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PAX Aus 2019 was a Classic

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Wow, PAX Aus 2019 was an absolute blast! What a great 3 days. We just wish it went for longer.

The Classic Gaming area was busy with many attendees coming in and enjoying everything that was on offer; from classic gaming systems, vintage handhelds, to old school arcade and pinball machines. The Australian Pinball Museum display exhibit was a new addition in the pinball section which proved popular due to never before seen items, like the 10 metre bill of material print out from the Fish Tales pinball machine (it cost just under US$1800.00). But wait, that wasn’t all, the display pieces in the console section were yet again getting a lot of attention, especially Shane Battye’s very exotic development kits and prototype systems.

It is always great to get recognition from BIG gaming companies. Thanks PlayStation Australia!


To see attendees enjoying some nostalgia and having fun with their friends and family is exactly why we love putting together the Classic Gaming area every year at PAX Aus.

If you could not attend PAX Aus 2019 or you just want to reminisce, here are our highlights from an action packed three days – make sure you scroll slowly through the photos to take it all in!

On behalf of the PAX Aus Classic Gaming team**, thanks to all who swung by to have a game and say hello. We hope to see you guys in 2020!

PS: Keep an eye out for our Rest of PAX Aus 2019 Highlights post in the coming days!

** PAX Aus Classic Gaming team and contributors: Ausretrogamer, Weird And Retro, Press Play On Tape Podcast, Bartronica, Skott K. & Zax Amusements, Bayside Pinball Club, Mr. Pinball Australia, Australian Pinball Museum, Greg Pell, Cameron Bonde & Chris Van Graas.

Walk-through the Classic Gaming Area

Amazing historical pinball items on show in the Classic Gaming area!

 

Hope to see you all at PAX AUS 2020!

 

Meet Analogue Pocket: The Game Boy, Atari Lynx, Game Gear and Neo Geo Pocket Color Killer

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Oh wow, we hope you are sitting down for this! Let us introduce you to Analogue Pocket™

If you know about or have any of Analogue’s consoles, like the Mega Sg, Nt Mini or Super Nt, you know that their Pocket handheld will be one special and amazing gaming unit.

First and foremost, the Analogue Pocket is not another handheld that will just play ROMs! No sirree, this multi-video-game-system portable handheld will be able to play over 2,700 Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance game cartridges. So don’t throw out or sell those carts, because the Pocket will be able to play them all! Oh yeah, the Analogue Pocket will also have a digital audio workstation (called Nanoloop) with a built-in synthesizer and sequencer – a tribute to portable gaming!

But wait, there is more! As if this thing wasn’t already mouthwatering enough, the Pocket will also have cartridge adaptors in the future for you to play other handheld systems’ carts, like the Sega Game Gear, Neo Geo Pocket Color, Atari Lynx and others! There will also be a special dock (future release) allowing you to output your games to a TV and charge the console at the same time – you’ll also be able to use Bluetooth or wired controllers when the Pocket is docked.

Engineered with two Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), the Analogue Pocket will allow developers to create and port their own work to the handheld. Basically, once the Analogue Pocket is in the hands of users, it’s going to get even better! Wow, when we hear FPGA (no emulation!), we know this thing is going to blow everything away in the handheld market!

The Analogue Pocket is slated for a 2020 release at a cost of US$199.00. To say we want one would be the biggest understatement ever!

Analogue Pocket Tech Specs:

  • FPGA-based system (two FPGAs inside)
  • Compatible with Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance game cartridges (Using special adaptors, you’ll also be able to play Atari Lynx, Sega Game Gear and SNK Neo Geo Pocket Color titles on the machine in the future)
  • 3.5″ LTPS LCD. 1600×1440 resolution. 615ppi
  • Rechargeable lithium ion battery
  • All buttons mappable
  • Stereo Speakers
  • microSD
  • USB-C charging
  • 3.5mm headphone output
  • Original Game Boy-style link plug

image source: Analogue

 

Inferno 2 – Nintendo Switch Review

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Time to blast your way through waves of enemies in Inferno 2, the latest from 2Awesome Studio / Radiangames out now on Nintendo Switch.

Inferno 2 is a high action, fast paced twin stick shooter with RPG elements that feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch. Players control a ship that must navigate through various levels of increasing difficulty against scores of enemies that will fill the screen. Upgrades can be unlocked that increase damage, range and number of bullets fired as well as special powers like a repulsor or speed boost that need to be activated for a short time. Enemies vary from kamikaze drones to burst firing seekers that will track you down where possible. Players also have access to drones that will surround your ship and fire at enemies and absorb damage, the number of drones active can also be upgraded. Weapon upgrades can be chosen in any order leaving players free to customise their ship for individualised play styles.

Levels in Inferno 2 are coloured in a dark blue hue, while the player, enemies and other objects are contrasted with very bright and vibrant colours. The aesthetics work very well together and gives the game a certain “Tron” feel while also making it very easy to distinguish between threats and other objects. The soundtrack has a subdued feel that matches the look and feel of the levels while also complementing the various sound effects that are constantly occurring.

Inferno 2 has it’s mechanics and controls perfectly dialed in, even amongst all the chaos, making it feel tight and responsive at all times. Each level can generally be completed in a few minutes, often leading to a “just one more level” feeling that can have players glued to their switch for long stretches of time. With the addition of boss battles, local co-op and a new game plus mode, there is certainly plenty here for players to sink their teeth into.

A simple but rewarding game, Inferno 2 is a very refined example of the twin stick genre that expands on the simple format with some interesting and welcomed upgrade paths. With the amount of replayability on offer, Inferno 2 it is a game with a great deal of value in a stylish little package.

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Mat Panek, Chief Games Reviewer
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Inferno 2 [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by 2Awesome Studio for this review.

 

 

Heave Ho – Nintendo Switch Review

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Get ready to throw your weight around in Heave Ho the latest title from Le Cartel Studio, available on the Nintendo Switch and PC.

Heave Ho is a wacky and chaotic game where up to 4 players can compete or work together in the simple task of making it to the finish. Players use the shoulder buttons to grab the world around them and move the thumbstick to direct their arms and body. From the starting point, players will flail their way by gripping, climbing, swinging and flinging themselves across the screen to the finish in the hope of not plummeting to their death. If a player dies, they are taken back to the start or to a nearby checkpoint in longer round ending levels. Solo mode is good fun and allows players to play through the various levels at their own pace but co-operative mode is where the game really shines, making and more often breaking friendships. As players tug and tussle their way across the screen things can quickly go from bad to worse and on numerous occasions we found ourselves holding our breath or crying out in disbelief as we all plummeted to our doom.

In co-operative mode there are tokens placed around that must be grabbed and carried to the exit, usually requiring at least 2 players to succeed. Hidden mini games are also available for players if they can pull a golden rope within a short window of time, succeeding in those games will also reward tokens. Tokens can be used to unlock further cosmetic items from a lucky dip on the main menu. Players get to choose a colour and costume that reflects them before they begin, from simple facial features like hair or beards to full outfits like clowns or cowboys. There are also a handful of Devolver Digital Easter egg outfits to unlock.

The art style is kept purposefully simple which helps highlight platforms, obstacles and hazards but also looks fantastic and adds to the wacky aesthetics. Contrasting colours and simple shapes means that even the novice gamer can join in and have some fun. Controls can sometimes feel a bit fiddly or awkward but it does feel as this was done on purpose to add to the frantic nature of the game which is fine in co-operative but not so much in solo mode. Every time a new round is started from the menu and players choose their character, a quick tutorial can also be played which is great for new players. Game difficulty also has a steady ramp up to it that teaches the mechanics and new puzzle elements nice and gradually. Once all the main levels are completed, a far more sinister set of alternate levels are also unlocked that adds a myriad of extra hazards to every level in the game.

Heave Ho is an amazingly simple but rewarding party game that will have groups in tears of both joy and sadness. It is a game that shouldn’t be missed, that will easily make it on to a group’s regular party game rotation.

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Mat Panek, Chief Games Reviewer
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Heavo Ho [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by PowerUp PR for this review.

 

 

See You at PAX Aus 2019!

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Hey guys, if you are heading to PAX Aus 2019, come on over to the Classic Gaming area to get your hit of nostalgia. For the competitive types, there will be tournaments too, so make sure you check the tournament schedule and get your waggle on.

Oh yeah, we definitely don’t bite, so please come by and say hi!

PS: We will be posting live (lots of pics!) on Twitter and Facebook from this great event. So make sure you follow along 🙂

 

Calling All Women and Non-Binary Pinball Lovers: Melbourne Silverbelles & Chimes Tournament at Flipout 2019

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We love Belles & Chimes Melbourne! It’s a women’s pinball league open to all women (cis and trans) and non-binary people. They run fun pinball comps and events in Melbourne and welcome players of all skill levels, including beginners.

In big news, Belles & Chimes Melbourne has teamed up with Melbourne Silverball to run the first ever Melbourne Silverbelles & Chimes pinball tournament during the upcoming Flipout 2019 pinball festival (October 25-27, Sandbelt Hotel, 630 South Road Moorabbin).

Like all Belles & Chimes events, the tournament is open to all women and non-binary people only. And you’ll get plenty of pinball action with all participants playing a total of 8 machines in groups of 4. Scores will be awarded for 1st to 4th place. Highest scores after 8 rounds will play the FIRST EVER women’s final at the Flipout. And the cherry on top: cash prizes for the top 3 finalists!

Tickets for the Belles & Chimes tournament are $20 and include general admission entry to Flipout which gives access to the 100+ old and new pinball machines!

Tournament details: Saturday Oct 26th 2019, qualifying from 6pm onward, followed by finals (note: Flipout Festival is open 10am to 11pm on Saturday).

For more info contact Belles and Chimes Melbourne and join the FB group to make sure you don’t miss any future B&C events.

Flyer by menteurmenteur

photo source: heather via Belles & Chimes Melbourne on Instagram

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msausretrogamerMs. ausretrogamer
Editor, Writer and Photographer 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

 

 

KRULL Pinball at Pinball Expo 2019

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If you needed a reason to head to Chicago for Pinball Expo 2019, well this may be the reason!

Troy Smith (MTZ Arcade) will have his ultra super duper rare (High End Pins (HEP) restored!) KRULL pinball machine (based on the 80s sci-fi cult film) at his booth for attendees to drool over.

image source: MTZ Arcade

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Pinball Press
Pinball Press is here to spread the word on everything pinball across the known universe. For business / PR email: [email protected]

Follow Pinball Press on Twitter and Facebook

 

 

 

Through the Moongate – Part II: Story of Richard Garriott and Origin Systems

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Programmer, entrepreneur, astronaut, explorer. Richard Garriott is one of the most well-known personalities in the video game industry, and one of the last of its pioneers still in the business. Ultima, the revolutionary series of role-playing games he designed, and Origin Systems Inc., the company he co-founded in 1983, are inextricably linked to the history of videogames.

Over the last four decades, Garriott has worked alongside and collaborated with many influential people in the gaming industry. Origin Systems, in the years that it operated, was an incubator of sorts; many well-known game developers got their start at Origin. And as computer technology moved from punch cards to the PC, from 2D line art to 3D graphics, and from offline play to the internet, the games produced by Garriott and Origin were a driving force of innovation in an industry characterised by continuous, rapid evolution.

Through the Moongate: The Story of Richard Garriott, Origin Systems Inc. and Ultima is a comprehensive, organic work of research – the first of its kind – on the history and impact that Garriott and Origin have had on the gaming industry. Within its pages, the author Andrea Contato has retold the story of Garriott’s entire creative career, from his first games to his most recent: Shroud of the Avatar.

A painstakingly researched study of character and history, Through the Moongate recollects the memories of friends, associates, and employees of Richard Garriott and Origin Systems, giving the reader a truly privileged point of view. Many of the stories in the book are new, having never been shared before, and all serve to give the reader an intimate understanding one of the most eclectic personalities in the videogame industry.

The work, detailed and complex, is divided into two volumes: the first covered the career of Garriott from Akalabeth through Ultima VI, the second will cover the period from Wing Commander and Ultima VII to Portalarium . Through the Moongate includes dozens of interviews with notable figures in the world of videogames, such as Warren Spector, Paul Neurath, Siobban Beeman, Al Nelson, Starr Long and many others,and is illustrated with previously-unpublished images from the collections of Enrico Ricciardi and Richard Garriott.

Embellished with new artwork by Denis Loubet and Manda, Through the Moongate is a must-have book for Ultima fans, and those fascinated by the history of video games.

The production of the first book was kickstarted in 2018 and the final product was delivered during summer 2019. We were very happy of having delivered the book in the promised time. Right now Part 2 is running on Kickstarter. The crowdfunding campaign was an instant success and the funding goal was reached in 1 day and 6 minutes. That prompted us to ask our backers for some input on further stretch goals. Those that were planned, were hit in less than a week. While writing these lines, the crowdfunding campaign just started its second half, but already reached €36,000+ thanks to 328 backers.

PS: You can check out / buy part 1 of Through the Moongate here.

Press release supplied by Andrea Contato.

 

The Complete History of Sega World

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Ah, Sega World Sydney – wish we had visited! Image source: Sega World Sydney Memoriam

If there is one regret we have, it’s that we didn’t get to visit Sega World in Darling Harbour (Sydney) before it was closed down.

The next best thing was to find Badnik Mechanic’s awesome video on the history of Sega World. Sega had planned to revolutionise arcades forever with their new arcade / theme park concept. Unfortunately Sega failed, but the story of Sega World’s creation needed to be told.

Sit back for the next quarter of an hour and take in some 1990s Sega goodness – you may learn something new too!


source: Badnik Mechanic

 

Oz Comic-Con Sydney 2019 Highlights

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We were lucky enough to attend Oz Comic Con 2019 in Sydney and take in all the amazing sights and sounds! There were plenty of regular favourites and a few newcomers that shows just how much conventions are growing in popularity. Another very welcome addition we noticed was the increasingly family friendly nature these cons are becoming, with a scribble wall and colouring corners for kids!

There was a strong presence from the ESL (eSports League Australia) which is always good to see and they had live competitions running all weekend. The Southern Cross Garrison of the 501st Imperial Legion was also out in force, bringing some impressive cosplay from both sides of the force including Stormtroopers, Wookiees and Tauntauns! 

The artists corner was buzzing with activity, allowing upcoming artists to show off their skills and sell some of their merchandise. Lots of booths filled to the brim with pop culture goodies spread themselves throughout both the halls. We were also lucky enough to stumble onto some retro goodies that included figures, vehicles and playsets from Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters and Masters of the Universe. 

Just in case you missed out on all the fun we brought you some highlights!

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Mat Panek, Chief Games Reviewer
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch