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An audiovisual mixtape of intersections

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Photo of American alternative metal band Deftones playing PS2. (year & photographer unknown)

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The OG Microsoft Xbox launched in Japan 22 years ago today.

To promote the launch of the console, as well as the redesigned controller to the Japanese gaming industry, Microsoft created ads featuring its co-founder and then CEO Bill Gates holding a hamburger in one hand and the new Xbox controller in the other. These ads were supposedly placed in the eating area at the Tokyo Game Show in 2001.

Many credit the commercial failure of the Xbox to a culturally insensitive business approach, perfectly highlighted by the print ad.

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How StarCraft contributed to the San Antonio Spurs winning the ’99 NBA Championship:

A group of players, including two Hall of Famers Tim Duncan and David Robinson, as well as Malik Rose, and Sean Elliott, dubbed by other teammates as the “IBM Gang,” were united by a love for video games. After Elliott introduced his teammates to StarCraft, the group would be seen playing together often, especially while traveling together for away games.

The video footage shows Duncan, Robinson, Rose and Elliott playing 2v2 StarCraft in their hotel while on the road during their ‘99 NBA Finals run against the New York Knicks. After the Spurs beat the Knick in Game 5 in New York, the players passed the time on the flight with, you guessed it, more StarCraft.

Regarding the game’s impact on the team, Malik Rose was quoted once saying “Anytime you spent that much time together, all together, it makes you more fond of one another and made you closer.”

The Spurs claimed the franchise's first-ever championship in a five-game series against the New York Knicks, winning Game 5 on the road at Madison Square Garden. Tim Duncan won his first of three total Finals MVP trophies during this series--after winning Rookie of the Year only one year prior in '98--marking the beginning of the "Big Fundamental's" reign in the league.

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Rare sneakers given out to Microsoft employees who worked on the launch of the original Xbox. (2001)

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Patina of old Nintendo consoles 🎨

But what causes these consoles to change to a yellow-brownish hue over time?

For manufacturing, Nintendo uses a rugged and durable plastic called ABS, which is treated with flame-retardant chemicals in order to meet safety guidelines. Over time, the plastic will show signs of discoloration both because of these flame-retardant chemicals but also from the heat generated by the internal components, as well as exposure to sunlight (UV). The discoloration is more visible on the NES and SNES due to the lighter color of the plastic, rather the darker plastic used for the N64 and GameCube.

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PlayStation racecar liveries.

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Blanket-lined Carhartt denim chore coat with appliqué from 1998 Nintendo bedsheets created by Green Acre Exchange. 🍄⭐️

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The Real Maestro: A modern short story in 7 parts

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Blizzard’s official company Christmas card from ‘99 by Samwise Didier, art director for flagship games of the Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo franchises. Blizzard was known for printing and sending out these cards to friends, family, and selected fansites.

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The Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) turns 19 today as it was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004. Sony’s latest “handheld console,” the PlayStation Portal, which essentially a remote control for your PS5, left a lot of fans yearning for a worthy successor to the PSP and Vita.

Will we see a true new PSP generation be released for the 20th anniversary next year? Probably not but let us dream a little..

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Take me back… 🥹

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In the early 90’s, French football club FC Martigues were sponsored by British video game company Ocean, leading to one of the most iconic football kits of all time. Ocean launched their Jurassic Park game for SNES in 1993—the same year the movie released in theaters—and selected the newly promoted Ligue 1 club to promote the game on their home and away kits during the 1993-94 season.

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GTA 6 Deluxe Version cover leaked..

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American rapper Destroy Lonely, who’s signed to Playboi Carti’s Opium label and recently released his debut studio album “If Looks Could Kill,” openly shares his love for video in recent interviews with On The Radar and Hypebeast.

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Wisdom Wednesday💡🧠

Quote via an NPC trainer in Pokémon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald (2002)

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Today marks the two-year anniversary of Virgil Abloh’s tragic passing. On paper Virgil was an Illinois-born artist, architect, and fashion designer but in reality he was so much more. A world changer. Abloh shifted a whole generation through his catalogue of work and contributions, always being “open source” about his work, and leaving behind artifacts such as his “Free Game” resource or his iconic talks in order to spread knowledge and open doors for others. A true student, turned teacher, turned master that found a way to unite the various disciplines into one cohesive cultural fabric.

As quoted in VOGUE, Virgil was greatly inspired by his Nintendo days in the late 80s. Screenshots and video from the OFFKAT video game experience, which was released as part of the collaboration between Abloh’s fashion label Off-White and legendary graffiti writer and artist KATSU. Also pictured is his 2019 all-green Lower East Side pop up which featured his signature model-mannequin playing on a tonal PS4.

LONG LIVE VIRGIL 9/30/80 - 11/28/21 ✨✨🕊️✨✨