Trading Card Spotlight Ryan Burger
Our next Trading Card Spotlight Features Ryan Burger of Old School Gamer Magazine who is displayed on card number 2761, from the Superstars Collection of 2017. Ryan is the founder and creator of Old School Magazine, which is an online and publication magazine. The Magazine first issue was released on October 16th, 2017 and the new issue has just gone digital and will be followed up by the hard copy in a few weeks. Ryan’s moto for the magazine/website is “Dedicated to you, the old school/retro gamer from the arcades to your home!” Ryan has hopes that everyone young and old can enjoy the blogs and articles written by the writers and Ryan himself. This trading card was honored and featured at the International Video Game Hall of Fame in Ottumwa, Iowa this past November.
To see the 2nd edition of the magazine, click here.
Do you remember your first video game / arcade you played and what do you remember about it?
I remember buying the first video game system perfectly. We bought a Sears Intellivision at the local Sears store in Cincinnati Ohio. I can picture the shelf it was sitting on and the display around it. As to the first arcade, it would be a Chuck E Cheese / ShowBiz Pizza, not sure which one it was first, but it was on my 11th birthday in 1983 and we had just moved to West Des Moines from Cincinnati and knew no one so within a week of moving here it was my family at the pizza place having a blast. Back when Chuck E Cheese used to have tons of games.
What are your opinions about today’s generation of video games? How do you compare them to older, classic games?
I enjoy watching my kids play the current games but find them too complicated for my styles. I prefer the quick play quick enjoy level of games that the arcades of the 80s and of the 90s offered.
Did you ever think when you were younger you would be on a Video Game Trading card?
Absolutely no, and think it's a great thing that Walter does for the industry, and there are absolutely a ton of them out there. Now the ultimate thing would be to buy these in one of those wax packs like we used to do back in the 70s and 80s with like 15 cards in them and bubble gum, buying the pack for like 45 cents.
When did you first meet Walter day and where was it at?
I think it was at the Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee about 7-8 years ago.
If you could describe Walter Day in one word, what would that word be and why?
Gift, as in he's a gift to this industry.
Are you still involved with gaming today, and what role do you play?
Publish Old School Gamer Magazine and am involved in the operation of an arcade in Grimes, Iowa and help to run the Iowa Arcade Auctions that are held twice a year at Adventureland in Altoona, Iowa.
What is your favorite portable gaming device and why?
Of a dedicated device, it would be my little Atari Portable put out by Atgames.
If you could own one arcade game or pinball game, what would it be and why?
I own both of my favorites, Atari Star Wars and Sega Star Trek Vector Games.
Which console company is your favorite and why? Nintendo, Sony, Sega, or Microsoft?
Of the above it would be Sega, but I'm an Atari guy! Loved what they could accomplish on a 4-16k cart.
What does it take to be a Video Game Journalist?
It takes a thorough enjoyment of the games, the people and everything else in the industry.
Do you find boss battles to be the best part of a video game?
Maybe not the best part, but an essential line to be crossed.
What is your favorite singe player game and favorite multiplayer game?
Single Player - Star Wars Vector, Multiplayer – Gauntlet.
Do you prefer playing video games alone, against friends or online against the world and why?Video games by far are best with friends! It’s the social atmosphere of the arcade of the past and present or the party type games that work the best. I was always a fan of the Gauntlet series of games, and that’s a perfect example of a game that is great in that area.
Where do you see Video games in the next 20 years?
Video games will become more immersive just like in the Ready Player One book and movie. If you haven't read that book yet, read it before the movie comes out next year.