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Tengen and its legal battles with Nintendo

Dave Farquhar Retro Gaming September 10, 2025September 10, 2025

Tengen was a video game publisher in the 1980s and 1990s. What platform you remember them for probably depends on which part of the world you grew up in. In the United States, we remember Tengen as a Nintendo NES publisher. Europeans may remember them as a Megadrive or Amiga publisher. Thickening the plot, they had a direct connection to another storied video game company. On September 10, 1992, Tengen lost one of its multiple lawsuits with Nintendo. It ended Tengen as an NES publisher, but not from the game industry entirely.

When the RIAA sued a 12-year-old for MP3 piracy

Dave Farquhar Copyright, Music, Retro Computing September 8, 2025September 8, 2025

It was 22 years ago this week, on Semptember 8, 2003, that the Recording Industry Association of America started suing individuals for pirating MP3 files. One of the people caught up in a lawsuit was a 12-year-old honors student who lived in public housing.

The ill-fated HP-Compaq merger

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 5, 2025September 5, 2025

On September 6, 2001, HP announced its intention to acquire Compaq for $25 billion. It was a stunning end for what still seemed to be one of the rising stars of the PC industry. I also think it proved that bigger isn’t always better. The HP-Compaq merger arguably made sense at the time, but both companies had alternatives that would have suited them better. On May 23, 2012, HP announced the end of the Compaq brand, a stunning end for what had been the largest technology merger in history.

Google incorporated September 4, 1998

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 4, 2025September 4, 2025

On September 4th, 1998, Google incorporated in California. Even if you are not a fan, and make no mistake, I am not, you have to admit Google left its mark on the Internet. It fundamentally changed the Internet in numerous ways, some of them bad, but some of them very good.

Google’s highly anticipated 2004 IPO valued the company at over $23 billion and it marked the beginning of the recovery from the dotcom bust.

Wayne Green, computer journalism pioneer

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing September 3, 2025September 3, 2025

Computer journalism pioneer Wayne Green was born 103 years ago on this day, September 3, 1922. Green founded several different magazines, computer and otherwise, some of which ended up competing with each other.

Google Chrome launched September 2, 2008

Dave Farquhar Software September 2, 2025September 2, 2025

On Sep 2, 2008, Google launched its first beta version of the Chrome Web browser. For better and for worse, this was transformational both for Google and the web. While this was the browser that finally freed us from the tyranny of Microsoft Internet Explorer, it effectively transferred power from one monopolist to another.

Atari Lynx: The first color handheld game console

Dave Farquhar Retro Gaming September 1, 2025July 4, 2025

What did the original Amiga design team do after the Amiga went to market and Commodore wasted the opportunity? Jay Miner went back to designing medical devices, but three other members of the team designed the first color handheld game console, which, ironically, became the Atari Lynx. The Lynx reached the market September 1, 1989.

Anandtech shut down abruptly, August 30, 2024

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing August 29, 2025June 29, 2025

At the end of August 2024, Anandtech shut down rather suddenly and unexpectedly, ending a run that dated back to April 3, 1997. I thought about writing something at the time, but really needed longer to collect my thoughts. Now that a year has passed, I think it’s time.

Intel Celeron 300A introduced August 24, 1998

Dave Farquhar Retro Computing August 26, 2025April 15, 2026

On August 24, 1998, Intel introduced its Celeron 300A processor. It wasn’t the first Celeron, but depending on who you ask, it was the first one worth having. The Celeron was a cut-down Pentium II, designed in response to pricing pressures from AMD. But it turned out not just to be a budget CPU. It drew a surprising response from enthusiasts.

Legend of Zelda released August 22, 1987

Dave Farquhar Retro Gaming August 22, 2025August 22, 2025

38 years ago this week, The Legend of Zelda was released in the United States. Today, people are divided on what kind of game it was, but in 1987, no one cared. It was the first time anyone had seen anything like it on a game console. And it was a sensation.