TJ Perkin's "Mega Man" Style Entrance at Clash of Champions

The "Urban" definition of swag has come to mean one who's full of style, conversely the traditional definition can also mean stolen goods, or "loot" to a thief. At WWE's Pay Per View Clash of Champions, Cruiser-weight Champion TJ Perkins unveiled a new entrance that had many references to various sub-cultures including Retro Gaming, "Sneaker heads" and Hip Hop. (I break it down after the jump)

Figure Collecting - A Breath of Fresh Air

In the next few weeks, there'll be more announcements to come! *hint

You ever get stuck in a rut? Doing the same thing repeatedly get stale? That's what collecting retro video games had done for me. Seeing the same games over and over, with only the prices changing (going up usually). Don't get me wrong, my friendships have really strengthened with Lester and Ian (my partners from my Thriftdweller channel) simply because retro game collecting gave us something to do. However, the time has come to do something different. Action figures and statues have opened a whole new world for me. There is a large community of figure collectors on YouTube with vast amounts of resources. I feel reinvigorated, like a breath of fresh air.


I have taken to this figure collecting with vigor and motivation. There'll be more announcements in the days and weeks to come. For now, here's a list of channels I've taken a shine to recently and recommend to anyone interested in the action figure community.

Shartimusprime
Pixel Dan
Anthony's Customs
Optibotimus

New Replacement Covers by Nate

So here's a run of some more replacement covers I made for loose games I have and couldn't find covers for online. I've gone more "textless" covers inspired by Magic The Gathering cards.  Feel free to use them if you wish! Thanks for reading!

Click here for my other replacement covers! =D

More Covers after the jump!

Back To Back Pickup Video Blogs - Thriftdweller

Lester and I are back for summer Thriftdweller. We took a break from the video blogs but came back with 2 pickup videos back to back! Check it out! =D

MetroCity Pickups 10

Over a month worth of pickups in over 15 action packed minutes! Some great retro video game finds!

MetroCity Pickups 11

A small but dope video of some great TD finds and I unveil a new video game shelf! =D

Custom Video Game Covers - Cheap Man's Collecting!

Want to get cheap games? Keep an eye out for "loose" disc games. For whatever reason, loose disc games are really cheap, usually $1 at garage sales.... and I usually talk it down being a true Thriftdweller!  I made a step by step how to guide for you to check out how to make your own reproduction video game covers! =D

Can you guess which my games are replica covers and which are real? 

Custom Action 52 Cover by Nate

A custom Action 52 cover I made by google-ing some pictures. I made this cover to fit standard Sega Genesis cases. I found the manual and cartridge for Action 52 at a garage sale last summer. Can't wait to get this printed! Feel free to download this cover for your own personal use! I don't own any of this stuff!

Click here to get back to custom cover gallery

A Thriftdweller Classic Video Pick

For those who don't know, I have a video blog called "Thriftdweller" with by best friend Lester. One of the perks of making a journal or video blog is that you can look back at how silly we were at our younger age. Granted it was only 2 years ago, I still invite you to check out some of my personal favourite videos! 

Da Vlog - Sailor Moon
Lester (co-blogger/best friend) and I used to have a video blog series called "Da Vlog" in season 2 of Thriftdweller. In this episode I end up singing Sailor Moon for some reason during our regular thrift store hunting! Check it out!

This Week's Pick Up Video

On this week's pickup video from my video blog Thriftdweller, we review all the finds of the week guest starring 64BitMatthew (a fellow YouTube blogger) and Ian Beardman from Thriftdweller! Check it out!

Lunch Time Sketches - Faxanadu

Inspired from the game Faxanadu by Hudson Soft. I still don't know what that sword REALLY is? 

This posts' sketch was inspired by Hudson Soft's FAXANADU

When I was in university, I used to sketch on breaks to just take my mind off the craxy-ness of the hospital. I did this a lot and usually just thew them away. I started doing this again since my work really does drive me nuts, this helps keep me balanced and lets me work on some sketching skills, only instead of throwing them away, I'll snap some pics for the blog! =D

Any requests, feel free to drop them in the comments or message me on facebook! =D

The Deku Mask Part 3 - Painting and Final Touches

The final part to finish your Deku mask. Remember, I'm just showing what I did and i encourage you to google other masks or put your own touches to make this mask your own! Now I present- The home stretch!

Bringing it to life! 

My Worst Predictions Ever!

"From the mouth of babes"
While cleaning my video game closet, I couldn't help but giggle when I found an old wrestling magazine and remembered when I was a child, I thought "Essa Rios is going to be the next big thing". Needless to say, that never happened, in fact I had some really dumb predictions growing up, everything from wrestling to video games. It inspired me to share my Top 5 Worst Predictions Ever!

The next big thing in wrestling ladies and gents! =D

"The Warriors" for X-Box by Nate

Since I couldn't find a cover for my X-Box version of "The Warriors" I made my own. Feel free to download and use this one for your self. This was pieced together from a PS2 version and an x-box template. Thanks for reading! =D

The Deku Mask Part 1 - Paper Mache Time

This is the first step I'll be walking you through to make your own Deku Mask inspired from The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, one of my favourite games of all time! 

You can build your own Deku Mask to wear or a wall display like this!

Remember in grade school doing Paper Mache? Well, we're going to kick it up a notch! In part 1 we're going from scratch to the base you'll need to crave out the Deku Mask. 

Mental Block and SCAT

I've grown up very "right brained", somewhat of an abstract mind and very obsessive too. I like being creative, so when I get stuck, you can imagine how difficult it would be for me to move on to anything else until I over come a mental block. 

One tool I've learned to do is "scat sing" mentally. All you sickos who think what I think you're thinking, gross! But for the good minded, scat sining is a jazz inspired form of expression, it's wordless. You make sounds to music, let your soul speak! Here's a clip from Chapelle Show that's a good example. 

Aerosmith lead singer Steven Tyler use to "scat" when coming up with songs, that's how "Dude looks like a lady" came from! I guess this is my way of saying "brainstorm"! There are no wrong answer on brainstorming! Lester and I throw ideas back and fourth all the time! This has proven to be a valuable tool!

-Nate is watching RAW IS WAR

"come on be my baby tonight!"

Happy Hunting to my Collectors!

Man, these transformer toys are really speaking to me! I am going transformer hunting for the first time ever this week end! I can't wait! Do YOU have any goals for collecting in 2014? New hobbies? Milestones for your current collecting??

Best of luck in 2014!

Nate is Thrift-dwelling!
-Happy Picker-ing

The Retro Video Game YouTube Community

I really started my "online" persona on YouTube as "Thriftdweller Nate". I made videos for a loose community of Retro Video Game Collectors. Now a days there's probably thousands of retro video game channels when back there I bet there was only a few hundred it feels like.

Not only did I get to interact with other like minded people, I've actually met up with a few (in real life), like 64BitMatthew, or "Matt" in real life. I totally found him randomly and noticed he had a locally relevant shirt! So I messaged him and some how we met up in Winnipeg. Since then we've had many game hunting days in Winnipeg, I've visited his town and I've even had the pleasure of hosting his family at my place for dinner.

This might be an extension to my "game hunting - more than games" post a few days ago, but it's cool to see how this community has grown outside of YouTube to Facebook, Blogs (like this one) and even twitter. I enjoy interacting with these peeps! Who knew there was so many retro game collectors? Check out Matt's latest PICKUP video where he mentions out latest game hunting trip.

"I asked my old boss once, what the secret to success was? "Network" he said" -Nate

-Nate is gonna sleep... ZZZ

GameHunting - More than Just Games

GameHunting - The act of physically searching for video games (usually at Thrift Store, Pawn Shops and Flea Marekts)
I was out with the Beardman for a long over due game hunting day. I noticed funny enough, most of our time wasn't spent on video games itself (aside from looking for games for 64BitMatthew) Got me thinking, what is truly important during game hunting?

A video from the last "Ian and Nate" game hunting day! =D

In retrospect, video game collecting has taken me to places I never expected. I've strengthened my old friendships (cheese), made new friends, took video game road trips and even risked harm all in the name of "Hunting". It's the time in between the games when I laughed the most...

YES! It's in the Press! =D

RetroGamersWinnipeg is my local online fan group. Our mandate is to host video game events and support Winnipeg!

CHEESE! Check out the full article, CLICK HERE!

Thanks to my good buddy Kyle for writing an article and getting us some exposure online on WinnipegIsNerdy.com. I'm very pleased on how the article turned out! It's cool to think this started as an idea talking with Alex, Matt and Ed every time we met at PNP Games (official event and group sponsor!). I'm We're actually doing it!I believe that Retro Video Gamers are some of the nicest people I've ever met. That was the inspiration to start this group and event, to direct that passion and do some good for Winnipeg. I hope the April 5th Event #RetroHeartsWinnipeg is the first step and we can do bigger and better things for Winnipeg.

"Own your day!" -The Rock
-Nate is happy!

Pushing Max Capacity

RetroHeartsWinnipeg is my retro video game charity event, April 5 2014

RetroGamersWinnipeg is my local online retro video game fan group 

Pushing max capacity, that’s what every promoter wants to hear. If you’ve followed my blog you know I recently and surprisingly found myself in the position of a (retro) “video game promoter”. I admitted, there was some pressure, but it was the good kind! Not only am using my passion (retro video games) to do some good for Winnipeg, I get to geek out with some awesome people (the RetroGamersWinnipeg Planning Committee).

Can you find Ed? It's like where's Waldo!

Why the heck is there "dates" on the pictures! =(
Jana and Dan helping us scout the venue for  RetroHeartsWinnipeg

The group’s been getting a lot of vendor table requests recently. So today a few of us had to check out the RetroHeartsWinnipeg venue today to determine maximum vendor tables. Shout Out to Jana for using her keen eye in helping us determine the max  capacity of 20 – 22 vendor tables. It would be a dream to sell out vendor tables… and therein is our goal!  Also, thank you to every member of the RGW Planning Committee for all their hard work!

20 Vendors! To the Max!

Find your heart and follow your passion!

-Nate is Dragon Crown-ing

Attracting Vendors

RetroGamersWinnipeg is Nate's video game convention and charity project

Ed (RetroGamersWinnipeg Group Coordinator) and myself have to visit the venue for our April charity event Retro Hearts Winnipeg to see how many vendors we can have max... that's right, max!!! We'll also be visiting potential sponsors next Monday but also we'll be starting to hunt for more Vendors.

A flyer I made to add to the vendor's packets we're handing out!

-Nate is Vendor and Sponsor Hunting now!