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Stern Pinball Celebrates 40 Years: From Data East to Sega Pinball to Stern

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Happy 40th Anniversary, Stern Pinball! 🎉

While many people know the company today as Stern Pinball, this incredible milestone actually traces its roots back four decades. The journey began as Data East Pinball in 1986, became Sega Pinball in 1994, and finally evolved into Stern Pinball in 1999.

The names may have changed, but the company itself has remained remarkably consistent throughout the years – with Gary Stern at the helm from day one, helping guide pinball through some of its most challenging and exciting eras.

From classic Data East favourites to Sega’s innovative titles and the modern Stern machines that dominate today’s pinball landscape, it’s been an amazing 40-year ride.


source: Stern Pinball (YouTube)

Stern has announced that over the coming months they’ll be celebrating by revisiting the people, games, and moments that have defined their journey. If you’re a pinball fan, it’s going to be a fantastic trip down memory lane.

And if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to check out Gary Stern’s reflections on the past 40 years in Stern’s anniversary video (above).

Congratulations to Gary Stern and the entire Stern Pinball team on reaching this incredible milestone. Here’s to the next 40 years of keeping the silver ball alive!

 

 

Happy MAR10 Day 2026!

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Happy MAR10 Day! 🍄🎉

Today, March 10 – MAR10 Day – we celebrate the plumber who leapt out of our CRT televisions and straight into gaming history. From the moment Super Mario Bros. transformed living rooms into side‑scrolling adventures, Mario became more than a mascot; he became a shared language for gamers everywhere. As we mark MAR10 Day 2026, it also feels like the opening lap for Super Mario’s 41st‑anniversary celebrations, a milestone that reminds us just how long this red‑capped hero has been jumping on Goombas and redefining what games can be.

For retro gamers who were there from the beginning, Mario isn’t nostalgia — he’s memory. He’s blowing into NES cartridges to make them work, learning pixel‑perfect jumps by trial and error, and discovering secret warp zones through playground whispers rather than patch notes. Mario grew up with us: from the tight precision of Super Mario Bros. to the jaw‑dropping leap into 3D with Super Mario 64, and beyond. Each generation of hardware brought reinvention, but the soul stayed the same – joyful, accessible, and endlessly replayable.

MAR10 Day isn’t just about celebrating a character; it’s about celebrating where we came from as gamers. It’s a reminder that simple mechanics, tight design, and pure fun can stand the test of time. Forty (plus) years on, Mario still matters – not because he’s modern, but because he’s timeless. So today, whether you’re dusting off an NES, firing up a Super Famicom / SNES, or just humming the underground theme, take a moment to appreciate the plumber who helped define our hobby. Happy MAR10 Day – and here’s to the next extra life. ⭐


source: Nintendo Australia

The Holy Grail of Nintendo Collections Is For Sale

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Forget a Man Cave – This Is a Full-Blown Nintendo Time Capsule

Alright peeps… We’ve found it. The final boss of retro collecting. The “you win the lottery and disappear for a week” level setup. The Nintendo Kiosk Collection to end all Nintendo Kiosk Collections.

Currently sitting on eBay like it just casually spawned there is an insane private display (by eBay seller from France, Bob.bones) packed with original Nintendo kiosks from the NES, SNES, N64, Game Boy and beyond. Not one. Not two. A full-on museum-grade wall of playable nostalgia that looks like it was teleported straight out of a 90s department store… if that department store was run by a time-travelling Nintendo executive with unlimited floor space.

We’re talking:

🟥 Glorious red NES and SNES demo units
🟦 Chunky, unmistakable N64 kiosks
🟩 Classic Game Boy retail displays
🎮 Shelves absolutely stacked with boxed games
✨ Lighting, branding, and signage that screams “Mum, just five more minutes!”

It’s less a “collection” and more a Nintendo shrine. The kind of room where you half expect the Mario 64 file select music to start playing when you walk in.

And the price? Let’s just say this isn’t “skip takeaway for a few weeks” money. This is “sell a kidney, a car, and possibly a small island” territory. But honestly… for a setup that looks like a playable slice of retail history? There’s a weird part of my brain going, “Yeah, fair.”

What makes this so special isn’t just the hardware – it’s the experience. These kiosks were how many of us first played Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pokémon and more. Sticky controller grips. Timed demos. That kid hovering behind you waiting for their turn. Pure magic.

Seeing this all preserved in one place hits right in the childhood.

So, serious question, retro gaming fam:

If money was no object…
Would you keep this as a private game room, or open it as a public retro Nintendo museum?

Because honestly, this might be the closest thing we’ll ever see to a real-life Nintendo Time Capsule.

Now excuse me while I go stare at the photos again and pretend I have European kiosk money.

image source: bob.bones via eBay

From RRP to Ridiculous: The Scarcity of the Mega Drive Mini 2

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Blink and You’ll Miss It: The Mega Drive Mini 2 Scalper Problem

Once upon a very recent time, the Mega Drive Mini 2 quietly slipped onto shelves, and just as quietly vanished. Limited production runs, region-specific releases, and near-zero restocks turned what should’ve been a celebration of Sega’s 16-bit legacy into a full-blown scavenger hunt.

Fast-forward to today and the story gets ugly. These tiny nostalgia machines are now scarcer than rocking horse poop, with online marketplaces flooded by resellers asking eye-watering prices – often $450–$700 AUD for consoles that are already used. Boxes opened, controllers handled, yet priced like museum pieces. Classic scalper behaviour.

What makes it worse is that the hardware hasn’t changed, the games haven’t grown rarer – only availability has. Artificial scarcity has turned a sub-$200 retro console into a speculative asset, locking genuine fans out unless they’re willing to pay the nostalgia tax.

That’s why finding a new, legit unit at a sane price now feels like discovering a secret warp zone. If you’ve been hunting one down, you’ll know: when a fair deal appears, you don’t hesitate – because blink, and it’s gone.

Regardless of the version (Japanese or North American), these are expensive as heck!

image source: supplied

Back to the Future: Classic Gaming at PAX Aus 2025

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Old-School Was Cool at PAX Aus 2025 🎮✨

We saved the best of PAX Aus 2025 till last 😉 Because as much as we love the new, shiny, RGB-filled world of gaming, our hearts will always belong to the pixel-packed past. The Classic Gaming area once again felt like coming home – a warm hug of CRT glow, joystick clicks, and the unmistakable chime of 8-bit magic.

Every corner was a trip down memory lane: old-school computers, consoles, handhelds, and pinball machines all humming in harmony. There’s just something about playing retro games on their original hardware – the tactile clunk of inserting a cartridge, the flicker of a cathode ray screen, the rush (and rage!) of losing your last life. No emulator can replicate that kind of nostalgia.

And those display cabinets? Chef’s kiss. They were packed with rare and droolworthy treasures, including the ultra-obscure Apple/Bandai PiPP!n ATMARK dev unit and PiPP!n @World, plus the Sharp Famicom Titler AN-510 and the elusive Sharp FamicomStation (aka Famicombox). Retro hardware heaven!

Of course, the silverball scene was just as strong, featuring pinball machines that just landed on Aussie shores – like Pinball Brothers’ Predator and Jersey Jack Pinball’s magical Harry Potter. Picking a favourite was near impossible, but as lifelong ‘80s Arnie fans, Predator definitely got our thumbs-up, with Labyrinth and Dune hot on its heels.

There’s truly nothing like the Classic Gaming area at PAX Aus — it’s where the roots of gaming are celebrated, preserved, and most importantly, played. Here’s hoping it returns in 2026 to remind us once again why the classics never die.

image source / copyright: ausretrogamer.com

Game Over Sale: 1UP Arcade’s Final Week!

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Following on from our previous post about Brisbane’s 1UP Arcade closing down this week (to the public), they have listed for sale quite a few of their arcade machines, with quite a few that are highly sought after! If only we were closer, we would have loved to have grabbed some of the below listed machines!

If you are keen on grabbing an arcade machine (or two), head on to 1UP Arcade to inspect (and buy) these machines. Just be sure to get there this week/weekend – their opening hours are:

  • Thu: 12-8pm
  • Friday: 12-10pm
  • Saturday: 10am-10pm
  • Sunday: 12-8pm

Oh yeah, 1UP Arcade is also hosting a GAME OVER event with delicious burgers and fries been served up by the FOOD BABY FOOD TRUCK!

PS: Love seeing MCA arcade joysticks being used – nothing beats them!

image source: 1UP Arcade via Facebook

 

The Epyx Collection Handheld Landing on XBox and PC

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Seven Classic Lynx Games Arrive on Xbox and PC April 9th in ‘The Epyx Collection: Handheld’

Retro gaming fans, rejoice! Pixel Games UK and Imagine Software are making history with their first-ever release on Xbox consoles. Set to launch on April 9th for both Xbox and PC, ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ brings seven legendary Atari Lynx games to a new generation of players.

Priced at £11.99 / US$14.99/ ~AU$23.99 / €14.49, this collection delivers a dose of late ‘80s and early ‘90s nostalgia with beloved classics, including:

  • California Games (1989): Experience extreme sports like skateboarding, BMX biking, surfing, and more in a vibrant, sun-soaked West Coast setting.
  • ElectroCop (1989): Step into the cybernetic boots of a futuristic police officer and battle crime in a dystopian cityscape.
  • Blue Lightning (1989): Engage in high-octane aerial combat and prove your piloting prowess in this arcade-style flight adventure.
  • Gates of Zendocon (1989): Navigate alien worlds, battle hostile creatures, and take down the sinister Zendocon in an intergalactic space odyssey.
  • Chip’s Challenge (1989): Solve over 140 mind-bending puzzles in this brain-twisting classic, now with additional Sega Mega Drive and SNES ports.
  • Todd’s Adventures in Slime World (1990): Explore a hazardous alien world filled with monstrous creatures and slimy traps.
  • Zarlor Mercenary (1990): Pilot a customisable spacecraft and defend the galaxy from waves of alien invaders in this action-packed shooter.


source: Imagine Software

Modern Enhancements for a Timeless Experience

Bringing these iconic titles to modern platforms isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about elevating the experience. ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ includes:

  • Customisable Display Filters – Choose from a variety of filters, including an authentic 80s-style CRT mode.
  • Suspend Points – Save and restore up to four game states per title, ensuring you can pick up where you left off.
  • Live Rewind – Rewind up to five seconds of gameplay instantly to correct mistakes or retry difficult sections.

Additionally, the collection features an overhauled user interface, with interactive 3D-rendered box art and cartridges based on the original releases. Fans can also enjoy fully remastered instruction manuals, bringing even more historical detail to these retro gems.

A New Era for Pixel Games UK on Xbox

This marks the first retro release on Xbox for Pixel Games UK and Imagine Software, but it’s only the beginning. “We’re excited to bring the first collection of classic games to Xbox and PC,” says Nick Tiseo, Director of Imagine Software. “It’s been a goal of ours for a long time.”

As the world of retro gaming continues to thrive, ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ is a must-have for both longtime fans and newcomers eager to discover these classic adventures. Don’t miss its worldwide release on April 9th via the Microsoft Store!

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Gets an 8-Bit Makeover

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CineFix is back with another nostalgia bomb! This time, they’ve turned the 1986 classic, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, into a retro 8-bit animated video game.

Picture Ferris dodging Principal Rooney in pixelated glory! This hilarious blast from the past was crafted by David Dutton of Dutton Films, with toe-tapping tunes by Henry Dutton. It’s like your childhood got a major upgrade—game on!

‘Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!’ is Iconic

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

I saw that Mike Tyson has a fight scheduled with Jake Paul in July. Netflix (US) is airing it live. When I was a kid, I played a lot of “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!” on Nintendo.

The game, released in 1987, was an instant hit with all my friends. We spent hours playing what we thought was the greatest boxing game ever. Certain boxers were my favourites to fight. I liked Great Tiger for his flamboyancy and his comical footwork that had no business being in a boxing ring. He was a character, and he wasn’t easy to knock out. He made the funniest face when you would get a good hit on him. King Hippo was another favorite. He was marginally slow, but when he struck your chin…there were times when I didn’t think I would get off the canvas.

The game made Mike Tyson even more mythical at the time. I didn’t really care for him, or boxing, but if there was a Tyson fight on HBO, I would usually pay attention to the outcome. But when a friend would ask me to play “Punch-Out!!” with them, I never hesitated at the chance. Especially after a stressful day at school. It was like I was getting my aggression out when I was facing an opponent in the game’s ring. And most importantly, it was entertaining.

Nintendo predicted this fight in the 80s! image source: Retro Russ

The hyper extend punch was one of my favorite things to do in a game at the time; that would usually knock out my opponent and I could move on with ease. Some of the boxer’s punches were so slow that you could glance at your watch, take a bite of pizza, and move in time to avoid contact. I always thought the clip of your boxer running with his trainer, riding a bike ahead of him, a great touch.

After you defeated all the other boxers, and you got to fight Tyson at the very end of the game, it felt like an accomplishment of sorts.

Tyson’s tweets of his training for the upcoming bout are scary and intimidating. When he’s sparring, it looks like he’s still got it. But will it be enough to beat a much younger Paul? I’m sure the ratings for Netflix will be huge, just like the sells for the 1987 video game were. Even if you despise boxing and the two competitors, the match-up is intriguing.

 

 

A Screechingly Cool Dial-Up Modem Tune

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Ah, the young ones of today will never know the pain of dialing up via your home phone line to get onto the information superhighway! It was painfully slow, and very screechy!

Speaking of screechy, this Eclectic Method created song is an absolute aural masterpiece, bringing back a lot of nostalgia, or perhaps nightmares for us older types – especially when the connection would timeout or just stop midway through the connection handshake! *shudder*

As one YouTube commenter stated perfectly about this tune:

This track took some time, like those downloads back then. It’s an (sic) beautiful and important reminder, of the sound of the connected world and the ridiculous patience we had in the last century.