Classic Home Video Games, 1985-1988

*Durable hardcover binding
*Descriptions/Reviews for EVERY game for the Atari 7800, NES, and Sega Master System.
*Detailed gameplay information
*Developer/publisher info
*Historical data
*Console Biographies
*Genre definitions
*Video game term definitions
*Comparisons to arcade classics
*Photos
*Author preface
*Foreward by the legendary Bill Kunkel
*Editorial content based on the author's 35 years experience playing video games
*277 pages
*A book you will refer to again and again
*Fun and informative
*Perfect for taking to conventions and retro game stores, and for having on hand while shopping for games online

What they are saying about Classic Home Video Games, 1985-1988:

*"This is a great book...information is spot-on...100% accurate...a must-own"--Video Game Trader

*"A great tome of reference...excellent...a must-own for any avid 8-bit collector"--Retro Gamer

*"Valuable...great...succeeds with flying colors...vivid commentary and descriptions...will save you time, money and frustration"--Nintendo Age

*"Professionally executed and an obvious labor of love"--Booklist/RBB

VIEW SAMPLE PAGES HERE

ORDER YOUR COPY HERE

Oklahoma Video Game Expo 2010

I'm really looking forward to this:
(click on image twice for a closer look)

Elvis Presley and Graceland

My article on Elvis and Graceland is in AntiqueWeek #2144, which is on sale now.
(click on the images for a closer look)

It Remains to be Seen...

I found this graphic novel at Half-Price Books the other day. I'm quoted on the back.

(click on the image twice for a closer look)

Recently published in...

The September issue of Living with Panache, which is a supplement to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

(click on the image twice for a closer look)

Recently published in...

Comics Buyer's Guide #1670.

(click on the images "twice" for a closer look)

CGE 2010

CGE 2010 has come and gone. Not surprisingly, it was a blast.

Videogame Jeopardy

Looks like Sonic the Hedgehog lost his head.

Joe from Atari2600.com, along with his lovely bride. Joe's booth is always a standout at CGE. I do some freelance writing for Joe, and he's a stand-up guy and a good business man.

In addition to rare cartridges, the Atari2600.com booth had lots of nifty handheld and dedicated games.

AtariAge had lots of homebrew games for sale. I picked up Jr. Pac-Man for the 7800 and Lady Bug for the 2600. Both are fantastic ports of classic arcade games.

The always fun CGE auction.

Auctioning off one of three "mystery boxes," the proceeds of which went to charity.

Michael Thomason of Good Deal Games and Leonard Herman, author of ABC to the VCS and Phoenix: The Fall and Rise of Videogames.

Dinner with the fellers. Chris Cavanaugh, pictured on the right, was my editor when I wrote for the All Game Guide. He also keeps busy publishing Classic Gamer Magazine.

Michael offered to let me put my book on his table, which is much appreciated. (Thanks also to CGE co-organizer Joe Santuli for letting me put books on the Digital Press table).

Me and Lenny Herman.

There were lots of consoles set up for attendees to play.

Arcade games set up on free play were in abundance as well.

I stayed at The Tropicana, which is a good venue for the convention, but a dive compared to many other Vegas hotels.

New York, New York is across the street from the Tropicana.

Now playing...

The Void: Centauri Conflict for the ColecoVision

Enter The Void, if you dare.

The Void: Centauri Conflict is an enjoyable new homebrew game published by Atari2600.com, one of the best and most respected videogame retailers on the planet. It’s an old-school shooter in the tradition of such time-honored classics as Astrosmash, Demon Attack, and Gorf.

Players guide their ship back and forth along the bottom of the screen, firing upward at four different types of attacking alien ships that move either right, left, down, or in a zigzagging motion. There are never too many enemies onscreen at once (though some of them must be shot more than once), and they are spaced apart pretty well, making for a challenging, but fair game in which accurate aiming is crucial to the player’s success. There are also asteroids and boss ships, the latter of which move horizontally and fire long beams.

The graphics are flat, but serviceable, and the ship design is uninspired. However, you do get to select from four different ships, each a different color and speed, and each upgradeable by grabbing a special weapon: Daisy (dual bullets with single shot kill), Dr. O’Celoc (torpedo with remote detonator), Adam (shield bubble), and Illusion (ray beam). In addition, there are 12 player rankings to work your way through, each taking a larger amount of points to acquire: Space Cadet, Second LT, First Lt, Captain, Major, Lt Colonel, Colonel, Brig General, Major General, Lt General, General, and Fleet Admiral.

Overall, The Void is a solid shooter and a nice addition to any ColecoVision owner’s library. You may have to hit the reset button from time to time due to an occasional glitch, but this is hardly unheard of in a homebrew game.

You can order the game here.