I am a major fan of nostalgia. On this page, you’ll find links to my posts about classic video games, stories I’ve written, and a healthy heap of my most recent hobby – art! If you’re enjoying what you see, I encourage you to “like” my posts, leave a reply, and subscribe/follow this section so you can stay up-to-date with my latest content!
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You Are Saved: Saving in Games
Happy Easter! And, speaking of being saved… here are ten instances of unique ways to save in video games! 10. Animaniacs(SNES, 1994) Despite there existing hundreds of games that already had the ability to save a game directly to a cartridge, the 1994 Animaniacs game for the Super Nintendo opted to use the archaic method…
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Pixel Art #52: Ninja Turtles (NES)
The original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989) video game for the Nintendo Entertainment System was known for its brutal difficulty and a deceptive jump where you can just walk over it. I owned this game as a kid and had nightmares just trying to get through the infamous water stage. While I’ve never beaten it…
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My Gaming Year in Review (2023)
2023 held some big moments for me. I fulfilled a lifelong dream by moving into a full-time position at my job as an instructor of vocal music at our local college. I fulfilled another lifelong dream by helping to run a summer music camp that we put on in June. And, I got to spend some time traveling…
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Ten Iconic Halloween-Related Performances
Spooky season is upon us, and that means it’s time to take in all of our favorite Halloween-related content! What’s your go-to October media? Are you watching classic slasher films like Friday the 13th and Scream? Or, do you prefer something a little more light-hearted like It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown? Naturally, since music…
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Face Your Fears: 10 Games To Fight Your Phobias
What is your greatest fear? For me, it’s trying to drive over mountainous roads that don’t have guard rails in the middle of winter (can my state please invest in guard rails???). It’s a task that I try to avoid, yet every year there comes some reason or two where I have to literally rise…
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Halloween Countdown: 31 Games of October
October is here! A couple years ago, I challenged myself to post cover photos on Facebook of spooky moments from video games for every day leading up to Halloween – including the day itself. Now that I have a blog, I finally have a proper way to share all these photos in one go! Without…
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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 original…
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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.…
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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(Mac…
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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 be…
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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 of…
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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 prompts…
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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 (or…
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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 new…
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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 my…
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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 my…
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Egging You On: Eggs in Games
As an adult on Easter, I may not be searching for colorful capsules filled with candy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t take my hunt to other mediums! This year, I went on a quest to find the top ten instances of eggs in video games! Can you think of any others? Tell me about…
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Top Ten Archives: 2020
While the world was dealing with a pandemic, I was wrapping up my first year of a Master’s degree and holding true to my New Year’s resolution: to create a video game-related top ten list (based on a witty pun) for every month of the year. Due to the nature of WordPress, it could be…
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K: A Top Ten List About Bad Guys
With Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania just around the corner, we will finally get a full glimpse of the “other” Kang in all his glory. Kang… Kang… Hmmm, that name sounds a lot like some other fictional bad guys out there in the world… Let’s name the Top Ten “K” Villains (who only have one…
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Pixel Art #46: Ironsword: Wizards & Warriors II
The original Wizards & Warriors game came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 (before Japan!). I remember playing this game briefly at my neighbor’s house which was being rented by a group of college students who happened to have some of those early games. Later in life, I ended up getting its sequel…
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My Gaming Year in Review (2022)
Happy New Year! 2022 was my first full year with a Nintendo Switch which meant I had a lot more easy access to games that I wanted to pick up on the fly via the eShop. Despite a couple busy semesters of teaching, I was able to complete quite a few games! Here’s a recap…
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Perler Art #45: Lakitu
Lakitu has been terrorizing the famous plumber duo since his first appearance in Super Mario Bros in 1985 where he would chuck spinies at his victims below from the comforts of his portable cloud. In future games he would act as an official in Super Mario Kart, and he was the man behind the camera…
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Marker Art #44: Lemmings
My first experience with Lemmings was at a friend’s house (yes, the same friend where I accidentally borrowed Chrono Trigger), and it was something that held our attention far more than it should have. I loved the challenge of trying to manage all these brainless creatures as they marched carelessly toward their goal (or impending…
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Marker Art #43: Ducktales
Kids of the NES era were blessed to have a company like Capcom working on games based on their favorite Disney afternoon shows. Amongst gems like Chip n Dale: Rescue Rangers (1990) and Darkwing Duck (1992) was Ducktales (1989), a charming show about the adventures of a thrifty tycoon with a boppin’ theme song. It’s…
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Marker Art #42: The Phantom Train
Halloween is almost here so I decided to break out the markers again to create some spooky pixel art! My selection this time is a scene from Final Fantasy 6 (SNES 1994) where Sabin and Cyan accidentally board a train that takes its passengers to the land of the dead. Their only chance of survival…
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Marker Art #41: Super Mario Kart Yoshi
Super Mario Kart was easily one of my most-played games as a kid. It was the pinnacle multiplayer experience that offered hours of entertainment up there with games like Turtles in Time and Super Bomberman. When we weren’t vying for that sweet first place finish in the Mario Kart GP mode, we’d be duking it…
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Marker Art #40: Excitebike
Designed by the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto, Excitebike (1985) was one of the very first launch titles for the original Nintendo Entertainment System. I learned recently that this game’s engine was a key component for Miyamoto’s team in the development of Super Mario Bros. Namely, Mario’s ability to accelerate from a walk to a run was…
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Marker Art #39: The Goonies 2
The Goonies movie came out in 1985 and remains one of my most cherished movies from my childhood. I mean, what a story! A group of kids find a treasure map, search through secret tunnels with puzzles a la Indiana Jones, and then fight off a family of criminals aboard a pirate ship???? This film…
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Marker Art #38: Donkey Kong Jr.
I often credit Donkey Kong Jr (1982) as being one of the first arcade machines that really attracted me to video games. I loved all the colors and characters that were depicted all over the cabinet. When my parents finally lifted me high enough to see the screen, I was completely enthralled. Of course, I…
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Marker Art #37: Lolo and Lala
Adventures of Lolo 3 came out in 1990 for the Famicom and joined us in the United States the following year on the Nintendo Entertainment System. While the prior two games were excellent in their own right, the third entry broke the formulaic feel by adding a colorful world map to navigate along with the…
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Chalk Art #36: A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds came out for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013 and, being modeled after A Link to the Past (SNES 1991), it easily became one of my favorite games in the series. Not only was the 3D effect seamlessly incorporated into the gameplay, but the art style heightened this…
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Sting Like A Bee: Bees in Games
World Honey Bee Day is August 20th! Last Fall, we dealt with a major wasp infestation on our patio and basically had to wait until Winter before we could even attempt to do anything about it. So far, we’re in the clear! More recently, one of my friends just got into beekeeping, and she has…
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Painting Art #34 & 35: Princess Peach and Banjo Kazooie
These may be my favorite projects so far! A few months ago, I ordered some 14×11″ sheets of plexiglass to use as replacements for any of my frames that accidentally fall off the wall – or if I happen to find a frame that’s missing its glass. The pack came in a set of ten,…
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Perler Art #33: Super Mario Bros 3
After a few months of trying my hand at crayon art, I decided to try something new. My girlfriend and were browsing the aisles of Hobby Lobby when my eyes suddenly spotted a colorful array of Nintendo characters. On the shelf in front of me was a bucket of Perler beads from which you could…
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Marker Art #32: I Am Error
If you’ve played the NES sequel Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1987), then it’s very likely you’ve run across this guy. Calling himself “Error,” his Japanese name is the symbol for “Bagu.” In English, this means “a computer bug.” So, it’s very likely that the localization of Zelda II resulted in this translation error…
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Sing Us A Song: Vocalists in Games
Featured image from Nintendo Unity YouTube channel. As you may or may not know, music is a huge part of my life (erichagmannmusic.com gave it away, huh?), and I’ve been singing as early as elementary school. Now I’m a voice teacher at a college, I direct two vocal ensembles, and I continue to perform for…
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Marker Art #31: Rush
Rush first appeared as Mega Man’s faithful canine companion in Mega Man 3 for the original Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990 (JP). His primary function was to help Mega Man reach high ledges by turning into a coil that would add some spring to the blue bomber’s jump. Later upgrades in the same game would…
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Marker Art #30: Gargoyle’s Quest
Gargoyle’s Quest came out for the original Game Boy in 1990, and it was one of the first games I ever owned for the system (the others being Tetris, Kirby’s Dream Land, and Lock ‘n’ Chase). With a story that lasts over three hours, I found it to be one of the most challenging experiences…
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Marker Art #29: Pokémon Blue/Red
Pokémon Blue & Red came out in the US in 1998, and I received the Blue version for Christmas from my Aunt and Uncle a few years after that. I was surprised to get a gift from them, and truthfully, Pokémon wasn’t really on my radar at the time. Nonetheless, I dove head first into…
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Marker Art #28: Duck Hunt
Duck Hunt was one of the launch games with the original Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1985 in the US. What made this game particularly special is that it came with the NES Zapper, a handheld light gun that you used to play shooting games on your television. For those of us who grew up…
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Marker Art #27: Rampage
Rampage came out for the original Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988 and was based on the arcade game from 1986. In it, you live out your giant monster dreams as you attack cities all over the world trying to smash their buildings into piles of rubble. The NES version let you play as Ralph (a…
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Marker Art #26: Moogle and Chocobo
Moogles and chocobos have been some of my favorite creatures in the Final Fantasy series since the fourth game came out for the Super Nintendo in 1991 (known as Final Fantasy 2 in the US). I came across this FF6-themed sprite of a moogle riding a chocobo, and I just had to recreate the art…
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Dad, Dad, Daddy-O: Fathers in Games
It’s Father’s Day again, and what better way to celebrate than to recognize some of the most iconic Dad’s in video games. Can you think of any others worthy of this list? Below are my Top Ten! 10. Taban AshtearChrono Trigger(SNES, 1995) Father to the brilliant inventor, Lucca, Taban Ashtear plays an essential role in…
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Marker Art #24 & 25: Little Nemo and Earthbound
Wanting to speed up the pixel art process, I invested in some graph paper the other day and had to try it out immediately after it arrived. Finally – no more measuring and grid drawing! As a quick test, I pulled up a sprite for Nemo from Little Nemo: The Dream Master (NES, 1990) and…
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Marker Art #23: Final Fantasy 4
I talked extensively about my connection to Final Fantasy 4 in my Most Mentioned Games article, and now I’m excited to add a piece of my own pixel art to the wall to doubly represent my love for this game! Final Fantasy 4 (known as Final Fantasy 2 in the US) came out for the…
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Marker Art #22: Kid Icarus
1987 was a great time to be alive if you were a Nintendo fan. Mega Man, Contra, Wizards & Warriors, Final Fantasy, and Punch-Out were just a handful of magnificent selections that players had from which to choose in a market that wasn’t yet competing with next year’s Sega Genesis. Kid Icarus came to the…
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Crayon Art #21: Rescue Rangers
The newest Rescue Rangers movie just released, and upon watching it, I was immediately filled with complete, nostalgic wonder. I was a huge fan of the show when I was a kid, and it was easily my favorite out of all the Disney Afternoon cartoons (yes, I liked it even better than Ducktales!). Years later,…
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*Marker* Art #19 & 20: Dragon Warrior & StarTropics
Once again grabbing my Ohuhu markers and a couple of 4×4″ pieces of canvas, I decided this time to sketch out some pixel art of characters from two of my favorite games, Dragon Warrior (Originally Dragon Quest, NES, 1987) and StarTropics (NES, 1990). For the latter, I chose to use the sprite from the series’…
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It’s Good To Be The King: Royalty in Games
King me! Legendary kings like Hrothgar and King Arthur have been appearing in literature as early as the 9th-century, and the oral histories of these types of characters reach even further back in time. The Greeks had Zeus, Norse mythology had Odin, and Middle-earth had Aragorn. It wasn’t long before people were creating their own…
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*Marker* Art #18: Black Mage
The last time I busted out the Ohuhu markers to create some pixel art of Frog from Chrono Trigger, I was enamored by the end result. So, I decided to try another project this weekend and settled on the classic Black Mage from the Final Fantasy series! Have you played any of the Final Fantasy…
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Crayon Art #17: 1982 Atari Classics
The 30th anniversary of Kirby’s Dream Land was just last week, and that got me thinking that there must be games worth celebrating that are now 40 years old! So, I hopped on the google machine to see when my favorite arcade games were ported to the Atari. Lo and behold, many of the Atari’s…
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Crayon Art #16: Bosses of Super Mario Bros 2 (USA)
I’ve always had a special affinity for Super Mario Bros 2 (USA), and I even place it within the top five of my favorite Mario games. In particular, I really appreciated the game’s uniqueness, the ability to play as four different characters each with their own individual attributes, and the atypical storyline that expanded on…
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Hoppin’ Down The Bunny Trail: Rabbits in Games
Hippity-hoppity, Easter’s on its way! After you find your basket and eat way too many chocolate covered rabbits, hop on down the bunny trail with me as we take a look at the Top Ten instances of hares in video games! It’s lagomorphin’ time! 10. RobbitJumping Flash! (Playstation, 1995) The “first platform video game in…
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I’m Telling Mom: Siblings in Games
Happy Sibling’s Day! Let’s recognize some of the most iconic sets of brothers and sisters in gaming! Can you think of any others? Let me know in the comments! 10. Sirrus and AchenarMyst (Mac OS, 1993) Red pages or blue pages? After dropping onto the mysterious island of Myst, you discover these pair of brothers…
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Dream Journal #3: The Time Witch
“The Time Witch” was inspired by a dream I had way back on July 6th, 2012. Last night, Ellora the witch and her two companions were using time magic to destroy children’s parents, thus erasing the kids from ever existing. I watched it happen. She needed the child’s shoe, and then she would perform a…
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You Oughta Be in Pictures: Games in Movies
I didn’t know how to describe it at the time, but there was such pure, unadulterated joy in catching even just the slightest glimpse of someone playing a video game while watching a movie. Immediately, I would want to play, too; this was a feeling that was certainly exploited in shows like Video Power or…
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Crayon Art #15: Kirby’s Dream Land
Did you know that Kirby was almost called “Twinkle Popo?” Thank goodness for the change! “Twinkle Popo’s Dream Land” just doesn’t quite roll off the tongue. Kirby’s Dream Land was released on the Nintendo Game Boy in April of 1992 (August in the US). After Tetris, it was the first significant game that I owned…
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*Marker* Art #14: Frog from Chrono Trigger
After successfully completing two pieces of 8-bit art, I knew that I wanted to make my own leap into the world of 16-bits. I was also eager to try out a fresh set of Ohuhu markers that were gifted to me by a friend last summer. Searching for the perfect new subject, my mind finally…
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*Painting* Art #13: Link
Coming off the heels of a successful Mega Man pixel art project, I knew I had try another! After my girlfriend ordered us some more canvases, I settled on my next painting subject: Link from The Legend of Zelda! The Zelda games have been some of my favorites ever since the original 1986 NES release,…
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There She Blows: Wind in Games
There have been a few times this past month where the wind has been howling wildly outside of our window. It’s loud enough to raise my anxiety a little bit, but apparently this is just the tip of the iceberg. Where I’m currently living, March is supposed to be windiest month. So, I better get…
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*Painting* Art #12: More Mega Man
For Valentine’s Day this year, we tried something new: painting! Besides my few bouts with brushes in art classes, I had never really considered trying my hand at creating on canvas. My girlfriend had the wonderful idea to hit up the local art store so we could spend a relaxing afternoon together brushing our cares…
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Crayon Art #11: A Goofy Movie
My girlfriend had a birthday recently, and one of our first experiences hanging out together involved watching the Disney classic A Goofy Movie. Surely, back then we were thinking that After Today we’d be hitting the Open Road because of how well we could see things Eye to Eye! To honor the occasion, I decided…
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50th Post: Most Mentioned Games
Can you believe it?! 50 posts! I launched my website in the late summer of 2019 and began publishing regular blog posts at the beginning of 2020. It all started with my idea to create monthly themed Top Ten lists about video games based on some sort of pun (Jam-uary, Food-uary, Blarch, Ape-ril, etc.). Of…
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You Are Mine: Mine Carts in Games
I’m not sure what exactly inspired me to write this article, but driving through the beautiful mountains of Wyoming has certainly helped. Every once in awhile, I’ll spot an old tunnel carved out of the side of a mountain and wonder where that tunnel might lead. Many of these tunnels have railroad attached to them,…
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Crayon Art #10: Star Fox
The original Star Fox game was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in February of 1993. It was groundbreaking in that it was the first game to use the “Super FX Chip” to create 3D graphics on a console known for 2D sidescrollers or “Mode 7” effects. Nearly 30 years later, the series is…
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My Gaming Year in Review (2021)
Starting in about 2005, I decided to keep track of every video game I had ever beaten including the date and time of completion. I would even make notes about how the game was completed and added details like the difficulty level or percentage rates if applicable. I used my memory to recall games I…
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Make Like A Tree: Trees in Games
Oh gaming trees, oh gaming trees – how lovely are thy branches! We put up our Christmas tree shortly before Thanksgiving (mostly because we knew we wouldn’t even be in town to enjoy it over the holidays), and now that the big day is here, I imagine many of you who celebrate have been gathered…
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Crayon Art #9: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Cowabunga! I have been a Ninja Turtles fan since first seeing the original animated series in elementary school. I had the action figures, I played the video games, and I even sport an awesome pair of TMNT pajama pants that I continue to wear to this day (thanks, Mom). Semi-recently, I’ve been gathering collections of…
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Shop ’til you Drop: Stores in Games
Have you finished your holiday shopping? Or are you just getting started?? Since I’ve been browsing for the perfect gifts, I’ve been thinking back to all the times I’ve spent gold, rupees, or gil during all my virtual travels. Which shops were the most interesting to visit? Below are the Top Ten choices for notable…
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Not for the Dinner Table: Birds in Games
It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and we’re all still recovering from the massive amount of food that we put into our bodies. Crafting a feast fit for royalty, my girlfriend and I successfully dominated our first-ever attempt at roasting a turkey. We may be eating leftovers for awhile… In the meantime, it’s time to relax…
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Top Ten Spookiest Villainous Characters
It’s Halloween, and we’ve decided to rank the spookiest characters from one of our favorite board games! Disney’s ‘Villainous’ let’s you take on the role of the baddest of baddies as you try to flip the script on classic films. What if Ursula got the best of King Triton? What if Hades conquered Olympus? What…
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Top Ten Movies I Should Have Never Watched as a Kid
Growing up, there were a lot of movies that I saw that probably caused at least 85% of the nightmares that I am still having to this day. I’m guessing that most of these movies were watched when I had a babysitter, and I was able to go through my parent’s collection of movies that…
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Crayon Art #8: Microsoft Entertainment Pack
For computer-users who just wanted to kill “a few minutes between meetings” (or spend their entire shifts playing Free Cell), the games of Microsoft Entertainment Pack paved the way to casual gaming long before we had access to that sort of fun on our phones. Released between 1990 and 1992, these games were made by…
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Dream Journal #2: The Voice Teacher
My second post in this series comes from a dream I had on August 19, 2016. To give you some context, my friend, Anna, is a singer/songwriter who used to regularly play shows in my hometown at one of the local coffee shops. Over time, we became friends, and I eventually had the opportunity to…
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Back to School: Top Ten Professors in Games
Summer is dwindling down, and “Back to School” ads are popping up all over the place. Having just wrapped up my Master’s degree this past spring, I don’t have to worry about going back to learn. BUT, a new adventure awaits! I’ll be going back to TEACH! I found out just over a week ago…
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A Day in the Life of a Zergling
In high school, StarCraft was one of my most-played computer games alongside other online multiplayer favorites like Counterstrike and Worms 2. I can still recall the first time that I discovered the game. My friend and I had been up all night drinking cream soda and playing another Blizzard classic, Warcraft 2, when we suddenly…
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Crayon Art #7: Punch Out
Whether you faced Mr. Dream or Mike Tyson himself, Punch Out for the original Nintendo Entertainment System remains one of the most memorable games of the time. Released in 1987, you control Little Mac, a 17-year-old kid from the Bronx who “loves nothing better than a tough challenge” (according to the instruction manual). Well, a…
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Dream Journal #1: Samurai Magic
I’ve had some whacky dreams in my lifetime. In fact, my Creature Keepers short story was based on one of my zanier slumberland adventures. I’m not sure what causes them (perhaps it’s a lot like this Angry Beavers episode), but I’ve been fortunate to be able to remember a majority of them so I can…
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Top Ten Beaches in Video Games
Memorial Day has come and gone and the official start of Summer is just around the corner. If you were anything like me as a kid, you probably spent a majority of your vacation not at a REAL beach but enjoying the tropical sights of your favorite virtual paradises. Below are the Top Ten instances…
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Crayon Art #6: Mega Man
This month, my friend and I have decided to trade off giving each other words as prompts for our drawings. I decided to try to take the first nine prompt and find a way to somehow apply them to the Mega Man series (a personal favorite of mine). Below are the results! Making all of…
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*Chalk* Art #5: Looney Tunes
We’ve had some beautiful days this week, and I just bought some chalk – so I decided to test it out! I set up a 9×9 grid on my Dad’s driveway and set to work creating some of my favorite Looney Tunes characters. Unfortunately, I only was able to finish four before it started to…
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Crayon Art #4: The Flintstones
They’re the modern stone-age family! This week, I was suddenly inspired to draw characters from one of my favorite childhood cartoons. The Flintstones ran from 1960 all the way until 1966, and I was lucky to see reruns of it when it aired on various networks in my youth. It was the longest-running animated series…
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Top Ten Evil Doctors in Video Games
We’re already over a year into this pandemic and things are just starting to get under control (They are, right???). Vaccinations are being distributed, and it seems like many places are opening up again. Hopefully, life will be back to normal before we know it. Of course, we should still remain cautious and be vigilant…
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Crayon Art #3: Nicktoons
This week, a friend of mine requested that I draw the Nicktoons! I loved this suggestion, so I sat down for a few hours and did my darndest to sketch out some of my favorite childhood cartoon characters. I really like how they turned out – and I hope you do, too! Making all of…
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Top Ten Frowny Faces
10. Beaker (The Muppet Show) Loyal assistant to Bunsen, Beaker is always there to…screw things up. It’s no wonder he’s got a frown on his face all the time. He can’t do anything right! 9. Lurch (The Addams Family) The ever-faithful butler to the Addams family looks like he just woke up from a nap…
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Crayon Art #2: Back to the Future
The Back to the Future movies are my favorite films of all time. When a friend of mine requested that I applied my new crayon hobby to the likes of Marty McFly, I just knew I had to draw the rest of the characters. I’m not super great at drawing people (yet), but below are…
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Top Ten Anxiety-Inducing Video Game Music
Music can change a tense moment into a full-on stress-crying session. Whether it’s a repetitive drone, a melancholy cacophony of sound, or simply the original tune but at hyper speeds, you can easily hear when the game is about to take a turn for the worst. Below are my Top Ten instances of anxiety-inducing music…
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Crayon Art #1: Super Smash Bros
Since creating a multitude of crayon art drawings for my Goomba Interview post, I’ve been straight up addicted to making more pictures! Below is the next batch of characters that I’ve had the honor of putting on paper – all based around the theme of Super Smash Bros (playable characters, costumes, or assist trophies). Many…
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Iconic Video Game Moms
Mother’s Day is here and I thought, “What better way to mark the occasion than by taking a moment to recognize some of the most iconic mothers in video game history!?” In no particular order, here are some digital moms that have made an impact on my life. Meyna from “Legacy of the Wizard” (NES…
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Top Ten Rainy SNES Games
April showers bring May flowers. A couple years ago, the rain in my town had been relentless for a few weeks. It was so much that I couldn’t remember the last time we had a nice day outside. As a gag, I had been posting screen shots on Facebook of games that were also rainy…
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Goombas Caught in the Middle
This is my interview with one courageous goomba who lived to see it all happen. Me: “How did this all start?” Gretchen: “It all began when that mustached fellow showed up,” recounted Gretchen Goomba, as she took her daily walk. “My friend, Gary and I, were out for a stroll over by the old plumbing…
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Top Ten Classic TV Jingles
Back when we had time to watch TV (before streaming ruled the world), our favorite shows were interrupted every few minutes by an onslaught of ambitious commercials all vying for our attention so we might purchase their products. Which ones were the most memorable? The ones with the catchiest songs, of course! Whether they’re selling…
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The Top Ten Handiest Bosses in Video Games
You’ve got to HAND it to game developers, they sure love their hand bosses! Bosses like these have been appearing in games at least for decades. How did this idea become such a common trope? In any case, here is my list of the top ten handiest bosses in video games! Tiki Tong from Donkey…
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Cartoons/Characters Referenced in the New “Space Jam: A New Legacy” Trailer
I just watched the trailer for “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” and holy cow they are cramming a lot of characters in there! Here’s a list of all the ones that I happened to catch. Can you find any others? Let me know in the comments! Superman Gandalf King Kong Iron Giant Gossamer Foghorn Leghorn…
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Top Ten Video Game Health Concerns
It has been a little over a year since we first entered the pandemic. I originally created this list last year around the same time, and I figured it’s time to transfer it over to ye olde blog. 10 games, 10 pictures, no descriptions – here are the top ten instances of health concerns in…
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Reset: Ness is Mario
A large portion of my wake-up routine includes reading news about video games and upcoming movie musings. This heavy reading leads to heavy thinking, and after googling to see if this topic idea has already been discussed in the world, I’m now writing crazy fan theories. Are you ready for this? Are you sure? Okay………
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The Perfect Spoon
The Perfect Spoon by Eric Hagmann (Originally written on Aug 27, 2012)
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Descent-ber: Gravity in Games
I can’t believe it – we’re finally here! My 2020 New Year’s resolution to create top ten lists every month is coming to a close. Are you ready to get DOWN because it’s Descent-ber! Yes, this month we’ll be exploring the top ten instances of falling, sliding, or general downward motion in video games. Can…
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Nose-vember: Noses in Games
10) Dr. Eggman (first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog; Sega 1991) Growing up, I always knew him as Dr. Robotnik, but in Japan, apparently, he was always Dr. Eggman. I was today year’s old when I learned that Eggman’s name actually is a reference to “I Am The Walrus” by The Beatles. Why did the…
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Goodness Gracious: Fire in Games
The other night, I was driving to a friend’s house when I saw the unthinkable. A wildfire in the area had grown large enough where I could easily see its glow on the horizon. Dark clouds of smoke rose above it. I’ve always thought that the “bad things” are far away from me, but there…
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Octo-ber: Octopus in Games
Welcome to Octo-ber! This month, we deep-sea dive for the top ten appearances of octopi in video games! I actually came up with this idea last November, but since it was already past October at the time, it didn’t feel right to follow through with the project. So, I decided that I needed to dedicate…
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Step-ember: Movement in Games
Being a visual art form, one of the first things you’ll notice when playing a game is how your character moves while you control them. Are they zooming through a level like Sonic the Hedgehog? Can you imagine the ground shake as you land a jump with Donkey Kong? Maybe you feel the lightness of…
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Happy 35th – The Biker Bar
“Shhhh!” he hushed loudly, turning to the crowd of rowdy bikers. “I’m trying to use the phone!” The bikers did NOT like being told what to do. Who was this guy in his neat, grey suit with a tiny red bowtie? Silently and slowly, they all stood and started to approach the little dweeb. “Did…
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Odd-gust: Weirdness in Games
Say hello to the month of Odd-gust! Bizarre games are par for the course as we take a look at some of the most off-the-wall ideas that have ever graced our screens. 10) Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Apple II/MS-DOS 1984) Grab your towel and try not to panic! If you thought games like Maniac…
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Ju-lie: Deception in Games
Welcome to Ju-LIE! Today, we explore times where games have used lies or deception either to fool characters or YOU, the player! This article might contain a few spoilers, but I’d like to think a lot of these games are old enough where this won’t be necessarily an issue. What are some games you can…
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Mune: Moons in Games
Welcome to the month of Mune! This month, we explore the top ten instances of moons in video games. What are some of your favorites that should also be included on this list? Let me know in the comments! 10) The Lunar Cry Final Fantasy 8 (Playstation 1999) Nothing drives me up the wall quite…
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Mayz: Mazes in Games
Welcome to May! This month we celebrate the top ten mazes found in video games! Can you think of any mazes that should also be included? Leave me a comment! 10) 3D Maze Screensaver (Windows ’95) Lines that bounced when they hit the edge of the screen, dots that made you feel like you’re flying…
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Ape-ril: Primates in Games
It’s Ape-ril and we ARE monkeying around! This month, I’ll be taking a look at the Top Ten instances of primates in video games. In an effort to challenge myself, I’ve decided not to include any of the Donkey Kong characters (since I could easily make a top ten list from those apes alone!). What…
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Blarch: Grossness in Games
Welcome to Blarch!!!! (I swear the puns get better in future months). This month we take a look at the Top Ten gross things found in video games! Why? Because blaaaaaarch! (That was seriously the best pun I could muster). So, put away your maturity for a minute as we dive into the toilet of…
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Food-uary: Food in Games
Continuing with my 2020 monthly goal, enjoy my Top Ten instances of food in video games for Food-uary! What are some of your favorite versions of digital nourishment? Let me know in the comments. 10) Peach’s Cake in Super Mario 64 (N64 1996) “Please come to the castle. I’ve baked a cake for you,” promises…
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Jam-uary: Instruments in Games
2020 is here and one of my goals for the new year is to create 12 distinctive top ten lists to celebrate the theme of each month. In true Eric form, each theme will feature characters from games and will be based on a delightfully groan-worthy pun! To kick things off, I give you…JAM-uary (top…
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