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.
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.
Tales of Weird Stuff takes a long road trip through Washington State to Spokane to rescue a truck load of classic Apple computers. This is wild!
Apple computers are not only known for their sleek designs and cutting-edge technology, but some models have become rare, highly collectible, and seriously expensive. Here are 5 of the rarest or most expensive Apple computers:
1. Apple I (1976)
The holy grail of vintage computing! Only about 200 of these were ever made, and even fewer exist today. Hand-built by Steve Wozniak in Steve Jobs’ garage, this computer came as a motherboard kit, no case or keyboard included (DIY vibes, right?). One of these relics sold for $905,000 in 2014, making it the equivalent of owning a tech museum in your living room.
2. Apple Lisa 1 (1983)
The Apple Lisa was like the overachieving older sibling to the Macintosh. It was the first personal computer with a graphical user interface, which is why it cost as much as a decent car back then—about $10,000. Nowadays, a working Lisa 1 can go for $50,000–$100,000 depending on condition. It’s basically the computer equivalent of saying, “I bought Bitcoin in 2009.”
3. Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (1997)
When Apple hit the 20-year mark, they decided to throw themselves a party and released this luxury limited-edition Mac. It came with a Bose sound system and a price tag of $7,500. Now, they’re collector’s items worth $10,000–$15,000. Owning one is like saying, “I appreciated the finer things in life… even in 1997.”
4. Macintosh 128K (1984)
The OG Mac, the one that started it all. It was the first Mac with a graphical interface and mouse, making it the apple of every tech geek’s eye (pun intended). While they originally sold for $2,495, a mint-condition one in the original packaging can fetch upwards of $5,000–$10,000 today. Think of it as vintage, but make it tech chic.
5. Apple II (1977)
This one was a big deal—it basically brought personal computing to the masses. With its sleek (for the time) design, color graphics, and a whopping 4 KB of RAM, it was the height of ‘70s tech sophistication. Depending on condition and whether it’s a first-gen model, it can go for anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000 now. The computer that once ran “Oregon Trail” is now worth more than your actual trail-running shoes.
Owning one of these machines isn’t just about having a rare piece of tech history—it’s about flaunting that you’re an Apple superfan with a time-traveling wallet!
Like any business, there are good days and bad days. And this particular day was not so great. Lots of changing objectives, difficult phone calls, and other complex situations lead to some stress. But ultimately, it’s part of making it work.
Brendon Snyder – This is a review for the brand new Skid Row album Live In London. Record in 2023, it’s the band’s first full length live album from their 38 year career! Join me as I break it all down doing an in depth review.
Alright, let’s take a ride through the top 5 Skid Row songs!
1. “18 and Life”
Ah, teenage rebellion at its finest! This song is about Ricky, a guy who thought firing a gun was as harmless as firing off a witty comeback. Spoiler: it wasn’t. With its dramatic tale of mischief gone wrong, it’s basically the ‘80s hard rock version of every “Hold my beer” story you’ve ever heard, but with fewer mullets (barely).
2. “I Remember You”
This is Skid Row’s love ballad, so sappy it could glue your broken heart back together. Sebastian Bach belts out feelings so deep that even your ex might text you at 3 a.m. just to say, “I remember you too.” It’s a love song that’s basically the musical equivalent of sending 100 emoji hearts in a row.
3. “Youth Gone Wild”
This anthem is what happens when you mix teenage angst, loud guitars, and hair spray by the gallon. It’s like they took the energy of a sugar-fueled 5-year-old and slapped it onto the rebellious soul of a 1989 teenager. If you weren’t already wild, this song was an invitation to buy leather pants and misbehave immediately.
4. “Monkey Business”
No, it’s not about your annoying coworker. “Monkey Business” is Skid Row’s rock ‘n’ roll jungle where things get a little weird and wild. With riffs heavier than your morning regrets after Taco Tuesday, it’s a song that’ll make you want to swing from the ceiling fan—though not advised without proper safety gear.
5. “Slave to the Grind”
This song is like your Monday morning alarm, but with killer guitar solos and less snooze-button smashing. It’s the anthem for anyone who feels like life has them running on a hamster wheel made of iron chains and paperwork. Heavy, fast, and with more attitude than a teenager denied concert tickets, this track could make even the most laid-back person throw down some air punches.
Let’s face it—Skid Row’s top tracks are a blend of teenage chaos, love gone wrong, and riffs sharp enough to shred your soul (and maybe your hair). Enjoy responsibly!
Here’s a list of 10 popular new boomer shooters that pay homage to classic 90s FPS games while bringing modern gameplay improvements:
1. DUSK (2018)
Why: A love letter to classic shooters like DOOM and Quake, DUSK features retro graphics, fast movement, and satisfying gunplay with creepy, rural horror aesthetics.
Notable Feature: Smooth movement mechanics and fantastic level design.
2. Ion Fury (2019)
Why: Developed on the Build engine (used in Duke Nukem 3D), Ion Fury nails the retro aesthetic with chaotic action, large explorable levels, and a charismatic protagonist.
Notable Feature: Classic, 90s-style level design with secret areas and nonlinear progression.
3. Amid Evil (2019)
Why: A fantasy-based FPS that takes cues from games like Heretic and Hexen. Amid Evil is fast-paced, with gorgeous environments and magical weapons that feel impactful.
Notable Feature: Weapon variety with magical powers and large, intricate worlds to explore.
4. Prodeus (2022)
Why: Blending old-school sensibilities with modern visuals, Prodeus has a unique “retro-modern” art style. It offers bloody action, classic shooting mechanics, and a built-in level editor.
Notable Feature: Dynamic lighting and particle effects with a retro aesthetic.
5. Wrath: Aeon of Ruin (Early Access)
Why: Built on the Quake engine, Wrath is a dark, gothic boomer shooter with fluid combat, intricate level design, and grotesque enemies.
Notable Feature: True 90s FPS feel with detailed, non-linear maps.
6. Ultrakill (Early Access)
Why: A hyper-fast FPS that combines DOOM-style shooting with Devil May Cry mechanics. Ultrakill is pure adrenaline, with fluid movement, over-the-top weapons, and a scoring system that rewards stylish play.
Notable Feature: A combo-based combat system and insane speed.
7. Project Warlock (2018)
Why: Inspired by DOOM, Hexen, and Wolfenstein 3D, Project Warlock blends pixelated graphics with modern design, offering varied levels, multiple weapons, and magic.
Notable Feature: RPG-like elements such as skill upgrades and a vast arsenal of weapons.
8. Hellbound (2020)
Why: Described as a “1990s FPS, 30 years later,” Hellbound delivers brutal, fast-paced action with gore-heavy visuals and a focus on nonstop combat.
Notable Feature: Extremely violent combat and large hordes of enemies.
9. HROT (Early Access)
Why: A Soviet-style FPS set in the 1980s, HROT embraces its Eastern European roots with unique environments, old-school graphics, and gritty combat.
Notable Feature: Dark atmosphere and bizarre weaponry that reflect the Soviet-era vibe.
10. Forgive Me Father (2021)
Why: A Lovecraftian shooter with a comic-book aesthetic, Forgive Me Father mixes eldritch horror with classic FPS mechanics, offering atmospheric levels and creepy enemies.
Notable Feature: Comic-style visuals and a unique sanity mechanic that affects gameplay.
These modern boomer shooters capture the spirit of classic FPS games while incorporating new features and updated visuals for today’s gamers.
We bought a MK7 Golf R with 246,000 miles on it! This car was sold to us for $2,500 dollars because the engine was blown up. In our last episode, we ripped the engine out of the car, and made a step by step process so you could follow along! Now we are ready to teardown this engine.
The MK7 Golf R is like the quiet kid in school who turns out to be a martial arts prodigy—understated, but with a hidden talent for speed and precision. With a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine cranking out 292 horsepower and paired with Volkswagen’s 4Motion all-wheel-drive system, this hot hatch can rocket from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds. It handles like it’s on rails, thanks to its well-balanced chassis and adaptive suspension. The Golf R takes the everyday practicality of the regular Golf, throws in a heap of performance, and creates a sleeper car that can hang with far more expensive sports cars, all while carrying your groceries in the back.
Inside, it maintains the classy, restrained vibe VW is known for, with high-quality materials and intuitive controls. The cabin is driver-focused without feeling overwhelming, and the digital display and infotainment system add a touch of modern tech. It’s comfortable enough for daily commutes, but the moment you push that throttle, it reminds you it’s much more than just a sensible hatchback. The MK7 Golf R is the perfect blend of stealth and sport, ideal for those who want blistering performance without drawing too much attention—until they leave you in the dust at a stoplight.
Recently The Immortal John Hancock got his hands on a new homebrew console and all the games being offered for it. Introducing the Game Tank.
The home-brew game community is a passionate group of DIY developers who create and modify games for older and often discontinued consoles, bringing new life to retro hardware. It’s a blend of creativity, nostalgia, and technical wizardry, where fans push the boundaries of what’s possible on systems long past their prime.
