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‘Tush Push’ as an ‘NFL Blitz’ Play

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When “NFL Blitz” was released, I played the game for so many hours that I’d lose track of time. One thing that I always felt was missing from the classic NFL game was more running plays. You would often have to toss a lateral to a teammate to run the ball up the field. I admit, throwing was a lot more fun, but a few running plays in the jumbo formations would’ve given the play a more offensive balance.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ “tush push” would’ve been perfect for “NFL Blitz.”

In the second quarter of the Baltimore Ravens preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, they converted a first down around the 50-yard-line by running a “tush push” play.

When the Ravens got the first down, I thought, Oh, the “tush push,” good for them. I was happy to see them use it and have it work. I couldn’t stand the play when the Eagles first started using it. It really bothered me for some strange reason. It even agitated me when they did it. Particularly when they scored a touchdown running it. There was something just off about it.

I had an epiphany: now I think I like it. Like jumping from one political party to another, I’m not sure why I’ve grown to anticipate the “tush push” by a team that only needs a few inches for a first down or a touchdown. Fresh, new things take time to get used to.

The “tush push” is, at its core, a variation of the quarterback sneak—a play that dates to football’s beginning. In an outdated sneak, the quarterback, positioned under centre, takes the snap and instantly surges forward behind the offensive line, trying to gain the necessary inch or two for a first down or a touchdown. The “tush push” alters this by employing one or more players behind the quarterback, who, at the snap, bodily push the quarterback from behind, propelling them forward with greater force.

Da Bomb was my favourite offensive play when playing “NFL Blitz” on my Nintendo 64. I would often select Hail Mary, but that always felt too easy to score on the opposing team. My favourite defence to play was Suicide Blitz and 2 Man Blitz. Suicide Blitz was always tricky because you could get burned with no defensive players playing back.

 

The Pioneer LaserActive Lives Again: A Retro Resurrection 16 Years in the Making

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If you’ve ever looked at the Pioneer LaserActive (CLD-A100) and thought, “Surely someone’s emulated that beast by now,” you weren’t alone. But until recently, the answer was a surprising no. Despite its wild hybrid of LaserDisc movies, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and PC-Engine games, and CD-ROM add-ons, the LaserActive remained one of the last major vintage consoles left out in the cold of the emulation world.

That is—until now.

After 16 years of effort, setbacks, and sheer stubbornness, the LaserActive is finally playable via emulation, thanks to the tireless work of developer: Nemesis, a long-time figure in the retro scene—and yes, he’s proudly Australian.

What Made the LaserActive So Weird (and Wonderful)?

Released in 1993, the LaserActive was a Frankenstein’s monster of media formats. It could play LaserDiscs (yes, those dinner-plate-sized video discs), Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridges, CD-ROMs and even Mega LD games —if you had the right expansion module (called a PAC). It was expensive, niche, and undeniably cool in that “only in the ’90s” kind of way.

But its complexity made it a nightmare for emulation. Unlike most consoles, the LaserActive wasn’t just one system—it was several, stitched together with proprietary hardware and obscure formats. That meant emulating it wasn’t just about dumping ROMs; it was about decoding a whole multimedia ecosystem.

Enter Nemesis: The Aussie Who Wouldn’t Quit

Nemesis, known in the emulation world for his earlier work on Exodus, a cycle-accurate Mega Drive emulator, began his LaserActive journey back in 2009. What started as a curiosity turned into a full-blown mission: to bring the Mega-LD experience to modern systems.

Over the years, he reverse-engineered hardware, tackled the quirks of LaserDisc data, and even helped pioneer a new file format (.mmi) to preserve the analogue video, audio, and digital content in one playable package. His work culminated in the latest version of the Ares emulator, which now supports LaserActive’s Sega PAC games.

Why It Matters

For retro gaming fans, this isn’t just about playing Triad Stone or Pyramid Patrol on your PC. It’s about preservation. The LaserActive was a bold experiment in multimedia gaming, and now, for the first time, it’s accessible to everyone—not just collectors with deep pockets and working LaserDisc players.

It also marks a symbolic milestone: one of the last major consoles of the pre-2000s era has finally been emulated. That’s a huge win for game history, digital preservation, and anyone who ever dreamed of playing LaserDisc Karaoke without shelling out a small fortune.

What’s Next?

With the LaserActive finally joining the emulation club, the retro community can turn its attention to even more obscure oddities. But for now, let’s raise a glass (or a controller) to Nemesis—the Aussie dev who brought a forgotten console back to life.

BREAKING: The Vectrex Mini is Real – And It’s Glorious!

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Gamescom 2025 just got a whole lot more vector-tastic!

Hold onto your overlays, retro fans – the legendary Vectrex is back, and it’s been shrunk down to a pint-sized powerhouse! Making its dazzling debut at Gamescom 2025, the Vectrex Mini is a modern reimagining of the iconic 1982 vector-based console, and it’s already stealing the show in Hall 10’s Retro Area.

For the uninitiated, the original Vectrex was a trailblazer – the only home console with its own built-in vector display, complete with translucent screen overlays, lightpen support, and even 3D goggles. It was basically a mini arcade cabinet for your lounge room. Now, over 40 years later, the Vectrex Mini is here to rekindle that magic – in a much smaller (and cuter) form.

🧠 What’s New in the Mini?

  • 📺 1/3rd the size of the original, but still an all-in-one unit
  • 🌈 AMOLED display for crisp, vibrant vector graphics
  • 🎮 12 built-in games, with the ability to add more
  • 💾 Modern internals, but faithful to the original experience
  • 💸 Expected price: €150 (~ AU$270)
  • 📏 Height: approx. 6–8 inches / 15.2-20.3cm – perfect for your desk or shelf!

The Vectrex Mini is being developed by a passionate French team, and while it’s still in prototype form, the buzz is real. Fans at Gamescom are already lining up to get hands-on with the unit, which sits adorably next to its full-sized ancestor like a retro gaming Matryoshka doll.

🗓️ Kickstarter Incoming!
The team behind the Mini has confirmed a Kickstarter campaign launching in September, so if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a Vectrex (without shelling out hundreds on eBay), now’s your chance to jump in.

Whether you’re a die-hard Vectrex veteran or a curious newcomer, this is one retro revival you won’t want to miss. And who knows – if this goes well, maybe we’ll finally see that long-lost Vectrex handheld from the ’80s make a comeback too!

image source: Vectrex Official via Twitter/X

 

Review: Forgotten Worlds no. 6 – The Sega Issue

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SEGA DOES WHAT NINTENDON’T

If you’ve ever blown into a Mega Drive cartridge, battled through Streets of Rage, or argued over the superiority of Blast Processing, then Forgotten Worlds Issue is your new holy grail.

This issue, lovingly dubbed The Sega Issue, is a pixel-perfect tribute to one of gaming’s most iconic companies. From the blue blur himself to the deep cuts of Sega’s arcade legacy, this mag is bursting with nostalgia, insight, and retro goodness.

🌀 What’s Inside?

  • Deep Dives into Sega’s golden era, including the rise of the Genesis/Mega Drive and the console wars that defined a generation.
  • Exclusive Interviews with industry legends who helped shape Sega’s legacy.
  • Rare Artwork & Ads that’ll transport you straight back to the ’90s.
  • Retrospectives about Sega magz from BITD, like Mean Machines Sega, Megatech, Sega Power and Megazone.
  • Opinion Pieces that are as bold as a Sonic speedrun.

The layout is slick, the writing is passionate, and the love for Sega is palpable on every page. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just Sega-curious, this issue is a must-have. Oh yeah, each issue comes with a limited edition ‘Sega Blue Skies’ cover insets / postcards – if you were lucky enough to grab the limited edition before it sold out, that came with all 8 (4 x double-sided) limited edition postcards.

📦 Don’t Miss Out!
These mags are flying off the shelves faster than Sonic with a speed boost. If you want to secure your copy before they’re all gone, hit the link below and place your order now:

👉 Order Forgotten Worlds #6 – The Sega Issue

Trust us, your coffee table (and your inner retro gamer) will thank you.

Disclaimer: Forgotten Worlds : The Sega Issue was kindly supplied by Forgotten Worlds for this review.

PixelCrib Giveaway – Win an Analogue Pocket!

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Another PixelCrib Giveaway – you could win the OpenFPGA beauty, the Analogue Pocket!

After their incredible response to last month’s Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle giveaway, we knew PixelCrib would keep the good vibes rolling. For this month, PixleCrib is giving away something truly special: the Analogue Pocket!

🕹️ Why the Analogue Pocket?
Because it’s a retro gaming dream come true! This sleek handheld plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance cartridges (and many, many more!) with pixel-perfect accuracy thanks to its powerful FPGA hardware. If you’re a fan of classic gaming, this is the ultimate collector’s piece. The Analogue Pocket is indeed the best thing since sliced bread!

📦 How to Enter:
From 16–31 August 2025, every order of an in-stock item gets you an automatic entry into the draw.
✅ Shop online or visit PixelCrib in-store
✅ Each order = one entry (yep, multiple orders = multiple chances!)
🚫 Pre-orders aren’t eligible, so make sure your item is ready to ship!

🌍 This giveaway is open to everyone — whether you’re in Australia or anywhere else in the world!

Have we told you how much we love our Analogue Pockets?!

 

📅 Winner Announcement:
PixelCrib will randomly draw the winner on Monday, 1 September 2025 and reach out via email or phone.

🎮 Ready to win the ultimate retro handheld?
Head to PixelCrib.com.au, grab something awesome, and you’re in the running. Good luck, gamers — may the pixels be ever in your favour!

 

Internet Archive – Preserving Our Digital Cultural Heritage (Fundraiser)

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We’re Helping the Internet Archive Protect Universal Access to Knowledge — And You Can Too!

If you’re anything like us, you probably can’t imagine a world without the Internet Archive. From preserving classic games and retro computing history to housing a seemingly infinite library of books, software, and media, the Archive is an essential time capsule for nerds, historians, and digital explorers alike.

So when we heard about the Internet Archive’s new Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Fundraising initiative to help “protect universal access to knowledge,” we had to jump onboard.

What’s the Initiative All About?

The Internet Archive has launched a grassroots fundraising effort — where supporters can create their own personalised campaigns to raise funds for the parts of the Archive that matter most to them. Whether it’s emulation, old software, the Wayback Machine, or public domain books, each campaign can highlight what’s most meaningful to the fundraiser and their community.

We’ve created our own fundraising page to support this critical mission, and we’d love for you to join us:

👉 https://donate.archive.org/ausretrogamer

Why Now?

Through September 30, every dollar raised through this P2P campaign will be matched 2:1, tripling the impact of your generosity. That means a $10 donation turns into $30 for the Archive. It’s a rare opportunity to make your support go further — and help keep digital history freely accessible for everyone.

Why It Matters to Us

As lovers of all things retro — from arcade games to crusty old ZIP files — we rely on the Internet Archive to dig into the past and share its treasures with the world. Whether we’re researching obscure 8-bit titles or revisiting classic DOS manuals, the Internet Archive is our go-to.

By supporting this initiative, we’re helping ensure that future generations can still discover the games, media, and knowledge we grew up with. And that feels pretty awesome.

💾 Support our campaign and help preserve the digital past for the future:

https://donate.archive.org/ausretrogamer

📅 Remember: All donations through Sept 30 will be tripled!

Let’s keep knowledge free and accessible — pixel by pixel, page by page. ❤️

From The BBC Archives: 1981 – Nolan Bushnell

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“I like to describe myself as a leisure time technologist” – Nolan Bushnell

You’ve gotta love the BBC Archive—they always manage to tap straight into our nostalgia cortex! 🕹️✨

In this gem from 1981, we catch Nolan Bushnell, the mastermind behind Atari, dishing out insights on video games and whether they tap into our “animalistic nature” when it comes to violence in games. (Spoiler: he’s charmingly candid.). He also talks about the ground-breaking Pong, which was renamed to Ping in the UK due to the word ‘pong’ having a different meaning over the pond 😉

By this point, Nolan had already sold Atari to Warner Communications for a cool US$28 million, pocketing about US$15 million himself 💸—and he wasn’t slowing down. Instead, he pivoted to something even more wild: launching Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre, where pizza met arcade games, pinball and animatronic mice ruled the stage. 🎤🍕

The best part? The clip shows both kids and adults completely caught up in the early ’80s arcade craze—a full-blown cultural moment brought to life by the guy who basically invented “fun” as a business model.

📼 Total time capsule. Total legend. Total vibes.


source: BBC Archive (Facebook)

‘Fantastic Four’ on PS1

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

“Fantastic Four” for the original PlayStation was a blast to play. For 1997, the gameplay graphics were superior to other video games at that time. It was a routine beating up numerous bad guys in side-scrolling stages game, similarly to the “Double Dragon” series and “Ninja Gaiden.” Having Human Torch leading the way and having The Thing cover the rear was always thrilling. Human Torch was a menace with fiery punches. I liked how Sue Storm could bring down the blue lightning when the fighting got extremely intense. Force Power was something I always used when a huge number of foes approached the team.

One complaint about the Acclaim Entertainment game is that the stages seemed too long. The Fantastic Four had to cover a lot of terrain before they got through a rigorous stage. The attack of the Molemen was a fun part of the game, but the time it took to defeat them was taxing. The payoff was lengthy. The payoff was a short fight with The Incredible Hulk.

The final stage: “Is the World Doomed?” was the best part of the game. I always thought that Dr. Doom welding a rocket launcher at the end was a little unfair. Dr. Doom looked great.

source: supplied

I’m excited for the new “The Fantastic Four: First Steps,” but the trailers have been underwhelming to me. The films starring Chris Evans and Jessica Alba have a quirky, fun quality to them, but they’re in no way good comic book movies. In the second one, “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer,” released in 2007, it’s like they didn’t know what to do with the Silver Surfer. Hopefully the new Marvel film doesn’t make the same mistake.

I’m a huge fan of Vanessa Kirby. She was terrific in “Hobbs and Shaw” and a small, great film called “Pieces of a Woman.” I think she’ll be a wonderful Sue Storm. Her fight scenes in “Hobbs and Shaw” were some of my favourite parts of that fun action movie. And she was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in “Pieces of a Woman.” And I think everyone likes Pedro Pascal. I’m not sure if Joseph Quinn can pull off Human Torch, but he gave two standout turns in last years’ “A Quiet Place: Day One” and “Gladiator 2.”

Batong BT-686: The Famicom Frankenstein We Never Knew We Needed!

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Every now and then, we stumble across a retro gem so bizarre, so gloriously bootleg, and so mind-blowingly rare, it makes our collective jaws drop—and today’s discovery is no exception.

While trawling the weird and wonderful corners of the retro gaming internet, we unearthed a system that’s rarer than rocking horse poop: the Batong BT-686 Multimedia Computer — aka the Famicom CRT Unit. And folks, this thing is WILD.

At first glance, it looks like someone fused a miniature 1980s classroom computer with a Famicom, and then dunked it in a vat of 8-bit weirdness. It’s chunky, beige, and absolutely magnificent.

💾 What is the Batong BT-686?

The Batong BT-686 hails from a mysterious corner of the East Asian clone wars era, manufactured by Batong Electronics (八通电子) — a company that (based on what little we could find) specialised in unlicensed or “educational” Famicom-based computers.

But here’s the kicker: this isn’t just some off-the-shelf Famiclone. It’s an all-in-one educational computer/gaming mutant, combining:

  • 🖥️ Built-in CRT display

  • 🎮 Famicom cartridge slot

  • 🧠 RAM and OS cartridge inputs

  • ⌨️ Full-size mechanical-style keyboard

  • 🔌 NES-to-Famicom 62-pin converter

  • 🕹️ Bundled bootleg Famicom multi-cart with classics like Super Mario Bros.

  • 🧃 All in a single, self-contained beige bombshell.

Oh, and it boots into a space-themed loading screen that gives off strong “computer class in a Cold War bunker” vibes. What’s not to love?

🔍 How Does It Work?

Thanks to an incredible video by Russian Video Game Comrade, we got a closer look at this beast in action. The BT-686 appears to boot off a proprietary OS cartridge (à la BASIC interpreters), with additional RAM cartridges providing memory expansion.

But the real drawcard is the Famicom compatibility—it runs bootleg multi-carts just fine, and with the included NES-to-Famicom pin converter, you can even fire up your NTSC NES games, assuming you’ve got the right power supply and a lot of patience.

What’s even crazier? The keyboard is functional. While many of these educational clone machines had non-working or limited-use keyboards, the BT-686 appears to allow typing and BASIC-style input commands, making it technically a hybrid computer-console.

🦄 Why You’ve Probably Never Seen One

The BT-686 isn’t just obscure—it’s basically undocumented. Apart from a handful of collectors and YouTube showcases, there’s almost no digital footprint for this oddity. No marketing brochures, no official specs, no price history—nothing.

Our best guess? It was marketed in China or other Southeast Asian countries during the early 1990s as an “educational” tool to sneak Famicom gaming into homes under the guise of learning computers.

Either way, finding a complete unit in working order—with keyboard, display, OS and RAM carts—is practically unheard of.

Final Thoughts

The Batong BT-686 is a retro dream machine from a parallel universe—part Famicom, part classroom computer, part fever dream. It’s these bizarre, boundary-blurring consoles that make retro collecting so rewarding. You’re not just getting a game system; you’re uncovering a lost chapter of tech history.

Got one in the attic? Know more about it? Drop us a line—we’re dying to know more about this electronic chimera!

Stay weird, stay retro. 🕹️

image source: Facebook Marketplace

Review: Irem Collection Volume 3 (Xbox) – Blast from the Pixelated Past

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If you’re a fan of side-scrolling shoot ‘em ups and wild retro weirdness, Irem Collection Volume 3 from ININ Games is like opening a time capsule filled with pixelated power-ups, dragons, and the kind of creative enemy design only the ’80s and ’90s could conjure. This lovingly compiled collection brings together three of Irem’s most eccentric and thrilling shooters: Mr. Heli/Battle Chopper, Mystic Riders, and Dragon Breed. And trust me—you’re in for a ride that’s as bizarre as it is brilliant.

🚁 Mr. Heli / Battle Chopper (Arcade & PC Engine)

This quirky little helicopter with eyes and a face is anything but cute when it comes to dishing out destruction. In Mr. Heli, you’re piloting a plucky chopper through caves, industrial complexes, and molten hellscapes, blasting enemies while navigating tight spaces and gravity-defying jumps.

The PC Engine version is a neat inclusion—it’s a faithful port with slightly different sprite work and some charming 16-bit flair. Whether you’re nostalgic for the arcade or curious about the console iteration, it’s great to have both.

🧙‍♂️ Mystic Riders (Arcade)

Mystic Riders is what happens when you mix magic carpets, flying broomsticks, and enough glittery magic spells to make Hogwarts jealous. This co-op horizontal shmup is the most whimsical of the bunch—two wizard kids take to the skies to take down fantastical foes in a world that feels like a mashup of anime and high fantasy fever dreams.

The local 2-player co-op here is where it shines. There’s something inherently joyful about launching fireballs and dodging oversized haunted pumpkins with a friend at your side.

🐉 Dragon Breed (Arcade)

Now this is the heavy-hitter. You’re not just piloting a ship—you’re riding a freaking giant golden dragon across a dystopian sci-fi landscape. The gameplay twist? Your dragon is invincible, acting like a moving shield as you rain laser death upon alien hordes. It’s smart, strategic, and the kind of game that sticks with you.

With its epic boss fights, moody soundtrack, and layers of attack options, Dragon Breed is arguably the crown jewel of this collection.

🎮 Quality of Life Upgrades

ININ Games didn’t just dump ROMs and call it a day—there are some thoughtful enhancements here:

  • Quick Save/Load and a built-in rewind system let you recover from boneheaded mistakes or rewind to finesse your dodging skills.

  • Customisable controls, including rapid-fire assignments, make a huge difference for comfort and performance.

  • Display filters recreate the glow and scanlines of old-school arcade monitors, or keep it clean with sharp pixels—it’s your choice.

  • Worldwide leaderboards add a modern challenge for competitive score-chasers.

🕹️ Final Thoughts

Irem Collection Volume 3 is a joyous blast of arcade nostalgia. Whether you’re chasing high scores, revisiting forgotten favourites, or discovering them for the first time, these games hold up remarkably well. The mix of fantasy and sci-fi, wacky enemy designs, and tight shoot ‘em up mechanics showcase why Irem was a kingpin of the genre.

And let’s be honest—riding a fire-breathing dragon while blasting biomechanical nightmares just never gets old.

Score: 7.5/10 – Pure retro arcade magic, lovingly preserved and enhanced for the modern couch warrior.