PixlBit

When the Nintendo Switch 2 released earlier this year, one of the launch games was the download only Welcome Tour.  It was set up like a museum, and you controlled a little person as they walked around a giant Switch 2 and its accessories.  You could play mini-games, try tech demos, and take quizzes on facts about the new console.  To me, it sounded like a lot of silly, quirky fun.  And I love games that have museums in them, whether it be Namco Museums or Animal Crossing.  There was only one problem.  They charged you for it.  It really should’ve come with the system, and that’s what it’s going to be known for from here on out.  I really wanted to boycott it and not buy it to support that kind of behavior.  But here’s the thing.  I only believe in boycotting if it doesn’t hurt yourself.  And the game still sounded interesting enough to me that I didn’t want to miss out on it.  Life is too short to miss out on what you think is fun.  So I got it.  It was only ten bucks anyway, and I can spend more money than that on fast food!  So I figured I’d take you all on a tour of the Welcome Tour!

I got bored one day and started my 90s playlist for next month. I came up with a new solution to what always ends up being a gigantic list I can't possibly tackle. Here 'tis. 

Did you know that Bally/Midway, the company behind Defender, Joust, and Mortal Kombat, once had its own console? This video takes a brief look at the Bally Astrocade and what is widely considered to be its best game, The Incredible Wizard. This is a near-perfect conversion of Midway's arcade game, The Wizard of Wor. 

Went to Retro Con last Saturday with my gaming buddy MadKrammer, bought some stuff, played a few NES games, and finished Farm Together 2.

I know I said I'd be blogging more regularly, but it's been an insanely busy season at the park. We had major construction going on to update some very old infrastructure, and that cut our parking down from 80ish parking spaces to 40ish parking spaces. We're one of the ten busiest state parks in the state now, and I spent most of my time doing traffic control. Yellow safety vest and all. Anyway, back to 80ish parking spaces, a new entrance booth (with electricity!!! Never had that before, lol), and a new bathroom building. Both were desperately needed. And now I have 17 days left of my season, then it's off to work in the local, independent pet supply store down the road, after a well deserved sanity break.

The Texas Intstruments TI-99/4a was the second, more successful iteration of the world's first 16-bit home computer. Here's a look at one of its most iconic games. Tombstone City is a multidirectional shooter set in a futuristic Arizona, where you must attract new residents by battling aliens spawned by mated pairs of saguaro cacti.

My birthday is coming up soon (September 15 to be exact), but the presents are for you!  You get game reviews to read that I’ve recently written over at GamerDad.com!  Just what you wanted, right?  Right?  Anyway, please click on the links and read as many as you can, and maybe post a ‘like’ or comment or two.  I’d appreciate it.  And just for fun, why don’t you send me a pretend birthday present in the comments section?  It’s the thought that counts, literally!  OK, let’s begin!

Retro stuff galore, virtual Farming and new games got. 

Games Beaten

Grinding for levels in Farm Together 2 and thinking about what retro games I'll play in September.