When I started this site, I had intended to focus on some of the great home computer hardware of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s.  I’ve been collecting old systems from garage sale, estate sales, thrift shops, and electronics recyclers.  I truly enjoy having the opportunity to restore and use systems that I dreamed of owning when they were new, but was unable to afford.

As I’ve searched for artifacts for my vintage computer collection, I’ve noticed there is an abundance of computer gaming consoles available.  On my thrifting and garage sale sessions, I began to bring back more and more gaming consoles and media.  Much of what I’ve acquired has been broken or abused (or possibly well loved).  Over the last several months, I’ve been cleaning and repairing the systems that I’ve found.  I now have a bonafide console game collection, and hundreds of games.

For years, I’ve viewed PCs as the only real venue for gaming.  Well, I am now a convert.  Until this last year, the only real console experience that I’ve had is with the Fairchild Channel F, the Atari 2600, and a few games of Wii Bowling.  I now find my PC sitting idle as a gaming platform, and I’ve found a new use for the couch.  There are so many great games available for the consoles I have in my collection.  I’m now collecting game media with the enthusiasm of a baseball card collector.  I’ve even become a YouTube junkie with all the great game review channels available.

With so many game systems, and so many game types (side scrollers, shooters, beat-em ups, JRPGs, etc), it is a bit overwhelming.  To keep this hobby fun, I’ve decided to take a more measured approach to learning the landscape.  I plan to immerse myself in one system at a time.   I’ll start with the first console I owned as a teenager, the Fairchild Channel F, and work my way up from there.  I’ll fully explore each system’s hardware, common problems and repairs, and game libraries.  I will share my experiences here, and possibly even try my hand at some YouTube videos on console repairs.

My greatest hope is to get to know others who share in the hobby, and to learn from them.  So far I’ve been fortunate to meet some very nice people who are patient enough to put up with a noob gamer in his fifties, and to have a supportive wife who enjoys the thrill of the hunt on our many thrifting and swap-meet trips.  My wonderful wife even went to the Portland Retro Gaming Expo with me this year, and we both had a great time.

Thanks for visiting, and look for more here soon.  Please feel free to comment.