Retro Gaming Culture

Home Sweet Retrogaming Home

May 24, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

(Image source: The Baxter’s)

There’s no place like home, especially if it is a retrogaming home!

Space Invaders House
(via Desire To Inspire)

Space Invaders In The Shower
(by Lillian1810 on DeviantArt)

Space Invaders Mosaic – Rocket Restaurant
(via VITROGRES Mosaic on Pinterest & ‏@PaulWallCovs on Twitter)

DIY Pac-Man Tiled Desk
(by pameroth on Instructables via Gamer Wife)

More Mosaic Masterpieces!
(via Mental_Floss)

Super Mario Bathroom
(via Nerd Approved)

Space Invaders Toilet Paper Holder
(via Geekologie)

Donkey Kong Wall Shelf
(by Igor Chak via Bit Rebels)

Retro Invader Couch
(via Apartment Therapy)

Homemade Sega Master System Couch
(by Subby kun)

Tetris Shelves
(via Apartment Therapy)

NES Coffee Table
(via Geekologie)

Retro Rugs
(via Geek Art Gallery & VVORK)

Arcade Coat Rack
(Liberty Games via Complex)

Pac-Man Ghost Bookshelf
(LightYourselfUp via Complex)

Pac-Mac Coffee Table
(Destructoid via Complex)

Super Mario Filing Cabinets
(by nintentofu on DeviantArt via Complex)

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Should we allow our retro gaming gear to age gracefully, or do we do what everyone does in Hollywood, go under the surgeon’s scalpel in the hope of looking better? In this instance, having an Atari Lynx II upgraded with McWill’s LCD modification (with VGA out) was an easy choice. This surgical transplant was well worth sacrificing one Atari Lynx II out of the many sitting there to be used at ComLynx parties. The only difference being, I would have the best looking screen at the next meet *wink*

In its original form, the Lynx II’s screen isn’t the best, you are constantly angle it or mucking around with the contrast to get that perfect view. With the new LCD, that is all gone! No more mucking around with the contrast knob, and you certainly do not have to angle the Lynx II to get a better vantage point. The new screen is super sharp, able to be viewed clearly at 180 degrees! Not only that, you can also play your Lynx II on the big screen via the VGA out interface! Cor blimey!

Just like any delicate surgical procedure, I left this modification to the expertise of Dr Curlytek. With precision, Dr Curlytek was able to salvage the old screen (to be used as a spare part if need be!) and install the new one without a hitch. The mod isn’t as straight forward as the instructions lead you to believe, so it is best left for those that have steady hands and exquisite soldering skills. So was it all worth it? A photo comparison can’t do the new screen any justice – you have to see it in real life to get an appreciation of its sharpness and vividness! Imagine if Atari had installed these screens originally? Perhaps they would have sold more Lynxes!

A huge thank you to Serblander for sourcing the LCD kit and to the surgeon himself, Stacey “Dr Curlytek” Borg for his exceptional skill in transplanting the new screen into the Atari Lynx II.

The surgeon prepares!

Open that sucker!

The Lynx II opened up

Out with the old (screen)!

The new screen awaits its new host

The Lynx II patiently waits for its new internal organ

Read the instructions twice and perform surgery once – great plan!

The delicate work continues

Additional body part for the Lynx II

The Atari Lynx II in post-operation recovery

The screen test begins! Wow, looking super sharp!

Testing the VGA output! Looking good.

Let the Lynx II screen battle begin!

And the winner is……. Ah, it’s an easy choice

Interactive Family Tree Of Retro Controllers

May 19, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

John Kowalski (Sock Master) has created an awesome interactive retro controller family tree which takes us from Atari 2600 and Intellivision to PS3 and Wii controllers. Click on the pictures in the tree and you will find out key information about each controller – for example, the Atari 2600 controller was first released in 1977 and was sold until about 1991! While the WaveBird is notable for being the first wireless first-party controller.

As Sock Master describes:

‘I’ve put together a chart, or controller family-tree, that tries to connect all the current console controllers with their predecessors… a lot of the information presented here is my opinion. I try to keep things accurate, using facts that I know, but also making some of my own conclusions where no hard evidence is available…

There are still a number of gaps in the family tree, as a lot of controllers are still missing from the chart. Eventually, I will try to fill in some of the holes. Current things that are missing are controllers I couldn’t get my hands on, controllers from less popular consoles, and most of the 8-bit era.’

Sock Master’s Interactive Retro Controller Family Tree

Source: Sock Master via Geekologie

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

The ‘Konami Code Sites’ Website

May 18, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

Image source: decibel-design

The Konami Code (Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right B, A, Start) was invented in 1986 by Kazuhisa Hashimoto to help during the development of the NES port of Gradius. Since its creation, the code has appeared in many other games (Konami and non-Konami).

The code also unlocks Easter Eggs on a number of websites. ‘Which ones?’ you ask: well, just enter the code on the ‘Konami Code Sites‘ page and all will be revealed.

The list is a little hit and miss, we did not find Easter Eggs on all sites – but that just made it extra exciting when the code did work!

Geek & Hype

Teddy-risation

GameSpot

Soundclick

Source: Konami Code – Wikipedia, Konami Code Sites via Geekologie

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Insert Coin To Play: Geeky Coins And Tokens

May 15, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

Image source: CSA

We all love having a pocket full of coins and tokens to feed our arcade addiction, but you may be reluctant to part with these treasures.

Club Nintendo Commemorative Coins:
The Year Of Luigi & Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary
Image source: Nintendo Life & Nintendo Life Forums

Nintendo Power 100th Issue Commemorative Coins
Image source: Ripten

1982 World’s Fair Arcade Tokens
Image source: Video Games Memorabilia Museum (Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Ms Pac-Man)

SegaWorld Sydney Token
Image source: Video Games Memorabilia Museum

Time-Out Arcade Tokens
Image source: Dork Dimension

Chuck E. Cheese Arcade Tokens
Image source: Dork Dimension

Assorted Arcade Tokens
Image source: Classic Plastic

Image source: Boing Boing

Pikachu Coin For The Polynesian Nation Of Niue
Image source: Numista

Doctor Who Coins By The Perth Mint Australia

Batman & Superman Coins
Image source: Royal Canadian Mint & Royal Canadian Mint

Star Trek Coins For Island Of Tuvalu
Image source: The Perth Mint via Geekologie

Star Wars Coins For The Polynesian Nation Of Niue
Image source: New Zealand Mint via Geekologie

World Of Warcraft CoinsImage source: Amazon (Alliance & Horde)

Coin Paintings by Andre Levy
Image source: Tales You Lose via Toxel

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Nolan Bushnell: Welcome to Your World, Your Way

May 13, 2015 By ausretrogamer

Last night we had the unexpected pleasure of spotting Nolan Bushnell on the telly. No, we weren’t watching ‘Atari: Game Over‘, it was a new ad campaign for ANZ Bank – ‘Welcome to Your World, Your Way’.

The campaign – which aims to inspire people to shape their own world, and their own future – features a raft of ‘Worldshapers’ or ‘inspiring individuals with drive, commitment and imagination in transforming the world around them’.

Nolan Bushnell is undeniably a Worldshaper! As ANZ describe:

‘Back in 1972, few could have imagined a game console in the home. But Nolan did, and the world took note… The world has changed a lot since 1972. And Nolan has played a big part in changing it.’

The Atari co-founder is filmed playing old school arcade machines at Forgotten Worlds, an awesome barcade in Collingwood, Victoria. Ah, if only we knew Nolan was there, we would have challenged him to a game of Asteroids!

Source: ANZ Australia on YouTube

‘GAMEBOY’ Tells The Story Of Austrian Game-Expert Andranik Ghalustians

May 9, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

The short-documentary ‘GAMEBOY’ by filmmaker Carlo Hofmann tells the story of Austrian game-expert Andranik Ghalustians and his amazing (and well used) video game collection – he estimates he has somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 games!

Source: Carlo Hofmann on Vimeo via Laughing Squid

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Retrogaming DIY With Adafruit Kits And Projects

May 9, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

NYC-based Adafruit Industries, founded in 2005 by MIT engineer Limor ‘Ladyada’ Fried, is ‘one of the largest collections of open source hardware, educational electronics and tools for the hobbyist and engineer‘. While the Adafruit Learning System is an awesome free online resource with heaps of tutorials for learning about electronics.

Feast your eyes on the best of the Adafruit retrogaming-themed DIY kits and projects.

MONOCHRON Open Source Retro Clock Kit

Video source: Adafruit Industries on Vimeo

Xronos Clock Kit V2.1

The Raspberry Pi-Powered Cupcade Kit

Video source: Adafruit Industries on YouTube

The Uzebox: A Fully Open Source, DIY 8-bit Game Console

PiGRRL – Raspberry Pi Game Boy

Video source: Adafruit Industries on YouTube

LedGames – A Two-Player ‘Cocktail’ Style Game, With A 64×64 LED Display

DIY Pocket LED Gamer – Tiny Tetris!

Retro Gaming With Raspberry Pi

Video source: Adafruit Industries on YouTube

Source: Adafruit Industries

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Cute LEGO Arcade Stop Motion Videos

May 7, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

We love Michael Hickox’s simple, but oh-so-cute LEGO arcade stop motion videos!

‘LEGO Donkey Kong’

Video source: Michael Hickox on YouTube

‘LEGO Arcade’

Video source: Michael Hickox on YouTube

‘LEGO Arcade 2’

Video source: Michael Hickox on YouTube

Source: Michael Hickox on YouTube

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

The Amazing Homemade Pong Watch

May 5, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

This amazing Pong watch is truly homemade. The creator, John Maushammer, even made the casing and fabricated the board – watch the video to see the project in progress.

Maushammer says: ‘I succeeded in compressing all the electronics for this watch in to a 10mm-thick case. The 96×64 OLED display runs continuously – unlike older LED watches, there is no need to press a button to see the time. Battery life is 25 hours, so recharging is done every night.‘

Video source: maushammer on YouTube

And to top it off – Maushammer has made a second version which plays Asteroids controlled with a tilt sensor: ‘Usually, the computer plays automatically & it keeps time. But, it also has a tilt-sensor so you can aim the ship by moving your wrist around.’

Video source: maushammer on YouTube

Before you ask, sadly it doesn’t look like either of these watches are available to buy – but we can hope. It’s lucky there are plenty of other retrogaming watches to keep us occupied in the meantime!

Image source: Pinterest

Image source: ausretrogamer

Source: maushammer on YouTube via Geekologie and Gizmodo

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Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter