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Marcus Vale
Marcus covers the consoles, handhelds and PC hardware of the 90s and 2000s: what they cost, why they won or lost, and what became of the companies that built them. Marcus Vale is a pen name; 404 Memory Found publishes no photos or personal details of its writers.
79 posts by Marcus Vale
- Nintendo 64 Value in 2026: What an N64 Is WorthNintendo 64 value in 2026: loose consoles run $65 to $105 and boxed ones near $200, while one ClayFighter cartridge passes $1,232.
- Are Pogs Worth Anything in 2026? What Sets Sell ForAre Pogs worth anything in 2026? Almost nothing loose: complete sets run about $25 to $69, and one EarthBound set sold for $255 in 2009.
- Neo Geo AES Price: $649.99 New, $1,020 Used in 2026The Neo Geo AES price was $649.99 new with $200 cartridges. A loose console runs about $1,020 in 2026, and SNK's reissue slipped to 2027.
- Is the Philips CD-i Worth Anything? 2026 PricesThe Philips CD-i is worth about $300 as a working console in 2026, and its Zelda discs far more. Philips sold only 570,000 before quitting in 1998.
- Is the Sony Aibo Still Made in 2026? US Sales OnlyThe Sony Aibo is still made and sold in the US for over $3,000, but Sony ended Japan sales in June 2026 and now lends prototypes to labs.
- Is the Sega Nomad Worth Anything? 2026 PricesThe Sega Nomad is worth about $300 in 2026: tested units sold for $259.95 to $390. Sega's portable Genesis launched at $180 in October 1995.
- Who Owns Packard Bell Now? Acer Relaunched It in 2026Packard Bell is owned by Acer, which relaunched the dormant 1990s PC brand in 2026 with a 499 euro DotBook laptop sold everywhere but the US.
- Is EverQuest Still Active in 2026? Yes, 27 Years OnEverQuest is still active in 2026: Darkpaw Games opened the Lethar server in August and put a new expansion into beta in October.
- Is G4 TV Still On the Air in 2026? No, Since 2022G4 TV is off the air. Comcast Spectacor shut the gaming channel down on October 16, 2022, eleven months after reviving it, at 1,000 viewers.
- Who Owns Game Informer Now? Gunzilla Games DoesGame Informer is owned by Gunzilla Games, which bought it in March 2025 after GameStop killed it. Print is back at 10 issues a year.
- Where to Buy a Game Boy in 2026 and What to PayBuying a Game Boy in 2026 costs about $70 for a tested original and past $300 boxed. Check the LCD lines and battery terminals first.
- Does Nokia Still Make Phones? Who Makes Them NowDoes Nokia still make phones? No. Nokia sold its handset business to Microsoft in 2013, and HMD's license to the Nokia smartphone name ended in 2026.
- Is an Anbernic Handheld Worth It for Game Boy in 2026?An Anbernic handheld is worth it for Game Boy games if you bring your own files. The RG SP launched at $64.99 in August 2026.
- Is GameStop Still in Business? Stores Are ReopeningGameStop is still in business in 2026 with 1,598 US stores left, record quarterly profit, and closed locations reopening since September 11.
- Sega Genesis Games in 2026: 5 Best Ways to PlayThe best way to play Sega Genesis games in 2026: a used Model 2 runs about $65, while Nintendo Switch Online's Expansion Pack costs $49.99 a year.
- Is Sega Still Making Games in 2026? No New ConsoleIs Sega still making games in 2026? Yes, as part of Sega Sammy Holdings, whose games arm sold 326.6 billion yen in the year to March 2026.
- Is RuneScape Still Popular in 2026? OSRS vs RS3Is RuneScape still popular? Old School RuneScape peaked at 240,851 players at once in August 2025, about eight times RuneScape 3. Jagex owners inside.
- Is CompUSA Still Around in 2026? Zero Stores LeftIs CompUSA still around? No. Its last 103 stores were sold to a liquidator in December 2007, and the brand was written off in 2012.
- Who Owns Atari Now? Wade Rosen and a 48.8% StakeAtari is owned by Atari SA, a Luxembourg company. Wade Rosen's IRATA LLC held 48.8% in September 2026, and revenue hit a decade high.
- Is Palm Still a Company? From Pilot to a $349 PhoneIs Palm still a company? No. HP bought it for $1.2 billion in 2010, wrote off $3.3 billion a year later, and TCL has kept the brand dormant since.
- Who Owns Compaq Now? What Is Left of the BrandCompaq is not a company any more: HP absorbed it on May 3, 2002 and still owns the name, which is why Compaq TVs sell in India in 2026.
- Are Furbies Still Made? The 1999 NSA Ban ExplainedFurbies are still made: Hasbro's Furby Vibes reached US stores on July 15, 2026 at $44.99. The NSA banned the 1998 original as a suspected bug.
- Sega Channel Explained, the 1994 Cable Game ServiceSega Channel piped Genesis games down cable lines from 1994 to 1998, peaked at 250,000 subscribers, and its lost ROMs were recovered in 2025.
- Is the Sega 32X Worth Anything? About $200 in 2026The Sega 32X sold about 665,000 units after its $159.99 launch in 1994 and now runs about $200 loose, ten times its $19.95 clearance price.
- The Game Genie Beat Nintendo. Who Owns It Now?The Game Genie is long discontinued, but it beat Nintendo in court in 1992 and collected a $15 million bond. A loose NES unit runs about $22 in 2026.
- Is Geocaching Still Around in 2026? 3.4M CachesGeocaching is still around in 2026: 3.4 million active caches in 191 countries, run by Groundspeak in Seattle. Premium costs $39.99 a year.
- Why the Power Glove Failed but Never Really DiedMattel's Power Glove reached US stores in October 1989 at about $100, was gone within a year, and sells loose for roughly $100 in 2026.
- Is the Atari Lynx Still Made? What It Costs in 2026The Atari Lynx has not been made since 1995. Atari sold about 2 million of them against 118 million Game Boys. Working units run $80 to $250.
- Why the TurboGrafx-16 Won Japan and Lost AmericaNEC's TurboGrafx-16 ruled Japan as the PC Engine but sold just 750,000 US units by 1991. Konami owns the library now, and a Mini shipped in 2020.
- How the NES Saved Video Games After the 1983 CrashThe NES saved video games after the 1983 crash with a retailer buyback deal and a lockout chip. Nintendo sold 61.91 million of them.
- Are Standalone GPS Devices Still Sold in 2026?Standalone GPS devices are still sold in 2026: Garmin's Drive 53 lists at $149.99. TomTom quit the US device market and Magellan is now a MiTAC brand.
- Does the Nokia 3310 Still Work? Not on US NetworksThe Nokia 3310 sold 126 million units and still powers on, but no US carrier ran 2G after T-Mobile closed its GSM network on August 3, 2026.
- Why the Sega CD Failed and What It's Worth in 2026The Sega CD sold 2.24 million units and was discontinued in 1996. A working Model 2 runs $195 to $275 in 2026, and Sonic CD is on the Mini 2.
- Who Owns the 3DO Now? Throwback Entertainment DoesThe 3DO trademark belongs to Throwback Entertainment, and no 3DO console has shipped since 1996. A 2026 revival collapsed in under a week.
- Is the Sony Discman Still Made? What One Costs NowSony renamed the Discman the CD Walkman in 2000 and stopped building portable CD players around 2010. A working 1984 D-50 now runs $100 to $400.
- Is StarCraft Still Played in 2026? Yes, and FreeStarCraft is still played in 2026: the Brood War ASL finished a 21st season in May, and Blizzard revealed a new StarCraft shooter for 2030.
- Is Kodak Still in Business in 2026? Yes, and ProfitableKodak is still in business in 2026 and profitable again after a 2025 going-concern warning. Film revenue jumped 40 percent last quarter.
- Is the Virtual Boy Playable in 2026? Yes, on SwitchThe Virtual Boy sold 770,000 units and died in 1996. It is playable again in 2026 on Nintendo Switch, behind a $99.99 replica viewer.
- Who Owns Segway Now? Ninebot and the End of the PTSegway still exists in 2026 under Beijing owner Ninebot, but the Personal Transporter ended on July 15, 2020 after about 140,000 sales.
- Is the Game Boy Still Made? It Ended in March 2003Nintendo stopped making the Game Boy in March 2003, after 118.69 million sales. The games are back on Switch Online at $19.99 a year.
- Did the iMac G3 Save Apple? The Real 1998 NumbersThe iMac G3 helped Apple swing from a $1.045 billion loss in 1997 to a $309 million profit in 1998. It sold 278,000 units in six weeks.
- Who Owns Counter-Strike Now? Valve Bought the ModValve has owned Counter-Strike since 2000, when it hired the two modders who made it. Counter-Strike 2 peaked at 1,862,531 players in 2025.
- Are Arcades Still Around in 2026? The Real CountArcades are still around in 2026: 7,113 US arcade and entertainment venues on $6.0 billion a year, down from 10,000 dedicated arcades in 1982.
- Is Quake Still Playable in 2026? Who Owns It TodayQuake is still sold and still played in 2026. Microsoft owns it through ZeniMax, and id Software shipped a free 19-map episode in August 2026.
- Is WebTV Still Around? Microsoft Killed It in 2013WebTV is not still around: Microsoft shut the service down on September 30, 2013. The 1996 boxes now run on servers built by fans.
- Who Owns 3dfx Now? Nvidia Bought the Voodoo Brand3dfx is gone: Nvidia bought its patents, trademarks and the Voodoo brand in December 2000, and the chipmaker filed for bankruptcy in 2002.
- Is GoldenEye 007 Playable in 2026? Yes, Two WaysGoldenEye 007 is still playable in 2026 on Nintendo Switch Online and Xbox Game Pass, 26 years after ten people at Rare shipped it.
- Is There a New Tony Hawk Game? The Series in 2026No new Tony Hawk game is announced as of October 2026. The last was Pro Skater 3 + 4 in July 2025, and its studio cut up to 90 jobs.
- Sega Game Gear: Why It Failed and What It Costs NowThe Sega Game Gear failed on battery life: six AA cells lasted three to five hours. Sega sold 10.62 million units; the Game Boy sold 118.69 million.
- Who Owns RollerCoaster Tycoon Now? Atari Publishes ItChris Sawyer still owns RollerCoaster Tycoon and Atari publishes it under licence. A new game reaches Steam early access in winter 2026 at $24.99.
- Newgrounds Is Still Online in 2026, 31 Years LaterNewgrounds is still online in 2026, owned and run by founder Tom Fulp, funded by supporters from $36 a year, with its Flash archive kept alive by Ruffle.
- Is The Sims 1 Still Playable in 2026? Yes, $19.99The Sims 1 is still playable in 2026. EA's Legacy Collection put the 2000 original and its seven expansions back on sale for $19.99 on Windows 11.
- Who Owns Iomega Now? The Zip Drive Click of DeathIomega is not still in business: EMC bought it in 2008 for $213 million. Zip drives shipped 21 million units before the Click of Death.
- Is Club Penguin Coming Back? Who Owns It in 2026Club Penguin closed in 2017 and Disney still owns it, with no revival announced. Fan servers run it, and a co-founder joined Imagineering in 2026.
- Do Screensavers Still Exist? Flying Toasters TodayScreensavers still ship in Windows 11 and macOS, but the paid market is gone: Berkeley Systems sold out in 1997 and 3D Pipes died with Vista.
- Who Owns Commodore Now? The Brand Is Back in 2026Commodore still exists: investors bought the brand in July 2025 and now sell the Commodore 64 Ultimate for $299.99. How the 1994 collapse happened.
- Who Owns Doom Now, and Can You Still Play It?Microsoft owns Doom through id Software, and the 1993 original still sells as Doom + Doom II for $9.99. It once earned $100,000 a day.
- Why the Atari Jaguar Failed and What It Costs NowThe Atari Jaguar sold about 125,000 units before Atari quit hardware in 1996. Sealed consoles have since gone for $1,199.99.
- Who Owns Sound Blaster Now? Creative Labs in 2026Sound Blaster still belongs to Creative Technology, which trades as Creative Labs and sold $67.4 million in 2025, down from a $1.6 billion peak.
- Is HD DVD Still Around? Why It Lost to Blu-rayHD DVD is dead: Toshiba quit on February 19, 2008, after Warner Bros. went Blu-ray exclusive. The retreat cost the company about $1.1 billion.
- Was the iPod the First MP3 Player? Not Even CloseNo: the iPod was not the first MP3 player. Korea's MPMan beat it by three years, in March 1998. Apple still won, and here is what did it.
- Does the Nintendo Wii Still Work Online in 2026?The Nintendo Wii still plays every disc in 2026, but Nintendo killed online play in 2014 and closed the Wii Shop in 2019. Used consoles run $40 to $75.
- Do They Still Make Netbooks? Why the Eee PC DiedNo. Netbooks peaked at 38.8 million units in 2010 and the last ones shipped in 2013. Chromebooks under $200 now do the job the Eee PC did.
- Is the PS2 Still the Best-Selling Console in 2026?Yes. The PS2 still leads at 160 million units sold, but the Nintendo Switch reached 155.92 million by mid-2026 and sits 4 million behind.
- Who Owns Gateway Computers Now? Acer Still DoesGateway computers still exist as a brand: Acer bought the company in 2007 for $710 million and now sells Gateway laptops only through Walmart.
- Does the Motorola Razr V3 Still Work in 2026?The Motorola Razr V3 cannot make a call in the US anymore: T-Mobile cut the last 2G network on August 3, 2026. What one costs now.
- Is the Nokia N-Gage Still Around? Who Owns It NowThe Nokia N-Gage is gone: Nokia stopped the hardware in November 2005 and closed the N-Gage service in 2010, after 3 million of a 6 million target.
- Why the Sega Saturn Failed and What It Costs NowThe Sega Saturn failed after a $399 surprise launch in May 1995 and sold 9.26 million units. A working console costs $180 to $280 in 2026.
- Why the Apple Newton Failed and What It's Worth NowThe Apple Newton shipped in August 1993 at $699 and Steve Jobs killed it on February 27, 1998. A complete MessagePad 2100 sold for $541 in 2023.
- Is the Original Xbox Still Supported in 2026?The original Xbox lost support in 2006 and Microsoft closed its Xbox Live service in 2010. Fans rebuilt the servers, and 39 games still run.
- Are LAN Parties Still Around? QuakeCon Sold OutLAN parties are still around in 2026: QuakeCon's BYOC hall sold out in August, but DreamHack ended its own after 32 years.
- Is Circuit City Still in Business? Zero Stores LeftCircuit City closed its last 567 stores on March 8, 2009. The name survives online under an owner who bought it in 2016. Zero stores left.
- Is the PSP Still Supported? Sony's Handheld in 2026The PSP is not supported in 2026. Sony sold more than 76.4 million, closed the PSP store in 2021, and the PS3 and Vita stores close by July 2027.
- Why the Nintendo GameCube Lost the Console WarThe Nintendo GameCube sold 21.74 million units to the PlayStation 2's 155 million and died in 2007. Its games returned on Switch 2 in June 2025.
- Is RadioShack Still in Business? 2026 Store CountIs RadioShack still in business? Yes, as a brand only. Unicomer Group owns the name and 170 plus US dealers replaced a chain of 5,087 stores.
- Is Fry's Electronics Still Around? All 31 Stores ClosedFry's Electronics is gone: all 31 stores closed on February 24, 2021, with no bankruptcy and no farewell sale. The Burbank store fell in April 2025.
- Are Tamagotchis Still Made in 2026? Yes, by BandaiTamagotchi is still made by Bandai in 2026. Shipments passed 100 million in July 2025, new models cost $44.99, and 1997 originals fetch $40 to $50.
- Why Sega Stopped Making Consoles After DreamcastSega stopped making consoles on January 31, 2001, after the Dreamcast sold 9.13 million units. It still builds none in 2026, and says it will not.
- Palm Pilot Explained: The PDA That Phones ReplacedThe Palm Pilot sold a million units in 18 months, then lost to the smartphone. Palm shipped its last handhelds in October 2005.