Tag Archives: Travel

Featured, Travel

State of retro game collecting 2025 Edition

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We travel to Phoenix Arizona for the massive Game On Expo to do some video game collecting. I share some of the rare and uncommon things for sale plus I give you an overview of the event itself. WATCH >> https://youtu.be/XtoQeiu6agQ

Retro game collecting in 2025 is a delightful blend of treasure hunting, mild financial irresponsibility, and explaining to your significant other why you definitely needed a third copy of EarthBound — “this one has the original sticker, babe!” Prices for cartridges have inflated like they’re NFTs with nostalgia, and suddenly everyone’s digging through attic boxes like pirates hoping to find a gold-plated Pokémon Yellow. It’s gotten to the point where garage sales are now stealth battlegrounds, with collectors speed-walking like Olympic athletes the moment a “Sega” logo is spotted from 40 feet away.

One day you find a mint-condition Chrono Trigger for $40 because someone’s grandma listed it as “Old Nintendo book,” and the next day that same game is priced higher than your car’s Blue Book value — and somehow, someone buys it. Forums and Facebook groups are full of people arguing over label variants like they’re art historians, and every collector’s dream is to be on YouTube holding a $5 thrift store find while saying “I couldn’t believe it, but there it was — a sealed Little Samson, just next to the VHS tapes!” It’s chaos, it’s passion, and it’s beautiful. Just… don’t check your credit card statement.

Featured, Travel, Recent Pickups

Is video game collecting as bad as they say?

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We’re heading to Columbus, Ohio, for TORG, the Ohio Retro Gamer Expo! In this video, I’ll focus on deals you can find at these events. I’ll ask vendors—who buy and sell games daily—what they think are the best deals today. I’m also working on my Sony PSP collection, and I’ll show you everything I picked up at the end.

The Sony PSP (PlayStation Portable) is the cool kid who showed up at the party with the swagger of a console and the size of a big smartphone (back when phones weren’t that smart yet). It’s like the Swiss Army knife of gaming, trying to be your gaming console, your MP3 player, and even your Netflix (though streaming wasn’t quite ready to party yet).

The PSP flexed its muscles with a gorgeous 4.3-inch screen, boasting graphics that made you say, “Wait, this is portable?!” It had Wi-Fi so you could school your friends in multiplayer—if you could convince them to lug their PSPs around. And let’s not forget the UMD discs, those quirky little Frisbees that carried your games and movies. They looked futuristic but were basically mini-CDs with trust issues.

Sony even tried to make the PSP your entire life: it had a web browser (sort of), a photo viewer (but no camera), and music playback (for when your iPod forgot its place). The battery life was decent—unless you were watching UMD movies, in which case it gave up faster than a kid in a math test.

The PSP was like that overachiever friend who insists on doing everything, and honestly, it nailed a lot of it. Sure, the controls felt a little cramped, and the proprietary memory cards were pricier than gourmet coffee, but the PSP brought portable gaming into the spotlight, and it did it with style. Plus, it gave us Monster Hunter marathons and the ability to watch Spider-Man 2 on the go—what more could you want? (Except maybe fewer smudges on that glorious screen.)

Featured, Travel

The state of retro game collecting…

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.
  5. 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!

Featured, Travel, Recent Pickups

Norway Trip (Part 2) – RetroMessa Expo + GAME & MUSIC PICKUPS!

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Here are five relatively unknown facts about Norway:

  1. Norway introduced Salmon Sushi to Japan: In the 1980s, Norwegian seafood exporters promoted the idea of using salmon in sushi, which wasn’t traditionally done in Japan. This has since become a popular staple in Japanese cuisine.
  2. Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Norway is home to the “Doomsday Vault,” located on the Svalbard archipelago. It stores duplicates of seed samples from around the world, acting as a backup to preserve plant diversity in case of global crises.
  3. Norway has a “no homework” movement: Some schools in Norway are testing out the idea of not giving homework to students. This movement is rooted in research suggesting that less homework may improve students’ learning experience and reduce stress.
  4. World’s longest road tunnel: Norway is home to the Laerdal Tunnel, which is the longest road tunnel in the world. It stretches for 15.3 miles (24.5 km) and connects Laerdal and Aurland in Western Norway.
  5. Norwegians love slow TV: Norway popularized “Slow TV,” which involves long, real-time broadcasts of events like train journeys, knitting, or firewood chopping. One of the most famous examples is the 7-hour long broadcast of a train journey from Bergen to Oslo. It became a cultural phenomenon.

Travel

New York To LA In My 20-Year-Old Porsche Boxster [Part 2]

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Join me for Part 2 of my cross-America road trip in my 2002 Porsche Boxster S! In this episode, I deal with the battery/alternator issue and head in to the desert.

The 2002 Porsche Boxster S, while a fantastic sports car, isn’t without its quirks and issues. Some of the most common problems include:

1. **IMS (Intermediate Shaft) Bearing Failure**: This is the most infamous issue with older Boxsters, including the 2002 model. The IMS bearing supports the intermediate shaft that drives the camshafts, and when it fails, it can lead to catastrophic engine damage. While not every car suffers from this, it’s a well-known risk that can lead to engine failure if not addressed.

2. **Rear Main Seal (RMS) Leaks**: Another common issue is oil leaking from the rear main seal. This can lead to messy oil drips and, if left unchecked, more serious engine issues over time. The fix typically involves removing the transmission, making it a labor-intensive repair.

3. **Convertible Top Mechanism Failure**: The Boxster’s soft top mechanism is known to have problems over time, particularly with the motor and cables that operate the top. If the top becomes slow or stops working altogether, it’s usually due to wear and tear on these parts.

4. **Coolant Tank Leaks**: The plastic coolant expansion tank in the Boxster S is prone to cracking, leading to coolant leaks. This is often tricky to detect right away and can result in overheating if not repaired promptly.

5. **Suspension Wear**: Due to the sporty nature of the Boxster, suspension components, particularly the control arm bushings and drop links, can wear out faster than in a typical car. This leads to clunking noises, reduced handling performance, and the need for replacement parts.

6. **Clutch Wear**: The clutch in manual transmission models tends to wear out relatively quickly, especially if the car has been driven aggressively. Replacing the clutch can be a costly job.

Despite these issues, many owners still find the 2002 Boxster S a rewarding car to drive, especially when maintained properly.

Featured, Travel

Metal Jesus in NORWAY – Game Hunting in Oslo & Kristiansand (Part 1)

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Part 1 of our epic trip to Norway. We hunt for metal music, eat tasty Norwegian food, take in beautiful scenery and visit a retro gaming store! — WATCH >> https://youtu.be/MpkHLXN6ze4

Norway, land of fjords, skiing, and… black metal. Yep, the same country known for producing Nobel Peace Prize winners and picture-perfect nature scenes also gave birth to a music genre that sounds like a Viking raid set to guitar riffs. You have to admire the contrast: one moment Norwegians are peacefully cross-country skiing through tranquil forests, and the next, they’re donning corpse paint and summoning the forces of darkness through a double bass drum beat. It’s as if someone looked at all that beautiful, calm Norwegian scenery and said, “You know what this needs? Screaming.”

Norway’s contribution to black metal is legendary—so much so that the music feels like an extension of the country’s winter: long, dark, and cold. The genre’s pioneers went beyond music, dabbling in church burning and spiky leather accessories, turning a typical Wednesday into a metal apocalypse. And while the rest of the world may associate Norway with reindeer and serenity, the black metal scene has given it a reputation for being a place where a peaceful hike can just as easily end with a DIY music video in a snow-covered graveyard.

Travel

Driving My ‘Cheap’ Porsche Boxster Across America! [Part 1]

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In this episode (part 1 of the adventure), I drive from New York to Colorado, via Chicago and Omaha… before running into some issues in the Rocky Mountains.

The 2002 Porsche Boxster S is like that friend who shows up to a casual dinner party wearing a tailored suit—effortlessly cool and unapologetically classy. With its mid-engine layout and 3.2-liter flat-six engine, this car was a statement that Porsche didn’t just reserve its best engineering for the 911. It pumps out 250 horsepower, which in 2002 felt like a mini rocket on wheels. The Boxster S hugs the road like it’s trying to give it a romantic embrace, thanks to its near-perfect weight distribution. Driving it feels like an experience—no, an event—where every curve is an invitation to push a little harder.

Inside, it’s quintessentially Porsche: minimalist but refined, with all the buttons and knobs you need and none of the ones you don’t. The soft top is ready to drop at a moment’s notice, letting you hear that sweet engine note in full stereo. The car’s design has aged well—its sleek, rounded body still turns heads even as it gets mistaken for more recent models. The Boxster S isn’t just a sports car; it’s a declaration that sometimes, the road is best enjoyed with a little wind in your hair and a flat-six engine singing behind you.

Featured, Travel

PAX West Hightlights – New GAMES I’m excited for! (Nintendo, Atari, Indies)

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Highlights from PAX West in Seattle. Lots of new games from Nintendo, Atari, Capcom, etc… plus indie games and more. –> WATCH >> https://youtu.be/Sz5eN4JTZwI

PAX West in Seattle is like Comic-Con’s geeky cousin who’s into video games, Dungeons & Dragons, and has way too many Funko Pops but somehow still manages to be cooler than you. As you step into the expo, you’re greeted by a sea of flannel shirts, obscure gaming references, and more LED lights than your average spaceship. It’s the only place where arguing about the best Final Fantasy game can last for hours and somehow, both sides are still wrong. And don’t get me started on the cosplay—there’s everything from a near-perfect Master Chief to a Pikachu that looks like it’s seen some things.

Navigating the expo hall is like leveling up in a video game—each booth is a mini-boss encounter, from indie developers pitching their latest pixel-art platformers to massive companies showing off shiny new tech. If you’re lucky, you’ll leave with enough swag to build a small nerd shrine, though the real loot is the random stickers, pins, and tote bags you’ll find months later in your backpack. By the end, you’re emotionally exhausted, a little poorer, but filled with enough gaming news, demos, and nerdy conversation to last you until the next PAX (or at least until you finish your current Steam backlog…in 2035).

Travel, Metal Jesus Likes

The Immortal John Hancock in Brazil!

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The Immortal John Hancock got the honor to attend Retrocon in São Paulo, Brazil and had a blast!

São Paulo, Brazil, is like the over-caffeinated cousin at the family reunion—loud, bustling, full of energy, and impossible to ignore. It’s a city that never sleeps because it’s too busy figuring out how to squeeze 24 hours’ worth of activity into every 12-hour day.

First off, São Paulo is enormous. If you think your daily commute is long, imagine traversing a city that seems to have its own gravitational pull, sucking in everything and everyone within a 50-mile radius. You could probably fit several European countries in there and still have room for a football match.

The traffic is a whole adventure in itself. Navigating São Paulo’s streets is like playing a never-ending game of Tetris, where the blocks are other cars, buses, and the occasional motorcycle zipping by at warp speed. It’s the city where being “fashionably late” is a way of life because, honestly, there was no way you were getting there on time anyway.

But São Paulo is also a city of contrasts. One minute you’re walking past skyscrapers that make you feel like you’ve accidentally stumbled into a “Futurama” episode, and the next, you’re in a leafy neighborhood where time seems to have slowed down just long enough for you to enjoy a leisurely coffee—probably the strongest, richest brew you’ve ever tasted, because in São Paulo, coffee is not just a drink; it’s a lifestyle.

The food scene? It’s like the United Nations on a plate. You can eat your way around the world without ever leaving the city. From sushi to pizza, to Brazilian barbecue that’ll make you question your life choices, São Paulo has it all. Just be prepared to roll yourself home after indulging because portion control is clearly a foreign concept here.

And the people? Paulistanos are the kind of folks who can juggle a dozen different things at once while still managing to look effortlessly cool. They’re friendly, direct, and have a knack for making even the most chaotic day seem like just another Tuesday.

In a nutshell, São Paulo is a wild ride—a chaotic, vibrant, electrifying metropolis that’ll leave you breathless, a little bit lost, and definitely craving another shot of that amazing coffee.