Melbourne

Freeplay Independent Games Festival

March 23, 2024 By ausretrogamer

Freeplay is the world’s longest-running independent games festival, located in Melbourne, Australia.

Established in 2004, Freeplay is one of the world’s longest-running independent games festivals and explores games at the margins – independent, alternative, experimental and hyperlocal.

Freeplay bridges the gulf between the games industry and Australia’s local arts ecosystem – working with small developers, game-making collectives and the innovators and dreamers at the fringe of digital and interactive art to celebrate games as art – not just commercial products.

Freeplay is the first step for many Australian emerging studios into the broader games ecosystem. For twenty years, Freeplay have helped shape now world-renowned studios like Massive Monster (Cult of the Lamb), Witch Beam (Unpacking), League of Geeks (Armello), House House (Untitled Goose Game), 2Pt Interactive (Heavenly Bodies) and Worm Club (Frog Detective).

The critical details:

What: Freeplay Independent Games Festival
When: Thurs Mar 28 – Sun 14 Apr 2024 10am – 5pm
Tickets: FREE (drop in)
Where: Fed Square Foyer, Level 1, ACMI, Fed Square (wheelchair access)

image sources: ACMI and Freeplay

Zax Amusements Is Now At A Bigger & Better Location

January 9, 2023 By ausretrogamer

Looks like 2023 is the start of new beginnings!

Our friends at Zax Amusements have relocated from their Port Melbourne location to a much bigger warehouse, service centre and showroom at 1661 Centre Road, Springvale, a south-eastern Melbourne suburb.

We will miss the old Port Melbourne location as it was convenient for us, however, the bigger showroom is a drawcard for us to visit Zax Amusements in Springvale to check out the latest arcade and pinball machines.

image source: Zax Amusements

PAX AUS is THIS WEEK!

October 4, 2022 By ausretrogamer

After 3 years, PAX Aus is coming back home – in person

It’s that time of year where we all gather at PAX Aus for some amazing times. Naturally, we are biased by saying that you should all definitely come and check out the Classic Gaming Area for a hit of nostalgia (or if you are so inclined, to participate in the many tournaments to earn bragging rights!).

For now, to get you all hyped for PAX Aus 2022, check out our posts from the last in person PAX Aus in 2019. We hope to see many of you at this year’s event!

Pac Maze: An Immersive Pac-Man Inspired Escape Maze

April 18, 2019 By ausretrogamer

A real life Pac-Man escape maze? Yep, you have read that right!

The peeps at Pac Maze have created the ultimate nostalgic Pac-Man inspired escape maze in Melbourne for one day at a secret location within 15 minutes from the CBD!

This immersive activation will bring a huge maze with the chance for players to lose themselves in a pixelated world, running, dodging ghosts and grabbing fruit to be the ultimate winner. Inside the maze, players will need to complete a coded pac puzzle along with collecting fruit. The first to complete the puzzle and collect all the fruit will be crowned the ultimate winner. If a player gets caught by a ghost they will lose a life – lose 3 lives and you’re out! Now that is old school rules.

Once players escape the Pac Maze they can kick on in the 80’s themed pixel room, which will include the OG Pac-Man game and a DJ who will be belting out the classics to wind the clock back.

Sounds fun! For full event details and ticketing, go here.

PS: We hope this isn’t the same mob that ran the much maligned Mario Kart (IRL event) in the CBD.

Highlights: Oz Comic-Con Melbourne 2016

June 13, 2016 By ausretrogamer

Oz Comic-Con commanded us to ‘unleash your inner geek’ – and we were very happy to oblige. We came, we saw, we played, and we conquered Oz Comic-Con Melbourne 2016.

From the awesome cosplay (which never ceases to amaze us!), freeplay gaming areas, fantastic artists, comics and pop culture gear, to the TV/movie superstar celebrities (like Lucy Lawless, John ‘Captain Jack Harkness’ Barrowman, Robert Patrick, David Anders and Rose McIver) – Oz Comic-Con 2016 had something for everyone.

Of course we spent a considerable amount of time in the gaming zone – the Spider-Man Vault Edition pinball machine in particular – but we were also sure to check out the rest of the con. We walked the floor and were thoroughly impressed with the range and quality of cosplay as well as the stunning artwork on show.

Rather than waffle on, we thought we would let our photos give you a glimpse into what was an awesome Oz Comic-Con!

We hope Mulder and Scully have their Oz Comic-Con tix!