Video Games - Totally the 80's

A wagon crosses a muddy river beside a glowing vintage computer and scattered medical supplies.

Oregon Trail Game Dysentery and The Fear Behind the Meme

The old classroom computer ran a computer game, an educational video game meant to teach history. Instead, it taught an entire generation one cold, weirdly adult sentence: dysentery could wipe…

Video Games

NES vs Sega Genesis was The Ultimate Retro Console Showdown

The old question isn't really about which plastic box is "better." NES vs Sega Genesis comes down to game libraries, controller feel, and the kind of Saturday-morning magic you want…

A gray Nintendo Power Glove on a dark table next to an NES and a glowing CRT television.

Pop Culture Toys and Games Video Games

Nintendo Power Glove and Why the Future Failed in 1989

The future arrived in 1989 wearing gray plastic, a black keypad, and enough attitude to make every kid feel like they belonged in a sci-fi movie. The Nintendo Power Glove…

Pop Culture Arcade Classics Fads Fast Food Favorites Food Toys and Games Trends Video Games

ShowBiz Pizza and the Birthday Party Every Kid Wanted

Before bounce houses and party packages took over, one birthday flex ruled the 80s: ShowBiz Pizza. If your name was on that cake table, you were the main character for…

Pop Culture Arcade Classics Toys and Games Video Games

Sega Genesis and the 16-Bit Leap Kids Wanted

You didn't need a spec sheet to know the Sega Genesis felt like a real step up. One look at the screen, one blast of that crunchy music, one quick…

Pop Culture Toys and Games Video Games

Nintendo Entertainment System: The Console Kids Begged For In The 80s

Some toys got circled in the catalog. The Nintendo Entertainment System got underlined, starred, and brought up at dinner three times a week. If you were a kid in the…

Pop Culture Arcade Classics Toys and Games Video Games

Atari 2600: The Console That Took Over Living Rooms

Before downloads, save files, and giant launch trailers, one wood-paneled box made the family TV feel like pure possibility. The Atari 2600 didn't break into homes by talking to hobbyists…

Pop Culture Toys and Games Video Games

Why the Game Boy Was the Handheld Every Kid Wanted

You didn't need to own a Game Boy to know who had one. You heard it in the back seat, saw it at recess, and spotted that gray rectangle peeking…

Pop Culture Arcade Classics Discontinued Treats Food Toys and Games Video Games

Pac-Man Cereal and the Ghost Marshmallows We Still Miss

Some cereals fed you. A few gave you a whole little Saturday morning mood. Pac-Man cereal did that with one bright, goofy, brilliant move: it dropped Pac-Man and his ghost…

Food Discontinued Treats Pop Culture Video Games

Nintendo Cereal System: The Breakfast Box Every Kid Wanted

Some breakfast cereals promised vitamins. The Nintendo Cereal System promised Mario, Zelda, and a much better reason to get out of bed. If you were a kid in the late…