Page 29 - Old School Gamer Magazine Issue #42 FREE Edition

TI’s FIELD GUIDE TO COLLECTING MAKING YOUR OWN NOSTALGIC HOME ARCADE
This column / article / retrospective or whatever you want to call it is a reflection on why
and how we collect video games. Each time we’ll cover a different collector and discuss various (sometimes) polarizing topics that affect us.
COLLECTOR PROFILE: Aaron Gum OCCUPATION: Record Producer /
Film Director
TOPIC – MAKING YOUR OWN NOSTALGIC HOME ARCADE
YOUR NOSTALGIC GAMES
If you grew up in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, consider yourself extremely lucky in that you were able to experience something that will never happen again with this amazing entertainment medium of video games. Arcades could simply provide experiences that weren’t remotely possible at home. The technology gap between home consoles and arcade cabinets were
By Tristan Ibarra
as wide as the Grand Canyon and really didn’t bridge a gap until the Sega Dreamcast in 1999. Those
of us who remember those times and can call up the distinct sound of a $5 bill magically turning into 20 quarters will tell you that there are some games out there that call up powerful emotions of nostalgia and happiness. For me it’s the NEO-GEO MVS, The Simpsons, TMNT, 6-player X-Men, Michael Jackson Moonwalker, Smash TV, Captain America and the Avengers, Terminator 2, and a handful of pinball machines like Fish Tales, The Twilight Zone, and Starship Troopers.
Ask anyone in my position and they’ll give you a similar list with all the emotions to go along with them. You know what? This is actually a good chance for a little audience participation. I want you to get a piece of paper and a pen or pencil and write down your 5-10 favorite arcade games. I’ll give you a second... Once you’ve done that,
move on to the next paragraph.
WHERE TO BUY THEM
It might be a bit tough to do
and you may have to pay some shipping, but in the end it is so worth having that NEO-GEO MVS
in the basement. eBay, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Offer
Up, and any of the new apps and marketplaces that pop up from
time to time are absolutely littered with arcade games from the past. There are even some crazy people out there (*cough... Ryan Burger... cough*) that do arcade auctions if you’re lucky enough to live near one. Additionally, you’d be surprised what other arcade enthusiasts are in your own neck of the woods. Google is your friend and social media can put you in touch with the people you want to talk to if you’re motivated enough.
MINI AND NEW ALTERNATIVES
This is where the list you made will come in. Depending on the games that you wrote down you may have some options. Either you can go the “cheap” route and find a faithful home console port or release and call it a day or you can go to extra lengths to really capture that arcade feel. When
it comes to pinball, virtual pins might scratch that itch but there’s really no substitute for a silver
ball. Arcade games, however, and even ones that were never ported
to home consoles during their day have had a resurgence thanks to companies like Arcade 1-Up who can supply new hardware mostly
in scaled down form right to your home. I mean, just look at my list. There are 4 games that I mentioned
Aaron Gum
SEPTEMBER 2024 • WWW.OLDSCHOOLGAMER.COM
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