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Attack From Mars Pinball Promo Video – It’s deliciously cheesy

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You all know how much we love the Attack From Mars pinball machine – we love it so much that we jumped on-board and bought the Attack From Mars Remake back in 2017.

This machine is one of those timeless classics which always comes up in many ‘top pinball machines of all time’ lists. Our interest is always piqued whenever we find information or other content about this game, so when we came across the original promo video, we thought we’d share it with you all. The promo video is just as cheesy as the actual theme, which makes it perfect!


source: Jan van den Munckhof

 

Ooh la la, this MegaSD FPGA Cartridge Is Just Mind-Blowing!

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Let’s start with WOW! How damn WOW is this MegaSD FPGA cartridge from Terraonion?!

Before we tell you what this mega cart can do, we thought we’d let you all know that it isn’t cheap (€232.00 / ~AU$380.00 exc shipping), but then again, there is a lot of cool technology jam-packed into this cart!

So, what can this cart do? Actually, the better question would be, what can’t it do? The simple answer is, it can do everything, bar making you a nice cup of coffee. Check out some of the mouth watering specs and features, and then make your decision to pull the trigger on one or not…..

This is the world’s First Mega-CD/Sega CD FPGA Optical Disc Emulator! Please try not to drool when reading the specs/features:

• Plays both ISOS (bin+cue) and ROMS

• RAM based cartridge for instant boot

• Compatible with all original and region free patched Mega-CD / Sega CD bios

• Supports Mega Drive / Genesis, Sega CD / Mega-CD, Nomad, Master System and 32X games (requires 32X add-on)

• Fully compatible with Analogue Mega Sg!

• Easy to use interface for navigating your collection with screenshots, genre, year and description

• Save State support for Mega Drive and Genesis Cartridge games (8 slots)

• Built in cheat engine for Mega Drive and Genesis cartridge games

• Emulates all different Genesis / Mega Drive / Master System / 32x cartridge mappers.

• Stores all different Genesis / Mega Drive / Master System / 32x cartridge saves into MicroSD card.

• Per game Mega-CD / Sega CD Backup RAM and Cartridge RAM stored into microSD card

• Master System FM Core

• In-Game menu for fast reboot and swapping games (Genesis / Mega Drive and Mega-CD / Sega CD)

image source: Terraonion

Oh yeah, this awesome bit of kit starts shipping in the first week of August 2019 by a strict purchase order system, so act fast! The other morsel you should be aware of is that shipping times will depend on their sales volumes! We are champing at the bit for this mega cart!

 

 

Oz Comic-Con Melbourne 2019 Highlights

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Oz Comic Con Melbourne (2019) has come and gone. It is always a blast attending this event.

If you missed out on being there, don’t fret, our awesome photography team from REE Photography captured some awesome pics from Melbourne on the Queen’s Birthday weekend for you to enjoy and feel like you were there!

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REE Photography
The new and awesome photography service that captures all of your special moments from pop culture and gaming events.

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Prepare for Impact: PC-Engine Mini, CoreGrafx Mini and TurboGrafx-16 Mini are Coming!

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Konami has done a mic drop at E3 2019 by announcing that they are entering the Mini classic consoles arena with three variants:

  • PC-Engine Mini (Japan);
  • TurboGrafx-16 Mini (US/Can); and the
  • PC-Engine CoreGrafx (Europe/RoW)

This is huge news, as it means Konami is going to go toe-to-toe with Nintendo and their SNES and NES Classic Minis and also Sega with their Mega Drive Classic Mini (due later this year). The three-way mini console war has been ignited!


source: Konami

Anyway, back on topic, they also revealed 6 titles to tickle our nostalgia, with lots more to come. We are loving the initial games by the way! Oh yeah, it also looks like the Japanese variant (PC-Engine Mini) will have a different lineup of games than the West variants – see below.

TurboGrafx-16 Mini & PC-Engine CoreGrafx Mini Games (announced so far)

PC-Engine Mini Games (announced so far)

Other details worth mentioning are that there will be a MultiTap released for 5-way gaming tussles (will be sold separately), save state functions – so you can play from where you left off and of course, the Minis will have various display modes (yay to scanlines!) to ensure you get the full nostalgic fix!

There were no release dates or pricing details at the announcement, so be sure to hit us up on Twitter and Facebook as more news comes to hand. We are damn excited!

image source: Konami

 

Lego Sonic Mania – Green Hill Zone: Vote Now

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Whoa, on the back of the cool Lego Sega Classic Arcade Machines idea we shared with you last week comes the Lego Ideas based on Sonic The Hedgehog!

Titled Sonic Mania – Green Hill Zone, you can show your support for this set on the Lego Ideas site right now!

This Lego Ideas set includes:

  • “Classic” Sonic the Hedgehog minifigure, with additional “running blur” build
  • Dr Eggman, Motobug and three Flickies as brick-built figures
  • Green Hill Zone “Spring & Palm Tree” and “Loop & Extra Life” modules
  • Egg Robot mech
  • Phantom Ruby and Ring accessories
  • 612 pieces, with 11 new prints (excluding minifigure).

If you still need convincing to support this awesome Lego set idea, here are a few play features to tickle your fancy:

  • Connect the Green Hill Zone modules together to design your own set pieces, mimicking the power of the Phantom Ruby warping the world!
  • Use the “Spring & Palm Tree” module to launch Sonic and his Flicky friends into the air, using the Technic lever to move the spring!
  • Use the Sonic the Hedgehog minifigure to run through the environment, collecting the ring and Extra Life (representing this being Sonic’s second try after his virtual journey through LEGO Dimensions!)
  • Dr Eggman can sit inside the Egg Robot mech, which can pose with its articulated arms and legs.
  • Use the handle on the end of the Egg Robot’s arms to extend its hands and use the drill attack on its enemies!
  • The Motobug can catch Sonic by surprise, making him lose his ring!
  • Have Sonic and Eggman fight for the Phantom Ruby!

image source: Lego Ideas – Sonic Mania

 

Rebooting The Atari Jaguar

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It is wonderful receiving gifts, but it is even more so when they are awesome cartridge-based Atari Jaguar video games!

The very generous Lawrence Staveley (aka: CJ Reboot) of Reboot Games sent us two cartridge games, Cyrano Jones’ Downfall Plus and Bubble Bobble Arcade to make our Jaguar purr. To top of these amazing carts, they both light up when the Jag is powered on!

The Atari Jaguar development and homebrew scene keeps thriving, and it is because of dedicated folks like Reboot that ensure we have fresh content to play on the 26 year old 64-bit cat. Long may it continue!

Oh yeah, both games are great, making them very hard to put down. Speaking of which, we reckon it is time we get out of here and sneak in a few more games 😉

Thanks again to CJ Reboot for these generous Atari Jaguar gaming gifts – we were, and still are totally blown away!

 

Women In Gaming: Celebrating Success, Expertise and Diversity

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Goto.game is partnering with the Australian Esports League (AEL) for Australia’s inaugural GIRLGAMER Sydney Festival at this year’s Vivid Sydney.

The first GIRLGAMER Festivals took place in Macau in 2017 and Portugal in 2018. In 2019, GIRLGAMER Festival is expanding to South Korea, Spain and Brazil, as well as Sydney.

Goto.game will bring influential leaders in the gaming industry, including streamers, hosts and speakers such as Jessie ‘GeekGG’ James and Amy ‘HelloMissPotter’ Potter, to the GIRLGAMER Sydney Festival, and will manage and measure the performance of social media and promotional support across owned, earned and paid media using Digivizer’s real-time platform.

According to the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association’s Digital Australia Report 2018, 67% of Australians play video games and 46% of those are female. In an industry that grew 25% in Australia (IGEA) in 2018, women of all ages who play games of all genres are an important audience for gaming software and hardware companies, the esports sector and commercial sponsors.

Yet according to both Phid McAwesome of goto.game and Darren Kwan of AEL, women remain under-represented in the esports world with large scale events historically highlighting the talents of men. GIRLGAMER Sydney Festival is an event to celebrate and shine a spotlight on women and those who identify as such in gaming.

GIRLGAMER Sydney Festival details: 

The GIRLGAMER Sydney Festival is part of Vivid Sydney at Chatswood.  The live tournament will see players battle it out on stage, competing in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Blizzard’s Overwatch, and Super Smash Bros.

  • Venue: The Concourse, Chatswood
  • Date: 9th and 10th June, 2019
  • Schedule: 10am – 7pm
  • Prices: Normal Ticket – $20; Student Ticket  – $15; Family Ticket – $40. Tickets available at https://www.girlgamer.gg/register/sydney/

image source: GIRLGAMER Festival

 

The Official Space Invaders Board Game

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We have said this a few times now, we are very very choosy what we back (and promote) on Kickstarter– so take note!

Space Invaders is one of those iconic video games that transcends generations. It is the game that keeps on giving. Having celebrated it’s 40th anniversary last year, this time around we are set to get an official Space Invaders Board Game!


source: 612 Games

We are so pumped for this Kickstarter and can’t wait to defend against the invaders on a physical board! For more info, head to the Space Invaders Board Game Kickstarter page to check out what you can get with your pledge. The campaign has already blown way past its target goal, so this is happening! Pew pew pew!

image source: Space Invaders Board Game via Kickstarter

[source story: technabob]

 

Lego Sega Classic Arcade Machines – Vote Now

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LegoSegaArcade_TITLEWhen you stumble upon an awesome idea you must let everyone know about it. My good friend Raj informed me of a Lego Ideas campaign created by SpacySmoke which proposes the creation of classic Lego Sega arcade machines.

The idea campaign is still gathering support, so if you would like Lego to take note, then please throw your support behind this great idea by voting now – who wouldn’t like a Thunder Blade or Yu Suzuki classics like Space Harrier and Out Run replica Lego machines in their home? I have cast my vote, so should you!

LegoSegaArcade_SpaceHarrier

LegoSegaArcade_OutRun

LegoSegaArcade_ThunderBlade

LegoSegaArcade_figuressource: SpacySmoke on Lego Ideas

Underpin: A Physical Undertale Pinball Machine!

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Checking out all of the custom and homebrew pinball machines showcased at the 2017 Midwest Gaming Classic (MGC) event, Kelly Corcoran (aka: Gornkleschnitzer) was inspired to create a physical Undertale pinball machine!

Making pinball machines is not an easy feat, but when you have talent, passion, perseverance and patience, anything is possible. Having all of these traits in abundance, Kelly commenced this project by choosing a theme and then creating the playfield design utilising Visual Pinball.

For those that want to nerd out on the specifications, Kelly initially set the game up to be driven by a Raspberry Pi 3B, but then ran into serious performance issues when trying to push full-screen animation (via the Allegro video game library) to the LCD. The Raspberry Pi setup was superseded with a full desktop motherboard inside the cabinet. The playfield is controlled by a trio of Teensy 3.5 boards.


source: Kelly Corcoran

With the Underpin machine being completed two years to the day, it was apt that the Undertale Pinball Edition custom pinball machine made its debut at the 2019 Midwest Gaming Classic event. Kelly advises that there are modes and features that still need implementing with a future software overhaul, but the entire experience had been massively fun and frustrating, but the custom pinball creating bug has bitten hard. We can’t wait to see what Kelly comes up with next!

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Pinball Press
Pinball Press is here to spread the word on everything pinball across the known universe. For business / PR email: [email protected]

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[story source: Pinside and HackADay]