By Robert Frasure (Updated 3/6/25)
If you’ve ever called yourself a “retrogamer” or spent hours hunting down a pristine NES cartridge, you’ve likely felt the pull of gaming’s golden age—a passion I, helped fuel through RetroGames. Back in July 1996, alongside my partners at Turbo Zone Direct (a Hudson Soft/NEC joint venture), I launched RetroGames, adopting and popularizing the term “retrogaming” through our pioneering online store which connected with thousands of gamers a week globally, it’s become a phrase that’s since become a cornerstone of gaming culture.
The RetroGames Vision
It all started in the mid-’90s. Gaming was exploding—PlayStation and Nintendo 64 were rewriting the rules with 3D graphics and CD-ROMs. But for me, the real magic was in the past: the Atari 2600s, Sega Master Systems, and those chunky arcade cabinets we’d pump quarters into. I wasn’t alone, plenty of us felt a pull back to those simpler, pixelated days. I wanted to build something around that nostalgia, a business that celebrated gaming’s roots.
I was working for Turbo Zone Direct at the time, a crew deep in the mail-order gaming scene, staffed by former NEC, Hudson Soft, and TTI members. They were still publishing games and supporting systems. We kicked around names – “Flashback Games” was my first pick, but it was taken. Then it hit me: “RetroGames.” “Retro” had a fresh flair to it, paired with “games”, it was clean, catchy, and captured the vibe perfectly. In September 1996, we launched RetroGames as an online store on GeoCities.com (partially to avoid NEC’s attention, as they didn’t want thier systems sold or repaired), selling classic consoles, cartridges, and accessories.
While I didn’t know it at the time, the term “retrogaming” had appeared earlier – in a February 1995 NextGen magazine article. But it was through RetroGames that the term gained traction. I wanted to define a mindset, not just a name, but a way to describe the love for old-school play. With some former NEC/TurboGrafx staff helping raise this business from the ground, we made waves.
From Niche to Buzzword
RetroGames took off fast. By early 1997, we were shipping worldwide, feeding a hunger for titles like Bonk, Super Mario Bros., and Sonic the Hedgehog. We were also repairing systems with my overworked staff. Customers started using “retrogaming” in emails and calls like, “Hey, I’m into retrogaming, got any Nintendo, Sega, or TurboGrafx-16 stuff?” It wasn’t planned; it just stuck. Online, it spread like wildfire. Usenet groups like rec.games.video.classic were already buzzing about “classic” games, but “retrogaming” gave it a sharper edge, a banner to rally under-amplified by our daily interactions with thousands of gamers across the country.
By the early 2000s, the term was everywhere. Forums, fan sites, and even print zines picked it up. When RetroGames hit its stride, other outfits—think Digital Press and later GameStop’s retro sections—started leaning into the same vibe. I’d see “retrogaming” on sites I had no hand in, and it felt surreal. Our little joint initiative with Turbo Zone Direct had helped spark something bigger than us.
The Explosion: A Term Takes Over
Look at gaming now. “Retrogaming” isn’t just a niche it’s a juggernaut.
Look at gaming now. “Retrogaming” isn’t just a niche—it’s a juggernaut. You’ve got Retro Gamer magazine (launched 2004), YouTube channels dissecting Atari 7800 glitches, and million-dollar auctions for sealed Zelda carts. Companies like Nintendo rerelease NES Classics, and indie devs churn out pixel-perfect throwbacks. The term’s so baked into the culture that it’s practically synonymous with gaming’s golden age. Google “retrogaming” today, and you’ll see thousands of hits, from podcasts to TikTok collectors. That’s wild to me, knowing RetroGames played a key role in its rise.
RetroGames X
RetroGames isn’t just a memory, it’s alive on retrogamesx.com. X for eXchange, X for eXperience. Turbo Zone Direct and I helped kick off a revolution, and everyone continues to benefit as long as gamers contribute to its legacy. RetroGamesX will help this vision endure.
Turbo Zone Direct and I kicked off a revolution and everyone will continue to benefit as long as we as gamers can contribute to its legacy.
So next time you’re thumbing a D-pad or blowing dust off a cartridge, know RetroGames owes part of its popularity to a dream shared with Turbo Zone Direct back in ’96. The evidence? It’s in the culture, the archives, and the passion still driving this scene. Stick around, this story’s got more levels to play.