Johnny Happy Console Gamer shows the video games and collectables he picked up at the Portland Retro Gaming Expo (PRGE).
Happy Console Gamer is like your ultra-nostalgic, joyfully eccentric friend who treats each old video game like it’s an ancient artifact unearthed from a forgotten age. Johnny, the channel’s mastermind, is all about spreading the love for classic games with a near-spiritual enthusiasm that could make you feel genuinely moved about, say, Faxanadu or the “magic” of the Dreamcast. His set? A retro wonderland filled with neon lights, towering game stacks, and anime treasures that practically smell of vintage 80s bliss. Tune in if you want a warm, nerdy hug of gaming nostalgia—because Johnny is on a lifelong quest to make sure everyone knows just how amazing his childhood games really were.
Lon.Tv shares what he uses to play retro video games, from the original Atari and NES to Sega Saturn, PS2 and even Xbox 360. Lots of good info and solutions from the MiSter project, to emulation on the Steam Deck and connecting to a CRT with a lightgun. Good stuff!
Here are some of the most beloved methods for diving back into the retro video game classics:
1. The Raspberry Pi Shrine
Imagine a small, raspberry-sized computer you can worship for all its retro gaming glory. People pour their heart and soul into decorating their Raspberry Pi cases with LED lights, custom decals, and little totems of Mario or Sonic. You might think it’s overkill for a device that could fit in your pocket, but retro gamers know the joy of transforming a $40 gadget into a virtual time machine. Just don’t forget to bring a magnifying glass to actually play anything.
2. The “Totally Legit” Desktop Emulator
This setup requires downloading highly legitimate copies of Super Mario World, meticulously organizing every ROM, and downloading the fanciest emulator to get that authentic “my computer is on fire” experience. Between tweaking settings to get the frame rate perfect and dodging ads on those sketchy ROM websites, this is a labor of love that teaches patience. Bonus points if you manage to find one that doesn’t crash every time Mario jumps.
3. The Franken-console Build
There’s an entire subculture of folks who would rather hack old consoles themselves than use a plug-and-play emulator. Dust off an old NES, unscrew some plastic, add a Pi Zero or some hidden SD slot, and voilà – you’ve got a barely-working Frankenstein console that plays everything from Pong to EarthBound. Sometimes it even works. Other times it sparks. Either way, that soldering iron burn on your hand is proof you’re hardcore.
4. The Flash Drive of Mystery
This one’s for the committed and resourceful: they carry a flash drive loaded with emulators and ROMs everywhere. Plug it into any unsuspecting device – your grandma’s old Windows 7 laptop, a friend’s smart fridge, the work computer during a lunch break – and boom, they’re deep in a game of Zelda II before you can say “IT support.” The trick is having a thumb drive so suspiciously loaded with games, you’re ready for any retro gaming challenge that comes your way.
5. The All-in-One Retro Handheld – aka “The Portable Time Machine”
Why settle for modern graphics on the go when you can have a handheld that fits in your hand, overheats, and drains battery in mere minutes? With brands like Anbernic and Retroid pumping out nostalgia-packed handhelds, you’re basically carrying an entire arcade in your pocket. Be prepared to explain to people why you’re “playing Game Boy in the 2020s.” (Just flash a picture of Tetris and say, “Because it’s Tetris!”)
6. The Couch Potato Box – aka the Mini Consoles
Remember the NES and SNES Classic consoles? Gamers rushed to buy these little pre-loaded cuties, sat them next to the TV like trophies, and proceeded to play them once before they became collectors’ items. They’re adorable, they’re simple, and they deliver retro bliss straight to your living room without frying your PC – just try not to cry when that non-expandable game list starts feeling a little stale.
These retro emulation methods prove one universal truth: there’s no wrong way to travel back in time to save a princess or collect a ring – as long as you’re almost breaking your device in the process.
The sixth generation of gaming consoles, ah! The early 2000s—a glorious era when tech was just powerful enough to bring our gaming dreams to life, yet clunky enough to make us yell at our TV screens. Picture this:
PlayStation 2 – Sony decided to make a console that doubled as a DVD player. No one cared much for DVDs until the PS2 arrived, and then suddenly, everyone’s mom had a reason to let this console into the living room. It had a library of games longer than the Lord of the Rings series, and you could never resist buying more, even if the backlog was a mile deep. But let’s be honest; we all spent more time replaying Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and running over NPCs.
Xbox – Microsoft’s first foray into the console world, and it showed. This thing was about as subtle as a bulldozer, weighing in heavier than a small child and looking like an oversized VCR on steroids. But it came with Halo, which made it the coolest kid on the block. Multiplayer mayhem on Halo turned living rooms into battlegrounds, and “frag” and “teabag” became part of our vocabularies for the next decade.
Nintendo GameCube – The adorable purple lunchbox that could. Nintendo went for a square design as if they were trolling the competition. Everyone laughed until Super Smash Bros. Melee dropped, and then suddenly no one was laughing because they were all too busy smashing controllers and friendships. It even had a handle, so you could bring it over to a friend’s house—a good thing since you’d need it for Mario Kart Double Dash parties.
Sega Dreamcast – Sega’s final hurrah in the console wars, the Dreamcast was the hip, misunderstood sibling of the generation. It introduced online gaming before any of the others, even though most of us had dial-up Internet slower than a sleepy snail. The Dreamcast had games with more originality than half the consoles since, but its fate was doomed by Sega’s previous console misadventures. It’s like that artist friend you wish had made it big but ended up selling pottery on Etsy.
This generation brought us memory cards, clunky graphics that we thought were “realistic,” and the timeless habit of yelling at your sibling for screen-peeking. If gaming consoles were people, the sixth-gen would be that quirky friend who’s super talented but hasn’t quite figured out how not to make a mess.
Modern Vintage Gamer takes us back to what made the original Wing Commander PC game so special.
Wing Commander is like jumping into a soap opera… in space! Imagine you’re a hotshot pilot battling evil feline overlords called the Kilrathi (think if your cat grew up on bad vibes and space lasers). Your job? To protect the galaxy while bantering with crew members who have enough drama to fill a few seasons of Days of Our Lives. Between missions, you wander the ship like it’s a floating high school, bonding with friends and frenemies alike, where everyone’s perpetually one botched mission away from a total meltdown. It’s basically Top Gun meets The Lion King—if Simba had claws and wanted to vaporize you.
Then there’s the gameplay, which serves up a blend of dogfighting chaos and cinematic tension. One moment, you’re blasting through Kilrathi fighters with a grin, the next you’re facing a mission briefing that sounds suspiciously like an episode recap from Battlestar Galactica. Sometimes you’re sent on reconnaissance (a.k.a. “please don’t die, we need intel”), but more often you’re thrown into the galactic version of a food fight—except the food is lasers, and the lunchroom is filled with explosions. It’s frantic, cheesy, and gloriously over-the-top, making it the perfect interstellar drama for anyone who ever wanted to fight space cats while managing their crewmates’ emotional baggage.
Where my head is at when it comes to Xbox. I give you my thoughts on the new Xbox announcements and tell you what I’m looking forward to in the future…. And I talk a little about Game Pass. WATCH >> https://youtu.be/ciuQHmFoSf4
The Xbox Series consoles are like Microsoft’s love letter to gamers who can’t decide between “super powerful” and “super sleek.” On one hand, you’ve got the Xbox Series X—a rectangular, monolithic fridge look-alike that has the power to launch you into a parallel dimension of 4K gaming. It’s so beefy, it could probably double as a space heater in the winter. Just make sure to keep your snacks out of its vent holes, or you might accidentally toast them. Meanwhile, it’s got more teraflops than most people know what to do with, which sounds impressive, but let’s be honest, most of us are just using it to reload our Skyrim save for the thousandth time.
Then there’s the Xbox Series S, the X’s little sibling that skipped leg day but still manages to be pretty buff. It’s like the cute, mini-fridge version of the Series X—compact enough to tuck under your arm if you need a portable source of frustration when you’re losing at *Fortnite*. Sure, it doesn’t have the same raw power, but it’s the little console that could. The Series S is all like, “Graphics? Who needs ’em, I got speed!” and for those who want to game without taking out a second mortgage, it’s the budget-friendly option that still lets you yell at your TV in glorious 1440p resolution.
Here are five lesser-known horror movie “hidden gems” that have flown under the radar for many but offer unique, chilling, and thought-provoking experiences:
1. Lake Mungo (2008) – Directed by Joel Anderson
An Australian found-footage horror film that blends psychological horror with supernatural elements, Lake Mungo is presented as a mockumentary about a family grieving their daughter’s drowning. It’s eerie and unsettling, relying on atmosphere and emotional depth rather than jump scares. The film’s slow build of dread makes it a standout in the found-footage subgenre.
2. The Invitation (2015) – Directed by Karyn Kusama
This slow-burn psychological thriller follows a man invited to a dinner party at his ex-wife’s house, where the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense and bizarre. The Invitation excels in creating a claustrophobic feeling of paranoia and unease. It’s a masterclass in tension, with a shocking and satisfying climax.
3. Session 9 (2001) – Directed by Brad Anderson
Set in an abandoned mental asylum, Session 9 is an unsettling psychological horror film that follows a crew of asbestos cleaners who begin to experience strange occurrences while working in the decrepit building. The film expertly uses its location to create a haunting atmosphere, with a sense of dread that builds throughout, culminating in a chilling finale.
4. Pontypool (2008) – Directed by Bruce McDonald
A Canadian indie horror, Pontypool offers a unique twist on the zombie/infection genre. Set almost entirely in a radio station, the film follows a shock-jock DJ and his crew as they receive reports of a strange virus spreading across their town. What makes this film distinct is the idea that the virus is spread through language, making for a cerebral and tense experience.
5. The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) – Directed by André Øvredal
This chilling supernatural horror centers around a father-son team of coroners who are tasked with performing an autopsy on an unidentified woman. As they begin their work, they uncover increasingly bizarre and terrifying secrets about the body. The confined setting and excellent pacing make The Autopsy of Jane Doe a hidden gem with a terrifying atmosphere.
These films offer fresh takes on various horror subgenres and deserve a wider audience due to their innovative storytelling, atmosphere, and psychological depth.
The horror genre has evolved significantly over the years, with several films shaping its direction and leaving a lasting impact on both the industry and popular culture. Here are five of the most influential horror movies of all time:
1. Psycho (1960) – Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
Often credited as a game-changer in the genre, Psycho redefined horror by bringing psychological horror into mainstream cinema. The infamous shower scene, along with its intense score, and Norman Bates’ character, left a lasting impact on how fear was depicted onscreen. It also helped to lay the groundwork for the slasher subgenre.
2. The Exorcist (1973) – Directed by William Friedkin
A landmark in horror history, The Exorcist is considered one of the scariest films ever made. Its portrayal of demonic possession and exorcism, coupled with disturbing special effects, shocked audiences and paved the way for supernatural horror films. The film was also one of the first horror films to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
3. Night of the Living Dead (1968) – Directed by George A. Romero
This independent film introduced the modern concept of the zombie to popular culture. Night of the Living Dead revolutionized horror with its raw portrayal of societal collapse and civil unrest, blending political commentary with grotesque horror. It’s the foundation for the zombie subgenre that remains hugely popular today.
4. Halloween (1978) – Directed by John Carpenter
John Carpenter’s Halloween solidified the slasher subgenre, inspiring a wave of imitators. The film’s low-budget success and its use of a masked, unstoppable killer set a formula that many slasher films followed. It also introduced Michael Myers, one of horror’s most iconic characters.
5. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974) – Directed by Tobe Hooper
A gritty, terrifying experience, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre shocked audiences with its visceral brutality and realistic atmosphere. It played a pivotal role in the rise of exploitation horror and inspired countless films that pushed boundaries in terms of gore, fear, and realism.
These films have left indelible marks on the genre, influencing countless directors and subgenres, and remain essential to the history of horror cinema.
We’re heading to Portland Oregon for the annual retro gaming expo. I’m sharing highlights from my weekend also diving into the current state of game collecting. See the prices for games and hardware, both the expensive stuff…and some of the good deals. Plus I ask the vendors what is hot right now.
Reggie and I are going to show all the games we picked up in an upcoming PICKUPS video…so stay tuned!
Here are five lesser-known facts about Portland, Oregon:
Shanghai Tunnels: Portland has a network of underground tunnels, known as the Shanghai Tunnels (or “Portland Underground”), which were used in the 19th and early 20th centuries. These tunnels are rumored to have been used for human trafficking, where people were kidnapped (or “shanghaied”) and sold to ship captains as laborers.
The City That Briefly Banned Cars: In 1971, Portland became one of the first major U.S. cities to cancel the construction of a freeway (the Mount Hood Freeway), opting to invest in public transportation and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. This decision helped shape the city’s reputation for sustainability and urban planning.
The Simpsons Connection: Portland has a strong connection to the famous TV show “The Simpsons.” Series creator Matt Groening grew up in Portland, and many of the characters’ names in the show are based on Portland streets and landmarks (e.g., Flanders, Lovejoy, and Quimby).
World’s Smallest Park: Portland is home to Mill Ends Park, officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the smallest park in the world. It measures just 452 square inches and was originally created as a spot for a journalist’s pet leprechaun.
The Original “Stumptown”: Portland’s nickname “Stumptown” comes from the 19th century when the city’s rapid growth required a lot of land clearing, leaving numerous tree stumps throughout the streets. The name has stuck around as a part of Portland’s identity.
These quirky and historic facts reveal Portland’s unique charm and cultural heritage!
Josh Hamblin (Portland Retro Gaming Expo organizer) recently bought 100 game prototypes that belonged to an Nintendo employee! So many NES, SNES & Game Boy games! Common titles, rare & expensive games and yes many hidden gems! Check it out!
