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Saturday, June 6, 2026

BreakThru (NES)

BreakThru was originally an arcade release by Data East in 1986. I don't believe the arcade version was ever officially released in the U.S. but the NES conversion came along about a year later. This game fits into the sub-genre of side-scrolling vehicle shooter games. It reminds me a bit of a cross between Silkworm and Jackal.

Your goal in this game is to recapture a stolen jet fighter. There are five levels to overcome and obstacles include enemy soldiers, other ground vehicles, aircraft, mines, rockets and even falling rocks. Of course your vehicle has its own weapons and also the ability to jump which is useful for overcoming certain obstacles (e.g. rock slides).

This isn't the greatest game in the world but it is an okay diversion if you are looking for a new old game to play. In addition to the NES, it was also released for the Commodore 64 at the same time. Less than two years ago it was also re-released as Johnny Turbo's Arcade: Break Thru on the Nintendo Switch. I think this is the arcade version of the game. Other than the Switch release, I don't believe there have been any other re-releases.

If you are looking for an original copy, the cartridge is available on eBay for pretty reasonable prices. Otherwise, emulation works well also.

Vintage Photos - Lot 6 (285-288)

All of the photos in this set were taken in the late 1950s or early 1960s, probably in the Lansing, Michigan area.

The first photo is not dated but looks like it is from the early 1960s or earlier. It is labeled "Ed + Marlene" and I presume that's whose house this photo was taken at.

Vintage Photos - Lot 6 (285-288)

Compute!'s Gazette (September 1985)

Compute!'s Gazette was a spinoff of Compute! that exclusively covered Commodore 8-bit computers which primarily meant the Commodore 64. This was one of the two Commodore 64 magazines I frequently saw on store shelves back in the day, the other being RUN. The September 1985 issue of Gazette includes:

Compute!'s Gazette (September 1985)

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Vintage Photos - Lot 6 (281-284)

All of the photos in this set were taken in the 1960s, probably in the Lansing, Michigan area.

The first photo was processed in August 1966. It was taken at a park. You can see a bulletin board on the left and a slide on the right. On the bulleting board is some info for a basketball league and a mock wedding.

Vintage Photos - Lot 6 (281-284)