Australia's Retro Gaming and Pinball E-Zine
Being a Nintendo fan, I had to share this video. YouTube crew Retro Game Addict, has produced an awesome video depicting every Nintendo gaming system in chronological order – from Gunpei’s fabulous Game & Watch series through to the current generation Wii U console! The soundtrack is pretty funky too.
Survival of the fittest or just plain bad business decisions. Just as Betamax was left in the wake of the VHS behemoth, the video games market is strewn with carcasses of systems and games that just never made it.
Some of history’s most spectacular gaming console flops come from two of the industry’s heavy hitters, Atari and Sega. The hardware manufacturing death knell was getting quite loud at Atari – they decided to throw in the towel and quit making games consoles after the Atari Jaguar was caught in the crossfire of the Sega versus Nintendo battle of the 1990s. The Jaguar was rushed to market and suffered the consequences. Selling fewer than 250,000 units just wasn’t going to cut it. Perhaps Atari should have done the math (get it!) before they embarked on the Jaguar.
A few years after Atari ceased making hardware, it was Sega’s turn to wave the console making white flag. Once a pillar of the video games console industry, Sega’s Dreamcast was met with initial enthusiasm but Sega also abandoned making consoles after the Dreamcast was smashed by the new kid on the block, Sony’s PlayStation 2.
As for gaming flops, Atari’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial takes the gong. The game was rushed (it took 5 weeks to develop) to retail stores for the 1982 Christmas season but was such a disappointment, that millions of unsold game cartridges ended up in landfill in the New Mexico desert. Atari ordered more E.T. cartridges to be made than there were installed Atari VCS 2600 units! Again, Atari should have DONE THE MATH.
Let’s rewind back to March 1981, dead smack in the middle of a thriving arcade age and a killer home console scene. These were heady times for Atari – they were dominating the arcades and the home video games market.
To find out what we were playing as youngsters, here are the top 5 games from March 1981 for the Atari 2600, Arcade and the venerable Game & Watch.
 |
1) Dragster (Activision) |
| 2) Pele’s Soccer (Atari) | |
| 3) Video Pinball (Atari) | |
| 4) Fishing Derby (Activision) | |
| 5) Golf (Atari) |
 |
1) Pac-Man (Namco) |
| 2) Missile Command (Atari) | |
| 3) Battlezone (Atari) | |
| 4) Defender (Williams Electronics) | |
| 5) Space Panic (Universal) |
 |
1) Fire (Nintendo) |
| 2) Manhole (Nintendo) | |
| 3) Helmet (Nintendo) | |
| 4) Vermin (Nintendo) | |
| 5) Flagman (Nintendo) |
My bucket list is quite extensive. Amongst the usual things to do or see once in a life time, I managed to cross-off the big one – visiting the Nintendo World Store in New York City! Not only did I visit it once, I returned many times to soak it all in and stock up on Nintendo products. I even managed to take a load of photos and video for all you to enjoy – browse at your leisure over here. [Read more…] about Nintendo World Store
Have you ever wanted to create your own ‘Mario’ themed birthday party? If you are a fan of Nintendo’s mustachioed plumber, then of course you would.
For those of you that are into arts and crafts, or even a budding DIY’er, you are in luck. Head over to giverslog and check out the cute Mario inspired gear you can make for your next birthday party. The kids (and even adults) will love it.
Do you remember those school-yard arguments you used to have with your friends about which video game console was better: Atari vs Intellivision or Sega vs Nintendo ?
Finally, you can check out the best-selling video game consoles from 1972 to 2002 figures below and put an end to those endless arguments – or will this just reopen old wounds ? [Read more…] about Best-Selling Video Game Consoles: 1972 to 2002
Feast your peepers on these cool ‘start of week’ Nintendo themed videos. I guarantee, you will not be disappointed. If you are, drop us a comment. [Read more…] about Cool Nintendo Videos
Back in 1990 the three biggest consoles on the planet were Sega’s Mega Drive, Master System and the Nintendo Entertainment System.
If you want to know what the chart toppers were in October 1990, cast your eyes below. [Read more…] about Top 5 Games Charts: Oct 1990
Let’s be honest, the only art we gamers love is art revolving around video games and pop culture icons, and that’s exactly what this incredible ‘Holly Wood’ digital sculptures series is about.
[Read more…] about Video Game Art: Iconic Characters
Hey guys, Nintendo Legion here. My friend, ausretrogamer, whom I met via twitter, has been nice enough to welcome me into his home, to play his many many games and was gracious enough to be grilled for an impromptu interview. The interview for me was to get to know him better, and hopefully, you will too. [Read more…] about Interview With A Retro Gamer