The Pop-Culture E-Zine
As featured in the French art book, Geek-Art: An Anthology: Art, Design, Illustration & Pop Culture, we have found these very cool illustrations of fictional classic video game boxes adapted for films and TV shows.
We love the hand-written notes on the packaging – a very nice touch. With so much awesomeness to look at, we can’t pick a favourite. Can you?
source: Penney Design
There is no point in pretending that I am a fan of downloadable content (DLC) – just for the record, I am not a fan! However, I can’t deny that it is the way of the future, unfortunately.
There is a sense of gratification when holding something precious like old school video games in your hands. That tactile pleasure is not the same as hitting the ‘Download Now‘ button. As solid state media becomes extinct, the pleasure of holding games in your hands and looking at the back to “check out the graphics” will become a thing of the past – something to tell your grandchildren.
Just like books adorning your personal library, there is an intoxicating atmosphere of nostalgia when you are able to view and touch your retro gaming collection. There is a sense of cultural importance in preserving these collections. Be proud of your gaming cartridges, diskettes, tapes, CDs, cards, DVDs and Blu-Rays. They may be going the same way as the dodo bird, but our passion for preserving these artefacts will ensure that they are enjoyed for generations to come.
You got to hand it to Red Bull, they know how to excite, and I am not talking about the Taurine in their drinks!
Red Bull is synonymous with adrenaline rush and death-defying events, from freestyle motocross to base jumping. You want excitement, Red Bull delivers it in spades.
It was about time Red Bull incorporated their hardcore sporting elements with video games. The product that they have come up with is some very cool free running (parkour style) in the form of an 8-bit platformer. Take a bow Jason Paul and Team Farang!
Warning: Do not attempt this at home!
source: Red Bull
If you want to know how this Arcade Run was done, check it out here.
The superstar of video games, that plucky little Italian plumber gets roasted hard! This is one hilarious roast! Even Mario’s brother gets in on the action, which goes horribly wrong (Ed: poor Luigi). You got to love a good old fashion roasting. With friends like these, who needs enemies aye?
source: College Humor
I had always wanted to make my own cosplay costume. I was inspired by all the awesome cosplay I saw at PAX AUS last year. To prepare for PAX AUS 2014 I dusted off my sewing machine and hot glue gun and embarked on a DIY cosplay adventure!
I did not have to think hard to choose the subject for my creation – I adore the Tomb Raider series, so Lara’s pistols and holsters were the obvious choice.
Here is how I did it:
First I found the pistols – it took a bit of searching, but I eventually found some on Amazon.
Next I got some black leather-look vinyl, strapping and clips for the holsters from Spotlight – the sales assistant asked me what I was making, and I initially said shyly ‘just a costume’ but when I realised how suspicious that sounded I explained it was for holsters!
To make the holsters:
Then I attached the holsters to the belt (the belt was just $4.25 – thanks Salvos)
Finally make the thigh straps (with clips to allow for bio breaks!).
To complete my outfit I got some leather fingerless gloves from eBay.
And here is the finished product – now I’m ready for PAX AUS 2014. Don’t forget to stop by to say hello to the ausretrogamer team and play a game or two (or three) in the classic console area!
Tomb Raider image source: TombRaiders.Net
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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.
Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter
When watching a movie, do you get excited when you see a scene with a video gaming reference? I know I definitely do! I get even more excited when I see arcade machines in movies. Speaking of which, Ben Craw, a video editor at The Huffington Post, has created a four-minute retro supercut video of arcades in movies (1975 to 1994).
Watch the video first and see how many movies you can list. Did you pick them all? If you want to cheat, scroll down (Ed: damn cheats!).
source: Huffington Post
Here it is, the complete list of arcade games that appear in movies:
“Rancho Deluxe” (1975)
“Jaws” (1975)
“Jaws 2” (1978)
“Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (1978)
“Dawn of the Dead” (1978)
“Midnight Madness” (1980)
“Bustin’ Loose” (1981)
“Death Wish II” (1982)
“Rocky III” (1982)
“Tron” (1982)
“Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (1982)
“Jekyll and Hyde… Together Again” (1982)
“The Toy” (1982)
“Joysticks” (1983)
“WarGames” (1983)
“Twilight Zone: The Movie” (1983)
“Strange Brew” (1983)
“Nightmares” [segment ‘Bishop of Battle’] (1983)
“Never Say Never Again” (1983)
“High School U.S.A.” (1983)
“Rumble Fish” (1983)
“Footloose” (1984)
“Star Trek III: The Search for Spock” (1984)
“Ghostbusters” (1984)
“Gremlins” (1984)
“The Karate Kid” (1984)
“The Last Starfighter” (1984)
“The Philadelphia Experiment” (1984)
“The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension” (1984)
“Ninja III: The Domination” (1984)
“Night of the Comet” (1984)
“The Last Dragon” (1985)
“Code of Silence” (1985)
“The Goonies” (1985)
“Real Genius” (1985)
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986)
“Maximum Overdrive” (1986)
“The Color of Money” (1986)
“Something Wild” (1986)
“Over the Top” (1987)
“Can’t Buy Me Love” (1987)
“Best Seller” (1987)
“Death Wish 4: The Crackdown” (1987)
“Bloodsport” (1988)
“Big” (1988)
“Parenthood” (1989)
“Back to the Future Part II” (1989)
“The Wizard” (1989)
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (1990)
“RoboCop 2” (1990)
“Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
“Suburban Commando” (1991)
“Juice” (1992)
“Encino Man” (1992)
“Honeymoon in Vegas” (1992)
“Roadside Prophets” (1992)
“Toys” (1992)
“Double Dragon” (1994)
Despite the growing popularity of game music and chiptunes, there hasn’t been a comprehensive effort to chronicle their contributions to modern music and gaming culture. The Players’ Score: A Videogame Music Documentary aims to explore the relationships, developments and communities videogame music has fostered through live interviews with prominent videogame cover bands, chiptune artists, and the composers who inspire them in order to demonstrate the cultural and personal impact of videogame music.
Spanning the globe, participants have come from North America, Europe, and even Japan, with more artists being confirmed daily. Here is a brief selection of the artists who will be featured in The Players’ Score – A Videogame Music Documentary:
– Austin Wintory (Journey, The Banner Saga)
– Bit Brigade
– Danimal Cannon
– Danny Barranowsky (Super Meat Boy, The Binding of Isaac)
– Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, Kingdoms of Amalur)
– Grant “Stemage” Henry (Metroid Metal, LonelyRollingStars)
– Hiroki Kikuta (Secret of Mana, Koudelka, Shining Hearts)
– Jake “virt” Kaufman
– Jeremy Soule (The Elder Scrolls series, Guild Wars series)
– Manami Matsumae (Mega Man, Shovel Knight)
– Mega Ran
– Morgan “Crashfaster” Tucker
– Norihiko Hibino (Metal Gear Solid series, Bayonetta)
– Starbomb
– The Megas
– The Minibosses
– The Triforce Quartet
Many more artists have already been filmed, and more will be announced as they are confirmed.
Show your support by spreading the word and pledge towards The Players’ Score – A Videogame Music Documentary.
Let’s all start with a collective sigh of disappointment. Why the disappointment? Well, after getting quite excited over the announcement that Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. would release special console Transformers to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the robots in disguise, there has been another delay in their availability.
The Mega Drive Megatron was originally slated for a September release, but that has now been pushed out to October. Optimus Prime (featuring original Playstation) won’t see the light of day till 2015 (no exact date known). On the positive side, the delay should give you extra time to save – these Transformers won’t be cheap (~$103AUD).
For now, you can drool over the photos of these awesome console Transformers!
The sleek Megatron!
Megatron in the flesh
Mega Drive Megatron in disguise
Optimus Prime Playstation!
Where did Optimus go? All I see is a Playstation!
image sources: Takara Tomy ARTS and TFormers
There is something quite endearing about old video gaming advertisements – from daggy TV commercials to the advertising wars between the heavyweights of the industry!
Then there are the TV advertisements that were released, but not as originally intended. The unearthing of a cassette tape with Chubby Checker singing in Atari’s Dig Dug arcade commercial, has sent a buzz around the retro gaming community.
Just in case you weren’t aware, the cassette was recently discovered by Matt Osborne, son of former Atari vice president Don Osborne. The song itself was technically used in the Dig Dug commercial, but without Checker’s vocals. The reasons of why this recording exists and why Chubby Checker’s vocals weren’t used in the final product, are unfortunately lost to history. We know which version we prefer.
Chubby Checker’s version
Final Atari Dig Dug Dance TV commercial
source: Scottith Games
image and Chubby Checker vocals source: TheOzMan (Matt Osborne)
It may no longer be C64 month, but hey, who is complaining when you are getting an awesome free C64 game! Besides, it is SHMUPTEMBER, so here is your contender – take it away, Mr. Anthony Stiller:
SOPWITHS AND PTERRORDONS:
This simple, single-level Shoot’Em Up Construction Kit (SEUCK) game was a project I assigned myself to celebrate August, the unofficial C64 month. I didn’t hit my deadline (Ed: we ain’t complaining).
This is my first completed SEUCK game. My only other attempt was a long, long time ago (I tried to get a bubble to float gracefully across the screen, couldn’t get it to look any way decent, and gave up).
There’s no backstory to Sopwiths and Pterrordons. I just thought of two things that would be cool – my love of World War I and World War II planes, and who doesn’t like dinosaurs? They seemed like a great mix (and from feedback I’ve received, other people feel the same).
Feel free to make up your own backstory. Make sure the pilot is dashing, handsome and says, “Tally ho!” and “Chocks away!” an awful lot.
Special thanks to Andrew Fisher, David Rayfield and Cameron Davis for their valued advice, support and feedback.
Thanks also to Noble Kale and Rob Caporetto for their encouragement and inspiration.
Get your free copy of Sopwiths And Pterrordons here. Enjoy!
Playing tips:
– Scoring has been balanced, so with a little practice, you should just be able to nab an extra life right before the end of level boss;
– Due to the shape of the player bullet, enemies, and how SEUCK determines hitboxes, you really need to line up your shots with the pterrordon’s head to better guarantee a kill;
– You can squeeze between the vertical rows of deadly crystal chunks in the terrain later in the game
Design Notes – I approached Sopwiths and Pterrordons with definite goals:
– Use vanilla SEUCK;
– Short (originally only one scrolling and one static level which I then dropped to one scrolling level only);
– End of level boss;
– Minimise framerate loss (a particular bugbear of mine with regards to SEUCK games);
– Well-animated player and enemy graphics;
– Noticeable ACTION-REST-ACTION phases during the game;
– Use of foreshadowing (new enemies usually appear in generally non-threatening positions onscreen. The first laser-pterrordon is an exception however neanderthals are placed before it appears to encourage the player to move away from the mental “safe zone” of the bottom-middle of the screen);
– Minimise unfair death (pterrordons that appear behind the player)
What worked:
– The restrictions of SEUCK greatly reduced choice paralysis during the design/build phase;
– Descoping: I had several rather neat ideas that I dropped late in the design phase and into the early build phase;
– Getting some player feedback was very helpful; and
– SEUCK is still a pretty great tool, relatively speaking!
Challenges:
– Like anything, this took a lot longer than I expected from both an effort and elapsed time perspective. For example, the title page took about 4 hours of actual effort spread out over a day. In total I think I spent around 40-50 hours of total actual effort on this project from beginning to end;
– SEUCK and C64 restrictions can get a little frustrating and needed a lot of replaying. I also wanted this to work on a real C64 with minimal juddering and forgot that emulators can keep a steady framerate much easier than the original hardware;
– Initially I went for a low-flying biplane meaning the graphics needed to reflect that we were closer to the ground (eg: larger rivers). After some consideration I went for a higher altitude. This ended up causing considerable difficulty in the subsequent graphics design as I had to create graphics that provided the illusion of depth and distance (things falling into the screen or rising out of the screen);
– The cliffs on either side were a right pain. Ultimately the “overhang” design seemed to work;
– Colour palette choices. UGH!!!!!;
– I used CCS64 using snapshots to save progress but actually getting the final game onto a working d64 image via SEUCK seemed to be entirely random
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Anthony Stiller
Loves the C64 a little too much, but that is ok.
Follow Anthony on Twitter