Video Game Historian
Michael Thomasson, internationally recognized for holding the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest video game collection. Thomasson is a prominent figure in video game preservation and collecting culture, offering fans and collectors a rare opportunity to meet one of the most influential names in gaming history.
Here is some of the exciting pieces of history he will be bringing along with copies of his 3 books available for signing
First Prototype
Ralph Baer’s “Brown Box” was the first home video game system prototype, built between 1966–1968 by Ralph H. Baer and his team at Sanders Associates. It’s the missing link between TVs as passive boxes and TVs as something you play.
What it was
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A wood-grained, tape-wrapped prototype (hence “Brown Box”) that connected to a standard TV
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Used analog circuitry—no CPU, no software, no memory
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Generated simple shapes (dots, lines, rectangles) directly on the TV screen
What it could do
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Two-player games like Ping-Pong, chase games, and target shooting
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Interchangeable game modes via switches and plug-in cards
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Early handheld controllers with knobs (ancestor of paddles & joysticks)
Why it mattered
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Proved that home video games were possible and marketable
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Licensed to Magnavox and released commercially as the Magnavox Odyssey
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Directly inspired the arcade boom and later home consoles (including Atari)
Downright Bizarre Games: Video Games that Crossed the Line!
A humorous and insightful look at the weirdest, funniest, and most out-there video games ever released. This book explores oddball titles, strange design choices, controversial marketing, and some of the most peculiar moments in gaming history — perfect for retro fans and collectors.
Pinball PinUps - SC: A Visual CELEBRATION of PINBALL ART and the Women Who Grace Pinball Backboxes
A lavishly illustrated paperback showcasing the pinup art that adorned many classic pinball machines—exploring aesthetics, artists, and cultural context. It’s richly visual, with annotations and historical notes, aimed at pinball fans, art lovers, and retro collectors who care about more than just playfield mechanics.
Controversy: Downright Despicable Games
A deep dive into the most controversial moments in video game history, covering moral panics, political backlash, censorship, lawsuits, and media outrage surrounding games. The book examines how controversy helped shape public perception of gaming and influenced industry standards.