Relive the magic of growing up as a retro gamer in the 80s and 90s! From blowing on NES cartridges to mastering Super Mario Bros., battling on Street Fighter II in arcades, and trading Pokémon on Game Boy, this video captures the pixelated joy of Atari, Sega Genesis, SNES, and PlayStation. With authentic 80s/90s footage, we explore joystick struggles, Blockbuster rentals, and sleepovers fueled by Zelda and Sonic. What’s your retro gaming memory? Share below! #RetroGaming #80sNostalgia #90sNostalgia #GrowingUpRetro #NES #SegaGenesis #SNES #PlayStation #SuperMarioBros #StreetFighterII #Pokemon #GameBoy #Zelda #SonicTheHedgehog #Atari #ArcadeGames #GamingHistory #PopCulture #Throwback #80s #90s #Viral #Nostalgic #RetroVibes #GamerLife #ClassicGames #PixelArt #GamingCommunity
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GamingTranscript
00:00Hey it's Joe from VcamTV studios, and unlike Matthew McConaughey who when he got older
00:05the girls got younger, as I get older so do the games that I grew up with.
00:10But luckily for you guys, I have film and video from the 80's and 90's and early 2000's
00:17that will give you a glimpse of what it was like to be a retro gamer.
00:21I believe you young kids call this old school cool on your reddits.
00:28So I'm more than happy to share some of these photos of what it was like for us 80's and
00:3590's kids, because we're all brothers and sisters in gaming.
00:39We aim to be like the original video game streamer, famous for his Madden streams and nothing else.
00:49Yours truly, O.J. Simpson.
00:52I'm just saying.
00:54Damn, he's got the Madden skills.
01:00It's a bomb!
01:02It's Puffalo with 27 seconds left to go!
01:04We gotta have each other's back.
01:06We're still being judged.
01:07What does he want?
01:08Video game.
01:09I wonder if he'll keep it for 30 years.
01:12Is she making fun of my Neo Geo collection?
01:16The nerve of this girl.
01:18Yeah, I said brothers and sisters, because there's gamer girls now.
01:22And you know why that is?
01:24Because Ashley Simpson is a trailblazer.
01:26Look at her with the OG Xbox.
01:28We gotta embrace our own.
01:30Whether you're a Tetris pro like Thor Ackerlund, or you find Tetris super dull and would rather
01:38play a fun game like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, that's what Michael Jackson and a young Donald
01:43Trump Jr. did.
01:45Michael Jackson kinda strikes me as a guy who probably played as Raphael.
01:49Don Jr.?
01:50Oh, he had to pick Donnie.
01:52Definitely gonna work the bo staff.
01:54I even had to turn my sister into a gamer.
02:04Now, my grandmother was already on TV in the early 80s, giving out prizes like the Intellivision
02:11and TRS-80 computers.
02:14So my gaming journey started with the Intellivision, but since nobody thought it was important enough
02:19to archive me playing Bump and Jump, I guess I'll have to start with the original NES.
02:25So, here's me with the classic NES, rocking a Bartman shirt.
02:30You know, it's a good thing these cards could take a beating, because that does not look like
02:35a great place to store a video game.
02:37Well, at least these copies of Mario and 2 are still in their box, because this room is a freaking
02:43mess.
02:44Oh, my cousins are coming to visit?
02:46Well, I got our day planned.
02:48We're gonna watch the Super Mario cartoon?
02:50Then we're gonna go down cellar and do some gaming?
02:54Okay, well, I'm going to do some gaming, because I have the controller.
02:58Of course I'm the one with the controller.
03:00I did take notes from the Nintendo Game Atlas.
03:03Whoa, is that a Mario shirt where he's also-
03:09Wait, what?
03:11And if my clothes didn't have Mario?
03:14Well, then I guess I'd have to pin Mario onto the clothes.
03:17Oh, and then we had the Mario backpack.
03:20And even then I had to play with video game toys when I couldn't get the screen time.
03:26You know, like my Ghostbusters obsession, which you can see in this video,
03:31Mario's raccoon suit even had to be put on a birthday cake.
03:35Conversations with me had to revolve around the Koopa family lineage.
03:39Oh, that's me too, Koopa.
03:41Koopa, Koopa, Koopa.
03:45Did you just see the person that plays video games?
03:49You know, I even found the Mario movie pretty cool,
03:52and that's why I had to drag my dad to go see it.
03:55And then I felt the need to quiz him on video game soundtracks.
03:58Guys, remember this time?
04:04And then I forced him to film what I think is probably the earliest Let's Play of DuckTales on record.
04:11You need, you need a key to get in.
04:28It's in Transylvania.
04:31It doesn't film television that well, Joe, so...
04:58What?
04:58Yeah, get some Nintendo in that.
05:04Hey, we got some Nintendo in that.
05:05Oh, look, it's the cheaper alternate console that your mom saw and said,
05:10Hey, I can justify spending 20 bucks.
05:13A Tiger Electronic?
05:14Yeah, I think my sister looks disturbed even being around the Tiger Electronic.
05:18A Game Boy case, I'm getting kind of clueless here.
05:22And that's probably why she had to get her own colored Game Boy.
05:25Then for my birthday, I got the upgrade to the Sega Genesis.
05:29And I became a Sonic fanboy.
05:31Yeah, we're gonna take these McDonald's Sonic toys to school with us.
05:36The Cal Toys stuffed animals?
05:38Oh, that's what I've been fighting for.
05:39Yeah, I guess they can stay home.
05:40Now it's time to kick you.
05:41No, it's not my bunny.
05:44Bunny?
05:45Now on camera, camera, do you like me, bunny?
05:49Oh, I know.
05:50Bunny camera.
05:52We need to have a bunny camera.
05:54Oh, look.
05:55I'm talking dressed head to toe in Sonic merchandise.
06:01What do you think?
06:03Is that something that you like?
06:05Sonic at all!
06:07Yeah!
06:09Yeah!
06:11Sonic sneakers!
06:13Wow!
06:15Can I keep my Mario shoes too?
06:17Thank you, Mario!
06:21And this one comes with a PJ.
06:25I'm gonna save this.
06:27A stereo!
06:30And like many 90's kids, you had to be a Street Fighter kid or a Mortal Kombat kid.
06:35And obviously, I chose Street Fighter.
06:38Why else would I dress like Ken, but also have the face of guile?
06:43I budgeted the family account so that we could easily afford the Street Fighter toys.
06:50Oh, you should've got me.
06:51Oh, yeah.
06:51They were less.
06:53They went another 20% off.
06:54So I should've received that great.
06:56You should've missed me on Ken because I lost Ken.
06:59I lost Ken.
07:00You didn't want to.
07:01Though I probably should've done a better job because we had to stop going to Home Vision
07:05Video so that my dad didn't have to pay a late fee for me, you know, keeping Street Fighter a little bit too long.
07:11You probably don't want to go over there a little bit.
07:13You probably don't want to go over there a little bit.
07:15Yeah, it's still what I want!
07:17What is it?
07:19Oh, yeah.
07:21You probably remember that by the time I kept it, like, for nine or ten days.
07:27What is it, Troy Aikman?
07:29Oh, my God!
07:30Oh, what is that?
07:31Street Fighter!
07:32All right!
07:33Remember when I kept it a long time?
07:34That's, yes.
07:35That's because I loved it.
07:36Yeah, I know.
07:38I could never stop playing yet.
07:40Yeah, I know.
07:41I just kept my...
07:42That, that, that spelled the end of us going to Home Vision.
07:46But, hey, I had other fighting games, like Power Rangers.
07:50Which, when I got the game, I was on another level of hype.
07:54You're the Power Rangers!
07:58That's, that, that's a special gift, um, present from your father.
08:02Wait a minute.
08:04Ha, ha, ha, ha.
08:06Thank you, Dad.
08:08You don't like your father.
08:09If you need me on the top of stairs, please.
08:11No!
08:12Stay up here right now.
08:13I got such classics, like, MLB PA Baseball by EA Sports.
08:18Wow!
08:19Sevens!
08:20Baseball!
08:21No, and...
08:22Oh, that's what I want to go to your house.
08:24EA Sports!
08:26Is that one?
08:27What's that one?
08:28Show me.
08:29Show me that one.
08:30EA Sports.
08:31Beavis and Butthead, which I was never able to figure out.
08:38Turn.
08:39Turn.
08:40Can't see ya?
08:41Uh-oh.
08:42Ha, ha, ha, ha!
08:43Chrissy!
08:44Ha, ha, ha!
08:45Chrissy!
08:46Oh, god!
08:47It's your heroes, Chrissy!
08:48Ugh, god.
08:49What's it, though?
08:52Yes, yes, you are.
08:53Hey!
08:54Hi, what's that?
08:55These are my cats!
08:56Dad!
08:57Wow.
08:58Oh, you ought to be careful with these ones.
09:00Chrissy, this is from Daddy.
09:01You ought to be careful with Beavis and Butthead.
09:05And, of course, Monday Night Raw for the 32X.
09:11Yes!
09:12Now, three, two, three.
09:16What's that?
09:17Fill it up.
09:19Raw.
09:20Okay.
09:21WWF Raw.
09:23Is that with the new graphics?
09:26Is there new graphics on that?
09:28I think this is the one that's like, um, the one I like is there.
09:32I got stuck with the 32X.
09:35But how else was I going to play as the Monday Night Raw exclusive character, Quang, which
09:41was just Savio Vega under a mask?
09:43Yeah, this is a special dad himself.
09:47Yes!
09:48Woohoo!
09:50Oh!
09:51Yay!
09:53Get two fighting pants on!
09:55Yeah, that's right.
09:56Oh, look at that.
09:58Whoa!
09:59How could you not be high?
10:04This thing has 32 bits!
10:0532 bits!
10:06Baby, look!
10:07Thank you, Dad.
10:08You're welcome.
10:09My dad struggled to get it out.
10:10It's the future, Marty!
10:11Yeah, this is where my dad learned the lesson that the knockoff controllers always suck.
10:25Oh, yes.
10:26Getting closer.
10:27I need a new one of these.
10:28Yes, you do.
10:29And I got a...
10:30And that's a Genesis one.
10:31That's not one of the, uh...
10:32Are there many cards?
10:33Oh, hi.
10:34Do you have?
10:35Maybe this will play better.
10:36I hope so.
10:37They stole Aikman's brain.
10:38It's in Troy Aikman NFL football at Kmart.
10:39Who would do such a thing?
10:40I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna...
10:41I'm gonna...
10:42I'm gonna...
10:43I'm gonna...
10:44I'm gonna...
10:45I'm gonna...
10:46I'm gonna...
10:47I'm gonna...
10:48I'm gonna...
10:49I'm gonna...
10:50I'm gonna...
10:51I'm gonna...
10:52I'm gonna...
10:53I'm gonna...
10:54Huh?
10:55Maybe I do get more of the Super Bowl, but I don't care.
10:57But don't worry.
10:58I had access to the Super Nintendo.
11:01Super Mario World was my jam.
11:03And does it get any more high tech than the Super Game Boy?
11:07It makes the Super Nintendo be able to play Game Boy games.
11:10I learned about it because I was prepped up on all the latest gaming news.
11:14PC gaming was also getting big.
11:17And the coolest of the cool played Doom.
11:20How do you escape this damn nation?
11:24Last, last to take demons right between their beating little eyes.
11:29Even if our parents didn't want us to play it.
11:31Your parents.
11:32My dad actually just installed the game and said have at it.
11:35Hey, look at that collection of boxed PC stuff.
11:38Those boxes took up so much room.
11:41You know, having the computer was a big deal.
11:43You know, my sister was even hyped when we'd get a new mouse pad.
11:47Yeah, mouse pads.
11:49Huge deal.
11:50Huge deal.
11:51They had a mouse pad for Lion King.
11:54Also, the printer.
11:56Another big deal.
11:58The printer's loaded.
11:59I don't want to show you.
12:00I don't want to show you.
12:03No, I'm going to do this one of the Slammys.
12:18Egg.
12:19Dad, can you look at Slammys?
12:22Slammys?
12:24I was computer obsessed.
12:29I learned how to get the most out of the computer.
12:32And by most out of the computer, I mean getting videos where Jenny McCarthy dances around
12:37nude and downloading low-res wave files of wrestling theme songs.
12:42But sometimes my parents sprung for the top of the line CD-ROMs.
12:47As opposed to just getting a bootlegged version of Rise of the Triad.
12:51Joey, you know how you load those games in?
12:55You know when you load Rise of the Triad and set up for keyboard, mouse or whatever?
13:00Now you just put it on set up for a remote, a joystick.
13:04Look!
13:05What is that?
13:06A what?
13:07You need another telephone.
13:09I'm not in line too.
13:11Is that the one?
13:12Is that the right one?
13:13This one is the hardest one.
13:15You have to go through all the rocks to look at it.
13:19Now what's this guy?
13:21Is he the one that always worked for?
13:23Is he the one that always worked for?
13:24Well, because it's so hippy and fighting you guys, but it says on the lines someone got
13:29bitten by a snake.
13:30Oh.
13:31Yes.
13:32Oh, and someone's got to the cushion.
13:34That's a good one, right?
13:36Last time I played, I played for Ryan.
13:39I had Jackie, Adam, and Randy on my staff.
13:45Yeah.
13:46Really?
13:47The only one who died was for me.
13:48This one's for me.
13:49So are you good at it?
13:50Yes.
13:51It says M-E-C-C.
13:52There you go.
13:53It says Mac.
13:54Does that say Mac?
13:55Sometimes.
13:56Even that was confusing the parents.
13:59Let me see it.
14:01A Mac.
14:02What does that mean?
14:03That's the name of the company that makes the game.
14:05If it was Mac, it would say M-A-C.
14:08It says it.
14:09It says right down here.
14:10Windows, see me wrong.
14:12I will tell you a secret.
14:14Yeah, what?
14:15I did bag one of the games one day and brought it home.
14:20And one of them said Mac for Windows, and I had to go all the way back.
14:26Oh, Mom went back and exchanged it for me because she was more bad.
14:29The guy was kind of pompous.
14:30I said, Jesus, it's too bad I don't control these because they do.
14:33Look!
14:34Look!
14:35Look!
14:36Hold it down!
14:37This is red.
14:38Hold it down.
14:39Oh, that's unusual.
14:40They don't usually do that.
14:41Hold it down.
14:42Well.
14:43It's the 90s.
14:44Cut them some slack.
14:45Would you have known what Mac for PC meant back then?
14:50Or getting video game controllers that could actually work on a PC?
14:54That was like magic.
14:56Oh, now I can play more Secret Blues.
14:58Oh, look, look.
14:59Look.
15:00Look.
15:01Look.
15:02Oh, look.
15:03Computer.
15:04The other one going into that one?
15:05Or the other one going into that one?
15:06Or the other one going into that one?
15:07Or the other one going into that one?
15:08Mom, what's that coming?
15:09Oh, wait a minute.
15:10I know.
15:11The one still going into that one.
15:12You mean that Mario game I have on the other way?
15:13The other way.
15:14Look out.
15:15Look out.
15:16Oh, yeah.
15:17But eventually computer gaming for us just became snood.
15:23Emulators.
15:24And mostly killing time on aim.
15:26Not exactly an upgrade.
15:28You know, I just don't understand why anyone would want to play Runescape when we could
15:33be console gaming and listening to bootlegged music.
15:37The PlayStation years were all about Crash Bandicoot.
15:52Like the Mario and Sega years, if I'm into something, I have to wear it on a shirt.
15:57Nothing like having all your favorite shirts be pre-order bonuses from EB Games.
16:02A new Crash shirt!
16:04How'd you get this?
16:06Is it better?
16:09Yeah, we know where to get stuff.
16:12Oh, that's so cool.
16:14Well, it wouldn't quite be completely that bad.
16:17No, I see that one.
16:18Can I have a bun?
16:20You got chocolate covered cherries.
16:23I want one.
16:24Dad, Crash 2.
16:26I'll let you have chocolate covered cherries.
16:28Careful my CDs.
16:29Crash 2 and Crash 3.
16:31My CDs would also be down with the Bandicoot.
16:33Then we'd do things like have our own Tekken fighting rosters.
16:37Drafting our own roster.
16:39She takes Julia.
16:41But Paul Phoenix, he's mine.
16:43PlayStation, I approve.
16:45And even though I owned Rival Schools.
16:48Oh! Oh, I know what you mean it's already!
16:50Oh, yeah!
16:51Rival Schools!
16:52How do you know I want this?
16:53But it's because of Rival Schools.
16:55We never did a draft roster.
16:57Rival Schools.
16:59The fighting game.
17:00Is that what I liked?
17:01Rival Scales.
17:02Rival Scales?
17:03Sure!
17:04Rival Scales!
17:05But seriously, anyone who bought into the console war was stupid.
17:10If you had a brain, you'd take as many options as possible.
17:13Having a PlayStation and an N64?
17:16Well, that was just mint.
17:17My life would be pretty empty without WWF No Mercy.
17:21The best wrestling game of all time.
17:23Don't at me.
17:24Alright!
17:25Fine!
17:26Fine!
17:27Fine!
17:28Fine!
17:29Fine!
17:30Fine!
17:31Fine!
17:32I'm feeling disappointed.
17:33I didn't get Thunder.
17:34You didn't get My Pretty Pony?
17:36No, I didn't get WCW Winter Thunder.
17:40I wish I could go back in time and tell young me not to be very disappointed that he didn't
17:44get WCW Thunder.
17:46Because trust me, when we got it, it wasn't worth it.
17:49I only played this game because I had to.
17:53Noah was buying the Prima Strategy Guide alongside it.
17:56And neither was Backstage Assault.
17:57Mom!
17:58Backstage Assault!
17:59I'm Backstage Assault!
18:00Mom!
18:01Mom!
18:02Mom!
18:03Mom!
18:04Mom!
18:05Mom!
18:06Mom!
18:07Mom!
18:08Backstage Assault!
18:09Backstage Assault!
18:10Pants!
18:11Oh yeah!
18:12Hey, they're all bloody.
18:13Pants!
18:14I got pants!
18:15I got pants!
18:16But Smackdown 2, that was pretty cool.
18:19What is it?
18:21What is it?
18:22What is it?
18:23What is it?
18:24What is it?
18:25What is it?
18:26What is it?
18:27And man, if I never had a PS1, I would have missed out on Rugrats Search for Reptar.
18:31Yeah!
18:32I didn't know I wanted this.
18:33Cause you were talking to her.
18:34Oh yeah!
18:35Yeah!
18:36Dad!
18:37Rugrats!
18:38A video game!
18:39I didn't know it was a video game.
18:40Yeah!
18:41It's like crazy!
18:42Look at it!
18:43Do you guys get to go to freaking places and stuff?
18:46Oh dude!
18:47No!
18:48The one with Dad!
18:49This is the one we saw at uh...
18:50Or owning another copy of Duel.
18:52Can I do it?
18:53I finally have something you can play.
18:54Actually, I have to play.
18:55Awesome!
18:56What am I any good at?
18:58Or Crash Bash!
19:00Oh sweet!
19:01Crash Bash!
19:02What's that?
19:03Crash Bash!
19:04Crash Bash!
19:05Okay.
19:06Skips up.
19:07Our head skips look at fun.
19:08Go!
19:09Ruff a row!
19:10Yes!
19:11He's my friend!
19:12No he is!
19:13Ah!
19:14Ah!
19:15Ah!
19:16Ah!
19:17Ah!
19:18Ah!
19:19Ah!
19:20Ah!
19:21And I can play that Crash Bash on the brand new TV I just got.
19:26That thing was high-tech.
19:27The thing even had a built-in VHS player.
19:28I'm never going downstairs again.
19:29That is going downstairs though.
19:30No.
19:31Ah!
19:32Ah!
19:33Ah!
19:34Ah!
19:35Ah!
19:36Ah!
19:37Ah!
19:38Ah!
19:39Ah!
19:40Ah!
19:41Ah!
19:42Ah!
19:43Ah!
19:44Ah!
19:45Ah!
19:46Ah!
19:47Ah!
19:48Ah!
19:49Ah!
19:50Ah!
19:51Ah!
19:52Well gaming was just too important for us 90's kids.
19:55Why would I pause the N64 to take some stupid picture?
19:59Ok.
20:00Fine.
20:01Take a quick photo.
20:02And beat it.
20:03Sometimes we wouldn't even put down that Gameboy to pose for a picture.
20:07Which is why I was so proud of my collection.
20:10I'd have proper shelving units to display my games.
20:14A spot on my bookshelf for Prima strategy guides.
20:18And to read the SD Perry Resident Evil books.
20:25When I was on vacation.
20:27Well I still had to freaking game.
20:29This Disney one was like some version of TAG.
20:32I just remember it controlled terribly.
20:35But then there were family trips like this one to Seattle.
20:39Where we'd go to an arcade and play things like Man X Superbike by Sega.
20:44Or when we did this blue screen virtual tech demo.
20:48That was kind of like playing Nick Arcade.
20:50And you can definitely tell why all those kids struggled on Nick Arcade.
20:54Because from my memory.
20:56I just remember everything being really awkward.
20:59And hard to understand.
21:01And also you know your left is right.
21:04Your right is left.
21:05And it's like being a weatherman.
21:07And if you're not good with that at that age.
21:10Well you're just going to miss a ton of fake basketball shots.
21:14Then we get to the PS2 years.
21:16If I get this new video game system.
21:19PlayStation show.
21:20It can play DVD movies.
21:22My PlayStation can actually play CDs.
21:26Or as I call them.
21:28The time where Madden just pretty much took over my life.
21:31I can still hear the Madden soundtrack from 2003 to 2007.
21:36In my sleep.
21:37My body crumbled yeah.
21:41Yeah thanks for this copy of Oni.
21:44But uh.
21:45John Madden called me from the other world.
21:47I know.
21:48He's from North Carolina.
21:50Check them already.
21:53Oh sweet Madden.
21:54This game is awesome.
21:55Guys you have to learn to play this.
21:57This is awesome.
21:58This is 2002?
21:592002.
22:00Yeah.
22:01It's awesome game.
22:03When I get it I'm making my own team.
22:07Oh sweet finally.
22:10The PS2?
22:11Yeah that was high tech.
22:13And that's the right thing.
22:15Yes that is the right thing right here.
22:17Yes you get it.
22:18The box will have to be tucked in.
22:20What made it high tech?
22:22I could play DVD.
22:23The thing still needed memory cards though.
22:26Did you get your joys?
22:27Memory card for it.
22:28But now I could play Resident Evil Code Veronica.
22:32Oh it comes shaped like Resident Evil Code Veronica.
22:36Do I get one?
22:37Yeah.
22:38Sweet.
22:39Let's see.
22:40Okay.
22:41Resident Evil.
22:42Dustin would have a heart attack.
22:44He would have a heart attack I'm saying.
22:49He likes that?
22:50He doesn't love loose.
22:51That's all he talks about.
22:53Resident Evil?
22:54Yeah.
22:55I'm surprised he doesn't want to.
22:56Me and Kevin just went on a date last night.
22:58No he doesn't say that.
22:59But he does.
23:00Devil May Cry.
23:01Devil May Cry.
23:02Alright.
23:03Devil May Cry.
23:04Socom Navy Seals.
23:05What's that one?
23:06Socom Navy Seals.
23:07What have I decided to just do underwear?
23:08Smackdown vs Raw.
23:09What's that one?
23:10Grand Theft Auto.
23:11Is that a good one?
23:12Oh is it a good one?
23:13You kill people.
23:14Yes you can kill people.
23:16You know.
23:17The violent games.
23:18Violent games.
23:19Violent games.
23:20Violent games.
23:21All that.
23:22Isn't that nice?
23:23It's as American as apple pie I think.
23:25Violent games like SSX3.
23:29and NBA Live.
23:30Hey I wanted the wimpy stuff I got the GameCube.
23:38And we're gonna play Mario Party 6 because I just got it.
23:53Camera.
23:54Mario Party 6.
23:55Mario Party 6.
23:57Because the Mario Parties on GameCube are the best ones.
24:01Another don't at me.
24:03How do you get it on?
24:04Hooray! It's a party with Mario!
24:07Yeah, pick that up!
24:09We're open Mario!
24:10It's opened.
24:11It's not on it, is it?
24:13Oh, no, it's not open.
24:14What do you want to go?
24:15Well, it's not in the wrapping.
24:17Hey, if you liked this video where I looked back at all this retro video game stuff from
24:22my past, check out other stuff on my channel.
24:25There's a playlist right here, it's all about video game stuff.
24:30Or you can see some of my pop culture deep dives.
24:34As always, like, click, subscribe, and comment on the video.
24:39Talk about some of your gaming memories and things that you have a picture with or you
24:43video recorded back then when it wasn't as easy.
24:47I'd love to know.