Before many families had Nintendo or Sega consoles in their homes, another piece of technology was helping shape home gaming.
An interactive computer museum at Saskatchewan Retro Game Con gave visitors in Moose Jaw a chance to sit down and use some of that early technology themselves.
Bruno Scharf brought a collection of working vintage computers to the convention, turning what had been a personal collection into a hands-on exhibit.
“This station’s gone from a collection that needed to have a purpose beyond just re-hoarding old technology in my basement,” Scharf said.
“I’ve always enjoyed this sort of equipment, bringing it back to life, making it new again, and I want to just help spread that enjoyment for other people.”
Retro TV’s and games (photo credit: Calum McAnally).
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One of many game tournaments (photo credit: TJ England).
Beyond retro consoles
Scharf said visitors at retro gaming events may expect to encounter older Nintendo and Sega systems, but vintage home computers are less likely to come to mind.
“I thought it’d be a very unique thing to bring in,” he said. “People have been enjoying it.”
One of the most popular machines at his display over the weekend was the Commodore VIC-20.
Scharf said the computer was running a game released in 2018, demonstrating that interest in vintage hardware hasn’t necessarily disappeared as the equipment has aged.
At a previous event, he had also brought an Apple II running The Oregon Trail, although the machine wasn’t able to make the trip to Moose Jaw this time.
For Scharf, the computers represent a part of video game history that can sometimes be overshadowed by consoles.
“Before we had home game consoles like the NES, or even the Atari VCS, we had, in 1977, the first home computers coming out from Radio Shack, Commodore, Apple,” he said.
“Really, those first games meant to be played at home versus in the arcade were on home computers.”
Retro gaming systems museum.
Local gamers offer another way to play
Elsewhere at the convention, Moose Jaw Gamers provided another hands-on gaming area with video game systems and board games.
The group’s setup included Nintendo 64 and other consoles, along with a collection of tabletop games.
“If you don’t know how to play them, we’re more than happy to play with you, help you learn,” said a representative with Moose Jaw Gamers.
The organization also hosts its annual GAX gaming convention in Moose Jaw, which raises money for children’s charities.
“This is our second year coming here, so we were very happy for the invite back,” the representative said of Saskatchewan Retro Game Con.
Scharf said bringing vintage computers into that broader mix helps preserve a different chapter of the industry’s history.
“I find it an aspect that doesn’t get remembered nearly as fondly, or as actively, as consoles do.”
GAX information.
