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Retro Exploring

Portable Atari 2600

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Atari_VCS_0

Do you have a cool US$1,365.00 burning a hole in your pocket? This portable Atari 2600 recently made an appearance on eBay with a Buy It Now (BIN) price which no one offered the seller from Turkey. If you were to buy this unique item, this is what you would get for your money:

* Play all your NTSC Atari VCS / 2600 cartridges on the go;
* CNC-machined wooden case with CNC artwork;
* 7.4v li-ion battery with a 3 hour battery life;
* Pause function to pause the game whenever needed;
* Dip-switch settings to switch the built-in controller between player 1 and player 2;
* Difficulty switches for each player;
* LED low battery indicator – kicks in when battery has 20 minutes left;
* Composite video and mono headphone out;
* Digital volume and brightness controls;
* Playstation 1 analogue stick converted to play as D-pad with extra trigger function;
* 3.5″ TFT screen;

All this awesomeness in a 200mm x 135mm x 40mm yacht varnished wooden package that weighs 600 grams! What more would you want.

 

The Thrill Of The Chase: Cocktail Table

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The nostalgia bug can bite at a moment’s notice! As a kid, playing an arcade game on a cocktail table was awesome. There was never any worries in reaching the controls. When an opportunity presents itself to get that ‘sit down and play an arcade game on a table‘ feeling, you must act fast!

table_pickup
Transporting the precious cargo in style

I recently found a restored Leisure & Allied Industries (LAI) cocktail table on eBay. Controlling my emotions, I set a limit on how much I would spend to get the table. I was prepared to miss out, even if someone bid a dollar more. To my surprise, I ended up winning the auction.

table_coin
No free play here buddy! It is 20c per credit!

I couldn’t wait to pick up the cocktail table, so I messaged the seller and asked if I could pay and pick up the table that day. In the cover of darkness, I ferried the precious cargo back to my abode. The table currently sits proudly in the family room, begging to be played at every opportunity.

table_glory
A sight for sore (nostalgic) eyes

There are a few few things I would like to modify on the table – the artwork, buttons and their layout, and then the MAME setup (yes, I know, it is MAME’d!) . Apart from that, the table is in great condition and the restoration looks like it was done by someone that loves giving some TLC to heritage listed arcade machines. This will look great next to the Space Invaders cabinet. Time for some Galaga!

 

The Thrill Of The Chase: Garage Sale Loot

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Garage_Sale

Last Saturday I set my alarm for 6:30am. Had I lost my mind? Why would I do such a thing on the weekend? I’ll tell you why – I wanted to get to the once-in-a-blue-moon Lobo’s Collectables garage sale. The garage sale was slotted for a 7:00am start. Knowing that the best items go first, I wanted to ensure that I was the early bird that caught the worm. Upon arrival, I could see the back alley garage sale being manned by two Star Wars heavyweights, Darth Maul on one side and Jar Jar Binks on the other. As I approached, I noticed that I wasn’t the only early bird trying to snag the worm. To say the place was packed, would be a gross understatement. I started my surveillance of the area, looking for all things related to retro gaming and vintage toys – Star Wars and Masters Of The Universe (MOTU) in particular. Once the reconnaissance was completed, I devised my plan to squeeze past the hordes and get to my targets.

The_Loot_ausretrogamer

Once the targets were reached, I did not waste time in grabbing items out of boxes and off the shelves. I was clutching them tightly. My plan was executed flawlessly and I walked out with all the goodies I was after – Atari VCS/2600 game cartridges and retro gaming figurines, Star Wars items and Masters Of the Universe action figures. As a bonus, I latched onto a MOTU board game. It seemed that everyone missed it in the mad rush! It pays to keep your eyes open.

As I drove away, with my loot in hand, I was reflecting on what to have for breakfast. Bring on the next garage sale!

The Thrill Of The Chase: Vintage Market

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What does one do when all household chores are done and there is time to kill? I know, go hunting! I don’t mean hunting in the wilderness for ‘game’, I mean hunting for inanimate objects like retro gaming gear and vintage toys. Yesterday, while Melbourne turned on the charm, I made plans to go out and hit a few stores. I visited two vintage markets I had not been to in almost 10 months. A lot had changed in that time – lots of varied retro goodies were on offer.

Nice stash of Master System games. Too bad about the price
Nice stash of Master System games. Too bad about the price
Who doesn't love Steve Urkel!
Who doesn’t love Steve Urkel!
These tabletops haven't sold in 10 months!
These tabletops have not sold in 10 months!
Wrestling, old school style
Wrestling, old school style
If this TV has UHF, I am tuning in the C64!
If this TV has UHF, I am tuning in the C64!

To check out the rest of the photos from this expedition, mozy on over to our Facebook album.

 

 

 

The Thrill Of The Chase: Space Invaders Arcade Cabinet

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There are times that I think to myself, “I am in the right place at the right time”. One lazy afternoon last week, I was trawling through a certain online site when I stumbled upon an unloved Space Invaders arcade cabinet. My retro senses went into overdrive. I had been looking for such a cabinet for a while, but had given up of ever finding one.

The prized prey is strapped down
The prized prey is strapped down

Reading the advertisement, the machine had all the original innards, but the outside of the cabinet had seen better days. The usual story in these online advertisements go something like this: “I don’t have room and the wife tells me I got to get rid of it”, or my favourite, “I bought this cab to restore it, but I now need the money, so it must go”. The seller of this particular machine fell in the latter.

SI_inside_wires                                    SI_long_trailer

The price in the advertisement was negotiable. I immediately sent an offer to the seller and sweetened the deal by saying I could pick it up on the weekend. I honestly thought the seller would negotiate up, but to my astonishment, he accepted it. To say I was excited would be a gross understatement. I could not sleep properly till I had the machine in my possession.

With a bit of loving care, she will be restored to her former beatuty
With a bit of loving care, she will be restored to her former beatuty

With the trailer in tow, I showed up half an hour early at the seller’s house. Once we made  some small talk, money was exchanged and the machine was loaded securely and driven back to its new home, my garage.

The arcade cabinet needs some attention, including the control panel, which isn’t original. However, with lots of tender loving care, she will be restored to her former beauty. She is rock solid – they don’t build them like they used to.

 

Arcade in Paradise

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TimeZone_ausretrogamer

I don’t know about you, but I still get that ‘butterflies in the stomach’ feeling whenever I stumble upon an amusement parlour (Ed: It is called an entertainment centre!).

During our recent trip to Queensland, not only did we stumble upon an amusement parlour, but we hit the jackpot – we found the largest Timezone in the world! A gaming paradise spanning over 5,000 square metres. This multi ‘Gold Coast Business Excellence Award’ winning entertainment centre knows how to cater for all gamers – young and old.

Yours truly enjoying some After Burner Climax
Yours truly enjoying some After Burner Climax

Timezone Funtasia has been part of the Surfers Paradise fabric for many moons. No visit to Cavill Mall is complete without going up the escalators and entering this great funhouse. There are the usual redemption machines, arcade machines based on smarthphone games (Ed: Doodle Jump!), lots of shooting and driving games, fighting games (Ed: I love a bit of Tekken), sports games (Virtua Tennis 4 is pure bliss), pool tables, slot car racing, miniature bowling alleys, air hockey and pinball tables, laser skirmish, merry-go-rounds, and even a dodgem (bumper) cars rink.

VF_ausretrogamer

I know what you are thinking – were there any old arcade machines from the late 80s and early 90s? Sadly, there wasn’t. The oldest machines were Sega’s 8-player Daytona USA and Namco’s Point Blank. However, there were enough machines and tables to keep you occupied for hours, literally!

The two videos below give you a glimpse of this Timezone. Nothing will beat being there in person and immersing yourself in a game; savouring the game play, hearing the sound effects, music and most importantly, the feel of playing on a machine. If you do find yourself on the Gold Coast, give Timezone a visit, you will not regret it!

 

 

If you would like to feast your eyes on more arcade machines from TimeZone, check out our album.

 

 

The Thrill Of The Chase: Slaying the Vectrex

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Finally, the great Vectrex has been hunted down and captured!

What has seemed like a life time of looking for the elusive (and in working condition) Vectrex, it is now in my grasp. The actual hunt was nothing too exciting.

Last Friday, as I laid in bed checking my phone one final time for that last tweet, I got a pop up message from eBay saying that I had new items to check out. To my astonishment, I saw that there was a boxed Vectrex which had just been listed (who lists a Vectrex at midnight!). I quickly saw the price and noted that the seller had offered a “make offer” option on the auction. I ran through the description to ensure it was in working condition and I then put in an offer $50 under the “buy it” now price. My heart rate went berserk once the offer was accepted and I received the “Congratulations” message, followed by the “Pay Now” button. With quivering hands, I had no hesitation to pay immediately.

To say I was thrilled would be a massive understatement. Another rare white tiger is crossed off the list. Next target, the Commodore SX64.

Vectrex_boxed_ausretrogamer

 

Vectrex_action_ausretrogamer

 

The Thrill Of The Chase: NYC Style

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If you are ever in the city that never sleeps, then you are in for a treat. Apart from the many great sights and sounds, you must head down to the gritty and cool East Village (Lower Manhattan) area – there, you will find two amazing retro gaming stores: ‘8Bit & Up’ and ‘Video Games NY’.

VGNY_1            VGNY_2

VGNY_3     VGNY_4     VGNY_5

I was lucky to be in the Big Apple on my last US trip when a few kind Twitter friends passed on some inside tips on these two stores. I seized the opportunity, and I am glad that I did. For mine, ‘Video Games NY’ is the pick of the two – it oozes retro from floor to ceiling, literally! The hardest problem you will have is getting an increased luggage allowance to bring your retro haul back to your country of origin (or state).

Oh yeah, while you are in New York City, you must also visit the ‘Nintendo World’ store – you can read about it here.

VGNY_7              VGNY_8

8bit_2      8bit_4      8bit_3
8bit_5          8bit_6

Video Games NY: 202 E 6th St  New York, NY 10003

8Bit & Up: 35 St. Marks Place #2  New York, 10003



The Thrill Of The Chase

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Vintage Market

As the saying goes, “the thrill is in the chase”. As an avid curator of video games of the retro kind, and lover of vintage toys, I can attest to this notion – there is nothing like the adrenaline rush you get when hunting an old game or that Six Million Dollar Man figurine you had from the 70’s.

vintage_tabletops_ausretrogamer        vintage_startrek_ausretrogamer        vintage_ljf_ausretrogamer

The allure of the hunt is intoxicating, and when you ‘find’ your prey, it is like a “hit” (or should that be “fix”?). I embark on these ‘retro gaming hunts’ on a regular basis – it is the rush that I am seeking from trying to find my prey. It is  a guilty pleasure that does not hurt anyone (except for my hip pocket). Even when the hunt is fruitless, the passion lingers to hunt again.

vintage_pacman_ausretrogamer        vintage_starwars_ausretrogamer        vintage_MOTU_ausretrogamer

From time to time, you find a place that jolts your adrenal gland – just like the hipster vintage market I found in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. Looking at the photos, you get the idea of the gear that is available in this place – from vintage toys to electronic games. It is easy to get your ‘fix’ by looking, but the hand-to-wallet twitch is ever present.

For your photo fix, check out the entire album here

If you have any adrenaline inducing stories, please share them with us. There is nothing like the release of epinephrine and dopamine – it feels great!

vintage_tv_ausretrogamer
Try hooking up your C64 or NES to one of these vintage beauties

 

Nintendo World Store

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My bucket list is quite extensive. Amongst the usual things to do or see once in a life time, I managed to cross-off the big one – visiting the Nintendo World Store in New York City! Not only did I visit it once, I returned many times to soak it all in and stock up on Nintendo products. I even managed to take a load of photos and video for all you to enjoy – browse at your leisure over here.   [Read more…] about Nintendo World Store