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The Doctor Goes Retro Gaming Shopping in Japan

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Our resident doctor, Dr. Brant Raven is currently in Japan on holidays. Instead of heading to Suzuka to catch the F1 circus or the cherry blossoms, he has instead gone hunting for retro gaming goodies in Ikebukuro, another centre of otaku culture. The Doc has his priorities right.

This time, Brant paid a visit to Super Potato. Before you get too excited, this Super Potato store is much smaller than the main store in Akihabara, but it’s still adorned with nostlagia inducing retro gaming products. Brant tells us that the store is very small, but it has “shelves and shelves and shelves full of very rare stuff” – they were his words! Unfortunately Japan hasn’t been immune to costs rising, so the retro stuff that the Doc was checking out was expensive.

For now, we are living vicariously via Dr. Raven and can’t wait for him to send us more pics as his visits more retro gaming stores!

 

Enter Your Very Own Arcade Paradise VR

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Wishlist the nostalgia-inducing arcade and light management sim today – this time it’s in VR!

Publisher Wired Productions and award-winning independent developer, Nosebleed Interactive, are thrilled to reveal that Arcade Paradise VR is releasing on 25th April 2024 for Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro.

It’s almost time to enter the virtual realm in Arcade Paradise VR, transporting you back to 1993 for an all-new immersive experience oozing with retro-fuelled gaming nostalgia! Taking you on an empowering journey from rags to riches, Arcade Paradise is an adventure and light-management sim combo game where you transform the decrepit King Wash laundromat into a thriving business.

Set in the rundown town of Grindstone, you play as Ashley, a rebel teenager going against your father’s wishes to continue the family business. Get hands-on managing the fully gamified day-to-day tasks, from manually picking up gum, doing the laundry, and scrubbing a toilet perfectly clean – to throwing out the trash in a basketball style mini game. Then, take your hard-earned money from completing these tasks to unlock your real objective… buying more arcade units!

Featuring 12 fully realized VR cabinets alongside 27 traditionally controlled games from the original release, it’s time to play, profit and purchase your way to your very own Arcade Paradise. So, strap on your latest virtual reality tech – because the future is NOW!

Features:

  • 12 brand-new fully realized VR arcade cabinets alongside 27, 90’s inspired, traditional controller games from the original release.
  • A wide range of gameplay from laundry mini-games to managing a full arcade with fully playable games cabinets.
  • Set high scores across each game in competitive online leaderboards.
  • Soundtrack composed by former The Prodigy live show member Kieron Pepper in collaboration with Black Razor Records.
  • Coming of age storytelling featuring award winning voice actor Doug Cockle playing your belligerent father, Gerald.
  • Bring the 90’s to the future with Mixed Reality, place cabinets in your living room for a whole new level of immersion.

Arcade Paradise VR launches on April 25th, 2024 on Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro for US$19.99 / GBP£14.99 / AUD$27.32.

 

Press Release supplied

A Hilarious Street Fighter IRL Parody

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We love a clever and funny parody, and this RackaRacka produced Street Fighter In Real Life (IRL) video nails it perfectly.

The character depictions, stunts, VFX and special moves are the cherry on top of this hilarious Street Fighter parody cake!

CAPCOM 40th Anniversary – 11 Retro Games To Play for Free In Your Browser

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Play old school CAPCOM games for free in your browser!

Celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary (since 11th of June 2023), CAPCOM has launched a very special website destination in honour and celebration of this event – CAPCOM TOWN!

Capcom Town offers an interactive museum, a product factory (allowing you to download Capcom-themed icons for X/Twitter!), pages dedicated to C-Suite level Capcom executives telling the story of the company, and most importantly, the Town allows access to retro games that you can play gratis (that means FREE) directly in your browser!

What are you still doing here, go and play some Super Ghouls’n Ghosts or Street Fighter II or Breath Of Fire or Final Fight or…..ahhhh, you get the picture 😉

NOTES:

  • All games are available in their US or Japanese versions
  • You must enable cookies in your browser
  • Saved data can only be played back from where you left off in the same browser
  • ⚠️ If you delete the cookies and offline data from your browser, the stored data will become unusable

image source: CAPCOM TOWN

Freeplay Independent Games Festival

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Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games festival, located in Melbourne, Australia.

Established in 2004, Freeplay is one of the world’s longest-running independent games festivals and explores games at the margins – independent, alternative, experimental and hyperlocal.

Freeplay bridges the gulf between the games industry and Australia’s local arts ecosystem – working with small developers, game-making collectives and the innovators and dreamers at the fringe of digital and interactive art to celebrate games as art – not just commercial products.

Freeplay is the first step for many Australian emerging studios into the broader games ecosystem. For twenty years, Freeplay have helped shape now world-renowned studios like Massive Monster (Cult of the Lamb), Witch Beam (Unpacking), League of Geeks (Armello), House House (Untitled Goose Game), 2Pt Interactive (Heavenly Bodies) and Worm Club (Frog Detective).

The critical details:

  • What: Freeplay Independent Games Festival
  • When: Thurs Mar 28 – Sun 14 Apr 2024 10am – 5pm
  • Tickets: FREE (drop in)
  • Where: Fed Square Foyer, Level 1, ACMI, Fed Square (wheelchair access)

image sources: ACMI and Freeplay

The Australian Pinball Museum Visits The Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum

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Prior to exhibiting at the 2024 Texas Pinball Festival (TPF), the Australian Pinball Museum visited the Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum in Hillsboro (Oregon, USA), and we are so glad that they did!

Obviously this place is now on our bucket-list of places to check out when we next visit the ole US of A. For more drool-worthy images from their recent visit at the Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum, check out the Australian Pinball Museum post right here and also their walkthrough video!

source: Facebook post via Australian Pinball Museum

2024 Reset64 4KB CRAPTASTIC Game Competition

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Craptastic has been a huge success since the first competition in 2016, and we’re very excited to be doing it all again in 2024! This year’s competition theme is once again…. Craptastic!

“What the bloom’n heck does craptastic mean?”, I hear you ask.

It certainly doesn’t mean crap, although it can! Craptastic can mean ludicrous, bonkers, outrageous, funny, wacky, far out, and silly. The theme simply implies that the compo is just for a bit of fun, not a serious coding competition. You are more than welcome to make an excellent game to submit for the compo. Your game may contain some humour or silliness to fit more with the theme, but it doesn’t have to!

2022 Craptastic Comp Winner: Marble Boy (Roman Werner)

In our previous competitions, some entries were truly excellent, others excellent but silly, others truly awful but funny! It’s just a chance for people to do something a little different if they wish and explore ideas/concepts that wouldn’t normally work well in a more serious compo.

Please remember that this competition is limited to 4KB. Yes, any entry submitted can be no more than 4KB when compressed. If your game is more than 1 file, then all the game files put together must not exceed the 4KB limit. This includes hi-score save files.

We want craptastic game entries. Remember, the key word here is fun. We want both coders and players alike to have fun and enjoy this comp!

Submit your entries to RESET64 (via email: [email protected]) by 31st August, 2024 (23:59:59 GMT).

Take a look at our previous Craptastic compo entries to help draw inspiration!

RULES

Basic rules are as follows:

  • The competition deadline is 23:59:59 GMT on the 31st August, 2024. All entries to be submitted to [email protected] by the deadline or will be deemed ineligible.
  • All entrants must register at [email protected]
  • Entrants are free to preview screenshots and videos of their game(s) to other publications/websites.
  • The competition will only begin when there are at least 5 registered entrants.
  • All submitted games MUST be 4KB or less (when compressed or uncompressed), and executable on a stock C64 on either or each of tape, disk and cartridge. Your submission may have a separate docs file (either as a C64 executable or a txt file, which doesn’t count towards the 4KB cap). However, hi-score saver files will count towards the cap.
  • The games must be previously unreleased and be your own work, whether that be by yourself or as part of a collaboration.
  • PAL must be supported, with additional NTSC support optional (but encouraged).
  • Participants may submit multiple entries, either as an individual or within a team. Team entries must be registered by an individual, and any potential prizes will be sent to the registered individual only.
  • Entries should be submitted exclusively to RESET64 by the competition deadline. Please feel free to share your entry as you wish after the competition has ended (after the compo deadline has passed).
  • There will be a panel of judges (TBA), and entries will be scored on a point distribution basis across several criteria. The decision of the panel is final.
  • Games must be submitted as freeware.
  • Games will be published by Reset64 (not necessarily exclusively) on a future disk compilation for the whole world to enjoy, after the competition has concluded. All entries will be made available on the Reset64 itch.io after the compo concludes.
  • Games must not be released before the competition deadline, or they will become exempt from scoring and will be deemed ineligible. Games can be submitted after deadline but will be counted as *out of competition* and will be ineligible for a placing.

We reserve the right to change, add or delete rules during the competition if deemed necessary!

2nd place in the 2022 Craptastic Comp: Circles by James

SCORING SYSTEM

The scoring system used for Craptastic is very simple. Each game will be scored against 7 criteria, each worth 5 points. An entry can score up to 35 points. When the panel has scored each game accordingly, the totals for each individual game will be divided by the number of judges to produce a mean average. The average will be the game’s final score.

The criteria that each game will be evaluated on are:

Originality – New idea or “rip off”? Off the wall ideas encouraged.
Concept – Quality of game design, is it fun, is it bonkers, is it craptastic?
Execution – Execution of design, taking into account controls and other factors such as excecution.
Presentation – Quality of graphics, audio and overall presentation. Supremely bad can be seen as a positive in some cases!
Gameplay – A measure of how enjoyable the game is to play.
Lasting Appeal – replay value, addictiveness.
OMG factor – when you see it, do you think “wtf!?” This is the true measure of craptasticness!

If a panel member has entered a game themselves, then the number of points that they can award will be adjusted (in this example, to 5) and they will not score their own release.

CSDB will not be used for voting. Also, entries should not be uploaded to CSDB, or elsewhere until after the competition has closed. Feel free to post screenshots or info though.

PRIZES

A craptastic gaming comp requires craptastic prizes, right? We have some fantastic prizes lined up for this year’s compo thanks to some very generous sponsors.

A big thank-you to the following sponsors and supporters:



More sponsors to be announced.

Unkle K / Reset64
Official Twitter account for Reset64 Magazine – dedicated to the world’s favourite 8-bit computer!

Follow Reset64 Magazine on Twitter

Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story – Review (Steam)

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  • TITLE: Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story
  • PUBLISHER: Digital Eclipse
  • DEVELOPER: Digital Eclipse
  • PLATFORMS: Nintendo Switch, PS4 / PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
  • RELEASE DATE: March 13, 2024 (It’s out right now!)

We had been looking forward to Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story for a while, so when the opportunity presented itself to take the Yak’s game for a spin, we weren’t going to say no!

Right off the bat, this second release in Digital Eclipse’s Gold Master Series ticks all the boxes, including very importantly, the nostalgia inducing and retro gamer boxes. If you are unfamiliar with Jeff Minter, that’s fine, this title will acquaint you (or reacquaint you if you had forgotten) who Jeff Minter is, and what this Llamasoft business is all about. For anyone that’s a Gen X’er, we’d be quite surprised (Ed: and appalled) if you hadn’t heard of the Great Yak and/or played any of his games over the years!

With the pedigree of Digital Eclipse, it was never in doubt that they would create a treasure-filled archive of Jeff Minter’s body of work in their uniquely interactive documentary, just as they did with their amazing titles, The Making Of Karateka and Atari 50.

The gameplay in Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story offers a unique and engaging experience that allows players to delve into Jeff Minter’s creative evolution and explore his extensive catalogue of games. Players can play through 42 Llamasoft games released between 1981 and 1994, providing a comprehensive look at Minter’s work. And before you ask, no, the Atari Jaguar game, Defender 2000, is not included in the list of playable titles. Neither Jeff nor Atari own the rights to Defender, which is a shame. Oh yeah, for those with superhero hearing, you may also notice that Llamatron 2112 sounds a tad different. Again, this was due to a couple of things, one, certain sounds had to be replaced due to licensing, and two, there were multiple versions of Llamatron 2112, each with differing sounds and effects.

This interactive documentary game not only showcases Minter’s classic games but also contextualizes them with archival material, video interviews, photos, quotes, and magazine articles. By playing these games chronologically, players can witness the evolution of Minter’s design skills and creative process in real time.

The gameplay experience varies depending on individual preferences and familiarity with retro gaming, but the controls do feel like second nature. Players can expect to encounter a diverse range of titles, from career-defining hits like Iridis Alpha to more experimental and creative games that reflect Minter’s unique style. The game offers a mix of short and longer gameplay experiences, catering to different levels of interest in gaming history.

Overall, Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story provides an unmatched journey into the mind of one of gaming’s most distinctive figures, offering a blend of entertainment, historical insight, and appreciation for Jeff Minter’s contributions to the gaming industry.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – If you are a Jeff Minter fan, then this is a MUST HAVE title!

 

Disclaimer: Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story Steam review code supplied by Digital Eclipse

Celebrate MAR10 Day In Australia & NZ

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Wahoo, Happy MAR10 Day!

Celebrate MAR10 Day in Australia and New Zealand with exclusive rewards on a range of Mario titles, including 10% back in Gold Points on Nintendo eShop, and collect an assortment of user icons parts from Super Mario games.

But wait, there is more! From now till 24th March, an assortment of user icons parts from Super Mario games will be available as Nintendo Switch Online member-exclusive rewards. There’s also a special mission you can complete by playing the Super NES classic Super Mario World to earn some Platinum Points.

Happy MAR10 Day to you all!

image source: Nintendo

Introducing The Motörhead Homebrew Pinball Machine!

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Popular Pinsider and New Zealander, Dave Peck (aka: rotordave) announced in this post that he will be showcasing his Motörhead homebrew pinball machine at the Texas Pinball Festival (TPF), which starts March 15th and runs till the 17th!


source: rotordaveNZ

If you are lucky enough to be in Texas for TPF 2024, then you must go and check out Dave’s amazing creation and perhaps buy him a beer (or two) for putting in 2 years of hard work into this machine and for hauling it some 11,700km across the Pacific Ocean!

Gotta say it, Dave, you are a friggin legend!

image source: rotordave via Pinside