Then, I remembered that I have access to DALL-E 3 image generation with my ChatGPT Plus subscription. I spent the evening seeing if I could generate photographs of that Christmas morning. Some of my image generation prompts didn’t yield a great image, but over the course of an hour messing around with generating vintage photos, I realized that I was creating false memories. The sophisticated AI model was adding random details to the images, and then I was remembering them.

The first image was quite remarkable. I will share the prompt and the output.

It's 1986. My mom has an old camera with 35mm film. She took a photo of Christmas morning. We got an NES. Gift wrap was everywhere. A few Nintendo game boxes were there. She developed the film a few weeks later and put the photograph in an album, where it yellowed. Create this photograph.

Whoa. That’s pretty amazing for the first try at it. I started remembering the accessories that we got with the Nintendo. But, we didn’t get any accessories, save those hook-ups for the television. Let me try again.

It’s definitely a strange image. It is picking up on the word boxes and adding some weird elements to the photo, as you can see. But, somehow, I remember that gold tinsel on our tree. At this point, I am not sure if I really remember that detail or not, but it really feels like we had that gold tinsel wrapping our Christmas tree. My prompt doesn’t specify that it was in the living room; the AI model made a good assumption, but the detail is “made up” nonetheless. Let me get more specific.

It's 1986. My mom has an old camera with 35mm film. She took a photo of Christmas morning when we got an NES. Gift wrap was everywhere. I remember a tree with some handmade ornaments and gold tinsel. We had a huge Sears television in the living room. She developed the film a few weeks later and put the photograph in an album, where it yellowed. Create this photograph.

O.M.G. This is starting to look exactly like I remember that morning with my two brothers. Looking at the made-up photo helped me remember other details. DALL-E 3 added that the TV was on a stand and some paintings were on the wall. My dad was obsessed with Bob Ross in the 1980s, and he painted a few paintings by following along with the Bob Ross painting show on PBS. This is weird. I am using AI to generate photographs, and the AI is filling in details that I am not supplying. Each iteration is giving me certain clues and filling in my memory. I just remembered a candy dish that my mom had in the living room and also a hot water heat register.

It's 1986. My mom has an old camera with 35mm film. She took a photo of Christmas morning when we got an NES. Gift wrap was everywhere. I remember a tree with some handmade ornaments and gold tinsel. We had a huge Sears television in the living room. We had a candy dish on the coffee table and a hot water register. She developed the film a few weeks later and put the photograph in an album, where it yellowed. Create this photograph.

DALL-E 3 is now adding some extreme detail as I add more information to the prompt. It is making reasonable leaps and filling in the gaps. The strange thing is how abstract a photo is. To me, I can encapsulate an entire photograph with a feeling. But a photo has a lot of detail in it. Carpet, wallpaper, window treatments, type of coffee table, type of TV, color of the bowl, arrangement of the items, the number of subjects, color of wood, the grain of the wood, the couch, the frame on the painting, the exact colors of the painting, ….

Maybe it was a Polaroid.

This last one is a lot like what I remember. We did have a VCR. We also had a dedicated VHS tape rewinder.

Here’s what I learned tonight. Something is very weird about using AI to help recreate a memory. And meaning and feeling are strange things. They can abstract many parts of an actual photograph. As I leaf through my old photo albums, I am not storing the photographs in my memory; I am recalling the feeling that got captured Also, generating AI images of the memory added details to my own memory. At this point, I am not sure what’s real and what’s not.

Let’s go with this last one as my actual photo that I couldn’t find. I should put a copy of this photo in an album for my son to find. Will he notice that I not only got one NES, but I got a second huge one?

It's 1986. My mom has a Polaroid camera. She took a photo on Christmas morning when we got an NES. Gift wrap was everywhere. I remember a tree with some handmade ornaments and gold tinsel. On the wood paneling, there was a mountain and lake painting and family photos. We had a huge Sears television in the living room. The TV is off. We had a candy dish on the coffee table and a hot water heater register. She put the photograph in an album, where it yellowed. She wrote, in cursive, Christmas 1986 on the white part of the Polaroid photo. Create this photograph.

I attempted to solve this problem by making vinyl letters on my Cricut vinyl cutter for the A, B, X, and Y buttons that are bright white and extra large. I took out my calipers and measured the buttons. They outside diameter is 3cm. I turned to the Cricut design software and typed out the letters in a nice square font. I hit make… and well it was close.

Hmm. My first attempt was off. If you are following along at home, I squared the circle instead of finding the largest square to fit in the circle. Rookie mistake. After let’s call it a test print, I also noticed that the 3DS was covered in a layer of grease. I cleaned it off with rubbing alcohol and then made some smaller letters.

With confidence in the math and a clean 3DS, I went ahead and cut out the rest of the letters. I tested them in low-light conditions. I am very happy with how the new button overlays turned out. The vinyl is stuck in place and has kept up with my play through of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

Have you upgraded your 3DS? Any tips for me to try?

Everything they said was true about this old New 3DS. Even in this condition, my introduction to the 3DS was glorious. After spending a month with this plucky gaming system, I now say without any sarcasm that the Nintendo 3DS is the greatest gaming console of all time.

Why?

Catalog of Games. The 3DS is the successor to the DS. The 3DS plays all of the new 3DS games plus the entire catalog of DS games. This means there are over 4,000 games to play and all of your Nintendo families of games are presented: Mario, Yoshi, Metroid, Castlevania, Donkey Kong, and Zelda.

Dual Screen, Clam Shell Design. The DS part of the name means dual screen. The 3DS is two screens: one big display for the main game action and one touch screen for inventory and finer controls. I have lived with the 3DS for a month. I fold it up and put it into my back pocket and flip it open to play some Zelda. I really feel the portable, real portability of the 3DS, is a key differentiator. The Switch is great, but I have never once put it in my pocket and carried it around. The new Steam Deck is even larger.

Gimmicks. The 3DS includes 3D graphics, AR, cameras, and a step counter. All of the extras work and have a purpose. The 3D is gorgeous and doesn’t require special glasses. The AR games are fun and their fun lasts as long as you need them to. The step counter is wonderfully integrated into certain games and encourages players to interact.

The Feels. My first console was the Nintendo Entertainment System and I have been hooked on the gameplay, characters, themes, and style. Nintendo is the complete package.

Zelda. Only Nintendo games systems have access to the Zelda franchise of games. I really love t these games. Nintendo usually makes a Zelda game for each new console. The game exploits the gimmicks of the system and everything works really well together. The Zelda games on the 3DS are masterpieces. And, when I posted on Twitter about taking on Ganon, I got confirmation.

So, should you buy a Nintendo 3DS in 2022? Yes. It is a great gaming system full of experiences. Prices for secondhand game systems are high right now. And, the eShop is no longer active. These are two cons at the moment. On Craigslist, I see 3DS systems going for the same price as Switch Lite consoles.

What’s next for me and the 3DS? I am going to finish The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, write a recap of my experience with that game, and refurbish my new old New 3DS.

Game on.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. I have been playing pinball for a very long time and watched the machines evolve quite a bit. I had two bars: 1) it had to feel like pinball and 2) it had to be fun. Metroid hit both bars and reset my expectations on where homebrew pinball could go. I spent a few hours playing Metroid Pinball, talking to Mark about pinball design, and going deep on the rules for his original game.

“I wanted to design a pinball game that I would never get tired of playing.”

Mark Seiden, Pinball Designer

I asked Mark about the metal ramps and rails. I asked, “Oh, did you have someone from the makerspace craft those for you?” Mark laughed and said, “No, I bent them and welded them myself.” This is the moment realized how crazy this was to see and play a homebrew pinball machine. It is a multidisciplinary endeavor. You have to know pinball, pinball game design, game flow, as well as, machining, 3D printing, troubleshooting, electronics, mechanics, sound design, video design, software engineering, and lighting control. Mark started Metroid Pinball years ago all the while sharing his experience live on Twitch, YouTube, Facebook, and on a Pinside topic thread.

Okay, the gameplay. This homebrew pinball machine is based on Nintendo’s Metroid. Metroid is my third favorite game franchise. Mario, Zelda, and Metroid are my favorite NES games, and Metroid is like a combo Mario and Zelda game. Mark’s pinball game captures the speed of Metroid, the feel of Metroid, and the map exploration of Metroid. The rules are deep. You can start the game in different modes, there are multiple skill shots, and there are many boss levels. There are some surprising features like a side flipper shot, under-the-playfield ball movement, and satisfying ramp shots.

This is a special time to be into pinball. I can’t believe what I am witnessing with the new games and innovations coming to the market and the rise of new pinball designers. It was truly an inspiring meet-up with Mark, and I appreciated seeing what he created in his basement.

Follow Mark Seiden’s epic journey on Pinside.

Update October 5, 2021: Mark Seiden Joins Jersey Jack Pinball

OMG. I just learned that Mark Seiden joined Jersey Jack Pinball as a full-time pinball game designer! The announcement was made on Jersey Jack Pinball’s Facebook page on October 5, 2021.

Congrats, Mark!

Update October 19, 2023: Mark Seiden Credited as Designer Apprentice on Elton John Pinball Machine by Steve Ritchie

Hall of Fame game designer Steve Ritchie, along with designer apprentice Mark Seiden, created a pinball experience that will delight casual players, collectors, and enthusiasts alike. The machine showcases Elton John’s legendary career through the inventiveness and quality synonymous with Jersey Jack Pinball. The machine features hand-drawn artwork packages from artists Christopher Franchi, John Youssi, and Jean-Paul De Win. Rules and software design were led by industry veteran Bill Grupp.

Update September 5, 2024: Mark Seiden Designs Avatar: The Battle for Pandora

I have been following Mark Seiden’s design journey since the early days of his live streams on Twitch to recent panels at Pintastic pinball conventions. Mark went from homebrew pinball game design to professional pinball game design at Jersey Jack Pinball. JPP is known for its over-the-top aesthetics, light shows, and theme integration. They have produced the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean pinball game, selling for over $20k US on the secondary market.

After a series of leaks and teases, we now know that Jersey Jack Pinball’s next release is Avatar: The Battle for Pandora, designed by Mark Seiden and featuring artwork by Lea Faske.

Jersey Jack Pinball has launched its latest creation, Avatar: The Battle for Pandora, and a new exclusive video offers fans a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this groundbreaking pinball machine. The video features in-depth interviews with the creative team, including lead designer Mark Seiden, and delves into the inspirations and innovative technologies that shape this unique gaming experience. The video highlights the game’s innovative features and explores why it’s a must-play for pinball enthusiasts and Avatar fans. It also presents the two available editions: the Limited Edition and the Collector’s Edition, each boasting exclusive artwork, bioluminescent effects, custom Na’vi armor, and striking LED toppers. This behind-the-scenes glimpse invites viewers to see how the magic of Avatar has been translated into the pinball world, offering an experience that promises to thrill players and captivate fans of the films. JJP lets Mark geek out on this video.

My happy place is playing Tecmo Bowl for the first time since 1989.