Computer Entertainer, originally titled The Video Game Update, was a video game newsletter published from 1982 until July 1990. It began as a newsletter for the video game mail-order company Video Take-Out, operated by sisters Marylou Badeaux and Celeste Dolan, before branching out into general video game coverage.

Computer Entertainer was one of the few American video game publications that ran continuously through the 1983–1984 American game industry crash. As such, it was one of the few American press outlets to cover console video games in the mid-to-late-80s. Notably, the magazine features some of the only known American coverage of the launch of the Nintendo Entertainment System, including one of the only American reviews of Super Mario Bros. Because of its connection with Video Take-Out’s mail order business, Computer Entertainer is also one of the few reliable sources of American release date information for 1980s video games, which were printed in each issue.

The Video Game History Foundation acquired the rights to Computer Entertainer in 2025 and released the complete run of the magazine into the Creative Commons. See “Conditions Governing Reproduction” for more information.

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Origins of Pinball

The modern pinball machine is an innovative piece of art, thanks to manufacturers that incorporate features such as LCD screens and lighting, not to mention that high-quality audio amplifying the whole gaming experience. Still, it’s worth understanding how it all started. Its rich history not only adds to its charm but also explains why it continues to captivate players worldwide.

Pinball’s origins can be traced back to 18th-century France, where a game known as “bagatelle” was played. Here, players used a cue stick to launch balls up an inclined board filled with pins. The goal is to land them in scoring pockets. This early version of pinball gained traction and eventually led to the creation of “Ballyhoo,” a tabletop game developed in the 1930s by Raymond Maloney. (2)

The first coin-operated pinball machine, “Baffle Ball,” was introduced by David Gottlieb in 1931. Unlike modern machines, these early versions lacked flippers. Players relied on skillful plunging to direct the ball’s movement. (3)

By the late 1940s, flippers were added, transforming pinball into the fast-paced, skill-based game people know today. A pivotal moment came in 1947 when the “Humpty Dumpty” machine by D. Gottlieb & Co. introduced the first set of flippers, allowing players to control the ball actively rather than passively watching it bounce. (3)

The Golden Age of Pinball 

The 1950s and 1960s are often celebrated as the golden age of pinball. During this time, pinball machines featured bright artwork, mechanical scoring systems, and themes that ranged from sports to outer space. The game transcended mere entertainment; it became a cultural phenomenon found in diners, bars, and arcades throughout the United States.

Interestingly, pinball encountered legal hurdles during this time. Many cities, including New York, imposed bans on the game in the early 1940s, arguing that it constituted a form of gambling. This prohibition remained in place until 1976, when Roger Sharpe, a pinball expert, proved in court that the game relied on skill rather than luck. His testimony was a pivotal moment, paving the way for pinball’s resurgence. (3)

The Surge of Electronic Pinball Machines 

The 1970s and 1980s saw a technological revolution in pinball design. Mechanical components were replaced by electronic circuits, introducing digital scoring, sound effects, and intricate light displays. Iconic machines like “Black Knight” and “Space Shuttle” that captivated players with multi-level playfields and immersive themes emerged in this era.

Players were drawn to the tactile feedback, the challenge of perfecting specific shots, and the thrill of achieving high scores. The introduction of microprocessors allowed designers to craft more complex gameplay, further boosting the appeal.

Pinball’s Decline and Resurgence 

The 1990s brought challenges for pinball. The rise of video games led to a decline in arcade culture, with pinball machines often downgraded to the background. Many manufacturers closed their doors, and it looked like pinball might become a relic of the past. 

However, the early 2000s marked a resurgence. Merging traditional pinball mechanics with modern technology, manufacturers introduced machines themed around famous franchises like “The Simpsons” and “Star Wars,” attracting new generations of players.  

Over the past decade, pinball has enjoyed a remarkable revival, including a particular increase in machine sales during the pandemic. Reports indicate that some manufacturers saw sales multiply several times over. Today, new machines generally start at USD$4,999.99, before shipping and taxes, reflecting their growing demand among collectors and enthusiasts alike. (4) 

Why Pinball Remains a Fan-Favorite 

Pinball’s charm extends well beyond its flashing lights and dynamic gameplay. Its lasting popularity is rooted in a combination of physical involvement, strategic depth, and communal experiences. Here are some reasons why this game continues to captivate players of all ages.

Hands-On Interaction 

In contrast to video games, a pinball game gives a uniquely tactile experience that pulls you directly into the action. Every element, from pulling the plunger to hitting the flipper buttons, puts you in total control.

The physicality of pinball—from nudging the machine to affect the ball’s trajectory to feeling the vibrations as the ball bounces around the playfield—creates a deeply immersive connection. This hands-on interaction cultivates a sense of accomplishment and involvement that digital games generally fail to replicate.

Skill and Strategy 

Pinball is far more than a simple game of luck; it’s a captivating blend of skill, precision, and strategy. Each machine shows a unique challenge, requiring players to study its layout, anticipate ball trajectories, and execute well-timed shots. The learning curve involves mastering flipper techniques, maintaining control of the ball, and understanding how to maximize scores through bonuses and multipliers.

This strategic depth ensures that pinball stays engaging over time. The feeling of accomplishment when achieving high scores or completing tough objectives is unparalleled, rewarding dedication and focus.

Social Experience 

Pinball game is naturally social. Machines often draw spectators, sparking conversations and friendly competitions. Events like pinball tournaments and expos bring enthusiasts together, fostering a strong sense of community.

The Professional and Amateur Pinball Association (PAPA), operated by the Replay Foundation, plays a significant role in promoting pinball as a competitive and recreational sport. PAPA organizes major events like the annual World Pinball Championships, which draw hundreds of players from around the globe. These gatherings cater to both beginners and seasoned competitors and celebrate the shared joy and camaraderie that pinball brings. (5)

Nostalgia Meets Modernity 

For many, pinball evokes memories of simpler times. Yet modern machines incorporate advanced technology like Bluetooth connectivity, appealing to both nostalgic players and tech-savvy newcomers. This blend ensures pinball remains relevant in an ever-changing gaming landscape. 

Key Takeaway 

Pinball’s enduring appeal lies in its perfect balance of nostalgia, skill, and innovation. The experience of playing pinball offers unmatched excitement and satisfaction for both seasoned players and newcomers. Its ability to adapt to changing times while preserving its classic charm ensures it will remain a fan favorite for generations to come. 

References: 

1. “Arcade game pinball, an old-school craze, given new life as Gen Z dominates world rankings”, Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-03-03/pinball-world-rankings-dominated-by-gen-z/103523406  
2. “Pinball History, Machine & Timeline of Development”, Source: https://study.com/academy/lesson/pinball-history-overview-development.html  
3. “Pinball”, Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinball#History  
4. “Pinball enthusiasts hit the jackpot with revived interest in the ‘kinetic, chaotic’ game”, Source: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/pinball-popular-profit-1.6692822  
5. “Professional and Amateur Pinball Association”, Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_and_Amateur_Pinball_Association  

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It’s been a long road to popularity for video poker, which is now played on computerized gaming consoles taking up similar floor space to a slot machine.

The prospect of video poker was conceived in 1891

The origins of video poker begin in the late 19^th century, when Sittman & Pitt devised a five-reel poker machine game. Each drum contained ten playing cards and when a coin was entered and the lever pulled, the drums would spin and the symbols land at random. This is similar to how video poker works today, with the randomized outcome of the cards dealt on-screen.

The earliest instances of the arcade-style consoles we see today for video poker were conceived in 1970 by a firm named Dale Electronics. This company pioneered the world’s first genuine video poker machine, which is still revered in the industry today and known as Poker-Matic.

The Poker-Matic machine was an instant hit up and down the iconic Las Vegas Strip. It was installed in almost every casino in Sin City, around the same time as the boom of Atari’s arcade video games; there is now a new Atari 2600+ set for release in November 2023. It provided inspiration for casino game distributors to pioneer new versions, with Bally Gaming’s Si Redd pitching the Video Poker concept to senior executives in the company’s Chicago headquarters. The pitch was unanimously rejected as executives weren’t keen on diverging from the slot machines that’d proven such a commercial hit through the years.

The birth of SIRCOMA

Bally Gaming’s loss was Si Redd’s own gain. Bally Gaming allowed Redd to forge ahead with the concept himself. He formed a company called Si Redd’s Coin Machines (SIRCOMA) and eventually secured a deal with Fortune Coin Company in nearby Reno to produce his visionary arcade-style video poker machines – which he then successfully patented.

By the turn of the 1980s, video poker had established itself as the most successful new game release on the floors of brick-and-mortar casinos in Vegas. The first version released to the mass market was called Draw Poker. Players needed to make a hand worth at least two pairs to win. Although it wasn’t named after the poker game, the hand rankings used in Draw Poker and future versions of video poker are based on Texas Hold’em poker, the most successful poker variant of all. That’s due largely to its simplistic game mechanics as well as players’ ability to utilize several theories and strategies to try and win.

Minor tweaks were made to Draw Poker’s gameplay, such as altering the lowest-ranking winnable hand to having a pair of jacks. Hence the popular Jacks or Better video poker games you’ll still find in casinos and online. SIRCOMA thrived off the back of the commercial success of their video poker machines, eventually going public and rebranding to International Gaming Technology (IGT), a brand that’s still synonymous with land-based casino gaming today.

The variations of video poker consoles in existence today

Deuces Wild is one of the longest-standing variants of video poker. It uses a single deck of 52 virtual playing cards. The twist in this game is that all four deuces (2s) act as “wild cards”. They can be worth any value you need to build a successful hand. The lowest hand you need to win is three-of-a-kind. Landing four wild deuces carries the second highest win behind a Royal Flush.

Tens or Better was also released to try and lower the barrier of entry to wins, requiring a pair of tens or better to win instead of jacks. Joker Poker is another fun twist which appeals to both beginner and experienced video poker players. The joker is live in this game and a wild symbol, which means it can be whatever card value you need it to be to help you win. The rub is that the lowest-value hand you need to win is increased to a pair of kings. There’s even video poker variants with progressive jackpots triggered when making a Royal Flush.

Online variants of video poker have emerged as the iGaming industry’s evolved, but there’s still nothing quite like the thrill of sitting down to a vintage arcade-style video poker console.

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Bringing Past Cultures to Life

A good example of how this works can be seen when we enter a UK casino online. There are many slots based on ancient cultures, including titles such as Shrine of Anubis and Gifts of Ra that take us back to the days of the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt. Other cultures represented here include Rome and Greece, while the 1001 Arabian Nights slot is based on classic folk tales from the Middle East.

In these games, the symbols used as often based on classic images that have popped up in movies and TV shows but that maybe not everyone is aware of the origins of. Therefore, this is a way of helping reinforce our knowledge of past civilisations while playing a simple game of chance.  

Ancient Board Games Go Online

We’ve looked at some modern games based on historical themes, but what about the games they played centuries ago? You might be surprised to learn that we know a lot about the games that were played in the distant past. Even more surprising is the fact that you can play some of those games online.

For example, this site lists modern versions of Greek and Roman board games from past centuries. Pente Grammai is the oldest Greek board game that we’re currently aware of. With a history going back to the seventh century BCE, it’s played over five lines and has been played by legendary figures from the past such as Achilles and Ajax. The Egyptian game of Senet is possibly the oldest board game ever discovered and it’s online too, giving us a chance to play a game that has existed since at least 2600 BCE.

Recovering Lost Texts

Modern technology has helped turn back the hands of time in other ways too. For example, scientists have been using the latest ultrasound imaging techniques to read papyrus documents that were burned in the city of Herculaneum following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This allows the researchers to clearly read the burnt parts of more than 1,800 documents that had been considered lost forever.

It’s also been reported in the journal PLOS ONE that an international team of researchers discovered a new technique that uses spectral and colour data to allow us to read badly degraded documents without even touching them. This sort of breakthrough should help to increase our knowledge of the past even further.

These different types of cutting-edge technology are all excellent ways of re-discovering the past and enjoying the process of learning more about what life was like and what people back then enjoyed doing.

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History of online slots

Online betting via traditional casino games like poker, blackjack, and slot machines has been a thing since the mid-1990s when the general public began to use the internet at a high rate, long before 2018 when the US Supreme Court ruled to leave the question of whether or not to legalize sports betting up to the states individually, overturning a federal ban.

In the early days of online casino games, you needed a computer to place wagers. Still, with the advent of smartphones (as many tiny computers as they are phones these days), playing casino games wherever you go became possible, provided it’s legal to do so.

While sports betting is an exciting new addition to the party, most sportsbooks offer traditional casinos, especially entrenched brands like Caesars Palace and BetMGM that existed long before they delved into the world of sports betting. Almost all of the best online casinos offer some form of traditional gambling experience, repackaged for the digital world. Keep in mind that most online betting apps offer a handful of promotions for both new and returning bettors, so make sure to shop around first rather than remaining loyal to a specific brand so that you know you’re making use of all the bonuses available.

When it comes to the appeal of online gambling with things like mobile slot machines, many of the same arguments made for mobile sports betting apply to traditional casino games. The fact of the matter is that it’s hard to beat the appeal of betting from the comfort of your own home: who doesn’t love the idea of potentially winning money (and lots of it) while sitting on the couch?

Here’s a look at the history of online slots games, one of the most popular forms of casino entertainment: how it started, how it’s changed over the years, and what makes it stand out among a loaded field of betting opportunities.

Security

One concern that those new to mobile casino games often bring up is that of digital security: with massive amounts of money changing hands on a day to day basis, customers need to know that their hard earned dollars are in safe hands, both from external and internal sources. Casinos themselves ensure that they’re conducting business fairly by using random number generators to determine which symbols come up when you pull the slot machine lever.

Random number generators can be set to work with any range of parameters, varying your chances of winning based on which gaelle you choose to play. This makes the online casino experience just like the in-person one with high risk, high reward and low risk, low reward slot payouts.

Luckily, you don’t just have to take the casino’s word for it that these random number generators are working as advertised: reputable brands will seek out the assistance of third party watchdog organizations like iTech Labs to prove that they’re doing what they say they are.

The use of online banking (as is necessary for a mobile-only platform) adds another layer of security from internal and external intruders. Your bank isn’t going to let you deposit money with a platform it deems unsafe, and any casino app will list which banks they have the approval of when you go to make a deposit. Similarly, many betting apps use third party auditing platforms (and a boatload of cyber security measures) to guard against identity theft and fraud when you’re depositing money.

The fact that mobile casino betting is legal means that every possible precaution is being taken to preserve customers’ identities and wallets. Consumer protection laws are no joke; as such, it’s in casinos’ best interest to ensure that users’ private identifiable information (PII) is well protected. If they spared any expense, they’d be getting hit with the full extent of the law.

Conclusion

What’s more than that, any relationship between businesses and consumers is predicated on trust. Casinos have multi-billion dollar brands and images to maintain, and they can’t do that if they’re conducting business in shoddy ways. The beauty of the internet is that you can find thousands of reviews—good, bad, and everything in between—with the click of a button, allowing you to vet whichever casino you decide to use by yourself with the full knowledge of the internet at your disposal.

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The history of video games can be traced back to the 1950s when computer scientists began creating video simulations. Video games evolved gradually from this period and by 1960, the earliest versions of 3D tic-tac-toe and Moon Landing were available. The progression in the development of video games is connected to the development of computers. Two decades later, in the 1970s and 1980s, video games such as arcade games were introduced to the public. Around this time, video game consoles were introduced. These consoles utilized joysticks and some controllers in facilitating gameplay. This was a much fashionable and relaxing way of playing video games. The basis of modern video games still utilizes video game consoles although in a much-optimized form.

Video games have come a long way from the earliest versions of what exists nowadays and have evolved to accommodate a synchronization of gaming and gambling. Video casino games allow the prospect of professionally monetizing video gaming activities with game offerings that allow players to earn money. Below is a history of video games through their nascent years to the modern era.

First Generation Video Consoles

In 1952, professor A.S. Douglas developed a game called tic-tac-toe as part of his doctoral dissertation when he was a postgraduate student at the University of Cambridge. However, the first generation of consoles was produced in the 1970s. The first home video console was named Magnavox Odyssey and it was launched in 1972. This video game used analog circuitry as analog television was what was in vogue at the time of its production. Although designed as a digital console, the Magnavox Odyssey had an analog game controller. Video games produced in the first generation did not feature a microprocessor but they used discreet logic circuits which had different elements of the game encoded therein.

Second Generation Video Consoles

The second generation is the period from 1976 to 1992. It was an important era in the history of video games as it witnessed the introduction of handheld video game consoles which was an improvement in the games developed in the first generation. This era is also known as the golden era of arcade games. The first console video game released in the second generation is a game known as the Fairchild Channel F and it was also the first CPU-based video game produced. The game came with a pause feature which allows the player to pause the gameplay at will. This feature ensured that players could take a break during the gaming session without having to wait till the end or end of the game.

Third Generation Video Consoles

This is known as the 8-bit era. Video consoles in this era came with enhanced visual and sound qualities. A focal point of this generation was the introduction of cartridges with the capacity to save their progress as they played the game. 

Fourth Generation

The fourth-generation era span from 1987 to 1999 and it was the era that introduced 6-bit models into video gaming. The reign of the second generation arcade games began to wane and the development of 3D video games began.

Fifth Generation

The video games produced within the years between 1993 to 2006 are known as the fifth-generation video games. This was also the era that saw the introduction of 32 and 64-bit units. This era also witnessed the transmission of video games into mobile phones.

Sixth Generation

The sixth generation of video games referred to the games developed within a period of 8 years (1998–2006). This period witnessed the introduction of online gaming. The implication was that players no longer had to be confined in a definite geographical location to compete against one another; they could compete virtually so far as network connection was available.

Seventh Generation

The seventh-generation could also be referred to as the motion games era. The use of cinematic graphics was introduced. Cloud computing in video games began during this era. This era gave birth to the huge development and is credited to high graphics, advanced gameplay, and next-level consoles that have advanced specifications and capabilities.

Eighth Generation

This is the modern era of video gaming where high-end consoles such as Sony PlayStation 4, Nintendo 3DS. Thanks to technology, more and more games are being published and fans can subscribe and indulge their gaming fantasy.                                                                                                                                                  

Video games have gone through a lot of development in the past decades. It has grown to become a multi-billion dollars industry. However, there is still more room for development. Thanks to technology, such innovations as AI and virtual reality have been incorporated into gaming and this would help boost the users’ experiences.

As long as technology continues to evolve, video gaming will likewise follow the same progression. The demand for video games is likely to remain high especially among the youths. Hence we can expect some entertaining additions to the gaming titles.

The post History Of Video Gaming: Past to Present appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

The Origins

When one thinks about two decks of cards, he probably thinks — made in China. Unlike popular belief, most modern casino games including blackjack emerged in France before spreading around the globe in various forms and variations. French aristocrats invented many games to enjoy their free time before the Revolution rarefied their ranks. Their favorite pastime was called twenty-one, and it is a great-great-grandpa of blackjack. Blackjack is the Americanised version that originated in some smokey back-alley rooms of unlicensed casino joints during the Prohibition.

French Jack of spades quickly fit into his new American homeland, earning this nickname Black Jack, which is cool plus pretty catchy nickname. American casinos adopted this pastime with open hands by adding a few ingredients themselves, thus making it some perfect addition to their already existing catalog. Today, it is an iconic symbol of casual gambling that is embedded into our popular culture.

Blackjack in America

When Americans adopted this game from the French, they adjusted it to their mentality which is practical and entrepreneurial. This game survived all misfortunes that struck America, from the Great Depression to WW2, and emerged enriched with the American spirit filled with optimism and confidence. From Ed Thorp to the MIT blackjack team, this game became an integral part of American folklore.

Most Famous Blackjack Players

Ed Thorp used his math skills for beating this game, plus he invented what we call card-counting today. His ingenious mind showed us an incredible insight into this game which changed our perception forever.

Lawrence Revere is another pioneer in this card-counting department who developed his own strategies which he explained in his best-selling books. He used to work in various casinos, studying the game, before deciding that it was a time to become a professional player.

Ben Mezrich is a prominent member of a notorious MIT team that terrorized casinos across the continent back in the 1990s. By using team play, they were raiding casinos faster than the fastest payout online casino could cash you out. It was the beginning of a new era in gambling history.

Tom Hyland raided casinos in the 1970s before anyone even took gambling seriously. He made it into a lifestyle, a business that is done in an organized manner, with some clear intention of beating casinos in their own game.

Online Blackjack

Once gambling houses went online, this game followed while quickly becoming most wanted title in any game catalog. Game providers saw a golden opportunity and made it shine by enriching it with crafty animations plus appealing sound effects. Live dealers add a new level of excitement which gives players that unforgettable Las Vegas vibe.

Conclusion

This game remains a gambler’s favorite choice when they start their gaming sessions. It helped to elevate online gambling with real money to another level of excellence by showing that playing it online can be as thrilling as enjoying it in live play. People love it because it can be perfect and used for beating those casinos. That is why it will never go into oblivion.

About the Author

Frankie Wilde is a content writer at various gambling sites. Also, he is a passionate traveller and a great cook. Frankie shares informative articles with the world.

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1959: First Computer Matching Dating Service

We have to go way back to 1959 to trace the first attempt to match people via a computing device. It was a computer course project done by two students Jim Harvey and Phil Fialer at Stanford University. The project was titled “Happy Families Planning Services” in which they used a punch card questionnaire and an IBM 650 main frame computer to match 49 men and 49 women. This idea was never commercialized but apparently, it set the ball rolling in the world of online dating.

1965: “Operation Match”

Fast forward to 1965 and there was another social experiment dubbed “Operation Match”, this time done by two Harvard students Jeff Tarr and Vaughan Morrill. The idea was born out of Jeff’s frustration with blind dating, so he and his classmate Vaughan crafted a plan to land a few cool dates. The idea was “operation match” which leveraged an IBM 1401 and a questionnaire to match students on the basis of similarities. The idea was relatively successful keeping in mind that millions used the service paying a fee of $3 to fill the questionnaire used in the process.

1990s-2000s: Second Wave of Mainstream

Then came the Internet! One of the best inventions ever and this is when the term “online dating” was first coined. But even before this wave had kicked in, there were ways in which people used technology to find people with similar interests including dating of course. Some of the notable ones are America Online, Prodigy and eventually, Craigslist offered chat rooms, forums and online classifieds for use to singles. Once the World Wide Web spread and so did most online dating sites we know today-match.com for instance, registered its domain back in 1995.

By 1998, the era of instant short messages had grown thanks to Gmail and this is also the year when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan starred in You’ve Got Mail. This is credited to be the show that was first to normalize the idea of online dating.

The new millennium and post millennium era saw lots of clever innovation in online dating but perhaps the one that stands a cut above the rest has got to be Facebook invented by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004.  Well, it wasn’t an online dating invention as such but it introduced new paradigms in the way the world connected.  The Poke Tool in FB was particularly known as a flirt feature.

There was also the invention of Skype in 2003 which ushered in an era of video communication meaning that online daters could chat and flirt face to face but this was just the tip of the iceberg. By the year 2007, there was the introduction of 3G internet connection and smartphones with PC like computing capabilities thus online daters started communicating on the go.

2010-Present

The internet speeds have grown even better in the past decade not to mention that smartphones are now so powerful translating to new innovation in the world of online dating.  We have seen the emergence of location based apps and social discovery dating platforms.  As expected there are dating apps in virtually every city, sexual orientation, religion, race and almost every hobby. A good example is the emergence of gay dating websites around the globe.

Another notable development in the world of online dating is the rise of matchmaking algorithms, which utilize the latest technological advancements to provide users with more accurate and personalized matches. One of the pioneers of this technology is eHarmony, a dating website that uses a patented compatibility matching system to connect individuals based on their personalities and relationship goals. For those interested in trying out eHarmony, an in-depth eHarmony review by https://onlineforlove.com/ can provide valuable insights and tips on how to make the most of the platform’s features. This review covers everything from the sign-up process to the communication tools and user experience, making it an essential resource for anyone considering online dating with eHarmony.

Single Muslim is another one that targets single men and women in the Muslim community. Moreover, interracial dating is actually starting to become a trend and you can find out more on this interracial dating central on HerAspiration. Tinder also joined the fray in 2012 and it has grown to be one of the biggest online dating platform with over 50 million users and producing more than 12 million matches a day.

The Future?

The evolution doesn’t stop here. There is still a lot to come as technology evolves but what’s the next big thing in online dating? Now, online dating will continue being the norm as we seek ways to make connections without breaking a sweat. It’s even interesting to see how innovations like Virtual Reality, Machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence can impact on online dating. Perhaps big data will advance what we know about the science of compatibility. Maybe this will help dating sites improve the chances of successful match ups.

Only time will tell us what’s in store but the future of online dating is certainly worth salivating for!

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Looking down into the basement. It’s clear!

While there’s still a long way to go to fixing it up, including a fresh coat of paint and eventually replacing some outdated items, it’s already a joy to be in once again. With that in mind, I know there were several of you out there who wanted to know what the 1% of vintage stuff I decided to keep was and why. This is that explanation.

Looking into the vintage computer and videogame room, which is now functional.

First off, I obviously kept all modern computers, consoles, and handhelds (those are in the main living areas). Going forward, I’ll get rid of those as they become obsolete or a better option comes along. For the most part, I’m also all-in on digital, so amassing more physical items is not going to be an issue. This applies to books, movies, games, music, etc.

Inside the room.

So of the vintage stuff, I kept a dozen systems. Note that, of those particular platforms, what I kept was just a fraction of what they actually consisted of, included system duplicates, which all went to the upcoming auction. That also includes tons of boxed software (sadly, to a degree, since I love a lot of vintage software boxes) and all kinds of other paraphernalia.

Another angle.

A different angle.

The final new angle.

Three of four marquees that ultimately weren’t taken because of damage.

Here’s the vintage stuff I kept:

Apple II:
– Apple IIe Platinum (NTSC, full setup, several cards, etc.)

Apple IIe Plantinum.

Apple II stuff.

Atari 8-bit:
– Atari 800 (NTSC)
– Atari 1200XL (NTSC; ClearPic2002 video upgrade, R63 resistor upgrade for SIO, 28 pin EPROM OS motherboard, OS has two selectable operating systems – 800XL and Omniview+40/80 column text mode)
– Atari 800XE (PAL)

The Atari 8-bit stuff.

Commodore 64/128:
– Commodore 64c (NTSC)
– Commodore 64c (PAL)
– Commodore 128DCR (NTSC, includes JiffyDOS 128 and Servant ROM)
– Extra Commodore 1571
– Various flash devices and multi-carts and a few miscellaneous homebrew games

Commodore 128DCR.

Commodore 64 stuff.

GCE Vectrex:
– GCE Vectrex (two original controllers, one third party controller, various games, multi-carts, and overlays)

The Vectrex stuff.

Sony PlayStation 3:
– Sony PlayStation 3 (60GB launch model upgraded to 250GB Western Digital Scorpio 7200RPM, Hardware Backwards Compatibility with PS2/1)
– Steering Wheel rig (and associated games)
– Flight Stick (and associated games)

Tandy Color Computer:
– Radio Shack Color Computer 2 (NTSC, 26-3128A, Factory composite/audio out (education model))
– Radio Shack Color Computer 3 (NTSC, Triad 512K upgrade)
– Multi-pak Interface
– Various flash and multi-carts and other solutions; Sound & Speech Pak
– (see Tano Dragon)

The CoCo and Dragon stuff.

Tano Dragon:
– Tano Dragon (NTSC, Hitachi 6309 CPU upgrade)
– Various flash and multi-carts and other solutions
– Disk drive with interface and switch to go between Tano Dragon and CoCo modes

I still have several displays left, including Sony Trinitron 20″ and 32″ CRT TVs (which the auction site wouldn’t take) and a Commodore 1084S monitor. Between those, several extra LCD monitors, our other, modern TVs, and a complete XRGB-mini setup, I still have plenty of coverage and versatility in that area.

Also, I have a selection of joysticks, paddles, gamepads, and an X-Arcade with various adapters for all kinds of different systems.

You’ll note that I didn’t keep any vintage consoles other than one Vectrex, and, if you want to call it vintage (for this, I do), the PlayStation 3. For the most part, I either wasn’t interested in keeping what I had, or could easily replicate the experience in emulation or some related manner (Retro Freak, etc.).

You’ll also note that I didn’t keep any vintage computers beyond the 8-bit ones. Although I was a big Commodore Amiga user back in the day and had every system in my collection save for a 3000 and 4000, I found the 16-bit+ experience wasn’t thrilling me as much anymore. It was too finicky, too close to modern experiences, too complex for more casual usage, etc. With 8-bit computers, you get a very specific, simpler type of experience out of it all and that’s something I was more interested in exploring with my limited “hobby” time.

Heading down the now clear hallway.

For now, the living area. The PS3, PS4/PSVR (the PS4 Pro is upstairs), and Nvidia Shield are all here.

Another angle.

Turning to look into the now usable gym area again.

So why did I keep the specific platforms that I did? Here’s a summary:

Apple II: I always had a fondness for this platform. It’s one of the big three for us in the US, along with the Atari 8-bit and C-64. It will obviously be used to play games, but I’m also interested in exploring some coding activities. I debated between the Apple IIe Platinum and my well-loaded Apple IIGS, but decided I preferred the simpler 8-bit configuration. Also, the Apple IIGS has no cassette port and displays original Apple II software a little differently than earlier II’s do.

Atari 8-bit: This is another one I have some interest in exploring some coding activities on. Technically I didn’t need the Atari 800 with the other two, but I can’t resist its aesthetics, and it’s nice to have a straight up original model for guaranteed compatibility with the older stuff.

Commodore 64/128: This was my first real computer, not counting a VIC-20, so my affection for this is obvious. It’s the vintage computing platform I understand best and the one I’ll probably be turning to the most for various things. Although it may seem odd I kept the 128DCR, it not only runs C-64 software, but also 128 mode and CP/M software, as well as has a built-in disk drive, saving me one external disk drive storage space. That type of versatility is prized in my new mindset.

GCE Vectrex: This was an easier one to justify because of the unique display and experience it provides.

Sony PlayStation 3: This is the backwards compatible model, so it can play PS1 and PS2 games. However, this was really kept because I have a fancy steering wheel rig as well as a flight stick that only really work well with the PlayStation 3 and the specific games I have for it. Still, the decision was made easier by its versatility.

Tandy Color Computer: This was a tough one, but I feel like I have unfinished business with this platform. It’s not a good game machine, but it does have an interesting processor and I’d like to explore some more involved programming activities with it. I could have easily just stuck with the CoCo 3 and have been fine, but, like with the Atari stuff, I wanted to ensure maximum compatibility with older software that would benefit from the CoCo 2’s restrictions and output.

Tano Dragon: This is the odd duck, the outlier. I really only kept it because I had a disk drive with switchable interface that works on both this and the Color Computer. Since I decided to keep that disk drive for the Color Computer (I kept real disk drives for all the computers save for the Atari 8-bit, just in case), I thought what would it hurt to keep this as well, particularly since I had a few extras like a multi-cart and a flash cart for it.

Heading back down to the unfinished part of the basement.

The Maker area. 3D printing, CNC routing, laser engraving, 3D scanning, etc.

More Maker-related stuff.

Another angle.

Eventually the rest will be a more organized crafting area.

It’s hard to properly capture the different sections of the space, but you get the general idea. We’ll obviously limit how much more stuff goes everywhere. The key is to be lean and mean, and useful.

So that’s it. Again, my family and I are loving the extra space in the basement we have, freeing a whole other level of our house once again, and I’m actually able to easily use and enjoy what I have. While I will no doubt add a few things here or there for these systems, the focus will continue to be on extreme minimalism. Regardless, even before the auction takes place, I can say this move was as wonderful as I hoped it would be, despite the occasional pang of regret over letting go of a particular item or two.

The post After liquidating my videogame and computer collection, what I kept and why appeared first on Armchair Arcade.

Over recent years, slot machines have evolved to come in different shapes, sizes, and varieties. In the market today, you will find classical reel machines and the more recent themed video slots. However, despite all these differences, the basic concept of playing these games has remained unchanged. Whether you have chosen video or reel games, the experience is more or less the same. Each of these variations comes with different offers, and they largely depend on play preference. However, today I would like us to focus on betting on videogames.

How Everything Started

Ever since the slot machine was invented in the 19th century, it has come a long way to finally gave birth to the video slot gaming that revolutionizes the casino industry. The introduction of video slots meant that people for the first time would have the chance to play without having physical coins. This big stride in the world of gambling enabled the introduction of slots online, which meant that fans could play the game from the comfort of their homes.

Most of the modern games we play on today were invented in 1975 by a guy known as Walt Freely. The machine was first known as Fortune Coin, but it was met with a lot of opposition and skepticism. Not many casinos or gamblers were ready to embrace the revolutionary machine. However, this changed in the 1980s after the successful introduction of poker, which ended up becoming the most popular casino game.

Video Slots Today

As technology advanced over the years, so did videogames. In our present world, there are games of all sorts and variations. Many casinos have developed themed games that can have a storyline to follow or even tell a story. Online machines are equipped with excellent graphics, animations, and background music to make the gameplay even better. These developments amongst others have helped the advancement of slot games to become the most popular amongst gamblers.

Slot games may differ from the traditional machines, but the concept is more or less similar. There is a random number generator that is responsible for aligning symbols on the screens of these games. With excellent graphics, background music, and exciting themes, slots have taken over the gambling world.

Betting on VideoGames

When you bet on videogames or play the Wizard of Oz slot, you will have to wager the highest amount of coins required if you want to go home with a good payout. Why is this? Well, most slots require that players place a maximum bet for them to be eligible for the jackpot.

Reel Spinners will only come with a few reels that make the maximum bet small compared to video slot games. On the other hand, these games can have several paylines that can make the maximum bet required soar even to hundreds of coins.

It is also very important to note that the incentive to wager the maximum bet is not that rewarding. In fact, statistics show that the payback percentage is always the same whether you place the maximum bet or the minimum one.

Variations When Betting for Video Slots

Video slots come in several variations. The most notable variations range from the themes, pay lines allowed, and bonuses that the game provides. Nevertheless, the common thing with them is that they have random number generators, which are entirely responsible for the play. If you are looking for a slots videogame to play, look for the following features:

• Reels – The most common machines will have 5 or 3 reels.
• Rows – The number of rows will vary with the videogame you are playing.
• Paylines – Most games will have several pay lines for their players. Apart from the horizontal, traditional pay lines, other games will have play lines in the shape of a V.
• Progressive Jackpot – If you are playing a game with a progressive jackpot, it means that the value of the jackpot will increase after every game played. However, to participate, you will have to place the maximum bet.

Reel Slots vs. Video Slots

When choosing a game to play on, there are several things you need to take into consideration:

• The process of betting on games is just like that one for betting on reel slots. You just need to wager a bet, then spin. Random number generators are going to take care of the rest.
• No one should ever lie to you that you can influence the outcome of video slots. The winnings and losses are entirely random. One spin will not affect the following spin. It is purely all about luck.
• Maximum numbers of bets are not limited when it comes to video slots. However, on reel machines, you can use only a specific number of bets. Video slots will come with several bonuses and bonus features that are not common with reel machines.

The post How to: Betting on Video Slots appeared first on Armchair Arcade.