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Star Wars:The Magic of Myth Exhibition

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It may have closed a long, long time ago in our current galaxy, but the Star Wars: The Magic of Myth museum still lives on in cyberspace!

Thanks to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (NASM), the Star Wars: The Magic of Myth exhibition has been saved for posterity via an online tour as it was originally displayed at the NASM. Just think about this, the Star Wars: The Magic of Myth was on display at the National Air and Space Museum from October 31, 1997 to January 31, 1999 – that was a long time ago indeed and before the prequels started!

Speaking of Star Wars exhibitions, Ms. ausretrogamer and I were lucky to visit the Star Wars Costumes exhibition at the EMP Museum (now called MoPOP) in Seattle back in 2015, which we will publish our photos from that exhibition in a future post – so keep an eye out for it!



This Is The Way – Stern Pinball’s The Mandalorian

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The Mandalorian has garnered critical acclaim among Star Wars fans and critics alike for good reason, it’s an awesome TV series! Since it’s the hottest property right now, it is no surprise that we find the Emmy award-winning show on all kinds of licensed products. With Stern Pinball’s great working relationship with Lucasfilm and their proven success with their previous Star Wars pinball machines, the two giants have once again collaborated to bring us the hottest streaming TV show in the galaxy into pinball form – introducing The Mandalorian range of pinball machines; the Pro, Premium and Limited Edition.

The Mandalorian Pinball Game Trailer

With a 16 month development cycle, Stern’s Director of Marketing, Zach Sharpe tells us that Brian Eddy (Lead Designer), Dwight Sullivan (Lead Software Engineer) and the rest of the development team have worked hard to cram as much of The Mandalorian storylines into the machine. Zach goes on to say that this game’s development was unique (from previous pinball machine developments) due to the fact that the team was working on the machine while Season 2 was airing. Even though Lucasfilm was tight lipped about Season 2’s storylines, they did provide input to Stern’s team by advising them to leave some “space” whether it be in artwork or on the playfield for something that would be critical to the story they were trying to achieve in The Mandalorian pinball experience – and we are glad that they did!

For those new to The Mandalorian saga, the series is set after the fall of the Galactic Empire and before the emergence of the First Order and follows the travails of a lone gunfighter, The Mandalorian, in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic. Stern’s new machine emulates the world of Mando by transporting players to a galaxy far, far away as they play as the titular protagonist, teaming up with key allies and protecting Grogu, while battling dangerous enemies and forces across their journey.

So what’s in the three models of The Mandalorian pinball machines that transports the player in this awesome Star Wars universe?

Hold onto your Amban phase-pulse blaster and prepare for battle on the gravity-changing, rotating Encounter upper mini playfield available on the Premium and Limited Edition models. This innovative, motorised rotating playfield is packed with six stand-up targets, lights, and two full-size flippers for high intensity pinball action.

What bounty hunter doesn’t like or watches out for ambushes?! Like the Mandalorian seen in the series, players can be ambushed by enemy forces. A dynamic inner loop shot activates an up/down horseshoe scoop ramp for fast, repeatable precision shooting, creating tense experiences on the Premium and Limited Edition models.

Players can navigate their way to multiball mayhem by hitting a unique hanging uplift target attached to a custom moulded Razor Crest ship – success in hitting the target qualifies a centre ramp shot on the Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models.

The Mandalorian Pinball – Premium and LE features

The Mandalorian Pinball – Pro model features

Other features of The Mandalorian-inspired pinball machines include a large custom sculpture of Grogu, authentic video and audio from seasons one and two, and exclusive custom speech performed by actor Carl Weathers (Greef Karga). The game includes the iconic title theme song by Ludwig Göransson and stunning hand-drawn artwork by Randy Martinez, one of today’s most popular comic artists.

The limited edition version includes an exclusive full colour mirrored backglass inspired by Beskar armour, iconic custom cabinet artwork, custom high gloss powder-coated pinball armour, a custom designer autographed bottom arch, exclusive inside art blades, upgraded audio system, anti-reflection pinball playfield glass, shaker motor, a sequentially numbered plaque, and Certificate of Authenticity. With only 750 Limited Edition (LE) machines available, we reckon they will sell out fast!

The Mandalorian Pinball – Pro v Premium playfield

As we leave Stern Pinball to bask in their new pinball glory, we ask Zach to tell us what his favourite shot is on this new pinball machine, he tells us, “On the Premium/LE models the dynamic inner loop almost acts like two shots as it can become a ramp shot by activating an up/down horseshoe scoop. It feeds the ball back to the left flipper for repeatable looping opportunities and can get quite intense, especially during ambushes!”.

To say we can’t wait to flip this new pinball machine would be a massive understatement. This is the way!

For those of you in the market for The Mandalorian pinball machines, this is what they’ll cost you**:

  • Pro Model: $US 6,199
  • Premium Model: $US 7,799
  • Limited Edition Model: $US 9,199

** For sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes.

NOTE: For our Australian readers, please contact Amusement Machine Distributors (AMD) or Zax Amusements for pricing and availability of The Mandalorian pinball machines.

The Mandalorian Pinball – LE model

The Mandalorian Pinball – Premium model

The Mandalorian Pinball – Pro model

Accessories – Razor Crest Knob, Art Blades & Side Armour



Pinball Isn’t As Random As It Seems

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To the casual observer, pinball seems random and chaotic, but if you watch carefully, there are skills involved that make pinball not as random as it seems.

Don’t be fooled by the flashing lights and seemingly random callouts, there are rules and set objectives (ie: modes) in pinball that reward the player that can control the flippers best. By aiming at specific targets at specific times, the player unlocks specific secrets of the machine and activates other objectives all while racking up a high score.

Watch closely, as you may learn that pinball is definitely not random once you know how to control the silverball.


source: Vox

 

LEGO Star Wars Helmets Collection

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While enjoying some much needed time off during the summer break, we finally got around to completing a fun project that had been on our plate for months!

With the way 2020 turned out, we really had no excuse of procrastinating on our already lengthy to do list. So when the Festive Season rolled around, we unboxed and started to build our Lego Star Wars Helmets! The experience of building these Lego sets had a calming effect, which was a great and unexpected by-product! We didn’t build these in one sitting, we basically did about an hour each day for about a week. Oh yeah, the instruction were awesome and a breeze to follow!

As mentioned, the build didn’t take as long as we imagined, but that may have something to do with the excitement and fun we were experiencing while completing each Star Wars helmet. Once they were all done, we found the perfect home for them – right on top of our Star Wars Comic Art pinball machine!

We reckon this custom pinball topper compliments the pinball’s Star Wars villainous artwork just perfectly – but we are biased 😉

 

Happy Holidays and All The Very Best for 2021

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Wow, it has been a year that most of us would probably rather forget. Here’s hoping that 2021 is a better, safer and healthier year for everyone!

From the ausretrogamer team, we wish you all an awesome Festive Season, which we hope is filled with fun, laughter and lots of gaming, be it video games, pinball, boardgames or otherwise!

Be merry and we’ll see you all in 2021!

 

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.

 

Stern Pinball Announces New Star Wars™ Comic Art Pin™ Affordable Pinball Machine for the Home

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News provided by: Stern Pinball, Inc.

Stern Pinball announced today the availability of the Star Wars™ Comic Art Pin™, a new stylish, affordable, and fun pinball machine designed and engineered for the home.

Based upon the highly successful Star Wars™ Original Consumer Pin™, Stern’s new Star Wars™ Comic Art Pin™ celebrates the iconic comic artwork from the Star Wars galaxy.  Star Wars™ Comic Art Pin™ immerses players in the dynamic Star Wars™ universe.  The Pin™ is packed with features that provide players with an irresistible game experience including select speech and footage from the original Star Wars™ trilogy, color-changing playfield inserts, a custom sculpted Death Star, and a custom sculpted and interactive TIE fighter. 

Star Wars™ Comic Art Pin™ pinball machines feature the artwork of famed comic artist, Randy Martinez. Randy has been illustrating for over 30 years receiving countless accolades for his work.  Randy has been creating cartoons, caricatures, illustrations, paintings, and 3D art for Lucasfilm since 1999.

The easy-to-setup Star Wars™Comic Art Pin™ is reliable, built to last, and engineered with genuine Stern commercial-quality parts.  The playfield is housed in a stylish cabinet with dynamic, high definition artwork.  The all-LED playfield lighting provides optimal colour and brilliant light shows. 

“The Star Wars™ Comic Art Pin™ is designed to provide quality family entertainment and bring pinball fun to homes everywhere,” said Gary Stern, Chairman, and CEO of Stern Pinball, Inc. “We are pleased to bring these pinball machines celebrating the Star Wars™ galaxy and adventures to our fans with beautiful new comic artwork.” 

Complementing the immersive theme and exciting gameplay experience, Stern Pinball’s powerful SPIKE™ electronics hardware system enables high-definition graphics and innovative animations.  SPIKE™ reduces system complexity and energy usage, resulting in enhanced reliability and simplified servicing. 

Pricing and Availability: 

  • Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (“MSRP”)*: $US 4,499 / $AU 6,950^^

*MSRP for sales to USA end-users, before any VAT, GST, Sales Tax, Duties, or other taxes.
^^Available in February 2021 in Australia. Contact the Australian distributor for more details. 

Visit the official Star Wars™ Comic Art Pin™ game page for more details!

 

The Mandalorian Virtual Pinball is coming to Pinball FX3 – We have spoken!

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You guys know that we are huge STAR WARS fans yeah? And we hope you know by now that we are also massive PINBALL fans, be it the real or virtual kind.

With the news that Zen Studios’ Pinball FX3 will add The Mandalorian pinball machine to the platform is darn awesome news! The Mandalorian will be their 20th Star Wars themed pinball machine, featuring story-based missions following events of the first season from the hit Disney+ series.

Before you ask (or if you’ve already seen the above pic), of course cute baby Yoda will be featured! Now roll on Spring (aka: Autumn for us!) 2021!

As the great Kuiil said, “I have spoken”!


source: Zen Studios

 

The Great Classic Gaming Magnets Giveaway!

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**** GIVEAWAY ****

** GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED! **

Whoa, our friends at Magnetism Creations have given us some of their awesome video games and pinball related magnets to giveaway to our readers! Yep, this is a giveaway!

So what do you have to do to be in the running for 1 of the 3 mystery magnet packs? Relax, you don’t have to do anything stressful like run a marathon under 2 hours – all you have to do is ensure you like Magnetism Creations and Ausretrogamer on Facebook (and don’t forget to like and share the post for more chances!). For an extra chance to win, make sure you follow us in Twitter! See, that wasn’t too painful now, was it?!

The giveaway will finish at 6:00pm on Friday September 18, 2020! Winners will be notified by us shortly after the conclusion of the giveaway, so stay tuned and good luck!

PS: To get you motivated for this easy giveaway, check out a few of Magnetism Creations’ awesome magnets below…