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Stern Pinball Launches INSIDER CONNECTED™ Leaderboards

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Global Stern High Score Tournament Starts Now!

Stern Pinball keeps innovating and expanding their Insider Connected service with the worldwide launch of leaderboards. By connecting the universe of Stern pinball machines, the award-winning Insider Connected platform continues to enhance and extend player engagement with games across both home and commercial environments. Through Leaderboards, players can compete against each other across connected Stern pinball machines.

Do you have what it takes to be the worldwide King of the Monsters? Test yourself by competing in the first ever global Stern Leaderboard on any connected Godzilla pinball machine! Starting now through June 30th, log in with your Insider Connected account to any Godzilla pinball machine at your home or at a location near you (must be logged in to Insider Connected account to view). Climb up the ranks, follow the action throughout the month here to see who will emerge victorious, earn ultimate bragging rights, and receive global Stern social media adoration.


source: Stern Pinball

For those looking for an in-person challenge, local leaderboards will be available at an entertainment location near you. Insider Connected Location Leaderboard functionality is now available to all Insider Connected Professional accounts. Location Leaderboard competitive play will drive increased gameplay and new player participation. This will extend any Insider Connected Pro operator’s location entertainment experience which will drive revenue and excitement. For more information on how to set up your own custom Leaderboard, visit Stern Pinball’s FAQs where you will find:

  • Leaderboard Set-up Video
  • Leaderboard Set-up Guides (PDF)
  • Leaderboard Set-up Guides for Location Displays (PDF); and
  • Leaderboard Player Discovery Guide (PDF)

Registration for Insider Connected is available at insider.sternpinball.com. Players can register at a connected game by scanning a QR code or at the Stern Pinball website. Once a player registers, they are issued a unique QR Code that can be used to identify that player at any connected Stern pinball machine anywhere in the world. When a player logs into the machine, they can track progress, earn new game specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests.



Press release supplied by Stern Pinball Inc.

Feel the Buzz with JJP’s Toy Story 4 Pinball!

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There is nothing like the buzz of a new pinball machine being announced. Did you see what we did there? No? Ah, never mind.

After what has been one of the worst kept secrets in pinball (but very highly anticipated), Jersey Jack Pinball has announced their latest pinball machine, Toy Story 4!

Designed by the one and only Pat Lawlor (celebrated designer of the best selling pinball machine of all time, The Addams Family), Toy Story 4 from Jersey Jack Pinball will be released in two model options, the Limited Edition and Collector’s Edition.

For the Toy Story fans out there, this is the world under glass that will bring the magic of Toy Story like never before, playing pinball with Woody, Buzz, Bo Peep, and more of your favourite toys as they come to life in this new pinball adventure.

Longer video (26 Minute) going through all the features 

Source: Jersey Jack Pinball

All your fave character voices are in this game, from Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Bo Peep, to Duke Caboom and many more! Custom call outs from Buzz and Woody, coupled with the original soundtrack that includes a special rendition of Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”, completes the Toy Story immersion.

Some of the cool features and toys include sending the silver-ball flying off the Duke Caboom jump ramp — just don’t let the Bensons block your shot! Blast into the jet bumpers to collect a super jackpot in Buzz Multiball, and aim for the stand-up targets to light Rescue Forky. Hurry up and bash Gabby Gabby into a pinball frenzy on the way to scoring Grand Champion. Take a chance on the spinning wheel to earn different awards like Extra Ball, Tiki Party, Super Loops and more! Start interactive carnival games like Star Adventurer, Dragon Zone, Squirrel Derby, and Flipball on the 10-inch playfield frame display, and don’t forget to smile for the camera – a special high-tech digital photo booth feature that takes pictures while you play!

Oh yeah, the Toy Story 4 pinball machines come fully equipped with Bluetooth audio for wireless listening and Wi-Fi connectivity for seamless over-the-air software updates. Scorbit, a competitive pinball platform and social network, is also included in the package.

So that’s it, that is the buzz, folks!

Cost:

  • Toy Story 4 Limited Edition US$12,000 / AU$18,000**
  • Toy Story 4 Collector’s Edition US$15,000 / AU$20,000** (Limited to 1,000 units – already sold out!)

** Australian prices and availability for TS4 CE and LE are not confirmed at this point in time. This post will be updated once the AU$ price and availability are confirmed.

Toy Story 4 Collector’s Edition

Toy Story 4 Limited Edition

image source: Jersey Jack Pinball



Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Launches In July

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Put Your Arcade Skills to the Test When Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Launches This July

Get ready to relive some of your favourite arcade memories when Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium – chock-full with 32 classic Capcom games – releases worldwide on July 22, 2022 on Nintendo Switch™, PlayStation®4, Xbox One and Steam. Retro fans and arcade novices alike can experience (or re-experience!) arcade mainstays like STREET FIGHTER, SATURDAY NIGHT SLAM MASTERS, BLACK TIGER, MEGAMAN 2 – THE POWER FIGHTERS -, A.K.A. MAGIC SWORD and more. Friends and family can even get in on the action with local multiplayer available across a number of titles.

Similar to the original Capcom Arcade Stadium released last year, players can expect an abundance of customization and gameplay options in Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, including:

  • Online leaderboards: Climb the ladder and see how you stack up against other players.
  • Display settings: A variety of display settings (Normal, Arcade, Full Screen), screen filters, arcade cabinet designs and frames to personalize every gaming experience and maximize the feeling of playing at your own home arcade.
  • Gameplay options: Including adjustable Game Speed (from “Very Slow” to “Very Fast”) and Difficulty Level to increase accessibility – or to give yourself an added challenge.
  • Rewind: This Rewind feature is available across all Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium games and allows players to jump back 10 seconds in time to save themselves (or a friend) from any unforeseen dangers. Whether you’re struggling to defeat a boss or want to practice a tricky segment of a game, the Rewind feature unlocks a whole new dimension of gameplay.
  • Invincibility mode: Play all the titles in the collection in an invincible state, available as free DLC!

All players start out with SONSON, the 2D side-scrolling platformer first released in 1984, for free. Players who pre-order or purchase Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium before August 5, 2022 will receive the “Display Frames Set 1,” which gives players access to 32 title-specific display frames that open new customization options for their digital arcade cabinets. Additionally, players who pre-order or purchase Capcom Fighting Collection™ before September 30, 2022 will receive Three Wonders, which packs three arcade games into one, as a bonus game for Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium.

With Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, players have the freedom to build up their own personalized collections by purchasing individual titles. For maximum nostalgia, players can choose to purchase the “Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Bundle 1” for access to all 32 titles.

Original Capcom Arcade Stadium players also receive bonus content in Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, including:

  • Capcom Arcade Stadium Music & Lights: Players who have save data from Capcom Arcade Stadium receive access to this new feature that allows you to change the colours and music for the menu screens.
  • Instruction Card Backgrounds: Anyone who purchased at least one title from Capcom Arcade Stadium will be able to set instructions and key art from  past titles as their background for the game.

Lastly, to celebrate Capcom’s 39th anniversary and the first year since the release of Capcom Arcade Stadium, we are making Street Fighter II – The World Warrior – available to download for free in Capcom Arcade Stadium through July 21, 2022.

The full game list for Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium is below. Prepare yourself…it’s a long one!

  • 1943 Kai – Midway Kaisen –
  • A.K.A. BLOCK BLOCK
  • A.K.A. KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND
  • A.K.A. MAGIC SWORD
  • A.K.A. THE KING OF DRAGONS
  • A.K.A. VAMPIRE SAVIOR – The Lord Of Vampire –
  • BLACK TIGER
  • Capcom Sports Club
  • DARKSTALKERS – The Night Warriors –
  • ECO FIGHTERS
  • Gan Sumoku
  • Hissatsu Buraiken
  • HYPER DYNE SIDE ARMS
  • HYPER STREET FIGHTER II – The Anniversary Edition –
  • LAST DUEL
  • MEGAMAN 2 – THE POWER FIGHTERS –
  • MEGAMAN – THE POWER BATTLE –
  • NIGHT WARRIORS – Darkstalkers’ Revenge –
  • Pnickies
  • Rally 2011 LED STORM
  • SATURDAY NIGHT SLAM MASTERS
  • SAVAGE BEES
  • SONSON
  • STREET FIGHTER
  • STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 2
  • STREET FIGHTER ALPHA 3
  • Street Fighter Alpha – Warriors’ Dreams –
  • SUPER GEM FIGHTER – MINI MIX –
  • SUPER PUZZLE FIGHTER II TURBO
  • The Speed Rumbler
  • THREE WONDERS
  • Tiger Road

NOTE: Press Release & Images supplied by Capcom Europe



I Have the Power: Mattel Adventure Park

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This may not be new news for some, but we thought we’d share it anyway – Masters of the Universe, Barbie and Mattel Games are some of the eye-popping attractions that will be at the new Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale, Arizona (USA)! It’s another automatic bucket list entry for us at Ausretrogamer!

The amusement park, which is a collaboration between Mattel, Inc. and Epic Resort Destinations, LLC, is set to open early 2023. Other recently announced experiences include a Hot Wheels roller-coaster and go-karting, a Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends indoor park. Barbie will be involved by way of a beach house flying theatre, hologram technology and a rooftop F&B area.

But wait, there is more! There will also be a nine-hole mini-golf experience, as well as a Masters of the Universe’s Castle Grayskull that will be transformed into a 4,500+ sq. ft. state-of-the-art laser tag arena where fans “have the power” to fight for Eternia. This all sounds pretty darn good to us. We can’t wait for this adventure park to open!

image source: Mattel



Grab Your Free Sega Mania Issue #4 Digital Magazine Now

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Who doesn’t like freebies? If you did put your hand up, then we respectfully ask that you see yourself out 😉

For those of you that love freebies, then you’ll love this one! You can now grab the Sega Mania Issue #4 Digital Edition (Magazine) totally free of charge (it’s usual price is A$5.00 / GBP£2.50)! It also comes with a new exclusive cover design by ’90s Sega artist Duncan Gutteridge and an awesome Mega-CD Mini mag!

What are you waiting for, go and grab your free copy of Sega Mania!

source: Sega Mania



FIFA Football Stays the Same

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Some video game franchises are so iconic, like the changing seasons, there will always be a new one. FIFA Soccer, or FIFA Football, depending on what country you’re in, is one of those franchises; but lately it feels like the popular game has become complacent and somewhat stale.

EA Sport’s FIFA Soccer 2006 is one of my favorite sports games. When it was released almost two decades ago; I couldn’t wait to get out of class and play a match, before I would work on my homework. On the weekends, I would play FIFA so much that I would lose track of time and realize it was suddenly Sunday. I found it difficult to put down my controller and turn off the addictive game.

The glorious EA Sports FIFA 2006!

FIFA 2006 doesn’t seem that much different than FIFA ’22. There haven’t been many radical changes to the franchise in years. Perhaps that’s why FIFA is the bestselling sports franchise, generating more than $20 billion in sales over the last twenty years. FIFA is such a popular game because gamers who love the franchise don’t particularly like big changes to the familiar gameplay and graphics. In all fairness, EA Sports’ Madden hasn’t changed that much in the last decade either.

The last EA Sports FIFA will be the ’23 edition

I like watching the PS4 Tournament Open Series. I get more enjoyment watching FIFA tournaments online than I do other EA Sports games on the market. Madden tournaments are fun to watch on television, but they’re on all the time. FIFA tournaments are less frequent, which makes them more entertaining and pleasurable when I happen to find one.

FIFA ’28 (or EA FC by then) will likely look a lot like FIFA ’22. The sports franchise is a gaming institution that’ll still be going strong decades from now. The players will change, but the game modes and graphics will not change dramatically.

It was recently announced that FIFA and EA Sports will end their successful partnership. The game will not change because of the breakup, most of the world’s popular clubs and players will still be playable because of separate licensing deals.

image source: clutchpoints



2022 Reset64 4KB Craptastic Game Comp Preview

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Development for the 2022 Reset64 4kb ‘Craptastic’ game competition is in full swing. Deadline is fast approaching (June 30th) so we thought we’d give you all a quick look at what some of the devs are up to for the comp.

Best of luck to all the competitors and we can’t wait to try your craptastic creations!


Title: Catch 22 *
Author: Cout Games (Cout)
Status: Submitted
Synopsis: The aim of the game is to catch 22 instances of the number “22” from a maze, however the ‘catch’ is you can’t go back where you have walked.

Title: Hard Foam *
Author: TWAiN PAiN Games (Alexander Paalvast)
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: “HARD FOAM” will be a card game like Hearthstone in PETSCII. It has 32 different cards split over 4 suits: Goblin (black), Polystyrene (white), Candy (red) and Soap (cyan) with various mechanics. It has keyboard and joystick and works on PAL and NTSC.

Initially I was developing this for the “C64 Cassette 50 Charity Competition” but keeping it all below <$1000 was a bit too much. But right now it looks quite promising, hitting around 3500 bytes.

Title: Skiddy
Author: Design/Chaos
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: Our game is currently called Skiddy and supports 1 or 2 players – the game is finished and is 4066 bytes. I will hold on to it for a while yet as there is still plenty of space to make adjustments.

Title: Poke *
Author: Protovision (Code: Oziphantom, Graphics: Lobo, SFX: Saul C)
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: The kingdom is under attack, you must defend the realm from these invading bubbles.

Title: Morubotto *
Author: Cogitare Computing (Alexander Martinelle)
Status: Submitted
Synopsis: Morubotto – An amalgamation of the Japanese words morumotto (guinea pig) and robotto (robot).

Dangerous, radioactive, exploding asteroids are descending upon earth. Only Morumotto can save us!

Morubotto is a variation of missile command where instead of controlling crosshairs you control a robotic guinea pig and have to bounce around the level and try to collide with as many asteroids as possible to minimize the amount of damage that the asteroids do to the world.

Title: Infinirail
Author: Goerp
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: A simple tactical game I hope to get finished in time. Technically no challenges, but hope to keep it small enough to be able to add some sound.

No humour or weirdness this time, so it has to be fun to play (uh oh!).

It’s going to craptastic!

Title: Snake Break
Author: Encore (Mikkel Hastrup)
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: The idea is to combine two classic games into one. Progress is about 66%, each of the games have mostly been written, but the big task left is to work on the gameplay, visual effects, write original music and package it all.

Title: Top Hat Challenge
Author: Gazunta (Cameron Davis)
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: Top Hat Challenge (final name TBD) is four kilobytes of collecting top hats, delivering top hats and avoiding falling obstacles! No screenshots yet as I’m keeping the development exclusive on Patreon until release, but I can guarantee it features the most handsome hero sprite ever seen!

Title: Old Mine Hoist *
Author: Geir Straume
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: The objective of the game is to lower a small hoist cage as deep as possible into an old abandoned mine.
The hoist cage swings from side to side, and there are wood obstacles on both sides which must be avoided to prevent damaging the cage. When the cage gets too damaged, it will break off the hoist cable and fall into the abyss, ending the game.

The hoist moves downwards at a constant speed, but you may halve or double its speed by pushing the joystick up or down.

Beware: Some of the deeper mining levels contain old and unstable dynamite, which may explode and severely damage the hoist cage!

Title: Mike Quarter (The Kitchen Porter) *
Author: Arlasoft (Nick Sherman)
Status: Submitted
Synopsis: You are Mike Quarter, a newly hired kitchen porter. Can you keep your job?

Title: Little Nippers 4K *
Author: Richard Bayliss
Status: Submitted
Synopsis: Little Nippers is an animated single button challenge with a difference. It is a casual fun for five minutes challenge in which people are running across the screen. Your task is to launch grumpy crabs from out of the bucket and nip the runners. Scoring will be based on the distance in which the person is running.

Title: Brownfinger *
Author: Megastyle (Docster)
Status: Submitted
Synopsis: The aim of the game is to catch the toilet paper coming from either right or the left side, before it hits the fire. If it hits the fire it’s game over. If a toilet hits you, you are “teleported” to the opposite side as you where.

Title: Delve!: The Goblin Grotto *
Author: Ant Stiller (coding and design), Cal Skuthorpe (art)
Status: In Progress
Synopsis: Delve!: The Goblin Grotto is a procedurally generated rogue-like with a unique 3D view, all created with PETSCII characters. Goblins have holed up in a nearby dungeon so, before the nasty blaggers start eating the local cats and making the milk curdle, you have been tasked to strike terror in their gobliny hearts by fighting your way down to the lowest levels (no-one’s actually discussed how you get back out but you assume that’s just a clerical oversight). This game is impossible to squeeze into 4k so I expect we’ll be cutting more features than you can shake a catapulted orc at.

* game entries with screenshots

So there it is. We hope you enjoyed this Craptastic preview and we look forward to being able to play these amazing looking games after deadline. Of course, there are more registered entries and some real Craptastic surprises that weren’t previewed as well!

As usual, a big thank-you to our sponsors and supporters. Please visit their sites and show them your support:

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Sega Reboots Classic Dreamcast Games

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According to this Bloomberg article, Sega is gearing up to reboot a couple of iconic Dreamcast titles, Crazy Taxi and Jet Set Radio as part of their Super Game initiative!

These titles will be first ones released under Sega’s Super Game initiative, which Sega announced a year ago. Sega’s Super Game aims to develop recurring revenue sources and build online communities around its stable of video games.

Mimicking Fortnite’s model, Sega’s Super Game setup will offer their games as free to play, be available across multiple platforms, host large multiplayer contests and include extras like vehicles, construction and social events on top of the usual combat, ensuring they get players to purchase in-game items.

Not sure how we feel about this approach from Sega, but if it works for Epic Games with Fortnite, then we guess that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – if you can’t beat them, copy their business model!



Extra! Extra! Reset64 Issue 14 is Out Now!

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Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Your awesome Commodore 64 magazine, Reset64 issue 14 is out now for your reading pleasure!

If you want to read an awesome contemporary C64-centric magazine full of news, reviews, interviews and everything in-between, then you are in luck – go and grab the latest Reset64 mag right now!

This issue’s theme is all about one of our fave gaming genres, run ‘n’ gun. This page turner of an issue was lovingly put together by like-minded (and very cool) peeps. We love Ant Stiller’s cover art and Del Seymour’s amazing editorial illustrations – it’s just full of eye candy!

Grab Reset64 Issues 14 right here!

Image source: Reset64



Get Hyped For PAX East 2022!

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Alanah Pearce to Deliver PAX East 2022 Storytime Keynote; Full Exhibitor List, Schedule Revealed
Fully Vaxxed, Masked Game Industry Reunion Kicks Off April 21, 2022

PAX East 2022 welcomes renowned video game writer, producer, content creator, voice actor, and charity streamer Alanah Pearce, who will give the Storytime keynote address as the East Coast’s most attended gaming event. Hundreds of publishers, developers, and other exhibitors will come together Thursday, April 21 through Sunday, April 24, 2022 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center for the first time in two years.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required of all attendees, exhibitors, staff, and guests at PAX East 2022, and face coverings are mandated at all times. Additional health and safety information is available on the official website.

PAX East guest-of-honour Alanah Pearce has informed and entertained millions across international radio, internet, and television, plus games like Gears 5 and Cyberpunk 2077. Her industry knowledge has elevated IGN and Rooster Teeth while drawing huge audiences to YouTube and Twitch as Charalanahzard. A champion of accessibility, equality, and diversity in games, Pearce created the Video Game Accessibility Awards in 2020 and joined a AAA studio as a video game writer that same year. She will welcome gamers home to PAX East with the Storytime keynote address from the Main Theatre (and streamed live on Twitch) on Thursday, April 21 at 10:30 AM Eastern.



Following the keynote, explore a massive show floor replete with hundreds of beloved developers, AAA and indie publishers, and hands-on demos of hotly anticipated titles. See the latest from 505 Games, renowned publisher of Death Stranding, Control, Ghostrunner, and the Eiyuden Chronicle series. Experience new announcements or first-ever playable debuts for games like Devolver Digital’s Trek to Yomi and Demon Throttle, Swordship from Thunderful Games, Cuisineer from BattleBrew Productions, The Last Worker from Wired Productions, WrestleQuest from Skybound Games, RAWMEN from tinyBuild, and many, many more.

These partners join a staggering lineup of new and previously announced, like Gearbox Software, Larian Studios, Focus Home Interactive, Koch Media, XSEED, Intel, AMD, Apogee Entertainment, Ysbryd Games, Humble Games, and so many more. See Games Done Quick break records in-person, watch esports’ youngest and brightest play Valorant for $7,500 in collegiate scholarships, witness popular content creators throw down in Fall Guys, and catch all-star panels with industry personalities like WWE Superstar Xavier Woods AKA Austin Creed and Jirard “The Completionist” Khalil. The full exhibitor list and event schedule for PAX East 2022 are available now.

Follow the action straight to the Main Stage, where 1047 Games and PAX Arena are proud to present the $10k Almost Pro Splitgate Open. Watch some of the world’s best compete in the free-to-play, fast-paced arena shooter with player-controlled portals and multi-dimensional combat. Host Alex Corea and casters SUP3RSON1k, RomeDMV, CoachBitey, and aEvilCat will call the matches throughout the weekend, culminating in a Sunday Grand Final that fans eager to hear what’s next for Splitgate won’t want to miss.

“Even in the darkest times of the last few years, we found each other in Discord, and bonded in rounds of Splitgate or on simulated tabletops,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of Penny Arcade and PAX. “But PAX East has returned, just as was foretold.  To our friends, new and old: Welcome home.”

Saturday badges for PAX East 2022 are nearly sold out. Four-day badges are now on sale for $235, while individual Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday badges go for $62 each. For travel info, event schedules, FAQs, and more, check out the PAX East website, and follow PAX on Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, YouTube, and Instagram.

image source: PAX

Press Release supplied by ReedPop