AUSRETROGAMER

The Pop-Culture E-Zine

You are here: Home / Archives for gamers

gamers

Freeplay Independent Games Festival

By

Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games festival, located in Melbourne, Australia.

Established in 2004, Freeplay is one of the world’s longest-running independent games festivals and explores games at the margins – independent, alternative, experimental and hyperlocal.

Freeplay bridges the gulf between the games industry and Australia’s local arts ecosystem – working with small developers, game-making collectives and the innovators and dreamers at the fringe of digital and interactive art to celebrate games as art – not just commercial products.

Freeplay is the first step for many Australian emerging studios into the broader games ecosystem. For twenty years, Freeplay have helped shape now world-renowned studios like Massive Monster (Cult of the Lamb), Witch Beam (Unpacking), League of Geeks (Armello), House House (Untitled Goose Game), 2Pt Interactive (Heavenly Bodies) and Worm Club (Frog Detective).

The critical details:

  • What: Freeplay Independent Games Festival
  • When: Thurs Mar 28 – Sun 14 Apr 2024 10am – 5pm
  • Tickets: FREE (drop in)
  • Where: Fed Square Foyer, Level 1, ACMI, Fed Square (wheelchair access)

image sources: ACMI and Freeplay

The Australian Pinball Museum Visits The Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum

By

Prior to exhibiting at the 2024 Texas Pinball Festival (TPF), the Australian Pinball Museum visited the Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum in Hillsboro (Oregon, USA), and we are so glad that they did!

Obviously this place is now on our bucket-list of places to check out when we next visit the ole US of A. For more drool-worthy images from their recent visit at the Next Level Pinball Shop & Museum, check out the Australian Pinball Museum post right here and also their walkthrough video!

source: Facebook post via Australian Pinball Museum

2024 Reset64 4KB CRAPTASTIC Game Competition

By

Craptastic has been a huge success since the first competition in 2016, and we’re very excited to be doing it all again in 2024! This year’s competition theme is once again…. Craptastic!

“What the bloom’n heck does craptastic mean?”, I hear you ask.

It certainly doesn’t mean crap, although it can! Craptastic can mean ludicrous, bonkers, outrageous, funny, wacky, far out, and silly. The theme simply implies that the compo is just for a bit of fun, not a serious coding competition. You are more than welcome to make an excellent game to submit for the compo. Your game may contain some humour or silliness to fit more with the theme, but it doesn’t have to!

2022 Craptastic Comp Winner: Marble Boy (Roman Werner)

In our previous competitions, some entries were truly excellent, others excellent but silly, others truly awful but funny! It’s just a chance for people to do something a little different if they wish and explore ideas/concepts that wouldn’t normally work well in a more serious compo.

Please remember that this competition is limited to 4KB. Yes, any entry submitted can be no more than 4KB when compressed. If your game is more than 1 file, then all the game files put together must not exceed the 4KB limit. This includes hi-score save files.

We want craptastic game entries. Remember, the key word here is fun. We want both coders and players alike to have fun and enjoy this comp!

Submit your entries to RESET64 (via email: [email protected]) by 31st August, 2024 (23:59:59 GMT).

Take a look at our previous Craptastic compo entries to help draw inspiration!

RULES

Basic rules are as follows:

  • The competition deadline is 23:59:59 GMT on the 31st August, 2024. All entries to be submitted to [email protected] by the deadline or will be deemed ineligible.
  • All entrants must register at [email protected]
  • Entrants are free to preview screenshots and videos of their game(s) to other publications/websites.
  • The competition will only begin when there are at least 5 registered entrants.
  • All submitted games MUST be 4KB or less (when compressed or uncompressed), and executable on a stock C64 on either or each of tape, disk and cartridge. Your submission may have a separate docs file (either as a C64 executable or a txt file, which doesn’t count towards the 4KB cap). However, hi-score saver files will count towards the cap.
  • The games must be previously unreleased and be your own work, whether that be by yourself or as part of a collaboration.
  • PAL must be supported, with additional NTSC support optional (but encouraged).
  • Participants may submit multiple entries, either as an individual or within a team. Team entries must be registered by an individual, and any potential prizes will be sent to the registered individual only.
  • Entries should be submitted exclusively to RESET64 by the competition deadline. Please feel free to share your entry as you wish after the competition has ended (after the compo deadline has passed).
  • There will be a panel of judges (TBA), and entries will be scored on a point distribution basis across several criteria. The decision of the panel is final.
  • Games must be submitted as freeware.
  • Games will be published by Reset64 (not necessarily exclusively) on a future disk compilation for the whole world to enjoy, after the competition has concluded. All entries will be made available on the Reset64 itch.io after the compo concludes.
  • Games must not be released before the competition deadline, or they will become exempt from scoring and will be deemed ineligible. Games can be submitted after deadline but will be counted as *out of competition* and will be ineligible for a placing.

We reserve the right to change, add or delete rules during the competition if deemed necessary!

2nd place in the 2022 Craptastic Comp: Circles by James

SCORING SYSTEM

The scoring system used for Craptastic is very simple. Each game will be scored against 7 criteria, each worth 5 points. An entry can score up to 35 points. When the panel has scored each game accordingly, the totals for each individual game will be divided by the number of judges to produce a mean average. The average will be the game’s final score.

The criteria that each game will be evaluated on are:

Originality – New idea or “rip off”? Off the wall ideas encouraged.
Concept – Quality of game design, is it fun, is it bonkers, is it craptastic?
Execution – Execution of design, taking into account controls and other factors such as excecution.
Presentation – Quality of graphics, audio and overall presentation. Supremely bad can be seen as a positive in some cases!
Gameplay – A measure of how enjoyable the game is to play.
Lasting Appeal – replay value, addictiveness.
OMG factor – when you see it, do you think “wtf!?” This is the true measure of craptasticness!

If a panel member has entered a game themselves, then the number of points that they can award will be adjusted (in this example, to 5) and they will not score their own release.

CSDB will not be used for voting. Also, entries should not be uploaded to CSDB, or elsewhere until after the competition has closed. Feel free to post screenshots or info though.

PRIZES

A craptastic gaming comp requires craptastic prizes, right? We have some fantastic prizes lined up for this year’s compo thanks to some very generous sponsors.

A big thank-you to the following sponsors and supporters:



More sponsors to be announced.

Unkle K / Reset64
Official Twitter account for Reset64 Magazine – dedicated to the world’s favourite 8-bit computer!

Follow Reset64 Magazine on Twitter

Celebrate MAR10 Day In Australia & NZ

By

Wahoo, Happy MAR10 Day!

Celebrate MAR10 Day in Australia and New Zealand with exclusive rewards on a range of Mario titles, including 10% back in Gold Points on Nintendo eShop, and collect an assortment of user icons parts from Super Mario games.

But wait, there is more! From now till 24th March, an assortment of user icons parts from Super Mario games will be available as Nintendo Switch Online member-exclusive rewards. There’s also a special mission you can complete by playing the Super NES classic Super Mario World to earn some Platinum Points.

Happy MAR10 Day to you all!

image source: Nintendo

The Analogue Pocket OpenFPGA Adapters Are Awesome!

By

No Emulation.

It may have taken 18 months for them to arrive, but the new Adapters for the Analogue Pocket have been well worth the wait!

Having an extensive library of Atari Lynx, PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16 and Neo Geo Pocket Colour game carts, it is always with trepidation when playing these on their corresponding original hardware, which may result in the systems breaking down in some way or shape (Ed: Oi capacitors, we are looking at you!). To solve this problem, we obtained a couple of Analogue Pockets and the three pack adapters to be able to play our library of Lynx, NGPC and PC-Engine carts safely, in conjunction with playing our Game Boy, Game Boy Colour and GBA carts too. The Anlogue Pocket is a versatile little beast! It also helps that the Pocket has an absolutely amazing screen!

Based on openFPGA, we can report that playing these game carts on the new adapters is like playing them on their original systems, but better! The better part being that the Pocket is an ergonomically perfect system, with a great D-pad, fire buttons and of course, the stunningly sharp 3.5″ backlit 1600×1440 resolution LTPS LCD display. Having put the carts through their paces, we are quite chuffed at the versatility that the Pocket affords us.

We can finally put the original systems to rest!

They are finally here!

The Atari Lynx II can now be retired!

Of course the first Lynx game was going to be California Games

As Good As James – if you know, you know 😉

Now to plugin the PC-Engine/TurboGrafx-16 adapter to try out a few HuCards…

Playing these PC-Engine games on the Pocket are darn awesome! Our PC-Engine GT can be spared abuse.

BattleKart Action In Melbourne

By

Have you ever dreamed of playing Mario Kart in real life? With BattleKart, you don’t play the game; you play IN the game!

If you are in Melbourne, then you are in luck! BattleKart is the perfect combination of electric karting, video games and augmented reality (AR). A unique mix to thrill your senses! Full throttle aboard an electric kart, on a track where different circuits, bonuses and game modes are projected onto the ground, interacting with the scenery and the other players to win the game!

So put down that Switch with Mario Kart 8 and get to BattleKart to play for real!

The lowdown:

  • What: BattleKart Melbourne
  • Where: 50 McArthur St, West Footscray VIC 3012
  • Open: Wed – Sun (closed Mon and Tue)
  • Price: starting from AU$69 for a single session
  • Booking: https://www.battlekart.com/en/melbourne/

The Great GameOnCancer® Giveaway Returns to Raise Funds for Groundbreaking Cancer Research

By

The Great Game On Cancer® Giveaway (GOCG) is back with more than 400 prizes on offer during the fundraiser, valued at more than $30,000

Running through all of March (1st – 31st), anyone who donates AUD $50 or more to Cure Cancer during this period will get a prize valued at $50 or more, randomly selected from the assortment of donated prizes. People can donate as many times as they like or as much as they like, with each $50 donation worth a prize (e.g. if you donate $200, you will receive 4 prizes).

It’s a win/win situation, you get to donate to cancer research and you get a prize that could be greater than the value of your donation!

To claim one of the incredible prizes, people simply need to go to https://www.curecancer.com.au/giveaway, make a donation and then, at the end of the four-week campaign, they will be informed about which prize they have won. Yes, it’s that simple!

Major brands are on board including the likes of Xbox and EA Games, who have all donated prizes to the campaign, which aims to raise $20,000 plus for Cure Cancer. Prizes include Xbox Series S consoles, and a Moza R5 Racing Bundle, just to name a few.

Other brands involved are Logitech G, Turtle Beach, Nanoleaf, Bethesda, Twelve South, Satechi, Quokka Mousepads, 2K, Massive Monster, CATAN Studios, Fantasy Flight Games, Pandasaurus Games, Andaseat, MOZA Racing, Bungie, PAX Australia, Annapurna Interactive, Neon Doctrine, Keychron, Fellow Traveller and Fortress.

The money raised will go directly to Cure Cancer to fund ground-breaking cancer research by brilliant scientists to save millions of lives. Cure Cancer’s community of researchers, fundraisers and partners take on every cancer, working together to find the most impactful solutions in record time. Driven by a bold ambition –  What if we cure cancer?

The charity recently announced that it has raised over $1.25million through its Game On Cancer® initiative; vital monies driving vital research into all cancers.

Donate to support ground-breaking cancer research today and your generosity will be rewarded with one of the fantastic prizes!

Docuseries – TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming

By

Our good friend Richard Moss, who has written some awesome books and produced great podcasts, has now turned his talent into movie making, specifically a documentary series called TerrorBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming.

TerrorBytes will be five hour-long episodes, each digging into a different aspect of horror gaming — survival horror, licensed (and unlicensed but closely-inspired by film/book/TV) horror, FMV and interactive movie horror, indie horror, and “cursed and controversial” horror games (i.e., horror games that were banned, censored, or that never existed beyond an urban myth).

To whet your bloodthirsty appetite, TerrorBytes will be interviewing 40 well-known people from the horror gaming genre, including (but not limited to!):

  • Ken and Roberta Williams (Sierra co-founders; Phantasmagoria)
  • Jane Jensen (Gabriel Knight)
  • David Mullich (I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, Dark Seed II)
  • Graeme Devine (The 7th Guest, The 11th Hour)
  • Rob Fulop (Night Trap)
  • Noah Falstein (Sinistar)
  • Hifumi Kouno (Clock Tower)
  • Hubert Chardot (Alone in the Dark)
  • Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill composer)
  • John Romero (DOOM, Quake)
  • James Rolfe (aka The Angry Video Game Nerd)
  • Christopher Carton (author of A Guide to Movie Based Games)

TerraBytes: The Evolution of Horror Gaming can be pre-ordered now, but you better hurry if you want all the ghoulish goodies, as this pre-sales window closes on March 3rd!

image source: TerrorBytes



Heart of Neon – New Trailer

By

Just in case you haven’t been following, back in 2019 we told you about the documentary, Heart of Neon, a Paul Docherty film, centred around Jeff Minter and Llamasoft.

It’s been a hard slog since then, but it was great to see a new trailer drop (which premiered last week at the NY Game Awards), which you can check out below.

Paul has succinctly put it like this (about the Heart of Neon documentary):

Jeff Minter is an exceptional video game developer who for four decades has remained independent in an industry where corporations dictate the terms. HEART OF NEON charts Jeff’s career from pioneer to legend, mapping the landscape of the game development industry where only the most talented and tenacious can survive.



Pac-Man Lifesized Maze: Melbourne

By

Get dot-munching for real!

  • What: Pac-Man Lifesized
  • Date: 27-Mar-2024
  • Where / Venue: The District Docklands, 23 – 37, Shop CWF01/01a Level 1/29 Star Cres, Docklands VIC 3008, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3008
  • Tickets: Child $12.00 / Adult $18.00
  • Where to buy: Hidden – Melbourne

Experience the excitement of a real-life Pac-Man maze as you elude colorful ghosts and snatch up fruit! This March (2024), The District Docklands in Melbourne will host an incredible Pac-Man Escape Room Maze. This immersive pop-up event, officially endorsed by Pac-Man, will immerse you in an escape room adventure within a massive maze.

Prepare to outmaneuver ghosts, gather your favorite fruits (bonus points if you can devour all five), and tackle puzzles along the way. Each participant has only three lives, and if caught by one of the four ghosts, a life is lost. You can embark on this adventure solo or with a team of up to 10 people – the choice is yours. The first person to collect all the fruit and conquer the puzzles will earn the title of the ultimate Pac-Man Player!

Additionally, the venue will feature Pac-Man video games for you to enjoy once you’ve completed the maze. Melbourne’s up-and-coming DJs will be spinning ’80s tunes during the session and at the pixelated bar, providing the perfect opportunity to relax and grab a refreshing beverage after your thrilling adventure