Sega – Author Carlo Carrasco

What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 117

January 7, 2026January 8, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Supergirl 1984 Revisited – As some of you might know by now, there is a new standalone Supergirl movie from James Gunn’s DCU coming out this year. The first trailer attracted many millions of views on YouTube and yet people are divided over it as they noticed many elements of James Gunn’s cinematic style (note: Gunn is NOT the director of the upcoming movie) in it. Some long-time Supergirl fans and comic readers don’t like the modern portrayal of the character since she appeared in James Gunn’s Superman. Times like these, it is nice to revisit the 1984 Supergirl movie that starred Helen Slater. Watch the retrospective video below.

#2 The Katsu Phenomenon – When was the last time you had a fried pork cutlet for a meal? In Japanese cuisine, katsu is a popular dish of crispy, deep fried cutlets typically made with pork (tonkatsu) or chicken (chicken katsu) served with rice, cabbage and a tangy sauce. Tonkatsu itself is very common in Japan and Japanese restaurants here in my native Philippines offer it to customers. When it comes to pork-related meals I ate in my life, the tonkatsu is a standout meal. Katsu itself gained popularity around the world and it has become a food phenomenon influencing how deep fried cutlets are prepared and served to customers in different forms. Watch and learn from the Nippon TV feature video below.

#3 Ulysses 31 Revisited – Have you ever seen the early 1980s Japanese-French anime series Ulysses 31? I saw some episodes of it on local TV here in the Philippines in the early 1990s and it was a very unique type of anime with science fiction concepts and spectacle. Anyone who is familiar with The Odyssey will be able to related with it. Apart from being a joint production between Japanese and French entities, Ulysses 31 was ahead of its time and it never made an impact with American viewers not because of its quality but because of a costly mistake with the music and wrongful distribution in America. To learn more about Ulysses 31, watch the retrospective videos below.

#4 Rhetorical Thrill Replays The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – Did you ever watch The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers in the cinema and somehow never replayed it? If you did, how much of the 2002 film do you still remember? YouTuber Rhetorical Thrill confirmed she saw it in the cinema once and has not seen the film in a very long time. That said, watch her reaction video below.

#5 American Woman Who Was Trapped In Iran – Iran is in the news lately. Many Iranians are protesting on the streets and they are strong defying the Islamic terrorist regime. Iran turned evil and twisted since 1979 and their loss to Israel during the 12-Day War of 2025 left their regime crippled. Speaking of Iran, have you learned about the true story of an American woman who was trapped in Iran (because of her abusive Iranian husband’s deception) and could not leave the country without her daughter? The true story that led to the production of the 1991 movie Not Without My Daughter (starring Sally Field) is revealed in detail in the video below. I encourage you to watch it.

#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Avengers Movies – There was a time when Marvel Studios released great superhero movies and the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had really entertaining flicks released from 2008 to 2019. After the release of Avengers: Endgame, the MCU went downhill as Marvel Studios and Disney proceeded with a very woke direction which turned away a lot of the fans who enjoyed the superhero movies of 2008-2019. That being said, now is a good time to look back at The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame through the reaction videos of Ashleigh Burton posted below. These are from the days of glory of the MCU.

#7 You, Me and The Movies React To Rocky III – Starring and directed by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky III was a crucial turning point of its film franchise. The first two movies were dramas with boxing matches as the payoffs and conclusion. In Rocky III, the tone shifted more towards action with a strong focus on changing Rocky himself as he faces his toughest opponent yet. YouTuber You, Me and the Movies posted its reaction video of the 1982 movie and you can see for yourselves how it impacts them.

#8 Wild Arms Retrospective – In 1997, I played Wild Arms on the PlayStation. It was Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony which turned out to be fun and adventurous while maintaining strong focus on three main characters (note: they are the only characters you get to play). Two years later, I played Wild Arms 2 but never managed to finish it. The Wild Arms game franchise is turning thirty this year although it has been many years since the last game was released. To discover more about the PlayStation-exclusive JRPG series, watch the retrospective video below.

#9 Trump In 2025 – A lot has happened since Donald Trump returned as President of the United States on January 20, 2025. Apart from implementing changes to reshape America in ways that the Democrats and the Satanic Left do not like, Trump made his nation’s presence felt strongly in the international community. Not only did Trump’s tariffs compel nations to negotiate, America helped Israel with the 12-Day War by dropping massive bunker-busting bombs on Iran’s nuclear sites. This was followed by Trump’s military operations against Islamic terrorists and narco-terrorists. To find out more, watch and learn from the in-depth video below.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram athttps://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 38

January 2, 2026January 1, 2026carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1980s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Starflight Sega Genesis Print Ad

*Sometimes the very detailed artwork made gamers imagine Starflight as a sci-fi movie waiting to happen.*

By the time it was released on the Sega Genesis in 1991, Starflight was already popular as it was released on varied computer systems and entertained a lot of gamers several years prior. To promote the Sega Genesis version, a 2-page print ad of Starflight was made with a grand-looking artwork of space, spaceships and planets dominating the space. The ad makers managed to utilize the remaining space below the artwork to show selected images, the descriptive text and the game’s box cover to make it clear to gamers that Starflight on Genesis is real and made to be playable. The artwork itself remains a powerful grabber of attention even to this day.

2. Defender Japanese Arcade Flyer

Defender is one of my favorites among the many games of Midway. In recent times, I’ve been playing the arcade version of Defender on my Xbox Series X using the Midway Arcade Origins digital copy I purchased online. As Defender became a massive hit in America, it was released in Japanese arcades with Taito handling the distribution. The arcade flyer Taito came up with used hand-drawn art for the background on the front along with pictures of the arcade cabinet and the arcade cocktail table versions of the game. While the rear of the flyer looks very simplistic, the front remains attractive to look at.

3. Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse Print Ad

*Some people found the artwork looking creepy or even terrifying.*

By the year 1990, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) was present in several millions of households all over America and there were lots of great games available. Among the NES gamers were fans of the Castlevania game series and Konami went on to release Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse in America. As part of the company’s aggressive promotion, a single-page ad featuring a detailed looking artwork of a gamer getting immersed with the game’s fantasy elements (look at the creepy looking characters, monsters and the game’s hero present) was done. While the artwork was a strong attention grabber, what stood out was the sweepstakes form for gamers to cut out, fill it with their information and mail it for the chance to win a trip to the hometown of Dracula. Do you personally know anyone who won in the sweepstakes?

4. Double Dragon Games Print Ad

*Print ad made with Double Dragon fans in mind.*

When it comes to the console and handheld presence of the Double Dragon games franchise, it was on Nintendo hardware – specifically the NES and the Game Boy – where gamers and the fans could find them. Acclaim Entertainment knew how popular Double Dragon games were with Nintendo gamers and they aggressively marketed Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones and Double Dragon II with a single-page print ad that had great looking painted artwork. Very clearly, this early 1990s ad was made to connect strongly with Double Dragon fans and its presentation still looks very solid even with today’s standards.

5. Konami 3-in-1 Game Boy Games Print Ad

*The excitement of sports is clearly shown in this old ad.*

From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, Konami published a lot of games on Nintendo’s wildly popular platform the NES and among them were classics like Contra, Castlevania and Metal Gear. Konami’s support also made it to Nintendo’s Game Boy handheld device (first released in 1989) which itself sold strongly and became the leading platform for portable gaming. As such, Konami made a 2-page print ad promoting NFL Football, Blades of Steel and Double Dribble: 5 on 5 for Game Boy. Cleverly, the ad makers used fancy artworks on the left (reflecting the different sports) side while using the space on the right side for descriptive text, screenshots and game box covers. This fine looking ad has a strong appeal towards Game Boy users and sports enthusiasts.

6. Tengen 6-in-1 Print Ad

*This old print ad is a delight for those who owned a Sega Genesis.*

Back in the 1980s, Atari formed the company Tengen to not only develop games but also publish game for computers and game consoles. During that decade, Tengen published games on the NES but they had trouble working within the strict licensing terms of Nintendo. The two companies would later get into court battles over a series of events within the gaming business. Eventually, Tengen started doing business with Sega and published games on the Genesis console. As part of their aggressive publishing of games on Sega’s console, Tengen came up with this 2-page print ad promoting six different games emphasizing that the fun arcade experiences are coming to gamers’ homes.

7. Dig Dug Print Ad

*Are you aware of the business relationship and trust between Atari and Namco?*

When Atari opened its branch in Japan – called Atari Japan – in the 1970s, they established a partnership with Namco to distribute arcade games there. As they experienced trouble penetrating the Japanese market, Atari eventually sold Atari Japan to Namco which paved the way for their Japanese partner to get into video games. Just a few years later, Namco developed its own original arcade game Dig Dug which became a massive hit in Japan. As a licensing deal was already in effect, Atari distributed Dig Dug in American arcades which the above magazine print ad clearly shows.

8. Sega Genesis Over SNES Print Ad

*Sega directly attacked Nintendo by emphasizing the larger quantity of games and* *varied game experiences that can only be found on the Genesis back then.*

By the time Nintendo released the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1991, the Sega Genesis console has been in the video game market for a few years already. In America, Tom Kalinske led Sega and his approach to marketing and resonating with gamers was essentially aggressive. The aggressive approach includes naming their competition and showing why Sega is superior. Given the lead time they had on the North American market, Sega came up with this print ad showing their Genesis consoles having a lot more games than the SNES. Competitive console gaming was very different back then.

9. Atari Jaguar Print Ad

*Did you spend $159.99 on an Atari Jaguar console back in the 1990s?*

In the 1990s, Atari attempted a comeback in console gaming with the Atari Jaguar console. Early on, their marketing emphasized the so-called 64-bit capabilities of the Jaguar to convince gamers theirs is the most powerful console on the market. Sadly, the console failed to achieve strong sales and a huge price cut was executed. To attract customers, Atari came up with this 2-page print ad to inform them of the cheaper $159.99 price while reminding them of the “most mind-blowing, head-exploding games” they can have with the Jaguar. Obviously this ad campaign failed as the Atari Jaguar never achieved commercial success.

10. Side Pocket Print Ad

*The Side Pocket print ad with a subtle touch of sexiness.*

After its original release in the arcades in 1986, Side Pocket was ported by Data East to many consoles and handheld devices in the 1990s. When it comes to promoting the Sega Genesis version, Data East came up with this print ad showing a lady in a sexy dress in the background (head hidden) which instantly created a sexy aesthetic. The large text displayed emphasized the game of billiards supported by the screenshots shown. The screenshot at the upper-left corner shows artwork of a pretty lady smiling at the viewer which added to the sexy aesthetic of the ad.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 115

December 22, 2025December 16, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Terminator 2 Arcade Game Revisited – As a teenager, I was a huge fan of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In 1992, the official arcade game of Terminator 2 arrived here in the Philippines and there was this time I played it in a Makati arcade (with one other player on the other gun), spent a lot of money on tokens for it and played the game extensively. As the game was very hard and overly chaotic, us players were unable to finish it. Recently, I saw this analytical, retrospective video about the Terminator 2 arcade game on YouTube by Mass Replay. It was a very engaging video to watch as it examines the game very closely, explains why it is so challenging to play and how much would it cost gamers today to finish it. Watch the video below and pay attention to the details.

#2 Problems With Windows 11 – Are you using Windows 11 on your personal computer? The way the Microsoft operating system is right now with artificial intelligence (AI) integrated, it has attracted a lot of user complaints over its reliability, lack of efficiency, features, forced updates and being not so user-friendly. The complaints and criticism over Windows 11 are only getting louder as of this writing and you can find out exactly why by watching the ColdFusion video below.

#3 Japan’s Ekiben – You might be familiar with the packed meal in Japan called bento. The Ekiben is a specific type of bento which is normally sold at train stations and those who bought it enjoy their meals while traveling. Ekiben comes with different types of food, ingredients and flavors, and it also highlights the local cuisine of the station or region it was sold in. To learn more about it, watch the Nippon TV video below.

#4 Sega’s Best Games On Xbox 360 – Over twenty years have passed since Microsoft first launched the Xbox 360 game console in America which eventually became the most popular gaming console in Xbox gaming history as well as having the best online gaming network of the 7^th console generation. As with the original Xbox console, Sega released several games on Xbox 360 (a mix of remastered games and brand new ones) via retail and through the Xbox network online (AKA Xbox LIVE). Recently Sega Lord X posted a video highlighting the best of what Sega released on the console, and it is fun to watch!

#5 Street Fighter 1994 Movie Revisited – In late 1994, the live-action movie Street Fighter was released in cinemas and there was buzz about it among Street Fighter II groups of fans of the time. Not only did the filmmakers have Jean-Claude Van Damme as its main attraction, they had to make up a functional story and cram a lot of characters into it. The film event had Australia’s icon Kylie Minogue as Cammy. To this day, some moviegoers (including gamers and fans of the Street Fighter franchise) enjoyed Street Fighter while there were others who found it very flawed. If you want to discover Street Fighter (1994) but are not willing to spend precious time and money on it, watch the videos below.

#6 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – When it comes to movies set during the Christmas season, do you enjoy watching comedies? Way back in December of 1989, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – starring Chevy Chase – was released to mixed reviews but managed to achieve commercial success and movie buffs today consider it a classic of the Christmas season. How much of an impact the movie can have on first-timers can be seen in Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video below.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 114

December 15, 2025December 16, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Demolition Man Revisited – Way back in 1993, I completely missed out on Demolition Man in the local cinemas. The first time I saw it was on a rented laserdisc in 1995 and the film (starring Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes) turned out to be entertaining in a unique way. By today’s standards, Demolition Man is considered by many as a film ahead of its time as it accidentally predicted self-driving cars, video conferencing, heavy dependence on computers for solutions and more. As such, it is not surprising that a lot of retrospective and reaction videos of Demolition Man have filled YouTube. Posted below are the more entertaining videos to watch about the 1993 movie.

#2 Soy Milk Becomes More Popular In Japan – Soy milk is a dairy-free, plant-based drink made from water and ground soybeans. In recent times, soy milk has gotten tremendously more popular in Japan. Not only is it being consumed by the Japanese in its beverage form, soy milk also made its way into food items and snacks. There is a lot to learn about soy milk’s popularity in Japan in the video below.

#3 Resident Evil Illustrated Tales – Believe it or not, there was a time when comic books and illustrated tales about the Resident Evil games were published from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. Back then, WildStorm (WildCATs, StormWatch, Wetworks) was licensed to make comic adaptations of Resident Evil starting with the Resident Evil: The Official Comic Magazine (published through Image Comics, 1998-1999) which featured varied short stories that expanded the lore but not necessarily counted as canon with the games. YouTube ScorePN posted a video showcasing the Resident Evil illustrated tales so you don’t have to go to all the trouble of finding the comic books and magazines. Watch and enjoy the video below.

#4 Zaxxon Revisited – In the early 1980s, Sega made a huge splash in the arcades and game consoles with Zaxxon which is now considered a classic by many gamers. I only played it on the personal computer back in the 1980s. While my enjoyment of the game was very limited because of the not-so-friendly keyboard controls, I found Zaxxon an intriguing experience due to its isometric visual design and the illusion of 3D space that came with it. Sometimes I wished that Zaxxon would get remastered for the current console generation. That said, it’s now a good time to look back at the game in the two retrospective videos below.

#5 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Lethal Weapon – Among all the Lethal Weapon movies released by Hollywood, the first film from 1987 is still the best in my view. Apart from having a strong script, the directing by Richard Donner got fine performances from Mel Gibson and Danny Glover, and the spectacle was executed with a lot of power while never feeling outlandish. That said, it is fun to replay the movie from time to time. To see how it impacts YouTuber Ashleigh Burton, watch her reaction video below.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 113

December 10, 2025November 30, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 Setting The Record Straight About Cleveland’s 1986 Balloonfest – If there is anything unfortunate about the Internet and 21^st century culture, it would be falsehoods and distorted information overwhelming the truth about past events. When it comes to Cleveland’s Balloonfest ’86, the event was a spectacle in which the organizers, its volunteers and strategic partners overcame lots of challenges along the way. The vibe and turnout overall in 1986 was generally positive. Today, there are simply too many liars and peddlers of misinformation (note: climate change activists, woke minds and people pretending to be experts) who posted online dishonest retrospective videos and opinions about Balloonfest ’86. That said, key members of the organizing committee and participants of the event got together to set the record straight in a YouTube video of Cleveland.com, and they have the facts to refute the accusations and falsehoods. Watch and learn from the video below.

#2 Tourists Causing Trouble In Japan – As I said some time ago, if you are entering Japan as a tourist, you better behave yourself and follow the rules. Massive tourism has been happening in Japan for some time now which is clearly adding to their economy and to discovering what the Japanese have to offer to the world. Unfortunately, there are foreign tourists who misbehaved and violated local laws to do gimmicks for social media (note: a selfish motive), disturbing the peace, adding to the pollution and even flying drones in restricted areas. Watch and learn from the video below.

#3 Remembering John McCain’s Bad Legacy – It has been years since former US presidential candidate and US Senator John McCain passed away. During his decades-long service in the US Senate, he was called by the corrupted mainstream news media a maverick for his willingness to work with Democrats on pieces of legislation. What many people do not know is the truth (backed with facts) that McCain’s legacy has been pretty bad as he not only betrayed the Republican Party but also the voters. When McCain was the Republican nominee for US President in 2008, his campaign was really doomed and Republicans got embarrassed. There is a lot more to discover about McCain in the MAGAmark video below.

#4 Congo Video Game – In 1995, the adventure movie Congo was released in cinemas and it managed to achieve better-than-expected commercial success despite being hit with negative reviews. The movie was based on a novel by the late Michael Crichton. As part of the film’s business strategy, a video game of it was released on Sega Saturn titled Congo The Movie: The Lost City of Zinj. I never played the game and there is a lot to learn about it in Sega Lord X’s video below.

#5 The Running Man Revisited – Remember the 1987 sci-fi action movie The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger? That film was not a faithful adaptation of the novel written by Stephen King (who used a different name) but it delivered bouts of fun for moviegoers. That said, there are lots of interesting details about the film, its source material, the process of adapting the story for film, and how it entertained people. Enjoy the selected retrospective and reaction videos below.

#6 You, Me and the Movies React To Frankenstein (1931) – Several decades ago, Universal Pictures released its cinematic adaptation of a 1927 play which itself is an adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein novel. Simply titled Frankenstein, the 1931 movie went on to become a long-lasting part of American pop culture and is often regarded as a Hollywood. You, Me and the Movies’ Frankenstein reaction video is a must-see.

#7 Ashleigh Burton Reacts To Young Frankenstein – If you want to see good old comedy that is effectively funny, you can’t go wrong with Mel Brooks. When it comes to making fun out of a particular horror icon or property, Brooks’ Young Frankenstein is a parody worth considering. Ashleigh Burton’s reaction video is fun to watch.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 37

December 1, 2025December 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1970s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Cabal Japanese arcade flyer/poster

*Can you feel the action and intensity here?*

When it was first released in video arcades in Japan in late 1988, Cabal was another game inspired by military action movies of Hollywood which explains the art work done for the arcade flyer and poster shown above. The Vietnam War was still fresh in people’s minds and the concept of having one or two players firing their weapons against enemy soldiers resonated with gamers who saw Hollywood’s military action flicks. That said, it is not surprising that Cabal became a huge hit in Japan before getting released in arcades around the world.

2. Willows Japanese arcade flyer

Remember the 1988 high fantasy adventure film Willow? That film was produced by George Lucas and was a bold new production of Lucasfilm shifting away from Star Wars. Believe it or not, an official arcade game adaptation of Willow was made by Capcom and they promoted it by having images of Val Kilmer and Warwick Davis on the front of the arcade flyer (opposite the illustrated versions of their characters). The game, which was a side-scrolling platform game with run-and-gun elements, went on to be an arcade hit in Japan and eventually pleased gamers worldwide.

3. Super Punch-Out!! North American print ad

Historically, Nintendo’s Punch-Out!! series started in the arcade in 1984 and the first game was the result of the company’s effort to make a new game using arcade cabinets with two screens. The 2^nd game – Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!! – became a huge critical and commercial hit (over 2 million copies sold in 1988) on console and it made great business sense for Nintendo for release another Punch-Out!! for its console gamers to enjoy in the comfort of home. In 1994, Super Punch-Out!! was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America and to promote it, the company came up with a hilarious 2-page ad that showed fictional high school graduates with boxing-related injuries. The imagery creatively connected with the words “biggest Punch-Out ever” and “Graduating Class of ‘94”.

4. EA Sports 3-in-1 SNES games print ad

In 1994, Electronic Arts (EA) released their sports games NBA Live 95, NHL 95 and Madden NFL 95 for consoles at the time. Even though the Sega Genesis sold better than Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in America at the time, EA went on to aggressively market their 3 sports video games on Nintendo’s console using a 3-in-1 games print ad. In retrospect, the SNES for the most part had better graphics and sounds than the Genesis which is reflected clearly on EA Sports games of the time. This print ad still looks fun and exciting.

5. Atari Jaguar CD print ad

*Were you able to play any game on the Atari Jaguar with the CD add-on included?*

Apart from the obvious advances of technology that impacted video games, the 1990s is also known for the rise of CD-ROM as a medium for gaming. In an effort to boost sales of the Atari Jaguar console (launched in America in 1993 for around $250) and capitalize on the trust of the fans and console owners, Atari launched a CD-ROM add-on device for about $150 in 1995. To promote it, the company went aggressive with the 2-page ad showing the add-on fully connected on top of the main console, showing off some games and posting a text description emphasizing hardware power and the advantages that come with the CD technology. Even in the captured image, the Atari Jaguar CD still resembled a toilet. This is an aggressive ad campaign that failed as less than 20,000 Atari Jaguar CD units were sold by the time it was discontinued in 1996.

6. 3DO print ad

*While it lacks intensity, this 3DO ad emphasized the games.*

Without showing any hardware, the 3DO Company came up with this 2-page print ad that had a slightly adulterated tone (look at the left page) and aggressively marketed the 3DO console games available at the time. Games like Demolition Man, Shock Wave, Road Rash and Super Street Fighter II Turbo were the standout titles which clearly showed the company made the effort to emphasize gaming more than multimedia features. This 1990s ad tackled the generations with a touch of humor.

7. Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters Sega Genesis print ad

When Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters was released in the arcades in 1994, it became a commercial success for Konami which went on to announce it would port the game to consoles of Nintendo and Sega at the time. While the port for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) was never released, Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters made its way to the Sega Genesis and Sega CD. The print ad of the Sega Genesis version (Sega CD mentioned in small text) had an inspired design emphasizing the Old West, shooting and the conflict between cowboys and Indians. The screenshots gave people the clear idea that Old West was the setting (versus modern day in the previous game). This is still fun to look at.

8. Syphon Filter

*Syphon Filter went on to become a surprise hit game in 1999.*

In 1999, Sony’s 989 Studios released Syphon Filter exclusively on the PlayStation console. This single-page print ad showed a few screenshots on the bottom and several action snippets with a night vision touch ultimately emphasizing the stealth aspect within the gameplay. The marketing proved to be effective as the game sold a lot at retail and went on to establish a new game franchise exclusive to PlayStation consoles.

9. Parasite Eve II Japanese print ad

*Were you a big fan of Aya Brea and the Parasite Eve franchise in the late 1990s?*

Following the critical and commercial success of Parasite Eve in 1998, SquareSoft proceeded with Parasite Eve II and the production (note: initially for a spin-off game before becoming a sequel) did not even involve the main creators of the first game. Instead the company had a different team of developers – including those who previously worked on Resident Evil games for Capcom – in Osaka to make the sequel. This explains why Parasite Eve II had stronger survival horror gameplay resembling a Resident Evil game. As major changes were made during the production, it was decided that Aya Brea would become the main protagonist and already the character was already popular with gamers. That being said, the marketing of Parasite Eve II for the Japanese market heavily featured Aya Brea with subtle sexiness, beauty and action in mind. The marketing intensified leading to its eventual December 16, 1999 release in Japan.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 36

November 3, 2025October 29, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Super Contra North American arcade flyer

*Have you seen many Hollywood action movies of the 1980s? Does this arcade flyer remind you of something?*

After Konami struck gold with Contra in 1987, it was inevitable that sequels and spin-offs will be made. In 1988, they released the follow-up Super Contra in the arcades and to promote it in America, the company came up with artwork that easily gave gamers the impression they are seeing Sylvester Stallone as a fantasized Rambo and another armed guy who might remind them of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character in Commando or Dutch in Predator. To capitalize on the movie references even more, the American arcade flyer had the line “He’s not human. He’s not alien. He’s the predator!!” As it was the 1980s, this creative approach to promotion was not surprising as Konami and its game makers were influenced by Hollywood movies.

2. Double Dragon II: The Revenge North American arcade flyer

*The artwork used in this arcade flyer remains intriguing to look at.*

I never played Double Dragon II: The Revenge in the arcade, but I played it on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). That being said, I was surprised to see how this old North American arcade flyer has the same hand-drawn artwork used on the cover of the NES version. Take note that the arcade game was released in 1988 while the NES port was released in early 1990. I can only guess that Technos decided to use the same artwork not only for convenience but to have a definitive image emphasizing Double Dragon II to gamers wherever they are.

3. Devastators North American arcade flyer

Devastators is another Konami arcade game that had a strong war theme and it was influenced by Hollywood action films of the 1980s. This particular arcade flyer for the North American market is almost identical with the Japanese arcade flyer as both have the same artwork on the front and almost the same visual layout on the rear. The most obvious difference is the use of English text for the North American flyer.

4. Assault North American arcade flyer

Released in American arcades by Atari, Assault is a multi-directional shooter that had a twin-stick control layout (similar with the classic Battlezone) and players experienced intense battles as well as immersive visual effects such as sprite scaling and environment rotation of up to 360 degrees. To promote the game (this originated in Japan by Namco), Atari came up with this arcade flyer that had selected screenshots and descriptive text on both the front and the rear (which showed the arcade cabinet). Assault was a hit with gamers at the arcades and it was not released on consoles until 2009.

5. Sega CD print ad

*Having a socially relevant message can be catchy but it leaves little room for excitement.*

As the Sega Genesis console became a huge commercial success in North America, Sega itself became ambitious about what CD-ROM technology would do for video games. Sega in Japan tasked its Consumer Products Research and Development Labs to create a CD-ROM add-on which resulted in the Sega CD (Mega-CD in other parts of the world) which launched in America in 1992. To promote the add-on towards existing Genesis console owners as well as potential new customers, Sega of America came up with the above 2-page print ad that had a social message on the right and an image of a man standing in front of large monitors (showing Sega CD game footage) on the left. While it looked like an odd way of promoting video game hardware, it still remains catchy to see.

6. Panasonic 3DO print ad

*Panasonic knows how to promote entertainment hardware for people’s homes.*

Still in the field of CD-ROM gaming, Panasonic had competitive presence in video gaming when its Panasonic FZ-1 R.E.A.L. 3DO Interactive Multiplayer (with technology licensed by The 3DO Company) was launched in America in 1993. If you look at the print ad closely, you will notice that the descriptive text emphasized the multimedia entertainment aspect more than video gaming. The dominating artwork used does not come from a particular video game as it was made to emphasize home entertainment in general. It’s not surprising that the Panasonic 3DO and other 3DO machines from other manufacturers failed commercially.

7. Shaq Fu print ad

*The close-up of Shaquille O’Neal’s face on the left made him looked less recognizable.*

Yes, it is true! There was indeed a video game endorsed by Shaquille O’Neal and it was not a basketball game. Shaq Fu is a 1994 2D fighting game with adventure elements and a story in which gamers play O’Neal as martial artist (note: O’Neal himself participated in the game’s production). To promote the game, Electronic Arts came up with a 2-page print ad that had a very odd black-and-white close-up image of O’Neal’s face on the left leaving small screenshots and hard-to-read text on the right (even though there was some vacant space remaining. I remember seeing this ad while reading a video game magazine and the ad ended up looking more like a promotion of O’Neal (already an NBA superstar) than the game itself. By today’s standards, this print ad is an example of a marketing misfire.

8. Kasumi Ninja print ad

*Do you even remember seeing this print ad in magazines?*

Remember the 1990s video game trends of digitized human images and disturbingly violent 2D fighting games sparked by Mortal Kombat? The Atari Jaguar-exclusive game Kasumi Ninja was made to capitalize on those trends and it failed badly. Apart from the low sales of the Jaguar console, Atari as publisher came up with the above 2-page print ad that was not appealing to gamers’ eyes and it had almost no excitement overall. This is another marketing misfire.

9. Parasite Eve North American and Japanese print ads

*Following the successful release of Final Fantasy VII, this ad excited PlayStation gamers and JRPG enthusiasts for Parasite Eve’s 1998 release in America.*

*A stronger horror presentation in this print ad for the Japanese market. There were already a lot of people in Japan who enjoyed horror.*

Starting in the mid-1990s, Squaresoft (now Square Enix) really became aggressive with video game creativity and experimentation as they launched several new projects that eventually got released on PlayStation in the late 1990s until 2000. One of those daring new projects was Parasite Eve which was a role-playing game (RPG) that had visual elements – particularly pre-rendered backgrounds – and a style of exploration that reminded gamers of Resident Evil. The game was a sequel to the Japanese science fiction horror novel of the same name and it involved the creativity of Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi (credited as producer). To promote the game, the 2-page North American print ad had protagonist Aya Brea on the right and the enemy on the left with a cryptic line placed strategically between them. The North American ad clearly stated that the game is a cinematic RPG. By comparison, the Japanese print ad of Parasite Eve has a strong horror vibe which is not surprising because of the novel’s horror elements and the fact that Squaresoft was capitalizing on the popularity of horror-related entertainment in Japan. By today’s standards, Parasite Eve is truly a product of the late-1990s and it has a dedicated fanbase.

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What to watch on YouTube right now – Part 106

October 22, 2025October 16, 2025carlocarrasco

I recommend you check out the following videos I found.

#1 You, Me and the Movies React To G.I. Joe: The Movie – When I was very young, me and my friends were fortunate enough to watch the 1987 animated movie G.I. Joe: The Movie on home video which was in high demand for rental in our entire village. We were all very entertained and astounded by the feature film and, unsurprisingly, a lot of G.I. Joe fans in the community started talking about it. Considering its pop culture significance and the involvement of Don Johnson as Lt. Falcon, it is surprising that there are actually few reaction videos of G.I. Joe: The Movie on YouTube as of this writing. Recently, You, Me and The Movies posted its reaction video which I found entertaining. If you have not seen G.I. Joe: The Movie yet, watch it entirely first. Otherwise, enjoy the reaction video below.

#2 Panzer Dragoon Saga Revisited – I never played any of the Panzer Dragoon games released by Sega. What caught my attention was the critical acclaim Panzer Dragoon Saga received in 1998 and it was not only a Sega Saturn-exclusive game but also a role-playing game (RPG). I found this retrospective YouTube video of Panzer Dragoon Saga and it has a fascinating look at the game’s production, history and the fact that two members of game developer Team Andromeda died. Watch it now.

#3 Explore a 7-Eleven Convenience Store In Japan – Months ago, Nippon TV (NTV) posted an exploratory feature news video about the many interesting stuff foreign visitors will find inside a 7-Eleven convenience store in Japan. Apart from the usual food and beverage stuff people expect to see inside convenience stores, 7-Eleven stores in Japan has its own features ranging from unique products to the consumer-friendly services available. The good thing about Nippon TV’s feature video is that the information is presented in English. Watch the video below.

#4 The Fifth Element Revisited – What can be said about the 1997 sci-fi film The Fifth Element? For me, it was a zany action movie that had a strong European touch on comedy and expressions, and it so happens that it had the famous Bruce Willis as the action hero. Of course, the film managed to arouse certain emotions or reactions from moviegoers, and the same can be said about YouTubers who did reaction videos about it. Watch and enjoy the selected reaction videos of The Fifth Element below.

#5 Steven Spielberg’s Animation Legacy – If you have extensively researched the work and creative history of Steven Spielberg, then you should be aware of his involvement in the production of animated movies…both hand-drawn and computer-generated. Since the 1980s, Spielberg produced animated feature films that happened to be directed by others, and I saw An American Tale as a young boy. Much later in life, I saw The Adventures of Tintin which Spielberg himself directed. Spielberg’s history with animation is extensive and you can discover a lot by watching the video below.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 35

October 1, 2025September 24, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. Intellivision print ad

*Were you able to play a game on the Intellivision long ago?*

In 1979, Mattel launched their Intellivision game console in America which instantly placed them in competition with Atari’s 2600 console. In a bid to convince gain market share, Mattel daringly came up with a competitive print ad like the one above showing two TV sets (with an Atari 2600 baseball game and a similar game on Intellivision), descriptive text that explained why the intellivision and its games are better, and even mentioned Atari by name several times. Obviously the tactic did not lead Mattel to ultimate market victory but the above print ad showed it was okay for a newcomer to mention their competitor and aggressively attack it to gain customers (both newcomers and active gamers).

2. Popeye Japanese arcade flyer

In 1982, Nintendo released the Popeye arcade game which was incidentally the result of the success of their original Donkey Kong arcade game. To promote the game, Nintendo came up with an arcade flyer that had a very lively front (note: the characters were instantly recognizable thanks to the great art used) and the rear having easy-to-read instructions on how to play the game, what levels to expect and what must be done when playing. Popeye was an arcade hit in Japan, but an even bigger hit in America. This old arcade flyer still looks nice.

3. Time Gal arcade flyer

*On face value, this one looks more like an anime promo since gameplay elements were missing.*

Released in Japanese arcades in 1985, Time Gal is one of those games that used the expensive LaserDisc technology to stream pre-recorded animation (made by Toei) and challenged gamers to react quickly (using the joystick and button for commands) in order to progress in real-time. The arcade flyer has a very lively visual design making it clear to players and arcade operators that a lot of anime awaits those who play Time Gal. Technically, players watch anime cutscenes happen and react using the controls. Time Gal was an arcade hit and it made its way outside of Japan by getting ported for the Sega CD.

4. 3DO print ad

*If you bought a 3DO long ago, was it for gaming or for home entertainment purposes?*

Remember the 3DO? Developed by the 3DO Company and launched in 1993, the 3DO was designed to not only play video games but also function with multimedia features. In fact, the 3DO was initially marketed as a machine that allows users to watch videos, play music, browse digital photographs, and even immerse themselves with software focused on different topics. This is exactly what the above 3DO print ad emphasized. In retrospect, it was so odd for me to see the print ad inside video gaming magazines I read.

5. Atari Jaguar print ad

*The strong focus on gaming was clear with Atari for the Jaguar.*

Over a month after the launch of the 3DO, Atari launched its Jaguar console with a strong focus on video gaming. As console sales slowly grew in 1994, Atari came up with the above print ad – showing lots of games for the Jaguar – to lure in customers aggressively. If you look closely at the descriptive text of the ad, it mentions the Atari Jaguar as 64-bit system emphasizing that it is more powerful than other video game machines of the time. The bit count controversy harmed Atari and eventually the Jaguar failed.

6. NBA Action ’94 print ad

*Remember when Sega made NBA basketball video games that were exclusive to the Genesis console?*

Remember when there were a lot of basketball video games licensed by the NBA in the 1990s? Through its own sports games brand – Sega Sports – Sega was dedicated to making exclusive sports video games for its customers and their NBA games were under the NBA Action brand. In 1994, they released NBA Action ’94 for the Genesis console and this two-page print ad they came up with had a catchy visual design (a supposed basketball player showing his palm and message to the camera on one side of the ad). Looking closely at the descriptive text, the ad mentions “most realistic 16-bit pro basketball”, “digitized players” and having all 27 NBA teams and star players. Sega Sports is no more but it’s legacy still lives on among Sega fans.

7. X-Men Sega Game Gear print ad

Similar to its approach with the Sega Sports brand, Sega developed exclusive games for the Game Gear. The company secured from Marvel the license to make an original X-Men game and to promote it, this 2-page print ad showcased original art of the established X-Men characters of the time while using the remaining spaces for the screenshots and descriptive text. This old print ad still looks attractive and will easily resonate with X-Men fans as well as 1990s superhero comics enthusiasts.

8. Liberty or Death print ad

*American history is the core concept of this strategy game by Koei.*

If there is anything notable about the Japanese company Koei, it is the fact that it released strategy and simulation games that tackled varied topics while making each game distinct and playable regardless of platform. In my experience, I had a lot of fun playing their business simulation Aerobiz Supersonic on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). In 1993, Koei released their turn-based strategy game Liberty or Death which tackled American history for its setting (note: Koei already established itself with historical simulations). To sell the game, Koei came up with a print ad that had a very eye-catching historical art (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin among the figures), a few selected screenshots and descriptive text that emphasized the essence of the game. This print ad is a reminder that no video game company today would make a historical simulation due to geopolitics (note: there are a lot of woke activists among video game employees today) and for business reasons.

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Retro Gaming Ads Blast – Part 34

September 1, 2025August 24, 2025carlocarrasco

Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!

In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads – including arcade flyers – from the 1970s to the 1990s.

For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s and 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.

With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…

1. North American Pac-Mania arcade flyer

Released in 1987, Pac-Mania became a big hit among critics, fans and casual arcade gamers which added a lot to the enduring popularity of the Pac-Man game franchise. As it featured a new game design with an oblique perspective and a more 3D feel, Pac-Mania was a very serious attempt on reinventing the Pac-Man formula. For the American market, Namco licensed the game to Atari which in turn came up with the above arcade flyer that had a pretty eye-catching front cover artwork showcasing the iconic Pac-Man jumping out from a maze with the line “I’m back,…and bouncing.” The arcade cabinet was also shown and a clear message about the 3D feature of the game was shown. The other side of the flyer showed screenshots and details that are worth reading. This arcade flyer still looks attractive and informative by today’s standards.

2. Japanese Missile Command arcade flyer

*Cocktail arcade tables were popular in Japan and Taito brought Missile Command with the format.*

Missile Command is a true arcade classic which I always enjoy replaying (read my retro review by clicking here). It was an instant hit in arcades in America and after Atari licensed the game to Sega and Taito for the arcades of Japan, it also achieved huge success there. Along the way, Taito released Missile Command with an cocktail arcade table format which is common in Japan. The arcade flyer Taito came up with had a very simplistic presentation of details, an image of the cocktail arcade table and one screenshot of the game. The Japanese arcade flyer clearly lacks excitement but at least it gave gamers and arcade operators a clear idea of what to expect with Missile Command.

3. Atari 2600 print ad

When the Atari 2600 was first launched in 1977, it was officially called the Atari Video Computer System (Atari VCS). The Atari company really aimed high to sell a lot of consoles to as many households as possible and they came up with a print ad like this one from 1978. While the Atari 2600 and its games were displayed, the image of a father, mother and daughter showed that the company not only targeted American families but also want to change home entertainment to be more interactive. This old ad is truly an inspired piece of work.

4. Kool-Aid Man video game print ad

*I never played the Kool-Aid Man video game.*

There was a time when Kool-Aid was such a popular drink, the character Kool-Aid Man debuted in 1974 after initially starting as the Pitcher Man. A short time later, merchandising featuring the character followed and in 1983 the official Kool-Aid Man video game was released on the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision. This particular print ad appeared in some comic books I read a very long time ago and it offered customers the opportunity to get the game free by sending 125 proof-of-purchase points to the company by mail. This old ad was visually striking and was a creative way to boost sales of the drink.

5. Spider-Man Atari 2600 game print ad

*Spider-Man and Green Goblin with the Atari 2600 and the TV.*

Even though the controls were rough and the game’s difficulty really went high with each new session, my friends and I still enjoyed playing the Spider-Man video game on Atari 2600 from Parker Brothers. Apart from the comic book-style print ads they came up with to promote the game, Parker Brothers went on to make this particular ad featuring Spider-Man and the Green Goblin with a TV set, the game and the Atari 2600 together all presented with a totally different art style. This is still a fun ad to look at.

6. Phoenix game print ad

After playing shooter-type games like Space Invaders and Centipede on the Atari 2600, my friends and I experienced something familiar yet fresh with Phoenix. Atari secured from Taito the rights to make the Atari 2600 port of the game, and they came up with a dark print ad that showcased the official painted art work, a portion of the video game’s box and the line “Arm Your Missiles…Charge Up Your Shields! Phoenix is coming!” Having played the game many times, those highlighted words really captured the essence of Phoenix gameplay.

7. Sunset Riders North American arcade flyer

Released in arcades in 1991, Sunset Riders was a critical and commercial hit raking in more success to Konami. For the American arcades, Konami came up with this print ad showing a creepy looking cowboy carrying a bag of money (related to the “strike it rich” line) with his donkey with him. The rear of the ad shows another photograph of 3 cowboys on their horses, the four screenshots and the creative text description. Too bad we don’t see flyers like this anymore.

8. Parker Brothers’ 6-game print ad

Quite arguably, Parker Brothers was the 2^nd most prominent publisher of video games on the Atari 2600 console next to Atari itself. Out of the six games presented in this old print ad, I only played Spider-Man and Super Cobra. Each game’s box had a unique art style and collectively they made this ad look exciting. Times were really different back in the 1980s.

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