The Pop-Culture E-Zine
Dudes and dudettes, June is ATARI month! Have you got an Atari story to tell? If so, read this and get writing!
Over the last few years, we have written a few Atari pieces, from 8-bit battles between the XEGS and the C64, to lesser known Atari facts, book reviews and even a homage to one of my favourite handhelds, the Atari Lynx!
So what are you waiting for, celebrate by getting your Atari on!
Via: Online MBA
There are times when words don’t need to be said. This is that exact time! Before you do start scrolling through the below photos, we would urge you to visit Lobos Collectables (503 High Street, Northcote) to browse their awesome wares and buy up as many goodies as your wallet will allow. Now, put your bib on and start drooling.
You have been warned!
Plenty to look at here. I’ll be back.
Comic book action superheroes!
Oh yes, Star Wars!
Oh wow, more Star Wars stuff!
I was made for loving you baby!
I’ma Wario, I’ma gonna win!
Drool factor 1000, I spot Tron!
Sleep well Han
The lovely Tron!
Oh how I’ve missed this control panel
Brilliant Tron side-art
Original MOTU is best!
I wonder if Skeletor is home?
Man-At-Arms vs Jitsu
Classic MOTU action
I wonder who is flying the Millennium Falcon
We found the Turtles!
Some rare MOTU beauties!
If you have made it this far and want to drool some more, you can read about our garage sale loot at Lobos Collectables – you won’t be disappointed.
Does size really matter? What exactly are we referring to here? Get your mind out of the gutter – we are talking about joysticks! When it comes to controlling your favourite video games, everything matters – the size, feel, stability, precision, ergonomics and durability of the joystick.
Not all joysticks are made equal, some feel great when playing shoot’em ups, only to let you down when it comes to those waggle-the-stick 100m sprint games. Others are durable during those wrist breaking manoeuvres, only to leave you feeling as if you sustained major trauma to your wrist and fingers. So how does one judge a joystick objectively? It is hard, but we are willing to give it a crack.
Let’s dispel the ‘one joystick fits all’ myth – there isn’t one. There, it has been said. In this regular Joystick Battles feature, we will pit two joysticks against each other, with the winner progressing to the last round, JoystickMania 1. The judgement criteria will be based on: ergonomic feel, precision/stability and durability. To ensure we remain objective, we will use the joysticks on a variety of gaming genres; shoot’em ups, platformers and wrist-breaking wagglers. This should sort out the wheat from the chaff.
The first joystick battle is between the Commodore C-1342 joystick and the Konix Speedking. I know what you are thinking, we shouldn’t pit a pack-in joystick with an aftermarket one. Hey, it is a free world and we can do whatever the hell we like.
So how did the C-1342 fare against the Speedking? Lay your peepers on the below table:
After getting all hot and bothered on the C64, there could only be one winner in this joystick battle.
Verdict: Konix Speeding
Being an aftermarket joystick, you would have expected the Konix to breeze through this battle. The C-1342 put up a great fight, but the durability of the stick lets it down big time. The Speedking does seem gimmicky in style, but it does the job admirably and it feels great in the hand – if you are a right handed player!
As previous posts would attest, we are huge fans of Adam Rufino’s artistic work. Adam’s EPIC SNES series took our fancy this time around. The series is a tribute to Nintendo’s 16-bit heritage and their massive gaming franchises. It is hard to pick a winner from all of these awesome pieces of art.
source: AdamWorks
Ah, the Nintendo of old. How I miss thee, when times were simpler and there was no Microsoft nor Sony. There is always room in my heart for Nintendo, as they have endured through thick and thin in this video gaming business that is now on par with Hollywood.
So let’s take a trip down memory lane, some 22 years ago and see how Nintendo presented their wares to the retail fraternity. Golly gosh those interactive display units were awesome!
source: PenguinNintendoAge
Atari. Can you believe that they have been rocking our video gaming world in one shape or another since 1972! The video gaming industry would never be the same once Atari entered the fray some 42 years ago. Nolan and Ted’s little enterprise baby grew into an arcade and home gaming entertainment Goliath.
Much has been written (and rewritten) about the history of Atari, but rather than recite every sordid detail, just gaze upon this Atari timeline. A lot has happened since June 1972!
source: Atari
There is something about the colour red. It invokes very raw emotions. As other thrill of the chase have come and gone, this latest chase was quite special. On one hand, I had found the exact Neo Geo MVS cabinet I had been lusting after (Ed: red = lust), and more importantly, I had my mum and dad in tow while I was criss-crossing the suburbs of Melbourne to pickup this red beauty.
The sun was searing, I was sweaty as hell and upon arrival, the seller was nowhere to be found! Alas, one phone call later, and things were sorted – the seller had gone out to the shops. The 4-slot MVS cabinet was easy to manoeuvre and get onto the trailer. I would have to say, it was the easiest cabinet I had transported. The saucy red is now sitting pride of place in the yet-to-be-transformed-into-a-games-room garage (more on that another time). Let me just say, anyone that plays on her, they are instantly smitten.
This chase was personal for me. Not only did my parents provide me with company, they provided memories, not just for being there on this occasion, but on plenty other countless occasions. My parents aren’t young like they used to be, so any occasion where I can spend time with them to create a memory, I cherish it. This chase is dedicated to you, mum and dad.
Now let’s play some NAM-1975!
If you are a nostalgic gamer and would like to inject some retro feeling to your photos, then you may want to take note.
Available for iOS devices, sushiGrass has created the PowerUp camera app. PowerUp filters your camera in real-time so that you can take snaps using the same resolution as your favourite retro gaming systems.
When you purchase PowerUp, you get two retro gaming system filters (Genesis and NES) with the option to buy (in-app) six more – Master System, SNES, Game Gear, Atari 2600, Game Boy and TurboGrafx-16. Once you take your retro photos, PowerUp allows you to share your happy snaps on social media! Get those 16-bit selfies propagating across your social network.
So, is this camera app worth the AUD$1.29c outlay? That is a good question. If you are an old school 8-bit and/or 16-bit gamer, then you will get a kick out of shooting photos using your favourite system’s filter. The novelty may wear off, but hey, it costs less than a cup of coffee. Now you’re playing with PowerUp!
Very easy to use interface
Before the PowerUp snap
PowerUp snap with the Genesis filter
PowerUp snap with the NES filter
TAC-2 PowerUp snap with Genesis filter
TAC-2 PowerUp snap with NES filter
Happy Families – NES and Mega Drive (Genesis filter)
Happy Families – NES and Mega Drive (NES filter)
image source: ausretrogamer
Imagine if your teenage self had a copy of Watch_Dogs on the C64! I know if I did, it would have totally blown my mind! The talent behind these AAA blockbuster video game 8-bit remakes is none other than Majami Hiroz.
Forget about playing this on the PS4, I want to play it on the trusty old C64. As Majami says, welcome to the ’80s, dawg!
source: Majami Hiroz