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The New Yorker Interview with Shigeru Miyamoto

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Simon Parkin’s The New Yorker interview with Nintendo’s legendary Shigeru Miyamoto is an interesting, insightful and wide-ranging, reflective conversation. Seldom do we hear or read anything so candid or beyond Shigeru’s amazing creations in his four decade long career with the Big N.

So kick back and read Simon’s refreshing interview with Miyamoto-san, as he speaks openly about his video games design philosophy, being the boss, guns in video games, his kids love of Sega (Ed: what?!) and the new Super Nintendo World theme park at Universal Studios in Japan.

image source: The New Yorker

 

Mini Star Wars Arcade Cab – The Force Is Strong With This One

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Stop the press! What the heck is this dark side of the force creation? We LOVE it!

This mini arcade based on Atari’s seminal Star Wars arcade game was faithfully recreated by Astrodob, using a Raspberry Pi and MAME. Well Astrodob, where do we send our Jedi Bank cheque to?


source: Astrodob

 

The Star Wars Lego Christmas Special

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Now this is the kind of Star Wars Christmas Special we can get behind and actually enjoy – no cheesiness added 😉

Here are some of our favourites from the ‘Celebrate the holidays in a galaxy far far away‘ Lego Ideas contest – there’s heaps more if you click on the link.

May the X-mas Force be with you!

source: Lego Ideas – Celebrate the Holidays in a Galaxy Far Far Away

 

The 2020 Christmas Gift Guide Extravaganza!

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With Christmas just around the corner, you know it’s time to start hunting for gifts for your family, friends and of course, yourself. With the kind of year we’ve all had, you’d be forgiven for splashing your cash on those dearest to you (or on yourself).

This year’s Christmas Gift Guide has something for every kind of geek, no matter your budget. We have action figures, books, movies, toys, retro gaming stuff (of course!), video games, watches headphones, t-shirts, Star Wars stuff, flip clocks, pinball related gifts and magnets to whet your Xmas Gift ideas appetite.

Get your pen and paper ready and let’s go! 🎅

LEGO Star Wars TIE Fighter Pilot Helmet via Amazon: $75.00

STAR WARS Rebel Classic Graphic T-Shirt (medium size): $29.99

Game & Watch Super Mario Bros. via Ozgameshop: $114.15

PC-Engine Mini via Play-Asia: $253.00

Portable LCD Monitor for PC-Engine: $203.25

NBA Jam Book via Amazon: $30.76 (paperback) or $7.23 (Kindle)

Best Hit Chronical 2/5 Scale SEGA SATURN (HST-3200) Plastic Model Kit via Catch: $47.99

Star Trek: Stardate Collection (10 movie collection) via Amazon: $59.41 (Blu-ray) or  $29.96 (DVD)

World of Nintendo Action Figures via Amazon: prices start from $20.00

Timex Pac-Man watches via Amazon: prices start at $88.50

Space Invaders Tiny Arcade Table Top Edition Electronic Game via Catch: $29.99

Magnets of classic arcade games and pinball machines from the 70s, 80s and 90s by Magnetism via Etsy: prices start at $4.00

Just Pinball – The Zine: A Photojournalist’s Journey through Modern Pinball via Etsy: $42.25

Atari Pong Mini Arcade with 12 games: $61.14

Flip Clock – Vintage TV Auto Flip Down Clock in Retro Red by MIDCLOCK: $57.73

Seiko 5 Sports Street Fighter Limited Edition Watches: Blanka $620.00 / Guile $720.00 / Ryu $720.00

Retro Gaming / Video Game Controller Poster via Etsy: $47.51 

Super Nintendo (SNES) Controller keyring via Etsy: $10.00

Arcade1up 4-in-1 Pac-Man 40th Anniversary Counter-Cade Console: $299.00

Commodore 64 Xmas Bundle (of games!) via itch.io: $5.00 or above

8BitDo NES30 Gamepad via Play-Asia: $35.52

Atari Micro Arcade Electronic Game – includes Missile Command, Centipede & Pong: $24.99

Mini Arcade Asteroids via Catch: $37.60

PinSwitch – the ultimate pinball peripheral for the Nintendo Switch via Etsy: $325.00

Last but not least, we can’t recommend the EPOS Sennheiser GSP 600 ESports headset ($319.00) enough for your aural gaming pleasure. We always thought all headsets are the same, but we were very very wrong. If you want to treat your ears with some awesome sound, be it gaming, podcasts or music, then you should treat yourself this Christmas with a pair, it’s been a tough year!

Hope you all have a safe and awesome Festive Season and may you all receive awesome gifts from Santa!

NOTE: Prices are in AU$ and correct and all items in stock as at the time of publishing.

 

Commodore 64 Augmented Reality

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We got to say, we love the creativity and genius behind these two augmented reality (AR) videos of classic Commodore 64 games, International Karate + (IK+) and Bruce Lee!

Absolute awesome work by Retrohead! If you don’t follow or subscribe to Retrohead’s net presence, we implore you to do so.

IK+ AR

source: Retrohead

Bruce Lee AR

source: Retrohead

 

Celebrating Intellivision Day

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Don’t you just love anniversaries of bygone era video games systems ? We sure do!

Get your party hats out and let us all celebrate, as on this day [Dec 3] in 1979, Mattel’s INTELLIVISION was unleashed in the US (California to be exact)!

If you have any fond memories or favourite games on the Intellivision, make sure you hit us up on Twitter or Facebook.

Happy Intellivision Day!

Some of our favourite Intellivision games
images copyright (C) of ausretrogamer



Battlezone: One of Atari’s Best

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By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

Several years ago, my brother bought an Atari Flashback 64 console, and I became obsessed with playing the 1983 tank video game Battlezone. As crude as the first-person shooter graphics may be, the game feels like a real tank simulator (minus the volcanoes and UFOs).

I’ve always loved tank games. Usually, the more realistic ones are the most entertaining, but Battlezone’s simplicity is what makes it so fun and interesting. I didn’t know until I did some research that Battlezone is often considered the first virtual reality arcade video game. The home version doesn’t feel like virtual reality, but I can definitely see how the original 1980 arcade version can be seen as a “3-D success”. Looking through the “periscope” viewfinder, which the player used to play the game, had to be exciting and different. The originality of it had to help the player immerse themselves in the classic game. I’ve never had the pleasure of playing Battlezone in an upright arcade cabinet; I hope one day I will.

There is also a smaller version of the cabinet where the screen was angled upwards, and there was no periscope. I think I remember seeing that version of Battlezone at a local supermarket when I was little.

When I play Battlezone, I have a battle manoeuvre where I circle around and pick off enemy tanks and flying saucers, then I pick up speed in one direction for a while until something pops up on my radar. I wish the game had a better radar, but the primitiveness of it adds to the retro feel. You must be fast on the joystick’s trigger when opposing tanks just pop up on screen in front of you. Playing the ’83 game is still a challenging and thrilling experience.

Atari 2600 version of Battlezone. Source: Retro Gamer

 

Tristam Island – The Text Adventure Game You Can Play On 36 Platforms!

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“Tristam Island” is out now! Play Hugo Labrande’s retro text adventure on one of 36 platforms (Ed: yep, 36 platforms!), from the Commodore PET, VIC-20 and C64 to the Dreamcast! Hours of gameplay, smooth parser, digital feelies, modern game design, intrigue on a deserted island! Best bit, it is cheaper than our daily coffee intake, go and get it now!

image source: Tristam Island by Hugo Labrande via itch.io

 

Shoot’em Up Destruction Set 3 – C64

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The C64 games compilation SHOOT’EM UP DESTRUCTION SET 3 (previously released on tape + disk from Psytronik Software) is now finally available for digital download – only US$2.99 for six games – which is an absolute bargain!

You can read more about (or buy) the compilation right here, however, we thought we’d let you know about the key features about this value packed destruction set:

  • SIX complete Commodore 64 games designed by Alf Yngve:
    • Zap Fight
    • Blue Beret
    • Barakon – Cyborg Avenger of America
    • Spy Rider
    • Operation Firestorm
    • Super Tau Zeta 2
  • Specially coded front-ends & soundtracks by Richard Bayliss!
  • Exciting in-game enhancements, special effects and power-ups!
  • Musical tributes to Martin Galway & Matt Gray!
  • Superb bitmap loading screens by Carl ‘Mase’ Mason!
  • Fantastic inlay artwork by the legendary, Oliver Frey!

Oh yeah, this compilation is compatible with the original C64, THEC64 Mini, The C64 (Maxi) and your C64 emulator software!

 

Commodore PX-64 – Reboot Concept

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There are concepts out there, either on paper or physical form that make us go WOW. Turkish Technical Designer extraordinaire, Cem Tezcan always knows how to make us go WOW with his exquisitely detailed concepts.

Cem’s latest fan concept is the Commodore PX-64, based on the portable Commodore SX-64 Executive Computer. Cem states that this concept device theoretically belongs in Commodore’s 1993-94 era, as one last reboot of the iconic 8-bit computer, the Commodore 64.

As mentioned, the style used here is based on the SX-64 metallic – turquoise colouring. However, Cem also created a version in the classic Commodore beige colours too. These concept models are about as close to real life we would ever get – and boy, do they look so real (and gobsmackingly lovely!). Using CAD modelling and PBR texturing, Cem Tezcan’s PX-64 creation is a love-letter for the Commodore community that still enjoys and loves these computers (like us!) till this day.

For now, just sit back and feast your eyes on these beauties!

PS: For more photos of Cem Tezcan’s concept creations, please visit here.
PPS: If you want to drool over Cem’s other Commodore 64 concept, the HX-64, check it out here.

image source: Cem Tezcan via ArtStation