Channel Title: Gaming Historian Channel Description: The Gaming Historian is a documentary series all about the history of video games. The show is researched, written, edited, and created by Norman Caruso. I recently announced I'm no longer working on the channel full-time (check the community tab for my announcement). I'll still be making videos in my spare time. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss a new episode! Sources for my videos are available on my website, gaminghistorian.com <video> LJN Roll & Rocker: A Terrible Controller Description: Thank you to Warby Parker for sponsoring this video. I've been wearing their glasses for years, and I can't recommend them enough. Order your Home Try-On Kit FREE at http://www.warbyparker.com/gaminghistorian. Offer only valid in the US. 1989 was the year of NES controllers. Mattel introduced the Power Glove. Broderbund debuted the U-Force. And then there was LJN's Roll & Rocker. The Roll & Rocker was a stand-on plastic board that rocked back and forth to control directional movement in games. It promised radical gaming action. But did the Roll & Rocker deliver? ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #LJN #NES #GamingHistorian </video> <video> Batter Up: Play Super Nintendo With a Baseball Bat Description: 12 years before the Nintendo Wii took over living rooms, Sports Sciences released Batter-Up, a motion-controlled baseball bat for the Sega Genesis, Super Nintendo, and personal computers. The company claimed it was the first "virtual reality baseball bat." Was it a swing-and-a-miss or a home run? Learn how Batter Up works and the history of Sports Sciences. ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter / X | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #GamingHistorian #Hardware #SNES </video> <video> Microsoft's 3 Biggest Mistakes Description: Microsoft entered the video game console business in 2001 with the Xbox. Today, they are still a major player in the industry. But it hasn't exactly been a smooth journey. Here are three of their biggest blunders (so far). CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 02:02 - Games for Windows LIVE 11:58 - The Xbox One Announcement 18:35 - The Xbox 360 "Red Ring of Death" ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #GamingHistorian #3BiggestMistakes #Microsoft </video> <video> The Story of The Oregon Trail Description: In 1971, three student teachers in Minneapolis, MN created a little computer game about westward expansion in the United States. Over 50 years later, The Oregon Trail series has sold more than 65 million copies and has been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. But the original creators never made a penny off the game. Learn the story behind one of the most successful edutainment games of all time. A special thank you to @minnmax for providing some footage for this documentary. Check out their documentary on Oregon Trail here: https://youtu.be/_EHdZUrMi4w 00:00 - Introduction 03:02 - OREGON 29:15 - MECC 42:39 - The Apple II 48:16 - A New OREGON 1:11:57 - Learning Could Be Fun 1:24:45 - End Credits ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter / X | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #OregonTrail #Apple #GamingHistorian </video> <video> How the Mario Characters Got Their Names Description: Is Luigi named after a pizza parlor? Who actually came up with the name Donkey Kong? Why is King Koopa named after a bowl of soup? Learn the inspirations behind the names of 8 Super Mario characters! CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 00:24 - Mario 05:28 - Luigi 07:07 - Princess Peach 08:54 - Toad 10:57 - Yoshi 12:29 - Donkey Kong 17:54 - Wario 19:12 - Bowser ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #Mario #Nintendo #GamingHistorian </video> <video> What Happened to Mega Man Universe? Description: Five years before Super Mario Maker, Capcom was developing Mega Man Universe, a central hub where users could create and share their own Mega Man levels. In less than a year, it was canceled. What happened? ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #MegaMan #Capcom #GamingHistorian </video> <video> When Nintendo Games Were on Atari Description: Before Nintendo launched the NES, their games appeared on other consoles, including the biggest: the Atari 2600. Learn about the history of these ports and that weird time when Mario competed with himself. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 00:45 - Donkey Kong 03:08 - Donkey Kong Jr. 04:14 - Sky Skipper 07:01 - Popeye 08:40 - Mario Bros. ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #Nintendo #Atari #GamingHistorian </video> <video> Don't Touch: The Story of the U-Force Description: In 1989, the most anticipated new controller for the NES wasn't the Power Glove; it was the U-Force. Learn about the making of the device, its rocky road to retail, and the battle against the Power Glove. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 02:12 - Part 1: A New Way to Play 14:21 - Part 2: Under Pressure 27:12 - Part 3: Don't Touch ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #UForce #NES #GamingHistorian </video> <video> Sharp SF1: A Super Famicom TV Description: When Nintendo launched the Super Famicom in 1990, they couldn't make enough consoles to meet the demand. But there was another way to get one: The Sharp SF1, a $1,000 TV with a built-in Super Famicom! Learn the history and functionality of this obscure piece of video game hardware. ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #GamingHistorian #SuperNintendo #SuperFamicom </video> <video> The Ultimate Guide to NES Light Guns Description: Save 40% or more on your SimpliSafe security system during their holiday sale! Visit https://SimpliSafe.com/GamingHistorian to learn more! What's the history of light gun games? How does the Zapper work? What other light guns worked on the Nintendo Entertainment System? How many games were compatible? In this video, I try to cover everything. This is the Ultimate Guide to NES Light Guns! CHAPTERS 00:00 - Intro 01:17 - A Brief History of Light Guns 11:53 - How Does the Zapper Work? 16:54 - 3rd Party NES Light Guns 28:12 - Light Gun-Required NES Games 43:02 - Light Gun-Optional NES Games 54:25 - Outro / Credits Special thanks to the Roanoke Pinball Museum for their "Shoot The Bear" footage - https://roanokepinball.org/ ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #NES #Zapper #GamingHistorian </video> <video> The Story of Super Mario Kart Description: Learn the complete history of Super Mario Kart, one of the most influential games of all time. After a failed attempt to make a 2-player version of F-Zero, Nintendo created a quirky go-kart racing game featuring Mario & friends. Despite receiving little hype, Super Mario Kart exploded in popularity, becoming one of the best-selling games for the Super Nintendo. It was a genre-defining title and the beginning of one of Nintendo's most popular franchises. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 01:17 - Part 1: Racing for Two 12:35 - Part 2: Changing Lanes 33:59 - Part 3: An Unforgettable Ride 48:48 - End Credits ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter / X | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #MarioKart #Nintendo #GamingHistorian </video> <video> The Story of the First Video Game Cartridge Description: The humble cartridge is an icon in video game history. But where did it come from? Learn the story behind the first programmable home console - the Fairchild Channel F - and the team behind it. Why couldn't Fairchild capitalize on this revolutionary idea and why did the Channel F console fade into obscurity? CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 01:05 - Part 1: Desperation Breeds Innovation 13:58 - Part 2: Mavericks 22:54 - Part 3: A Commitment 31:03 - Part 4: A Long Shadow ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter / X | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #Fairchild #ChannelF #GamingHistorian </video> <video> The Forgotten Portable NES Description: In 1990, the hot new trend in the video game industry was handheld systems. The Nintendo Game Boy and Atari Lynx battled for the market, while NEC and Sega had consoles on the way. But there was another handheld coming you may not have heard of: The Express. It was from a small company called BDL Enterprises, and the idea was impressive: A portable version of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)! Why did this console never see the light of day? ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter / X | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #GamingHistorian #Hardware #NES </video> <video> SEGA Mega Modem: Ahead of Its Time Description: In 1989, Sunsoft came to SEGA with a proposal: What if people could play Mega Drive games online? Wanting to make a splash in the market, the two companies teamed up and created the Mega Modem. The device brought online gaming, downloadable games, news, contests, and even financial transactions to the SEGA Mega Drive. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 01:17 - Development History 12:55 - Games & Software 21:59 - Legacy ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #SEGA #MegaDrive #GamingHistorian </video> <video> The Story of Super Mario World Description: A documentary on the making of Super Mario World, the launch of the Super Nintendo, and how the game perfected the concepts of the Super Mario series. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Introduction 01:48 - Part 1: The End of an Era 20:27 - Part 2: A Whole New World 43:16 - Part 3: Rumor Has It... 01:02:45 - Part 4: Evolutionary, Not Revolutionary NOTE: Early Super Mario World prototype footage and fan hacks are artistic renditions and do not represent an actual Nintendo product. ▶️ Subscribe | https://www.youtube.com/gaminghistorian?sub_confirmation=1 Follow Gaming Historian: 🐦 Twitter | https://www.twitter.com/gaminghistorian 💻 Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/gaminghistorian 🕹️ Twitch | https://www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian 📷 Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/gaminghistorian For a list of sources, visit https://www.thegaminghistorian.com #SuperMarioWorld #GamingHistorian #Documentary </video>

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Description

The Gaming Historian is a documentary series all about the history of video games. The show is researched, written, edited, and created by Norman Caruso.

I recently announced I'm no longer working on the channel full-time (check the community tab for my announcement). I'll still be making videos in my spare time. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss a new episode!

Sources for my videos are available on my website, gaminghistorian.com

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