Featured, Travel

Game On Expo in Phoenix Arizona – It’s Almost Here!

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The Game On Expo is happening in Phoenix, AZ at the the Phoenix Convention Center. The dates are April 4th-6th, 2025. I hope to see you there!

More information can be found here: https://gameonexpo.com/

What is Game On Expo?  Phoenix’s annual pilgrimage for gamers, nerds, and anyone who thinks life should come with a health bar and a save point. This three-day festival is a glorious mash-up of retro arcade nostalgia, tabletop chaos, cosplay shenanigans, and enough gaming merch to make your wallet cry in the corner.

What to Expect?

  • Vendors selling everything from rare SNES cartridges to anime plushies that stare into your soul.

  • Cosplayers who have put in more effort into their outfits than most people do into their day jobs.

  • Tournaments where button-mashers and pro-level players clash in a battle of reflexes and broken controllers.

  • Voice actors from your favorite games & YouTubers, there to sign autographs, answer burning fan questions, and occasionally indulge in meme-worthy moments.

And let’s not forget the arcade section, where you can test your skills on vintage cabinets and realize that, yes, your childhood skills at “Street Fighter II” have completely abandoned you.

Whether you’re there to compete, collect, cosplay, or just bask in the glow of RGB-lit everything, Game On Expo is a weekend of glorious geekery where everyone speaks fluent nerd. Just be prepared to walk away with a bag full of collectibles, a phone full of photos, and a deep sense of regret that you didn’t buy that limited-edition Zelda print when you had the chance.

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The MOST I have ever spent on SINGLE GAME! EYE WATERING! – TheGebs24

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TheGebs24 is like stepping into a cozy, neon-lit gaming den where nostalgia flows as freely as Mountain Dew at a LAN party. Hosted by Gemma, a retro gaming enthusiast with the energy of someone who just found a sealed copy of EarthBound, the channel is a delightful deep-dive into classic gaming, rare finds, and unfiltered gaming passion. Whether she’s unboxing a haul of vintage games, exploring hidden gems on forgotten consoles, or just waxing poetic about the glory days of the PlayStation 1, TheGebs24 feels less like a YouTube channel and more like hanging out with your coolest gaming-obsessed friend.

The real magic of TheGebs24 is Gemma’s ability to make any game — no matter how obscure — sound like a lost treasure. She could find a dusty copy of Bubsy 3D at a thrift store and still make you think, “Hmm… maybe I should give that a go.” Her collection tours are like walking through a time machine packed with NES, Mega Drive, and GameCubegoodness, and her commentary is always served with a generous side of humor. Plus, she has a genuine love for gaming history, which means you’ll come for the retro game hauls but stay for the heartfelt passion. Watching TheGebs24 is basically a nostalgic rollercoaster — one minute you’re reminiscing about Crash Bandicoot, the next you’re googling how much a Sega Saturn costs on eBay.

Featured, System Reviews

RetroN GX TurboGrafx-16 Review – the Good & the Bad

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Review of the Hyperkin RetroN GX TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine clone console. This system plays TurboGrafx-16 and PC Engine games… kinda. At $90, some compromises have been made to resolution and performance. More info: http://www.hyperkin.com

Ah, the TurboGrafx-16, the console that said, “Sure, I’ll compete with the NES and Sega Genesis,” but then tripped on its own power cord before crossing the finish line. Released in North America in 1989, this little underdog was actually a powerhouse—at least on paper. It boasted gorgeous 16-bit graphics (well, technically an 8-bit CPU with a 16-bit graphics processor, but shhh, marketing!) and some of the best arcade-style games of its era.

The TurboGrafx-16 had a sleek, almost futuristic design… if “futuristic” meant a black plastic rectangle with orange accents. It also had just one controller port—because NEC figured friends were optional. Want multiplayer? Fork over extra cash for a TurboTap accessory. And speaking of accessories, there was the TurboExpress, a handheld version that was basically a Game Boy on steroids, capable of playing full TG-16 cartridges. It was amazing—until you realized it burned through six AA batteries in under three hours.

Then there was the TurboGrafx-CD, an add-on that gave players access to CD-ROM games years before Sega and Sony made it cool. Unfortunately, it also cost more than a used car in 1992. But hey, if you wanted anime cutscenes, voice acting, and loading times that let you grab a snack mid-level, this was the future!

Despite an amazing library featuring gems like Bonk’s Adventure (a game about a caveman with a weaponized forehead), Blazing Lazers (pure vertical-scrolling shooter bliss), and Castlevania: Rondo of Blood (arguably one of the best in the series), the TurboGrafx-16 never really caught on in the U.S. In Japan, where it was known as the PC Engine, it was a massive success, proving once again that Americans and Japanese gamers sometimes live in parallel gaming dimensions.

Ultimately, the TurboGrafx-16 was the hipster console of its time—underappreciated, ahead of the curve, and loved by those in the know. If you had one, you were either an arcade shooter enthusiast, a collector before it was cool, or someone who got it on clearance because your parents refused to buy a SNES. Either way, respect.

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When a dedicated collector desperately needs money… Pixel Game Squad

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Pixel Game Squad is like if a group of friends accidentally stumbled into a retro game goldmine and decided to film the whole adventure — and thank goodness they did. Led by Riff, the high-energy, perpetually-excited captain of the squad, the channel is a beautiful, chaotic mix of garage sales, flea markets, and thrift store treasure hunts, all in the name of finding retro video game gold. One minute they’re uncovering a rare Nintendo 64 game for $5, the next they’re losing their minds over a box of GameCube games in someone’s dusty attic. It’s like Antiques Roadshow, but with way more yelling and way cooler stuff.

The magic of Pixel Game Squad is that it’s less about the games and more about the vibe. Every episode feels like you’ve been invited to tag along on a Saturday morning game hunt, complete with hilarious banter, nostalgic deep-dives, and the occasional debate over whether Super Mario Bros. 2 was a dream or a conspiracy. Riff’s enthusiasm is infectious — he could find a copy of Madden 2003 and still act like he just discovered the Ark of the Covenant. And the squad? A lovable mix of game collectors, retro enthusiasts, and general mischief-makers who turn every game hunt into a mini-adventure. Whether they’re scoring a boxed NES at a swap meet or just goofing off in someone’s garage, Pixel Game Squad captures the pure, unfiltered joy of being a retro game nerd — and they make you want to grab your own Game Boy and hit the thrift stores immediately.

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Ranking the Difficulty of Every Mario Game | Nintendo

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The Mario games are basically the story of one very determined plumber with a questionable work-life balance. For over four decades, Mario has been sprinting, jumping, and power-sliding his way through the Mushroom Kingdom, rescuing Princess Peach from Bowser — a giant, fire-breathing turtle who apparently has nothing better to do. Every game starts with the same setup: Peach gets kidnapped, Mario shrugs, eats a mushroom, and risks his life navigating lava pits and haunted castles while Bowser probably just sits around watching turtle Netflix. And yet, we love it.

The brilliance of Mario games is how they somehow make plumbing-related activities thrilling. One minute you’re dodging sentient cacti in the desert, the next you’re riding a dinosaur (Yoshi) who will absolutely abandon you if you jump off a cliff. Power-ups range from practical (fireballs) to delightfully absurd (turning into a flying raccoon… for some reason). And despite Mario’s questionable career progression — plumber, doctor, kart racer, Olympic athlete — he never seems to ask for a day off. But hey, as long as Bowser keeps kidnapping Peach, Mario will keep stomping on turtles, eating questionable fungi, and reminding us all that the best adventures start with “Wahoo!”.

Featured, Sega (Hidden Gems)

My Sega Genesis Game Collection (173 Games: Hidden Gems, $$$, Prototypes & More!)

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Here is my entire Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) game collection. So many great games here including rare, uncommon and expensive games plus hidden gems and more!

Use code 50METALJESUS to get 50% OFF plus free shipping on your first Factor box at https://bit.ly/41IEs1b

Ah, the Sega Genesis—arguably the most rebellious, leather-jacket-wearing, blast-processing-fueled console of the early ‘90s. This was the system that swaggered into the gaming scene, pointed at Nintendo’s Super NES, and said, “You call that speed? Hold my Chaos Emeralds.”

The Console Itself

Looking like a sleek, black, slightly melted VCR, the Genesis had a no-nonsense design that screamed “serious business” (if your business was making an anthropomorphic blue hedgehog run at unsafe speeds). It had a volume slider for headphones—because Sega wanted you to feel like a DJ while mashing buttons—and a giant POWER switch that made you feel important when you flipped it.

Blast Processing™ (Whatever That Was)

Sega’s marketing team conjured up the term Blast Processing™, a mysterious and scientifically dubious feature that essentially meant “our games are fast, and we have an attitude about it.” It was never quite clear what it actually did, but it was enough to make kids feel like they were piloting a fighter jet instead of playing Sonic the Hedgehog in their pajamas.

The Controller

The Genesis controller was a hulking, boomerang-shaped piece of plastic with three whole buttons (which felt futuristic at the time). Later, when fighting games became popular, Sega realized that, oh no, three buttons weren’t enough! So they released the six-button controller, which made the original feel like a rotary phone by comparison.

The Games

  • Sonic the Hedgehog – A game so fast it felt like it was trying to break the laws of physics.
  • Altered Beast – A side-scrolling “Greek mythology but weird” game where a guy yells “RISE FROM YOUR GRAVE!” at you like an undead gym coach.
  • Streets of Rage – Where you settle all disputes with fists, steel pipes, and the occasional turkey dinner found in a trash can.
  • Mortal Kombat – The game that made parents gasp in horror while kids cheered at pixelated fatalities.

The Console Wars

If you had a Genesis, you were on Team Sega in the legendary Console War against the SNES. It was a brutal playground battlefield where kids debated whether Mario or Sonic would win in a fight (the answer: Sonic, if there were no walls). Sega’s advertising even threw shade at Nintendo with the iconic slogan:
👉 “Genesis Does What Nintendon’t.”
(Which is hilarious, because in the end, Nintendid survive longer.)

The Legacy

The Genesis may have eventually lost the war, but it left an undeniable mark on gaming history. It was the cool older sibling of consoles—edgy, stylish, and maybe a little too obsessed with speed. Today, it lives on in retro collections, mini consoles, and the hearts of those who still hear the words “SEGA!” in their dreams.

Would you like to add any Blast Processing™ to your day? 😆

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Most Expensive PS3 Games In Our Collection | Gaming Off The Grid

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The PlayStation 3 — Sony’s futuristic black monolith of gaming — crash-landed in living rooms in 2006, looking like a sleek, alien artifact designed to summon extraterrestrial life. Weighing roughly the same as a small dog and radiating enough heat to cook a Hot Pocket, the PS3 was a technological marvel of its time. It boasted a Blu-ray player (a huge flex in 2006), stunning HD graphics, and a controller that, while wireless, still clung to its ancestors with the same button layout from the PS1. And let’s not forget the iconic startup sound — a celestial chime that made you feel like you were about to embark on an interstellar journey, when really, you were just booting up LittleBigPlanet.

However, the PS3 wasn’t without its quirks. The launch model came with a price tag so high ($599!) that it felt like Sony was daring you to buy it. Early adopters also faced the infamous “Yellow Light of Death,” which was basically the console’s way of politely imploding. And the online service? Free — but also held together with duct tape and hope. Yet despite its rough start, the PS3 blossomed into a legendary console, delivering classics like Uncharted 2, The Last of Us, and Metal Gear Solid 4. It was a machine that, in its own charmingly complicated way, helped redefine gaming and laid the groundwork for the powerhouse that Sony would become. Plus, it made a pretty decent space heater in the winter.

Featured, Movies

Vintage Star Wars Topps Cards History

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The Star Wars Topps trading cards debuted in 1977, coinciding with the release of Star Wars: A New Hope. Topps, already a well-established name in the trading card industry, produced a series of collectible cards featuring images from the film, behind-the-scenes shots, and character profiles. The first set, distinguished by its blue border, consisted of 66 cards and 11 stickers, quickly becoming a hit among fans. Due to their success, Topps released five additional series between 1977 and 1978, each with distinct border colors and new images. These cards became some of the most iconic and sought-after collectibles of the era, helping to cement Star Wars as not just a blockbuster film but a cultural phenomenon.

Following the original trilogy, Topps continued producing trading card sets for The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), each receiving multiple series. Throughout the decades, Topps has expanded its Star Warsofferings to include prequel trilogy sets, animated series collections (The Clone Wars, Rebels), and modern sequel trilogy releases. They have also introduced premium lines such as Star Wars Galaxy, Masterwork, and autographed cards featuring actors from across the saga. With the continued popularity of Star Wars, Topps trading cards remain a cherished collectible, evolving with new films and TV series while retaining their nostalgic appeal for original fans.

Featured

Is Atari 2600 “BASIC Programming” really that bad?

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ORG $F000 ; Start of program memory

Lyrics:
.byte “I got a pocket full of quarters, “, $0D
.byte “and I’m headed to the arcade”, $0D
.byte “I don’t have a lot of money, “, $0D
.byte “but I’m bringing ev’rything I made”, $0D
.byte “I’ve got a callus on my finger, “, $0D
.byte “and my shoulder’s hurting too”, $0D
.byte “I’m gonna eat them all up, “, $0D
.byte “just as soon as they turn blue”, $0D
.byte “‘Cause I’ve got Pac-Man fever”, $00 ; Null terminator

Start:
LDX #0 ; Start at the first character
Loop:
LDA Lyrics,X ; Load character from memory
BEQ Done ; Stop when we hit the null terminator
; (Render character routine would go here)
INX
JMP Loop

Done:
RTS ; Return from subroutine

Featured

Ranking All 15 Ratchet & Clank Games – Full Series Ranked and Reviewed!

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Ratchet & Clank is what happens when you take a sci-fi buddy comedy, inject it with cartoon chaos, and arm a fuzzy alien mechanic with the most absurd weapons imaginable. The series follows Ratchet, a Lombax (basically a space cat with a knack for fixing things), and Clank, his tiny, sophisticated robot pal who occasionally turns into a helicopter. Together, they travel across the galaxy, saving planets from megalomaniacal villains who have an alarming fondness for doomsday devices. But the real star of the show? The weapons. Where else can you turn enemies into sheep, pixelate them into 8-bit, or launch an army of killer disco balls that force bad guys to dance before their inevitable doom?

Beyond the explosions and intergalactic mayhem, the series shines with its razor-sharp humor, ridiculous characters, and a story that somehow balances heart with complete nonsense. You’ve got a muscle-bound superhero with the IQ of a toaster (looking at you, Captain Qwark), an evil mastermind who sounds like he’s always two minutes away from a stress-induced meltdown, and a never-ending parade of wacky aliens who act like they just walked out of a sitcom. Whether you’re blasting through the classic PS2 adventures or marveling at the Pixar-level visuals of Rift Apart, Ratchet & Clankproves that saving the universe is way more fun when you have a wisecracking sidekick, a wrench the size of a canoe, and a gun that literally shoots tornadoes.

Retro Gaming with a Heavy Metal Soundtrack