The Pop-Culture E-Zine
Just when you thought you got this song out of your head, I come along and ram it back in there! This is such a feel good song – it is absolutely perfect for the festive season!
Get singing people, “Neo Geo, Neo Geo. Four bright buttons and two joysticks. Neo Geo, Neo Geo. Cool red cab and a name that sticks“! The Neo Geo rulez!
source: Nathan Barnatt
Lyrics: Keith Apicary
It is inevitable, you will lose all your lives or use up your time limit on a video game. This is even more apparent on arcade games. Arcade games are built to attract you and then suck as many coins out of your pocket to get that little bit further in a game.
I have seen my fair share of arcade game ending screens which I would rather forget, but Mr. Rob Beschizza from Boing Boing Video thinks otherwise! Rob has created the definitive compilation of game death screens. Enjoy or lament at watching the video.
source: Boing Boing Video
You got to hand it to Red Bull, they know how to excite, and I am not talking about the Taurine in their drinks!
Red Bull is synonymous with adrenaline rush and death-defying events, from freestyle motocross to base jumping. You want excitement, Red Bull delivers it in spades.
It was about time Red Bull incorporated their hardcore sporting elements with video games. The product that they have come up with is some very cool free running (parkour style) in the form of an 8-bit platformer. Take a bow Jason Paul and Team Farang!
Warning: Do not attempt this at home!
source: Red Bull
If you want to know how this Arcade Run was done, check it out here.
It is always sad to see a family business close down. This is all the more apparent in the arcade and pinball parlour establishments. Long gone are the days of dark and dingy arcade joints we used to revel in. With the advent of super consoles and redemption machines, the old arcade parlours have been banished to the past.
Alas, there is hope! Barcades are starting to pop up all around the US. Their popularity is undeniable! We only have one here in Melbourne – Forgotten Worlds. There is even GameRoom Essentials in Adelaide, a throwback to old school arcades. Oh yeah, how could I forget the Mana Bar in Brisbane – another very hip bar and gaming establishment. We are keeping our fingers crossed that more of these throwback arcades and barcades pop-up around Australia!
Fun ‘N’ Games indeed!
You are never too old to have fun
The arcade: a friendly place
Let’s play!
image sources: Port Macquarie News | GameRoom Essentials | ausretrogamer
Chris Kooluris, a Manhattan PR Exec, has a great eye for interior spaces. While unsuccessful at selling his apartment, Chris decided to transform the under utilised space into an arcade for himself and friends to use. Chris even had his former fiancée assist in the design of the arcade room!
Chris went with the dark, cave-like arcade feel of the 80s, while his former fiancée added the bright colours and art work. Having dropped USD$32,000 on the project, we reckon it was money well spent! Now, where is our invite?
Before the transformation
After the transformation
Oh yeah baby, gimme some Street Fighter II action!
Classic Nintendo arcade machines
Miniaturised Arcade!
The Street Fighter II Roster
A Lovely View
image source: abc News – Lifestyle
Growing up during the golden age of arcade gaming, I didn’t know nor care who created them, I just wanted to have fun playing them. I was always on the lookout for titles that other gamers and friends were talking about. Who was Dave Theurer or Eugene Jarvis? These names didn’t mean a thing to me as a youngster. As long as I had coins to pump into the machines, I was happy.
With passing of time, my curiosity got the better of me. Forgetting about the Sega, Atari, Taito, Nintendo, Namco arcade brands, I was curious to know who the human beings were behind some of the industry’s most iconic arcade games.
This is my way of paying homage to the real creative legends of the arcade games I loved (still love) playing.
Welcome to the ausretrogamer ‘Arcade Legends Hall of Fame’.
Name: Yu Suzuki
Company: Sega Enterprises
Games: After Burner, Out Run, Space Harrier, Hang-On, Virtua Fighter
Comment: The Michaelangelo of the video games industry
Name: Eugene Jarvis
Company: Atari, Williams Electronics
Games: Defender, Robotron:2084, Stargate, Smash TV, NARC
Comment: Arcade games and pinball designer extraordinaire
Name: Ed Logg
Company: Atari
Games: Asteroids, Centipede, Millipede, Gauntlet series
Comment: Quarter guzzling arcade master
Name: Dave Theurer
Company: Atari
Games: Missile Command, Tempest, I,Robot
Comment: Pioneering game designer that was inspired by Pong
Name: Yoshiki Okamoto
Company: Konami, Capcom
Games: Time Pilot, Gyruss, 1942, Gun.Smoke, Final Fight, Street Fighter II
Comment: The arcade games innovator
Name: Shigeru Miyamoto
Company: Nintendo
Game: Donkey Kong
Comment: Critically acclaimed influencer of the video gaming industry
Name: Toru Iwatani
Company: Namco
Game: Pac-Man
Comment: World record holder of the most installed arcade machines
Name: Tomohiro Nishikado
Company: Taito
Game: Space Invaders
Comment: The granddaddy of the killer arcade game
Name: Yoshihisa Kishimoto
Company: Technos
Game: Double Dragon
Comment: The grandfather of the beat’em up genre
It is always difficult composing such a list as there will be other deserving arcade game creators that will miss out. Who would be your pick for your arcade legends hall of fame?
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
Imagine being able to fold-up and carry your arcade cabinet in a safe and secure manner. The Swedish design firm, Love Hultén have created exactly that, the R-Kaid-R – an elegant retro arcade machine that you can fold up and carry around.
The R-Kaid-R (Arcader) is truly a tribute to the arcade. It is handmade from solid wood, combining yesterday’s game physics with the digital spectrum of today. Love Hultén puts it perfectly – “The R-Kaid-R is a creative link between the present and the past. It’s a game jewel to possess”.
If you do want one of these beauties, you better hurry to their shop. The R-Kaid-R comes in a limited, numbered edition of 50 handmade units. You may want to speak to your financial adviser first.
The elegant arcade machine. The lock doubles up as the joystick!
Clever design throughout
Integrated connectivity
The walnut, white and brass looks boss!
Load ‘Em Up!
The one and only elegant emulator
image source: Love Hultén
Old school arcade machines may be enjoying a resurgence thank you to the success of barcades, but in their native land of Japan, some are left in haikyo (廃墟) – amusement centre graveyards.
These are just some of the shocking pictures from arcade graveyards where machines and their surroundings have been left in ruin. My heart breaks at seeing these majestic machines left in such disarray. If only they could all be saved!
image source: Haikyo.org
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Arcade Machine Preservation Society [AMPS]
Taking action to save and protect our classic arcade machines from damage and decay.
Follow AMPS on Twitter
There is something about the colour red. It invokes very raw emotions. As other thrill of the chase have come and gone, this latest chase was quite special. On one hand, I had found the exact Neo Geo MVS cabinet I had been lusting after (Ed: red = lust), and more importantly, I had my mum and dad in tow while I was criss-crossing the suburbs of Melbourne to pickup this red beauty.
The sun was searing, I was sweaty as hell and upon arrival, the seller was nowhere to be found! Alas, one phone call later, and things were sorted – the seller had gone out to the shops. The 4-slot MVS cabinet was easy to manoeuvre and get onto the trailer. I would have to say, it was the easiest cabinet I had transported. The saucy red is now sitting pride of place in the yet-to-be-transformed-into-a-games-room garage (more on that another time). Let me just say, anyone that plays on her, they are instantly smitten.
This chase was personal for me. Not only did my parents provide me with company, they provided memories, not just for being there on this occasion, but on plenty other countless occasions. My parents aren’t young like they used to be, so any occasion where I can spend time with them to create a memory, I cherish it. This chase is dedicated to you, mum and dad.
Now let’s play some NAM-1975!
