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Chibi Coin Collection Street Fighter Series – Ryu Silver Coin

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We love the NZ Mint gaming related silver coins, so their latest release, the Street Fighter – Ryu Chibi Coin is so cool (and cute)!

Made from 1oz of pure silver, this new Chibi® Coin features experienced martial artist Ryu – the main protagonist in the video game Street Fighter™. The coin has been shaped and coloured in the Chibi art style to resemble Ryu. He is shown in his most recognisable attire consisting of a tattered white karate gi, long red headband, red martial arts gloves and bare feet. The Ian Rank Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II can be found on the opposite side to confirm it as a legal tender coin.

The coin is protected inside a specially designed case, moulded to the coin’s shape. The outer box is Street Fighter-themed, incorporating images of Ryu as he appears in the game, and includes a large window so you can easily display this precious collectable.

A maximum of 2,000 coins will be produced. This is confirmed by the Certificate of Authenticity printed on the box, along with the coin’s unique serial number. Don’t miss out on this officially licensed coin for Street Fighter!

PS: We can also exclusively reveal that there will also be Ken silver coin in the very near future!


source: NZ Mint



Linda Guillory’s Awesome World Record Gaming Collection

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Being avid video games collectors, we love seeing other collections, especially the epic ones like Lind Guillory’s Guinness World Record collection – it’s super impressive! To say we would love to just see Lind’a collection in person would be a massive understatement.

As Kotaku reports, Linda has over 3,000 pieces and is still in the midst of growing her collection. Like all of us, Linda steers well away from the cheapie handhelds, like the awful (but yet cool) Tiger Electronics ones. You can’t put a price on collections like this, as they are usually priceless to their collector. Like most collections, we hope they get used, played and enjoyed. Having said that, we were quite chuffed to read that Lind thinks the same way, she was quoted saying, “And if I love them, I’m gonna play them.” Well done Linda, your collection is awesome!

story & image source: Kotaku



What Arrived: An Xbox Series S and an Arduboy FX

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Our postal service surprised us today with not one, but two packages! Wow, AusPost never ceases to amaze us.

XBOX Series S

We may stir up a few hardcore retro gamers with this first package, but before they start flying off their handle, relax, we got the Xbox Series S for a couple of reasons, the main one being that we can legitimately play our retro games on it via the retail version of RetroArch. Yep, you read that right, there is a legit RetroArch version available on the Microsoft store. The other use case we have is playing the classics we know and love via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which we scored for a bargain ($2 for 6 months)!

ARDUBOY FX:

The second parcel to arrive was in a much smaller package, which we honestly didn’t know what it was till we opened it. The story goes like this – we ordered the Arduboy FX almost a year ago, which at the time we were told that it would arrive by September 2020, but COVID derailed that ETA. Opening up this package was a total surprise and we must admit, we got more excited for the Arduboy FX than the Xbox Series S.

We bet you’ll guess what we will unbox and play first 😉

Happy Gaming peeps!

Arduboy FX



 

Top 20 Best-Selling Video Game Franchises of All Time

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It is always a humbling experience when seeing these ‘best selling’ lists related to video games. This time, it is the franchises – the heavy lifters of their respective publisher’s bottom line.

No surprise who is on top, by a massive margin – Mario, Nintendo’s crown jewel. Mario has been a juggernaut franchise for decades! Any game containing the Italian plumber (formerly Jumpman) is almost a guarantee to make bank for Nintendo, from the Super Mario, Mario Kart, Mario Sports and Mario Party series, to Mario RPG! When looking at the list, Mario is in some good company with other massive Nintendo franchises, like the Wii simulation series and of course, The Legend of Zelda. The Wii series was a surprise, as we would have expected Donkey Kong or Metroid to be up there too.

Looking at the chart, you will notice a mixed bag of game franchises that started in the 80s, 90s, 2000s, with Minecraft being the sole representative for the 2010s! No wonder we keep seeing Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto games being made on new generation systems, they sell like hotcakes. Not content with being the biggest pop culture entity, Star Wars has done quite well in the video gaming realm too. Great to see Sega’s Sonic The Hedgehog up there and the many sports titles we have enjoyed (and still enjoy).

See any surprises?

(click to enlarge)

data source: Wikipedia



The Retro Gaming Vault – June 2021

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It’s heading toward the end of June, so for this month we dug up some ultra cool stuff that will give you a good old dose of nostalgia, so make sure you seek medical advice if you start feeling faint-ish.

From playing Sega Mega Drive/Genesis games on our Pioneer LaserDisc to getting some BurgerTime, Psycho Fox gaming action and of course, getting instantly sick playing on the Virtual Boy and everything in between!

If you see anything that induces nostalgia, hit us up on Twitter or Facebook and tell us all about it (or seek medical advice ;-))!

Nothing beats blowing minds by playing our Mega Drive / Genesis (cart, CD and LD) games on our Pioneer LaserDisc

Our fave conversion of BurgerTime. Yep, it plays marvellously on the Intellivision

The rage inducing Master System game!

Tabletop action, starting with Astro Wars!

Contemplating on sorting out our Amstrad CPC6128 collection…..

Anyone else have a Bally Astrocade or the Sega Lock-On?

Yeah, we love all things Star Wars, including pinball machines and LaserDiscs!

Sega Power! Two of our favourite Sega consoles in one image!

One of our all time favourite video games. We have played this infinite amount of time in these last 30 years!

Instant headache! We love the Virtual Boy, but our brain and eyes don’t 🙁

Original image copyright: ausretrogamer



Arcade1Up Attack From Mars Pinball – Review

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UPDATE 5-October-2021: Arcade1Up has released a firmware update to resolve the lag on the White Water game and a few other bugs which you can read about here. This review has been amended to account for this firmware update. 

  • Product: Arcade1Up Attack From Mars Pinball
  • Price: AU$1,199 to $1,400 (depending on retailer)
  • Official Australian retailers: Kogan, Arcade Gamer, The Gamesmen, Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi

We love playing our real pinball machines. Heck, we love pinball on any platform, including in the digital space. Where digital (aka: virtual) pinball has always fallen short is in the physical and mechanical feel that real pinball machines provide, but that gap has somewhat been bridged, with digital pinball machines being fitted with solenoids and haptic flippers to provide the player that real tactile pinball feeling. How good can these digital pinball machines be?

PROS

 CONS
+ Build quality is AMAZING! The Cabinet and Backbox are glorious – 720p is sacrilege in this day and age
+ Compact size makes it fit in all kinds of spaces – The lag in White Water makes it totally unplayable (this was fixed in the latest software code update!)
+ Packed with 10 of the greatest pinball machines of all time – No Internet connectivity / No way of updating with more tables (right now)
+ Haptic flippers for real flipper feedback – Price! The sweet spot would have been sub-$1,000 (AU). 
+ 4 x Solenoid modules for real ball feedback
+ A real working plunger

Arcade1Up needs no introduction, as their 3/4 arcade machines of iconic arcade games have proven to be quite popular with gamers and collectors the world over. When Arcade1Up announced at CES 2020 that they would partner with Zen Studios to create 3/4 size digital pinball machines, our interest was piqued big time. At the show they announced three pinball machines, Attack From Mars, Star Wars and Marvel, each packed with themed pinball games from Zen Studios’ Pinball FX platform. We naturally gravitated to the Attack From Mars pinball machine, not only due to owning the real one, but the fact that it came with 10 of the greatest pinball machines of all time – Attack from Mars, Fish Tales, The Getaway: Highspeed II, Junk Yard, Medieval Madness, White Water, Red & Ted’s Road Show, Hurricane, Tales of the Arabian Nights and No Good Gofers.

The beast arrives!

While suffering insomnia one evening, we did what anyone would – we hit the web for some late night shopping (beware of weekend night-time shopping! – Ed). When we stumbled upon the Arcade1Up pinball machines, we ended up procuring the Attack From Mars machine, which surprisingly arrived on our doorstep a mere 48 hours after the purchase! Upon delivery we were taken aback by the size of the box, we somehow visualised a 3/4 sized pinball machine to be smaller than 3/4 – crazy hey!

We noticed that the pinball machine and all of its parts to put it together were perfectly packed, minimising the chance of damage while in transit. Once we started taking things out of the box the first thing that struck us was the build quality – it totally blew our expectation, with the whole thing feeling and looking superb! From the cabinet to the backbox, artwork and buttons, to the polished steel lockdown bar, legs and side rails, this thing oozes quality and is almost as good as a real commercial pinball machine, minus the cost (relax, we said “almost”! – Ed). Putting the machine together was a cinch, but it helped having another person around to assist in lifting the cabinet as it’s not that light. While the machine was coming together, we were constantly wowed by how good it looked and how sturdy it felt – it was a good start!

Assembling the machine was a breeze

The QA department checking our progress

Being impressed with the physical aspects of the machine was one thing, but how did it fare once the rubber hit the road, or should we say, once we turned it on – would it play as good as it looked? The quick answer is yes, but – there is always a but! Once we fired up the machine, we instantly loved the lit up backbox – it just makes the artwork pop! On the playfield screen, the interface felt familiar as it uses Zen Studios’ Pinball FX software platform. The button layout for interacting with the machine was intuitive, with the flippers acting as the selector (left, right, up or down) and the start/launch button (under the plunger) as the selection confirmation. On the front of the cabinet there are two rocker-type switches, one for turning on the machine and the other to control the volume – we preferred to set the volume via the software settings. Below these two switches are the settings and table guide buttons. The settings allow for the usual stuff, from adjusting the audio and video, to the pinball machine specific settings for the solenoids and plunger calibration. For the record, we left our machine settings stock, which worked perfectly fine for us.

Once the language is selected, the machine presents the 10 pinball machines to choose from. As mentioned earlier, we were quite chuffed to see that most of the classic Williams pinball tables were on this model. Barring the unplayable White Water due to excessive flipper lag and jerky motion, the rest of the pinball tables played pretty darn well, just like they do on any system that has Zen Studios’ Pinball FX.

We love playing digital pinball on any device!

With the screen being 23.8″, the first thing that ran through our minds was that it was too small. However, after playing a few games, we realised that the screen size was admirable and found that it did not detract from playing pinball. Our eyes adjusted and really didn’t know the difference in screen size – it’s as if someone played a Jedi mind trick on us! The best analogy we could come up with regarding screen size is that it’s like telling someone how great your 65” TV is and they are completely satisfied and don’t see the difference 3 minutes into watching the same stuff on a smaller, 55” inch TV – all being near the same in the minds eye. One thing that is unforgivable is the use of HD (720p) instead of Full HD (1080p) – it just makes the visuals not as sharp and looking a bit dated for this day and age where we expect 4K+ visuals! Hopefully this can be resolved with an update from Arcade1Up. And while they are at it, we hope they fix the lag on White Water too this has now been fixed with the latest firmware update!

There was quite a lot of discussion on social media regarding the black plastic bezel around the screen due to its thickness. When you stand over the machine while it is turned off, the bezel does detract from the visual aspect of the machine, however, once it’s turned on, the bezel, coupled with the screen set under it, creates a depth of field to the playfield screen which adds to the realism of playing pinball. Another neat touch in the video department on this machine are the different colours represented for each of the 4 players on the DMD (the small screen in the backbox), so there will never be any confusion whose turn it is or who wins!

We couldn’t really fault anything in the audio department on this little beauty. The dual speakers pump out great tunes and sound effects which immerse you further into your pinball playing pleasure. With the addition of the solenoids giving the player physical feedback plus the well integrated sound effects pumping through the speakers, you definitely get a sense of playing a pinball game just as you do from playing the real thing. Oh yeah, you’ll find that on maximum volume this thing can really get the heart rate going and possibly have your neighbours calling in to see what the heck is going on!

VERDICT:

We’ve been playing digital / virtual pinball games since the days of Video Pinball on the Atari 2600, and the one thing we used to always wish for over the decades was a way to play these games in a physical pinball cabinet format, just like the real deal. What we can say is that as an off the shelf consumer product, Arcade1Up have delivered on our wish, and even more so with the firmware update even if it’s not 100% perfect. If you want to play the awesome Zen Studios produced pinball games, then there is no better way than playing them on an Arcade1Up pinball machine.

Build quality is top stuff!

Looking good from any angle!

Interface instructions – quite easy really!

Settings galore!

Front of the cabinet – the control deck of the Arcade1Up pinball machine

Love how the angled bezel creates the depth of field!

Can’t wait to get flippin’

Let’s get these pesky Martians!

The backbox does pop once the machine is switched on!

Another fave table of ours

Oh how we wish they used 1080p to sharpen the look on these games!

Lil austretrogamer loves a bit of flipper action! The kids seem to love this machine.

It looks just as good turned off!

For the record, nothing beats playing our real pinball machines, but the Arcade1Up is still darn cool!



Freakin Frankie’s Home Video Store

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We have featured a number of Blockbuster Video stories on here, so it is friggin cool to see our very good friend, Freakin Frankie, emulate his very own Blockbuster Video Store right in his dining room!

Before we start drooling over his setup, we have been aware of Frankie’s love of movies and his growing collection ever since we met many moons ago, but to see his vast collection in the below pics has totally blown us away – but wait, there is more……

Once Frankie put out his initial tweet about embarking on the massive task of presenting his collection of 3,500+ titles, we put down our our bowl of Cheezels and took note! The follow up tweet thread of his home video store setup was impressive to say the least! As collectors ourselves, we can quite easily say that Freakin Frankie’s Home Video Store setup is darn awesome and impressive. Frankie mentioned that he opted against double stacking (as he wanted the authentic video store feel) and decided to sort his collection in alphabetic order, which works very well for our OCD brain – now where is that Akira DVD at?!

Ok, now you can start drooling!

Frankie’s old setup

The tough part – sorting through the massive library!

Experimenting with the video store setup!

And now, the finished product – welcome to Freakin Frankie’s Home Video Store!

images used with permission from Freakin Frankie

 

Pinball Isn’t As Random As It Seems

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To the casual observer, pinball seems random and chaotic, but if you watch carefully, there are skills involved that make pinball not as random as it seems.

Don’t be fooled by the flashing lights and seemingly random callouts, there are rules and set objectives (ie: modes) in pinball that reward the player that can control the flippers best. By aiming at specific targets at specific times, the player unlocks specific secrets of the machine and activates other objectives all while racking up a high score.

Watch closely, as you may learn that pinball is definitely not random once you know how to control the silverball.


source: Vox

 

LEGO Ideas: Pikmin – Planter of Growth

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Another day, another cool Lego Ideas pitch based on a much loved video game franchise!

This time round it is Pikmin’s turn, with the Pikmin – Planter of Growth Lego Idea. If you are a fan of Pikmin (or Lego), then there is only one choice really – vote now!

source: Lego Ideas – Pikmin

 

A Practical Guide to Create the Ideal Gaming Room

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By: Cassandra Rosas (Originally posted on Porch.com)

Gaming is a great way to have some fun, relax, and work on your eye-hand coordination. Whether you’re new to gaming or consider yourself a seasoned pro, it’s important to have the right setup if you plan to game for hours at a time. From the right chair to the right tech and equipment, there are certain things you’ll need if you want to have the ultimate gaming room at home. Read on for some great tips and suggestions that will help you design a gaming room you’ll never want to leave.

Take care of your back with the right gaming chair

If you’re a gamer, you’re going to need a comfortable, supportive chair with the right features. Here are a few things to look for when choosing the right gaming chair.

Back support. The proper back support is the most important component in a gaming chair since it keeps your spine aligned and your body in the right position. Look for chairs that include lumbar support and an adjustable design so you can change the angle of the back as needed. With the right back support, you’ll feel more comfortable, energetic, and able to prevent pain or injury while sitting for long periods.

Directional armrests. Adjustable armrests give you more control over how your arms and hands are positioned. Look for a chair that features directional armrests that you can move up, down, forward, and backward for optimum support.

Ergonomic. An ergonomic gaming chair provides you with the full-body support you need to stay comfortable. Ergonomic chairs should include features like a headrest, lumbar back support, and an adjustable height to help you sit in the proper position while playing. Your chair should provide you with a combination of support, comfort, and improved posture all in one.

Adjustable cushions. Gaming chairs with adjustable cushions make it easier for you to feel comfortable while you play. Most chairs that have adjustable cushions feature a lumbar “pillow” attached to the back as well as seat, back, and headrest cushions that you can move to fit your body in the best way.

Fabrics. Don’t forget to pick the right fabric or upholstery for your new chair. Mesh is great for warmer environments since it’s breathable and cool. Fabric or leather is a great option if you live in a colder place and need your chair to help keep you warm.

Make Everything RGB

In the gaming world, RGB refers to red, green, and blue. Let RGB inspire your lighting and colour schemes. Here are some tips and killer gaming accessories to help you design an awesome RGB gaming room.

PC cabinet. Choose or design a PC cabinet that lets you change the lighting and design and that will make every internal component light up. This cabinet should include easy access to connect RGB-compatible components and accessories like gaming keyboards, headsets, and more.

Walls. Brighten up your gaming room with some awesome RGB lighting or décor. You can find RGB LED lighting strips, light bars, and even wall decals and artwork that will add a bold, modern touch to the room featuring the classic RGB motif.

Chair. There are lots of futuristic gaming chairs that include integrated RGB lighting. These chairs should be comfortable, but they should also have the right lighting around the back, seat, and headrest to create the look you want.

Floor. Make the entire floor RGB with lighted tiles for a bold effect. If you prefer to use lighting only around the edge of the room, try a rope light or LED light strips featuring the RGB colour scheme.

Toy and accessories. Enhance your game room even further by designing an amazing background with accessories or by adding some awesome toys to the space. Wall-mounted hexagonal light panels add a cool effect, or you can fill a wall shelf with all of your favourite characters and gaming-themed collectibles.

Choose the Right Webcam

A lot of interactive games require webcam connectivity so you can interact with other players, so it’s important to choose one that has the best quality and picture. Before you shop, learn the differences between 4K, 1080, and 720 resolution levels.

Webcams offer different resolutions, which refers to the measure of pixels within an image. A 4k webcam is also known as Quad HD, because it offers four times the resolution of 720 pixels. These cameras are extremely high in quality, but they’re also at the higher end of the price spectrum. A 1080 webcam is full HD and is a great mid-grade choice due to its high-definition resolution, and it often comes at a reasonable price. A 720p webcam is another standard that’s still used by many gamers today. Although it doesn’t offer the best resolution, the 720 webcam is still a good choice for streaming if you need something affordable that works well.

Picking Out a Headset

Seasoned gamers use a gaming headset for a more immersive experience. A gaming headrest is also helpful if you want high-quality sound for talking or listening while you play using both of your hands.

Wireless vs traditional. A wireless headset makes it easier to move around the room or perform other tasks without having to take the headset off. A traditional headset attaches to your PC with a wire, which means you’ll need to remove it when you move away from your console. Most wireless headsets are rechargeable and include a docking station so they can charge up quickly. Traditional headsets don’t have a separate power source, since they rely on a direct connection with your gaming console or computer.

Look for compatibility. Certain types of gaming headsets may only be compatible with specific consoles. Check the headset’s packaging, or go online to ensure that it will work with your specific console or computer.

The Perfect Gaming Desk

Aside from your chair, webcam, and headset, you’ll want to be sure you have the right desk for your needs. Here are a few pointers to help you find the perfect desk for your gaming enjoyment.

Tall or long. Just like other furniture, you’ll want to make sure your gaming desk will fit nicely in the room. Decide whether you’ll need a desk that’s tall or long, depending on your console type and your game-playing habits. A tall desk offers more vertical storage, while a wider desk will give you more elbow room and space for a larger keyboard or mousepad. Measure the space for the desk before you invest to be sure it’ll fit.

Cabinets. Consider a desk that has built-in cabinets so you can store games, accessories, and other items neatly and protect them from dust.

Shape. Your gaming desk can be a traditional rectangular shape, or you can try an L-shaped desk for more surface area and a better fit in your room. Look at the variety of desk shapes available, and consider the available space you have in your gaming room before deciding which shape will work for you.

Console space. Make sure that your desk has plenty of room for your console while leaving enough extra space for your keyboard, mouse, and anything else you’ll need. Some desks include a separate compartment underneath, where you can store your console to free up the top surface for your monitor and other accessories.

Materials. Gaming desks come in a huge range of materials, including metal, glass, and wood. Make sure your new desk is sturdy, looks great, and is able to hold up to lots of rigorous gaming. Consider things like how it looks, how it feels (texture-wise), and how easy it is to keep clean.

Images supplied by: Porch.com

What Every Good Gaming Computer Needs

Of course, no setup for a gamer is complete without the right gaming computer, so check out these features to help you build your gaming PC.

Mouse. A gaming mouse has a faster reaction time than a standard mouse. Look for a gaming mouse with the right DPI (dots per inch) level, depending on whether you use fast or “normal” hand movements. Your mouse should be comfortable, with a good grip to keep your hand and wrist stable. A mouse with a trackball is a popular choice among avid gamers, thanks to its flexibility and ease of use.

Mousepad. Make sure your mousepad includes soft and comfortable wrist support to prevent pain or carpal tunnel syndrome. Try a gaming mousepad with a low-friction surface so you can enjoy fast reaction times without the mouse “catching” on the surface.

Keyboard. Find a keyboard made of durable ABS plastic so it holds up over time and won’t get scratched. Backlighting comes standard on most gaming keyboards, which also feature a variety of colors and patterns to make playing more interactive. A one-hand keyboard allows you to type with one hand while keeping your other hand free for mouse work.

GPU. The GPU, or graphics card, is extremely important when building your gaming computer. Make sure the GPU is fast and uses the latest technology to ensure you’re getting the best graphic quality possible. Compare brands, capabilities, and features like RAM and how well it will work with your webcam, software, and monitor.

Storage. Standard storage is HDD, or a hard drive, while SSD is a solid-state drive. If you’re looking for speed and reliability, SSD is a much better choice, although it’s also more expensive. An HDD drive is less costly, but it may not have the speed or capacity you need if you’re a hardcore gamer.

CPU – AMD vs Intel: The CPU is your computer’s brain, so it’s vital to choose a fast, responsive processor. AMD CPUs are powerful and feature excellent integrated graphics, which is ideal for 3D gaming. Intel works best for videos and streaming movies, although the brand does offer many options that give you the raw power you need for fast gaming. Choose Intel if you have the cash, but opt for AMD if you’re on a tight budget or just starting out.

Buy or build? If you’re experienced in building computers, you can build your own gaming system and customize it however you choose. If you don’t have computer-building experience, or you’re a beginner, you might be better off buying something already designed for gaming. Compare your options side by side, and think about what’s most important to you, like cost, graphics, processing speed, and looks, and go from there.

If you love to game, designing the ultimate gaming room in your own home makes the entire experience even better. With the right furniture, computer, accessories, and high-tech environment, your home gaming room will be your new favourite place to chill.