retrogaming

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.

source: imgur
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Arcade Machine Preservation Society [AMPS]
Taking action to save and protect our classic arcade machines from damage and decay.

Follow AMPS on Twitter

Fun Facts: Mario Kart

May 31, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Talk about perfect timing! With the release of the brand spanking new Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U, Cinema Suite brings you five very interesting facts about the Mario Kart franchise.

We predict fact number two will have to be revisited, as we are sure that Mario Kart 8 will help shift a fair few Wii U units at the registers.

source: Cinema Suite Inc.

Atari Month Is Coming

May 28, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Dear fellow Atarians,

June is fast approaching and you all know what that means – it’s #AtariMonth

To celebrate 42 years of Atari, we are asking you to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and get writing about your affinity of this iconic brand. This is your opportunity to let your writing juices flow!

Once you are satisfied with your written masterpiece, just submit it to us here. The most entertaining submissions will be immortalised on ausretrogamer.com!

There is no word limit, so go for your life! Article submissions are opened from now till June 24 2014. Get cracking you awesome Atarians!

Review: Retro Arcade Watch

May 12, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Forget about wearable tech wristwatches like Sony’s Smartwatch or Samsung’s Galaxy Gear. If you want a cool retro timepiece on your wrist, then look no further than ThinkGeek’s Retro Arcade Watch.

Once we received the Retro Arcade Watch, we knew a review was in order to let you know what we thought of the watch and most importantly, if it is worth shelling out your hard earned cash. Read on.

Design & Function
The Retro Arcade wristwatch is chunky. Don’t let the chunkiness dissuade you though – it sits comfortably on the wrist with no nagging bits poking and prodding your arm or hand. This is no flimsy timepiece. Made from stainless steel, the case is made to withstand normal day to day punishment. The case (arcade cabinet) is adorned with Galactic Defense decals and also has a joystick and fire-button to add to the arcade machine realism. For pure awesomeness, when the fire-button is pressed, it lights up the hour indicators and marquee in red and also makes pew pew firing sound effects. To power all this awesomeness, the watch requires a CR2032 and SR626 button cell batteries, which are included.

ThinkGeek didn’t skimp on the band either, they partnered the cool case with a black leather band with white contrast stitching. The end result being a unique timepiece that is a throwback to the golden age of arcade gaming.

Display
In keeping with the arcade theme, the analog-style time is displayed with a combination of dials – space rocks for the hours and minutes, and a spaceship for the seconds hand. Did I hear you say Asteroids? Well, you said that, we didn’t. As mentioned previously, when the fire-button is pressed, the hour indicator dots are lit up in red, so if you find yourself in a dark alley and you need to know what time it is, just press the fire-button.

Coolness
It’s an arcade machine on your wrist that can tell the time and has awesome lighting and pew pew sound effects. How much cooler can it get? Well, if you could play Asteroids or Galaga on it, then I guess it would have been on the super side of cool. However, for under 50 smackers ($49.95USD) you get a watch that can tell the time and provide a coolness factor for free.

Verdict
If you are an Omega or Tag Heuer kind of watch wearer, then the Retro Arcade Wristwatch may not be for you. If you like to show-off your inner geekiness, then you cannot go wrong with this watch on your wrist. At the least, you will send tongues wagging!

Retro Nostalgia and Collectables Fair

May 9, 2014 By ausretrogamer

On this past rainy and cold Sunday there was some nostalgic warmness emanating from the Flemington Racecourse. This hallowed turf, usually reserved for the sport of kings, was transformed into a nostalgists haven – the Retro Nostalgia and Collectables Fair.

The Fair had everything from football cards to video games and lots of Star Wars memorabilia – perfect timing with the ‘May The 4^th Be With You’ Star Wars celebration day. With a $5 entry fee (for adults), you were greeted with tables full of the happy stuff – items from a bygone era, an era that gave us lots of happy memories. The stall holders were open to discussion about their items and collecting in general. Their enthusiasm was genuine and infectious. There was the usual haggling on price, but that is your god given right to do at such gatherings.

The Fair atmosphere was pleasant and the crowd numbers were just about right – there was no pushing or shoving. Luckily the Fair was held indoors, as Melbourne turned on its charm with some typical crap weather! Bring on the next Retro Nostalgia and Collectables Fair!

images source: ausretrogamer

Steampunk Video Gaming

May 7, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Forged from the mechanical aesthetics of steampunk fiction, we give you the best of steampunk inspired video gaming systems.

So what do you think – Do you want your NES to look like it came out of the 19^th century steam-powered industrial revolution? I like it! Anyway, I think I’ll take them all, especially that steampunkish arcade machine.

NES Toploader

Sega Dreamcast

Exquisite Game Boy

Steampunked NES

Another steampunked Game Boy

The Arcade Machine

image sources: DamnGeeky, mbtaylorproductions, Steampunk Tendencies, FakePlasticZio, GamingBolt and Geeky-Gadgets

Remember 1988

May 5, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Do you remember how awesome 1988 was? I do! I was a teenager with not a hassle in the world. My life revolved around my family, friends, school, sport, tv, music, movies and video games – particularly the Commodore 64 and arcades! 1988 was the year I went from playing games on cassette to playing games on floppy disk. Life was good.

Oh yeah, there was the Seoul Olympics and Australia was celebrating its bicentennial. Ah 1988, you were a great year. What are your memories of 1988?

Press play and immerse yourself with some 1988 awesomeness!

source: thepeterson