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“If It Bleeds, We Can Play It!” – Predator Pinball Is Coming

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“If it bleeds, we can play it!” – Predator Pinball Incoming! 🛸💥

June 12 is no ordinary day, folks – it marks 38 years since Arnie first tangled with the galaxy’s deadliest hunter in Predator! And what better way to celebrate than with the possible reveal (on this day) of a brand new Predator pinball machine from our extraterrestrial-obsessed pals at Pinball Brothers?

🎯 We’re calling it now – June 12 could be the day this beast lands! So clear your calendars, polish those flippers, and prep your coins!

According to Pinball Brothers, this isn’t your average pin –

“A brutal wide-body game forged in the heart of a cinematic legend. Built to hunt, The Predator Pinball will throw you into a world of hurt.“

👾 Brutal? Wide-body? World of hurt? YES PLEASE.

If this turns out to be true (which it will be!), we’re looking at a must-play machine that’ll bring 80s action, sci-fi mayhem, and brutal pinball chaos together in one gorgeous cabinet.

Stay frosty, retro gamers – this hunt might begin sooner than you think! 🕹️🔥

 


source: Pinball Brothers

source: supplied

Sega Has Got Us Reconsidering Prize Machines… Seriously!

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We’ll be honest—prize and redemption machines usually aren’t our thing. But Sega’s latest announcement? Yeah, it’s making us rethink that stance… hard.

Coming in hot for 2025, Sega Prize International has revealed a new range of lifestyle electronics that are set to shake up the prize game. We’re talking about tech that’s actually cool and useful—no cheap plastic toys here!

Here’s what’s got us hyped:

🟣 Tiny Snap – This adorable thermal printing camera was a crowd favourite at the EAG Expo earlier this year. It’s compact, it’s fun, and it prints your pics on the spot with a nostalgic retro twist. Think Polaroid vibes, but modern and mini.

🌀 Track 360 – Influencers, streamers, or just selfie pros, this one’s for you. This phone holder tracks your face with 360° motion and responds to hand gestures to pause or resume tracking. No more awkward fumbling mid-recording!

💍 Smart Ring – The fitness companion that fits on your finger. With a heart rate monitor, step counter, sleep tracker, and even a blood oxygen monitor, it packs a ton of tech into a tiny, stylish package.

⌚ Smart Watch – All the essential features you’d expect: heart rate, sleep tracking, steps, distance, message notifications, weather updates, and even on-the-go music control. It syncs with your phone for seamless daily use.

Trevor Clarke, head of Sega Amusements International’s merch division, put it best:

“We are incredibly excited to offer operators our new range of electronic items as an alternative option for their prize machines and redemption counters.”

Well Trevor, mission accomplished. We might just find ourselves at the local Timezone or FEC, feverishly feeding tokens into a claw machine just for a shot at these Sega goodies.

For those keeping score, it’s:

Redemption machines: 1
Us: 0 (but with a Tiny Snap camera, so at least we’ll look cool losing).

image source: Sega Arcade

Retro Classics Added to Xbox Game Pass

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Retro Classics Hits Game Pass – Over 50 Activision Favourites from the ’80s and ’90s Are Back!

If you’ve ever wanted to relive the glory days of gaming—when pixelated action ruled and joysticks (with one button) were king—then you’re in for a serious nostalgia hit. Xbox and Antstream Arcade have teamed up to drop something very special for retro fans: Retro Classics, a brand-new collection of 50+ classic Activision games from the 1980s and 1990s, now playable via Xbox Game Pass!

Yep, you read that right—whether you cut your teeth on Kaboom!, Pitfall!, Commando, Grand Prix, or even the mighty MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat, these beloved blasts from the past are back and ready to play on modern devices.

Game Preservation, the Fun Way

This launch isn’t just about a stroll down memory lane—it’s part of Xbox’s bigger mission around game preservation and backwards compatibility. It’s a great example of how the classics can still shine today, especially with a modern twist (like cloud gaming, achievements, and save states—more on that in a sec).

image source: Xbox

Where and How to Play

The best part? You can enjoy Retro Classics anywhere Game Pass goes. That means:

  • On your Xbox console

  • Using the Xbox app on PC

  • Streaming via cloud gaming on supported LG and Samsung Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV devices, and even Meta Quest VR headsets

All you need to do is fire up your Game Pass dashboard, search for Retro Classics, install it, and boom—you’re back in the arcade.

New Features for Old Favourites

Retro Classics isn’t just about emulation—it’s about enhancing the experience. Players can now:

  • Save and reload progress, a first for many of these vintage games

  • Take on friends, rivals, or global leaderboards with built-in challenges

  • Chase down brand-new achievements designed just for this collection

So whether you’re a seasoned retro warrior or a curious newcomer ready to explore gaming’s golden era, Retro Classics is a must-try.

 

New Trailer for Atari’s Missile Command Delta

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A Reimagined Classic?

According to the new Atari (they aren’t the Atari I used to know and love in the late 70s / early 80s), Missile Command Delta is launching on July 8th!

Apparently, the premise is that you and your friends are trapped in a mysterious bunker and you must find your way out by solving terminals, explore the twisting environments, and uncover the real story!

Hmm, being huge Missile Command fans, our interests were piqued, however, watching the trailer, it looks like this new game is Missile Command in name only :-/


source: Atari Interactive, Inc

Snake? Snaaaaake?! On the SEGA Mega Drive?!

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🎮 Snake? Snaaaaake?! On the SEGA Mega Drive?! 🐍💥

Yes, you read that right. Thanks to the incredible work of coder h0ffman, the original Metal Gear has stealth-crawled its way onto the SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis, complete with retro flair, chiptune goodness, and a love letter’s worth of polish.

Originally a 1987 MSX2 title from the mind of Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear kickstarted a legendary stealth-action franchise. But while NES players got a… creative reinterpretation of the game, the true MSX2 version never graced a Sega console—until now.

🔧 Enter h0ffman, a coding wizard who reverse-engineered the original game and painstakingly rebuilt it from the ground up to run natively on Mega Drive hardware. We’re talking full sound and music via the YM2612 chip, buttery-smooth scrolling, and pixel-perfect visuals that feel right at home on a CRT.

image source: h0ffman via BlueSky

💾 You can:

  • Download the ROM (here) and play it on real hardware or an emulator

  • Check out the development blog (here) for juicy technical insights

  • Support the project (and future ports?!) through his itch.io

This isn’t just a port—it’s a what-if alternate reality where Metal Gear launched on Sega’s 16-bit beast back in the day. And honestly? It slaps.

So fire up your EverDrive or emulator of choice and get ready to infiltrate Outer Heaven, Mega Drive-style. Just remember: this is a sneaking mission. 🕵️‍♂️

Game Over Sale: 1UP Arcade’s Final Week!

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Following on from our previous post about Brisbane’s 1UP Arcade closing down this week (to the public), they have listed for sale quite a few of their arcade machines, with quite a few that are highly sought after! If only we were closer, we would have loved to have grabbed some of the below listed machines!

If you are keen on grabbing an arcade machine (or two), head on to 1UP Arcade to inspect (and buy) these machines. Just be sure to get there this week/weekend – their opening hours are:

  • Thu: 12-8pm
  • Friday: 12-10pm
  • Saturday: 10am-10pm
  • Sunday: 12-8pm

Oh yeah, 1UP Arcade is also hosting a GAME OVER event with delicious burgers and fries been served up by the FOOD BABY FOOD TRUCK!

PS: Love seeing MCA arcade joysticks being used – nothing beats them!

image source: 1UP Arcade via Facebook

 

C64: CLASSIC GAME INSIGHTS VOL 1

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🎮 Take a Byte Out of Gaming History! 🚀

Calling all retro gamers, C64 diehards, and pixel-pushing pioneers—Gracious Films is dropping an absolute must-watch for your collection:

📼 COMMODORE 64: CLASSIC GAME INSIGHTS VOL 1

This documentary is a deep dive into the golden age of home computing, celebrating the brilliance and legacy of the Commodore 64—the best-selling computer of all time. Get behind-the-scenes insights from developers, game designers, and industry legends who shaped the 8-bit revolution.

From legendary titles to forgotten gems, Volume 1 is packed with nostalgia, interviews, and rich context that brings the era back to life. Whether you lived it or just love discovering gaming’s roots, this one’s for you.

🎬 Ready to plug in, load up, and rewind time? 👉 Watch or grab your copy now

Press play. Stay retro. Level up your knowledge.

image source: Gracious Films LTD

Barrels of Fun Unveils Epic Second Pinball Game: Dune Pinball

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Barrels of Fun, the boutique pinball manufacturer behind the acclaimed Labyrinth machine, has officially unveiled its second release: a pinball adaptation of the iconic sci-fi franchise Dune. The announcement confirms long-standing rumors and marks a significant expansion for the Houston-based company.

The Dune pinball machine draws inspiration from the expansive universe of Frank Herbert’s novels and their cinematic adaptations. While specific gameplay features have yet to be detailed, the machine is expected to capture the essence of the Dune saga, immersing players in its rich narrative and distinctive aesthetics.

​Pre-orders for the Dune pinball machine are now open through authorised distributors, with pricing at USD$11,600, this is an increase of USD$1K over their maiden pinball game (AUD $21,990). The machine is available in multiple editions, each offering unique features and artwork to cater to collectors and enthusiasts alike.

With the Dune pinball machine, Barrels of Fun continues to solidify its reputation for creating immersive, story-driven pinball experiences. Fans and collectors eagerly await further details and the opportunity to explore the sands of Arrakis through this new interactive medium.

For more information and to place a pre-order, visit the Barrels of Fun official website.

image source: Barrels of Fun

Step Inside Game Worlds – A One-of-a-Kind Videogame Exhibition at ACMI!

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📅 18 September 2025 – 8 February 2026
🎮 Level up your gaming experience!

From pixel pioneers to modern masterpieces, ACMI’s Game Worlds takes you deep inside 30 legendary videogames that have shaped how we play. Explore iconic titles like World of Warcraft (Blizzard Entertainment), The Sims (Electronic Arts), and Neopets (World of Neopia), plus get an exclusive first look at a highly anticipated Australian game set to launch in 2025!

This isn’t just an exhibition—it’s an immersive adventure. Get hands-on with exclusive game demos, rare concept art, and never-before-seen designs that reveal gaming’s evolution from the 1970s to today. Test your skills in world record-breaking speedrun challenges and experience games in ways you never have before!

image source: ACMI

Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore gamer, Game Worlds is your ultimate quest. Tickets go on sale in July! Get ready to press start and explore the magic of videogames like never before.

🔗 More info & first look

The Epyx Collection Handheld Landing on XBox and PC

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Seven Classic Lynx Games Arrive on Xbox and PC April 9th in ‘The Epyx Collection: Handheld’

Retro gaming fans, rejoice! Pixel Games UK and Imagine Software are making history with their first-ever release on Xbox consoles. Set to launch on April 9th for both Xbox and PC, ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ brings seven legendary Atari Lynx games to a new generation of players.

Priced at £11.99 / US$14.99/ ~AU$23.99 / €14.49, this collection delivers a dose of late ‘80s and early ‘90s nostalgia with beloved classics, including:

  • California Games (1989): Experience extreme sports like skateboarding, BMX biking, surfing, and more in a vibrant, sun-soaked West Coast setting.
  • ElectroCop (1989): Step into the cybernetic boots of a futuristic police officer and battle crime in a dystopian cityscape.
  • Blue Lightning (1989): Engage in high-octane aerial combat and prove your piloting prowess in this arcade-style flight adventure.
  • Gates of Zendocon (1989): Navigate alien worlds, battle hostile creatures, and take down the sinister Zendocon in an intergalactic space odyssey.
  • Chip’s Challenge (1989): Solve over 140 mind-bending puzzles in this brain-twisting classic, now with additional Sega Mega Drive and SNES ports.
  • Todd’s Adventures in Slime World (1990): Explore a hazardous alien world filled with monstrous creatures and slimy traps.
  • Zarlor Mercenary (1990): Pilot a customisable spacecraft and defend the galaxy from waves of alien invaders in this action-packed shooter.


source: Imagine Software

Modern Enhancements for a Timeless Experience

Bringing these iconic titles to modern platforms isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s about elevating the experience. ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ includes:

  • Customisable Display Filters – Choose from a variety of filters, including an authentic 80s-style CRT mode.
  • Suspend Points – Save and restore up to four game states per title, ensuring you can pick up where you left off.
  • Live Rewind – Rewind up to five seconds of gameplay instantly to correct mistakes or retry difficult sections.

Additionally, the collection features an overhauled user interface, with interactive 3D-rendered box art and cartridges based on the original releases. Fans can also enjoy fully remastered instruction manuals, bringing even more historical detail to these retro gems.

A New Era for Pixel Games UK on Xbox

This marks the first retro release on Xbox for Pixel Games UK and Imagine Software, but it’s only the beginning. “We’re excited to bring the first collection of classic games to Xbox and PC,” says Nick Tiseo, Director of Imagine Software. “It’s been a goal of ours for a long time.”

As the world of retro gaming continues to thrive, ‘The Epyx Collection Handheld’ is a must-have for both longtime fans and newcomers eager to discover these classic adventures. Don’t miss its worldwide release on April 9th via the Microsoft Store!