Las Vegas

Get the Stern Experience at the Pinball Hall Of Fame

December 7, 2022 By ausretrogamer

Vegas Baby! If you ever needed another reason to visit Las Vegas, then Stern Pinball Inc. has you covered!

The new Stern Experience at the famous Pinball Hall Of Fame (we visited the old Pinball Hall Of Fame in 2015) will showcase all the hottest and latest Stern pinball machines featuring the award-winning Insider Connected platform! The Stern Experience will offer players brand new high score leaderboards to compete on, the ability to earn exclusive achievement badges, and participate in exclusive Stern events and tournaments only available in this one-of-a-kind interactive exhibit.

Don’t forget, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

source: Stern Pinball

Nintendo PlayChoice Countertop

July 19, 2022 By ausretrogamer

We saw this Nintendo PlayChoice countertop machine and thought we’d share it with you!

We don’t recall coming across this countertop in any of our travels around Australia, so if you are like us, this may be the first time your eyes are feasting on such awesomeness! We have seen and played on the standup PlayChoice machines, but this one is definitely a rarity for us.

This one is for sale (at the time of writing) in Las Vegas for US$3,000. There countertop comes with 5 carts, Kung-Fu, Dr. Mario, Baseball Stars, Excitebike and Tecmo Bowl. However, it is missing a few components and the unit does have a few bumps and nicks. So if you are in the Vegas area and are keen on this expensive beauty, check out this post on Facebook to get in touch with the seller.

image source: Facebook

The New Pinball Hall Of Fame in Vegas

April 22, 2021 By ausretrogamer

We have fond memories of our times in Vegas. Travelling to the US was never complete for us without popping into the desert city to catch a show, fly over Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon, and of course, hit the Pinball Hall of Fame (PHoF).

Since our last visit at the Pinball Hall of Fame in 2015, a lot has changed! Pinball Hall of Fame’s Tim Arnold bought a large parcel of land on the strip (4925 Las Vegas Blvd South), which allowed for a huge building to be erected (25,000 square feet to be exact!) to house the many many pinball and arcade machines that the PHoF had in their old location (on and in storage. When we stumbled upon Debbie Courson Smith’s Facebook post about her visit to the new Pinball Hall of Fame, we were quite chuffed to see how far along Tim and his crew had come since we saw an empty lot that long ago.

According to Debbie, this was a soft launch, with the grand opening scheduled for July. Once air travel is safe, we know where we are going again 😉

PS: If you want to see how the old Pinball Hall Of Fame looked like, check out this post.

image source: Debbie Courson Smith via Facebook

The Munsters Pinball Unveiled at CES 2019 in Vegas, Baby!

January 9, 2019 By ausretrogamer

Stern Pinball keep pumping out pinball machines with themes that strike a chord with a lot of you out there.

Their latest pinball machine, The Munsters was unveiled to much fanfare at CES 2019 in Las Vegas earlier this morning (Australian time). With Jack Danger’s Dead Flip Twitch channel live streaming the reveal, there were lots of eyeballs around the globe glued to screens to check out what Stern had delivered – they weren’t disappointed.

We can safely say that Stern has released a machine that will have mass appeal for operators and home collectors alike. The best part of showing their new title was that all three models were available to be checked out and of course, played. The Pro, the Premium and the LE (Limited Edition) were all there, with their distinct packages, garnering a huge buzz online, both on social media and forums like Pinside – which is exactly what Stern was aiming for!

Oh yeah, a bit more detail regarding this new pinball title:

There are three machine variants of The Munsters; there is the Pro, Premium and Limited Edition (LE). Aside from each having distinct cabinet art, the Premium and Limited Edition versions contain some cool extra features with the most obvious one being the mini-playfield under the centre of the main playfield. The mini-playfield contains miniature flippers with it’s own tiny ramps, including a wireform one (ramp) with an upkicker and its own multi-ball – how cool is that! The entry level Pro model doesn’t have the sunken mini-playfield, but all three versions share the following features:

A left ramp that lifts up to reveal a Spot (dragon) toy you can bash with the ball
A right ramp that Stern describes as a “turn-around, flip-up ramp”
A large Herman Munster with a magnet to catch and throw the ball around
A “Zap” button on the lockdown bar
Built in metal protector on scoop
Unique cabinet art for each model, with the Premium version having a full black-and-white art package
LCD screen in the backbox with custom graphics and scenes from The Munsters TV sitcom

The Limited Edition (LE) model will have a production run of 500 units, which we have been informed have all been sold out worldwide – now that was quick!

We must say that the Premium’s black and white colour scheme is cool and quite refreshing, which may polarise hardcore pinheads (we love it!).

The Pro version will be available in Australia from the end of January, with the (already sold) Limited Edition coming in March and the Premium in mid May. We can’t wait to check these out in the flesh and give them a flip! So, which one appeals to you?

The Munsters Pro model

The Munsters Premium model

The Munsters Limited Edition (LE) model

image source: Stern Pinball

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Marvel’s Joe Fixit Deserves a Game Piece

October 15, 2018 By ausretrogamer

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

When I devoured The Incredible Hulk comics growing up, I always liked it when the writers had Hulk take on the identity of Joe Fixit, a shadowy behind the scenes figure, working in Las Vegas on behalf of a corrupt casino owner, Michael Berengetti. Joe Fixit was a morally vague Vegas enforcer and tough guy.

Joe Fixit seems like an obvious choice for a video game. Grey Hulk in his dark suit and fedora, creating carnage across Sin City seems perfect for an Android or console game.

Joe Fixit could be assigned a task by shady casino owner, Michael Berengetti, and the game could follow Fixit throughout a night in Vegas fighting off bad guys around Vegas landmarks.

Fixit could fight a bunch of hoodlums on the Ghostbar balcony of The Palms Casino. He could do battle with some baddies in the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower. All of Vegas could be Joe Fixit’s playground in this game. The game could be a Mortal Kombat or Mafia sort of format. There could be a lot of dark alley fights, where Fixit, in the comics, would brawl with several villains. A fight in or around the Bellagio fountains pool could be a fun set piece.

Joe Fixit is a playable character in Marvel: Contest of Champions. I highly recommend a Fixit and Juggernaut battle; it’s a thrill if you’re a fan of the two characters. A Fixit game could have the sharp graphics of Contest of Champions, but its gameplay and mission could be like Nintendo’s original Double Dragon. Not exactly like a level game, but each Vegas landmark stage could be Fixit getting closer to completing his mission. What Marvel villain could be waiting for Joe Fixit at the final stage? The developers would have an enormous catalogue of villains to choose from. Kingpin or Juggernaut in a casino high-rise on The Strip?

Sometimes, I still break out my back issues of The Incredible Hulk when Joe Fixit appeared. Oh… Joe Fixit fighting a bunch of hoods dressed as pirates at Treasure Island. That could be a visual feast for gamers.

image source: Marvel Database

Everything Retro Is Hot At CES 2018

January 15, 2018 By ausretrogamer

If you were in Vegas last week for the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) you would have been forgiven for thinking that it was the 1990s!

It definitely looks like companies are finally tweaking to the fact that retro gaming is big business. From Hyperkin announcing the mighty Ultra Game Boy to Retro-Bit announcing their partnership with Sega, it looks like 2018 is going to be a big year for retro gamers and their credit cards!

Here are our hot retrogaming picks from CES 2018:

Hyperkin Ultra Game Boy in an aluminium case will turn heads for sure!
image source: Gizmodo

Retro-bit did a mic drop by announcing that they had signed a licensing agreement with Sega to produce accessories for Sega’s Mega Drive, Saturn and Dreamcast gaming consoles! They even showed off games for the NES and SNES! These guys were on fire in Vegas!

Retro-Bit’s Sega Dreamcast Bluetooth Controller, Receiver and TV connectivity cables

Retro-Bit’s Sega Saturn controllers!

Retro-Bit’s Sega Mega Drive / Genesis Bluetooth Controllers

Retro-Bit’s Games for the NES (Holy Diver) and SNES (R-Type Returns CE)

source: Retro-Bit on Twitter

(Atari) Table Pong – If you weren’t lucky enough to snag this via its super early-bird Kickstarter price, then you will be paying three times more for it now!

source: Alex Kidman via Finder

Fear The Walking Dead Hits The Old Vegas Strip!

July 18, 2017 By ausretrogamer

At the old Las Vegas Strip, Fremont Street will soon be invaded by walkers, zombies for those of you that don’t know what we are on about.

Triotech together with AMC are creating a Fear the Walking Dead interactive survival attraction at the famous Las Vegas Fremont Street Experience! The futuristic interactive haunted house will be permanently installed, with the evacuation warning officially issued this (northern) summer!

This groundbreaking, fully immersive and interactive permanent attraction will feature elaborate sets, all-encompassing audio and video, and Triotech’s world-famous high-tech motion simulator technology.

As soon as visitors enter the facility, they will be immersed in the Fear the Walking Dead universe ‘as if they were there’, a world afflicted by a mysterious epidemic that turns human beings into undead “walkers”. To survive, visitors will have to face their fears and trust their instincts, ultimately escaping back into the real world.

Triotech’s CEO and president, Ernest Yale says, “Fremont Street Experience is a tourist destination known for its unmatched variety of entertainment, making it the perfect home for this futuristic, immersive, interactive attraction”.

It definitely seems that the level of authenticity will be unmatched with visitors expected to recognise many of the scenes and characters from the hit AMC TV show. Expect a lot of walkers and heaps of scary stuff!

Viva Vintage Las Vegas

January 5, 2017 By Ms. ausretrogamer

Looking at all the tweets from people attending CES 2017 brings back fond memories of our last trip to Las Vegas back in August 2015. We had visited before (and had a great time), but on this trip we really took a step back in time and had a blast visiting heaps of fantastic vintage attractions.

The Pinball Hall of Fame

The Pinball Hall of Fame is a hidden gem, it’s an enormous 900 square metre, air-conditioned warehouse full of playable vintage pinballs. There are over 150 from the 50s to the 90s, plus a few newer ones and arcade machines for good measure. The Pinball Hall of Fame is run by the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club and profits are donated to the Salvation Army and other non-denominational charities.

Address: 1610 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas NV 89119

Hours: Sun – Thurs: 11am to 11pm, Fri – Sat: 11am to midnight

Cost: Free entry, USD$0.25 – USD$0.75 per game

The Neon Museum

The Neon Museum is a non-profit organisation that collects, preserves and exhibits Las Vegas signs. Visitors can take a guided tour of the Neon Boneyard, an outdoor gallery with over 200 famous signs from the 1930s to present. Tour guides are full of fascinating information about each sign and Vegas history. Tours start in the visitors’ centre housed in the iconic La Concha Motel lobby – an historic shell-shaped building designed by famous architect Paul Revere Williams.

You can also check out the Urban Gallery – restored, working signs on display along Las Vegas Boulevard. It’s free and self-guided, just follow the map.

Address: 770 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas NV 89101

Hours: Neon Boneyard tours (one hour, day and night) seven days a week, times vary seasonally, advance ticket purchase is recommended

Cost: USD$19 day tours, USD$25 night tours

The Toy Shack

You may have spotted the ‘World Famous’ Toy Shack on the History Channel’s ‘Pawn Stars’ – but nothing compares to visiting in person. The relatively small store is packed from floor to ceiling with an awesome collection of vintage toys, mostly from the 80s and 90s. Think Star Wars and Star Trek, Hot Wheels and Matchbox, My Little Pony, Barbie, G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe and more. There are some really special items worth hundreds or thousands of dollars, but there are heaps of great toys priced at just a few dollars too. You can literally spend hours in this wonderful shop. (Also see our full Toy Shack write up).

Address: Neonopolis, 450 Fremont St. #117, Las Vegas NV 89101

Hours: Mon – Thurs: 10am to 9pm, Fri – Sat: 10am to midnight, Sun: 11am to 7pm

Cost: Free to browse, toys priced for all budgets

The Fremont Street Experience

The Strip is huge and happening, but lacks the old-school charm of the original Vegas entertainment hub. The Fremont Street Experience is a five-block entertainment district in historic downtown Las Vegas. So, what’s there? Viva Vision – the world’s largest video screen (450m x 27m, 12.5 million LED lights) above a bustling pedestrian mall, light shows, live concerts, the SlotZilla zip line and iconic casinos like Binion’s, the Golden Nugget and Main Street Station.

Unique things to see: A piece of the Berlin Wall in the men’s toilet in the Main Street Station Casino, the Shark Tank at the Golden Nugget Casino, the Mob Museum, the vintage slot machines at The D Casino and one million dollars cash on display at Binion’s.

Address: 425 Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101-5620

Hours: All hours

Cost: Free entry, various prices for different attractions

Photo by vegasexperience.com

Photo by Anne Braly

Photo by Ruth Rieckehoff

Just like Elvis, you’ll wish there were more than the twenty-four hours in the day – Viva Vintage Las Vegas!

(Photos by ausretrogamer unless otherwise stated)

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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

Thrill Of The Chase: A Gamer’s Paradise

January 20, 2016 By ausretrogamer

They say that a picture tells a thousand words. Based on that adage, this article would be over 42,000 words! Luckily for you all, we won’t bore you with too many words and allow the photos to speak for themselves.

First, let’s set the scene: when we travelled to the US and Canada last August, we found quite a few interesting places – A Gamer’s Paradise was one very interesting place that we did visit. Adjacent to the Pinball Hall Of Fame on East Tropicana Avenue in Las Vegas, one cannot miss A Gamer’s Paradise (Ed: If you have, then you missed out!). Entering this store was like stepping back to the local entertainment and gaming stores we frequented back in the 80s and early 90s – there was Sega, Nintendo, Atari, Commodore, Coleco and all other classic gaming brands from the good old days. Oh yeah, there was also pinball and arcade games to take up your time if you are done shopping for your retro goodies.

Not only did we have a few pinball games and pick up a few games for the Atari Jaguar and Sega CD, we were drooling at the museum pieces in the glass cabinets. So, without further ado, we present A Gamer’s Paradise for your viewing pleasure!

Yours truly with the abandon arcade machine – what wonders will await us inside?