Bit Museum

Bit Museum #5: Nintendo Game & Watch History

Jason — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:43:08 +0000

Did you ever wonder how Nintendo got the wacky idea to slap two displays together and call it a DSi? This will shed some light on it! Jason Cirillo takes you through a super thrilling, action-packed joy ride through the history of the Nintendo Game & Watch. Next time you’re playing with an LCD calculator to give yourself maximum entertainment, remember the humble beginnings of Game & Watch!

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Bit Museum #4: The Smoke and Mirrors of Entex AdventureVision

Jason — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:55:43 +0000

Just when you thought Jason couldn’t find anything weirder or more obscure! Behold the regal Entex AdventureVision.

Straight outta Compton, the AdventureVision is truly a console to behold. With its mere 40 LED lights and one double-sided spinning mirror (!), this portable console achieves a truly mystifying technique of displaying a 40×150 Pixel display, playing some of your arcade favorites in brilliant monochrome.

Pull up a chair and get your eyedrops ready. The AdventureVision is one of game history’s most fascinating and elusive creatures!

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Bit Museum #3: The Wizard of Odyssey

Jason — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 18:28:47 +0000

“No, mom! I said an Atari 2600! Look at the picture in the Sears WishBook! Come on, it doesn’t look anything like this!”

Sound familiar? Perhaps it was your own whiny lament on a Christmas morning some decades ago. But buck up! The Magnavox Odyssey 2 was a worthy contender to the Atari 2600, and while it couldn’t stand up against ol’ Wood Grain, it was still a moderately successful Generation 2 cartridge-based game system.

We take a quick look at the Magnavox Odyssey 2 Hardware, a couple games, and a brief history lesson of this weird but neat-o machine.Also, check out our special guest….I mean, OUR SPECIAL GUEST!!!!

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Bit Museum #2: TV-Less Gaming in the Early 1980’s

Jason — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:30:35 +0000

You’re a kid in the early 80’s and you are ready to settle down in your plaid sofa with a bowl of Count Chocula in your favorite Dukes of Hazard bowl. But wouldn’t you know it…Dad’s beat you to the TV is already into Barney Miller. You could never pry him away from anything with Abe Vigoda.

What’s a Neomaxizoomdweebie like you to do? Thankfully electronics engineer Jay Smith’s wacky TV-Less consoles were around to help you get through the misery. Here’s the dirty low-down on these weird game consoles.

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Peek Poke #2: Super Mario Choco Egg from Japan

Jason — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:30:08 +0000

Eating chocolate is already one of the more awesome parts of life. Now imagine eating chocolate, and finding miniature Super Mario statues inside. Don’t worry…the plastic capsule contained within gives you fair warning you’re about to bite into a toy. Check it out.

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Peek/Poke #1: Coleco Tabletops from the 1980s

Jason — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:57:22 +0000

My teachers always said I didn’t pay enough attention and that I’d be a failure someday. They were half right; you decide which half.

Back in the 1980’s, Coleco released these bad-ass (yeah, I said bad-ass) tabletop arcade machines. I wanted these so badly I spent nearly $10,000 in magician’s equipment to put on shows and earn enough money to buy them. I never made a dime. As I type this, I only now realize I could have bought anything I wanted with that $10,000.

Peek/Poke is sort of a sister show to the grander Bit Museum. A bit more of a critical show that rates some of the retro gear and focuses more on individual titles and software rather than the hardware itself. My nerdiness, as you can see, also comes with a heaping helping of obsessive/compulsive disorder for your ridiculing pleasure.

I take a look at the gameplay, cases, artwork and overall sexiness of these retro beauties. Check out the sweet Donkey Kong Jr. Game & Watch cross-over in the series. Neat stuff.

Bit Museum

Bit Museum #5: Nintendo Game & Watch History

Bit Museum #4: The Smoke and Mirrors of Entex AdventureVision

Bit Museum #3: The Wizard of Odyssey

Bit Museum #2: TV-Less Gaming in the Early 1980’s

Peek Poke #2: Super Mario Choco Egg from Japan

Peek/Poke #1: Coleco Tabletops from the 1980s

Bit Museum #1: Obscure Nintendo Consoles from the 1970’s