Tag Archives: E.T.

The Music of Mad Marbles

Not many arcade players noticed, but in December of 1984, the sound of video games changed for the better, forever.

certainly noticed. I pumped quarter after quarter into that Marble Madness machine, not just because I enjoyed the (admittedly very challenging) game, but because I had to hear that music, one more time. Continue reading

Comments Off on The Music of Mad Marbles

Filed under Bad Influences, Faint Signals, Nostalgic Obsessions, Thousand Listen Club

The Pac-simile

Yea, I say unto you, I was in the right place at the right time for two major moments in American history. You must believe that what I’m about to tell you is the truth; it will seem like so much legend and myth.

The first: I was gifted a copy of E.T. (the game) for the Atari 2600, on Christmas, but that is a tale for another article.

I HAD TO PRETEND I ENJOYED THIS.

The second, and more significant: I talked my father into buying me Pac-Man for the Atari 2600, one of the most notoriously disappointing games of all time. Second only to E.T.,of course.

Continue reading

Comments Off on The Pac-simile

Filed under Bad Influences, Faint Signals, Idiot's Delight, Nostalgic Obsessions