Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight
Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Jerry Buckner, who currently is displayed on card number 1345, from the Superstars of 2014 Collection. Jerry is also featured on cards 1832, 1981, 2388. As a musician and producer, Jerry Buckner created many memorable music hits in the 1980’s. Nothing prepared him for the smash hit “Pac-Man Fever”. The song was and still is etched in the minds of every adult that was playing video games in the 1980’s. Created along with his partner Gary Garcia, Pac-Man Fever was featured all over the world on the radio, TV shows, commercials and other forms of advertisement. Along with video gaming music, Jerry has produced and provided music for many TV shows and movie hits. Recently Jerry has produced and performed the title track for the 2012 movie, Wreck-it-Ralph.
Did you know at the time when Pac-Man fever was released, that it would be such a smash hit?
No not at all. We were just hoping it would get played locally and help our jingle business. When we were in L.A. doing some TV shows we were driving through Beverly Hills when our song came on the radio. We looked at each other and laughed when Gary said, "Not bad for a couple of guys from Akron."
Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight
This week we look back at the Trading Card Spotlight of Lonnie McDonald. Lonnie is a world record holder on Joust, International Video Game Hall of Famer, and on the Nomination Commitee of IVGHOF. Nominations are now open at IVGHOF.INFO. Deadline is April 30th, 2019. Please enjoy this interview I did with Lonnie on January 10th, 2016.
Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Lonnie McDonald who currently is displayed on card number 249, from the Superstars of 2012 Collection. He is also featured on cards 127 (with Steve Sanders), 589, 905, 1442 and 1465. Steve is one greatest Joust players. He was in Ottumwa, IA in 2012 setting a Joust MAME WR and was the 1st person to play in the original Twin location since the mid 1980s. Lonnie is one of only 3 people to break the 1 million point barrier on the Joust Arcade game in Tournament Settings. He is the only person over the age of 50 to marathon a game 50 hours straight. Between 2011 and 2013 Lonnie went on a tour to roll the Joust score on as many arcade machines as he could. On June 10th, 2012, Lonnie rolled the score on his 50th Joust Machine. On May 23rd, 2013, Lonnie rolled his 100th machine. Along with Steve Sanders, Lonnie broke another record by competing in a doubles marathon and playing Joust with Steve for over 15 hours straight. Their score of 40,120,150 is also a doubles record. Lonnie has also promoted vintage gaming for TV, magazine, newspapers and online as well as supported numerous charities to help fellow gamers
Who is your favorite video game character and what makes that character special?
The Knight on an ostrich in Joust. I’m that Knight. The great Python Anghelo (from Joust fame and many Williams’s games) designated me a Knight of the Highest Order. An Honor that deeply moved me, and still does as I write this.
Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight
Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Bob Bates who currently is displayed on card number 454, from the Superstars of 2013 Collection. As game designer, Bob has created more than 40 games that have won many awards in the industry and overall has sold over 6 million copies of his games. Some of them include Unreal 2 for the PC, Spiderman 3 for home consoles and Eric the Unready, also for the PC. He his Co-Founder of “Game Designers Workshop”, and annual conference of game designers. Bob is a Lifetime Achievement Award from the IGDA (International Game Developer Association) and selected in 2010 as the IGDA’s person of the year.
Who is your favorite video game character of all time and what makes that character special?
My favorite character of all time is Floyd, from Steve Meretzky’s game called Planetfall. He was a great robot companion to the player, always playful and always optimistic. When you would go to save a game, Floyd’s eyes would light up and he would say, “Oh boy! Are we going to do something dangerous now?” For gamers of a certain generation, Floyd will always have a place in their hearts.
Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight
Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Sean “Taggsta” Tagg, who currently is displayed on card number 2030, from the Superstars of 2015 Collection. Sean has hands on been a big part of the Walter Day Collection trading card history. Along with his own card displayed in the article, Sean has created many other cards with his artwork. Cards such as 2402, 2403 and 2407, just to name a few. The amazing part is the art was all created on the Nintendo 3DS. Sean has also a knack for restoring 1980s Arcade machines.
Are you still involved with gaming today, and what role do you play?
I am one part of the Arcade Perfect Podcast with my co-host Daz Borg. We cover one arcade game per episode and go into detail about the game, trivia and the home ports that were released. We invite guests on to the show who are big fans of the feature game which builds new friendships and gives people a chance to talk about their favorite game.
Written by Todd Friedman on . Posted in Trading Card Spotlight
Our next Trading Card Spotlight features Stephen Burnett, who is displayed on card number 2478, from the Superstars of 2016 Collection. Stephen was present during the birth of Twin Galaxies in 1982, and played with the best of the best in the early 1980’s. He had many visions in that period of time, including opening up an arcade with fellow gamer Leo Daniels, helping Walter Day create an Electronic Sports League, and offering his time as a competition official of major gaming events. Today, Steve is the Co-founder and Chairman of Koolbridge Solar, a leading force in producing Solar Energy around the world.
If you could own one arcade game or pinball game, what would it be and why?
It would be probably the old Playboy pinball game. There’s just something cool about seeing Hugh Hefner and those sexy ladies with skimpy outfits on each side of him as you play the game. I’d also like to own a 2019 pinball game where the flipper action is fast and hard, has multi-ball action, and has lots of targets and ramps that take real skill to hit and go up. Not sure which game it is, but I’m sure that there is one like that out there.
