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1[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gaminghistorian.png]]
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3A Video Review Show hosted by Norman Caruso, born from his love of history and video games. While most video gamer reviewers deal with games or consoles, the Gaming Historian also covers lawsuits, character biographies, personal biographies on people involved in the making of video games, video game related books, and even a movie on video games.
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5Mostly updates on his [[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnbvPS_rXp4PC21PG2k1UVg Youtube account]]. Has a [[http://thegaminghistorian.com/ website]] He is also a member of [=RetrowareTV=], but he hasn't uploaded a video on the site since August of 2014.
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7!! The Gaming Historian provides examples of:
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9* AprilFoolsDay: In 2010 he switched shows with WebVideo/TheHappyVideoGameNerd, another Retroware personality. Norman did a normal game review of Ristar, while Derek talked about Shenmue's history. For 2016 and 2017, he made'' Normotagari'', a parody of reviewers like WebVideo/JonTron and WebVideo/PeanutButterGamer.
10* TheCameo:
11** Other gaming [=YouTubers=] provide voice overs during quotations.
12** Norman and other retro gaming [=YouTubers=] appeared in ''WebVideo/TheAngryVideoGameNerd'' episode covering the Aladdin Deck Enhancer, with the Nerd even viewing Norman's own video covering the same subject. [[spoiler:Near the end of the episode, the Nerd wished, as his final wish, that all Aladdin Deck Enhancers in existence would self-destruct.]]
13* EdutainmentShow: Norman goes in-depth about the history of video games and their pioneers, covering a wide range of subjects from iconic games (e.g., ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'', ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros3'') to obscure peripherals (e.g., Aladdin Deck Enhancer, [[Creator/LJNToys LJN]]'s Roll 'n Rocker).
14* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: He's a historian who loves video games and covers the history of video games.
15* GoshDangItToHeck: Unlike many of his contemporaries, Norman avoids gratuitous swearing in his videos, due to the {{edutainment|show}} aspect of his show. However, it is {{downplayed|trope}}, since he called ''VideoGame/SuperMarioBros2'' "a [[PrecisionFStrike damn]] good game" towards the end of its review.
16* MistakesAreNotTheEndOfTheWorld: Despite doing meticulous research in his topics, Norman admits from time to time he had made mistakes. In a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6sJotFmUtM February 2020 episode]], Norman discusses five mistakes he made in past videos, offering corrections and analyzing what went wrong.
17* RunningGag:
18** Has a couple that turn up in his live streams. Such as playing inspirational music when having difficulties getting through a level (usually a song that pertains to the level), or making a character look like they're "twerking".
19** Another running gag involves {{WesternAnimation/Doug}}, which Norman will sneak references to in his videos whenever he gets a chance. One example is in his ''3rd Party Game Boy Players'' episode, which specifically shows a Doug game as an example of a Platform/GameBoyColor game.
20* SigningOffCatchPhrase: "That's all for this episode of ''The Gaming Historian.'' Thanks for watching!"
21* ShownTheirWork: As expected, the man ''does'' have a degree in history, and he has been a high school history teacher in the past. The intro to his episode about the Platform/GameBoy even ''shows'' him walking from his classroom.
22* VideoReviewShow: Video games, and just about everything related to them.
23* ViewersLikeYou: Later episodes end with his wife, Kristin Pitts, stating that this show "Is made possible through our Patreon supporters. Thank you." after Norman says his aforementioned Signing off Catch-phrase above.

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