Video games defined much of my childhood. Growing up in the 90s, I had the privilege of witnessing the epic console wars, a legendary battle for market supremacy between Nintendo and Sega. This was an era where online gaming was virtually nonexistent, and gaming information was primarily exchanged through word of mouth. Those were simpler times, and they've left me with countless cherished memories. So, you can imagine my excitement when we stumbled upon the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, Texas.

Back in 1999, John Hardie, Sean Kelly, and Joe Santulli embarked on a mission to create a traveling video game museum, dedicated to honoring the pioneers, gaming systems, and classic games of the past. In 2011, they turned to crowdfunding to establish a permanent home for their beloved collection. Then, in 2016, their dream became a reality with the birth of the National Videogame Museum.

The museum is open most days of the week, with the exception of Mondays. While the museum itself covers over 10,000 square feet, it may not be massive in size, but it certainly is in content. Adult admission is $12, and children between 3 to 10 enter for $10.

As you explore the museum, you'll embark on a journey through the evolution of early home consoles dating back over half a century in Stage 1. In Stage 2, you'll discover every gaming console ever made, guided by a giant SNES controller. What makes this museum truly special is the interactive stations where you can stop and play classic video games.

The video game crash of 1983 marked a significant setback in the gaming industry. At its peak, the industry was a $3.2 billion behemoth, but by the end of 1985, it had dwindled to a mere $100 million. This crash was attributed to multiple factors, including an oversaturation of gaming consoles, the release of subpar-quality games, and the emergence of personal computers as viable gaming platforms.

Two games often blamed for the industry's decline are Pac-Man and E.T., both released for the Atari 2600. Atari rushed an incomplete prototype to market, resulting in over 5 million unsold game copies. The infamous E.T. disaster is said to have been buried in a New Mexico landfill, never to be seen again, ultimately paving the way for home computer gaming.

In conclusion, the National Videogame Museum offers an incredibly interactive experience, making it one of the most engaging museums I've visited in quite some time. It's a place that beckons you to return and explore further. As I absorbed the rich history of video games, I couldn't help but reflect on how profoundly they shaped my childhood. I thought of the countless developers and artists who poured their hearts into creating the best possible gaming experiences with the technology of their time. Today, gaming is ubiquitous, perhaps even taken for granted. Museums like this one allow us to observe and appreciate the history and legacy of this unique form of media. As an adult, I may not have as much time to play, but every now and then, I fire up an emulator and relive my past, if only for a moment.

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Chapters
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00:00 - Introduction
02:29 - Entering the National Videogame Museum
04:58 - The Power Glove
06:37 - Portables
07:30 - Video Game Crash of 1983
09:02 - Tour the Rest of the Museum
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