DJ Demon J
Banned
An interesting article, if only for the tip at the end to fix your old NES. Oh, and the fact that Blaster Master gets props. 
Game Time
Classic 8-bit Nintendo has gamer Mark Cooper hooked -- he owns nearly 500 cartridges
The Herald Dispatch (West Virginia)
By Randy Snyder
June 13, 2004
As yard sale season rolls around, were bound see discount tables chock full of gray Nintendo game cartridges. Though most of these will be available dirt cheap, one 28-year-old from the Tri-State will look at others trash as a trove of classic gaming treasure.
Chesapeake resident Mark Coopers beloved hobby actually sprang from the loss of a beloved pet. When his dog Buck passed on, a young Cooper was given a Nintendo Entertainment System to attempt to ease his grieving.
"When I saw Super Mario Bros., I couldnt believe how advanced it was," said a chuckling Cooper. "When Mario jumped, it was just so realistic. My little 12-year-old mind couldnt comprehend how much of a leap it was between the Atari and the NES."
When Cooper made his way to college and was introduced to Internet auction site eBay, the video game fan became a collector. To date, he has amassed more than 450 titles for the Nintendo Entertainment System alone. At one point, he had six NES systems operating simultaneously (not to mention nearly 30 controllers), so friends could indulge in Coopers Nintendo wealth.
Not one to discriminate, Cooper also tracks down video game consoles from other generations. He has more than 15 systems in his arsenal now, with a healthy library of games for each. He somehow found time in the middle of all that gaming to graduate from Marshall University with a degree in journalism advertising.
Coopers roommate, Michael Sullivan, is fine with his friends hobby, as long as it keeps him out of trouble.
"Everybody has to have something. He doesnt drink to excess, he doesnt take illicit drugs that I know of. Plus, it keeps him occupied," joked Sullivan, "I dont have to sit around and entertain him."
Despite his massive collection, Cooper is able to quickly pick his favorite title: NES game "Blaster Master," the story of a boy, his tank and his quest to rescue his giant radioactive frog.
"Once every couple of months, Ill break it out and play through it, two hours, burned into my brain," Cooper said. "I could play that game with my eyes closed."
The attack patterns of enemies in "Blaster Master" arent the only thing that Cooper remembers when he picks up an NES controller.
"When I play Nintendo games, its like being a kid again, when all I had to worry about was what my mom was making me for lunch," Cooper said. "Now, I work a full-time job. I can come home, play some Nintendo, and it takes me back to the simpler days."
Cooper offered a strategy guide of sorts for people who might be looking to build their classic gaming collection and get their own nostalgia fix.
"Start with games you know you like, because youll get discouraged when you get the really bad games," Cooper said. "There are brands to look out for -- Sunsoft, Konami, Capcom -- all their games are pretty good. Check flea markets and eBay, you can find some good games there really cheap."
And Cooper even had good news for those of you who think your Nintendo is as dead as a mallard in "Duck Hunt."
The problem with a majority of nonworking NES systems is a malfunctioning 72-pin connector, which can be easily replaced for around $10. NES replacement parts can be found through eBay and classic gaming Web sites such as http://www.gamepart.com.
With the small fortune Cooper has invested at flea markets, on the Internet and at game stores building his collection, it begs the question: Would he trade them all to have his beloved Buck return to him?
After a long pause, Cooper answers with a grin, "Well, Buck is in doggie paradise now, and it would be wrong and selfish of me to ask for him back."
Game Time
Classic 8-bit Nintendo has gamer Mark Cooper hooked -- he owns nearly 500 cartridges
The Herald Dispatch (West Virginia)
By Randy Snyder
June 13, 2004
As yard sale season rolls around, were bound see discount tables chock full of gray Nintendo game cartridges. Though most of these will be available dirt cheap, one 28-year-old from the Tri-State will look at others trash as a trove of classic gaming treasure.
Chesapeake resident Mark Coopers beloved hobby actually sprang from the loss of a beloved pet. When his dog Buck passed on, a young Cooper was given a Nintendo Entertainment System to attempt to ease his grieving.
"When I saw Super Mario Bros., I couldnt believe how advanced it was," said a chuckling Cooper. "When Mario jumped, it was just so realistic. My little 12-year-old mind couldnt comprehend how much of a leap it was between the Atari and the NES."
When Cooper made his way to college and was introduced to Internet auction site eBay, the video game fan became a collector. To date, he has amassed more than 450 titles for the Nintendo Entertainment System alone. At one point, he had six NES systems operating simultaneously (not to mention nearly 30 controllers), so friends could indulge in Coopers Nintendo wealth.
Not one to discriminate, Cooper also tracks down video game consoles from other generations. He has more than 15 systems in his arsenal now, with a healthy library of games for each. He somehow found time in the middle of all that gaming to graduate from Marshall University with a degree in journalism advertising.
Coopers roommate, Michael Sullivan, is fine with his friends hobby, as long as it keeps him out of trouble.
"Everybody has to have something. He doesnt drink to excess, he doesnt take illicit drugs that I know of. Plus, it keeps him occupied," joked Sullivan, "I dont have to sit around and entertain him."
Despite his massive collection, Cooper is able to quickly pick his favorite title: NES game "Blaster Master," the story of a boy, his tank and his quest to rescue his giant radioactive frog.
"Once every couple of months, Ill break it out and play through it, two hours, burned into my brain," Cooper said. "I could play that game with my eyes closed."
The attack patterns of enemies in "Blaster Master" arent the only thing that Cooper remembers when he picks up an NES controller.
"When I play Nintendo games, its like being a kid again, when all I had to worry about was what my mom was making me for lunch," Cooper said. "Now, I work a full-time job. I can come home, play some Nintendo, and it takes me back to the simpler days."
Cooper offered a strategy guide of sorts for people who might be looking to build their classic gaming collection and get their own nostalgia fix.
"Start with games you know you like, because youll get discouraged when you get the really bad games," Cooper said. "There are brands to look out for -- Sunsoft, Konami, Capcom -- all their games are pretty good. Check flea markets and eBay, you can find some good games there really cheap."
And Cooper even had good news for those of you who think your Nintendo is as dead as a mallard in "Duck Hunt."
The problem with a majority of nonworking NES systems is a malfunctioning 72-pin connector, which can be easily replaced for around $10. NES replacement parts can be found through eBay and classic gaming Web sites such as http://www.gamepart.com.
With the small fortune Cooper has invested at flea markets, on the Internet and at game stores building his collection, it begs the question: Would he trade them all to have his beloved Buck return to him?
After a long pause, Cooper answers with a grin, "Well, Buck is in doggie paradise now, and it would be wrong and selfish of me to ask for him back."