Nintendo - Mario Themes on Guitar!

One of my pals decided he was going share a video of a guy playing Mario themes and sounds on the guitar. I watched the first video, coin sounds and all, and was amazed. It started a frenzied search for more renditions. They just got crazier and crazier. Here are a few for your reading pleasure.

Here's the first, which is amazing.

Two guitars? At the same time? What!?

Not only is the engineering on this guitar amazing, but look at the way he plays it!

Nintendo's '8-bit Summer' Starts Next Week

In a recent Nintendo Direct press conference, Nintendo announced a summer promotion for 3DS owners that should make retro fans very happy. Dubbed the "Summer of 8-bit," the promotion will see Nintendo releasing retro Virtual Console titles on the 3DS eShop for each week in July. Here is the list of games and dates they've put out so far:

• The Legend of Zelda (NES) - July 5
• Kirby's Pinball Land (Game Boy) - July 12
• The Sword of Hope II (Game Boy) - July 12
• Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (Game Boy) - July 19
• Tumblepop (Game Boy) - July 19
• Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 (Game Boy) - July 19
• Sonic Blast (GameGear) - date TBA
• Sonic Labyrinth (GameGear) - date TBA  

Not too shabby of a list, and it's great to see not only NES games, but GameBoy and SEGA GameGear games as well on the list. For me personally, I'll be picking up Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, Wario Land and both Sonic GameGear games.

Nintendo also released a trailer for the promotion, which you can check out below.

Retro Gaming Yardsale Adventures

It's that time of year again. We're getting deep into spring, the weather is nice and we've got a tiny bit of cash in our pockets. So we'll be on the hunt for gaming consoles. GAMES GAMES GAMES at deep dish discounts. Parents unloading kids electronics and kids who want to buy their next system and will sell me electronics super cheap. What will our finds be? Who knows! We'll be breaking out some serious fleamarket and tag sale stories in the upcoming episodes. Deals we got and deals we lost.

The top consoles on my list this year will be a Coleco Vision, Commodore 64c, Atari 2600 - Video Game Console, Atari 5200 - Video Game Console (System), Nintendo Virtual Boy - Video Game Console and some random handhelds. I'll also need new games for my new GBA as well as other consoles sitting in my collection.

If you are out and about and see crazy finds. Even if you don't buy them, share you story in the comments, on the forum or snap a pict with your phone and shoot us an email.

Retro Mint Box Storing Erasers

I bought these mints a long time ago just to get this awesome tin. The Nintendo Store in NYC has all sorts of cool items like this! I now usr it to store my awesome erasers. It is a head turner.

Gameboys

I'm sure I've expressed my love for Gameboys in the past, but it's worth repeating. Recently I received and email asking me if I had any interest in a free Gameboy or a Gameboy Advance. What do you think my answer was? ABSOLUTELY! Even though I already have a GB and a GBcolor. You never know when these devices will die or accidentally fill with corrosion like my original GB. RIP. I still own it, but it may as well be a paper weight.

I am very excited about the GBA. I have never owned that unit and look forward to having some first hand game play. I also am thinking about picking up a GBA Flash card to allow me to download all the roms of all the GB games I already own and any GBA games I pick up. Much easier than lugging the actual carts around. As you know, I'm not a big fan of MASS ROM download. Just the games I own. Less wear and tear on my games and easier to carry.

If I had a choice to own any GB system it would be the Gameboy Mini. The device is insanely attractive and fits right in the pocket. I'm not positive, but it may also be backlit. If you've never seen one of these, drop by ebay and type in Gameboy Mini. Comes in a variety of flavors. If you have one laying around that you don't want, I'd be happy to pay shipping!

UPDATE: I just learned that one of my PS3 clan members recently sold off a mini. What a blow!! I'm afraid to ask how much he sold it for.

NEStacular Summer Challenge Print

Well the print is done and sent out to the winners of our NEStacular summer challenge. Congrats on the folks who beat Super Mario Brothers, Metroid and Zelda this summer! IMPRESSIVE! Here is a sneak peak at what they won. I'm not sure what else Brian has intended for this print. But enjoy!

I'm dying for a Gameboy Micro

I was never lucky enough to own a Gameboy Advanced and didn't have a Gameboy color until recently. I just discoved the GBA Micro today. I guess it was short lived, but I can't help but want one. It's fancy dance design is significantly less obvious then my large gray brick or my neon pink GBC. A nice covert GB for times when I'm out of my nerd element. Here is a short article I found online from 2005. I'm still researching. If this thing can play GB games, I found my dream handheld.

Watch this guy open his brand new Virtual Boy.

This video is absolutely hilarious. I would be beside myself if a friend handed me a brand new virtual boy. It begs the question; "Why the heck did the guys dad have a brand new Virtual Boy in his basement??"