Marc Normandin
@marcnormandin.bsky.social
Newsletters on retro video games and sports labor, regular at Endless Mode (née Paste Games) and Baseball Prospectus. Editor at FOX Sports. he/him
https://retroxp.beehiiv.com
https://marcnormandin.com
https://www.endlessmode.com/author/marc-normandin
https://retroxp.beehiiv.com
https://marcnormandin.com
https://www.endlessmode.com/author/marc-normandin
Pinned
It's new to me: Mega Man IV
It took a few tries, but Capcom finally released a Game Boy Mega Man game that is good without any asterisks.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
Mega Man IV, or, the first proof we received that a Mega Man game on the Game Boy was allowed to be more fun than not.
The "posts a lot" label is not one I'm following, but I haven't seen a screenshot of someone with that label yet that includes anything but concerning posts
November 10, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The "posts a lot" label is not one I'm following, but I haven't seen a screenshot of someone with that label yet that includes anything but concerning posts
Mega Man IV, or, the first proof we received that a Mega Man game on the Game Boy was allowed to be more fun than not.
It's new to me: Mega Man IV
It took a few tries, but Capcom finally released a Game Boy Mega Man game that is good without any asterisks.
retroxp.beehiiv.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Mega Man IV, or, the first proof we received that a Mega Man game on the Game Boy was allowed to be more fun than not.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
This term is so social media-brained. Coined by people who can't imagine themselves without an audience, or that anyone could genuinely want to pass time in any other form than Stare at Phone
November 10, 2025 at 11:34 AM
This term is so social media-brained. Coined by people who can't imagine themselves without an audience, or that anyone could genuinely want to pass time in any other form than Stare at Phone
Reposted by Marc Normandin
The average boss: cold, ruthless, penalises you for getting sick, votes Conservative, shoots bullets from his mouth, probably a robot fish.
November 9, 2025 at 11:25 PM
The average boss: cold, ruthless, penalises you for getting sick, votes Conservative, shoots bullets from his mouth, probably a robot fish.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
I want to reiterate that gambling addiction is incredibly destructive and if you're trying to apply logic to it you likely won't find it. Addictions are irrational. Saying “I don't get why someone would do this” is applying non-addict thinking and it won't help you understand.
November 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
I want to reiterate that gambling addiction is incredibly destructive and if you're trying to apply logic to it you likely won't find it. Addictions are irrational. Saying “I don't get why someone would do this” is applying non-addict thinking and it won't help you understand.
So the prop bet thing wouldn't be right if these Cleveland relievers were paid more money for those balls but uh. Really? A few thousand bucks here and there and you're willing to risk it all? Clase was earning $4.9 million in 2025 before the leave, do some math there guys.
November 9, 2025 at 6:50 PM
So the prop bet thing wouldn't be right if these Cleveland relievers were paid more money for those balls but uh. Really? A few thousand bucks here and there and you're willing to risk it all? Clase was earning $4.9 million in 2025 before the leave, do some math there guys.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
"which touhou is that" i ask under any photo of a woman in a big hat
November 9, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"which touhou is that" i ask under any photo of a woman in a big hat
Okay I only had two beers but this post says Wisconsin won with their kicker leading in passing?
WISCONSIN beats No. 23 Washington 13-10.
Wisconsin's leading passer was its kicker, with one completion for 24 yards.
Wisconsin's leading passer was its kicker, with one completion for 24 yards.
November 9, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Okay I only had two beers but this post says Wisconsin won with their kicker leading in passing?
Craft beer and college have really changed since I was in school
November 9, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Craft beer and college have really changed since I was in school
Kate and I brought the kids to our one and only sports rivalry: Merrimack vs. BU. Hockey East, baby.
November 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Kate and I brought the kids to our one and only sports rivalry: Merrimack vs. BU. Hockey East, baby.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
"Beat em ups are button mashing quarter munchers, but this new one is really good because it's about learning and getting good" is the beat em up version of "Unlike other mecha shows, this one is about the characters."
November 8, 2025 at 9:09 AM
"Beat em ups are button mashing quarter munchers, but this new one is really good because it's about learning and getting good" is the beat em up version of "Unlike other mecha shows, this one is about the characters."
I just happened to set up 400 lbs. on the sled at the gym before seeing this clip. Inspiring.
November 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
I just happened to set up 400 lbs. on the sled at the gym before seeing this clip. Inspiring.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
SOCRATES: No god is a philosopher or seeker after wisdom, for he is wise already; nor does any man who is wise seek after wisdom.
PLATO: Neither do the ignorant seek after wisdom.
DARRYL, SOCRATES AND PLATO’S FRIEND: well well well if it isn’t the blowjob brothers
PLATO: Neither do the ignorant seek after wisdom.
DARRYL, SOCRATES AND PLATO’S FRIEND: well well well if it isn’t the blowjob brothers
November 8, 2025 at 1:45 AM
SOCRATES: No god is a philosopher or seeker after wisdom, for he is wise already; nor does any man who is wise seek after wisdom.
PLATO: Neither do the ignorant seek after wisdom.
DARRYL, SOCRATES AND PLATO’S FRIEND: well well well if it isn’t the blowjob brothers
PLATO: Neither do the ignorant seek after wisdom.
DARRYL, SOCRATES AND PLATO’S FRIEND: well well well if it isn’t the blowjob brothers
My "idk 10 basketball games in four days is a lot and I'd need a hotel" argument against the Big East women's tourney all-sessions package is maybe going to be overruled by "I turn 40 a few weeks later though happy birthday to me"
November 8, 2025 at 11:49 AM
My "idk 10 basketball games in four days is a lot and I'd need a hotel" argument against the Big East women's tourney all-sessions package is maybe going to be overruled by "I turn 40 a few weeks later though happy birthday to me"
Reposted by Marc Normandin
peoples beds broke like a week ago because the internet went out.
Ford wants you to stash it in your belt buckle, but there’s absolutely no need to be lugging around a bulky fob. Trouble is, phone-as-a-key tech could be superseded before it even gets going. www.wired.com/story/why-ar...
Why Are We All Still Carrying Around Car Keys?
Ford wants you to stash it in your belt buckle, but there’s absolutely no need to be lugging around a bulky fob. Trouble is, phone-as-a-key tech could be superseded before it even gets going.
www.wired.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:28 AM
peoples beds broke like a week ago because the internet went out.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
I love that the Boston cop slide never got fixed and now people just willingly go down it in tribute. It’s basically a national landmark at this point
November 8, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I love that the Boston cop slide never got fixed and now people just willingly go down it in tribute. It’s basically a national landmark at this point
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Tfw you’ve obtained the “Ham”
May 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Tfw you’ve obtained the “Ham”
Reposted by Marc Normandin
When you go into a film-licence Game Boy title expecting not much more than the usual action-platformer fare, and it instead slaps you about the face with a first-person adventure game with light RPG elements.
"Hah, take that! I'm cut from a different cloth!"
📺: DragonHeart, Torus Games, 1996
"Hah, take that! I'm cut from a different cloth!"
📺: DragonHeart, Torus Games, 1996
November 7, 2025 at 1:07 PM
When you go into a film-licence Game Boy title expecting not much more than the usual action-platformer fare, and it instead slaps you about the face with a first-person adventure game with light RPG elements.
"Hah, take that! I'm cut from a different cloth!"
📺: DragonHeart, Torus Games, 1996
"Hah, take that! I'm cut from a different cloth!"
📺: DragonHeart, Torus Games, 1996
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Pay to be there, pay to show games there, pay to watch, pay to advertise, pay to report on it, is anyone in this industry getting paid who isn't Geoff?
Game Awards: We're inviting less press and opening up seats to the public so that we (probably) can have a more engaged, excited audience for the camera and make more money
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
What the Game Awards thinks the public can afford:
I asked about Game Awards press tickets in October. Got an email yesterday encouraging me to buy my own, as there were no spares.
November 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Pay to be there, pay to show games there, pay to watch, pay to advertise, pay to report on it, is anyone in this industry getting paid who isn't Geoff?
Reposted by Marc Normandin
I can say with complete certainty that you will lose nothing by just ignoring The Game Awards. You do not need to give it any cultural power. It is purely a vehicle for marketing, and an ongoing insult to the people and craft we all take part in.
November 7, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I can say with complete certainty that you will lose nothing by just ignoring The Game Awards. You do not need to give it any cultural power. It is purely a vehicle for marketing, and an ongoing insult to the people and craft we all take part in.
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Mr. Mamdani I implore you to play Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana with great haste
November 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Mr. Mamdani I implore you to play Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana with great haste
Reposted by Marc Normandin
Gotta say, I’m not so confident that you do
November 7, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Gotta say, I’m not so confident that you do
Reposted by Marc Normandin
my latest is out for skybox!!! 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
Hamazaki Has To Goh - where does Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio draw the line on casting, and why is it not at sexual assault? by @ashlikeadragon.bsky.social
"it’s particularly insulting and disgusting for him to be cast in a series that has historically featured sex pests being (rightly) beat up"
Read on:
"it’s particularly insulting and disgusting for him to be cast in a series that has historically featured sex pests being (rightly) beat up"
Read on:
Hamazaki Has To Goh - where does Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio draw the line on casting, and why is it not at sexual assault?
A look at the bizarre decision to cast Teruyuki Kagawa's in Yakuza Kiwami 3, through a lens of previous re-casting decisions from RGG Studio.
skyboxcritics.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:44 PM
my latest is out for skybox!!! 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
the casting of teruyuki kagawa in yakuza kiwami 3 is not only disgusting in itself, but also ridiculous in its hypocrisy considering rgg's past recasts and the series. i feel, and write, very strongly about it
please read, i think this is some of my best work 💜
I haven't mentioned it yet but I'm now using my morning recap of baseball powers for morning recaps of college basketball, men's and women's. So if you've read one of these this week that's my fault and I won't apologize, just like I won't apologize for mentioning Merrimack in today's entry.
Last Night in College Basketball: A Big Night For Florida in More Ways Than One
Florida bounces back, the tallest player in college basketball history debuts, Liv McGill goes off on Chattanooga, Auburn serves it up and more from Thursday's college basketball action.
www.foxsports.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I haven't mentioned it yet but I'm now using my morning recap of baseball powers for morning recaps of college basketball, men's and women's. So if you've read one of these this week that's my fault and I won't apologize, just like I won't apologize for mentioning Merrimack in today's entry.