State-side we consider the
2nd generation of video game consoles as those released1976-83, remembered for its glut of weird and unsuccessful products that caused the video game crash of 1983. It was a lawless wild west of new ideas and everyone wanted a shot.
While the internet portrays Nintendo and Sega as beloved lifelong friends, 2nd-gen consoles feel more like grandparents who grew up during great depression. I tend to agree; my appreciation for them is often framed with phrases like "for the time" and "compared to the competition." Today I'm giving the 2nd gen more love as I set out to design (virtually, textually) my dream game room. It may not be the origin of video games, but its historical significance and breadth make it the most interesting starting line to me. Here are the 2nd-gen consoles I want in my dream game room. (I'll get to games later).
In February I hosted the first of what I hope are many monthly retro gaming forums at the Olathe Public Library (downtown branch) as part of the library's expanding adult activities program. The weather was bad and the publicity minimal (I didn't even have a name for it at the time); a grand total of four people showed up, including my wife and myself. But something very important happened; we had fun! There was good discussion, games I'd never played before, and an opportunity to meet new people - in real life (something I don't often do these days) - who share my favorite pastime. Other than the unsurprisingly small headcount, the group achieved exactly what I hoped it would.
