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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



The Sony HB-F5 MSX2 Computer – The Gaming System That Came Before the PlayStation

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On a recent hunt for retro gaming systems we came across the Sony HB-F5, Sony’s first MSX2 based computer gaming system that was released in Japan in 1985.

There were two HB-F5 variants that were released – grey and back. Both of these colour variants are quite rare and difficult to find in working condition (and with working game carts).

These aren’t cheap, but if you are after this oddity, there is one currently available (at the time of publishing) on Facebook Marketplace for $1,050 – and you thought the PlayStation 5 was expensive!

PS: Don’t mistake that RGB21 output for SCART – they look similar, but the pinouts have differing designations!

image source: Facebook Marketplace



MS Excel In 1990 – It’s Oh So Cheesy!

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Oh wow, the cheesiness of this long-form 1990 Microsoft Excel commercial is absolutely dripping!

The cringe factor is off the charts too. It’s like a slow-moving train-wreck, you can’t keep your eyes off it!


source: Wall Street Oasis



A Very Cool Custom LEGO Nintendo Game Boy

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Get ready for a blast from the past with this incredible creation by LEGO Masters finalist and avid gamer Nick Lever! Combining his love for LEGO and Nintendo, Nick has brought the iconic Game Boy to life in a whole new way. Prepare to be amazed as he unveils his 1:1 scale LEGO version of the beloved portable gaming system!

Constructed using a whopping 354 pieces and 115 unique parts, this life-sized masterpiece is a sight to behold. But that’s not all! Nick’s attention to detail is truly remarkable, as he has included a fully functional D-pad that you can actually press, as well as slots for inserting game cartridges. It’s like stepping back in time and holding a piece of gaming history in your hands!

Although you won’t be able to play any games on this LEGO Game Boy, Nick has thoughtfully crafted four custom game cartridges to accompany his creation. Get ready to dive into classic titles such as Tetris, The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening, and the timeless Pokemon Red and Blue. While some may miss the absence of Donkey Kong Land, it’s hard to complain when these games are considered among the greatest of all time. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you find yourself sneaking in a quick gaming session instead of being productive this afternoon!

Now, here’s the exciting part. If you’re feeling inspired and eager to build your very own LEGO Game Boy, you’re in luck! Nick is offering the required piece list and instructions for sale. Simply reach out to him on Instagram to get your hands on this valuable resource. Get ready to unleash your inner builder and embark on a nostalgic journey back to the golden age of gaming!

So, grab your LEGO bricks, channel your creativity, and prepare to experience the joy of constructing your own life-sized Game Boy. This project is sure to bring hours of fun and a sense of accomplishment. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to merge two beloved passions and create something truly extraordinary. Get ready to level up your building skills and embrace the world of LEGO gaming!



story source: technabob

Topher Grace’s Star Wars: Always Rulez

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If you can’t stand the thought of sinking 30+ hours watching all the Star Wars films (including Rogue One and Solo), then this Topher Grace Star Wars: Always edit is for you!

Topher has mashed all of the Star Wars films into a 5 minute Cliff notes version for those that are time poor. With that said, we actually don’t mind this 5 minute version of the Star Wars saga.

May the FORCE be with you!


source: Lou’s Cafe



New POKÉMON Gear Is Coming…😍

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Yo POKÉMON fans, now you can wear clothing based on this ever popular franchise!

The cool folks at BlackMilk will range the entire POKÉMON clothing collection on their site, which drops at 7:00am, June 20th!

What are you waiting for, mark your calendars now and set your alarms!

image source: BlackMilk



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



Dreamcast and GameCube Gaming On The Go

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Ever dreamed of having a portable version of Sega’s Dreamcast and/or Nintendo’s GameCube consoles? You may not need to dream anymore!

We know you’ll throw the old, “but my Steam Deck (or Ayaneo or hacked PS Vita) can emulate these consoles already!”, well let us tell ya, these portable versions are a step closer to their original source (by using the original’s internals)!

It is quite impressive to see these innovations come to life, even though it may offend the purists (and possibly get Nintendo’s lawyers onto these merchants).

These portable systems aren’t necessarily cheap, but they scratch an itch for the nostalgic in us – especially the Portable Dreamcast! Now, what can we offload to procure one of these……..

Where to buy:

Portable Dreamcast

Portable GameCube



Guide: How To Softmod Your PS VITA

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This guide will provide you the steps to permanently mod your PS VITA (2000 Series models!) using the browser-based hack/jailbreadk. This mod is perfectly safe and allows you to run emulators, homebrew apps and load/play backups of your PS Vita, PSP and PS1 games. This mod will work on any PS Vita firmware version (up to and including v3.74).

As mentioned above, this guide is intended specifically for the PS Vita 2000 models, however, most steps can still be followed to mod your 1000 model. As for modding the PS TV, there are a number of differences in the process, therefore we recommend you to visit VitaHacks site for the specific guide.

OK, so you want to unleash your PS VITA, then follow along!

Before you begin, you’ll need the following items:

  • SD2Vita Pro – PS Vita Card Adapter (approx. AU$13); and
  • Samsung 256GB EVO Plus Micro SD (approx. AU$34)

NOTE: Prices are correct as at date of publication!

First thing – grab your fully charged PS Vita 2000, SD2Vita adapter and micro SD card!

Insert the micro SD card in the SD2VITA adapter

Check your system’s software (firmware) version to ensure you are at the latest version (3.74)

Connect your PS Vita to your local WiFi, and log into the PSN Store at least once before starting this mod!

Installing VitaDeploy and Henkaku is as easy as opening up the web browser app and navigate to jailbreak.psp2.dev

At the HENlo – a Playstation Vita Jailbreak site that appears, tap on “Unlock my Vita” and then “Unlock”

On the black screen menu, navigate to and select “Install henkaku” and press the X button. Once that is done, do the same for “Install VitaDeploy”. Once done, navigate down to “Exit and mount sd2vita to ux0” and press the X button

Don’t forget to insert the SD2Vita adapter (with the micro SD) into your PS Vita and ensure your device is connected to the internet before performing the next steps!

Open the Vita’s Settings app, and open “HENkaku settings”

Select “Enable Unsafe Homebrew” check-mark

Open the VitaDeploy app and navigate to “Install a different OS” -> “Quick 3.65 install”. The app will download and install v3.65. It will ask you if you really want to do it — just press X to confirm. Once complete, the Vita will reboot.

Open the Settings app and then go to System Information to confirm that you are now on v3.65 with the enso permanent hack

Now it’s time to setup the SD2Vita storage! Open VitaDeploy and navigate to Miscellaneous -> Format a storage device. Select “Format target storage” and follow any prompts. Reboot the device.

Open up your Settings app, then navigate to Devices -> Storage Devices, and enable YAMT. Reboot the console.

Open VitaDeploy -> File Manager, and make sure that the “uma0” partition is visible. Navigate to the “ux0” partition and select all of the folders except “SceloTrash” (use the SQUARE button to select). Press the TRIANGLE button and select “Copy”.

Navigate to the “uma0” partition, press TRIANGLE to bring up the menu, and select “Paste”.

Return to the Settings app and navigate to Devices > Storage Devices. Set the following options:
– ux0: SD2Vita
– uma0: Internal Storage 

Reboot the Vita, then head to Settings -> System Information and the memory card size should now reflect the capacity of your microSD card (in our case, our micro SD’s capacity is 256GB)

Now to the business end of the mod – Installing the core homebrew apps! 

Open the VitaDeploy app and naviate to App Downloader, and install the following apps:

– VitaShell – file management system
– VitaDB Downloader – Library tool to browse and download various apps and homebrew games
– Adrenaline – a PSP environment that allows you to play PSP and PS1 games with perfect performance
– PKGj – Powerful app that allows you to install backups of your PS Vita, PSP, and PS1 games
– Custom Themes Manager – as the name implies, this allows you to manage custom themes
– iTLS Enso – adds TSL v1.2 to the device, which fixes many plugin errors, adds more installer options, allows secure (https) internet access, and restores access to the PS Store
– Registry Editor – this allows you to improve the color saturation on the PS Vita 2000 models

Once all the apps have been downloaded and installed, exit the VitaDeploy app and reboot your Vita
NOTE: We installed additional apps, which aren’t mandatory

Now that your PS Vita 2000 has been jailbroken, feel free to explore and install custom themes (like we did – see below)

Once you have that cool custom theme, it’s time to check out the homebrew apps, emulators and homebrew games in VitaDB Downloader. Once done there, grab the backups of your favourite PS Vita, PSP and PS1 games via PKGj 

We used the SwitchView UI frontend (from VitaDB Downloader) to make our Vita look like the Nintendo Switch!

Finally, time to enjoy and play some games on your freshly modded PS Vita! Bonsai!

all images remain the property & © of ausretrogamer.com



XBHD – EON Gaming’s Revolutionary New Original Xbox Adapter

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XBHD, EON Gaming’s Revolutionary New Original Xbox Adapter Launches 20 June

World’s first plug-and-play HD adapter with multi-video output, built-in LAN party support, and more

EON Gaming, makers of the acclaimed GCHD MK-II, and Super 64, have revealed their next flagship adapter, this time for the original Xbox, called the XBHD. This full-featured, first-of-its-kind adapter unlocks the potential of the original Xbox for gamers worldwide on Tuesday, 20 June 2023 for $189.99 USD through Amazon as well as their worldwide retail partners including Castlemania Games, Retro Saga, and Games Connection.

The 2001 launch of the original Xbox sparked an unforgettable era. Microsoft entered the gaming console scene, going toe to toe with industry giants Sony and Nintendo in the 6th generation of consoles. Going on to sell more than 24 million units worldwide, Xbox offered greater processing power, internal storage, onboard LAN connectivity, and a host of exclusive titles such as the seminal Halo: Combat Evolved. Xbox was a force to be reckoned with and quickly moved from underdog to industry staple.

The XBHD pays tribute to these beloved titles with a robust set of features and the best video quality possible. Make use of dual HD video ports to host head-to-head matches or simplify streaming setups with no additional hardware or power required. Gather friends and recreate true LAN party experiences thanks to three RJ45 ethernet connectors, seamlessly enabling LAN support for up to four consoles.

Experience the original Xbox with perfectly translated visuals supporting 480i, 480p, 720p, and even 1080i resolutions. Additionally enjoy the flexibility of the MiniTOSlink 3.5mm port, providing clear audio through headphones, speaker systems, and even capture cards for streaming.

Key Features:

  • The XBHD is a plug-and-play HD adapter for the original Xbox
  • No mods required & no external power required
  • Provides the best visual signal possible on original hardware
    • Losslessly translates the component video to HD
    • 480i, 480p, 720p, and 1080i compatible (NTSC resolution settings required)
  • Lagless input – controller inputs appear on screen instantly
  • 2 HD video out ports for simultaneous video streaming (noiseless dual HD video output)
  • 3.5mm MiniTOSLINK jack (audio output)
  • 3 Ethernet ports for simplified LAN experience
  • Custom designed plug that matches original Xbox aesthetic

“The Xbox was home to the LAN party.” said Justin Scerbo co-founder of EON Gaming. “The magic of linking consoles together to enjoy an expanded, connected local gaming experience was something that defined us then, and something we long for now. With XBHD, we wanted to bring that possibility back. Now, it’s easier than ever, and these classic games have never looked better.”

“I remember packing up my Xbox, 4 controllers, the cables, and an old, hefty tube TV into my small Miata, driving down to my friends house, and having a Halo party that felt like it lasted for days,” said Justin Chou, co-founder, EON Gaming. “Now-a-days, although everything’s become easier with the use of online matchmaking lobbies, I can’t help but feel like I’ve lost something magical. I miss sharing a living room with my closest friends and playing games all night.”

The XBHD launches worldwide on Tuesday, 20 June 2023 and retails for $189.99 USD (approx. AU$290.00) via Castlemania Games, Retro Saga, Games Connection, and Amazon, shipping worldwide.

For more information, please visit EON Gaming’s official website



[press release supplied]