Pat the NES Punk at Too Many Games

Written by William G. Chandler Jr., July 2, 2016, at 3:33 p.m.

During Too Many Games, in Oaks, Pennsylvania, I had met him two times, over two days, at the convention. Pat the NES Punk is a player. I do not mean just video games. He oozes with a stroll and player skills. The New Jersey native is producer, and the focus, of Pat the NES Punk. He has the shows Flea Market Madness, The Completely Unnecessary Podcast, and his book, Ultimate Nintendo: Guide to the NES Library 1985-1995, as on The Punk Effect website.

Here is his bite-sized, fun, interview.

Interview with Pat the NES Punk

Slickster: Where do you get the energy on the days you’re not ready to perform on your shows?

Pat: Oh so. It’s a job to me. I’m a professional. So, if I feel bad or sick while I’m doing a podcast or if I don’t feel up to writing that day, I have to do it. I mean you can’t really take days off when you’re working for yourself. You’re an entrepreneur. It’s not like you get a salary. On YouTube, or on your podcast, your pay is based on your performance and what you do. You have to power through it.

When you get viewers or difficult fans that give you issues, what do you do? [In response to Chris Stuckmann’s issue.]

I don’t know. I ignore most of the hatred, and vitriol a lot, ’cause it’s not worth your energy to focus on that at all. You just focus on the positive, and what you’re creating. You don’t want to give power to the voices of like hate and trolls because, at the end of the day, they don’t matter.

What final words would you give to gamers, if you died tomorrow?

Have fun. Don’t take it too seriously. But remember there’s also other things out there in life to enjoy. Don’t let it take all of your entire life.

Who is the most famous person you want to influence with your programming?

Who is the most famous? I would love it if… I don’t know, if some actors I respect would watch it and like it. Or actually maybe directors, or someone like Seth Rogan or someone would watch it. It’s funny we’re a similar age, same generation. He likes video games I know.

Why continue in this work?

What keeps me going is the fact that I know people enjoy it. I come out to events like [Too Many Games] and people want to meet me and talk to me and they’re great. I do panels live and get good feedback, good feedback online, and that’s what makes it worth it.

How do you level up or see what the next step in your programming will be?   

You sort of follow the trends of what’s popular. What in gaming is getting hot, or popular at the time? What works on YouTube? What doesn’t? You have to take some chances, on an experimental level, and see what works.

Thanks for taking the time to talk to us, Pat!

Check out Pat’s Nintendo NES Library Guide & Review Book of 750+ Games! video and tell us what you think.