The Pop-Culture E-Zine
We got quite giddy when we came across John Henderson’s tweet depicting his bitmap creation of Palace Software’s Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior as C64 Barbarian He-Man Edition.
To say we hope this coding continues to fully recreate the ultimate slash’em up game on the C64, is an understatement! I have the POWER!
[image and story source: John Henderson via Twitter]
The ultimate 2D Fighting game showdown: Mortal Kombat VS. Street Fighter!
This is it peeps, choose your side, either Capcom’s venerable Street Fighter or the gore-fest from Midway Games (now Warner Bros.), Mortal Kombat. Chun Li versus Kitana, Ryu taking on Raiden, Blanka versus Jax – which franchise will deliver the final fatality? Finish him!
source: Untitled Animation via Facebook
We’ve featured the LEGO Ideas Futurama ship on here before, so of course we got excited when we saw the another LEGO Ideas based on Futurama!
This time though, we have the Futurama Headquarters, the crew and the Planet Express spaceship featured in one awesome LEGO Ideas playset!
You better hurry though, you have almost 2 years left to vote! 😉
source: LEGO Ideas
Have you ever dreamed of raiding a warehouse full of arcade machine we used to play back in the day?
Well, that dream is now a reality, thanks to Dubbo Arcade and Amusements! From looking at the photos on their Facebook page, we reckon they may have pretty much what most of us are after, either an old school arcade machine from the 80s or 90s, those hard to find arcade game boards, Hankin cocktail tables, or perhaps a jukebox or a pinball machine to tickle your nostalgic nerve.
Whatever you are after, we reckon a visit to Dubbo may be in order 😉
image source: Dubbo Arcade and Amusements via Facebook
Prepare to unravel the tangled tale of Woven, out now on the Nintendo Switch from the team at Alterego Games.
Woven is a rather laid back Adventure game with puzzle elements set in an adorable wooly and stitch filled world. Players take control of an unlikely hero named Stuffy, a well meaning but incredibly clumsy creature that stumbles across a strange mechanical firefly called Glitch. Together they will attempt to discover why all these metal machines have suddenly appeared, what has happened to all of Stuffy’s friends and Glitch’s missing memories. The game is accompanied by a charming storybook style rhyme, that tells the story of our heroes as players progress through the land. By collecting blueprints and using the knitting machines spread throughout each world, players will reshape Stuffy into various different animal designs to solve puzzles and traverse obstacles. Becoming strong animals will allow players to move heavy objects and becoming nimble characters will increase players movement options.
Stuffy starts off as an elephant but quickly players will begin to find blueprints for various other animals from aardvarks to giraffes and deer. Although there are dozens of different animals there is only a handful of required skills, this means lots of animal skills overlap leaving it up to the player to find and use the animals that they love. It is possible to mix and match body parts and fabric types however players see fit, making each version of stuffy as unique as you. A keen eye and exploration is certainly rewarded as hidden throughout the world are a myriad of different blueprints and fabrics for players to use.
Controls are fairly simple and most puzzles can be worked out with ease meaning that players both young and old can enjoy Woven. We did find a handful of rather ambiguous puzzles that took us a little bit longer to figure out than they should have but this certainly didn’t ruin our experience. The world surrounding our heroes is adorable and relaxing for the most part and we found it an enjoyable place to explore and observe with lots of nice little touches spread around.
Woven is a delightful and charming adventure game with a few simple flaws that prevents it from being perfect. Players that crave the simplicity and fun from classic puzzle platformers will thoroughly enjoy every seam and stitch in Woven’s unique world.
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Mat Panek, Chief Reporter
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: Woven [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by PR Hound for this review.
Location pinball is experiencing a renaissance where the silverball game is popping up at more locations in and around one of the world’s most liveable city. If you want to get your pinball fix you may want to check out these establishments.
THE PINBALL PARLOUR (Located inside Man Cave Madness at 4/1813 Sydney Road, Campbellfield)
Melbourne’s newest and biggest pinball venue! Over 45 machines and growing. Classics from the 70s, 80s, 90s and latest and greatest pinball machines. Open every Saturday and Sunday with two, two hours sessions per day! Prices start at $30 for adults / $20 for kids.
BARTRONICA (335 Flinders Lane, Melbourne)
Right in the heart of the Central Business District (CBD) of Melbourne, Batronica is the place to be seen at. The renovated venue (titled: Batronica 2.0) has made playing pinball (and arcade) machines even easier while you enjoy a drink.
MOON DOG WORLD (32 Chifley Drive, Preston)
This brewery can accommodate 700 patrons spread across its massive floor space which sports an indoor lagoon, a bar equipped with 72 taps, a beer garden, a hidden tiki bar, a waterfall and best of all, pinball machines!
GENERAL PUBLIC (366 Boundary Rd, Dingley Village)
Home of the Bayside Pinball Club, this awesome venue has it all, from great food, lots of fun attractions, including bowling and of course beautifully maintained pinball machines for you to flip to your heart’s content. But wait, there is more – there is another General Public in Frankston with more pinball action (16-22 Playne St, Frankston).
B. LUCKY & SONS (Level 3/211 La Trobe St, Melbourne)
It may only have one pinball machine inside, but B. Lucky & Sons quirky arcade is so cool with other distractions, you won’t want to leave. Oh yeah, the big plus is that it is inside Melbourne Central located on the entertainment level, level 3!
FORTRESS MELBOURNE (enter via Shop 25, Lower Ground, Emporium Shopping Centre)
Open 7 days a week, Fortress Melbourne is Australia’s largest video games venue with a smattering of pinball machines in their Arcade Alley area. Entry is always free, so do yourself a favour, when in the CBD, hit up Fortress Melbourne, you may never leave!
MARVEL STADIUM (740 Bourke St, Docklands)
If you are heading out to the footy at Marvel Stadium, why not hit the pins there too. They currently have Deadpool, Spider-Man Vault Edition and Avengers: IQ!
TIMEZONE (various shopping centre locations: Highpoint, Knox, Forest Hill and Craigieburn)
That old staple is starting to add more and more pinball amongst their arcade and redemption machines – which is a good thing! Know and Forest Hill have a lineup of multiple newer Stern pinball machines, which we hope means other Timezones will follow suit.
BRAYBROOK HOTEL (353 Ballarat Rd, Braybrook)
In the heart of the west, you’ll find a Guardian Of The Galaxy (GOTG) pinball machine and some bronze statues of a couple of Footscray Football Club’s legendary players.
ARCADE GARAGE (518-530 High St, Northcote)
Arcade Garage Northcote is Melbourne’s largest retro arcade with more than 60 machines (including a handful of pinball machines) available to play spanning from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s+.
HIGHPOINT HOTEL (Level 1 Tenancy 10, Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong)
If Timezone Highpoint’s pinball machine doesn’t tickle your fancy, then walk around the corner to the Highpoint Hotel where you can play NBA Jam and some cool Stern pinball machines.
FUNDERDOME (inside Hoys Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong)
Looks like Highpoint Shopping Centre is the place to be, with not one, but three venues sporting pinball machines (Highpoint Hotel, Timezone and Funderdome)! Funderdome has Stern favourites, Deadpool, The Munsters and Black Knight: Sword of Rage – all at $2.50 per game.
THE DONCASTER HOTEL (855 Doncaster Road, Doncaster)
According to our intel, Bob’s Diner at The Doncaster Hotel has two machines for your enjoyment!
RIDDELLS CREEK HOTEL (10-12 Hamilton St, Riddells Creek)
Heading out of Melbourne? Stop by this hotel to get some Grand Prix pinball action with your beer and burger!
KARTING MADNESS (Factory 9/841 Mountain Hwy, Bayswater)
Don’t let the name of this place fool you, Karting Madness also has a mad collection of pinball machines that will keep you occupied for quite a while.
PEACOCK INN HOTEL (210 High St, Northcote)
This sleek venue serves up a couple of pinball machines amongst their gastropub menu. Oh yeah, they also have a beer garden when you need to take a break from flipping.
THE HAWTHORN HOTEL (481 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn)
With its wood-paling bar, bistro food, trivia and karaoke, it’s amazing that this comfy pub could fit in any pinball – luckily, they do!
TOWER HOTEL (686 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn East)
With $7 schooners, Stern’s Mustang and Star Trek, you are all set for some cool pinball action.
THE OLYMPIC HOTEL (31 Albert St, Preston)
If you are heading out to Preston, then you can get some dinosaur pinnie action on Stern’s Jurassic Park!
TAYLORS LAKES HOTEL (7 Melton Hwy, Taylors Lakes)
Hit the family hotel for some good food, good drinks and of course, pinball.
COMMERCIAL HOTEL (111 Walton Street, Werribee)
Situated 35km west of the city, the Commercial Hotel offers a couple of pinball machines to be enjoyed while watching live sports and having a tipple.
RETREAT HOTEL (280 Sydney Road, Brunswick)
Head toward the back of the Retreat for a special surprise – pinball. With live music , craft beer on tap and hearty pub grub, you can’t really go wrong.
GRANDVIEW HOTEL (429 Heidelberg Road, Fairfield)
This 130+ year old triple story grand Victorian hotel will keep your hands occupied, both with drinks and pinball.
THORNBURY EXPRESSO COFFEE BAR (792 High Street, Thornbury)
A café with pinball? Yep, enjoy a coffee and perhaps an ice-cream while also playing some pinball in this ultra casual and cool cafe.
THE SALOON BARCADE (273-274 Nepean Hwy, Edithvale)
With locally brewed craft beers, cocktails, wine, spirits, and of course, PINBALL (arcade and pool), The Saloon Barcade is the place to be if you are out Edithvale way! Oh yeah, for those with the munchies, there are the staples, pizza, burgers and pasta too.
Oh yeah, another pro-tip is to check out your local AMF Bowling Centre and the foyer of Hoyts or Village Cinemas, as they usually have at least one (or more) pinball machines!
This was never going to be an exhaustive list, but it should get you started playing pinball in and around Melbourne. Due to the nature of locations changing their lineup or removing machines, this ‘Where to play pinball’ list is correct as at the time of publishing. We’ll endeavour to update this post as new locations pop up (and remove the ones that no longer have pinball machines).
If you appreciate what we do, please feel free to show your appreciation via the ausretrogamer virtual tip jar 🙂
Scandinavian flick your way into WRC 8 on the Nintendo Switch, out now from the team at Kylotonn.
Being the official game of the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship means that WRC 8 has a lot to live up to and it is ready to prove itself. WRC 8 features a heavily redesigned career mode that includes an in-depth research and development skill tree as well as team and Calendar management. This gives players some fantastic options on how to run a team however they choose to suit their play style. Players can dictate which practice sessions are participated in to hone their skills and which aspects of the car and team they wish to invest in. The main campaign has 2 different modes including Front-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive depending on how much of a challenge players are after. Apart from the campaign there is also the standard versus, practice or time trial modes to play. Additionally, Kylotonn has brought back the WRC eSport events to participate in weekly for those that like an extra challenge.
Featuring 14 Rallies and over 100 stages, there is plenty for players to sink their teeth into. The new dynamic weather system means that race preparation is crucial to gaining the upper hand. Rain and snow will visibly start to gather on the track and cause variation in the vehicle’s handling and traction, leading to some pretty hairy situations if you are not prepared. Rally is a tough sport and those not used to the driving style and skill required will definitely feel the pressure even at easier difficulties.
Graphics take a real hit in handheld mode but this is to be expected on the switch, while docked the graphics are notably improved and look great. Vehicle selection in the base game does feel a bit limited with only a handful of extra vehicles available outside of the major teams. Other vehicles are available to purchase depending on player preference but it would have been nice to have a few more of them included.
Fans of the WRC games and rally overall will love what WRC 8 has to offer the series but more casual racers may feel a little daunted. The Nintendo Switch has been craving some serious racing simulations since it’s release and WRC 8 is ready to deliver.
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Mat Panek, Chief Reporter
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: WRC 8 [Nintendo Switch eShop code] was kindly provided by HomeRun PR for this review.
Read Only Memories is a new cyberpunk noir comic being published by IDW, based in the universe of the game with the same name. Set in the time between the first game and the upcoming title Read Only Memories: Neurodiver, the story follows the character of Lexi Rivers, previously a detective and now a private investigator. Starting off the story we see Lexi posing as a reporter in an attempt to see if her clients wife is being unfaithful and giving some nice insights into the character of Lexi and the world of Read Only Memories. Upon returning to her apartment, Lexi is confronted with a robot whose significant other has gone missing and requires her help in tracking him down.
Read Only Memories quickly pulls the reader into the corrupt and intriguing world thanks to some nice bread crumbs and story hooks from the talented storyteller, Sina Grace. Also helping to draw in the reader is the gorgeous artwork by Stefano Simeone, that gives some wonderful contrast between the bright neon metropolis and the dark underbelly of Santa Cruz. Simeone’s art is simple yet expertly effective in helping to evoke real emotion and depth from the characters and their surroundings.
Whether you are a fan of the games or just looking for some good cyberpunk noir, Read Only Memories is one comic you should certainly keep on your radar.
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Mat Panek, Chief Reporter
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: Read Only Memories [comic] was kindly provided by Stride PR for this review.
Let’s start by saying we don’t condone illegal graffiti. However, when graffiti is welcomed as street art and makes a societal impact, we definitely take note.
The /r/Graffiti Reddit thread is one place that is full of great graffiti, some topical with recent events, and some tugging on our nostalgic heartstrings.
Here are a few that caught our eye, even the freight train carriage with the three-button NES controller! Check out the rest on Reddit.
image source: reddit – /r/Graffiti
Who would have thought it, paper craft models of some of the most iconic classic gaming consoles and computers!
The best part of these paper craft designs is that even peeps like us can follow the instructions without fear of breaking anything rare that we couldn’t replace.
No matter your classic gaming tastes, artists and designer, Rocky Bergen has you covered, from the Amiga 500, Sega Master System, TRS-80 Model III to the ZX Spectrum, Atari ST and even the glorious Sharp X68000 amongst many many others!
So what are you are you waiting for, get printing, cutting and crafting!
image source: Rocky Bergen