Search Results for: thrill of the chase

The Thrill Of The Chase: NYC Style

March 28, 2013 By ausretrogamer

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’.

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.

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

February 28, 2013 By ausretrogamer

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.

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.

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

Retro Hunting At The Halsey Road Vintage Emporium

February 26, 2024 By ausretrogamer

The Thrill of the Chase is Back!

It’s been a while since we went hunting at vintage establishments, so when we stumbled upon the Halsey Rd Vintage Emporium, we had to go in and take a look!

There is something about these kinds of places that invoke warmth and a sense of intoxicating nostalgia. Walking into the Halsey Road Vintage Emporium you are immediately transported to a different time, when we used film cameras, selected our fave LPs on jukeboxes and wrote on Olivetti typewriters! One thing is for certain, you need a fair few hours to take it all in, as rushing around would mean you miss out on a past nugget that could be priceless.

We could have bought up so many cool items (just take a gander at the photos below), but in the end, it was Ms Ausretrogamer who found a pair of matching mid-century Grant Featherston ‘Bendix’ chairs, which will look great in Casa Ausretrogamer!

If you enjoy checking out retro/antiques/industrial/collectibles emporiums, then add the Halsey Rd Vintage Emporium to your bucket list.

The deets:

What: Halsey Road Vintage Emporium
Where: 11-13 Halsey Rd, Airport West VIC 3042
Hours: Friday & Saturday – 10am-4pm (or by appointment)

Partying With My Retro Gaming Brethren

January 18, 2015 By ausretrogamer

When I first ventured into retro gaming, little did I know that I would meet such awesome and like-minded people. Since establishing a great bond with the locally based Retro Domination and Weird and Retro guys, we have shared many a good time, not least of all, at our annual Classic Gaming extravaganza at PAX Aus.

With family priorities keeping me away for most of the 2014 PAX Aus event, the rest of the Classic Gaming crew, including the Adelaide based Retrospekt team, were hugely supportive, which was greatly appreciated.

As a thank you, Ms. ausretrogamer and I invited our Victorian based retro gaming colleagues to celebrate the grand opening of our new games room. Between the consumption of pizzas, beer, soft drinks and Ms. ausretrogamer’s famous Black Russians, there were pinball high score challenges, Frisbee action via Windjammers on the Neo Geo MVS and a lot of laughter and reminiscing. It was also great to meet Mrs. Daz Retro and their three lovely kids.

I was humbled to receive many gifts, which were totally unexpected. Matt Cawley handed me a few custom MVS boxes, Ultimate Body Blows and a number of other Amiga CD32 goodies. As per usual, Daz surprised me with a boxed (Last) Ninja 3 for the C64 and the equally awesome, Dracula – The Undead for the Atari Lynx. However, the biggest surprise came from Mr. Mark Cassar. Without any fanfare, Mark handed me an awesome custom-made ausretrogamer C64 t-shirt. To say I was rapt, would be a great understatement!

Since the new games room has now officially been opened, I hope to host many more retro gaming parties with great friends. Game on!

The calm before the retro gaming storm!

Pizzas, Drinks and great company = perfect ingredients for a party

Matt having a crack at the Pin*Bot high score!

The great Mark Cassar taking a swing on the Neo Geo!

Daz showing the boys his flipper skills!

The next generation of retro gamers

The awesome gifts! I have been spoiled.

Bazaar Retro Gaming and Toy Hunt

July 8, 2014 By ausretrogamer

The natural ‘high’ that the thrill of the chase provides can never be underestimated.

There is always excitement and giddy anticipation when hunting at a new locale. With Ms. ausretrogamer in tow, we hit the antiques and collectables bazaar. From vintage toys, kitsch furniture, obscure video games to the oh-my-gosh collectables, we weren’t disappointed.

After a few hours of meticulous hunting, we both walked out with big smiles and a bit lighter in the hip pocket. Nothing satisfies like a fruitful hunt.

images copyright: ausretrogamer

Retro Gaming: Hobby or Money Pit?

June 23, 2013 By ausretrogamer

Are you one to count all the money you spend on your hobby? Are you in it for the enjoyment the hobby provides or the money it may make?

Hardcore collectors seek to procure ‘Complete In Box’ items as a hobby, with a view that the item will appreciate in capital value due to its condition and desirability amongst other collectors or retro gamers. I personally buy gear to play with, not to have it sit in a box and gather dust.

By definition, hobbies don’t need to generate money. For that reason, I never keep track of how much I spend on retro gaming – It would probably freak me out! I also have a very understanding partner and she encourages me to embrace and enjoy my chosen hobby.

With finite disposable income, we have to pick and choose what we can afford and what we will leave for those more affluent. I do get emotional sometimes over certain ‘hard to get’ items and push myself beyond set limits, but luckily this seldom happens.

I judge the worth of the items I buy according to the nostalgia and enjoyment they bring, not by their monetary value. Heck, sometimes it is just the thrill of the chase that brings me joy – even if I leave empty handed. I do not have regrets about any items I have procured over the last 30 years. I just wish I had kept most of the gaming gear I had as a kid, but I’m sure that could be said for most of us, and there is no point crying over spilt milk.

With the intoxicating allure of nostalgia, we embark on replaying games we enjoyed as children. We like to recapture that exhilarating feeling when whacking that chunk of plastic into our favourite console(s). For that reason, the joy of playing old video games will always be priceless to me.

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

August 22, 2025 By ausretrogamer

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.

A closer look at the Vectrex Mini prototype… pic.twitter.com/TbvNkV9FN8

— Vectrex Official (@VectrexOn) August 21, 2025

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

July 3, 2025 By ausretrogamer

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.

Celebrate Prime Day 2024 with Prime Gaming’s Free Games Extravaganza!

July 1, 2024 By ausretrogamer

Get ready, gamers! Prime Day 2024 is just around the corner, happening from July 16 till the 21st. Amazon Prime Gaming members are in for an epic treat, with amazing deals leading up to and during Prime Day itself.

From June 24 through to July 16, Prime members can snag 15 fantastic PC games for free. Titles include Deceive Inc, Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart, The Invisible Hand, Forager, Card Shark, Heaven Dust 2, Soulstice, Wall World, Hitman Absolution™, STAR WARS™: Knights of the Old Republic™ II — The Sith Lords, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, Call of Juarez, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, and Samurai Bringer.

STAR WARS™: Knights of the Old Republic™ II — The Sith Lords

Weekly Releases to Keep You Excited

Now Available:
- Deceive Inc. [Epic Games Store] — Become the ultimate spy in this multiplayer game of subterfuge.
- Tearstone: Thieves of the Heart [Legacy Games Code] — Embark on a puzzling adventure to recover the missing Heart of Tearstone.
- The Invisible Hand [Amazon Games App] — Chase riches as a stockbroker, but beware the costs of greed.
- Call of Juarez [GOG Code] — Dive into a wild western FPS adventure.
Available June 27:
- Forager [GOG Code] — Explore and craft in this charming 2D open-world game.
- Card Shark [Epic Games Store] — Outsmart your opponents in this game of cunning and deceit.
- Heaven Dust 2 [Amazon Games App] — Survive a zombie-infested research base in this love letter to classic survival horror.
- Soulstice [Epic Games Store] — Uncover dark mysteries in this action-packed fantasy tale.
Available July 3:
- Wall World [Amazon Games App] — Mine resources and fend off monsters on a giant robospider.
- Hitman Absolution™ [GOG Code] — Follow Agent 47 on a quest for redemption.
- Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood [GOG Code] — The McCall brothers are back in a quest for gold.
Available July 11:
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge [Epic Games Store] — Join the TMNT in a beat ’em up adventure.
- STAR WARS™: Knights of the Old Republic™ II — The Sith Lords [Amazon Games App] — Will you follow the light side or succumb to the dark?
- Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX [Epic Games Store] — Relive the classic platformer with new levels and features.
- Samurai Bringer [Amazon Games App] — Defeat legendary foes in this roguelite action game.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

More to Come!

Stay tuned for even more thrilling offers on Prime Day itself! And don’t miss out on the current Free Games with Prime, including The Lullaby of Life, STAR WARS™ Battlefront II (Classic, 2005), Weird West Definitive Edition, Genesis Noir, Everdream Valley, MythForce, Blast Brigade vs. the Evil Legion of Dr. Cread, and Projection: First Light.

Join the Fun

To keep up with all the latest Prime Gaming content and offers, follow the official Prime Gaming blog and their social media channels. This Prime Day, the gaming world is your oyster!

Visit the Prime Gaming blog for more details and get ready for an unforgettable Prime Day 2024!