep charm. Getting inside a story, and using imagination to unravel a mysterious scenario never goes out of style. 

When I bought my C64 Mini, I was very interested to discover that it didn’t just have pre-loaded games, but also included C64 BASIC. BASIC is the original programming language designed for the average person, and it’s still a great way to play some fun games while you learn about coding logic.

One of the joys of retro gaming is the opportunity to get things you never had “back in the day.” So it was with great enthusiasm that I laid hold of a vintage “breadbin” Commodore 64 (actually, it was a box with 3 of them). Fortunately, I had already heard about how the old ”Brick of Death” power supplies can fry your motherboard, and I dodged a bullet.

I love it when I make a great find - a game, or console that I’ve been wanting. Often times though, because we’re talking about older, used items, they often show signs of use. Grunge, stickers, and even Sharpie marker. I don’t let this stuff put me off, since there are plenty of ways to make it pristine.

It was very cool to discover that I could play Japanese Famicom and Super Famicom games here in the U.S. This opened up a whole new world of games with a very different style and flavor. However, after a bit of experimentation, I started wondering how I could get past the language barrier. New tech to the rescue.

While playing recently on my NES, I saw game characters start to flicker, and it reminded me how much things have changed since the 80s. Vintage hardware had real limitations, and creative workarounds led to some familiar behaviors, like “sprite flicker” where characters sometimes flash quickly - a clever solution to maxing out the system’s abilities.

Back in the day, Atari controllers seemed darned near indestructible. Now, 40 years later, they sometimes have issues, due to being around so long. The Atari paddle controllers have one main part where the difficulty shows up: The potentiometer - the part that turns your twisting into signals the Atari understands. Many times, they are just dirty from being 40 years old, and you can clean them without too much trouble.

When I realized I could play Japanese Famicom (and Super Famicom) games, I was pretty jazzed. But I had already figured out how important it is to thoroughly clean the contacts on my games. If I don’t, they don't always work consistently, and might gunk my console cartridge slot. So as soon as I got a look at the Famicom cartridge case - no screws - I realized I had a challenge on my hands.

When I first started out playing my new-to-me NES, I would just pop a game in and… it didn’t always work. I know you always see people blowing into their cartridges, but I had heard that was a bad idea. So what is the right way to get a game working properly?

I was very excited to get my hands on an NES again after so long. It was in great-looking shape, but when I popped in a game, I got a blinking red power light, and black screen. What would I need to do to get my games to play? Fortunately, I already knew about this common issue: the NES 72-pin connector.

I never owned a Commodore 64 during the 80s, but when I started reading about its revival via the new C64 Mini and full-size C64 Maxi, I sat up and took notice. Not only do they come pre-loaded with 64 games (similar to many “classic” versions being released for other systems), but it’s designed to let you load games via disk files on a USB stick. This opens the door for newly produced Commodore 64 games.

I was very excited when I got a great deal on an Intellivision 2 console. But like most of these, mine came without a power supply. Original power supplies are not always easy to come by, and I’m wary of off-brand units that could have quality and safety issues. So what’s a good substitute?

I understand why people like to collect more exotic hardware, like a real Super Famicom. For me though, the idea that I could play games from the Japanese game catalog without having to get a dedicated Japanese console was an attractive idea. When I researched, I found several worthwhile options, starting with some free ones.

When I first came back to retro games, it was well after flatpanel HDTVs had taken over the market. Hooking my Super Nintendo up to my HDTV with an RCA-to-coax adapter was easy, but gave me grungy results. So what’s the best way to play my retro game consoles?

When I owned my original NES back in the 80s, the Famicom, or “Family Computer” market (the Japanese version of the NES) was not on my radar. But now that I can get my hands on these Japanese game cartridges, will they work in my NES?

I found myself wondering why I would want a game console from the 70s, when it’s well into the 21st century. Was it nostalgia? Sure, but that was only a slice of the pie. My “tween” daughter was having fun playing it, too. She kept coming back and asking to get some time on Breakout. What charm could such a primitive console really have outside of nostalgia? As it turns out, quite a bit.

When I got back into retro games and bought a console, I got an Atari 2600 and a SNES (Super Nintendo) at $20 for the pair. All the cartridges I bought were less than $5. But often now, I’m seeing some steep prices. What’s up?

NES cartridges were a departure from the standard form factor at the time. They are thinner, but bigger overall. The first time I opened up an NES cartridge, I was surprised at the small size of the actual electronics, and large amount of empty space. Why is the cartridge so big?