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.
Reposted by Quarter Past
How often should one plug their Patreon? I still don't know the answer. I know times are tough, and I've lost a lot of patrons b/c of it. So supporting my research would really help me out if you are in a position to do so.
www.patreon.com/acriticalhit
www.patreon.com/acriticalhit
Get more from Critical Kate on Patreon
creating essays about the history of comics and video games
www.patreon.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:17 PM
How often should one plug their Patreon? I still don't know the answer. I know times are tough, and I've lost a lot of patrons b/c of it. So supporting my research would really help me out if you are in a position to do so.
www.patreon.com/acriticalhit
www.patreon.com/acriticalhit
December 19, 1970:
Tell yourself it’s the 70s if you need to.
Two days from now, Elvis will visit Richard Nixon in the White House.
Commercial video games don’t exist yet, but we’re still headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play whatever add-a-ball pin tables are there.
Tell yourself it’s the 70s if you need to.
Two days from now, Elvis will visit Richard Nixon in the White House.
Commercial video games don’t exist yet, but we’re still headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play whatever add-a-ball pin tables are there.
December 20, 2025 at 5:02 PM
December 19, 1970:
Tell yourself it’s the 70s if you need to.
Two days from now, Elvis will visit Richard Nixon in the White House.
Commercial video games don’t exist yet, but we’re still headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play whatever add-a-ball pin tables are there.
Tell yourself it’s the 70s if you need to.
Two days from now, Elvis will visit Richard Nixon in the White House.
Commercial video games don’t exist yet, but we’re still headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play whatever add-a-ball pin tables are there.
Confession: I've stolen this joke irl and if you time it properly you can make someone spit their drink out their nose
Friend: Are you growing your hair out?
Me: Honestly I have no idea. I never thought I'd live this long
Me: Honestly I have no idea. I never thought I'd live this long
December 20, 2025 at 2:33 AM
Confession: I've stolen this joke irl and if you time it properly you can make someone spit their drink out their nose
This one's a masterpiece
Who coined "Metroidvania"? It wasn't @jparish.bsky.social, and he'll be the first to tell you. Besides, there are far more interesting questions, like: How did it spread? Evolve? And what's it got to do with rickrolling?
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
Watch til the end for a post-credits sting.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8set...
The History Of The Word "Metroidvania" And How It Spread
YouTube video by Critical Kate (of A Critical Hit!)
www.youtube.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:17 AM
This one's a masterpiece
Behold—a thread that dares explore the formative years, when the recording industry was indistinguishable from the coin-op business!
(and some really high-quality pics too)
👇🧵
(and some really high-quality pics too)
👇🧵
Invention is an odd thing.
Sometimes, a new idea changes the world in an instant. Other times, you often wonder why it didn't take off at the start.
For decades, the coin-op industry was defined by the jukebox. And this is the start of it: The Gabel Automatic Entertainer.
Sometimes, a new idea changes the world in an instant. Other times, you often wonder why it didn't take off at the start.
For decades, the coin-op industry was defined by the jukebox. And this is the start of it: The Gabel Automatic Entertainer.
December 19, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Behold—a thread that dares explore the formative years, when the recording industry was indistinguishable from the coin-op business!
(and some really high-quality pics too)
👇🧵
(and some really high-quality pics too)
👇🧵
not interested in wading too much into the politics here, but as someone who's spent a decent amount of time studying the history of the FCC, today was truly one for the books
LUHAN: Is the FCC an independent agency?
CARR: I think th---
L: Yes or no
C: There's a test for this in the la---
L: It's yes or no, Brendan! On your website, it simply says, man, 'the FCC is independent.' This isn't a trick question
C: The FCC is not
L: So is your website lying?
C: Possibly
CARR: I think th---
L: Yes or no
C: There's a test for this in the la---
L: It's yes or no, Brendan! On your website, it simply says, man, 'the FCC is independent.' This isn't a trick question
C: The FCC is not
L: So is your website lying?
C: Possibly
December 17, 2025 at 10:14 PM
not interested in wading too much into the politics here, but as someone who's spent a decent amount of time studying the history of the FCC, today was truly one for the books
Reposted by Quarter Past
The newest Atari Archive looks at the history of one of Atari's most influential and critically acclaimed games, its VCS port, and also Submarine Commander is here:
Star Raiders & Submarine Commander: Atari Archive Episode 85
YouTube video by Atari Archive
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 4:27 PM
The newest Atari Archive looks at the history of one of Atari's most influential and critically acclaimed games, its VCS port, and also Submarine Commander is here:
Reposted by Quarter Past
I've been considering a ton of projects for the future...but for now, here's a report of my first visit to Pinball Hall of Fame (aka Pinball Museum) in Las Vegas, Nevada. I've known about this place for a while, but I finally got to visit and bask in all of the coin-op history. (1) #coinophistory
December 17, 2025 at 5:10 AM
I've been considering a ton of projects for the future...but for now, here's a report of my first visit to Pinball Hall of Fame (aka Pinball Museum) in Las Vegas, Nevada. I've known about this place for a while, but I finally got to visit and bask in all of the coin-op history. (1) #coinophistory
Reposted by Quarter Past
Super Miser Bros.
December 16, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Super Miser Bros.
December 10, 1977:
Saturday Night Fever will hit theaters later this week, but the soundtrack has been on sale for about a month.
We’re headed to the arcade to play Super Bug and listen to the #AT40.
Spoilers: This countdown features the most memory-holed #1 song of the decade in its top spot.
Saturday Night Fever will hit theaters later this week, but the soundtrack has been on sale for about a month.
We’re headed to the arcade to play Super Bug and listen to the #AT40.
Spoilers: This countdown features the most memory-holed #1 song of the decade in its top spot.
December 13, 2025 at 5:02 PM
December 10, 1977:
Saturday Night Fever will hit theaters later this week, but the soundtrack has been on sale for about a month.
We’re headed to the arcade to play Super Bug and listen to the #AT40.
Spoilers: This countdown features the most memory-holed #1 song of the decade in its top spot.
Saturday Night Fever will hit theaters later this week, but the soundtrack has been on sale for about a month.
We’re headed to the arcade to play Super Bug and listen to the #AT40.
Spoilers: This countdown features the most memory-holed #1 song of the decade in its top spot.
The greatest coin-op magazine cover ever published has finally found its forever home
December 13, 2025 at 1:17 AM
The greatest coin-op magazine cover ever published has finally found its forever home
Reposted by Quarter Past
Look at this weird old magazine ad I found, has anyone heard of this?
December 12, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Look at this weird old magazine ad I found, has anyone heard of this?
Reposted by Quarter Past
An officer tells us it showed up unbidden on the computer today. For lack of anything better to do they tried it, asking when the latest NDS was. It replied with a history of Nintendo.
jesus christ
December 10, 2025 at 3:08 AM
An officer tells us it showed up unbidden on the computer today. For lack of anything better to do they tried it, asking when the latest NDS was. It replied with a history of Nintendo.
Reposted by Quarter Past
On this day in 1982, Warner Communications announced it had adjusted its guidance regarding its earnings for the year - primarily due to the issues faced by its Atari Inc. subsidiary.
Tech stocks plummeted the next day, signalling the Market's start of the Video Game Crash.
Tech stocks plummeted the next day, signalling the Market's start of the Video Game Crash.
December 8, 2025 at 4:43 PM
On this day in 1982, Warner Communications announced it had adjusted its guidance regarding its earnings for the year - primarily due to the issues faced by its Atari Inc. subsidiary.
Tech stocks plummeted the next day, signalling the Market's start of the Video Game Crash.
Tech stocks plummeted the next day, signalling the Market's start of the Video Game Crash.
Plan your party now
December 8, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Plan your party now
Reposted by Quarter Past
🎂🍪
Tom Waits/Cookie Monster mashup - God's Away On Business
YouTube video by cookiewaits
youtu.be
December 7, 2025 at 4:13 PM
🎂🍪
December 4, 1971
Tonight’s the night: Some stupid with a flare gun will fire a pyro wad into the ceiling of the Montreux Casino, burning it to the ground and torching the entirety of Frank Zappa’s gear and equipment.
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play 4-person pinball.
Tonight’s the night: Some stupid with a flare gun will fire a pyro wad into the ceiling of the Montreux Casino, burning it to the ground and torching the entirety of Frank Zappa’s gear and equipment.
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play 4-person pinball.
December 6, 2025 at 5:01 PM
December 4, 1971
Tonight’s the night: Some stupid with a flare gun will fire a pyro wad into the ceiling of the Montreux Casino, burning it to the ground and torching the entirety of Frank Zappa’s gear and equipment.
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play 4-person pinball.
Tonight’s the night: Some stupid with a flare gun will fire a pyro wad into the ceiling of the Montreux Casino, burning it to the ground and torching the entirety of Frank Zappa’s gear and equipment.
We’re headed to the arcade to listen to the #AT40 and play 4-person pinball.
Reposted by Quarter Past
All the Adventures goes back to 1982 for a staggeringly obscure Apple II game that isn't on Mobygames, but is co-authored by a designer who worked for Origin and even has a credit on Ultima V.
Includes some history of Origin and their non-Ultima games.
bluerenga.blog/2025/12/05/p...
Includes some history of Origin and their non-Ultima games.
bluerenga.blog/2025/12/05/p...
Pillage Village (1982)
Origin, the company based in Texas formed by Richard and Robert Garriott, is now mostly known for publishing the Ultima games and Wing Commander; it was founded due to Richard’s issues publis…
bluerenga.blog
December 6, 2025 at 3:43 AM
All the Adventures goes back to 1982 for a staggeringly obscure Apple II game that isn't on Mobygames, but is co-authored by a designer who worked for Origin and even has a credit on Ultima V.
Includes some history of Origin and their non-Ultima games.
bluerenga.blog/2025/12/05/p...
Includes some history of Origin and their non-Ultima games.
bluerenga.blog/2025/12/05/p...
Reposted by Quarter Past
It's Giving Tuesday at the VGHF! We've had an incredible 2025, but we need your help to make sure we can continue doing our charitable work in 2026 and beyond. We just launched our annual Winter Fundraiser campaign, please give if you're able (and share this post!). http://gamehistory.org/donate
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
It's Giving Tuesday at the VGHF! We've had an incredible 2025, but we need your help to make sure we can continue doing our charitable work in 2026 and beyond. We just launched our annual Winter Fundraiser campaign, please give if you're able (and share this post!). http://gamehistory.org/donate
Nov. 27, 1976
Just weeks removed from Carter winning the presidential election and exactly one (1) day after the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK” released—we’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40.
Doctors say our case of disco is terminal.
There is only one game that everyone wants to play.
Just weeks removed from Carter winning the presidential election and exactly one (1) day after the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK” released—we’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40.
Doctors say our case of disco is terminal.
There is only one game that everyone wants to play.
November 29, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Nov. 27, 1976
Just weeks removed from Carter winning the presidential election and exactly one (1) day after the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK” released—we’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40.
Doctors say our case of disco is terminal.
There is only one game that everyone wants to play.
Just weeks removed from Carter winning the presidential election and exactly one (1) day after the Sex Pistols’ “Anarchy in the UK” released—we’re headed to the arcade to listen to #AT40.
Doctors say our case of disco is terminal.
There is only one game that everyone wants to play.
Reposted by Quarter Past
If you're a Williams/Bally/Midway pinball or video game buff, I highly recommend Ken's book. I wasn't privy to all of the history that went on in that shop, but his accounts are accurate and fair. It tells the story very well, including the bad times.
www.amazon.com/Pinballs-Pix...
www.amazon.com/Pinballs-Pix...
November 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM
If you're a Williams/Bally/Midway pinball or video game buff, I highly recommend Ken's book. I wasn't privy to all of the history that went on in that shop, but his accounts are accurate and fair. It tells the story very well, including the bad times.
www.amazon.com/Pinballs-Pix...
www.amazon.com/Pinballs-Pix...
Real Genius 2
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Real Genius 2
look the reality is we’ll probably never figure out who dug this hole
November 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
look the reality is we’ll probably never figure out who dug this hole