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2020 Reset64 4KB Craptastic Game Competition Preview

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Development for the 2020 Reset64 4kb ‘Craptastic’ game competition is in full swing!

Deadline is fast approaching (June 30th!) so we thought we’d give you all a quick look at what some of the clever devs are up to for this most awesome competition.

Best of luck to all the competitors and we can’t wait to try your craptastic creations!

Title: Rainbow Edge Run
Author: Geir Straume
Synopsis: Run along the edge of the rainbow and collect as many gold coins as you can, but look out for the exploding mines!

Title: Jumpin’ Jalopies
Credits: A Megastyle Production. Code by Chris Stanley, Graphics by Roy Widding, Music by Roy Widding & Magnar Harestad
Synopsis: This bouncy little game was inspired by my 1954 Morris Minor, affectionately known as ‘Galloping Gussie’! Driving your clapped-out old jalopy you must climb your way up the multi-storey car park/parking lot, using your hydraulics to bounce your way from floor to floor. Climb higher and higher and watch the sky grow darker as you head above the clouds and up out of the atmosphere! Make sure you don’t crash into any of the other vehicles which are all vying for space because one collision and it’s back down to the bottom to begin again. Play it over and over again to keep improving on your previous best score. Can you make it all the way to the top?

Title: Ewe Woz ‘Ere
Credits: Code by Chris Page, Graphics and sound by Chris, Rose and Brent Page.
Synopsis: A cyborg sheep from the future named Baaary must defend his fields from an invasion of meanies, using just his wits and a plasma spitter. It is a score chasing shoot ‘em up with a single life and an emphasis on energy management.

Title: Kugel Blitz
Credits: Code & Graphics by Haplo, Graphics by Marukpa, Music by Richard Bayliss, Fonts by TCH and CyberBrain.
Synopsis: “How long can you hang on before falling to your death?!”

Title: Orcapult
Credits: By Ant Stiller for Puddlesoft
Synopsis: The best orc is an orc flung at its enemy via a catapult. Assault the enemy tower with your green-skinned payloads and conquer its defences before your catapult is destroyed.
(Note: Screenshot is a WIP and may not represent the final version. Many, many orcs were harmed in the making of this game.)

Title: Stacks
Credits: By Derek
Synopsis: You have to repair the chimney stacks one brick at a time.

Title: Mini Danmaku 64
Credits: Everything was coded, drawn & composed by Alexander Martinelle, Cogitare Computing 2020.
Synopsis: The ever smiling alien flirbzies are attacking. It’s up to you to protect your world by figuring out how avoid the onslaught of bullets and obliterate the aliens at the portal.
Good luck with that!

Title: Hose It Out
Credits: Code & Maps by Oziphantom, Graphics by Lobo, Additional maps by Jazzcat.
Synopsis: A simple puzzle game where you have you put out all the burning fires so you can find a way forward 🙂 Make a path for the water and then Hit the water tanks to make it flow and hopefully put out the fires.

Title: Cover Fire!
Credits: By Kamil ‘Jammer’ Wolnikowski
Synopsis: If you enjoyed ‘Gun Fight’ on arcades and its C64 port entitled ‘The Duel’, you will love this two player title as well. This time we abandon wild west setting in favour of modern military operation in the jungle. Kill your opponent and don’t get yourself killed!

Title: Bintris
Credits: Code by Janne Hellsten, Graphics by Iiro Harra.
Synopsis: The game is called BINTRIS. You play Tetris but instead of tetromino pieces, you play with zeros and ones. It’s a major PITA of a game.

Title: Snout About
Credits: Code, Graphics and Sound by Nick Sherman of Crappertronic, a subsidiary of ArlaGames.
Synopsis: ‘Snout About’ is an action game of risk and reward. The quickest way to build a big score is by extending Ian’s snout far and wide, but your reactions will need to be quick to avoid falling hammers from giving your hooter an almighty and game-ending clonk….

Title: sudspccj (working title)
Author: By Goerp
Synopsis: I had the idea for this game for several years. I was thinking about finally learning Unity to realise it, but that never happened. Then the Craptastic 4K compo came along and I started wondering: maybe I can make the game for the Commodore 64, in 4K? I have a working prototype (which was a struggle at times, having never done any floating point calculations in 6502 assembly and having to to refresh my High School trigonometry), but I’m on track for finishing before the deadline. So what I couldn’t do with a modern day 3D game engine looks to be realised on a 38 year old computer in 4K. I love how restrictions sometimes can focus you to realise your ideas! I’d rather not tell too much about the game itself other than: it’s going to be craptastic!

Title: Plazzle
Author: Goerp
Synopsis: I woke up with this simple idea in my head: make a puzzle game with plasmas. And by plasmas I mean the demo effect. The plasma screen is dissected into rectangles and all rectangles are then shuffled. You have to construct the original pattern by switching two rectangles at a time. The player hasn’t seen the original pattern beforehand and because it’s a plasma it’s moving all the time. The code had to be fast but also small, so it required so called speed-code that was generated at run time. Even then I’m very close to 4K, so a few features will have to be sacrificed for a post-compo edition. The game will have a high-score mode and a random mode. Personally I like playing it and I hope others will too.

Title: Blockheads
Credits: Code and Design by Carleton Handley, Graphics by MonstersGoBoom
Synopsis: A Meat Boy style platform game where you can race against the clock in one player mode or against a friend in the split screen two player mode.

Title: Kung Poo Fighter
Credits: A Megastyle Production. Graphics & Code by Roy Fielding, Sound by Roy Widding.
Synopsis: It’s Kung Poo Fighting! Hit it!

Title: RodMän Jr
Credits: Code, Art and Audio by Misfit
Synopsis: The weirdest son of Rodmän & Rodwina got an own game. You must collect pills & bombs and watch out annoying twins Rod and Dave. Craptastic theme gives something different for the game play. 4k causes a few problems and I removed many good ideas. I’m sure I’ll release a bigger and bolder version later.

So there it is. We hope you enjoyed this Craptastic preview and we look forward to being able to play these amazing looking games after deadline. Of course, there are more registered entries and some real Craptastic surprises that weren’t previewed as well!

As usual, a big thank-you to our sponsors and supporters. Please visit their sites and show them your support:

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SEGA Announces the Game Gear Micro

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Do you remember us gushing last week with the news that SEGA may re-enter the console market? If you recall, we speculated on some pretty cool console concepts that SEGA may have brought to us SEGA starved fans.

Well, it seems that the wait is over! SEGA has blindsided us by announcing their Game Gear Micro, harking back to their popular 90s handheld, the Game Gear. The Game Gear Micro will be 40% smaller than the original and will come in four colour variations, each one with their own four pre-loaded games.

The list of games per Game Gear Micro variant:

  • Game Gear Micro (Black): Sonic The Hedgehog, Puyo Puyo, OutRun, Royal Stone
  • Game Gear Micro (Blue): Sonic & Tales, Gunstar Heroes, Sylvan Tale, Baku Baku Animal
  • Game Gear Micro (Yellow): Shining Force Gaiden, Shining Force: The Sword of Hajya, Shining Force Gaiden: Final Conflict, Nazopuyo Aruru no Rou
  • Game Gear Micro (Red): The GG Shinobi, Columns, Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible, Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special

Oh yeah, in addition to these four coloured variants, there will also be a Game Gear Micro Smoke a limited edition unit which can be added to a framed display to showcase the 5 variants (as part of the Deluxe (DX) pack from the Sega Store). If you are a SEGA collector, you may want to jump onto this!

Specifications:

  • Body size : Width 80 mm x Height 43 mm x Depth 20 mm
  • Screen size : 1.15 inches (240×180 pixel)
  • Audio output : Monaural speaker, 3.5 mm stereo headphone jack
  • Power supply : 2 AAA batteries (sold separately), USB micro terminal power supply

image source: Sega 60th Anniversary

The four Game Gear Micro variants will be released on October 6 (coinciding with the original Game Gear’s 30th anniversary) via Amazon (JP), Rakuten Books and the Sega Store with a suggested retail price of ~AU$70. If you don’t have the means to pre-order from these sites, then keep an eye on Play Asia, as they will have them available soon!

1/12 Retro Upright Arcade Cabinet TAITO Set

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We are suckers for anything that gives us a hit of nostalgia. This officially licensed 1/12 Retro Upright Cabinet TAITO Set has certainly hit our nostalgic spot! These 1/12 scale arcade cabinets definitely bring back that familiarity in playing these machines back in the day.

The awesome bit of kit comes complete with wooden cutouts for the arcade cabinets, cabinet colour artwork, game screens and control panel cards for three of TAITO’s arcade games; KiKi KaiKai, Bubble Bobble and Elevator Action. These are so darn cute!

Product: 1/12 Retro Upright Cabinet TAITO Set
Store: Play Asia
Price: US$17.99 / AU$28.34

image source: Play Asia

 

The Mid-Year Sale Madness

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We love this time of year as it is the start of the month long mid-year sales! So get your wallets, purses, credit and debit cards ready!

Amazon Australia has kicked off their mid-year sale with discounted products across many categories, including video games, toys, electronics and computer & accessories that scratch our mid-year sale itch.

If you are anything like us, then you keep one eye on eBay every day just in case you find that item you’ve been searching for (for) ages or some bargain deal that satisfies your sales hunger. During this last month of the tax year (June), eBay will be running their The Best of EOFY Sale – with their top EOFY Sale picks here.

Ah yeah, Play-Asia always gets our buying heart racing! Their daily and weekly deals are pretty good, but it is their massive range that gets us excited. Their current sale of in stock items is worth a look, and if that doesn’t thrill you, then perhaps their awesome retro gaming range will – it is full of intoxicating nostalgia!

Next cab of the sales rank is Ozgameshop! They have a lot of perpetual sales, but it’s their clearance sale across all of their departments that has captured our attention.

Ah yeah, Catch.com.au! Catch is another one that loves their perpetual category sales, so you have to be vigilant when great savings are advertised, like the EOFY (End of Financial Year) Home Office blow-out sale – perfect for those that are working from home! The other one that caught our eye is their Heroic Brands up to 50% off sale.

Last but not least, it is Etsy! There are plenty of retro gaming or pinball related sales on right now. We love Etsy, as most sellers make unique items that are hand made and exudes coolness. Hit Etsy now, as you may find something awesome and help out a creator in the process.

 

Sega Celebrates its 60th Anniversary with a New Console, Maybe

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Well, well, well, the internet went into a mini meltdown with the news circulating that maybe, and this is a big MAYBE, Sega will reveal a new console next week! If this news is true, then we honestly can’t wait, and neither can our Dreamcast – it needs a rest!

Just in case you think we’ve gone bonkers in self isolation, the news broke this week that Japanese digital technology journalist Zenji Nishikawa had hinted at a “huge scoop” during a YouTube live stream. Zenji’s news is set to be published in the June 4 issue of Weekly Famitsu, so mark that date in your diary.

We wish!
source: nerdbacon

For those of you (and us) that want to know what Zenji said, here is the English translation (via Gematsu):

“My column in next week’s issue of Famitsu is crazy. I got a huge scoop… It’s a world premiere article. And an exclusive. It may not be Nikkei or Weekly Bunshun, but if you want to know if it’s a scoop that big…it totally is! It’s a scoop from a game company that everyone loves. An insane scoop. Last year, Wired got the exclusive story on PlayStation 5, right? Other media didn’t. It’s that level of a scoop. I interviewed a certain company’s executive and technical staff, it’s really revolutionary… really, it’s a revolution.

It’ll be in Famitsu next Thursday. I already sent in my manuscript, so the proofs are being made now. It’s a scoop on a level that when the story comes out, other media will make a fuss to the company like, “Why didn’t you let us cover it?” Maybe people will say, “Who was the first to break that story?,” “It was Zenji Nishikawa, right?” It’s a scoop as major as the PlayStation 5 scoop. I just wanted to say that in advance.

I can’t say [anything more] here, but it’s OK for me to tease it (laughs). I was told that it’s OK to do so at various meetings. It’s being talked about in other places. Just not by the media. It’ll rile up the games industry.”

So there you have it folks. Lots of details to speculate on, so we have our fingers crossed that Sega do re-enter the hardware realm to shake things up (and run some cool ads like they used to)!

We Wish Mk II
source: NationStates

source: Sega 60th Anniversary

 

Mortal Kombat 1oz Silver Coin – The Flawless Collectable

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When it comes to cool pop culture collectables, New Zealand Mint (aka: NZ Mint) is on the money in satisfying collectors and geeks alike!

NZ Mint has created a number of video gaming related collectables over the years, so their pedigree in this category is second to none. We previously collected their Space Invaders 40th and Tetris 35th anniversary silver coins which proved quite popular with you all.

Following on from their successful Space Invaders and Tetris silver coins, NZ Mint has now introduced a limited (to 2,020 pieces of the) Mortal Kombat 1oz Silver Coin collectable. This arcade cabinet and silver coin are right in our wheelhouse! During the early ’90s we played the heck out of Mortal Kombat in the arcades, patiently waiting our turn to inflict some gruesome attacks to earn flawless victories. We are happy to say, this NZ Mint Mortal Kombat 1oz Silver Coin definitely earns a flawless victory!!!

This awesome collectable embodies everything cool that is Mortal Kombat! When you open the package, you are greeted by the specially designed Mortal Kombat-themed arcade cabinet, complete with the game logo and three of the original characters on each side; Sub-Zero, Scorpion and Raiden. The “Choose your Fighter” screen is also a great touch to the presentation.

Lifting the arcade cabinet off the base reveals the precious two dollar silver coin collectable cushioned in black velvet. The coin has the words ‘Mortal Kombat’ and the mythical dragon engraved against the fiery red and yellow background colours that are synonymous with the game. The coin is absolutely stunning, which means we can’t keep our hands off it! The other side of the coin features the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

To complete this collectable is the confirmation of the coin’s authenticity, which is printed under the base. With the Mortal Kombat 1oz Silver Coin being officially licensed by Warner Brothers and its limited availability to 2,020 units worldwide (reflecting the year of issue), this is the perfect memento for those who grew up playing Mortal Kombat or for any arcade fighter gaming enthusiasts! No ‘Fatality’ here, only a ‘Flawless Victory’!

Disclaimer: NZ Mint kindly provided the Mortal Kombat 1oz Silver Coin for this article.

 

Celebrate PAC-MAN’s 40th Anniversary

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Well, well, well, the yellow dot (or is it pill?) muncher turns 40 years old today [May 22]!

Ah, what a time to be alive to see a childhood video game (character) we cherished reach such a huge milestone! The year-long Pac-Man 40th anniversary celebrations kick on, so make sure you do not miss out!

If you didn’t know about Bandai Namco’s Pac-Man 40th anniversary year-long celebrations then have a read of this and then go Join the Pac!

image source: Pac-Man Official Site

 

The Internet Arcade – Online Classic Arcade Gaming

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Are you sick of mucking around with MAME to get your classic arcade gaming fix?

Well, if you didn’t know, the Internet Archive has you sorted with their Internet Arcade. The Internet Arcade is a web-based library of classic arcade (coin-operated) video games from the 1970s through to the 1990s. You can play all of these classics in your browser, with the emulation being in JSMAME, which is part of the JSMESS software package.

So no more stuffing about configurations and chasing questionable ROM files all over the net, the Internet Arcade has you sorted with well over 1,700 games! Well, don’t sit there and stare at this, go and play some classic arcade games.

 

PlayStation’s Space Jam: I Never Passed the Ball

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When I played the Space Jam video game, I either consistently played with Michael Jordan or I would pass the ball to the Tasmanian Devil. Usually, I just went to the hoop playing as Jordan.

I was never a huge fan of the film Space Jam. It’s fun, and Jordan gives a good performance as himself. Is that difficult or easy? However, when I played the PlayStation game based on the film for the first time, I instantly became addicted to playing the 2D, multiplayer game. And, before playing Space Jam, I particularly never enjoyed playing basketball video games. That changed after I played a few games of Space Jam.

For a game released in 1996, the graphics still hold up. There were basketball games made ten years later that didn’t have as impressive design and graphics. Every Warner Bros. cartoon character is designed in great detail and their movements are naturally familiar. Critics said the gameplay was too simplistic and easy. That’s one of the reasons I enjoyed the game.

source: Space Jam Wiki

When the Tasmanian Devil takes the ball to the hoop and starts spinning like a violent tornado, there is nothing more entertaining in any basketball game. Maybe I’m slightly biased because I was a Tasmanian Devil fan when I was a kid. He’s the most eccentric and crazy of the classic Warner Bros characters; the Road Runner being a close second. Jordan and the Tasmanian Devil were the only ones who could play defence for the TuneSquad. Bugs Bunny was useless on defence, but he could hit a three-pointer when you needed it.

Jordan’s game play athleticism and movements mirrored the real thing. His jumper and layup were pretty much identical to his real style of play. The Monstars could not defend Jordan’s fast break to the bucket. Most of them just watched when His Airness blew past them. I always thought the Monstars in the film and in the game were no match for Jordan. They were such silly and hokey villains, beating them felt inconsequential.

A Space Jam sequel with LeBron James is in the works. I hope the sequel produces an equally enjoyable game as the original film did. When it was released, Space Jam the video game was an excellent basketball game.

 

Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back: 40 Year Anniversary Stamp Pack

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Listen up Star Wars fans and stamp collectors, Australia Post has something really cool for you all!

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the theatrical release of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, Australia Post has a released a commemorative (licensed) The Empire Strike Back 40 Years stamp pack! This awesome stamp pack contains 20 $1.10 Map of Australia stamps from their Joyful Occasions stamp issue, as well as action-packed The Empire Strike Back graphics in the stamp tabs!

Oh yeah, they also have the Rise of Skywalker stamp pack too!

image source: Australia Post