gaminghistorian posts
Posts: 403
Files: 316
Blog: Back to the grind (10/24/22 - 10/28/22)
Hello Patrons! Convention season is officially over and I'm back in the editing dungeon. Here are the latest updates from Gaming Historian HQ.Retropalooza!Last weekend, I went to Retropalooza in Arlington, TX! This is a favorite of mine. It is an easy, 1-hour flight and the food is always delicious. I haven't been to Retropalooza in four years, so I got to see some people I have not seen in quite a while! Thank you to anyone who stopped by my table or saw the panel presentation.I also got to hang out with some of my Discord chat moderat...
Blog: Portland Retro Gaming Expo! (10/10/21 - 10/16/21)
Hello Patrons! This past weekend, I attended the Portland Retro Gaming Expo. I also made more progress on the Mario Kart video. Let's take a look.Super Mario Kart ProgressI made some good progress on Part 2. Studio Goblin is providing another animation for this episode. During development, designers experiment with all sorts of ideas. And sometimes, they mention them in interviews. Every now and then we will find visual evidence of these experiments, but most of the time we don't. In this instance, Miyamoto mentioned that they had a con...
Blog: Part 1 Complete & Mario Movie Trailer Thoughts (10/03/22 - 10/07/22)
Hello Patrons! It has been a great week. Here are the highlights.Super Mario Kart Part 1 is Done!Tuesday evening, I finished up Part 1 of the Super Mario Kart video! Everything looks and sounds great, and I found some great background music as well. Overall, I'm really happy with this edit.Out of curiosity, I decided to keep track of the hours it took to edit Part 1. In total, it took 20 hours of solid work to finish. By solid work, I mean no distractions: This was me sitting in front of Adobe Premiere, editing.Part 1 is roughly 10 minutes ...
Blog: Mario Kart Production Begins! (09/26/22 - 09/30/22)
Hello Patrons! It has been a busy and productive week here at Gaming Historian HQ. Let's dive in.New Hard DriveI started filming some b-roll for Part 1 on Monday. As I was transferring video files, I got a warning on my computer: You are running out of hard drive space! Time to upgrade.I keep all of my video files on a 2TB hard drive. That has lasted me about 5 years. This time around, I got an 8TB hard drive. I'm hoping that will get me through the next 5 years. The new hard drive got delivered the next day. After I cloned my old drive...
Blog: More NES Chairs & Locks!? (09/19/22 - 09/21/22)
Hi everyone, and welcome to this weeks blog post! I'm going out of town for a wedding on Friday, so I'm posting the blog a day early. Let's begin!Super Mario Kart Script RevisionsI've always talked about script revisions, but I have never explained what actually goes into them. Well this week, Kristin & I got a final version of the Super Mario Kart script ready to go. So let me take you into the process.The first step is that Kristin goes through the entire document (in Google Docs) and gives notes (such as the one above). When ...
Blog: 1Up Cards, Mario Kart Script, and Car Troubles! (09/12/22 - 09/16/22)
It's time for another exciting week at Gaming Historian HQ. Well, not really - I'm mostly writing. But soon, a wonderful video will bloom from these words.I'm gonna change the format up this week and just cover the highlights. Lets begin!Gaming Historian 1Up CardsI'd like to start by announcing there are now officially licensed Gaming Historian 1Up Cards!If you are unfamiliar with 1Up Cards, they are my favorite way to clean cartridge-based games. I've been using them since they came out. The company that makes them approach...
Blog: Super Mario Kart script! (09/05/22 - 09/09/22)
Hello Patrons! Welcome to September. Where has the time gone?I hope everyone had a fun Labor Day. I spent time with family and ate hamburgers. I actually wanted a little refresher on the history of Labor Day, so I found this video from the History Channel that summarizes it pretty well.This week, I'm hoping to knock out the Super Mario Kart script and publish the Sharp SF1 video to YouTube. Will I succeed? Stay tuned...Tuesday, September 6th(I wasn't sure what picture to use for today, so here is Kit in her usual spot by my desk)I got t...
Blog: Back from Retro World & New Schedule (08/30/22 - 09/02/22)
Hello Patrons! I'm back from Retro World Expo. It was great seeing some of you at the convention. Thanks for stopping by and saying hello.I didn't pick anything up for myself at the convention. But I did get a gift for my brother - a signed print of the TMNT II: Arcade Game box art! The artist, Steve Lavigne, was at the convention. My brother absolutely loved this game, so I thought it would make a good Xmas present.I got back Sunday night and I took Monday off to recover. I also did some thinking while sitting around at the airport. I&...
NEW VIDEO | Sharp SF1: A Super Famicom TV!
I really like how this video turned out. I went into a surprising rabbit-hole while doing research. Now I feel like this video serves as a "everything you need to know" about the Sharp SF1. I cover everything, from what each button does to why the EXT port looks different than the SFC version.This video still needs to be sent to the audio mixer. But any and all feedback is appreciated! Now to get back to the Mario Kart episode.
Blog: Off to Retro World Expo! (08/22/22 - 08/26/22)
Hello friends! This week, I'll be editing the Sharp SF1 video and traveling to Connecticut. I'll be attending the Retro World Expo in Hartford, so if you are in the area, please come on by and say hello!Monday, August 22ndThere is nothing better than starting a week by editing a new video. It feels like everything aligned perfectly. Nothing too exciting happened today, it was a pretty chill editing session. I edited the narration, did some color grading, upscaled some stock footage, and filmed some b-roll. I cannot stress enough how muc...
Blog: Solving the mysteries of the SF1 (08/15/22 - 08/19/22)
Note: I actually finished this blog on Friday, but simply forgot to press "Publish." Whoops! Sorry about that.Hello Patrons! I'm hoping to start filming the SF1 video this week, so lets get right to work, shall we?Monday, August 15thI can't quite continue my SF1 research without a few key items. They are as follows.1.) The SatellaviewThe Japanese Wikipedia page states the SF1 does not work with the Satellaview. However, the US Wikipedia page says it does work. I want to find out once and for all, so I ordered a Satellaview.2.) U...
Blog: I'm Back! (08/10/22 - 08/12/22)
Hello Patrons!I wanted to start by saying thank you for all the kind words and support over the past few weeks. If you aren't aware, my Grandma has been having some medical issues. She lives alone, but my Mom has been helping her. Kristin & I drove up to visit and help my Grandma with appointments, making meals, etc.Unfortunately, the doctors are still coming up with a treatment plan for her. But we are ready to return at a moments notice.We drove back Monday (12 hour drive) and on Tuesday, I was mostly recovering from the trip.I have some ...
Blog: A week cut short (07/25/22 - 07/26/22)
Hello Patrons! Lots of things are happening around here, both personally and professionally. I'll fill you in below.Monday, July 25thToday definitely did not go as I planned, but it was still an extremely busy day. I didn't get a chance to start on the Super Mario Kart script.The biggest news of the day was I announced the $12 tier for our Patreon is going away. You can learn more about that here. But in the meantime, here is some mail I got today for the Mario Kart video!First up are some Bandai Mario Kart toys! Mario's wheels are ...
IMPORTANT: Professor Tier Leaving August 1st
Hello Patrons - I have an important announcement. Effective August 1st, there will no longer be a $12 tier.I'd like to start by saying thank you to everyone who is on the Professor tier. That level of support was so incredible and helped boost my production values to a level I never thought possible.So why is the tier leaving? The reasons why are as follows:Shipping CostsThe cost of shipping has skyrocketed since I first introduced the tier in early 2020. This means that every time someone signs up & I send out a notebook, I am losing money...
Blog: And the Topic winner is... (07/18/22 - 07/22/22)
With 45% of the votes, "Origins of the Cartridge: Channel F, for Fun" is the winner of the topic vote! The synopsis:How much do you know about where the game cartridge came from? Who were the people that made the conceptual leap to have interchangeable tapes in games? We discover the truth behind the first programmable video game console, the Fairchild Channel F, and why they never were able to capitalize on this invention.Expected Runtime: 20-30 minutesThis episode will be written by Ethan Johnson, who also wrote the "Nintendo on A...
Blog: Raining from the ceiling (07/11/22 - 07/15/22)
It's time to get back into the groove of things. COVID knocked me out for almost 2 weeks! But I'm finally feeling back to 100%. Unfortunately, there was a mishap with my new air conditioner/handler. I went into my office and saw water coming out of the ceiling and wall!That can't be good, right?The HVAC company came out and fixed the issue at no charge. They also said they will fix the wall/ceiling too. I have no idea when though. With that out of the way, let's get back to work.Monday, July 11thSince I was away for a while, I n...
EPISODE TOPIC VOTE - Space Invaders, Channel F, and Rumble Tech!
Instead of a blog this week, we will be doing a topic vote! Below are your options along with a brief description and expected runtime. Cast your vote and decide which episode goes into production!Invading Japan - The Invader Boom of 1979Pitch: The first video game craze in Japan was carried by rows of swarming aliens. Few things in world history have made more of a cultural impact than Space Invaders. Come see how Japan was consumed with Invader Fever at the end of the 1970s.Expected Runtime: 15-25 minutesOrigins of the Cartridge: Channel F, f...
Blog: Got COVID :(
Greetings Patrons,This week's blog is not very interesting because, over the weekend, my sickness that I thought was just a cold turned into COVID.It all started on Friday. I woke up with a sore throat and I felt feverish. I took a COVID test, but it was negative. On Saturday, I woke up feeling worse and decided to take another test. This time it was positive. Yikes!And if I am positive, that meant that Kristin was certain to be positive as well (she was). So, we have been hunkered down in the house all week. My energy is absolutely zapped ...
NEW VIDEO | Microsoft's 3 Biggest Mistakes
We are continuing our "3 Biggest Mistakes" series with Microsoft. I had a lot of fun researching this one because I personally experienced every single one of these issues.This video was written by myself & edited by Luis Illingsworth. I think he did a great job and I hope to have him edit more content in the future.Hope you enjoy!
Blog: A new video is here! (06/20/22 - 06/24/22)
I'm back from my trip! Kristin & I took a visit to Washington DC to check out all the museums. The last time I went to DC, I was in middle school. I've always wanted to go back as an adult because I felt like I would have a better appreciation for the museums.We had a great time and I'm feeling refreshed and inspired! Let's dive back into videos.Monday, June 20thWhile the Microsoft video gets the finishing touches done, I decided to start editing the "Nintendo on Atari" video. I'd like to have this video finished by ...
NEW VIDEO | When Nintendo Games Were on Atari
Here is a brand-new episode of The Gaming Historian for you to enjoy! This is a special episode in that it is the first episode written by someone outside of Gaming Historian HQ. Ethan Johnson did a great job not only highlighting these games, but providing some fantastic context for their releases.Hope you enjoy and feel free to leave any feedback for us in the comments below.
Blog: Short work week (06/06/22 - 06/09/22)
Hi all - This week is a short work week because I'm going out of town for my birthday! But things are shaping up nicely around Gaming Historian HQ. Let's get started.Monday, June 6thToday, I recorded all the game footage for the "Nintendo on Atari" video! I used the Analogue NT, which is able to emulate Atari 2600 games in 1080p. It's an extremely convenient, easy way to record these older games.I think my favorite out of all the games was either Donkey Kong or Sky Skipper. Popeye was also good, but pretty challenging. Donke...
Blog: Working on 3 videos at once! (05/31/22 - 06/03/22)
Hello Patrons! I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. Mine was mostly uneventful. I mowed the lawn, fixed a few things around the house, etc. But sometimes those uneventful weekends are the best weekends. With the holiday over, it's time to get back to videos!Tuesday, May 31stThis morning, I sat down and read over the Microsoft script one more time to make sure it was good to go before Kristin looked it over.In the afternoon, I recorded a new commentary for Grad Assistants and Professors. And it's a good one! Back in 2009, I ...
Blog: Writing a new script (05/23/22 - 05/27/22)
Hello Patrons! I hope you all had a great weekend. I had to help my family move some furniture on Sunday. As a truck owner, I am required by law to help all family and friends move. All jokes aside, it wasn't too bad, and I got some pizza!Monday, May 23rdI spent most of my day researching the remaining two Microsoft mistakes: The Xbox One announcement and the "Red Ring of Death."The Red Ring of Death is an interesting mistake. Yes, it cost Microsoft over 1 billion dollars to fix. But the 360 continued to sell well during the chaos. ...
Blog: Back at it again (05/16/22 - 05/20/22)
Hello Patrons! Last week, I took some time off to recuperate after releasing my biggest video yet. But now I'm back, and it's time to dive into a new work week.Monday, May 16thToday was mostly a "catching-up" day. I had to respond to a bunch of e-mails, ship out a bunch of Patreon rewards, and more. But I did wake up to a nice milestone: The new video has reached 1 million views in just nine days! That's a new record for a video.We also passed 900,000 subscribers on YouTube! When I started this show, I never imagined getting...
Blog: The Super Mario World video is now live! (05/02/22 - 05/06/22)
Hey gang! I've got a non-traditional blog this week because...I had a pretty non-traditional work week. So let's dive in.This past weekend, I attended the Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee, WI. I had a blast and even got to meet a few of you! Thank you to everyone who stopped by my table and said hello. After the past few years, it is nice to talk to fans face-to-face again.I flew home Sunday night, and on Monday, it was back to work. I had to review the audio mix for the episode. We made a few modifications and called it done. Howeve...
Blog: What's next? (04/25/22 - 04/29/22)
Monday, April 25thI had to take a personal day and help my family with some stuff.Tuesday, April 26thMy goal for today was to finalize the video for audio mixing. I sat down at 8 am and went through the video, piece by piece, making sure all the video and audio were the way I want it. Once I send this off, there is no going back!I went through all of your feedback and made my corrections. Of course, once I do that, I have to re-adjust some pacing so everything fits nicely with the background music.At 7 pm, I finished! I sent the video to Emi of...
Blog: Holy moly, the Super Mario World video is done! (04/18/22 - 04/22/22)
Monday, April 18thThe conclusion is now done! It took a little longer than I anticipated. I had to capture a lot of specific gameplay parts and random b-roll shots. Tomorrow, I should have everything finalized, then I can tackle the last part: THE INTRO!Tuesday, April 19thPart 4 is finalized. The conclusion is finalized. And the intro is ALMOST done. I just need to fill in a few more spots. I also need to go through the whole video again and adjust some volumes so you fine people can give it a watch!Get hyped. This video will be out tomorrow!We...
NEW VIDEO | The Story of Super Mario World
Thanks for your patience with this one. I seriously could not have made this without you all. Any and all feedback is appreciated!
Blog: Part 4: The Final Frontier (04/11/22 - 04/15/22)
Monday, April 11thIt's time to finalize part 3. I got about halfway done today. I added background music, adjusted the pacing, and filled in some missing shots. I scoured through a ton of newspaper archives to find some photos for this section. I found a REALLY good one for part 4 as well.Tuesday, April 12thPart 3 is DONE! I'm so thrilled I was able to finalize this so quickly. I'll jump immediately into part 4 tomorrow. Part 4 is the shortest section, but it also includes the conclusion, which I am very, very picky about. I always ...
