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The Commodore 64 Store

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Commodore will always be our first true (gaming) love. Yeah, we may have wanted an Atari (VCS/2600), but then we saw the C64 and the rest, as they say, is history.

You could imagine our delight when we came across a Lemon64 post showing a heap of photos from an Australian Commodore store from the late 90s (thanks Rob Caporetto!).

Lemon64 forum user, CronicBadger was kind enough to share the photos he took from the Korella Trading’s ‘The Commodore 64 Store’ in Belmont, N.S.W. Being a huge Commodore fan, CronicBadger shares some great stories that he had heard in the store , including how Commodore was still importing C64s in 1993 to fulfil demand for the venerable 8-bit micro! To read more of CronicBadger’s reflection (and see more awesome pics) from ‘The Commodore 64 Store’, head on over to the Lemon64 forum now.

C64 Store shopfront

C64 Store front

C64 Store wonderland

C64 Store software 2

C64 Store internet

C64 Store peripherals

C64 Store software

source: CronicBadger on Lemon64

 

Las Vegas Shenanigans: The Fun Dungeon At Excalibur

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LV_Shenanigans_FunDungeon_HDRIn this last of our Las Vegas Shenanigans feature series, we hit the Fun Dungeon at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino! If you thought that The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade looked awesome, wait till you see how much fun we had at the Fun Dungeon! Well, what are you waiting for, take a look down below! Viva Las Vegas!

The upside down Atari sign is pointing down! Let’s go!
FunDungeon1

Oh no, not this guy! Nah, we don’t wanna know our fortunes!
FunDungeon2

Ello, ello, ello, what do we have here then……Golden Oldies!
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Right-io, let’s fight then!
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Woohoo, silver-ball action!
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Where to go next? Aha, perhaps to a galaxy far, far away?
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The menacing T-Rex looks enticing!
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What’s this red bubble thing then……..
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Should we challenge this dude? Nah, we don’t wanna embarrass him 😉
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Oh man, so many choices – to fight or go off-road driving?
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No punching on this ice skating rink!
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Big rig drivin coming up!
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Ms ausretrogamer tries her hand at flying! Land that plane!
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Some snow action too!
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Rushing off to San Fran, baby!
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Love being a (crazy) taxi driver!FunDungeon16

Shoot! Dodge!
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Where play saves the day? Indeed it does!
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Found another Atari arcade machine in the desert!
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Batwoman, oops, we mean Ms ausretrogamer shows Batman how it’s done!
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All this play has made us work up a massive hunger (and thirst)! 
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Las Vegas Shenanigans: The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade

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Vegas_Shenanigans_NYNY_HDRWhat happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Pfft, if that were the case then we would not have told you about our exploits at Toy Shack and A Gamer’s Paradise while in Sin City. What we haven’t told you about (yet), is our arcade and pinball shenanigans at the resort casinos, like the The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade in New York New York.

Rather than write about this experience infinitum, we’ll let our photos tell the story. What we will say is that The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade is damn awesome! It has that Coney Island (seaside) amusement feel, which makes the experience even more authentic. To top it off, there is a roller coaster whizzing around on the top of the resort for that ultimate adrenaline rush! Enjoy the ride!

All stairs lead to The Big Apple Coaster & Arcade at New York New York!
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We have reached amusement nirvana!
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Locked and Loaded!
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Time to have some flippin fun!
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What to play first?
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Ms ausretrogamer chooses wisely!
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While Metallica is in use, AC/DC gets a workout by yours truly
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What should we play next? Oo, gun games!
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Gonna hunt us some dinosaurs!
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From one Jurassic Park to another!
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Whoa, Max Flight – VR 2002 style!
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Ms ausretrogamer tries out some old school Virtual Reality!
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Ticket Track? Ahhh, why not….
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Oo’er, very glowy!
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Raw Thrills? Count us in!
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Some NITRO action coming up!
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Decisions, decisions! Let’s Go Jungle then!
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All roads lead back to pinball!
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When in Vegas, you gotta check out The Wizard Of Oz: 75th Anniversary pinnie!
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There is no way I’ll be dragged off this pinball machine!
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Alright, we need our adrenaline rush! Let’s ride the Manhattan Express!
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Gotta grab a feed before we get back into more gaming!
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In the next of our Las Vegas Shenanigans series, we’ll feature the Fun Dungeon at Excalibur!

 

Film Review: Wizard Mode

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WizardMode_DMDThere is something enticing about pinball – the flashing lights, pop bumpers, drop targets and the challenge of playing better in each game seems to draw people from all walks of life. Among the top tier pinball players in North America, there is one name that constantly stands out, Robert Emilio Gagno. Through his dedication to pinball, Robert has won many a tournaments and competitions and now strives for the ultimate pinball reward, Wizard Mode. Oh, and Robert happens to have autism.

Wizard Mode is a candid personal perspective on autism through the life of the current world champion of pinball. The film follows Robert as he seeks to balance his quest to become a world pinball champion and his growing real world responsibilities, culminating in the largest pinball tournament at the world, Pinburgh, in Pittsburgh, PA.

We laughed, we cried, we cheered, we applauded, and most importantly, we were inspired by Robert Gagno’s story to become (spoiler alert), the pinball champion and a champion in life! Robert has definitely achieved Wizard Mode and the filmmakers from Vimeo and Salazar Film have hit the Super Jackpot!

Currently available on Vimeo in the U.S. and Canada. Wizard Mode will be available worldwide later this year.

WizardMode_1

Wizard Mode

WizardMode_Postersource: Wizard Mode Film

 

Wish We Were At San Diego Comic-Con 2016

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As massive fans of everything Masters Of The Universe (MOTU), this year’s San Diego Comic-Con (starting July 21) proves yet again that it is the paradise for exclusive MOTU gear for collectors!

If you are like us and cannot attend this Con of all Cons, here are a few cool MOTU items (from Super7) we wish we could get our hands on! Oh yeah, the NECA Toys TMNT Arcade action figures are on our wishlist too!

SDCC2016_Coin-500x500

SDCC2016_MOTU_PORTFOLIO

SDCC2016_MOTU_VHS

SDCC2016_SL_SkeletorGlow

SDCC2016_MOTU_MUSCLE_24pack_Green

SDCC2016_AA_MOTU_wave2

SDCC2016_SL_8bitHenchmen

SDCC2016_Skeletor_Lair_MOTU_MUSCLE_cansource: Super7

 

Brisbane Video Game & Pop Culture Market

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BrisbaneVideoGamesMarket_titleHey Brisbanites, listen up! Mark yourself busy this coming Sunday July 24, as the Brisbane Video Game & Pop Culture Market is coming to town!

Rise early and get down to the Shady Palms Cafe where Queensland’s finest purveyors of classic retro video games and consoles, toys, books, comics and other pop culture items will have their wares available for sale at this special event.

Presented by DJ Sheep, Bulletproof Crates and diggin101, this market is targeted at bedroom gamers and pop culture geeks wanting to get rid of their old goods at prices that aren’t eBay focused. So make sure you are at Shady Palms Cafe this Sunday and grab yourself some cool gear.

BrisbaneVideoGamesMarket_flyersource: Video Game Markets: Brisbane

 

PinCade: All-In-One Pinball Arcade Machine

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PinArcade_HDR
If you are a keen arcade and pinball gamer and you don’t have the space in your home to cram a bunch of machines, perhaps this PinCade – an all-in-one pinball and arcade machine is your answer!

The PinCade is currently available on eBay and is going for a pretty penny (or best offer). If you factor in all of the pinball machines you can play (yep, we are well aware that they are digital) and all vertically oriented arcade games, then this machine becomes a pretty good proposition. It also doesn’t hurt that it looks damn awesome! Ah, if only we had the funds to add this to our games room.

Oo’er, are you scared stiff?
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Choose your pinball table!
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Flippin hell, it’s Indy!
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Once you are done playing pinball, get some Pac-Man into ya!
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If Pac-Man is not to your liking, then perhaps some shmup action!PinArcade5

source: eBay

 

Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe Print

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SpeedBall2_Print_HDRHold onto your cyberpunk helmets peeps and make some space on your games room wall! Read-Only Memory is proud to present a high quality print featuring a new illustration by original Bitmap Brothers artist and co-designer of Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, Dan Malone.

Screen printed in black onto a luxurious grey heavyweight stock, the edition also features the distinctive Bitmap Brothers logo, micro-etched into holographic foil. Each print is signed by the artist and will be shipped in a durable archival tube. The print is available to pre-order now exclusively from the Read-Only Memory website.

The illustration has been created especially for Read-Only Memory’s forthcoming title, The Bitmap Brothers: Universe, a documentary history of the visionary UK developer.

Print specifications:

  • Screen printed in black on
  • Fedrigoni Perla Grey 290gsm
  • Micro-etched Bitmap Brothers logo hologram detail
  • 575 x 480mm
  • RRP £25

s2bdp_holofoil_detail

s2bdp_signedsource: Read-Only Memory

3D Animation Of Vintage Electronics

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Whoa! Let’s start by saying that French illustrator and animator, Guillaume Kurkdjian has totally blown our mind with his awesome 3D animated works of electronic items. Guillaume has created iconic electronic items from the French Minitel, to the Kaypro 2 fold-out computer and the vector based all-in-one video gaming system, the Vectrex!

To check out the rest of Guillaume’s brilliant electronic animations and other illustrations here!

minitel_600

vectrex_600

kaypro_600_2

u-matic_600source: Guillaume Kurkdjian

 

Want: Nintendo-Era Black Box Action Figures!

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NES Black Box FiguresWe have previously featured Dan Polydoris’ awesome Activision Action Figures creations and it seems that he is at it again!

This time, Dan has gone with the venerable Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) game theme by creating a line of Black Box era action figures that would not look out of place on the shelf in your local toy store! Alas, you won’t find these at your local Kmart or Target store, but you can head to Dan’s Death By Toys store to order these luscious custom creations – but you better be quick as they are selling fast!

PS: We secretly hope Dan makes more of these action figures, especially the Ice Climber and the Hogan’s Alley figures!

NES Black Box Figures_wantsource: Death By Toys