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J2Games Press & Media | News, Interviews & Gaming History
PRESS • MEDIA • INTERVIEWS • GAMING HISTORY
J2Games in the Press
Since 1999, J2Games has been part of the video game community as a retailer, collector resource, game publisher, editorial platform and supporter of physical gaming. Along the way, J2Games and it's founders have been featured by local, national and international media, gaming publications, television, podcasts and industry archives.
Featured Press
Independent coverage of J2Games, our stores and our history in the gaming community.
ASBURY PARK PRESS • MAY 6, 2022
Video Game Love Turns Into Multiple New Jersey Stores
The Asbury Park Press profiled J2Games founder and the story behind turning a lifelong passion for video games into a growing New Jersey retail business. The feature explores J2Games’ history, collecting culture, physical games and the company’s expansion into multiple locations.
VIEW THE ASBURY PARK PRESS FEATURE →
NEW JERSEY MONTHLY • MARCH 24, 2025
50 Fun Things to Do on a Rainy Day in New Jersey
New Jersey Monthly selected J2Games on its statewide list of recommended rainy-day destinations. The magazine highlights the Clark, Manalapan and Brick stores, nearly five decades of games and consoles, the company’s buy-and-trade program and its tabletop and board-game selection.
READ THE NEW JERSEY MONTHLY FEATURE →
NJ.COM • FEBRUARY 12, 2021
This N.J. Retro Video Game Store Is a Journey Back in Time
NJ.com visited the J2Games Clark store for a video tour showcasing classic games, consoles and the experience of stepping back through generations of video game history.
NJ.COM AND NJ ADVANCE MEDIA • JULY 26, 2021
Retro Video Game Store to Open Third New Jersey Location
NJ.com reporter Christopher Burch interviewed the founders about J2Games’ expansion into Brick. The article discusses the company’s inventory spanning Pong and Atari through modern systems, the importance of trade-ins and private collections and the underserved market for dedicated retro-game stores in New Jersey.
NEW JERSEY 101.5 • JANUARY 14, 2020
Retro Video Game Store to Open Second Location in Union County
New Jersey 101.5 covered J2Games’ expansion into Clark, highlighting everything from Atari, Nintendo and Sega to PlayStation, collectibles and modern gaming.
READ THE NEW JERSEY 101.5 FEATURE →
PATCH • JANUARY 28, 2020
Retro Video Game Store to Open in Clark
Patch covered the opening of J2Games’ Clark location and looked back at the company’s roots dating to 1999, along with its extensive selection of retro games, consoles, collectibles and trading cards.
94.3 THE POINT • JULY 26, 2021
Game On J2Games Expands to Brick New Jersey
94.3 The Point featured J2Games’ expansion into Brick and highlighted the company’s deep inventory of classic systems and games, describing the new store as a destination for players looking to rediscover gaming history.
READ THE 94.3 THE POINT FEATURE →
REAL SOUND TECH JAPAN • JULY 27, 2021
International Coverage of the J2Games Brick Expansion
Japanese technology and entertainment publication Real Sound Tech covered J2Games’ third-store expansion and the growing international interest in retro-game collecting. The article discusses J2Games’ history dating to 1999, its broad inventory, its trade-in model and Jay Fennimore’s explanation of the underserved retro-game market.
READ THE REAL SOUND TECH ARTICLE →
NJIT MAGAZINE • FALL 2022 AND WINTER 2023
Alumni News
NJIT Magazine recognized alumnus and founders path from a love of video games to founding J2Games.com and growing the business to three New Jersey locations. The alumni entry appeared in both the Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 issues.
Television Video and Podcasts
J2Games has appeared in broadcast, video and podcast coverage focused on retro gaming, collecting and the local gaming community.
NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY • 2020
J2Games Retro Gaming Feature
News 12 New Jersey visited J2Games for a television feature highlighting retro video games and consoles. The original video is no longer consistently available through the current News 12 archive, but the appearance is independently referenced in New Jersey 101.5’s coverage of J2Games.
VIEW THE SURVIVING MEDIA REFERENCE →
OCEAN COUNTY LIBRARY • WAVES OF YA EPISODE 47 • 2025
J2Games Recommended as a Retro Gaming Destination
During an episode of the Ocean County Library’s Waves of YA podcast discussing video games, the host recommends the J2Games Brick store as a local destination for retro systems, games and accessories.
RAGINGEEK • JUNE 10, 2025
J2Games Retro Video Game Haul
Dante of Ragingeek published a dedicated feature and video documenting a visit to the J2Games Manalapan store. The episode explores the store’s bargain bins and highlights affordable Commodore 64, vintage PC and other retro-gaming finds.
STACKING SLABS • DECEMBER 26, 2025
The Football Card Podcast Episode 27 Football Cards at Their Inflection Point
During a conversation about nostalgic football video games, a host recommends J2Games.com as a place to purchase NCAA GameBreaker 97 for the original PlayStation. The unsolicited mention connects J2Games with the broader sports-card and collectibles community.
ACTIVE RELOAD GAMING • 2026
Retro Game Hunt at J2Games NJ Did I Find the Grail
Active Reload Gaming visits J2Games in Central New Jersey as part of a regional retro-game hunting tour. The independent video explores the store’s extensive selection of classic games, systems and modern collectibles while searching for rare finds and collector grails.
WATCH THE ACTIVE RELOAD GAMING VIDEO →
Game Publishing and Preservation History
Long before today’s retail stores, the J2 Games name appeared in the enthusiast gaming community through independent game publishing and video-game preservation projects.
MOBYGAMES • 2004
Mighty Mighty Missile for Sega CD
Video-game history database MobyGames credits J2 Games alongside Good Deal Games as a publisher of the 2004 Sega CD release Mighty Mighty Missile.
VIEW THE J2 GAMES COMPANY RECORD →
SEGA 16 • MARCH 31, 2006
Burning Fists Force Striker
Sega specialist publication Sega-16 documented the unusual story behind Burning Fists Force Striker, an unfinished Sega CD project recovered years after its cancellation. Good Deal Games and J2 Games helped bring the title to physical release for Sega CD collectors in 2006.
READ THE ORIGINAL 2006 PREVIEW →
UNSEEN64 • JUNE 18, 2010
Burning Fists Sega Mega CD Cancelled
Game-preservation archive Unseen64 documents how Good Deal Games collaborated with J2Games.com to complete the previously cancelled Sega CD title. The recovered build was reportedly about 80 percent complete and required work on its full-motion video, menus, artificial intelligence and other unfinished elements.
GROPIXELS • AUGUST 29, 2011
60 Retro Games You Will Never Play
French retro-gaming publication Grospixels discusses Burning Fists in a historical feature about cancelled 8-bit and 16-bit games. The article notes that the Sega CD project was rediscovered and later commercialized by J2Games.com.
SEGA 16 • NOVEMBER 28, 2011
The Story Behind the Lost Sega CD Release
Sega-16 later revisited the history of Burning Fists, listing J2Games.com and Sega of Japan in its developer credits and documenting J2Games.com’s role in preparing the recovered project for release.
READ THE SEGA 16 RETROSPECTIVE →
EPHEMERAL ENIGMAS • MAY 27, 2025
Burning Fists Force Striker Retrospective
This modern retrospective examines the cancelled Sega CD fighting game and credits its eventual 2006 release to the work of Good Deal Games and J2Games.com. The article demonstrates that J2Games’ preservation work continues to be cited by retro-gaming writers nearly two decades later.
READ THE EPHEMERAL ENIGMAS FEATURE →
J2Games and Video Game Journalism History
J2Games’ history extends beyond retail and game publishing. During the late 2000s and early 2010s, J2Games operated as a gaming editorial platform, publishing columns, interviews and community discussions involving established and emerging video-game writers.
WIRED • NOVEMBER 12, 2007
On Videogame Versus Video Game
WIRED’s Game Life section featured commentary from pioneering video-game journalist Bill Kunkel about whether the name of the medium should be written as videogame or video game. The article credited J2Games.com as the source of Kunkel’s original column.
INTO THE VERTICAL BLANK • JUNE 12, 2008
J2Games.com and the Return of Bill Kunkel the Game Doctor
Into the Vertical Blank published a dedicated feature about Bill Kunkel’s return to regular writing at J2Games.com. The article explains the site’s columns, forums, webcomic and rarity guide.
READ THE INTO THE VERTICAL BLANK FEATURE →
MCFARLAND AND COMPANY • 2009
Classic Home Video Games 1985 to 1988 A Complete Reference Guide
Brett Weiss’ published reference book includes a foreword by Bill Kunkel. Kunkel’s printed biography identifies him as a regular columnist at J2Games.com, placing J2Games in a professionally published video-game history book while his relationship with the site was active.
VIEW THE PUBLISHER DISTRIBUTED SAMPLE →
VECTOR UNIT • JUNE 29, 2010
J2Games Interview with Matt Small
Game developer Vector Unit highlighted an in-depth J2Games interview with Hydro Thunder Hurricane creative director Matt Small in its official press archive. The reference documents J2Games functioning as a gaming interview and editorial outlet in 2010.
VIEW VECTOR UNIT’S PRESS REFERENCE →
READ THE PRESERVED INTERVIEW →
WIRED • SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
Bill Kunkel Original Gaming Journalist Dies at 61
In its remembrance of Bill Kunkel, WIRED noted that Kunkel continued writing Game Doctor editorials for J2Games late in his career, placing J2Games within the professional history of one of the earliest and most influential voices in video-game journalism.
GAME DEVELOPER AND GAMASUTRA • SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
Obituary Video Game Journalism Pioneer Bill Kunkel
Game Developer identified J2Games.com among the publications where Kunkel’s Game Doctor column appeared in the final years of his life. J2Games is listed alongside Computer Gaming World, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Happy Puppy and Digital Press.
READ THE GAME DEVELOPER ARTICLE →
THE ESCAPIST • SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
Founding Father of Games Journalism Passes Away
The Escapist identified Kunkel as a regular contributor to J2Games and noted that he had published an article about the Deus Ex Human Revolution and GameStop controversy on J2Games shortly before his death.
GOOD DEAL GAMES • SEPTEMBER 2011
Goodbye to Videogame Pioneer and Friend
In its memorial for Bill Kunkel, Good Deal Games lists J2Games.com among the sites where his Game Doctor column appeared and confirms that he was writing regularly for J2Games late in his career.
VIEW THE GOOD DEAL GAMES NEWS ARCHIVE →
PC GURU • SEPTEMBER 7, 2011
International Recognition of Bill Kunkel’s Work with J2Games
Hungarian gaming publication PC Guru recognized Kunkel’s continuing work with J2Games.com in its remembrance of the influential journalist, providing another contemporary international reference to J2Games’ editorial role.
GEMUBAKA • MAY 5, 2012
Confessions of a Game Doctor Fan
Gaming writer D. J. Tatsujin remembers Bill Kunkel and recalls stories Kunkel shared through J2Games. The retrospective provides firsthand testimony from another gaming writer about original editorial content published on the J2Games platform.
READ THE GEMUBAKA RETROSPECTIVE →
MOBYGAMES • HISTORICAL INDUSTRY RECORD
William Bill Kunkel Video Game Industry Biography
MobyGames records that Kunkel joined J2Games.com in late 2007 as a regular columnist. The industry database preserves an important part of J2Games’ editorial history and its connection to a foundational figure in video-game journalism.
VIEW BILL KUNKEL’S MOBYGAMES BIOGRAPHY →
ROBOHARA.COM • JANUARY 25, 2016
RIP Video Game Trader Magazine
Retro-gaming author Rob O’Hara recounts his experience writing for Video Game Trader and identifies J2Games.com as the publication’s original owner. The article describes O’Hara’s work producing paid game reviews and articles and documents the founders involvement in an important chapter of independent video-game publishing.
RETROMAGS • MARCH 27, 2022 UPDATED DECEMBER 20, 2023
Complete Final Fantasy III Forbidden Game Secrets
RetroMags published an extensive retrospective about Bill Kunkel’s Final Fantasy III strategy guide. The author recalls Kunkel discussing the guide’s difficult production history on the former J2Games forums, documenting the site’s role as an interactive community where gaming journalists shared firsthand industry experiences.
MUCK RACK • ARCHIVAL PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Arthur Collins on Beginning His Journalism Career at J2Games
Gaming journalist Arthur Collins, formerly Jesse Collins, identifies writing alongside Bill Kunkel on the J2Games forums as his first journalism job. His professional profile provides a firsthand account of J2Games serving as an early platform for emerging gaming writers.
VIEW THE ARTHUR COLLINS MUCK RACK PROFILE →
READ THE RELATED OLD SCHOOL GAMER INTERVIEW →
Independent Retro Gaming Publications
These articles recognize J2Games as an established destination within the classic-gaming and collector communities.
THE RETROGAMING TIMES • MARCH 1, 2017
Retrogaming Dealer Round Up
The Retrogaming Times included J2Games in a curated round-up of notable retro-game dealers. The publication highlighted the company’s founding in 1999, its Atari-through-Xbox inventory, hard-to-find games, collectibles and accessories and its then-current Farmingdale, New Jersey location.
READ THE RETROGAMING TIMES FEATURE →
OLD SCHOOL GAMER MAGAZINE • DECEMBER 8, 2017
Vintage Retro Web Sites
Old School Gamer Magazine included J2Games in a feature about noteworthy businesses serving the classic-gaming community. The article highlights J2Games’ history, broad inventory and Jay Fennimore’s involvement in the retro-gaming community. This feature is closely related to the Retrogaming Times article and is preserved as a separate publication appearance.
READ THE OLD SCHOOL GAMER MAGAZINE FEATURE →
J2Games Media Timeline
2004 — J2 Games is credited as a publisher of Mighty Mighty Missile for Sega CD.
2006 — J2 Games helps bring the unfinished Sega CD title Burning Fists Force Striker to physical release.
2007 to 2012 — J2Games operates as an editorial platform, publishing Bill Kunkel’s Game Doctor columns, developer interviews and community discussions cited by major gaming publications.
2017 — Retro-gaming publications recognize J2Games as an established online and physical destination for collectors.
2020 — News 12 New Jersey, New Jersey 101.5 and Patch cover J2Games and the company’s expansion into Clark.
2021 — NJ.com visits the Clark store and covers the company’s expansion into Brick; the expansion also receives local-radio and international coverage.
2022 to 2023 — Asbury Park Press profiles J2Games and NJIT Magazine recognizes founders in its alumni news.
2025 — New Jersey Monthly recommends J2Games as a statewide rainy-day destination, while podcasts and independent creators feature or recommend the stores.
2026 — Active Reload Gaming publishes a dedicated J2Games store-visit and retro-game-hunting video.
Press and Media Inquiries
Are you a journalist, content creator, researcher or producer working on a story about retro gaming, physical media, game collecting, independent retail or the video-game industry?
J2Games welcomes media inquiries, interviews and store visits.
J2Games maintains this archive as a historical record of independent press, media appearances and video-game industry references. External links are controlled by their respective publishers and may be moved or archived over time.
