Quarter Past
@quarterpast.bsky.social
Researcher, pre-20th-C videogames
(Citations available upon request)
(Citations available upon request)
Pinned
Quarter Past
@quarterpast.bsky.social
· Oct 19
We *still* don't know who invented pinball.
Nov. 11, 1978
Dems keep control of congress under Carter, the “401(k)” is born and we’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play video-game bowling.
This one’s a weird mix of pop, rock and disco that somehow doesn’t involve the Bee Gees but does feature the world’s worst song at #1.
Dems keep control of congress under Carter, the “401(k)” is born and we’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play video-game bowling.
This one’s a weird mix of pop, rock and disco that somehow doesn’t involve the Bee Gees but does feature the world’s worst song at #1.
Gather round. We're going back to November 11, 1978 for another Casey Kasem American Top 40 flashback #AT40. Who will be #1?
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
November 15, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Nov. 11, 1978
Dems keep control of congress under Carter, the “401(k)” is born and we’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play video-game bowling.
This one’s a weird mix of pop, rock and disco that somehow doesn’t involve the Bee Gees but does feature the world’s worst song at #1.
Dems keep control of congress under Carter, the “401(k)” is born and we’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play video-game bowling.
This one’s a weird mix of pop, rock and disco that somehow doesn’t involve the Bee Gees but does feature the world’s worst song at #1.
Reposted by Quarter Past
Big Daddy, Williams 1963
November 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Big Daddy, Williams 1963
Reposted by Quarter Past
Spotlight Golf contained very state-of-the-art technology for its time, which enabled it to create a unique gameplay experience.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
November 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Spotlight Golf contained very state-of-the-art technology for its time, which enabled it to create a unique gameplay experience.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
According to the Australasian Golf Museum, this tech qualifies it as the "first computer game" and maybe the first electronic computer.
Let's investigate this.
Reposted by Quarter Past
been buried in that landfill in 1983
November 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM
been buried in that landfill in 1983
Reposted by Quarter Past
Me: mom, can I have 26 thousand tons of iron ore?
Mom: to conclude some terms with a couple of steel firms?
Me: yeeeesss
*actually goes in the face of a hurricane west wind like a boss*
gitchee gumee time
Mom: to conclude some terms with a couple of steel firms?
Me: yeeeesss
*actually goes in the face of a hurricane west wind like a boss*
gitchee gumee time
November 10, 2023 at 7:14 PM
Me: mom, can I have 26 thousand tons of iron ore?
Mom: to conclude some terms with a couple of steel firms?
Me: yeeeesss
*actually goes in the face of a hurricane west wind like a boss*
gitchee gumee time
Mom: to conclude some terms with a couple of steel firms?
Me: yeeeesss
*actually goes in the face of a hurricane west wind like a boss*
gitchee gumee time
Reposted by Quarter Past
Hard to believe it's already been ten years that Gaming Alexandria has been around. Here's a (late) article about our history, as well as special thanks and small blurbs from others of what Gaming Alexandria has meant to them. Here's to another ten years! www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2025/11/g...
November 9, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Hard to believe it's already been ten years that Gaming Alexandria has been around. Here's a (late) article about our history, as well as special thanks and small blurbs from others of what Gaming Alexandria has meant to them. Here's to another ten years! www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/2025/11/g...
Reposted by Quarter Past
November 4, 1972
Just 3 days til the US Presidential Election
There’s only one video game in the arcade and everyone agrees: it looks freaky (complimentary) but also plays freaky (derogatory)
The record industry continues to flail without any Beatles, as attested by this #AT40
Just 3 days til the US Presidential Election
There’s only one video game in the arcade and everyone agrees: it looks freaky (complimentary) but also plays freaky (derogatory)
The record industry continues to flail without any Beatles, as attested by this #AT40
Hop in the time machine. We're going back to November 4, 1972 for another Casey Kasem American Top 40 flashback #AT40. Who will be #1?
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
November 8, 2025 at 5:02 PM
November 4, 1972
Just 3 days til the US Presidential Election
There’s only one video game in the arcade and everyone agrees: it looks freaky (complimentary) but also plays freaky (derogatory)
The record industry continues to flail without any Beatles, as attested by this #AT40
Just 3 days til the US Presidential Election
There’s only one video game in the arcade and everyone agrees: it looks freaky (complimentary) but also plays freaky (derogatory)
The record industry continues to flail without any Beatles, as attested by this #AT40
The release of the original Grand Theft Auto will be closer to the release of Hamurabi than GTA VI when it's scheduled to come out
November 7, 2025 at 12:02 AM
The release of the original Grand Theft Auto will be closer to the release of Hamurabi than GTA VI when it's scheduled to come out
sure this seems like equivalent entertainment to watching paint dry, but after a few hours I get loopy and do things like call Zort on long-since disconnected phone numbers
here's a sneak peak at the kind of trouble I could get in tonight trying to make the pamphlet robot cry
fun starts in an hour
here's a sneak peak at the kind of trouble I could get in tonight trying to make the pamphlet robot cry
fun starts in an hour
November 6, 2025 at 12:00 AM
sure this seems like equivalent entertainment to watching paint dry, but after a few hours I get loopy and do things like call Zort on long-since disconnected phone numbers
here's a sneak peak at the kind of trouble I could get in tonight trying to make the pamphlet robot cry
fun starts in an hour
here's a sneak peak at the kind of trouble I could get in tonight trying to make the pamphlet robot cry
fun starts in an hour
Reposted by Quarter Past
he knows what he has to do
November 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM
he knows what he has to do
Reposted by Quarter Past
6 years to the day since I released this video about gaming 'firsts' and the bias of history.
Probably the most atypical video I ever made, both visually and as a call to action on something I deeply believe. Never got much traction, but it's probably my favourite work.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoj
Probably the most atypical video I ever made, both visually and as a call to action on something I deeply believe. Never got much traction, but it's probably my favourite work.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoj
First Principles | Retrohistories
We love to talk about historical firsts, but it's fraught with risk.
Retrohistories is funded by generous supporters on Patreon. Rewards include names/avatars in the credits and behind-the-scenes updates. If you enjoyed this video and are interested in helping me tell more stories, go to https://www.patreon.com/retrohistories to learn more!
Footage from Ready Player One © 2018 Warner Bros. Pictures.
Games in montage, in order of appearance, with links to source videos:
Sewer Shark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTdLjUn6y-0
Mutant League Football
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCPrBFokTLo
Adventures of Lolo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUU4Jfj9Gjs
Little Computer People
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwVHCG0guMk
Mercenary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47PfAI18eTc
The Incredible Machine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTbSMKGQ_rU
Links LS: Championship Course
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9i3yf5QpvU
Culdcept Saga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNOJrochOVQ
Emergency Call Ambulance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbaxADGcA9s
Ecco the Dolphin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It_eOIPgCdE
Dark Cloud 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAu2KvwPJyg
Vib-Ribbon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8taMzEeCiOk
Tropical Angel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhFlquAajEw
Tobal 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtU4p4wqd8s
Tin Star
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2s6ikhOa1I
Robinson’s Requiem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k55A0s8Grto
Republic: The Revolution
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5WUvw2qLEc
Densha de Go! Ryojōhen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6o2hl6-0qw
Raw Danger!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bepQbWcrJxU
Echochrome
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6NFvkzzKSY
Transarctica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60OkMuX_H2o
Exile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uOSNCLEH68
Gangsters: Organized Crime
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGa8CFqmn_0
Anachronox
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D_ucIpvyCQ
Laser Squad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4DhpUn3Hkw
Comix Zone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V4csjRgaXs
Music:
Sigma Tauri / Assembling the Fleet
from the Stellaris soundtrack by Andreas Waldetoft
© 2016 Paradox Interactive AB. www.paradoxplaza.com
Stills and screenshots from MobyGames, Shmuplations, Keith Smith, Ed Fries and RT-55J.
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:19 AM
6 years to the day since I released this video about gaming 'firsts' and the bias of history.
Probably the most atypical video I ever made, both visually and as a call to action on something I deeply believe. Never got much traction, but it's probably my favourite work.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoj
Probably the most atypical video I ever made, both visually and as a call to action on something I deeply believe. Never got much traction, but it's probably my favourite work.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoj
Reposted by Quarter Past
He said it couldn't be done, but @quarterpast.bsky.social is back with entertainment of the sort you've never seen before.
We'll be live on Twitch tomorrow, circa 7PM CST, dating all the arcade games that we care to.
We'll be live on Twitch tomorrow, circa 7PM CST, dating all the arcade games that we care to.
November 4, 2025 at 4:09 PM
He said it couldn't be done, but @quarterpast.bsky.social is back with entertainment of the sort you've never seen before.
We'll be live on Twitch tomorrow, circa 7PM CST, dating all the arcade games that we care to.
We'll be live on Twitch tomorrow, circa 7PM CST, dating all the arcade games that we care to.
You know what would be good right now—a Jonas Brothers mini concert
November 2, 2025 at 3:09 AM
You know what would be good right now—a Jonas Brothers mini concert
Reposted by Quarter Past
From the PET to the VIC-20 and C64, Commodore evolved from business machines to home computing powerhouses. Smart marketing, the SID chip, and low prices made the C64 a billion-dollar success of the 8-bit era.
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNzn...
#Commodore #PET #VIC20 #C64 #RetroComputing
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNzn...
#Commodore #PET #VIC20 #C64 #RetroComputing
TCW 245 - The History of Commodore Pt 2
YouTube video by They Create Worlds Podcast
www.youtube.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
From the PET to the VIC-20 and C64, Commodore evolved from business machines to home computing powerhouses. Smart marketing, the SID chip, and low prices made the C64 a billion-dollar success of the 8-bit era.
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNzn...
#Commodore #PET #VIC20 #C64 #RetroComputing
▶ www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNzn...
#Commodore #PET #VIC20 #C64 #RetroComputing
Halloween 1970
The record industry limps into its second year without the Beatles—apparently forgetting to release rock songs as singles
Commercial video games won’t be created for at least another year, but 4-player pinball & the soul charts might save us at the arcade as we listen to this #AT40
The record industry limps into its second year without the Beatles—apparently forgetting to release rock songs as singles
Commercial video games won’t be created for at least another year, but 4-player pinball & the soul charts might save us at the arcade as we listen to this #AT40
Get ready. It's time for another Casey Kasem American Top 40 flashback #AT40. This week, we travel back to October 31, 1970. Who will be #1?
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
November 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Halloween 1970
The record industry limps into its second year without the Beatles—apparently forgetting to release rock songs as singles
Commercial video games won’t be created for at least another year, but 4-player pinball & the soul charts might save us at the arcade as we listen to this #AT40
The record industry limps into its second year without the Beatles—apparently forgetting to release rock songs as singles
Commercial video games won’t be created for at least another year, but 4-player pinball & the soul charts might save us at the arcade as we listen to this #AT40
bluesky the sports app
November 1, 2025 at 3:26 AM
bluesky the sports app
Reposted by Quarter Past
Remember to be considerate tonight while trick-or-treating!
October 31, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Remember to be considerate tonight while trick-or-treating!
Youppi! appointed commissioner for life
October 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Youppi! appointed commissioner for life
October 26, 1974
It’s a few days away from Rumble in the Jungle. The US is messing around with Daylight Saving Time (they tried and failed to stop moving the clock).
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40 and play some Gran Trak 20.
Theme this week is follow-up singles you’ve forgotten.
It’s a few days away from Rumble in the Jungle. The US is messing around with Daylight Saving Time (they tried and failed to stop moving the clock).
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40 and play some Gran Trak 20.
Theme this week is follow-up singles you’ve forgotten.
Hop in the time machine. We're going back to October 26, 1974 for another Casey Kasem American Top 40 flashback #AT40. Who will be #1?
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
Listen to Casey on SiriusXM 70s, and follow this 🧵 to find out.
October 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
October 26, 1974
It’s a few days away from Rumble in the Jungle. The US is messing around with Daylight Saving Time (they tried and failed to stop moving the clock).
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40 and play some Gran Trak 20.
Theme this week is follow-up singles you’ve forgotten.
It’s a few days away from Rumble in the Jungle. The US is messing around with Daylight Saving Time (they tried and failed to stop moving the clock).
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40 and play some Gran Trak 20.
Theme this week is follow-up singles you’ve forgotten.
Reposted by Quarter Past
The VOD from our adventures in 1975 is up. We (well, @quarterpast.bsky.social ) still have to fill in the back half of the year but we are getting - slowly but surely - Beyond Pong.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S70e...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S70e...
October 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The VOD from our adventures in 1975 is up. We (well, @quarterpast.bsky.social ) still have to fill in the back half of the year but we are getting - slowly but surely - Beyond Pong.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S70e...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S70e...
It’s exciting when someone publishes long-form on a subject you’ve been researching for years.
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
RF Shielding History: When The FCC Cracked Down On Computers
The FCC took a hard line on the radio frequency interference that computers created—creating huge headaches for early PC-makers. Why? Blame the CB radio fad.
tedium.co
October 25, 2025 at 6:44 AM
It’s exciting when someone publishes long-form on a subject you’ve been researching for years.
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
Here’s a thread commenting on this article in more detail.
If you do the retro computer, read the article & then come back here.
Apologies and respect in advance to @ernie.tedium.co
🧵👇
look, you can stay here in 2025 and be inundated with more shitty news
OR you could join us in going back to 1975 while Ethan meticulously documents primary source history and I make fun of songs like "Convoy"
your choice
I won't judge
we start in an hour
OR you could join us in going back to 1975 while Ethan meticulously documents primary source history and I make fun of songs like "Convoy"
your choice
I won't judge
we start in an hour
We'll be inundating you again tonight at 7PM CST: @quarterpast.bsky.social and I putting dates to every single arcade game of the 1970s and 1980s.
www.twitch.tv/play_history
We enter 1975. What horrors shall we find together?
www.twitch.tv/play_history
We enter 1975. What horrors shall we find together?
October 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
look, you can stay here in 2025 and be inundated with more shitty news
OR you could join us in going back to 1975 while Ethan meticulously documents primary source history and I make fun of songs like "Convoy"
your choice
I won't judge
we start in an hour
OR you could join us in going back to 1975 while Ethan meticulously documents primary source history and I make fun of songs like "Convoy"
your choice
I won't judge
we start in an hour