16-bit

Celebrating the Sega Mega Drive

October 29, 2015 By ausretrogamer

Sega’s 16-bit beast may have arrived on our shores late in 1990, but on this day (October 29) in 1988, Japan got a taste of the future with the release of the Mega Drive. A leap from the Master System, the Mega Drive brought home (almost perfect) arcade conversions, especially those from Sega’s own arcade stable.

While most of the western world was still in the micro computing craze with their C64s, Amigas and Atari STs, Sega stamped their authority with their latest, and as history would record it, their most successful console ever. The Mega Drive was the catalyst for converting a generation of micro computing enthusiasts into console gamers, I should know, I was one of them. My transition from 8-bit (C64) and 16-bit (Atari ST) computing was quite stark – as soon as I got my Mega Drive and whacked in the pack-in Altered Beast game, I honestly thought I had an arcade in my bedroom. Once I played Golden Axe, I was smitten with the machine. Alas, from that day forward (well, for the duration of the 90s) my micro computers were relegated to the back of the wardrobe because there was a new gaming system in town, and its name was Mega Drive!

What were your earliest memories of Sega’s 16-bit beauty? Hit us up on Twitter or Facebook and join in the conversation.

Press Play On Tape: Ultimate Chiptunes

September 17, 2015 By ausretrogamer

It’s that time of month when Daz and yours truly get together and wreak havoc on the PRESS PLAY ON TAPE podcast. This time around we chat about holidaying in North America and chiptunes – from hitting the Toy Shack in Vegas, the C64’s SID chip and the Spectrum’s Beeper, to the Atari POKEY and everything in between, we leave no chips unturned!

After last month’s debacle with the publisher of choice, I wasn’t going to make the same mistake twice. For this podcast, my choice was Microprose – the publisher of serious games. As per usual, we hit the social media boards to read out your favourite chiptunes and Microprose games. So settle in and turn up the volume. Enjoy!

PRESS PLAY ON TAPE podcasts are available on iTunes and Podbean.

Press Play On Tape: An MSX Master Class

August 11, 2015 By ausretrogamer

If your knowledge of MSX is a bit sketchy, then you must listen to episode 5 of the PRESS PLAY ON TAPE podcast! Our special guest, Tony Cruise (Electric Adventures), gives us (and all of you guys) a master class in all things MSX – things that you wouldn’t have otherwise known or been able to find easily on the net!

The publisher of choice for this month was Konami, chosen by Daz. Daz gave special instructions to Alex Boz – to ask the community about their favourite Konami games, but alas, Alex gave everyone a bum steer – surely Daz will exact his revenge next month? Listen to episode 5 now, we guarantee you will learn something new!

PRESS PLAY ON TAPE podcasts are available on iTunes and Podbean

Press Play On Tape: Colour Clash

July 7, 2015 By ausretrogamer

As the weather cools down outside, the PRESS PLAY ON TAPE dudes, Alex and Daz, rug up and settle in with a hot cuppa and invite Andy Godoy (UK podcaster of the Retro Gaming Daily Show Podcast) to talk about Sir Clive Sinclair’s ZX Spectrum.

The gushing for the rainbow striped black beauty is overwhelming, as we reminisce about the 8-bit British powerhouse and reflect on the many games, good and bad. Andy tells us about the magazines that all Speccy owners couldn’t go without, and he reflects on the schoolyard arguments of which micro was better as the 8-bit war intensified on those British school grounds! Alex procrastinates about his publisher of choice for this month, settling for the Darling’s Codemasters!

Settle in and take a listen, your ears will thank you for it.

PRESS PLAY ON TAPE podcasts are available on iTunes and Podbean

Press Play On Tape: Amiga vs Atari ST

May 14, 2015 By ausretrogamer

Before the 16-bit Sega and Nintendo console war era, there was the 16-bit computing war in the late 80s between Commodore’s Amiga and Atari’s ST. The war between these two titans was being waged in schoolyards across the world – you were either a diehard Amiga fan or an ST whiz kid.

In episode two of PRESS PLAY ON TAPE, hosts Daz & yours truly, Alex Boz, together with special guest, Matt Cawley, go toe to toe on which computer was best. It’s Amiga vs ST – a battle for the ages! As nostalgic 16-bit blows are traded, we even find time to reflect on the once mighty publisher, Epyx. As Professor Elvin Atombender famously said, “Stay awhile, staaaay FOREVER!”.

If you like PRESS PLAY ON TAPE on Facebook, you will enter the wonderful world of 8 and 16-bit computing awesomeness – with plenty of discussions and lots of photos to tingle your nostalgic senses! You can listen and subscribe to the PRESS PLAY ON TAPE podcast on Podbean or iTunes.

Video Game Of Thrones

March 30, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

We are eagerly anticipating the fifth season of HBO’s Game of Thrones which is scheduled to premiere very soon – 12 April, 2015!

One of the best parts of watching Game of Thrones is the fantastic opening sequence. To keep us going for the next 2 weeks, here are some adorable retrogaming-style tributes – Dah Dah da da da Dah da da Dah Dah…

Hero of Time

The clever people from The Pixel Kingdom have created a Zelda-themed version.

Source: The Pixel Kingdom on YouTube

Super Mario Game of Thrones

NicksplosionFX shows us what GOT would look like in Super Mario World.

Source: NicksplosionFX on YouTube

Game of Thrones 16-Bit RPG

Reminisce with DoctorOctoro’s (slightly NSFW) 16-Bit RPG retelling of Season 1.

Source: DoctorOctoroc on YouTube

Game of Thrones: Donkey Kong-Style

Source: Pixel Baz

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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

Happy Snaps: The PowerUp Retro 8-Bit Camera

June 5, 2014 By ausretrogamer

If you are a nostalgic gamer and would like to inject some retro feeling to your photos, then you may want to take note.

Available for iOS devices, sushiGrass has created the PowerUp camera app. PowerUp filters your camera in real-time so that you can take snaps using the same resolution as your favourite retro gaming systems.

When you purchase PowerUp, you get two retro gaming system filters (Genesis and NES) with the option to buy (in-app) six more – Master System, SNES, Game Gear, Atari 2600, Game Boy and TurboGrafx-16. Once you take your retro photos, PowerUp allows you to share your happy snaps on social media! Get those 16-bit selfies propagating across your social network.

So, is this camera app worth the AUD$1.29c outlay? That is a good question. If you are an old school 8-bit and/or 16-bit gamer, then you will get a kick out of shooting photos using your favourite system’s filter. The novelty may wear off, but hey, it costs less than a cup of coffee. Now you’re playing with PowerUp!

Very easy to use interface

Before the PowerUp snap

PowerUp snap with the Genesis filter

PowerUp snap with the NES filter

TAC-2 PowerUp snap with Genesis filter

TAC-2 PowerUp snap with NES filter

Happy Families – NES and Mega Drive (Genesis filter)

Happy Families – NES and Mega Drive (NES filter)

image source: ausretrogamer

Retro Gaming: Console Posters

June 2, 2014 By ausretrogamer

This has to be the best way to start the week – seeing an awesome collection of posters of legendary consoles and their parts, from 8-bit giants to 128-bit powerhouses! You can thank the artistic genius of Adam Rufino for these lovely creations.

You can browse Adam’s creations on Society6. If you like what you see, show your support for the artist and procure yourself a lovely bit of art to hang proudly on your gaming wall.

Nintendo’s 8-bit killer console