The video game industry of the late 1980s-mid 90s was a fierce battleground. As the console manufacturers locked horns, a bitter conflict spanning the US, Europe and Japan was fought. Loyal allegiances were formed as bits fought bytes and processors grappled with pixel counts. Lives were lost and continues were consumed, but by no means would any side admit that it was game over. Throughout the conflict, however, a secondary battle was fought, involving not the console, nor the mascot, but the cartridge – gaming media in its most physical form (as many an expert cart blower will know all too well).