Off the Shelf Media

The hills of Hyrule. The winding roads of San Andreas. The wild west of Lemoyne. Even the captivating colors of the Mushroom Kingdom. Whether real or fictitious, these environments have captivated audiences of all ages for generations, some have even transcended from the big screen to reality and back again. And others have become so iconic by themselves that a symbol or a skyline is enough for any fan to recognize the location at a simple glance.  

Part of what makes a great videogame is designing an incredible, immersive atmosphere. It captures your full attention through stunning visuals, captivating music, and thoughtful design. Ghost of Tsushima is one such title that comes to mind. When all of these characteristics are artistically intertwined, it makes you say, “Wow, I wish I could go there.” 

But what if you could be transported into the worlds of your favorite games? Or at least, capture the same essence? 

Instead of wondering, one creator has embarked on a mission to play the most iconic videogames in the most scenic places. And he’s traveling across the United States to do it while bringing his fans with him. 

Recently, we had the pleasure of chatting with Noah. But since the fall of 2024, he’s been better known online as The Scenic Gamer.

You launched The Scenic Gamer to play retro videogames in various locations based on each game’s aesthetic. How do you define a “retro” game?

I don’t know if there is a strict definition of what makes a game retro or not, but to me, I would consider anything from the mid-2000s or before to be retro (so at least 20 years old). With that being said, I don’t limit myself to just the most retro games, I actually play modern games as well on my old CRT TV! For example, I’ve played Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 on my channel. 

Is there one specific game that first sparked your love of gaming?

My earliest memories of gaming were with my dad and brother while growing up! While there wasn’t one specific game, some of my favorites I remember playing with them were Scooby Doo and the Cyber Chase, Crash Bash, Crash Team Racing, and Pokémon LeafGreen. Creating bonds over fun games was really what sparked my interest early on and put fuel to the fire ever since.

Since launching The Scenic Gamer, what moment or experience has been the most rewarding for you?

To me, just being able to play games and make fun content every day with my brother for this channel has really been awesome. My brother helps every step of the way with my channel and is the best support system out there – he goes by the name Scenic Skunk on social media! The other thing that is the most rewarding is when I am able to share scenic gaming with other people in real life, whether it be a younger kid who has never played a GameCube before so I show them how to play or if its a lifelong gamer who simply wants to talk about their memories of the game I’m playing. Every day makes my channel and dream of scenic gaming worthwhile.

Prior to being a content creator, you also worked as a middle school teacher—and you’re also a talented musician. How have those experiences shaped the way you approach your videos and storytelling?

In every way! I used to make content in the classroom with my students, and to this day, I still make music content under the name ‘Fence Badcliffe’. Through the trial and error of these experiences, I’ve come to learn what goes into making a good video and to stay true to myself and the vision that I have for the page. With that being said, even today, I know that not every video or post will be perfect, so I’m still learning every step of the way as I go.

Recently, you announced your mission to play retro video games in all 50 states across the U.S. What inspired you to take this journey?

Playing 50 games in 50 states was an idea that was thrown around between my brother and I, although I don’t ever think he thought I’d actually do it. Even family members and friends put it down or didn’t think I was serious before I actually started the journey.

The thing with me and this page, though, is that I’m willing to chase after my dreams and take risks that many other people would not. I’ve always had the desire to see the country, so I decided to just get up and do it! It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve loved every step of the journey, and I think it’s great to put yourself out there and take chances to follow what you want to do.

On Instagram, you shared that the iconic Toshiba TV featured in your videos was purchased at a garage sale in Bel-Air for $1. What’s the full story behind that?

I’ve always had a love of going to yard sales and estate sales and finding treasures that you might not have known you were looking for. One day after working a golf event at a country club, I saw a sign for a garage sale in the Bel-Air neighborhood. After driving maybe 10 minutes of winding roads and passing multi-million dollar houses, I stumbled upon the garage sale. 

I looked around for a bit and there wasn’t anything that caught my eye, so I decided to leave. On my way out is when I saw the Toshiba CRT TV and it reminded me of the type of TV I had growing up. I honestly wasn’t super interested in lugging it home, which is why I only offered the owner a dollar for it after seeing the $10 price tag (which in retrospect, was still an amazing deal). 

I don’t think they wanted to lug it back inside their house either, so they accepted the offer, and that’s how I acquired the legendary TV that has been with me every step of the way on my channel. When I was loading the TV into my car, that is also when the idea of scenic gaming started to formulate in my head. Thinking how cool it would be to play games on the little TV around Los Angeles was how the idea of my page got its start. That same TV is still with me today and has traveled more in the last year than some people ever will in their lives!

You’ve filmed in several unique locations – from beaches, mountains, deserts, and more. What kind of work happens behind the scenes to make sure it all runs smoothly—and to keep your equipment in good shape?

There is so much that goes into the behind-the-scenes of my page – and I post all of my behind-the-scenes footage on YouTube if you have any interest in seeing the process for yourself! 

The first part of the entire process is the vision – what game do I want to play, and in what location? Then we need to make sure that 1. We have the game 2. The game is functioning and 3. The system is functioning. After this, we will scout out different locations to find the exact spot we want to set up for the photo shoot. Then we need to find the means to bring all of our equipment (power, audio, filming, gaming, etc.) to that spot. It is not by any means easy, and it’s a process that has gotten better over time through countless trial and error. 

Keeping all the gaming and recording equipment in good shape is also easier said than done. Of course, we do our best to handle everything with care and store it in safe places when traveling, but we also bring backup systems, cameras, cables, etc., to our shoots in case something goes wrong. Filming outside means exposing your equipment to the environment, so you just need to be prepared for the consequences of that sometimes (like sand in your gamecube or TV – which is not fun!)

After you’ve completed traveling to all 50 states, what’s next for The Scenic Gamer?

My 50-state trip has been consuming my entire life, and I have not even thought about what’s next yet! If I have a future opportunity to travel internationally or collaborate with other creators around the country or around the world, I would love to make that happen. I believe that the possibilities are endless with the idea of scenic gaming, and I’m so excited to keep pursuing this dream in the future.

Finally, what advice would you give to creators who are just starting on their own content journeys?

My advice to other creators would be to make content in a genre that you’re passionate about and that you have fun every day making. Also, if you can put your own individual twist on that content, even better! Ideas will flow more naturally when you’re doing what you love! My other piece of advice would be to just be consistent in whatever you do. Keep posting, and it will pay off!

What games would you play and where? You can travel with The Scenic Gamer on his journey by following him on Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube.