has got me thinking…

What’s in your video game collection?

I’m an avid retro video game collector.  The problem?  I don’t know too many folks like me.  So I’m gonna take a moment and highlight some of my personal favorites in my collection.  And if you have a moment as well, I’d like to hear what you’ve got stashed away.


CLASH AT DEMONHEAD: NES

Horrible cover art, but a gem of a game lies inside…which is sort of confusing.  You’re Billy “Big Bang” Blitz and you’re doing…something.  Levels take the guise of routes which you can go back over and over again until you complete your mission.  This gives the game a sort of weird action puzzle type feel and while it can be frustrating, the game has stuck in my head.


KICKLE CUBICLE: NES

As Kickle, it is your job to solve puzzles on Fantasy Land using ice blocks and your deep freeze breath.  Sounds sort of lame, but there’s a good challenge lying within this game.  They sure don’t make games like this anymore and I wish they would.


ODYSSEY 3000

It plays Pong.  Four variations of Pong.  And one, if I remember correctly, was practice Pong which had you hitting a ball against a wall.  Not much fun, but damn it looks retro.  And it plays retro.  And it’s sort of fun.

I have to apply this to libraries in some way:

A great programming opportunity would be to open up a section of your video gaming program to collectors.  Allow them to bring in parts of their collection and share it with younger gamers.  Have a weekly “museum” at your game night program for these people.  We are out there and we need to connect.  Librarians can help bring together that community.

I did a display at the Cape May County Library in November 2009 titled “A Brief History of Video Games”.  Check out the photos here.

(PS: Yes, while I do love video games oh so much, I do read books as well.  Check out my LibraryThing profile here)