Episode 1: The Human Joystick & The Pixelated Grave

Season 1 Premiere of Cartridge and Quest.

The Hook: We are kicking off the very first episode of Cartridge and Quest with a certified legend: Dante Hall, the "Human Joystick." We’re clearing up the internet’s lies about his hometown and getting the truth on the origin of "Throwing up the X"—turns out Dez Bryant was paying homage to the real originator. Plus, Dante reveals the one video game that was so good it made him put down the controller forever to pick up a golf club.  

The Hangout: Trav and Mike recap their peak "clown behavior" trip to Dallas, where they celebrated a Cowboys loss by getting matching team tattoos from a terrifying German hooligan. Mike shares the "only in the NFL" story of how he ended up at a club with Christian Okoye and Dante Hall, leading to a friendship built on graphic design and a shared love for the "Basement" vibe.  

The History: In this week's Nerd News, we’re taking the time machine back to 1976 to witness the birth of the Apple I, a circuit board that used a standard TV for output. We also revisit 1997—the year of Goldeneye 007 and the 56k modem—and track the rise and fall of Netscape Navigator before it was crushed by the Internet Explorer juggernaut in 2008.  

The Hilarity: Between Trav admitting he’s been gaming since 1989 but still "sucks so hard it’s not even funny," and the launch of the Pixel Pushers Patreon, the energy is high. Mike tries to convince Trav to put baked beans in his pants for five dollars, while Dante predicts the Chiefs will shut down Saquon Barkley in the Super Bowl.  

Full Transcript

FoodieMikeC: All right, everyone, welcome to a cartridge and quest. We are just some gamers looking to have some fun, talk about live stuff. And if you're wondering if you belong here, if you are, let's say, an elder emo, if you have been gaming through the 80s and 90s, let's say you've sneezed too hard before and thrown your back out, or maybe you pee a little when you cough... you belong here.  

Travis Feiock: Elder Emos, Elder Millennials. Shoot. I mean, we'll take anybody really.  

(Dante Hall Interview Segment)

Travis Feiock: We are with a man from Lufkin, Texas, a Lufkin Panther, a Texas A&M Aggie, a Kansas City Chief, a St. Louis Ram, a two-time Pro Bowler, member of the 2000s all-decade team, the human joystick, Dante Hall is in the house.  

Dante Hall: So I was born in Lufkin, raised in Houston. So I'm from Houston.  

Travis Feiock: Man, the internet will steer you wrong every time, bro.  

Mike Castaneda: Have you ever talked to Dez about [the X celebration]? You're like, Hey man, I was kind of doing the X thing first.  

Dante Hall: Oh, not at all... there's an interview with he and Keyshawn Johnson. And he gave pretty much all the love, all the glory to me being their originator.  

Mike Castaneda: How weird was it to see yourself on a video game for the first time?.  

Dante Hall: For me, it was super cool because I was an avid gamer... I played all the classics. Tyson's Punch-Out... I beat Tyson. Anyway, this is the game that changed everything... It was a Tiger Woods EA golf game. I started playing that game, fell in love with the game of golf, controllers down, clubs up.  

(Nerd News & Ad Read)

Travis Feiock: Cartridge and Quest is now powered by the phone fixing wizards over at Cellular Center ICT in Wichita... Use the code ICT15 at checkout and boom, 15 bucks off any repair over 50 bucks.  

Travis Feiock: 1976. The Steves—Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs—finished work on a computer circuit board that they called the Apple One computer... They used a standard keyboard for input and a standard TV for output.  

Travis Feiock: 1997. U.S. Robotics began shipping the new 56K modems... the dial up modem that we used for so long.  

Travis Feiock: 2008. Netscape Navigator... that was like the browser, right? And then that got discontinued... by 2003 though, this thing was done because Windows was putting the Internet Explorer browser in their operating system for free.  

FoodieMikeC: We've got a Patreon now... It's called the Pixel Pushers... All you have to do is sign up and request beans in the pants.  

Travis Feiock: I hate that you found out we have a Patreon cause now you're going to make me do all kinds of crazy stuff.  

FoodieMikeC: See you next week.  

Travis Feiock: Let us know what you think. See you later. Peace.