Over the years, we’ve seen plenty of companies and corporations try and show that they’re down with the “gamers” though not so much like this.
Amtrak — yes the train company — is apparently just fine with you smashing up their cars… just in the Super Smash Bros. kind of way.
Smash player Smyles pointed out how the Amtrak website specifically mentions Super Smash Bros. Melee and CRT TVs in an odd and intriguing gesture.
“Go ahead and bring that extra CRT for the Smash Melee tournament or an extra dual screen monitor setup — you would be far from the first.”
Yes again, that’s a real line from Amtrak’s “Travel for Gamers” page that also mentions sitting in the backseat with your Nintendo Switch while your parents drive — so there’s a few generational gaps there.
Technically speaking, a passenger train would probably be the safest way to move equipment, especially things like CRTs, from one location to another over cars and airplanes.
CRT melee on amtrak trains is explicitly encouraged pic.twitter.com/HdKEGvK2Y4
— Smyles (@Smyles_85) February 12, 2025
The logistics usually just don’t work out for multiple reasons including the need to use a van or truck to get the equipment to and from the train anyway.
And there’s also the ultimate drawback of passenger trains like this being unavailable to most in the United States outside of a handful of select cities.
We wouldn’t recommend taking your CRT on the public transit either since that’ll open up the risk of it getting kicked or worse.
The Smash line itself, however, is so specific it pretty much has to come from someone in the know of the competitive community if not actually in it.
Typical public relations and description writers are not going to know that Smash Melee tournaments are still a thing let alone that they (at least up until more recent years with better converters) relied heavily on older TVs.
So we see you Amtrak.
I just literally can’t ride one of your trains without driving hundreds of miles first, but free Wi-Fi, extra space and plug-ins do sound a bit more appealing than flying.
We’d certainly be interested too to know how many people have brought CRTs and big FGC equipment on these trains before.
Image by WikimediaImages from Pixabay.
Source: Event Hubs
