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Archives for July 2017

Zelda-Themed WWII Propaganda Posters

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LA graphic artist/web designer Fro, aka Fernando Reza, has created 17 awesome Zelda-themed WWII propaganda posters, see them all on the Fro Design Company website.

Princess Zelda Needs You

Dark Link

Song of Time

The Deku Tree

Lady in the Fountain

The Moon

Source: Fro Design Company via Laughing Squid
Images: Fro Design Company

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msausretrogamerMs. ausretrogamer
Co-founder, editor and writer 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

 

 

Flappy Bird On A Dreamcast Memory Card

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Programmer Dmitry Grinberg has cleverly hacked a Dreamcast VMU to run a Flappy Bird clone, wow! Watch the demo video below and/or read about how he did it.

Source: dimtrygr on YouTube via Technabob

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msausretrogamerMs. ausretrogamer
Co-founder, editor and writer 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

 

 



Atari Star Wars: Ultimate Arcade Game Based On The Franchise

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Star Wars, the arcade video game may have just celebrated its 34th anniversary, but did you know how much it cost to make and what George Lucas thought of the game?

The Star Wars franchise has been going from strength to strength for 40 years and there is no sign of its star power going supernova. Atari may have waited a few years to make their awesome vector based coin-op game on the great franchise, but it was definitely worth the wait.

Released amid the American video games crash, Atari’s Star Wars (1983) was a godsend for operators and players alike. With its distinct sit-down cockpit and upright versions invading amusement centres, Atari’s Coin-Op division created a buffer from the wreckage of the industry around it. Starting out as Warp Speed, Atari’s Mike Hally quickly changed the game title to Star Wars once Atari secured the license – and the rest as they say, is history.

Looking at the Atari Star Wars bill of materials, it is unbelievable to fathom that the arcade unit cost was a mere USD$1,249 back in 1983, which is (approx.) USD$3,090 in today’s money, which is still damn cheap! The arcade version was given the seal of approval from Mr. Star Wars himself, George Lucas with a plaque that reads, “A special thanks for creating THE FORCE behind so much fun”. Once inside the cockpit, Lucas was smitten and the game went gangbusters, selling thousands of units, making Atari (or more accurately, Time Warner) a ton of money!

The FORCE will always be with Atari’s classic coin-op. Always!

Atari Star Wars – cockpit concept sketch (source: arcade blogger)

The bill of material! (source: atarigames.com)

Cockpit prototype (source: atarigames.com)

The finished product! She is (still) a beaut!

Atari execs watch in anticipation as George Lucas takes a test fly! He likes it! (source: video-game-ephemera)

George getting some game play pointers from Atari’s Don Osborne (source: arcade blogger)

Our preferred arcade flyer (via: the arcade flyer archive)

 

New Atari 8-bit Games in AtariAge Store

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If your Atari 2600, 5200 or 7800 is screaming out for new games, then we have some good news for you!

Go and check out the AtariAge store right now as they have a swag of new games that have just arrived for your trusty Atari 8-bit systems.

Still not convinced? OK then, here is the list of games available to feed your chosen Atari console:

Atari 2600

  • Anguna: Defeat the Goblin King in this Zelda-like fantasy action-adventure for the 2600.
  • Assembloids 2600: An addictive, fast-paced reaction game for the whole family and high score fanatics!
  • Drive!: Escape the crumbling temple with your treasure, driving over the bridge as fast as you can!
  • The Gizzle Wap: You must remove the Strange Red Tree and defeat the Invicta!
  • L.E.M.: The L.E.M. never failed in any mission assigned to it. Can you keep its record untarnished?
  • Panky the Panda: Your brother has been kidnapped by poachers — can you save him in time?
  • Scramble: How far can you invade our Scramble system?

Atari 5200

  • Ratcatcher: The city sewer has been overrun by nasty critters, grab some friends and clean it out!

Atari 7800

  • Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest: Defeat Berthilda again in your quest to find all the Crystals of Life!
  • Super Circus AtariAge: Big Doings Under The Big Top! How good are your reflexes?
  • T:ME Salvo: Far into the future, save the Eloi from the evil Morlocks!

There is something for everyone in this lot! It’s a great time to be a retro gamer.

 

How a Mario Kart Movie Could Work

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Nintendo’s Mario Kart 64 was one of my favourite video games growing up. I played the racing game regularly after school and on weekends with my friends.

2008’s Mario Kart Wii and 2005’s Mario Kart DS are two of Nintendo’s top selling video games; roughly 60 million in combined sales. With sales like that for just two versions of the iconic game, you would think a film adaptation of Mario Kart would be in the works by a film studio. But most films based on video games have failed miserably at the box office and with critics.

I wish I could erase my memory of seeing the confusing, badly edited Assassin’s Creed adaptation that was released last December.

A Mario Kart movie could work if handled correctly. Movies based on video games have always taken themselves so seriously; especially the Resident Evil franchise. If a director or screenwriter did something fun with the world of Mario Kart, like what Phil Lord and Christopher Miller did with The Lego Movie, it could be a really entertaining film. It would have to be animated and the humour would have to be smart for kids and adults.

Although, a live-action Mario Kart could be hard to get greenlit by a major studio because 1993’s Super Mario Bros., with Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, bombed magnificently at the box office. But an animated version, perhaps even a Lego Mario Kart, could be successful if the right filmmakers who know the Mario Kart world write a clever, original script.

A Mario Kart film about a single race through several stages could be interesting if the characters are fleshed out. The game’s world is vast; there’s a treasure trove of situations and conflicts that could make for a fascinating film.

Until then, I’m sure another instalment of Resident Evil is in the works. The franchise has made $1.2 billion worldwide. The last film was The Final Chapter… sure, we’ll see about that.

 

Fear The Walking Dead Hits The Old Vegas Strip!

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At the old Las Vegas Strip, Fremont Street will soon be invaded by walkers, zombies for those of you that don’t know what we are on about.

Triotech together with AMC are creating a Fear the Walking Dead interactive survival attraction at the famous Las Vegas Fremont Street Experience! The futuristic interactive haunted house will be permanently installed, with the evacuation warning officially issued this (northern) summer!

This groundbreaking, fully immersive and interactive permanent attraction will feature elaborate sets, all-encompassing audio and video, and Triotech’s world-famous high-tech motion simulator technology.

As soon as visitors enter the facility, they will be immersed in the Fear the Walking Dead universe ‘as if they were there’, a world afflicted by a mysterious epidemic that turns human beings into undead “walkers”. To survive, visitors will have to face their fears and trust their instincts, ultimately escaping back into the real world.

Triotech’s CEO and president, Ernest Yale says, “Fremont Street Experience is a tourist destination known for its unmatched variety of entertainment, making it the perfect home for this futuristic, immersive, interactive attraction”.

It definitely seems that the level of authenticity will be unmatched with visitors expected to recognise many of the scenes and characters from the hit AMC TV show. Expect a lot of walkers and heaps of scary stuff!

 

Crash Bandicoot: The Complete History

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With the current N.Sane appetite for all things Crash Bandicoot, Slope’s Games Room’s Daniel Ibbertson thought the time was nigh to delve into the complete history of Australia’s favourite insectivorous marsupial.

So crash on your couch and watch this 40 minute Crash Bandicoot documentary – it leaves no stone unturned!


source: Daniel Ibbertson

 

NES Classic Hoodie: Now You Can Wear The Power!

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Merchoid, the videogame merchandise specialist, has revealed their new official ‘Nintendo NES Classic Hoodie’.

Inspired by the classic gaming console, which saw a limited re-release last year, the hoodie is available to preorder from Merchoid now for £44.99/€54.99/$54.99 and ships in September (shipping is free to anywhere on the planet!). Featuring clean lines, body panelling, two front pockets and NES button detailing on the front, its elegant design will ensure it becomes an instant classic.

Merchoid’s Community Manager Jessica Adams says of the new hoodie “Re-enter an 8-bit 80s wonderland, where Mario is king, gloves are controllers and some of the best gaming experiences are a cartridge push away. And what better way to embrace your 80s nostalgia than representing your favorite console in one stylish hoodie? Now you’re playing with power!”

The ‘Nintendo: NES “Console Inspired Hoodie’ is available to preorder from Merchoid.com now.

Key features of ‘Nintendo: NES Console Inspired Hoodie’.

  • New design based on the NES Console
  • Available to preorder from Merchoid.com now for £44.99/€54.99/$54.99
  • Officially licensed by Nintendo
  • Releases September 2017

source: Merchoid

 

Things That Go Bump in the Night: The Spooky Pinball Story

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From little things, big things grow. This is definitely the case with Spooky Pinball.

In a little rural Wisconsin town called Benton where the population is a smidgen under 1,000 people, we witness what the power of family, friends and community can achieve when they all work together towards a common goal. Charlie Emery’s vision of making his own pinball machines was a big risk, but he was never going to be swayed by all the people that told him he was mad for leaving his secure job of 20 years to pursue his dream.

Joel and Dana Reeves’ Things That Go Bump in the Night: The Spooky Pinball Story chronicles the story of how Spooky Pinball came to be, from its very humble beginnings with their podcast, its hardships in starting up the manufacturing of pinball machines to its eventual and continued success.

With unprecedented access to the Emery household, key folks from Benton and pinball industry luminaries, this documentary weaves a narrative that keeps you glued from start to finish. From Chuck’s re-theming of Firepower II to Godzilla and chance meeting with DIY extraordinaire Ben Heck (Heckendorn) at the Midwest Gaming Classic in 2011, to America’s Most Haunted, Domino’s Pinball Adventure and Rob Zombie Spookshow pinball table productions, you live through the ups and downs of being a pinball manufacturer.

If you are into documentaries that delve into the resilience and determination of people that strive to succeed in the boom-or-bust world of pinball manufacturing no matter what, then Things The Go Bump In the Night: The Spooky Pinball Story cannot be missed! Get on Vimeo right now and rent (or buy) this film – you will love it!

Oh yeah, we have our fingers crossed that Spooky Pinball will produce Ben Heck’s dream machine, Bible Adventures with its numbered modes; Adam and Eve 2-ball multi-ball where every shot scores except for the apple, 40 days and nights of flood, 40 years in the wilderness, 7 deadly sins, 10 Commandments and the 10 Plagues of Egypt – what’s there not to like!

Film: Things That Go Bump in the Night: The Spooky Pinball Story
Where: Vimeo
Released: June 30, 2017
Duration: 1 hour 4 minutes + bonus features
Price: Rent AUD$5.20 or Buy AUD$11.72

source: Things That Go Bump Movie

 

Retro Hunting In Spa Country

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Ms ausretrogamer and I hit spa country in north western Victoria on a fine winter’s day a few weekends ago.

From the Daylesford Sunday Market to local vintage bazaars and The Amazing Mill Markets in Ballarat and Daylesford, we found vintage goodies that warmed our cockles.