Gaming Historian

Howdy folks. It's been awhile. Life is good and I'm working on a new video. Stay tuned!

3 months ago | [YT] | 4,962

Gaming Historian

"The Story of The Oregon Trail" recently hit 1 million views!


Thanks to everyone who watched. I'm really proud of that one.

9 months ago | [YT] | 928

Gaming Historian

Hello everyone,

For the past few weeks, I’ve been on break, unwinding from the chaos of getting this Oregon Trail video done. I have to admit, it has been nice. I’ve played some video games (for fun, not research!), I worked on some tasks around the house (my air conditioner needed a cleaning real bad), I’ve gone on long walks with my wife, Kristin, and I picked up woodworking projects I had abandoned a few months ago.

During this time I’ve also been reflecting on my life and thinking about the future of this show. While I still enjoy making the show, it consumes most of my life. Whenever I finish up a big project the immediate thought in my head is - “Ok…next video.” I’d like to get back to that feeling of wanting to make a video rather than having to make a video.

There are also other things I’d like to pursue and accomplish, and I don’t feel that is possible while making a YouTube show full-time. So I’ve made the tough decision to take a step back from Gaming Historian. Nothing sinister, I just felt like it was time.

Because I will no longer be producing the show full-time, I will be shutting down my Patreon. I first launched the Patreon back in 2015, when I made Gaming Historian my full-time job. It was a huge help toward not only financial security, but elevating the production level of my content. But since YouTube will no longer be my full-time career, I’m not comfortable collecting donations anymore.

If you’d like to continue to support the show, the best way you can is to simply watch the videos on YouTube! I also plan to stream on Twitch from time to time, so I hope you’ll pop in and say hello. (www.twitch.tv/gaminghistorian)

So what will I do with my new free time? I’m going to keep improving my woodworking. I’m planning on visiting my family more often. I’d like to finish my masters degree. I’m also co-hosting a history/comedy podcast with my wife, Kristin, something we have wanted to do for a long time. It's called An Old Timey Podcast - check it out if you're interested! (audioboom.com/channels/5130139-an-old-timey-podcas…. Fair Warning: It's not family-friendly like this show.

I do want to make one thing clear: Gaming Historian is not going away. I’ll still be working on videos. But it will go back to being what it was when I started the show 16 years ago - a hobby that I work on in my spare time.

Thank you all again for your support over the years.

And, as always… thanks for watching!


- Norm

1 year ago (edited) | [YT] | 9,107

Gaming Historian

Hi!

I'm currently in the middle of working on what may be my longest video yet. But it dawned on me recently that I forgot to celebrate the 1 million subscriber milestone for this channel.

So, I'd like to take a moment and say thank you. I started working on The Gaming Historian in March of 2008. Back then, I was going through college and working full-time. And in all of my spare time, I worked on this show. And it really was trial by fire. I had no idea how to research, write, film, edit, or anything.

15 years later, in March of 2023, the channel hit 1 million subscribers. And the show has come such a long way. So again…thank you. I would not be in this position without you all.

Before I go, I want to leave you all with this: One of my favorite essays about history was written in 1931 by a historian named Carl Becker. It's called "Everyman His Own Historian.”

In the essay, Becker says that everyone, the "Mr. Everyman," knows some history because history is simply the memory of things said and done. And every single one of us has our own unique memories that shape us and make us who we are and who we want to be.

So when you are recalling with your friends how you and your brother stayed up all night trying to beat Emerald Weapon in Final Fantasy VII - that’s history.

Or when you are going through storage and stumble across your old NES and remember opening it on Christmas Day in 1989 - that’s history too!

So, if everyone knows history, why are historians even a thing? My job is to help you connect with the past - by gathering facts, interpreting them, and telling a story. It's to help you find new meanings in your memories. Facts alone can't do that. As Becker stated, "Left to themselves, facts do not speak….History in this sense is story, in aim always a true story.”

You can't spell "history" without "story." And I hope the stories I've been able to share with you over the last 15 years have allowed you to find new meanings in your video game memories.

Thank you all again for this amazing accomplishment - and thanks for watching!

2 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 19,279

Gaming Historian

I'm auctioning off a very rare item: The North American Sega Genesis Mini "Tower of Power."

This item was only sent to select members of the media as a promotion for the launch of the Genesis Mini.

100% of the proceeds go to the Video Game History Foundation!

Good luck!

ebay.com/itm/305018401575

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2 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 1,465

Gaming Historian

A new video is now live! Unfortunately, YouTube isn't notifying people about it. First time this has happened to me. So hopefully people see this message. Hello? Is anyone out there?

4 years ago | [YT] | 559

Gaming Historian

New video tomorrow, 12pm CST. My longest video of the year (so far)

4 years ago | [YT] | 2,091

Gaming Historian

new video tomorrow, 12:30pm CST

4 years ago | [YT] | 1,518

Gaming Historian

New video tomorrow, 12:30PM CST.

Patreon subscribers can watch it now! www.patreon.com/gaminghistorian

4 years ago | [YT] | 2,083

Gaming Historian

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

Everything in the Gaming Historian Gift Shop is 20% off! Pick up a t-shirt or bullet journal for that special gamer in your life. Grandma will go crazy for this stuff!

thegaminghistorian.com/shop/

5 years ago | [YT] | 1,251