iMAC

Reliving the magic of retro gaming with arcade classics, vintage consoles, and amazing pinball machines at PAX Aus 2024’s ultimate nostalgia-filled showcase!

PAX Aus 2024’s Classic Gaming Area was a nostalgic paradise for retro gamers (as it always has been!), offering a thrilling dive into gaming history. The area featured a stunning lineup of vintage arcade cabinets, classic consoles, and pinball machines that transported attendees straight back to the golden age of gaming. From old-school favourites like Rampage and Popeye to lesser-known gems, the collection was a dream for retro enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike.

This year, the focus on pinball was a highlight, with rare and new machines on display and freeplay sessions for anyone to enjoy. The Australian Pinball Museum’s exhibit was back, showcasing unique memorabilia. Another major attraction was the collaboration between Weird and Retro, Press Play On Tape, and other contributors, who created a vibrant, interactive space full of classic gaming and amazing displays!

Attendees could also explore the console freeplay section, where systems like the Atari VCS and Atari 400, NES, Sega Mega Drive, iMac, G4 Cube and the original PlayStation – which were the tip of the nostalgic iceberg of system to play, let gamers relive their childhoods or discover these iconic machines for the first time. The event wasn’t just about playing games but celebrating gaming culture, with a strong sense of community and inclusivity in the air.

A personal favourite of mine was checking out the amazing array of old school machines that Octamed (aka: Cameron Bonde) had brought to the area for attendees to enjoy. Oh yeah, the museum display cabinets were also full of droolworthy retro goodness! I honestly had to pick my jaw off the floor. But the absolute highlight for us (as always) was catching up with our many wonderful friends, all whom work extraordinarily hard to bring the Classic Gaming Area to life – they all rock!

All in all, the Classic Gaming Area at PAX Aus 2024 was a delightful tribute to the games and systems that shaped the industry, ensuring that retro gaming remains a beloved part of PAX’s annual offerings.

When we first started ausretrogamer over a decade ago we never imagined that our little corner of nostalgia would capture the attention of people around Australia and around the world.

Over the years we have had readers contacting us to donate their wares, usually due to our genuine love of retro gaming and the preservation of classic games and consoles, plus no one wants to send stuff to landfill – it’s a win win!

A few weeks ago we were contacted by Mike, an avid reader of our site, who asked if we would be interested in his donation of classic consoles, computers and games. Mike sent us a photo of some of his goodies, and we must say, our eyes lit up at the vastness of the collection he was going to donate.

We finally met up with Mike late last week and the big surprise was that he had way more amazing stuff to donate than what was in the initial photos. We were pleasantly surprised and found it totally humbling that someone would generously give away their items to be preserved and enjoyed – which we will! The best part of this donation was meeting Mike and having a great conversation about games, systems and life in general – which is totally priceless.

We haven’t gone through all of the items Mike donated to ausretrogamer, but we thought we would share some photos of this amazing collection – scroll slowly to take in all the nostalgia!

Many thanks to Mike for his generosity, these will be cherished.