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Wahoo, Super Mario Bros. Wonder Has Arrived!

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It’s-a Me, Mario!

Woohoo, or should that be Wa-hoo? Either way, we are rapt that our Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo Switch) game has arrived!

Can’t wait to get stuck into this new Super Mario game and explore all the new stuff, like new power-ups, mysterious transformations and customising our powers to each course’s features!

So much to discover! Oh well, at least you’ll know where we’ll be today and for the rest of this weekend. Happy gaming peeps!

This little cart will be stuck in our Switch for a while!



Jersey Jack Pinball’s ELTON JOHN Pinball Is Unleashed at Pinball Expo ’23

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It’s been a bumper Pinball Expo 2023 with new pinball machines being released, left, right and centre! Not to be outdone, the world’s second largest pinball manufacturer, Jersey Jack Pinball has unleashed their latest machine at Pinball Expo, Elton John Pinball!

Designed by The Master Of Flow, Steve Ritchie, Elton John Pinball features hand-drawn artwork packages from artists Christopher Franchi, John Youssi and Jean-Paul De Win. The machine’s rules and software design were done by industry veteran Bill Grupp.


source: Jersey Jack Pinball

This new JJP game will truly be music to your ears, with 16 Elton John studio master tracks with custom voice callouts by Elton John himself. Elton John Pinball will come in two models, a Platinum and Collector’s Edition, both consisting of feature packed playfields, including an interactive Elton John toy, a rocket sculpture with LED flames, a Tiny Dancer motorized toy, a Crocodile Rock physical lock toy, a grand piano three-ball lock with diverter, a micro LED piano marquee, 14 multi-LED star inserts, Rocka-Box three-bank drop targets, three multi-LED Bennie and the Jets bumpers, two rapid spinner targets, and much much more!

We must admit, Elton John didn’t really appeal to us (as a theme), but after seeing what JJP have produced, we reckon they are on a winner!

Pricing:

  • Platinum Edition US$12,000
  • Collector’s Edition US$15,000

NOTE: No Australian pricing available at the time of publication.

Collector’s Edition

Platinum Edition

image source: Jersey Jack Pinball



Hey Analogue, Forget The N64 3D FPGA Console, Just Get Our Old Orders To Us!

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With yesterday’s news about their next console, the Analogue 3D (a Nintendo 64 FPGA system), Analogue is once again betting that its customers will jump on board and will remain silent while waiting for their future promised system to be delivered at some indeterminate date – and there in lies the rub! No longer can we be excited about an Analogue system we have no idea when it will arrive!

Considering we have been loyal customers of Analogue, we do have to speak out about the length of time it takes to fulfill orders and their almost non-existent (or seldom) updates as you wait months (or years) for your paid-in-full order to be fulfilled. We speak from experience where our Analogue Pocket took 11 months from ordering to actually receiving it. Worse still, we ordered the Pocket (3 x) cartridge adapters pack last October (2022) and we are still waiting and have no idea if and when we will receive it – maybe Christmas, if we are lucky?!

We love our Analogue Pocket, but the wait for it was waaaaay to long!

Some will argue that Analogue only states rough timelines, like “shipping in Q3” or “coming in 2024”, however the issue we have is the lack of communication leading up to the point when they decide to actually ship items. As a customer, the expectation is that the retailer/supplier will keep you informed with regular updates, even if the items are late (due to whatever reason), we just want to know what is going on! The worst thing a company can do is remain silent and leave their customers in the dark – which Analogue does very well, unfortunately.

So, if you are in the market to order the Analogue 3D N64 system, be prepared for a long wait with absolute radio silence. Proceed with caution!

PS: We admit their products are great, but come on Analogue, please lift up your comms game (pun fully intended)!
PPS: Analogue does offer the buyer to cancel their order and get a refund, so that’s one positive, we guess.

Unfortunately, our Pocket Cartridge Adapter Pack is yet arrive 🙁
image source: Analogue



New Pinball Games To Be Revealed at Pinball Expo

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With Pinball Expo ’23 only a few days away, pinball manufacturers are clamouring to outdo each other in the new release stakes.

We already had Barrels of Fun announce their Labyrinth pinball game over the weekend (which will be playable at the expo), and now it’s Pinball Brothers’ turn with an Ellen Ripley edition of their Alien pinball machine. As Alien(s) fans, this definitely piques our interest!

This Ellen Ripley version of Alien pinball will come with new cabinet art, a loader battle translite, an updated software package (v4.0) and a bunch of extra movie scenes we have never seen in Alien Pinball before! Announcing their collaboration with modder Lior Rajwan from The Art of Pinball, this new machine will include hand-sculpted mini-screen, a hand-painted Xeno-head and a beautifully designed apron. Pinball Brothers are also planning an interactive topper which we hope they bring to the expo!

Alien Pinball – The Ellen Ripley Version

The Ellen Ripley Edition’s In-game Extras

Not to be outdone, Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP) will also announce Steve Ritchie’s next pinball machine on October 19 (US time), which is rumoured to be an Elton John music themed pin. We aren’t the biggest Elton John fans, but with Steve designing this one with a higher BoM (bill of materials), you can bet it will be an amazingly flowy (and possibly brutal) game, packed with cool mechs and toys – well, that’s the hope.

The Master of Flow – Steve Ritchie. JJP will showcase his latest game at Pinball Expo

Will it be Elton John? We’ll see on October 19 (US time)!

Oh how we wish we could be at Chicago this week to experience and play these new machines – if someone could fly us out to Chi-town, we’d be forever in their debt 😉



What I Love Most About Pinball and My Top 5 Favourite Games

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The silverball game lured me in 1986 and hasn’t let go since!

Have you ever stopped to think what you love most about the hobby you are really into? I must admit, I have never done that, but upon reflection, when I think about why I love pinball, it is of course the fun that it generates – there is nothing like flipping that shiny silverball into targets on the playfield, and the adrenaline rush you get when multi-ball kicks in – there is nothing quite like it! I have also loved (and still do) the pinball machine aesthetic – it is a work of art even when it sits there begging to be played. Equally, it is the people that you meet that have a mutual love for the same hobby you are into – I have made countless friends due to pinball, which makes it darn priceless to me. Oh yeah, the competition to get a high-score is another boon for pinball, but being a mediocre player, I tend to enjoy the socialising side of competition/tournament play.

Part of being into pinball is the ever difficult question of, “what are your favourite pinball games?”. This question is difficult as there are hundreds of games I enjoy on any given day, and with new releases coming out every year, it makes it even harder to pinpoint a favourite pinball machine.

As difficult as it is, I did promise Colin (Kineticist) that I would wrangle a top 5 list of games I really enjoy coming back to.

Here are my current top 5 pinball machines (which can change on whim!):

5. Star Trek LE (Stern)

As a Trekkie fan, I loved Steve Ritchie’s The Next Generation (Williams) widebody pinball machine, but with it becoming harder to find and play, it was Steve’s second bite at the Trek cherry with his 2013 Stern incarnation. The LE in particular was a stunning piece of art and more importantly, an absolute banger of a game. They don’t call Steve The Master of Flow for nothing!

4. Star Wars Premium (Stern)

Yep, another Steve Ritchie pinball game – do you see a pattern here? Star Wars (Prem/LE) isn’t particularly a flow-fest, and some don’t like it due to it being a drain monster, but the integration with the original movie trilogy with all of your fave scenes and characters are all there. The lightsaber battle with Vader, where all the playfield RGBs glow red (Vader) and blue (Obi-Wan) always get the heart racing. Oh yeah, I still reckon the hyperloop habitrail is still one of the best mechs in modern-day pinball (and hence why I only prefer the Prem/LE edition of this game)!

3. Dialed In (JJP)

Original themes aren’t as popular as back in the day (look at our number 2 fave game below!), but I still think Jersey Jack Pinball’s Dialed In is an amazing machine to play. Designed by the legendary, Pat Lawlor, this machine is full of innovations that (at the time) were well ahead of the competition, from the first-ever pinball machine to feature Bluetooth connectivity, a camera, to the additional player capabilities through a smart phone – which you could wreak havoc on your friends by taking control of the flippers with your mobile phone! I honestly still don’t get the theme (is it a city disaster you must avert), but I don’t care, Dialed In is one superlative pinball machine.

2. Medieval Madness (Williams)

I could have easily loaded this top 5 list with Brian Eddy games, from Medieval Madness, to Attack From Mars, The Shadow, Stranger Things and The Mandalorian, but that would constitute cheating.

When combining Brian Eddy’s design with the late (and great) Lyman F. Sheats Jr.’s coding prowess, you know you have a special pinball game. Brian and Lyman also worked on Attack From Mars, so you understand why these two machines in particular are still in many player’s top 5 lists. Medieval Madness has it all – an amazing flowing game with plenty to do and hit, some very cheesy dialogue and that amazing feeling you get when destroying the castle. Each shot on MM has purpose and doesn’t seem like a waste or like you are chopping wood, which is quite hard to say for many other pinball games.

1. The Walking Dead Pro (Stern)

TWD is Lyman F. Sheats Jr. magnum opus. The John Borg designed machine integrates the TWD theme quite well, with a unique look and feel playfield straight out of the first few seasons of the hit AMC series. But it is Lyman’s code that brings this beast to life – TWD is so deep, you probably need to own it for years and years before you get to see and experience every bit of Lyman’s amazing code. The machine isn’t the easiest to play (plenty of ways to drain), but it is balanced just right to keep you coming back to slay more Walkers! Having owned this machine since 2016, it is never going to leave our collection.

Just to be sneaky, if this was a top 10 list, then I would have also included America’s Most Haunted (Spooky), Haggis Pinball’s Celts, Spider-Man Vault Edition (Stern), Theatre Of Magic (Bally) and Monster Bash (Williams).

To say I can’t wait to play the latest games, like Labyrinth and Pulp Fiction would be a massive understatement. Pinball is in a good place right now (if only they could be cheaper). Now someone please make a Masters Of The Universe machine for me!

Long live the silverball game!!



Choose Your Fate in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth Pinball!

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Yep, you read that headline right, Barrels of Fun (BoF), a new pinball manufacturer based in Houston, Texas, is starting with an 80s banger of a pinball theme, Labyrinth!

This cult classic film from the 80s, featuring the iconic David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, is BoF’s inaugural pinball machine that will have you make your own adventure in Labyrinth. Made in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company, Labyrinth pinball aims to bring the world of the classic 1980s movie to life.

Quote from Barrels Of Fun about their first pinball machine:

Venture into the enchanting world of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth through the magic of collectible pinball! Limited to just 1,100 games worldwide, this unique experience will transport you to the heart of the Labyrinth, where fantasy and reality intertwine.


source: Barrels of Fun

Watching the trailer, we must admit that this machine has tickled our nostalgic nerve. Hearing David Bowie’s voice and seeing a lot of scenes from the movie being depicted on the playfield (and all the character sculpts!) and the LCD,is just so darn awesome.

Honestly, if we hadn’t ordered Pulp Fiction pinball, this would have been an easy decision to buy, even at the current crappy exchange rate. With 1,100 machines worldwide, we guarantee these will sell out (if not already!) before distributors start listing them on their sites. Choose your fate 😉

For those pinball aficionados scratching their heads about who is involved in building this machine, rest assured that some very clever pinball people have poured their heart and soul into this beauty, like David Van Es (CEO and Designer), Bowen Kerins (Code) and Scott Danesi (Sound/Music) to name just a few!

Some features of this awesome pinball machine to pique your interest:

  • Sculpted Goblin King Castle
  • Sculpted Goblin City and Hidden Ludo Toy
  • Goblin city, magnet Diverter
  • Goblin Gate Fork Trap
  • Humongous Smart Drop Target
  • Sculpted Humongous toy guard
  • Goblin Gate Spinner
  • Brick Keeper lift ramp and hidden home (scoop). Beware the Brick Keeper’s and their tricks
  • Begger Magnet
  • Bog Scoop
  • Helping hands scoop
  • Sir Didymus staff Up post. Befriend Sir Didymus and allow him to save your ball.
  • 3 ramps, goblin city wireform, metal right return ramp and wireform, and middle ramp
  • Two firey appearing toys
  • Sculpted Ello Worm Toy
  • Ello Appearing Post
  • Sculpted doors with knockers scene
  • Physical Ball Path Diverter
  • Sculpted Wise Man and Smart Drop Target. Complete his quests for special awards.
  • Wireform Skill Ramp with multiple Skill Shots
  • Mirror plastics
  • 14.9 LCD backboard for a true expanded world under glass
  • Playfield art by Johnny Bergeron aka Johnny Crap
  • Backglass featuring the goblin king himself, David Bowie by Nate Hallinan, or Mirrored “should you need us” alternative Backglass by Johnny Bergeron.
  • Powder coat pinball trim
  • Matching powder-coat LCD speaker panel with 15.6 LCD with labyrinth laser-cut speaker vents.
  • Light-up speakers
  • Crystal ball flipper buttons
  • Fanless power Supply
  • Fast Pinball controller System

For for our Australian audience, if you are after one of the 1,100 machines, get onto Mr. Pinball Australia right away, as the Australian allocation is bound to sell out quick!

image source: Barrels of Fun



10 Years Of Classic Gaming at PAX Aus

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Cheers to 10 years of inducing intoxicating gaming nostalgia at PAX Aus!

Another PAX Aus is done and dusted, but this was no ordinary year, it was the 10th year the event had been held here in Melbourne (Australia, not Florida).

For this celebratory year, the Classic Gaming (CG) area was moved from its usual Freeplay section to the main Expo Hall, rubbing shoulders with modern AAA gaming heavyweights and indie devs.

Starting the Classic Consoles (as it was known back then) area in 2013 with Retrospekt, Retro Domination and our (Ausretrogamer) team, we knew it would be a hit with attendees of all ages – which not even Melbourne’s inclement July weather could stop anyone getting their nostalgia hit at the inaugural PAX Aus event.

Over the years, the Classic Gaming area has grown from strength to strength, with its popularity ensuring that it returns at every PAX Aus – with an even bigger floor space! The inaugural teams may no longer be involved, but the baton change with the Weird and Retro and the Press Play On Tape Podcast crew has ensured the growth and sustained popularity of the Classic Gaming area.

For the tenth anniversary, the Classic Gaming area didn’t disappoint, with a plethora of amazing machines from yesteryear to tickle every nostalgic nerve in the body. From all of our old favourites from the 8-bit and 16-bit era (hello Atari, Commodore, Sega and Nintendo) all the way through to some darn awesome old-school PC power – and whomever thought of using the Dance Dance Revolution mat to control your (Doom Slayer) character in Doom (cheekily christened Doom Doom Revolution) should be given a knighthood! We hear that we have to now call Aaron (aka: Blahjedi), Sir Aaron of Press Play On Tape podcast, from now on 😉

Doom Doom Revolution!


image & video source: Aaron ‘Blahjedi’ Clement – PPOT

Back in 2015, Skott Kellett proposed to include pinball in the Classic Gaming area, which was an instant hit! The pinball section has now become a permanent fixture of the Classic Gaming area, ensuring gamers can get their mechanical hit via the silverball game. Skott is still the main wrangler of the pinball section, with games provided by Reality Games Australia, Mr Pinball Australia and the Australian Pinball Museum. We were lucky enough to experience some quite rare and hard to find pinball games, from Dutch Pinball’s The Big Lebowski, CGC’s Cactus Canyon Remake, Pinball Brothers‘ Queen, to American Pinball’s amazing Galactic Tank Force, complete with tank tracks and backbox turret!

But wait, there was more! PLAION Australia had the yet-to-be released Atari 2600+ console on display, which was impressive. We have been quite critical of Atari over the years, but even we are quite excited to get our hands on the new 2600+ console!

Last but not least, it is the people that bring the Classic Gaming area to life that we love the most, from the CG showrunning team members to the PAX Aus Enforcers, and the public that come in and reminisce with us about systems and games from a long long time ago.

See you at PAX Aus 2024!

We are going home – to the Classic Gaming Area!

Here are a few of the nostalgia inducing systems and displays!

Pinball in the Classic Gaming area is as popular as ever!

Classic Gaming is nothing without the awesome people that make it happen and for those that come and visit!



PAX Aus 2023 Cosplay Highlights

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It never ever ceases to amaze us how awesome the cosplay is at PAX Aus. After ten years of this marvelous event, you’d think we had seen it all, but no, each year delivers even more amazing cosplay, with 2023 being no exception!

Our amazing friend, Kelly Deluxe (also an avid retro gamer and pinball witch) has delighted us with her fantastic cosplay over the years, so of course we’ll lead into our cosplay highlights for 2023 with Kelly!

Sammie as Jester (Critical Role) & Kelly as Asuka Langley (Neon Genesis Evangelion)

If you thought the cosplay in 2023 were awesome, imagine how mind-blowing next year will be!

image sources: Ms. Ausretrogamer & Brant Raven



Pixelated Paradise: A Decade of Joysticks, Cosplay and Gaming Wonders at PAX Aus 2023

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The PAX Aus 2023 journey at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre felt like I stepped into a time portal where joy, games, and geekery merged into a jubilant celebration of a decade of gaming wonders. The electric excitement as I crossed the threshold suggested that this PAX edition would be an extraordinary ride through the heart of gaming culture. Little did I know that the days ahead would be a thrilling rollercoaster ride, offering glimpses into the past, present, and future of a community deeply woven into the global gaming fabric.

Immediately being hit with the Cosplay Symphony at PAX Aus felt like I went into a dimension where superheroes, villains, and characters from every possible universe came to life. Here,  commitment met imagination, and every area transformed into a photographer’s heaven. The cosplayers for the 10th anniversary weren’t just dressed up; they embraced the entire soul of a gaming culture that had become a global phenomenon.

The setting was always spectacular, with figures ranging from superheroes to mythical animals displaying unrivaled passion and ingenuity. Capturing those moments as a photographer was a dream come true, with each shot immortalizing the passion and enthusiasm of a group that had grown into a global phenomenon over the previous 10 years. At PAX Aus, the bright tapestry of costumes and characters was more than simply a visual spectacle; it was a live witness to the jaw-dropping ingenuity on exhibit, reflecting the essence of a culture that continued to extend the frontiers of imaginative expression inside the gaming world.

Exploring the colorful world of PAX Rising at PAX Aus 2023 was like discovering a treasure mine of hidden gaming delights. As devoted coders proudly presented their brainchildren to an eager audience, the lively marketplace of innovation unfolded. Navigating meticulously chosen booths plunged me into a sea of unique and imaginative titles, demonstrating the depth of innovation within the indie gaming sector. The energetic atmosphere, filled with innovators eager to share their dreams, produced a strong sense of community among indie developers and players who shared a love of gaming in its purest, most creative form.

What distinguished PAX Rising was its function as a springboard for the next great thing in gaming. It wasn’t simply a concert; it was a view into the future, where creativity and originality were emphasized. Each booth became a portal into a new realm, where revolutionary ideas and unique viewpoints challenged popular gaming conventions. PAX Rising was essentially a celebration of ingenuity, a monument to the boundless imagination that defines independent gaming. It demonstrated that the future of gaming is being fashioned not only by industry titans but also by the hearts and brains of intrepid independent creators carving their path into unknown realms of gaming brilliance.

The PC Freeplay area quickly became a popular destination for gamers, luring them into a world of limitless possibilities. Rows of computers, deliberately loaded with the best games available, stood like digital portals to vivid worlds just waiting to be explored. This interactive environment served not just as a gaming battleground but also as a community gathering place for gamers from various backgrounds. Friendships and alliances were formed and tested in virtual venues that crossed genres and eras. The shared camaraderie among users, where strangers became friends, engaging in epic battles or cooperative tasks that transcended the limits of the digital universe, genuinely distinguished this area. The PC Freeplay area was more than simply a place to play games; it was also a place to socialise.

Classic Gaming at PAX Aus 2023 was a nostalgic trip that transported me back to the golden age of video gaming. The collection of ancient consoles, which included a boxed Atari 2600, PlayStation 1 and 2, PC Engine, Spectrum, Vectrex, Sega consoles, and Nintendo’s Game Cube, created an enthralling museum of gaming history. It wasn’t just a static display of relics, though; it was an interactive trip into the origins of gaming culture.

What drew my attention the most were the numerous joysticks and control devices that had been properly placed out for participants to enjoy and experiment with. This hands-on approach to gaming history enabled fans to not only observe but also feel the evolution of interface design over time. Classic Gaming was a tactile investigation of the instruments that have formed our gaming experiences, from the simplicity of early joysticks to the ergonomic shapes of modern controllers. However, the nostalgia didn’t end there. Rare jewels like the 1976 Sheen 100 system, linked to an even rarer Panasonic TR-475U pop-up portable black and white TV, transported visitors to the origins of home gaming. Retro IBM and Apple PCs from the late ’80s and early to mid-’90s were represented, highlighting the humble beginnings of personal computing and its influence on gaming.

Furthermore, the Classic Gaming section didn’t just include consoles; it also had a fantastic selection of both older and contemporary pinball machines. For those who grew up in arcades, the distinct noises of flippers and bumpers, along with flashing lights, formed a symphony of remembrance. Classic Gaming at PAX Aus 2023 was more than just an exhibition of old hardware and  pixelated visuals; it was a celebration of the gaming industry’s ongoing legacy. It enabled me to bridge the generational divide by instilling a respect for the technological advances that have carried us from the pixelated landscapes of early games to the immersive worlds of today. I couldn’t help but wonder at how far gaming has come as I strolled through this time-traveling display, all while enjoying the everlasting delight that these great games continue to deliver.

If you preferred consoles, the Console Freeplay and Tournament rooms were a gaming haven. Battles in Tekken 8 were intense, and surprising victories brought an extra dimension of ferocity to the game experience. Meanwhile, handhelds provided a quiet yet communal environment. It was jam-packed with people engrossed in their own gaming worlds, emphasizing the perplexing social side of portable gaming.

The mood in the Let’s Dance area was fantastic. Imagine a never-ending stream of people dancing to the beat of their favorite songs – a throbbing hub of ecstasy that demonstrated that gaming is about more than pixels and polygons; it’s about the experience.

PAX Aus 2023 was a haven for speed running enthusiasts. Audiences were captivated by impressive speed runs, which demonstrated the expertise and precision required to learn games in record time. In the Tabletop section, analogue gaming demonstrated that it is not going away. In this digital age, board and card games took center stage, grabbing the hearts of visitors.

The Panels, albeit mostly full, provided a wisdom oasis for individuals looking for insights from industry professionals. However, with so much else going on, many guests were split between
panels and the plethora of other attractions.

In the VR Freeplay segment, virtual reality took center stage. Attendees had the opportunity to explore immersive virtual worlds, which brought a new depth to the gaming experience. Mean
while, the PAX XP Scavenger Hunt transformed the expo into a game within a game. Attendees walked the expo floor, discovering hidden treasures and getting a taste of everything PAX Aus had to offer.

And, among all of these wonders, there were those other highlights that genuinely distinguished PAX Aus Professional players’ incredible tournament play astounded observers. The expo  displayed incredible PC builds and components, such as a PC with an inside screen that played Tetris. At the Sega booth, the Lego Sonic display honoring Sonic Superstars stole the show. The Nintendo booth was decked out in all-white Nintendo Switch consoles, capturing the clean and modern appearance of Nintendo’s renowned system. And, in addition to the scientific marvels on exhibit, the MSI booth stood out with cutting-edge gaming technologies.

Beyond the pixels and polygons, though, the general mood of PAX Aus 2023 was one of optimism and acceptance. Everyone had a good time in and out of their costumes. Gaming culture wasn’t just alive; it was thriving and had firmly established itself as one of the world’s major cultures.

As the curtain closed on PAX Aus 2023, memories of laughter shared, friendships created, and the communal celebration of a culture that had evolved and matured over a wonderful decade lingered.

Here’s to another ten years of PAX, where the gaming world continues to be a light of joy, inclusiveness, and limitless possibilities. Game on, friends!

Dr. Brant Raven, Reviewer & Star Wars fanatic
Scientist, philosopher & technologist. Science Fiction über-aficionado, retro gamer, curator & bibliographer. Creator of the Star Wars Bibliographic Database.

Follow Brant Raven on Twitter and Pinterest

 

 



Too Much Spider-Man Recently?

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When I was watching “Monday Night Football” on ESPN, I saw an extended trailer for the video game “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.” The gameplay looked magnificent as Miles Morales and Peter Parker are fighting Venom on the streets of New York City. However, I didn’t feel that excited about it. Don’t get me wrong, the game looks great, but I think I’m just getting burnt out on Spider-Man for now.

The last two Spider-Man films have been classics. “Spider-Man: Across the Universe,” released this summer, is considered one of the best Spider-Man films ever made. And the same can be said for “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” released in December 2021. The films were brilliant. Every scene in “No Way Home” and “Across the Universe” had cinematic gravitas. One major death in “No Way Home” had the dramatic heft of an exceptional drama.

I think “Across the Universe” is a lock for Best Animated Film at the Academy Awards in March. There’s even an outside chance that the animated film could be nominated for Best Picture. Both films received critical acclaim, and rightfully so. For some reason, after watching “Across the Universe” in a theater, I said to myself, “That’s enough Spider-Man for a little while.”

But Insomniac Games’ “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2,” which has been in development for years, is coming out at the end of the month, on October 20th.

If we keep getting terrific Spider-Man stories on our PS5 or in theaters, I think that’s terrific, but a slight pause in the web slinger would be kind of nice. Another Tom Holland Spider-Man film is in-development, according to IMDb. We’ll probably get “Spider-Man 4: Home…something” at the end of 2024 or ’25. I may skip that one in the theater and wait for its release on streaming.



image source: supplied