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Chironex Studios’ GRIST Game Seeks To Recapture The PC Gaming Experience From The 1980s

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We are now even more hyped for PAX Aus 2023! If you are asking why, then let us tell you……

Growing up in the 80s, our first encounter with a desktop PC was a chunky beige box with a green monochrome CRT monitor. The keys were as loud as the disk-drive accessing the sectors on the 5.25″ floppy, and without any GUI, we had to explore this (what now seems archaic) machine through trial and error using commands that were quite foreign to us at the time. Like any kid back then, we found games to play on these old school computers, which got us hooked. Bathed in the green glow we explored different worlds, made tough decisions, and became different characters – it unleashed our imagination.

Well, an independent Australian game developer, Chironex Studios is seeking to recapture those early days of PC gaming with their new game, Grist!

GRIST is a digital boardgame-slash-rpg about surviving as a Starship Commander in a universe where the secrets of faster-than-light-travel have been lost to time and conflict. Voyage across the galaxy sending out your crew on missions, recovering artifacts of the pre-collapse civilisation, and pushing back the terrors that lurk in the dark between worlds. All the while deciding which parts of your humanity you will keep, and which will be traded for one more year of life among the stars.

GRIST combines vintage ascii terminal style graphics with a synthwave soundtrack for an iconic ascii-wave aesthetic. Gameplay features include a unique positioning based combat system, multiple-choice events with long-tail outcomes, strategic hand-optimization, and a variety of different scenarios to test your abilities.

Currently in development by Chironex Studios, GRIST is planned for an Early Access release in late 2023, so add it to your Steam wishlist right now! And if you are going to PAX Aus in a few weeks, then make sure you head to Booth 16 in the Indie area (Expo Hall) to speak to the developer and check out GRIST!

image source: Chironex Studios



Bluey The Video Game Will Debut on November 17th

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For those of us with children of a certain age, there is no doubt that you would have come across the awesome Bluey cartoon on ABC TV (iView).

Bluey episodes keep both kids and adults entertained, imparting some good advice and lessons learned. When we saw the below trailer for a video game of the eponymous blue heeler, we got quite excited.

We have now marked November 17, 2023 in our diary, as this will be a day one acquisition for us (on probably every format available!)!


source: IGN



AtGames & Zen Studios Present: The Addams Family Virtual Pinball Machine

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The Addams Family pinball machine still holds the record as the biggest selling pinball machine of all time. There is a reason for this feat, the machine is much loved, as it is so much darn fun to play, with mechs that make you go wow, to multi-balls that can make your head spin. The Addams Family pinball machine is the epitome of a fun game!

Why are we talking about a 30 year old pinball machine? Well, AtGames is now collaborating with Zen Studios to bring you The Addams Family pinball machine, packed with 15 other pinball tables and of course, the amazing The Addams Family, all in glorious digital format.

Not much more news than that, but from what we can see on the AtGames site, the machine has a reasonable spec (see specification image further below), which we are happy to see that it includes built in solenoids and speakers for haptic feedback, making the pinball realism as close as possible to the real thing. The machine can also be expanded with 140+ Legends 4K pinball tables via AtGames’ PinballNet subscription service (Ed: D’oh!) which sounds pretty cool, even though it means an additional cost for the subscription (your mileage may vary).

Pre-orders will be staggered across a number of waves, opening the first (early bird) pre-order stage on 22nd of September (US time), however, there is no mention if these will be officially available in Australia – c’mon AtGames, don’t let us down!

image source: AtGames



PAX Aus 2023 Panel Schedule Announced

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With PAX Aus literally just around the corner, we wanted to share some exciting news that will hopefully bring all of those loose puzzle pieces together to form the final picture – the launch of the PAX Aus 2023 Schedule. Whilst you may have initially asked what sea-shantying pirates, cursed cakes, and the most prestigious cosplay competition in the Southern Hemisphere had in common, well, now you know.

Having spent months behind closed doors curating the most comprehensive celebration of all things gaming, the team at PAX Aus is thrilled to unveil the panel schedule for this year’s event covering everything from meet and greets and freeplay opportunities through to main stage panel discussions and competitions.

So, please… take a seat and start mapping out your weekend here: https://aus.paxsite.com/en-us/schedule.html

Though a starting point is almost impossible to find, here are just a few of the highlights from the schedule:

Friday, October 6

  • Storytime with Erika Ishii | Main Theatre, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

  • Whose Voice Is it Anyway 2: The Voicening | Twitch Quokka Theatre, 6:30 – 7:30 pm

  • Beyond Stereotypes: Exploring Indigenous representation in video games | Kookaburra Theatre, 3:30 – 4:30 pm

  • Cursed Cakes 2.0 | GenerOZity Wombat Theatre, 4:30 – 5:30 pm

  • Sustainability at Xbox and its Approach to Developer Engagement | PAX Together Theatre, 10:00 – 10:30 am

  • The Future of Gaming – is cloud gaming set to transform the future of how we play forever? | Twitch Quokka Theatre, 11:00 – 12:00 pm

Saturday, October 7

  • Secrets & Stories, Music & Myths: A Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical Development Retrospective | Main Theatre, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

  • Robert Hartley GM presents D&D Death Roulette | GenerOZity Wombat Theatre, 1:30 – 3:00 pm

  • Sea Shanties you say? Yahaarghh! | GenerOZity Wombat Theatre, 9:00 – 11:00 pm

  • Cosplay Beginnings Workshop: Props and Armour | Cosplay Theatre, 11:00 – 12:00 pm



Sunday, October 8

  • My parents wanted me to be a doctor, but I want to be a content creator | Twitch Quokka Theatre, 12:30 – 1:30 pm

  • Bach 4 Blood: Game Soundtracks vs. Classical Music | Galah Theatre, 3:00 – 4:00 pm

  • Cosplay Central Crown Championship Finals | Main Theatre, 2:00 – 3:30 pm

In addition to the massive panel schedule, there will also be some celebratory, memory-inducing moments celebrating PAX Aus’ 10th Anniversary. These are:

  • The Year That Was PAX Aus 2013 – a special retrospective panel reminiscing on the year that was 2013;

  • Fireside with Mick Gordon hosted by New Zealand podcaster, KiwiTalkz, as they deep dive into 10 years of video game music;

  • PinnyPals 4*Eva – Celebrating a decade of PAX pin collecting down under;

  • Join the Press X Science panel who have hosted a panel for 10 years at PAX Aus exploring what we have learned from a decade of exploring science and videogames;

  • A retrospective on the legendary PAX Aus Omegathon;

  • Fireside with Halfbrick who were at the original PAX Aus – looking back to 2013 as well as discussing what they have been doing since then;

  • I attended every PAX Aus for 10 years – a look at the memories from the community, content creators exploring the key moments in the history of PAX Aus that have made the event what it is today;

  • Omegathon 10 Year Battle Royale – The last 10 years of Omegathon winners compete to find out who will be crowned the 10 year Omeganaut.

Phew, that’s quite a meaty schedule but we hope this helps with mapping out your activities for the PAX Aus 2023 weekend extravaganza!



The Nintendo Museum To Be Completed By March 2024

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How darn awesome will this be when it’s finished in March 2024!

Nintendo is converting their old plant in Kyoto, Japan, into a museum to showcase products from throughout their long history in gaming.

If you are planning a trip to Japan next year, perhaps consider checking our the Nintendo Museum while you are there for the cherry blossom season 😉

Birdseye view of the Nintendo Museum roof – love the question mark [?]
Image source: Nintendo



story source: theverge.com

‘Cheers to 10 Years’ – PAX Aus Announces Even More Major Content

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‘Cheers to 10 Years’ As PAX Aus Announces Even More Major Content

With only three weeks to go until PAX Aus 2023, there is even more delicious content including more news from Nintendo and announcements from SEGA, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Star Wars Unlimited, Five Nights at Freddy’s and more to sink your teeth into!

We are hoping to see as many of you at PAX Aus this year, so we can’t wait for these weeks to fly by! Oh yeah, you should know where to find us by now (ahem, at our home base, the Classic Gaming area).

OK, without further ado, here is the awesome news…..

PAX Aus 2023 is shaping up to be an absolute whopper and there’s no better way to celebrate the last 10 years than showcasing even more great gaming content with more major announcements confirmed today. So please, take it slow and try not to stuff your face too quickly with all this delicious content…

In addition to Nintendo’s tournament in PAX Arena, Nintendo returns to the PAX expo floor headlined by Super Mario Bros. Wonder – playable before its release on 20th October! Fans can also shop in-person at the Nintendo booth with My Nintendo Store, which will have merchandise to peruse and purchase. Look forward to more information coming soon about the playable titles and available merch from Nintendo.

Gaming icon, SEGA will be attending PAX Aus this year with a booth showcasing Sonic Superstars and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Melbourne-based Ukiyo Studios will be presenting “SEA What I Made! (SWIM)”, the largest Southeast Asian indie games delegation of its kind to grace Australian shores. A total of 15 titles from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines will feature a variety of game genres from turn-based RPGs to Southeast Asian-inspired Diablo-likes and even restaurant management sims.

And for tabletop fans, Star Wars: Unlimited will be demo-ed for the first time in Australia at PAX Aus. Two icons of the tabletop world will also be at PAX Aus – Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Attendees will be able to learn to play Dungeons & Dragons with their friendly Dungeon Masters waiting to guide you on a quest. From there, visit the D&D Superstore where you will be able to find everything you need and want from sourcebooks to minis to collectibles and more. For Magic: The Gathering fans and noobs you can learn to play and get lost in the Wilds of Eldraine with fantastical creatures, unbelievable settings and beloved characters with a unique twist.

Pack your Senzu Beans and Devil Fruit, because the tabletop major moments don’t stop there with Dragon Ball Z and One Piece showcasing their games and hosting tourneys at the event. Compete for glory in the Dragon Ball Super Regionals and One Piece Card Game Tournament, pick up a free demo deck (while stock lasts), as well as try your hand at the new Dragon Ball Super Fusion World card game.

Vanguard, Weiss Schwarz, Shadowverse and Final Fantasy Trading Card Game will also be showcased at PAX Aus and Asmodee, yes, them of Exploding Kittens, CATAN, Ticket to Ride, Dobble/Spot It and so many more legendary games fame will be bringing their latest and greatest games.

What’s October without a jumpscare? Five Nights at Freddy’s will be activating the world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza where Freddy and the gang are dying to meet you – step into the scene and see if you can survive five nights?

While on the topic of bears, what about bears, in space?! Hear from Broadside Games as they discuss how they went from working a day job and developing games on the side to focusing on a game full-time! The team behind the upcoming action-packed game, Bears In Space, tell all at PAX Aus!

And lastly, tabletop legends Phil Walker-Harding (Sushi Go, Bear Park, Imhotep) and Matt Dunstan (Fairy Tile, Relic Runners) will also be on the floor at PAX Aus, with Walker-Harding demonstrating his game, Spellbook, and Dunstan showcasing a new game, to be revealed for the first time at PAX Aus.

With 3-Day and Saturday Badges sold out and limited single-day badges available, you better gear up for PAX Aus’ 10th anniversary celebration. PAX Aus 2023 takes place October 6-8 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information and badges, please visit their official website.

image source: PAX Aus



The Legend of Super Mario: The Zelda X Super Mario Bros. You Must Play

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The Legend of Zelda takes on Super Mario Bros. in this cool mashup!

There is one way to make us play the original The Legend of Zelda, mash it up with one of our fave NES games, Super Mario Bros.!

Hacking games and mashing them up isn’t anything new, but when the hacked sum is greater than the individual games, we take note. Swedish ROMHacking user NESDraug has hacked together two of the greatest NES games, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. to create an awesomely playable The Legend of Super Mario mashup game. Featuring Super Mario elements set in the original world of Hyrule might just make us experience a Zelda-like game on the NES – yes, we are one of those in the minority that never were into or wanted to play Zelda games.

If you want to experience The Legend of Super Mario, you can get the game patch from ROMHacking right here. Oh yeah, you will need a patching tool (like Lunar IPS) to patch the original rom file with the .ips patch file – that’s all we can tell ya without incriminating ourselves.

Go on, what are you waiting for?!


source: Hack Games Longplay Channel



Why Retro Gamers Should Wear Blue Light Glasses

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How many hours a day do you spend gaming? Whether you play modern or retro games, most of your sessions are undoubtedly spent in front of a screen — big and small. However, this increased exposure to digital screens may harm your eyes.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 13 million Australians have one or more chronic eye conditions, including short- and longsightedness, astigmatism, macular degeneration, and blindness. In a 2022 survey from Optometry Australia, 88% of participants reported experiencing sore or tired eyes when using a computer or tablet. For people with existing uncorrected vision problems, this can make vision problems even worse.

For gamers specifically, caring for your eye health shouldn’t be overlooked. Recently, we highlighted some of Nintendo’s new games and content coming up soon. From Luigi’s Mansion 2‘s visual upgrade to critically acclaimed titles such as Batman: Arkham Trilogy‘s Switch debut, protecting your vision to enjoy these newer games is vital. One such way is by investing in blue light glasses. Below, we’ll look at what blue light glasses are, why retro gamers may need them, and other ways you can protect your eyes while gaming:

What are blue light glasses?

Blue-violet light comes primarily from the sun and our digital devices, such as computer screens, tablets, smartphones, and handheld consoles. Unlike other forms of light, our eyes aren’t built to effectively filter blue light, causing discomfort and vision problems when viewing digital screens for long periods.

Investing in a pair of blue light glasses can help protect your eyes from your gaming devices, including your smartphone, laptop, and handheld consoles. Blue light lenses such as OPSM BlueGuard® lenses can be fitted to your existing glasses and matched with your prescription. Other blue light lenses like the Invisibles® Blue also have an anti-reflection coating resistant to smudges, scratches, dust, and water.

Blue light glasses also come in different shapes and forms, so you can opt for subtle designs that you can wear in and out of gaming sessions daily or choose more gaming-oriented designs to complement your gaming ensemble.

Is retro gaming harmful to the eyes?

Nowadays, most video games are played on LED screens that emit blue light. If you’re wondering whether older, retro gaming devices also harm the eyes similarly, the answer is yes. While old-fashioned monitors such as CRT displays don’t emit the same level of blue light as LEDs, they still emit some radiation that can harm the eyes. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, CRT monitors can be more stressful to the eyes than modern flat-screen displays. This is especially crucial for retro enthusiasts who still use CRT monitors to capture the retro feel of older games.

CRT monitors are also known for their constant flickering that emulates frame rates and makes animations in 8- and 16-bit games look smoother. This flickering can cause dizziness and blurriness when exposed for long periods.

Even if you aren’t gaming on an old CRT monitor, you may be gaming on smaller screens and handheld devices when emulating your retro games. While this is fine for short-term use, viewing smaller screen resolutions for long periods can cause squinting and headaches and tends to make you lean closer to a screen than necessary. As such, wearing blue light glasses can still help protect your eyes and vision during retro gaming sessions.

Other ways to protect your eyes while gaming 

Finally, aside from getting blue light glasses, there are other things you can invest in to protect your vision health in the long run. Some people opt for backlight or monitor light bars to help ease the lighting situation while gaming. This is especially helpful for people who spend hours gaming in the dark or dimly lit rooms.

You can also opt to get ergonomic chairs so that you can keep a safe screen distance while gaming. Brands like Herman Miller offer chair lines that are sleek and elegant for everyday use, as well as gaming chairs that combine the gamer-friendly aesthetic with science-backed ergonomics and functionality.

Gamer or not, all of us need to take great care of our eyes and bodies.



Prime Gaming: Free Games For This Month

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Free games for the month of September 2023 – collect them all!

Absolutely love all the freebies we have stockpiled from our Amazon Prime membership. Not only do we enjoy free deliveries and streaming content using Prime, but the cherry on top is the monthly free Prime Gaming titles!

The latest games for Prime Gaming have been announced, so if you have a Prime membership, start claiming these (or diarise the dates when the game you want is available for free)!

  • September 7: Football Manager 2023  — Construct a dream squad, outwit rivals and experience the thrill of the UEFA Champions League as players’ journey towards footballing glory awaits. Please note: Football Manager 2023 is not available in Brazil. Prime Gaming offers may sometimes vary by region. See gaming.amazon.com for more details.
  • September 14: Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim — Strengthen an empire and rise to power as players expand borders, build cities and raise armies in this multiplayer simulation game.
  • September 14: Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy  — Strategise for epic battles, unlock intriguing puzzles and solve exciting quests as players use various abilities to defeat Father Eldritch’s oppressive armies in this RPG title.
  • September 21: Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space — Go on an adventure to combat the mysterious robot from Planet X and save Earth as players take on the role of taco-loving Dexter Stardust.
  • September 21: Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate — Replace the entire army with a shotgun wielding king in this unique strategy roguelike based on the timeless classic, chess.
  • September 28: Unsolved Case: Murderous Script Collector’s Edition [Legacy Games Code] — Become a detective in this thrilling hidden object title, as players unravel secrets to solve a variety of cases. With the Collector’s Edition, players will also have the chance to make choices, unlock additional achievements and receive bonus collectibles.
  • September 28: Hundred Days — Winemaking Simulator — Grow your very own winery by making impactful, strategic decisions, such as choosing which vines to grow, when to harvest, what wine to market and more.



MIGW23 – Big Games Night Out

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A GAMES-THEMED WONDERLAND OF FANTASY AND PLAY IS COMING TO MELBOURNE THIS OCTOBER AT BIG GAMES NIGHT OUT

From twilight to late on Thursday 5 October Big Games Night Out invites Victorians and visitors to come together in Melbourne’s iconic Fed Square and surrounds for an immersive night of digital games, music and cosplay.

Presented by Creative Victoria in partnership with Fed Square as part of Melbourne International Games Week, Big Games Night Out is a free, accessible and all-ages event welcoming families and gamers from all walks of life – curious, casual, social to hardcore – to come together and celebrate amongst a spectacle of games, technology and play.

The full program line-up – to be announced soon – includes the not-to-be-missed Big Games Night Out Cosplay Parade and Runway Experience hosted by Myf Warhust and pop star and Twitch streamer Montaigne. A celebration of the fantasy of inhabiting our favourite games, the event is open to all cosplayers to participate, regardless of skill level, whether you make or buy your costumes – all are encouraged to sign up now.

Indie arcade games, 80s games, and exciting local releases will also be available to play, plus a special intergenerational arena for young and mature gamers to play and learn together in partnership with the Victorian Seniors Festival. The Swap Meet gives gamers a chance to find their next challenge by swapping their old games for something new and revelling in some old-school nostalgia.

There will also be special events with some of Australia’s biggest games, including 2022 smash-success Cult of the Lamb. Presented by ACMI and Melbourne Fringe, Cult of the Lamb: The Ritual features large-scale puppets and performers, a DJ performance by River Boy and giant animated projections featuring your favourite characters from the game created by Massive Monster, and featuring Goldens Scissors Puppets and Jean Poole Projection Mapping. The event is supported by Fed Square and Panasonic, and made possible with the support of a RISE grant.

To mark the launch of the homegrown sensation Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, from Victorian-based Summerfall Studios, Big Games Night Out will also present the Stray Gods Fashion Showcase – a multi-disciplinary event highlighting the game’s incredible blend of games, music, and fashion. Eight Melbourne fashion designers will showcase Stray Gods character costumes alongside their own unique creations, inspired by the game’s epic story about gods, magic, and a thousand-year journey to rediscover one’s purpose.

The full Big Games Night Out program will be announced soon, and will feature games arcades, open access game tournaments, live music performances from Tripod and Montaigne, immersive audience participation experiences, prizes, games-themed fashion runways, and much more throughout Fed Square venues.

Whether you play games once a week or once a year, Big Games Night Out is a special opportunity to experience Fed Square like never before as it transforms into a playful paradise.

Big Games Night Out and MIGW are part of a Creative October – a bigger-than-ever series of creative events taking place across the state across the month with the support of the Victorian Government.

Big Games Night Out is funded by the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, a partnership between the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne.
Big Games Night Out is on Thursday 5 October from twilight to late, as part of Melbourne International Games Week delivered by Creative Victoria – full line-up, maps and timetables coming soon!

Visit gamesweek.melbourne/big-games-night-out to learn more

Sign up for the Cosplay Parade here

Melbourne International Games Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government, delivered by Creative Victoria in partnership with VicScreen, ACMI and IGEA. Events will be held from 30 September – 8 October 2023. For more information visit gamesweek.melbourne