@Sketcz I love your books! I have all three of them (The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers vol. 1-3). One of my favorite stories regarded the developer who dropped an arcade machine by crane overnight at the front door of a shady group of criminals who had kidnapped his sister. Crazy stuff. Loads of other great anecdotes and context surrounding our favorite hobby.
American here, so I don't have any particular experience with CeX specifically. However, I grew up in the 80's and 90's and certainly remember a time when hobby and specialty shops trafficked in computer stuff, electrical parts and video games. There is a certain indefinable quality that accompanies the moment a person walks into one of these enthusiast spaces, oftentimes as a way of killing time when mom is shopping down the block or sister is busy with soccer practice across the street. Passing through rows of strange but beckoning artifacts of a heretofor unknown culture accompany a growing realization that yes, this might be somewhere I belong if only I could know it fully. The internet is often a lovely fill-in facilitating some of these feelings, but the tactility of handling real world objects is as integral as chewing real food. And the face-to-face acquaintances met and true friendships established cannot be made - not truly - any other way. For a couple of years in college, I worked for EBGames, back when it was still known as Electronics Boutique. In those days, EB was still a large corporation, but pretty hands off regarding employees and behavior. As long as you dressed reasonably and didn't set the place on fire, you could earn your minimum wage plus a quarter over as a part-timer. The dozen or so real friends I made then are still my friends today, over twenty-five years later. Progress often prioritizes price and convenience as lowest common denominators at the expense of less tangible virtues. I am always sad to see online marketplaces replacing, rather than supplementing, the modern-day agora, commons, whatever you might call them. To end this post rather cheesily (but no less true!), the real friends are the ones we make along the way.
I have no problem with paying a little more, considering the value. I would like if Blaze upped their stock numbers and did some reprints! These eBay prices are scary for emulation.
Comments 3
Re: "I Will Always Cherish That Chapter Of My Life" - A Million Subs Later, One Of Retro Gaming's Most Famous YouTubers Calls It Quits
@Sketcz I love your books! I have all three of them (The Untold History of Japanese Game Developers vol. 1-3). One of my favorite stories regarded the developer who dropped an arcade machine by crane overnight at the front door of a shady group of criminals who had kidnapped his sister. Crazy stuff. Loads of other great anecdotes and context surrounding our favorite hobby.
Re: They Buried My Beloved CeX
American here, so I don't have any particular experience with CeX specifically. However, I grew up in the 80's and 90's and certainly remember a time when hobby and specialty shops trafficked in computer stuff, electrical parts and video games. There is a certain indefinable quality that accompanies the moment a person walks into one of these enthusiast spaces, oftentimes as a way of killing time when mom is shopping down the block or sister is busy with soccer practice across the street. Passing through rows of strange but beckoning artifacts of a heretofor unknown culture accompany a growing realization that yes, this might be somewhere I belong if only I could know it fully. The internet is often a lovely fill-in facilitating some of these feelings, but the tactility of handling real world objects is as integral as chewing real food. And the face-to-face acquaintances met and true friendships established cannot be made - not truly - any other way. For a couple of years in college, I worked for EBGames, back when it was still known as Electronics Boutique. In those days, EB was still a large corporation, but pretty hands off regarding employees and behavior. As long as you dressed reasonably and didn't set the place on fire, you could earn your minimum wage plus a quarter over as a part-timer. The dozen or so real friends I made then are still my friends today, over twenty-five years later. Progress often prioritizes price and convenience as lowest common denominators at the expense of less tangible virtues. I am always sad to see online marketplaces replacing, rather than supplementing, the modern-day agora, commons, whatever you might call them. To end this post rather cheesily (but no less true!), the real friends are the ones we make along the way.
Re: Blaze Announces Price Increase For New & Existing Evercade Carts
I have no problem with paying a little more, considering the value. I would like if Blaze upped their stock numbers and did some reprints! These eBay prices are scary for emulation.