Retro and vintage games thrive in trademark video games

Trade Mark For those who haven't yet ventured down the video game rabbit hole, walking into a store is like seeing a picture of “Where's Wally?” The longer you look, the more you see. If you stay long enough, you might even find rare video games or action figures you haven't seen since you were a kid.

Trade Mark Video Games is a nostalgia den for Gen X and Millennial gamers and a collector's paradise. The slot wall, depicting a galaxy far, far away, hand-painted 20 years ago by owner Mark Clark, is covered from top to bottom with video game and pop culture memorabilia from across the decades.

“From Atari video games to the latest Xbox and PlayStation 5, we have accessories and everything in between,” Clark said.

Mark Clark, who is in his 30s, opened a used video game store at 1313 Grand Avenue with a friend in 2004. The reason was that I thought it would be fun and something a little different. Years later, when the two went their separate ways, Mark Clark kept the store and named it a play on his own name, creating the Trade Mark Video brand known today to many new and returning customers. – Became a game store.

“Video games have always been in my life. I like old-school games because they're hard to find, like collectibles,” Clark said. “I’ve always loved going to antique stores and looking for cool things, and I’ve always enjoyed that kind of environment.”

Clark admits it was sometimes a struggle to keep the store open, especially in the beginning. He attributes his store's success to his dedication.

“There were many times when I looked out the door and thought I was going to throw in the towel. I was struggling, but I didn't give up,” Clark said. “I was sitting here in a chair, just waiting for people to come. It was like that, very slow at first, but I believed in what it was.”

It turned out to be a used video game store. It has become a community for Billings' geek culture and a place where customers can reconnect with their past.

“I hope people find something here that reminds them of their childhood,” Clark said. “Looking back, I wish I had a box full of childhood toys. I haven't seen one of them go through here yet.”

His face lights up when he describes one of his long-lost toys, a smash-up derby car.

“It was big and it looked cool. The way they built it, the cars would crash into each other, the doors would all fly off, the hoods would fly off, everything would fly off. It would explode,” he said. “And there were different things, but they were really cool.”

Clark is not alone in his nostalgia for the past. According to psychologist Mark Travers, nostalgia is a universal human experience, deeply rooted in our psyches and emotions.

“Nostalgia is a complex emotion characterized by a longing for the past, usually accompanied by feelings of warmth and nostalgia,” Travers' Forbes article explains.

Clark said his store has seen an increase in foot traffic over the past few years. He believes it's due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“That's when everyone started playing games at home and they discovered me,” Clark said. “Everything was shut down for a while, but I was the only one here, so I stayed open. Since then, people have been helpful because they know I'm here now. I did.”

While Clark sees the increased exposure to Trade Mark Video Games during Billings' quarantine as a silver lining, the recent rise in popularity of retro games has also contributed to the store's cult following. This may be due to.

“Vintage video games from the '80s and '90s are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, with platforms like Nintendo's Virtual Console and retro-inspired indie games capitalizing on gamers' nostalgia for simpler times,” Travers said. wrote in Forbes. “Being able to revisit the classic games of their childhood allows individuals to recapture the joy and excitement of their youth, creating a sense of continuity across generations of gamers.”

If you're new to Trade Mark Video Games, you'll be visibly dazzled when you enter the store.

“Oh, wow, we have everything here. We have 'Army of Darkness' dolls in there, which is amazing,” Sean Horton said as he entered the store. “I can't believe they had Atari games over there. That's what I played when I was a kid.”

He became a child again. He went back to eighth grade and was playing “Mario Bros.” and “Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!” In the morning, he went to his best friend's house before going to school.

“We wanted to come here because GameStop is the only one in Bozeman. We're glad we stopped here,” Horton said. “I always stop here when I'm in Billings.”

It's no longer just Montana locals who stop by Clark's. People from all over the country and around the world eagerly browse the store's collection of curiosities.

“A few months ago, a German guy visiting Montana stopped by this store and found something he had been looking for for years,” store employee Kyle DeVose said. “We had a real Legend of Zelda game. In fact, I grew up playing that game, but they ended up walking away with it.”

The opportunity to recapture one's childhood is a core part of what makes Clark's store work. Clark's Retro While his video game mecca is a first for some, many of his repeat customers, including his two employees at Clark, have been to his store since they themselves were kids. I come here often. Like Clark, Devas, 30, and Thomas His Wagenman, 24, also love video games and interacting with the public.

“Just being able to see people's smiles means a lot to me,” Devas said. “I'm going to do everything I can to make sure everyone here feels welcome, and to be a safe haven not just for the geek community, but for anyone who stumbles upon us.” I promised myself.”