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THE GAME EXPO returns in March 2024

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THE GAME EXPO (TGX) is returning after this year’s successful debut show!

The gaming events calendar is perfectly balanced between the two expo giants, TGX in March, and PAX Aus in October. If you are over your PAX Aus experience and are fretting for the next big gaming event, you are in luck, as tickets for TGX 2024 have just gone on sale!

Current TGX news is that there are a list of returning activities, including the mega popular Creator Showdown PC LAN tournament, Cosplay Cup, Artist Alley, Tabletop Gaming, Freeplay Video Gaming and an expanded Indie Games Zone to name just a few. TGX 2024 will have much more to reveal, so we’ll be keeping a keen eye on their announcements between now and March and let you know all about it – so make sure you are following us on X/Twitter and Facebook!


source: thegamexpo

The Game Expo lowdown:

  • WHEN: Sat 23rd & Sun 24th March 2024
  • WHERE: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre
  • TICKETS: www.thegameexpo.com

Highlights from TGX 2023 to whet your appetite for the 2024 edition!

image source: The Game Expo



Stern Pinball and Marvel Unleash Venom Pinball!

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Choose Your Host,
Change The Game

There will be carnage at this year’s Comic-Con as Marvel and Stern Pinball debut an all-new line of pinball games featuring one of the most enigmatic, complex, and iconic characters, Venom!

Venom pinball will be available in (from L to R): Pro, Premium & Limited Edition (LE) models

Get ready for a thrilling adventure into the mayhem of the Marvel Universe with the one and only Venom! This alien symbiote, famous for bonding with the likes of Eddie Brock and wreaking havoc, has now made its way into the world of pinball. That’s right, Venom is taking over game rooms and entertainment locations worldwide in a visually striking and action-packed pinball game brought to you by Stern.

For those who aren’t familiar, Venom burst onto the scene in The Amazing Spider-Man comic book series back in the ’80s. With its dark and unique appearance, Venom quickly became one of Marvel’s most iconic and beloved characters. From action figures to apparel, collectibles to now pinball, Venom’s influence on popular culture knows no bounds.

Stern’s Venom pinball game is a thrilling journey into the world of this antihero, featuring a lineup of over 20 characters from the Marvel Universe. You’ll encounter familiar faces like Eddie Brock, Flash Thompson, Gwen Stacy, and even the legendary Peter Parker himself. But it doesn’t stop there! Black Suit Spider-Man, Miles Morales, Riot, Agony, Lasher, Phage, Doppelganger, Venomized Hulk, Venomized Wolverine, and Venomized Captain America are all part of the action. Brace yourself, because Venom’s arch enemy, Carnage, is on a mission to awaken Knull, the God of the symbiotes. It’s up to Venom to stop him and his army of symbiotes from taking over the world.

Venom Pinball – Official Game Trailer

source: Stern Pinball

In the game, you’ll take on the role of Venom and select a host to bond with at the start of each thrilling adventure. This choice will not only affect your digital experience but also alter the physical gameplay itself. Prepare for constant frenetic action as balls are released from vertical pinball lock symbiote containment vessels on both sides of the playfield. You’ll explore shots through mechanically changing pathways, like the Agro-Lab and Life Foundation, and bash an interactive Carnage captive ball back into Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane. But beware! A surprise Doppelganger attack could happen at any moment, causing chaos and unveiling three uplift targets for you to conquer.

The visual experience of the Venom pinball game is a work of art. Renowned artist Jeremy Packer, better known as Zombie Yeti, has created stunning hand-drawn comic book style artwork that immerses you in the dark and gritty world of Venom. And to make the experience even more intense, GRAMMY Award-winning musician Mark Tremonti has contributed over a dozen music tracks that change depending on the host you choose. Get ready for a soundtrack that perfectly matches the adrenaline-pumping gameplay.

Venom Pinball by Stern Pinball, featuring Seth Davis

source: Stern Pinball

But wait, there’s more! Stern’s award-winning Insider Connected™ system takes the Venom pinball game to the next level. With this feature, you can interact with the game and a global network of players in various exciting ways. You’ll be able to save your game progress through connectivity persistence, so you can continue your journey as Venom no matter how many attempts it takes to reach the final wizard mode. Plus, you can track your progress, earn game-specific achievements, engage with the player community, and participate in promotions and Challenge Quests. It’s an all-encompassing experience that brings pinball to the modern era.

The Venom LE will most definitely sell out quickly!

And for the collectors out there, you don’t want to miss the Limited Edition model of the Venom pinball game. With only 1,000 games available worldwide, this highly collectible version features a Venom vs. Carnage inspired full-color mirrored backglass, stunning high definition reflective foil decal cabinet artwork, custom high gloss Venom-inspired “goo” powder-coated pinball armor, and so much more. Each Limited Edition game comes with a sequentially numbered plaque and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Stern’s President & CEO, Seth Davis. It’s a piece of pinball history that you’ll want to add to your collection.

So, get ready to unleash the power of Venom and dive headfirst into an unforgettable pinball experience. Stern’s Venom pinball game will transport you into the heart of the Marvel Universe, where you’ll battle against Carnage, save the world, and become the ultimate (anti)hero. Don’t miss your chance to join the action and make your mark on the global leaderboard. Get your hands on Venom pinball and let the symbiote take control!

Visit the official Venom Pinball game page at sternpinball.com for all information on this game changing pinball experience.
PS: For Venom/pinball fans in Australia, contact either AMD Coin-Op or Zax Amusements to secure your Venon pinball machine!
Australian Price List ($AUD):
  • Venom – Pro $11,950
  • Venom – Premium $15,500
  • Venom – LE – contact AMD or Zax Amusements

Stern Pinball – Venom LE in all its glory!

image source: Stern Pinball

 

Darth Vader: Artworks of the Dark Lord Of The Sith

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When it comes to villains, we reckon no one tops Darth Vader. He has been our fave antagonist from the first time we saw him wield his lightsaber and force choke his underlings.

The story of Darth Vader has evolved since we were kids in the late 70s and early 80s, but that doesn’t diminish our love for the character, on the contrary, the latest Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ series cemented Lord Vader as our favourite villain of all time.

With that said, here are some awesome Lord Vader artwork!

image source: Star Wars Always (Facebook) – Stern Pinball Inc.- Fine Art America – Pinterest – myhotposters – comicbookmovie – Artsper – disneyartonmain – Robert Voisenni



Stern Pinball’s Keith Elwin Creates The Avengers Infinity Quest Pinball Machine!

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If you are a seasoned pinball player and have been following the scene for a while, the name Keith Elwin means fun, innovative and awesome pinball machines. For the casual pinballers that don’t know or notice who designs the pinball machines they love playing, if we were to mention Stern Pinball’s Iron Maiden or Jurassic Park, then you have Keith Elwin to thank.

Keith is the new pinball designer on the block who has just finished his third game for Stern Pinball, Avengers Infinity Quest! Just looking at the video and pics further below of Keith’s latest creation, we know you’ll all be itching to play it, just like we are – it’s screaming at us to be played!


source: Stern Pinball

Before we dive into questions about Avengers Infinity Quest, we thought we’d start with introducing Keith Elwin and how he got started designing homebrew machines and then progressing to the big league in getting a job at Stern Pinball Inc.!

AUSRETROGAMER [ARG]: Hey Keith, to help our audience get to know you, tell us, before you became a household name in the pinball design space, what were you up to?
Keith Elwin [KME]: I was a pinball operator and technician actually! I had games in San Diego and Los Angeles.

ARG: Following up on the previous question, how did your love of pinball translate to getting a pinball design gig at Stern Pinball?
KME: I always wanted to be a pinball designer. When I was a kid I spent countless hours on a video game called pinball construction set which allowed you to design your own game! When I got older I made my own game in the garage which caught the interest of Stern and the rest is history.

ARG: In the world of pinball design, you are a relatively newcomer, were you nervous or felt intimidated in any way when you first walked into Stern Pinball and bumped into seasoned pinball design veterans like Steve Ritchie, John Borg and George Gomez?
KME: I had met and interacted with George and Steve before but it was my first time meeting Borgie. I remember being nervous then he came down and was super chill and fun to talk to so any nerves were quickly gone.

Avengers Infinity Quest Whitewood

The awesome Captain Marvel Ramp!

Whitewood at night!

ARG: In the space of a few years, you have created instant classic pinball machines, firstly, Iron Maiden, then with Jurassic Park and your latest machine, Avengers IQ – how does one keep that high trajectory and momentum of designing awesome, innovative and fun pinball machines?
KME: Why thank you! Well I am trying to do things differently yet not TOO differently where people will not like it. I will always try to have a mix of new stuff not seen before with stuff not seen in a long time from classic games.

ARG: Now, to your latest machine, and dare we say, masterpiece, how long did it take from concept to hitting the production line? Oh yeah, were you also working on two machines at once (tail-end of JP and Avengers IQ) – if so, how did you manage to pull that off?
KME: I think all designers in some way are working on their next game whether it be on paper or in their mind. For me when I get spare time I start sketching ideas in my head to paper with the intent to revisit it to see if it fits a future game. Avengers started in July last year and is currently now in production!

Keith testing his creation!

ARG: Looking at all the photos and videos of Avengers IQ, we can’t help but think, WE WANT THIS MACHINE! What is it about Keith Elwin designed machines that excite people to a point that they already know it will be great to play (or own) before they even get to flip it?
KME: Ha, probably because I don’t have a template I go by (yet – haha) I think people like seeing lots of shots, multiple flippers, lots of ramps and get excited because that is what gets me excited as well.

ARG: The Avengers IQ playfield has A LOT going on in it (the motorised Dr. Strange pop-up disc scoop / underground Portal on the Prem/LE models and the custom intricate wireform ramps have blown our mind), do you come up with all the ideas (in what to include and how the machine will play) and then seek input and/or constructive feedback from others in the design team, or is the entire process collaborative from start to finish?
KME: Most of it is me bouncing ideas off my engineer Harrison Drake and he will either tell me I am crazy or he takes it as a challenge and creates exactly what I am looking for. The whole subway system I thought would work perfectly for this game as a “portal” with some cool lighting effects and Harrison did not disappoint!

Avengers Infinity Quest pinball team assemble – the Stern Pinball design and engineering team behind this great machine!

ARG: With the team behind Avengers IQ (lead software programmer Rick Naegele, lead mechanical engineer Harrison Drake, lead artist Jeremy Packer (aka Zombie Yeti), computer graphics art director Chuck Ernst, and lead sound designer Jerry Thompson), how did the current worldwide health situation impact the creation of Avengers IQ?
KME: It was fine with the Stern employees as we can always come in and have a meeting. It was harder with the contractors like Jerry and Jeremy since we have to convey what we want via email or text.

ARG: What were you most excited about working on Avengers IQ and what will surprise the player when they play this machine for the first time?
KME: The Tower magnet! I will never forget Gary’s response the first time he hit that shot…..”Whoa!!!”

ARG: Lucky last and possibly the toughest question, who is your favourite Avenger?
KME: Growing up it was Hulk but as I get older I think Dr. Strange because well… he is strange 🙂

Well there you have it folks, Mr Keith Elwin of Stern Pinball Inc. fame – the Pinball Design Avenger! Remember that name, remember the pinball machines, as we guarantee you’ll love playing them all. We thank Keith for his time and wish him the best with whatever pinball magic he creates in the future.

For now, check out Stern Pinball’s Avengers Infinity Quest and get hyped!

The first Avengers Infinity Quest Limited Edition rolls off the production line!

The gorgeous Avengers IQ LE model!

The Avengers IQ Limited Edition playfield!

Playfields Assemble!

The Stern Pinball Avenger!
image source: Stern Pinball

 

Read Only Memories Issue 1 – Comic Review

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Read Only Memories is a new cyberpunk noir comic being published by IDW, based in the universe of the game with the same name. Set in the time between the first game and the upcoming title Read Only Memories: Neurodiver, the story follows the character of Lexi Rivers, previously a detective and now a private investigator. Starting off the story we see Lexi posing as a reporter in an attempt to see if her clients wife is being unfaithful and giving some nice insights into the character of Lexi and the world of Read Only Memories. Upon returning to her apartment, Lexi is confronted with a robot whose significant other has gone missing and requires her help in tracking him down.

Read Only Memories quickly pulls the reader into the corrupt and intriguing world thanks to some nice bread crumbs and story hooks from the talented storyteller, Sina Grace. Also helping to draw in the reader is the gorgeous artwork by Stefano Simeone, that gives some wonderful contrast between the bright neon metropolis and the dark underbelly of Santa Cruz. Simeone’s art is simple yet expertly effective in helping to evoke real emotion and depth from the characters and their surroundings.

Whether you are a fan of the games or just looking for some good cyberpunk noir, Read Only Memories is one comic you should certainly keep on your radar.

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Mat Panek, Chief Reporter
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

Disclosure: Read Only Memories [comic] was kindly provided by Stride PR for this review.

 

 

Oz Comic-Con Sydney 2019 Highlights

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We were lucky enough to attend Oz Comic Con 2019 in Sydney and take in all the amazing sights and sounds! There were plenty of regular favourites and a few newcomers that shows just how much conventions are growing in popularity. Another very welcome addition we noticed was the increasingly family friendly nature these cons are becoming, with a scribble wall and colouring corners for kids!

There was a strong presence from the ESL (eSports League Australia) which is always good to see and they had live competitions running all weekend. The Southern Cross Garrison of the 501st Imperial Legion was also out in force, bringing some impressive cosplay from both sides of the force including Stormtroopers, Wookiees and Tauntauns! 

The artists corner was buzzing with activity, allowing upcoming artists to show off their skills and sell some of their merchandise. Lots of booths filled to the brim with pop culture goodies spread themselves throughout both the halls. We were also lucky enough to stumble onto some retro goodies that included figures, vehicles and playsets from Star Wars, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters and Masters of the Universe. 

Just in case you missed out on all the fun we brought you some highlights!

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Mat Panek, Chief Games Reviewer
Retromancer – Collector, repairer & fan of retro games & tech. Atari to Amiga, Nintendo to Sega! LD, Zip, Beta and a proud dad! One half of the TiredParents on Twitch.

Follow Mat on Twitter and Twitch

 

 

 

 

 

Blow The Cartridge: The RetroGaming Webcomic

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BTC_TitleWhat do you get when you mash retrogaming with a comic strip? The answer is quite simple, you get the awesome Blow The Cartridge retrogaming webcomic!

We have been fans of Cameron Davis’ Blow The Cartridge comic strips for a while now – his webcomic creations are always topical and infused with a great mix of gaming nostalgia and humour, which is exactly what the doctor ordered after a tough day in the office. With that said, it is great to see that there is currently a Kickstarter campaign to make the fifth issue of the collected Blow The Cartridge comic book series! The campaign is to get all the latest comics Cameron has made online and put them together into one mind-blowingly awesome comic!

Pledge rewards on offer for this campaign include signed and personalised copies of the comic book, digitally-delivered copies, and also guest-starring roles in new strips that will be made specifically for the comic.

This sounds all pretty awesome to us. Hit the Blow The Cartridge Kickstarter right now if you want a fun-filled 48 page, full color comic book about the video games we grew up playing and why we still love them so much today!

BTC_webcomicimage source: Blow The Cartridge