Welcome to this week’s GenXGrownUp Insider! We’re digging into vintage electronic baseball, taking Snoopy back to the Atari 2600, sharing a clever Punch-Out!! secret, and highlighting a serious arcade control setup for home. We’ve also got two new livestreams this week and the final winner in our Pac-Man watch giveaway.

Long before handheld sports games had slick graphics and licensed rosters, this 1979 electronic baseball game squeezed an entire matchup into a field of glowing red lights. We dust it off, step up to the plate, and put its unusual two-player action to the test to see whether this vintage slugger can still knock one out of the park.

Snoopy climbs aboard his doghouse and takes to the skies in this late-era Atari 2600 release. With colorful visuals, falling treats, and a clever gameplay twist, it makes a strong first impression—but is that one good idea enough to keep the Flying Ace airborne?

Last week, you magnificent mavericks sent our ad clicks soaring, and for one brief moment, the GXG newsletter budget escaped the danger zone. But we’re not quite flying at full speed yet. When you spot an ad, give it a quick click—no purchase required and no flight training necessary. Every click helps keep the newsletter and other GXG projects in the air, so lock on, fire that index finger, and do not leave our accountants as your wingmen.

Jon is heading back into Retro Rewind for another live trip through gaming’s past. He’s played this one before, but a good rewind is always worth another spin—especially when there are more retro challenges to tackle, old-school surprises to rediscover, and plenty of opportunities for things to go gloriously off the rails. Join him live Tuesday, July 21!

George is jumping back into CULTIC this Thursday night to tackle the next installment of its grimy, cultist-infested nightmare. Expect more old-school FPS action, questionable survival decisions, and at least one carefully considered plan that falls apart almost immediately. Join us live July 23 as George keeps pushing deeper into the darkness.

Having trouble stopping Bald Bull’s devastating charge in Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!? Keep your eyes on the crowd. Just before he reaches Little Mac, a spectator’s camera flashes—throw a body blow at that exact moment and you can knock the charging giant straight to the canvas. Apparently, the game’s most helpful boxing coach was some guy in the cheap seats with a flashbulb.

Not every retro gaming story can make the main lineup, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth a quick shout-out. Here are a few extra headlines from the past week that caught our attention, sparked our curiosity, or were just too interesting to leave behind.

Virtual arcades are great—right up until you’re swinging your hands at buttons that aren’t actually there. The X-Arcade Tankstick VR brings real joysticks, arcade buttons, and a precision trackball into VR while also working with PC, Steam Deck, and traditional big-screen setups. It’s a hefty, flexible way to give modern gaming the tactile arcade feel it’s been missing.

You know Jon as a nostalgic retro nerd, thrift hunter, and YouTube creator, but you may not know he’s also a fan of cryptids. From Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster to the Chupacabra and beyond, Jon loves diving into the stories, sightings, and mysteries surrounding creatures that might—or might not—be lurking just beyond the edge of what we know.

Our last Pac-Man Gaming Watch has officially found a home—congratulations to Ray Z! That wraps up our Pac-Man Day giveaway series, and we want to thank everyone who entered, subscribed, and joined the fun each week. The ghosts may still be chasing, but this contest has officially reached the end of the maze. Thanks to Fizz Creations for sponsoring the contest!

Want to meet us in person? We’ll be listing our upcoming convention appearances and live event stops here, so keep an eye out for where GenXGrownUp will be popping up next.