erichagmann

Pixel Art #50 & #51: Wario and Samus

Cover art from the Mario & Wario comic in Nintendo Power. Just a quick update on my recent pixel art! Below we have Wario as he appeared in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (1994). I loved using the grays of my marker set to make it look like a screenshot straight from the originalContinue reading “Pixel Art #50 & #51: Wario and Samus”

I’ll Learn Ya Good: School in Games

We’re now in the thick of it; school is in session! I’m in my third year as a (now full-time) teacher at a two-year community college, and the first few weeks are always a healthy dose of chaos. Learning names, prepping lessons, and picking out all the music to be used by my music ensembles.Continue reading “I’ll Learn Ya Good: School in Games”

An Elephant Never Forgets: Elephants in Games

“World Elephant Day” was August 12th, and with a new elephant-themed power being teased in the upcoming Super Mario Bros Wonder game, I had to dedicate a post to other appearances of these iconic creatures. So, grab a bowl of peanuts, and enjoy my Top Ten instances of elephants in video games! 10) The Manhole(MacContinue reading “An Elephant Never Forgets: Elephants in Games”

Say Uncle: Top Ten Uncles in Media

Cover photo: Dr. Steven Jones from Startropics (NES, 1990) Almost 10 years have passed since I first became an uncle, and this idea has been sitting with me from the very beginning. Well, it’s time to turn my dreams into reality! And, since July 26th is National Aunt and Uncle’s Day, my timing couldn’t beContinue reading “Say Uncle: Top Ten Uncles in Media”

I Love To Singa (1936)

87 years ago today (July 18, 1936), “Owl Jolson” made his grand debut on the big screen and sang his way into the hearts of American moviegoers. Several decades later, “I Love To Singa” would become one of my most memorable cartoons and maybe one of my earliest connections to jazz music. The story ofContinue reading “I Love To Singa (1936)”

Pixel Art #48 & #49: Duke Nukem & Commander Keen

Duke Nukem (July 1991) and Commander Keen (Dec 1990) were among some of the earliest games that I got into when our family purchased our first computer, an IBM that ran Windows 3.1. I learned a lot about computers that year. MS-DOS was required to boot Windows, so I was constantly exploring the command promptsContinue reading “Pixel Art #48 & #49: Duke Nukem & Commander Keen”

100th Post: The (Gaming) Eras Tour

I love talking about games, and, in the past three years since starting my blog, I’ve had the perfect outlet to discuss over 200 games through top ten lists, yearly wrap-ups, and nostalgic memories. For my 100th post, I’ve decided to do something special by highlighting one game from every system I’ve ever owned (orContinue reading “100th Post: The (Gaming) Eras Tour”

Naming the Original Final Fantasy Games

Recently, a GQ interview with Naoki Yoshida and Hiroshi Minagawa, producer and art director of the upcoming Final Fantasy 16 game, discussed the possibility of dropping the numbers for future titles from the beloved Final Fantasy series which debuted way back in 1987. In the interview, Yoshida claimed that it could be difficult for newContinue reading “Naming the Original Final Fantasy Games”

Double Tap: Zombies in Games

As you may or may not know, May is Zombie Awareness Month, and it is the goal of the Zombie Research Society to “bring awareness about zombies and the possibility of a future zombie apocalypse.” While I’m hopeful that we’ll never live to see such a day, I feel generally prepared having dealt with myContinue reading “Double Tap: Zombies in Games”

Pixel Art #47: The Legend of the Mystical Ninja

An army of ninja cats, two-player cooperative action, and a colorful array of in-game mini-games including a playable demo of Gradius 3? The Legend of the Mystical Ninja holds a fond place in my memory as an ever enjoyable experience despite its ramped up difficulty later in the adventure. I remember playing this with myContinue reading “Pixel Art #47: The Legend of the Mystical Ninja”