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What We Found in the Vault

Cartoon of Superman blowing into a Nintendo NES cartridge with a "Busted" stamp and the phrase "blow me" – referencing the retro gaming myth about cartridge blowing

Quick Answer – Does Blowing Into NES Cartridges Actually Work?

If you grew up with the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), chances are you’ve blown into a game cartridge more...

NES Metroid password screen – retro video game save system using alphanumeric codes

Retro Games vs Modern Games – Why Old Games Were So Hard

Explore why retro games were so hard compared to modern titles, uncovering the design choices, difficulty curves, and...

Pixelated collage of classic NES shmup box art featuring Gun Nac, Star Soldier, and The Guardian Legend with retro Nintendo branding and explosions in space.

Retro NES Shmup Rankings: 10 Must-Play Shoot ’Em Ups from the 8-Bit Era

Explore the best of 8-bit gaming with our NES blog collection—featuring classic game reviews, collector tips, and top...

1990 World Championships

Retro Recap: Nintendo 1990 World Championships – A Definitive Look Then and Now

Step back in time to 1990, when the world of gaming was about to be forever changed. Step back in time to 1990, when...

1990 Handheld Console of the Nintendo Game Boy and Games

90s Handheld Consoles: Ranking the Best Portable Gaming Systems

Discover the top handheld gaming consoles of the 1990s and their lasting impact on portable play. Key takeaways from...

Sony PlayStation Vita handheld console promotional image with Uncharted: Golden Abyss gameplay and slogan Never Stop Playing

Buying a PlayStation Vita in 2025 – The Complete Retro Gamer’s Guide

Explore our PlayStation Vita guides, reviews, and tips to help you get the most out of Sony’s powerful handheld...

Visual Guide for Identifying Counterfeit Pokémon DS Games

Collector's Guide: How to Spot Fake Pokémon DS Games – Real vs Counterfeit

I popped in a Pokémon DS game that wouldn’t load. The pins looked clean, so I started to suspect it might be a fake....

Pile of NES cartridges with bold red text overlay reading "Collector's Guide to Fake Video Games.

Counterfeit Guide – Video Game Reproductions & Homebrew Explained

As the retro video game market continues to surge, so does the risk—counterfeit games, reproduction cartridges, and...

Close-up of Nintendo Game & Watch Ball handheld console showing gameplay screen with juggler character

Lost Gems: Learn the History of Handheld Consoles Before the Game Boy

Whether it lived in your backpack or under your pillow, handheld consoles were more than just portable — they were...

Nintendo 3DS parental controls reset guide without PIN

Nintendo 3DS Guide – Reset Parental Controls Without a PIN - 2025

Can't access your Nintendo 3DS due to parental controls? This complete guide walks you through resetting parental...