retrogaming

Atari Party

June 20, 2014 By ausretrogamer

There was an Atari Party last weekend and I wasn’t invited? Were you invited? Perhaps our invitations got lost in the mail.

The big bash was held in Sunnyvale, Atari’s spiritual home. The Digital Game Museum, Atari Volunteers and Friends put on the get-together at the Sunnyvale Public Library, coinciding with Atari Month – celebrating 42 years of the iconic video gaming brand!

According to our sources, there were systems from all eras, including some drool-worthy arcade machines. The guest speaker list was stacked with Atari pioneers, which included Pong creator, Al Alcorn, and the brains behind the Atari Trak-Ball, Dan Kramer. I would have given anything to had been there. Ah well, there is always next year. I have been well informed that my invitation is in the mail.

The Atari 2600 carts are at the ready

Superlative arcade games for the 5200

The beautiful Centipede

Dan Kramer’s 5200 prototype – Xari Arena!

The venerable Atari VCS/2600

The party-goers patiently await Mr Trak-Ball himself, Dan Kramer

Dan Kramer’s creation

The 1200XL beast

Atari ST action

Passing on the Atari torch to the next generation

image sources: Atari Party 2014 and Dave Beaudoin

Commodore Club Day

June 19, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Something special happens every third Sunday of the month at the Wadham House Craft and Hobby Centre. Courtesy of the Melbourne Amiga Users Group, the Commodore Club Day (#CommodoreClub) is a love-in of sorts for anyone that is (or was) into the great home computers from Commodore. Even if you aren’t a Commodore fan, you are still most welcome.

The Commodore Club Day is filled with like-minded people, and of course, the hardware – from the Commodore 64 to the Amiga 1200 and CD32. The biggest buzz for us is always the people. It is great to catch-up with our friends and have a yarn about our experiences with the great beige pieces of plastic.

Of course no club day is complete without some friendly gaming rivalry. On this particular occasion, Kevin Tilley from the C64-centric magazine, RESET, created a four-player, four game competition between yours truly, Ant Stiller, Rob Caporetto and Kevin himself. The competition was fierce, but fair. There was adulation and pain in the battle to find out who reigned supreme on the C64. I hate to do this to you all, but you will have to wait for issue 4 of RESET to find out who was hot and who was not!

As they say, all good things must come to an end. It is always sad to wrap things up at the Commodore Club Day, but it is never a goodbye, it is always, till next time!

The Terminator made its presence known!

Bomberland 64 mayhem ensued

Weird and Retro’s Serby was preoccupied while the Doctor kicked ass

Feel the power of the Amiga

Weird and Retro’s RGCD cartridge stash

The C64 4-player competition is ready to go!

Pedro enjoying some Amiga time

Paul’s ever impressive Amiga setup. This is just the tip of the iceberg

Games begging to be played!

Get Your Atari On!

June 17, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Dudes and dudettes, June is ATARI month! Have you got an Atari story to tell? If so, read this and get writing!

Over the last few years, we have written a few Atari pieces, from 8-bit battles between the XEGS and the C64, to lesser known Atari facts, book reviews and even a homage to one of my favourite handhelds, the Atari Lynx!

So what are you waiting for, celebrate by getting your Atari on!

Blast From the Past: Nintendo Interactive Store Displays

June 10, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Ah, the Nintendo of old. How I miss thee, when times were simpler and there was no Microsoft nor Sony. There is always room in my heart for Nintendo, as they have endured through thick and thin in this video gaming business that is now on par with Hollywood.

So let’s take a trip down memory lane, some 22 years ago and see how Nintendo presented their wares to the retail fraternity. Golly gosh those interactive display units were awesome!

source: PenguinNintendoAge

Atari: 42 Years Of Fun

June 9, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Atari. Can you believe that they have been rocking our video gaming world in one shape or another since 1972! The video gaming industry would never be the same once Atari entered the fray some 42 years ago. Nolan and Ted’s little enterprise baby grew into an arcade and home gaming entertainment Goliath.

Much has been written (and rewritten) about the history of Atari, but rather than recite every sordid detail, just gaze upon this Atari timeline. A lot has happened since June 1972!

source: Atari

The Thrill Of The Chase: A Saucy Red

June 6, 2014 By ausretrogamer

There is something about the colour red. It invokes very raw emotions. As other thrill of the chase have come and gone, this latest chase was quite special. On one hand, I had found the exact Neo Geo MVS cabinet I had been lusting after (Ed: red = lust), and more importantly, I had my mum and dad in tow while I was criss-crossing the suburbs of Melbourne to pickup this red beauty.

The sun was searing, I was sweaty as hell and upon arrival, the seller was nowhere to be found! Alas, one phone call later, and things were sorted – the seller had gone out to the shops. The 4-slot MVS cabinet was easy to manoeuvre and get onto the trailer. I would have to say, it was the easiest cabinet I had transported. The saucy red is now sitting pride of place in the yet-to-be-transformed-into-a-games-room garage (more on that another time). Let me just say, anyone that plays on her, they are instantly smitten.

This chase was personal for me. Not only did my parents provide me with company, they provided memories, not just for being there on this occasion, but on plenty other countless occasions. My parents aren’t young like they used to be, so any occasion where I can spend time with them to create a memory, I cherish it. This chase is dedicated to you, mum and dad.

Now let’s play some NAM-1975!

Happy Snaps: The PowerUp Retro 8-Bit Camera

June 5, 2014 By ausretrogamer

If you are a nostalgic gamer and would like to inject some retro feeling to your photos, then you may want to take note.

Available for iOS devices, sushiGrass has created the PowerUp camera app. PowerUp filters your camera in real-time so that you can take snaps using the same resolution as your favourite retro gaming systems.

When you purchase PowerUp, you get two retro gaming system filters (Genesis and NES) with the option to buy (in-app) six more – Master System, SNES, Game Gear, Atari 2600, Game Boy and TurboGrafx-16. Once you take your retro photos, PowerUp allows you to share your happy snaps on social media! Get those 16-bit selfies propagating across your social network.

So, is this camera app worth the AUD$1.29c outlay? That is a good question. If you are an old school 8-bit and/or 16-bit gamer, then you will get a kick out of shooting photos using your favourite system’s filter. The novelty may wear off, but hey, it costs less than a cup of coffee. Now you’re playing with PowerUp!

Very easy to use interface

Before the PowerUp snap

PowerUp snap with the Genesis filter

PowerUp snap with the NES filter

TAC-2 PowerUp snap with Genesis filter

TAC-2 PowerUp snap with NES filter

Happy Families – NES and Mega Drive (Genesis filter)

Happy Families – NES and Mega Drive (NES filter)

image source: ausretrogamer

WATCH_DOGS on the Commodore 64

June 3, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Imagine if your teenage self had a copy of Watch_Dogs on the C64! I know if I did, it would have totally blown my mind! The talent behind these AAA blockbuster video game 8-bit remakes is none other than Majami Hiroz.

Forget about playing this on the PS4, I want to play it on the trusty old C64. As Majami says, welcome to the ’80s, dawg!

source: Majami Hiroz

Retro Gaming: Console Posters

June 2, 2014 By ausretrogamer

This has to be the best way to start the week – seeing an awesome collection of posters of legendary consoles and their parts, from 8-bit giants to 128-bit powerhouses! You can thank the artistic genius of Adam Rufino for these lovely creations.

You can browse Adam’s creations on Society6. If you like what you see, show your support for the artist and procure yourself a lovely bit of art to hang proudly on your gaming wall.

Nintendo’s 8-bit killer console

Sega’s 16-bit wonder

The North American Super NES Slab

The PAL SNES

Alternative NES

Sega’s proper 32-bit entry

Sega’s Dream Machine
source: MeleeNinja (Society6)

Inheriting An Old Japanese Games Centre

June 1, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Some people are just lucky. Imagine if you will, your girlfriend’s grandmother (Ed: so not even your own blood relative?) buys an old building and then finds that there are two floors brimming with arcade machines and game boards dating back 20 years and she leaves them all to you! This is a true story and the lucky son of a gun is Keisuke999.

The machines were left to him to do as he wishes. So what does he do – he puts them up for sale, of course! If you are keen to see what is on offer, take a peek at Keisuke999’s thread on NeoGAF.