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Dive into the Depths of Thrills with Stern Pinball’s New JAWS Pinball Machines!

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Just when you thought it was safe to go back into your gameroom…🦈

Get ready to embark on a heart-pounding adventure as Stern Pinball, Inc. introduces its latest masterpiece – JAWS pinball, featuring one of the most iconic motion picture thrillers of all time from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment. Immerse yourself in the suspense and excitement of all four blockbuster JAWS films, brought to life with brand-new mechanical features inspired by iconic movie moments and cutting-edge technology. The JAWS pinball games are available in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition (LE) models, offering enthusiasts a range of options to experience the adrenaline-fueled action.

A Journey to Amity Island

Step into the fictional world of Amity Island, nestled off the coast of Long Island, New York, a charming fishing community that turns into a hotbed of danger as the Fourth of July vacationers approach. Uncover the thrilling narrative where the Amity Island mayor conceals shark attacks to safeguard the island’s tourism money, leading to even more terrifying encounters. As a player, you’ll have the chance to play as Quint, Hooper, and Brody – the grizzled fishermen determined to save Amity Island’s residents and the Fourth of July celebrations.

Experience the Heart-Stopping Gameplay

The JAWS pinball games promise an immersive experience, with players grabbing their harpoons to tackle the most dangerous ocean creatures on the planet. Animated lighting effects create tension as you spot “blood in the water,” and the motorized “Shark Fin” target makes a splash across the playfield. Navigate the “Orca Boat” upper playfield, featuring a “Lookout Tower” ramp, a ship’s wheel horizontal spinner, and a “Radio” stand-up target to call for help. Brace yourself for the motorized custom sculpted “Great White Shark” bash toy, crashing through the bottom of a fishing boat and adding an extra layer of excitement to this thrilling pinball odyssey. Will you survive JAWS?

A Symphony of Sound and Vision

In addition to the gripping gameplay, JAWS pinball games feature custom speech by actor Richard Dreyfuss and the iconic movie theme music by John Williams. Immerse yourself in the world of JAWS with audio and visual elements that pay homage to one of the greatest movie franchises of all time.

The Limited Edition Experience

For collectors and enthusiasts, the Limited Edition model is a must-have, limited to just 1,000 games globally. This highly collectible version includes a full-color mirrored backglass based on the iconic JAWS movie poster by artist Roger Kastel, a reflective foil high-definition cabinet decal with hand-drawn artwork by Michael Barnard, exclusive custom “Great White” powder-coated pinball armor, Speaker Expression Lighting with JAWS-themed game effects, a custom designer-autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern President & CEO Seth Davis and Chairman & Founder Gary Stern.

Connect and Compete with Insider Connected™

Take your pinball experience to the next level with Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected™ system. Engage with the game and a global network of players through features like progress tracking, Achievements, special JAWS Quests, and the pursuit of a lifetime Bounty Hunter rank.

Seth Davis, President & CEO of Stern Pinball, expresses excitement, saying, “Honoring one of the greatest movie franchises of all time, we’re giving JAWS our most advanced software and hardware to date. We can’t wait to debut JAWS Pinball’s heart-pounding gameplay to the world!”

Are you ready to face the Great White Shark and save Amity Island? Grab your harpoon and dive into the thrilling world of JAWS pinball!

PS: Before we forget, the new JAWS pinball games will make their debut at Stern Pinball’s official booth (#16254) at CES 2024 (if you are lucky to attend, make sure you head straight there)!

Indicative Pricing ($AUD):

  • JAWS PRO – $11,950
  • JAWS PREMIUM – $15,500
  • JAWS LIMITED EDITION – $20,500

JAWS Limited Edition

JAWS Premium

JAWS Pro

image source: Stern Pinball, Inc.



Disclaimer: Press release supplied by Stern Pinball, Inc.

Tekken 8 Will Be Accessible To Gamers With Colour Vision Deficiency

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When it comes to fighting games, there is Street Fighter and then there is Tekken, easily our favourite 3D based fighting video game (sorry Soul Calibur).

With the release of Tekken 8 scheduled for late January 2024, we were quite chuffed to see that the game will be accessible for gamers with colour vision issues, including achromatopsia – how awesome is that!

Thanks to SJS | Gatterall for bring this cool news to our attention. Hopefully more games will be accessible for people with colour  blindness and other forms of achromatopsia.

source: SJS | Gatterall on X (formerly Twitter)



Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is Coming in 2024

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Gridrunner. Revenge of the Mutant Camels. Tempest 2000. Llamatron. In the British gaming universe of the ’80s and ’90s, nobody made games like Jeff Minter.

Revealed in the Day of the Devs showcase, Digital Eclipse’s Llamasoft: The Jeff Minter Story is an interactive documentary coming to PC and consoles in 2024. Play the history of one of the weirdest, wildest game developers to ever exist — a man who loves shooters and sheep, lasers and llamas!

PS: We are looking forward to playing the (never released) Konix Multi-System – Attack of the Mutant Camels ’89!!

Journey back in time to an era of cassette tapes, photocopied zines, and README.TXT. An era in which a kid with a Commodore VIC-20 and dreams of radioactive sheep could become one of Britain’s best-known game makers. A virtual museum of design documents, playable games, and all-new videos tell the fascinating story of a true independent game designer.

FEATURES

  • Four “interactive timelines” tell the story of Jeff Minter and Llamasoft through archival photos, design documents, playable games, and more historical artifacts.
  • Over an hour of all-new video featurettes from Paul Docherty, director of the upcoming documentary film Heart of Neon.
  • Game library features 42 classic games from 8 different platforms, including the unreleased Konix Multi-System hardware.
  • The all-new Gridrunner Remastered updates the classic game’s graphics and sound, while still running on the original Commodore 64 code for 100% accurate gameplay
  • Two of Jeff Minter’s innovative “light synthesizers,” Psychedelia and Colourspace, are fully playable with all-new console controls.
  • Save, load, and rewind your gameplay at any point, plus other quality-of-life features.
  • Supports English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Japanese.

INCLUDED GAMES

  • Sinclair ZX81
    • 3D3D
    • Centipede
  • Commodore VIC-20
    • Abductor
    • Andes Attack
    • Deflex V
    • Gridrunner
    • Hellgate
    • Laser Zone
    • Matrix: Gridrunner 2
    • Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time
    • Ratman
  • Commodore 64
    • Ancipital
    • Attack of the Mutant Camels
    • Batalyx
    • Gridrunner
    • Hellgate
    • Hover Bovver
    • Iridis Alpha
    • Laser Zone
    • Mama Llama
    • Matrix: Gridrunner 2
    • Metagalactic Llamas Battle at the Edge of Time
    • Psychedelia
    • Revenge of the Mutant Camels
    • Revenge of the Mutant Camels II
    • Rox 64
    • Sheep In Space
    • Voidrunner
  • Sinclair Spectrum
    • City Bomb
    • Headbangers Heaven
    • Rox III
    • Superdeflex
  • Atari 8-bit
    • Attack of the Mutant Camels
    • Colourspace
    • Gridrunner
    • Hover Bovver
    • Turboflex
  • Konix Multi-System
    • Attack of the Mutant Camels ’89
  • Atari ST
    • Llamatron: 2112
    • Revenge of the Mutant Camels
    • Super Gridrunner
  • Atari Jaguar
    • Tempest 2000
  • Reimagined
    • Gridrunner Remastered

image source: Digital Eclipse



Killer Instinct on Steam Is Free – Get It Now

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Wanna kick to the head, for free?!

The legendary fighting franchise with over-the-top action, a wild cast of combatants, rocking reactive music, and C-C-C-COMBO BREAKERS is now free to play on Steam!!!

If you are an existing paid owner of the Killer Instinct (2012) game, you’ll be automatically upgraded to the Anniversary Edition (which is A$39.95).

Go on, what are you waiting for – go and break out some killer combos!!

image source: Steam



The Legend of Zelda Live-Action Movie Is In The Works

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Not to be outdone by Mario, Nintendo’s other massive franchise, The Legend of Zelda, is going to get the love-action movie treatment!

Currently in the works with Nintendo and Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Legend Of Zelda film soon be a reality – Wahoo, or should that just be “woohoo”?!

Wes Ball, the visionary director behind the Maze Runner trilogy, will step into the director’s chair for this upcoming live-action Zelda feature film. The live-action film, set to be distributed by Sony, is a joint venture between Nintendo and Avi Arad’s Arad Productions, Inc., promising an epic collaboration that merges the gaming and cinematic worlds.

Shigeru Miyamoto, the iconic Nintendo representative director and visionary behind legendary franchises like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, is set to produce the film. Miyamoto shared the exciting news on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, revealing that he and Arad have been tirelessly crafting the live-action adaptation for many years.

In this unprecedented partnership, gaming giant Nintendo and entertainment powerhouse Sony are co-financing the project, signaling a groundbreaking moment where two industry giants unite to bring a beloved gaming universe to life on the big screen. The collaboration promises to deliver an immersive and captivating experience for fans and newcomers alike.

Fans can expect nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece (Ed: we hope!!) as Ball takes on the challenge of bringing iconic Nintendo characters and worlds to life in a way that has never been seen before.

The anticipation is building as the creative forces behind this project continue to unveil their vision for the live-action adaptation. With Wes Ball at the helm, supported by the creative genius of Shigeru Miyamoto and the backing of Nintendo and Sony, this collaboration is set to redefine the boundaries of gaming and cinema, promising an unforgettable journey into the heart of beloved Nintendo classics. Stay tuned for more updates as this epic adventure unfolds!



Level Up Your Collectibles Game with Macca’s Makers

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Macca’s is dropping a limited-edition building set for McHappy Day 

Build your own Macca’s restaurant and support McHappy Day with the launch of Macca’s Makers

Ahead of McHappy Day taking place on Saturday 18 November, Macca’s is offering Aussie’s another way to help raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) with the launch of its new and exclusive collector’s item, Macca’s Makers, a 56-piece limited-edition brick building set.

Launching on Wednesday, 8 November for a limited time only, Macca’s Makers gives fans an exclusive, behind the scenes view into the world of the Golden Arches by allowing them to build their very own mini-Macca’s restaurant.

The building set is a replica of a Macca’s restaurant and features an iconic glow-in-the-dark Golden Arches pylon, crew and manager figurines, McCafé, Playland, front counter and drive-thru.

Aussies can purchase Macca’s Makers for $36.95 from their nearest McDonald’s restaurant or via McDelivery from Wednesday, 8 November, with 100% of profits being donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities in celebration of McHappy Day.

Amanda Nakad, Director of Marketing for McDonald’s Australia said: “McHappy Day has been part of our customers’ lives for the past 31 years and we continue to be blown away by their support for the fundraiser and Ronald McDonald House Charities. This year, we are excited to give fans, who love to express their passion for the brand, the opportunity to collect an iconic Macca’s item while helping to raise funds for a cause very close to our hearts. So, get ready to build your own Macca’s restaurant with Macca’s Makers, but make sure you are quick, as they are sure to sell out fast!”.

Organised by McDonald’s, McHappy Day is the largest annual fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities, which raises vital funds to help seriously ill and injured children and their families.

In addition to purchasing a Macca’s Makers set, Aussies can support this year’s McHappy Day fundraiser by:

  • During McHappy Time (from 18 October) – Picking up a pair of Silly Socks for $5.95, or Helping Hands for $2, $10 or $50, from their local Macca’s or via McDelivery.
  • On McHappy Day (Saturday, 18 November) – Buying a Big Mac from their local Macca’s or via McDelivery, with $2 from every Big Mac sold going directly to RMHC.
  • Making a donation online by visiting www.rmhc.org.au/give

Compatible with other brands of building bricks, Macca’s Makers is available for $36.95 from Wednesday 8 November 2023 across McDonald’s restaurants nationwide and via McDelivery, for a limited time only. All profits raised will go directly to Ronald McDonald House Charities, as part of McHappy Day 2023.

For more information visit: www.mcdonalds.com.au



Press release supplied

Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft Coming Soon To Netflix

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In case you miss the news in October, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft animated series is coming soon to Netflix!

We must admit, it does look good, and seldom do Netflix miss the mark. Can’t wait for this one.


source: Netflix



THE GAME EXPO returns in March 2024

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THE GAME EXPO (TGX) is returning after this year’s successful debut show!

The gaming events calendar is perfectly balanced between the two expo giants, TGX in March, and PAX Aus in October. If you are over your PAX Aus experience and are fretting for the next big gaming event, you are in luck, as tickets for TGX 2024 have just gone on sale!

Current TGX news is that there are a list of returning activities, including the mega popular Creator Showdown PC LAN tournament, Cosplay Cup, Artist Alley, Tabletop Gaming, Freeplay Video Gaming and an expanded Indie Games Zone to name just a few. TGX 2024 will have much more to reveal, so we’ll be keeping a keen eye on their announcements between now and March and let you know all about it – so make sure you are following us on X/Twitter and Facebook!


source: thegamexpo

The Game Expo lowdown:

  • WHEN: Sat 23rd & Sun 24th March 2024
  • WHERE: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
  • TICKETS: www.thegameexpo.com

Highlights from TGX 2023 to whet your appetite for the 2024 edition!

image source: The Game Expo



LIBERATION – The New Retro Space Adventure Game Is Available Now

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Unleash Chaos in Space!

Liberation is a retro space adventure inspired by the original 1984 version of Elite, and mashed up with classic UK science fiction such as The Tripods, Blake’s 7 and Doctor Who.

In this game, you pilot an elite stealth ship as you take your revenge against the evil Galactic Federation (GalFed)! Upgrade your ship with a variety of weapons and systems. Engage in high-stakes dogfights, dock with space stations and planet spaceports, and work with heroes and villains to destroy GalFed.

To make this game even sweeter, it was made in Australia (Frankston, VIC!) by Classyk Games, on Linux with Godot, using an open source stack including Blender, GIMP and InkScape. Liberation is available right now on Windows, Mac, Linux for Steam and coming soon to itch.


image source: Classyk Games



New Pinball Games To Be Revealed at Pinball Expo

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With Pinball Expo ’23 only a few days away, pinball manufacturers are clamouring to outdo each other in the new release stakes.

We already had Barrels of Fun announce their Labyrinth pinball game over the weekend (which will be playable at the expo), and now it’s Pinball Brothers’ turn with an Ellen Ripley edition of their Alien pinball machine. As Alien(s) fans, this definitely piques our interest!

This Ellen Ripley version of Alien pinball will come with new cabinet art, a loader battle translite, an updated software package (v4.0) and a bunch of extra movie scenes we have never seen in Alien Pinball before! Announcing their collaboration with modder Lior Rajwan from The Art of Pinball, this new machine will include hand-sculpted mini-screen, a hand-painted Xeno-head and a beautifully designed apron. Pinball Brothers are also planning an interactive topper which we hope they bring to the expo!

Alien Pinball – The Ellen Ripley Version

The Ellen Ripley Edition’s In-game Extras

Not to be outdone, Jersey Jack Pinball (JJP) will also announce Steve Ritchie’s next pinball machine on October 19 (US time), which is rumoured to be an Elton John music themed pin. We aren’t the biggest Elton John fans, but with Steve designing this one with a higher BoM (bill of materials), you can bet it will be an amazingly flowy (and possibly brutal) game, packed with cool mechs and toys – well, that’s the hope.

The Master of Flow – Steve Ritchie. JJP will showcase his latest game at Pinball Expo

Will it be Elton John? We’ll see on October 19 (US time)!

Oh how we wish we could be at Chicago this week to experience and play these new machines – if someone could fly us out to Chi-town, we’d be forever in their debt 😉