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MIGW23 – Big Games Night Out

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A GAMES-THEMED WONDERLAND OF FANTASY AND PLAY IS COMING TO MELBOURNE THIS OCTOBER AT BIG GAMES NIGHT OUT

From twilight to late on Thursday 5 October Big Games Night Out invites Victorians and visitors to come together in Melbourne’s iconic Fed Square and surrounds for an immersive night of digital games, music and cosplay.

Presented by Creative Victoria in partnership with Fed Square as part of Melbourne International Games Week, Big Games Night Out is a free, accessible and all-ages event welcoming families and gamers from all walks of life – curious, casual, social to hardcore – to come together and celebrate amongst a spectacle of games, technology and play.

The full program line-up – to be announced soon – includes the not-to-be-missed Big Games Night Out Cosplay Parade and Runway Experience hosted by Myf Warhust and pop star and Twitch streamer Montaigne. A celebration of the fantasy of inhabiting our favourite games, the event is open to all cosplayers to participate, regardless of skill level, whether you make or buy your costumes – all are encouraged to sign up now.

Indie arcade games, 80s games, and exciting local releases will also be available to play, plus a special intergenerational arena for young and mature gamers to play and learn together in partnership with the Victorian Seniors Festival. The Swap Meet gives gamers a chance to find their next challenge by swapping their old games for something new and revelling in some old-school nostalgia.

There will also be special events with some of Australia’s biggest games, including 2022 smash-success Cult of the Lamb. Presented by ACMI and Melbourne Fringe, Cult of the Lamb: The Ritual features large-scale puppets and performers, a DJ performance by River Boy and giant animated projections featuring your favourite characters from the game created by Massive Monster, and featuring Goldens Scissors Puppets and Jean Poole Projection Mapping. The event is supported by Fed Square and Panasonic, and made possible with the support of a RISE grant.

To mark the launch of the homegrown sensation Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, from Victorian-based Summerfall Studios, Big Games Night Out will also present the Stray Gods Fashion Showcase – a multi-disciplinary event highlighting the game’s incredible blend of games, music, and fashion. Eight Melbourne fashion designers will showcase Stray Gods character costumes alongside their own unique creations, inspired by the game’s epic story about gods, magic, and a thousand-year journey to rediscover one’s purpose.

The full Big Games Night Out program will be announced soon, and will feature games arcades, open access game tournaments, live music performances from Tripod and Montaigne, immersive audience participation experiences, prizes, games-themed fashion runways, and much more throughout Fed Square venues.

Whether you play games once a week or once a year, Big Games Night Out is a special opportunity to experience Fed Square like never before as it transforms into a playful paradise.

Big Games Night Out and MIGW are part of a Creative October – a bigger-than-ever series of creative events taking place across the state across the month with the support of the Victorian Government.

Big Games Night Out is funded by the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, a partnership between the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne.
Big Games Night Out is on Thursday 5 October from twilight to late, as part of Melbourne International Games Week delivered by Creative Victoria – full line-up, maps and timetables coming soon!

Visit gamesweek.melbourne/big-games-night-out to learn more

Sign up for the Cosplay Parade here

Melbourne International Games Week is an initiative of the Victorian Government, delivered by Creative Victoria in partnership with VicScreen, ACMI and IGEA. Events will be held from 30 September – 8 October 2023. For more information visit gamesweek.melbourne



The Incredible LEGO Mario Kart Roller Coaster

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Let’s-a-go! Wahoo!

What do you do if your name is Scott Makes MOCs and you love Lego, Mario Kart and coasters? Well, you make an insanely amazing LEGO Mario Kart Roller Coaster!

3 years in the making, this incredible build by Scott just needs to be seen to be believed. The intricate details and care taken in making this Mario Kart themed LEGO roller coaster is beyond our wildest imagination.


source: scottmakesmocs

Instead of just throwing in just one video of this incredible LEGO roller coaster, we thought we’d also share the time-lapse one which compresses 3 years into 5 minutes! Totally mind-blowing!

We may need to be shrunk down to size so we can ride this coaster too! Wahoo!


source: scottmakesmocs



[story source: borninspace]

Fan Favourite Pokémon Happy Meal Returns to Macca’s

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Hey Pokemon peeps, Macca’s newest Pokémon Match Battle Happy Meal is coming to Australia – available nationwide from Thursday 24 August!

For a limited time only, Macca’s fans who purchase a Happy Meal will have the chance to collect official Pokémon Match Battle trading cards, a card flip coin and instructions – everything needed to stage an at-home Pokémon Match Battle!

With 12 types of Pokémon Match Battle games up for grabs, Aussies will be able to collect fan favourites including Pikachu, Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly!

image source: McDonald’s Australia



SPACE INVADERS: World Defense – A Cool New AR Smartphone Game

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Hold onto your blasters, because Taito – the developers of the OG Space Invaders – have unleashed Space Invaders: World Defense, a 3D augmented reality (AR) extravaganza that turns your smartphone into an alien-blasting weapon. Picture this: you’re waving your phone around in the air like you’re swatting digital mosquitoes, all in the name of defending Earth from an extraterrestrial invasion. That’s one way to get those arm muscles in shape, right? Welcome to the 21st-century workout routine, where Pokémon GO meets intergalactic cardio!


source: Taito Channel (YouTube)

And if you’re ready to embrace your inner space-pilot, you can snag this quirky game on iOS and on Android right now! Prepare to go head-to-head with pixelated invaders who’ve decided Earth is the hottest tourist spot in the universe. These little buggers are leveling up – they’re now masters of evasion, peeking out from behind buildings and doing their best dodgeball impressions. Who knew aliens had taken improv classes?

Be warned though, this isn’t just a solo mission. It’s an international showdown, as players team up across the globe to squash these pixel-pushers before they can beam up any more unsuspecting cows. High scores and special power-ups are the name of the game, and we’re praying that among those power-ups is a “Death Star Superlaser” option. Let’s be real, we could all use a planet-blasting tool to level the playing field. Otherwise, we’re leading the charge, and trust us, Earth’s fate is doomed if we’re in charge of fending off an all out alien invasion. We still can’t even fold a fitted sheet, let alone save the world.


source: Google AR & VR



Power Up At The UK’s Science Museum

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160 consoles. Five decades. Game on!

The UK’s Science Museum has a new interactive gallery, POWER UP, which is on right now in London’s South Kensington district.

Immerse yourself in a hands-on gaming experience, featuring the very best video games and consoles from the past 50 years!

Back in the early 1970s, Pong, a simple tennis-themed game, took the world by storm as one of the first commercially successful arcade games. From there, the gaming industry continued to grow, introducing us to iconic titles such as Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong.


source: Science Museum

From its humble beginnings with Pong to the immersive VR worlds of today, gaming has been an integral part of our lives. It has evolved, adapted, and thrived, capturing the hearts of both the young and the young at heart. Whether you’re a seasoned gamer, a nostalgic enthusiast, or a casual player looking for some fun, the gaming world has something extraordinary to offer you.

Day and annual passes for POWER UP are available now. Book your tickets here.

source: © Jody Kingzett, Science Museum Group

source: © Science Museum Group



Castlevania: Nocturne – Coming to Netflix this September

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The rise of Richter Belmont. Premieres only on Netflix, September 28.

Discover the enthralling world of Castlevania as it ventures into new territory with “Nocturne,” an exciting series focusing on the origin story of Richter Belmont, a gaming icon and one of the franchise’s most beloved characters. Set amidst the backdrop of the French Revolution, this gory and gothic adventure takes fans on an unforgettable journey through a time of vampires and high stakes.

Led by showrunner Kevin Kolde and Creator/Writer Clive Bradley, “Nocturne” promises a gripping narrative filled with love, loss, and thrilling encounters. As an evolution of the original fan-favorite Castlevania Netflix Series, the show delves into never-before-seen aspects of Richter Belmont’s past, adding depth to this iconic character.

Produced by Project 51 Productions, with animations provided by Powerhouse Animation, “Nocturne” guarantees top-notch quality and a visually stunning experience. Whether you’re a seasoned Castlevania fan or new to the franchise, this series serves as the perfect starting point for an exciting journey into a world of gaming adaptations, anime, and captivating storytelling.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the epic tale of “Nocturne”!


image & video source: Netflix



Online Accounts Are The Key To Transitioning To Nintendo’s Next Console

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During Nintendo’s 83rd annual shareholders meeting, President and CEO Shuntaro Furukawa discussed the company’s plans for a seamless transition from the Switch to their upcoming but unannounced game console. Furukawa emphasized the importance of Nintendo Accounts in facilitating this generational shift.

Nintendo has previously acknowledged the significance of accounts in their future business strategies, as highlighted in a special report released at the end of 2021.

When asked by an investor about specific measures in place for the transition to a Switch successor, Furukawa acknowledged the challenge of transitioning customers from one console to another. He mentioned that in the past, the company had to rebuild its relationship with customers each time.

Furukawa highlighted that Nintendo Accounts, which have exceeded 290 million, are cross-platform and can be used for both console games and mobile apps. He concluded by assuring that Nintendo will strive to make the transition to their upcoming console as smooth as possible for customers.

Nintendo has been known for its delayed adoption of new technologies such as cloud saves and 4K gaming, and its online accounts have lagged behind. Unlike Microsoft and Sony, who have had persistent cross-generational accounts since the early 2000s, Nintendo has faced challenges in previous console transitions, like the complex process of transferring games from the Wii to the Wii U. It has been necessary for Nintendo to catch up for some time, and it’s encouraging to see that they are now recognizing this need.



story source: The Verge

Moon Dog Venue Coming To Footscray

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“Grand Sale, Grand Sale, where? In Foot-is-cray!” – Franco Cozzo

Why are we quoting Franco? Well, the old Franco Cozzo furniture store in Footstcray has shutdown and will now (pending planning approval) be the future location of Moon Dog Footscray!  Woohoo, this is some very welcome and good news!

The iconic site (at 54-58 Hopkins Street, Footscray) is prime real estate and in an excellent location, accessible only a few minutes from Footscray train station. As part of their planning permit, the Moon Dog folks will look to preserve the iconic building, which would be a great tribute to the legendary Franco Cozzo. This new site will have a 900 person capacity, which means (if approved) it will be far larger than the Moon Dog World in Preston, which is licensed for 725 people.

Footscray prime real estate!
image source: IL Globo

Since Moon Dog World in Preston opened in October 2019, it has remained quite popular with patrons and it even weathered the pandemic lockdowns, so let’s hope the same will happen with the new Moon Dog, where patrons can chill out (and also play some pinball). Speaking of pinball, we are hoping they follow the Preston model and ensure the Footscray venue includes some silverball action too – if they do, then we’ll definitely need to update our “Where to Play Pinball in Melbourne” article *fingers crossed*

The iconic Moon Dog World – Preston

Pinball action in the shipping container (Moon Dog World – Preston). Let’s hope they include pinball at their new venue!

The ever popular Moon Dog World – Preston
image source: Moon Dog on Facebook



HALO KART: The Incredible Halo x Mario Kart Mashup

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Ah geez there are some keen and very very clever peeps out there!

This Cursed Halo Kart mashup of Halo and Mario Kart is based on the Cursed Halo Again mod created by modder and Steam user InfernoPlus.

Just like in Mario Kart, players race around the track in their Halo modded vehicles, trying to win by all means, including shooting each other! This is our kind of Mario Kart game 😉

story source: technabob



Atari Introduces New Collectible Replica Arcade PCBs

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A NEW REVISION IN ARCADE CIRCUIT BOARD HISTORY

Ah Atari, they know exactly how to squeeze every ounce out of their IP with products that hit the nostalgic sweet spot!

This time around, good ole new Atari has partnered with Retro Arcade to create high-quality authentic replica arcade machine Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) for Black Widow, Gravitar and Major Havoc – iconic Atari arcade games prized for their advanced gameplay and relative rarity of their cabinets.

These reproductions are officially licensed 11.5 x 20.75 inch (29.2cm x 52.70cm) reproductions based on the original arcade board sets and are a new revision in the PCB history. The boards use the original bill of materials, follow the original schematics, and can be used to replace damaged original boards by using the original parts from these boards.

OK, we must admit, we are actually impressed with these replica/repro PCBs, even if the price (US$245) is a tad too much when taking into account the exchange rate.

Oh yeah, these are available in limited quantities at Atari.com.

PS: To sweeten this juicy deal, Atari is offering $10 off (code: “PCBOOPSIE“) on any one of the three Retro Arcade PCB boards (yeah, we know, boards is redundant in PCB boards) 😉

Major Havoc PCB: Revision D

Major Havoc challenges players with a journey through exciting gameplay styles, including Breakout-style mini games where a knowledgeable gamer can warp through different levels.

Gravitar PCB: Revision C

A multi-directional shooter with a reputation for difficulty, Gravitar is arguably also the first cave-flyer ever made.

Black Widow PCB: Revision A

The arcade classic Black Widow is one of the very first twin-stick shooters ever made.