The Pop-Culture E-Zine
Well now that we have seen everything that 2023 has to offer, let’s get to 2024!
Seeing this amazing creation on Twitter this morning totally blew our mind. The engineering feat is off the charts. We wonder if this is Duke Nukem’s games room…….
And before you start screaming about aspect ratios, just chill, relax and be in awe of this crazily awesome thingamajig!
Ce truc de dingue 😱 pic.twitter.com/F2PAm29rE8
— Lulu&Berlu -PC Engine & Evercade- (@VolcanoGriffon) January 16, 2023
We have always admired the Run-DMD clock and RPI2DMD arcade wall clocks, but getting one always proved elusive.
In October last year we serendipitously stumbled upon a new post on a UK pinball forum advertising a limited run of these DMD retro arcade clocks. We immediately registered our interest and the rest as they say, is history! The maker of these was going to do a run of about 30 units, so we definitely got lucky, as they got snapped up within minutes of the post going live!
Let the build begin!
We received our meticulously handmade RPI2DMD Retro Arcade Wall Clock in early January, which was amazing, considering all the international shipping disruptions due to the pandemic.
We must say, this amazing DMD panel is eye-poppingly gorgeous in real life and is quite large – which is a good thing. The DMD clock is connected via WiFi (it also has an Ethernet/RJ45 port), allowing us to login and configure our location (for time and weather information) and the animations we want to cycle through.
Speaking of animations, this thing is loaded! It has 5235 animations to be exact. The animations range from arcade and pinball attraction screens, logos, consoles, computers, to Christmas and Halloween GIFs to name just a few. There were also some *ahem* questionable adult animations, but we switched those off for obvious reasons.
Setting up the RPI2DMD
And of course, to do all of this, ideally you would need a Wifi Connection, or wired Ethernet (although not essential, highly recommended – the Weather forecast does NOT work without an internet connection).
The wait to get one of these was definitely worth it. It looks absolutely amazing and is always a great conversation starter.
Testing the RPI2DMD
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
With having a lot of time at home in 2020, we had been thinking about changing things up in the Ausretrogamer Fun Factory!
Things are afoot with designing the new space, which will see new additions, things being moved around and unfortunately, stuff that will go to a new home. We are quite excited with the next chapter of our games room, so we’ll be sure to share our journey throughout 2021 of the new and improved Ausretrogamer Fun Factory.
For now, you can have a read how the Ausretrogamer Fun Factory has evolved over the years.
Taking one last look at the current Ausretrogamer Fun Factory (click to enlarge)
There is something about seeing people’s gaming rooms that invokes our inner voyeurism, in a good way.
We are always fascinated and intrigued of each unique games room setup we see, just like Nintendo_Master1’s – you’ll have to agree (once you check out all of the pics) that it is pretty darn awesome!
Let the drooling begin!
image source: Nintendo_Master1 on Facebook
This post has been a long time coming!
Not content with the home office acting as our games room, Ms. ausretrogamer came up with the idea to transform the garage into a fun factory – a place where all of our retro gear would be setup to be played and enjoyed.
Once the overall design was pitched, it took a while for me to come around to convert the garage into a gaming space. The garage was basically going to provide an idyllic setting for all of our computers, consoles, arcade and pinball machines in the one space so that they could be enjoyed by anyone at anytime – no more fetching stuff out of cupboards and wiring them up to be used!
With the garage already sporting painted walls and ceiling, the next step was to make it secure from the elements – we didn’t want dust to come in and damage the delicate old school gear. Once the garage was secure and weather tight, the interior design was kicked off by Ms. ausretrogamer. Her eye for detail and use of space was second to none! I must admit, I had trouble picturing how the whole thing would look like, but I should not have had any doubt. Ms. ausretrogamer’s vision for the room was exactly what both of us had wanted, I just didn’t know it till I saw it done!
The games room, now called the ‘ausretrogamer fun factory‘ started taking shape once we relocated the computers, consoles and the Dreamcast kiosk on one side, the cupboards holding the precious software on the opposite side and the larger items (pinball and arcade machines) utilising the rear of the room. Every inch of the room was used to its fullest extent – no waste of space in this fun factory!
The ausretrogamer fun factory has evolved over the last few years, with old items making way for newer old items, with the overall design and function remaining true – which is an ideal space for friends and family to get together and have fun!
All great ideas start with a mess!
Starting the building process
Starting to take shape
Getting the console area setup using a Data Centre grade power-strip!
Testing 1, 2, 3 – we have POWER!
Getting the artwork setup
A comfy chair is a prerequisite!
Fun Factory MK I – console area
Fun Factory MK I – panoramic view
Fun Factory MK I – the pinball and arcade machines area
Fun Factory as it is TODAY! There have been quite a few moves and changes!
Fun Factory – the current pinball and arcade area. Fun times ahead!
If you intend on using any of the photos from our Ausretrogamer Fun Factory, please credit them back to this article – thank you.
This basement arcade built by Redditor mertzlufft and their father has to be one of the most awesome games rooms we’ve ever seen! Give that dad a prize for ‘father of the year decade’ then feast your eyes on the photos of this amazing home arcade.
Source: Redditor mertzlufft via Cheezburger
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Ms. ausretrogamer
Co-founder, editor and writer at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.
Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter
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
If you had all the money in the world and were after a property to suit your (inner geek) needs, perhaps this house in South Florida would be ideal. Marc Bell, a successful financier, producer and former head of FriendFinder Networks is selling his palatial home for a cool $USD35 million. You better befriend your bank manager!
Instead of focusing on the normal things people look for in a home, you know, like how many bedrooms, the façade, the number of bathrooms and is the kitchen bench-top made from granite, let’s cut to the chase and head straight to the recreational areas that will get your heart racing. If you are like me, you better get some napkins to wipe away the drool.
The 2000-square-foot ballroom converted into an arcade paradise. Oh yeah baby!
Care for a game of Foosball? If not, then pick from any of the other 60 games
Great taste in pinball and arcade machines!
If Call Of Duty is your thing, then head into the bunker!
My kind of movie room
Captain’s Log: “I love this Enterprise-feel bridge”
Make it so Number 1!
If you are an outdoors person, then perhaps the backyard will appeal
source: Business Insider
This house is the stuff of dreams, and unfortunately that is where it will remain for a lot of us. But, it never hurts to dream big!