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Cheers To 10 Years – See You At PAX Aus 2023

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Wow, we still can’t believe that PAX AUS is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year!

It is also hard to believe that the Classic Gaming area, or Classic Consoles as it was known in the inaugural year, has been at PAX AUS since the beginning. From the Showgrounds in Ascot Vale in 2013, where it was bitterly cold, we were quite excited when PAX Aus was moved to its new and much bigger home in 2014, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. By moving PAX AUS from July to October, it also ensured that we would have better weather, but then again, this is Melbourne, so anything can happen, in any season!

We are indulging ourselves with nostalgia by reflecting on years gone by at PAX AUS – there has been countless awesome memories and meeting new and amazing people that we are proud to call our friends. Cheers to ten years!

We hope to see some (or all) of you at PAX AUS 2023!

slides created by: Aaron ‘Blahjedi’ Clement (Press Play On Tape podcast)



GoldenEra – The Film About The N64 Video Game, GoldenEye 007, Is Now Available for Pre-Order!

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The fantastic documentary on the most awesome FPS game, GoldenEye 007, is now available for pre-order!

In case you weren’t aware of this fantastic film, GoldenEra is a celebration of a magical moment in video games history, when 3D games burst onto screens and into our imaginations. The film showcases GoldenEye 007, a game that would inspire a generation with innovative gameplay and a multiplayer mode that would change gaming forever. Who doesn’t remember their 4-player death-matches with mates on their Nintendo 64?! Ah, it was so much fun!

GoldenEra is a nostalgic celebration of one of the most important video games of all time. A game that broke all the rules and defined a generation of gamers. The story is told by academics, journalists, celebrities, fans and the game’s designers.

GoldenEra the feature length film, explores the passion, ambition and naive exuberance of the team from countryside England that produced countless hours of joy to millions of gamers around the world.

Featuring hours of content, including:

  • Art of GoldenEra
  • GoldenEye and Obsession
  • GoldenEye inspired VR
  • In Game Reenactments
  • Mick Gordon on Rare
  • Music of GoldenEra
  • The Memes
  • The N64 Hardware
  • Writing GoldenEra
  • Bringing Back GoldenEye (Feature Length GoldenEye Movie!)

You can now pre-order the GoldenEra Limited Edition “Most Deadly” Blu-ray with N64 Slip Case film right here!



PAX Aus 2023 – But Wait, There Is More!

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With only a few more sleeps till PAX Aus 2023 kicks-off this Friday, there are more exciting and enticing news coming out from Australia’s premier gaming and pop culture event!

PLAION is proud to announce the Atari 2600+ – a modern day faithful recreation of the pioneering console that first appeared in 1977.

The new Atari 2600+ system will be on display at PAX Aus this week in the Classic Gaming area. The Atari 2600+ is launching worldwide on 17th November 2023 and available to pre-order for $189.95.

Nintendo has revealed more of their PAX plans – Not only will PAX visitors be able to experience Super Mario Bros. Wonder ahead of release, they will also be able to play Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet: The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask, Detective Pikachu Returns and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown on Nintendo Switch.

Detective Pikachu Returns is launching on the first day of PAX, Friday 6th October. Also available to play on the Nintendo stand will be  an unreleased game from Square Enix – STAR OCEAN THE SECOND STORY R. See all the Nintendo PAX news here.

image source: Rocketcomms



LEGO Halloween: Brick Or Treat!

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What better way to celebrate Halloween than to build some spooky Lego sets!

To help us all celebrate Halloween, LEGO have been kind enough to provide build instructions on creating spooky stuff, like vampires, pumpkins and even your own shadow puppets!

To get you started, here are a few:

  • Build a ghost and/or a bat (instructions)
  • Build a pumpkin (instructions)
  • Build a vampire (instructions)

Grab the rest from the LEGO site right now, then grab all your spare bricks and get constructing! What a treat, thanks LEGO.

image / story source: LEGO



Chironex Studios’ GRIST Game Seeks To Recapture The PC Gaming Experience From The 1980s

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We are now even more hyped for PAX Aus 2023! If you are asking why, then let us tell you……

Growing up in the 80s, our first encounter with a desktop PC was a chunky beige box with a green monochrome CRT monitor. The keys were as loud as the disk-drive accessing the sectors on the 5.25″ floppy, and without any GUI, we had to explore this (what now seems archaic) machine through trial and error using commands that were quite foreign to us at the time. Like any kid back then, we found games to play on these old school computers, which got us hooked. Bathed in the green glow we explored different worlds, made tough decisions, and became different characters – it unleashed our imagination.

Well, an independent Australian game developer, Chironex Studios is seeking to recapture those early days of PC gaming with their new game, Grist!

GRIST is a digital boardgame-slash-rpg about surviving as a Starship Commander in a universe where the secrets of faster-than-light-travel have been lost to time and conflict. Voyage across the galaxy sending out your crew on missions, recovering artifacts of the pre-collapse civilisation, and pushing back the terrors that lurk in the dark between worlds. All the while deciding which parts of your humanity you will keep, and which will be traded for one more year of life among the stars.

GRIST combines vintage ascii terminal style graphics with a synthwave soundtrack for an iconic ascii-wave aesthetic. Gameplay features include a unique positioning based combat system, multiple-choice events with long-tail outcomes, strategic hand-optimization, and a variety of different scenarios to test your abilities.

Currently in development by Chironex Studios, GRIST is planned for an Early Access release in late 2023, so add it to your Steam wishlist right now! And if you are going to PAX Aus in a few weeks, then make sure you head to Booth 16 in the Indie area (Expo Hall) to speak to the developer and check out GRIST!

image source: Chironex Studios



The Nintendo Museum To Be Completed By March 2024

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How darn awesome will this be when it’s finished in March 2024!

Nintendo is converting their old plant in Kyoto, Japan, into a museum to showcase products from throughout their long history in gaming.

If you are planning a trip to Japan next year, perhaps consider checking our the Nintendo Museum while you are there for the cherry blossom season 😉

Birdseye view of the Nintendo Museum roof – love the question mark [?]
Image source: Nintendo



story source: theverge.com

‘Cheers to 10 Years’ – PAX Aus Announces Even More Major Content

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‘Cheers to 10 Years’ As PAX Aus Announces Even More Major Content

With only three weeks to go until PAX Aus 2023, there is even more delicious content including more news from Nintendo and announcements from SEGA, Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, Star Wars Unlimited, Five Nights at Freddy’s and more to sink your teeth into!

We are hoping to see as many of you at PAX Aus this year, so we can’t wait for these weeks to fly by! Oh yeah, you should know where to find us by now (ahem, at our home base, the Classic Gaming area).

OK, without further ado, here is the awesome news…..

PAX Aus 2023 is shaping up to be an absolute whopper and there’s no better way to celebrate the last 10 years than showcasing even more great gaming content with more major announcements confirmed today. So please, take it slow and try not to stuff your face too quickly with all this delicious content…

In addition to Nintendo’s tournament in PAX Arena, Nintendo returns to the PAX expo floor headlined by Super Mario Bros. Wonder – playable before its release on 20th October! Fans can also shop in-person at the Nintendo booth with My Nintendo Store, which will have merchandise to peruse and purchase. Look forward to more information coming soon about the playable titles and available merch from Nintendo.

Gaming icon, SEGA will be attending PAX Aus this year with a booth showcasing Sonic Superstars and Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name. Melbourne-based Ukiyo Studios will be presenting “SEA What I Made! (SWIM)”, the largest Southeast Asian indie games delegation of its kind to grace Australian shores. A total of 15 titles from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines will feature a variety of game genres from turn-based RPGs to Southeast Asian-inspired Diablo-likes and even restaurant management sims.

And for tabletop fans, Star Wars: Unlimited will be demo-ed for the first time in Australia at PAX Aus. Two icons of the tabletop world will also be at PAX Aus – Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Attendees will be able to learn to play Dungeons & Dragons with their friendly Dungeon Masters waiting to guide you on a quest. From there, visit the D&D Superstore where you will be able to find everything you need and want from sourcebooks to minis to collectibles and more. For Magic: The Gathering fans and noobs you can learn to play and get lost in the Wilds of Eldraine with fantastical creatures, unbelievable settings and beloved characters with a unique twist.

Pack your Senzu Beans and Devil Fruit, because the tabletop major moments don’t stop there with Dragon Ball Z and One Piece showcasing their games and hosting tourneys at the event. Compete for glory in the Dragon Ball Super Regionals and One Piece Card Game Tournament, pick up a free demo deck (while stock lasts), as well as try your hand at the new Dragon Ball Super Fusion World card game.

Vanguard, Weiss Schwarz, Shadowverse and Final Fantasy Trading Card Game will also be showcased at PAX Aus and Asmodee, yes, them of Exploding Kittens, CATAN, Ticket to Ride, Dobble/Spot It and so many more legendary games fame will be bringing their latest and greatest games.

What’s October without a jumpscare? Five Nights at Freddy’s will be activating the world of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza where Freddy and the gang are dying to meet you – step into the scene and see if you can survive five nights?

While on the topic of bears, what about bears, in space?! Hear from Broadside Games as they discuss how they went from working a day job and developing games on the side to focusing on a game full-time! The team behind the upcoming action-packed game, Bears In Space, tell all at PAX Aus!

And lastly, tabletop legends Phil Walker-Harding (Sushi Go, Bear Park, Imhotep) and Matt Dunstan (Fairy Tile, Relic Runners) will also be on the floor at PAX Aus, with Walker-Harding demonstrating his game, Spellbook, and Dunstan showcasing a new game, to be revealed for the first time at PAX Aus.

With 3-Day and Saturday Badges sold out and limited single-day badges available, you better gear up for PAX Aus’ 10th anniversary celebration. PAX Aus 2023 takes place October 6-8 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information and badges, please visit their official website.

image source: PAX Aus



The Legend of Super Mario: The Zelda X Super Mario Bros. You Must Play

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The Legend of Zelda takes on Super Mario Bros. in this cool mashup!

There is one way to make us play the original The Legend of Zelda, mash it up with one of our fave NES games, Super Mario Bros.!

Hacking games and mashing them up isn’t anything new, but when the hacked sum is greater than the individual games, we take note. Swedish ROMHacking user NESDraug has hacked together two of the greatest NES games, The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. to create an awesomely playable The Legend of Super Mario mashup game. Featuring Super Mario elements set in the original world of Hyrule might just make us experience a Zelda-like game on the NES – yes, we are one of those in the minority that never were into or wanted to play Zelda games.

If you want to experience The Legend of Super Mario, you can get the game patch from ROMHacking right here. Oh yeah, you will need a patching tool (like Lunar IPS) to patch the original rom file with the .ips patch file – that’s all we can tell ya without incriminating ourselves.

Go on, what are you waiting for?!


source: Hack Games Longplay Channel



Why Retro Gamers Should Wear Blue Light Glasses

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How many hours a day do you spend gaming? Whether you play modern or retro games, most of your sessions are undoubtedly spent in front of a screen — big and small. However, this increased exposure to digital screens may harm your eyes.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 13 million Australians have one or more chronic eye conditions, including short- and longsightedness, astigmatism, macular degeneration, and blindness. In a 2022 survey from Optometry Australia, 88% of participants reported experiencing sore or tired eyes when using a computer or tablet. For people with existing uncorrected vision problems, this can make vision problems even worse.

For gamers specifically, caring for your eye health shouldn’t be overlooked. Recently, we highlighted some of Nintendo’s new games and content coming up soon. From Luigi’s Mansion 2‘s visual upgrade to critically acclaimed titles such as Batman: Arkham Trilogy‘s Switch debut, protecting your vision to enjoy these newer games is vital. One such way is by investing in blue light glasses. Below, we’ll look at what blue light glasses are, why retro gamers may need them, and other ways you can protect your eyes while gaming:

What are blue light glasses?

Blue-violet light comes primarily from the sun and our digital devices, such as computer screens, tablets, smartphones, and handheld consoles. Unlike other forms of light, our eyes aren’t built to effectively filter blue light, causing discomfort and vision problems when viewing digital screens for long periods.

Investing in a pair of blue light glasses can help protect your eyes from your gaming devices, including your smartphone, laptop, and handheld consoles. Blue light lenses such as OPSM BlueGuard® lenses can be fitted to your existing glasses and matched with your prescription. Other blue light lenses like the Invisibles® Blue also have an anti-reflection coating resistant to smudges, scratches, dust, and water.

Blue light glasses also come in different shapes and forms, so you can opt for subtle designs that you can wear in and out of gaming sessions daily or choose more gaming-oriented designs to complement your gaming ensemble.

Is retro gaming harmful to the eyes?

Nowadays, most video games are played on LED screens that emit blue light. If you’re wondering whether older, retro gaming devices also harm the eyes similarly, the answer is yes. While old-fashioned monitors such as CRT displays don’t emit the same level of blue light as LEDs, they still emit some radiation that can harm the eyes. According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, CRT monitors can be more stressful to the eyes than modern flat-screen displays. This is especially crucial for retro enthusiasts who still use CRT monitors to capture the retro feel of older games.

CRT monitors are also known for their constant flickering that emulates frame rates and makes animations in 8- and 16-bit games look smoother. This flickering can cause dizziness and blurriness when exposed for long periods.

Even if you aren’t gaming on an old CRT monitor, you may be gaming on smaller screens and handheld devices when emulating your retro games. While this is fine for short-term use, viewing smaller screen resolutions for long periods can cause squinting and headaches and tends to make you lean closer to a screen than necessary. As such, wearing blue light glasses can still help protect your eyes and vision during retro gaming sessions.

Other ways to protect your eyes while gaming 

Finally, aside from getting blue light glasses, there are other things you can invest in to protect your vision health in the long run. Some people opt for backlight or monitor light bars to help ease the lighting situation while gaming. This is especially helpful for people who spend hours gaming in the dark or dimly lit rooms.

You can also opt to get ergonomic chairs so that you can keep a safe screen distance while gaming. Brands like Herman Miller offer chair lines that are sleek and elegant for everyday use, as well as gaming chairs that combine the gamer-friendly aesthetic with science-backed ergonomics and functionality.

Gamer or not, all of us need to take great care of our eyes and bodies.



Prime Gaming: Free Games For This Month

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Free games for the month of September 2023 – collect them all!

Absolutely love all the freebies we have stockpiled from our Amazon Prime membership. Not only do we enjoy free deliveries and streaming content using Prime, but the cherry on top is the monthly free Prime Gaming titles!

The latest games for Prime Gaming have been announced, so if you have a Prime membership, start claiming these (or diarise the dates when the game you want is available for free)!

  • September 7: Football Manager 2023  — Construct a dream squad, outwit rivals and experience the thrill of the UEFA Champions League as players’ journey towards footballing glory awaits. Please note: Football Manager 2023 is not available in Brazil. Prime Gaming offers may sometimes vary by region. See gaming.amazon.com for more details.
  • September 14: Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim — Strengthen an empire and rise to power as players expand borders, build cities and raise armies in this multiplayer simulation game.
  • September 14: Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy  — Strategise for epic battles, unlock intriguing puzzles and solve exciting quests as players use various abilities to defeat Father Eldritch’s oppressive armies in this RPG title.
  • September 21: Dexter Stardust: Adventures in Outer Space — Go on an adventure to combat the mysterious robot from Planet X and save Earth as players take on the role of taco-loving Dexter Stardust.
  • September 21: Shotgun King: The Final Checkmate — Replace the entire army with a shotgun wielding king in this unique strategy roguelike based on the timeless classic, chess.
  • September 28: Unsolved Case: Murderous Script Collector’s Edition [Legacy Games Code] — Become a detective in this thrilling hidden object title, as players unravel secrets to solve a variety of cases. With the Collector’s Edition, players will also have the chance to make choices, unlock additional achievements and receive bonus collectibles.
  • September 28: Hundred Days — Winemaking Simulator — Grow your very own winery by making impactful, strategic decisions, such as choosing which vines to grow, when to harvest, what wine to market and more.