thrill of the chase

The Thrill Of The Chase: Out and About

January 19, 2015 By ausretrogamer

An impromptu lunchtime sojourn comes up trumps! With no intention of hunting for retro or pop culture goodies, I was surprised what I found in Melbourne’s CBD (Central Business District) as I was out and about. From Sonic comics and video gaming related books, to bartop arcade machines at the most unlikeliest place, it was a lunch break I didn’t expect.

A great start to the week indeed. Oh yeh, my wallet was also worse for wear.

Green Lantern VS Zodac? *Mind completely blown*

An awesome book that is to be read by every gamer!

Another awesome book. A great reference indeed!

One for the Zelda fans!

Wish I could flip through the pages of this book!

Sonic Comic! Hey, that rhymes!

Sega fans would love this!

More Sonic love!

Oh wow – Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back! I gotta get these!

Your keys would ROCK and look MEGA on this keyring!

Sam Fisher in his desert suit. Very cool indeed.

The dark side awaits!

An arcade machine in Myer? No way! Oh, that old school phone is cool too.

Yes way – it is an arcade machine at Myer!

The last word always goes to Ron Swanson.

The Thrill Of The Chase: First Blood 2015

January 11, 2015 By ausretrogamer

There is nothing like getting that first hunt under your belt for the new year. For our first retro hunt of 2015, Ms. ausretrogamer and I set our sights on the Camberwell Sunday Market – an open-air (car boot) style market near the Camberwell Junction in Melbourne.

The crowd gathers on a perfect summer’s day in Melbourne

Upon arrival, we searched for a good coffee place to get our all important caffeine fix. Once we were well caffeinated we hit the market stalls to look for loot of the retro and vintage kind. There were E.T. and Alf board games straight from the 1980s, sequined handbags with Pac-Man ghosts, Masters Of The Universe action figures with twisted legs and of course, lots of vinyl!

Board games of 80s aliens!

A Pac-Man handbag? Now I have seen it all!

Mmmmmm, doughnuts!

Amongst the smell of hot dogs and delicious jam doughnuts, Ms. ausretrogamer finally caught the scent of some retro gaming items. We followed the scent to a nearby stall and found a PlayStation and Sega Master System console and gaming bundle. With the spurring of Ms. ausretrogamer to get the Master System bundle, I haggled on price and a deal was soon struck. Even though we have a few Master System consoles, it was the seven games that we were after in the deal. First blood had been struck for 2015. Till the next thrill of the chase…….

The prey has been found!

Can you hear me? These hipster speakers should help.

5c per bowl? Damn games were cheap back in the old days.

The Master System loot is finally home! Time to play!

The Thrill Of The Chase: Game Over For 2014

December 30, 2014 By ausretrogamer

As the year draws to a close, it had to happen, we had to go for one final thrill of the chase!

With the adrenaline rushing at this time of year, there were classic gaming items to be found and bargains to be bagged. While everyone else was recovering from their Christmas festivities, Ms. ausretrogamer and I hit the road to find those elusive retro games and vintage toys.

There were a number of places that were closed due to the festive season, but that didn’t deter us from going to the next stop on our hit-list. We did hit the jackpot at our final stop – we may not have found what we were looking for, but we did have a blast playing some Daytona USA, Speed Race and the three-screen extravaganza, TX-1.

So with another year in the history books, we eagerly await the new year. Roll on 2015 for more thrills! Happy New Year to you all!

Spotted! Topless Skeletor

Open Pokemon

Close Pokemon. See, I can do magic!

Namco made digital alarm clocks? *Mind Blown*

Master System games + Hillbilly Jim = Perfect!

No way, A (broken) Robot Armatron!

Seeing is believing

Don’t get these two wet!

Give your TV some old school action!

Dayyyyyytonaaaaa!

20c for some action? That’s cheap as chips!

Go Speed Racer!

Gotta get pole position!

Nooooooo, it’s GAME OVER!

The Thrill Of The Chase: A Cash Converters Christmas Special

December 11, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Christmas is coming! What better time for a spot of nostalgia and to relive Christmases past by partaking in some retro gaming. And while we’re at it, why not share the nostalgic vibe with your friends and loved ones by spreading some retro gaming cheer!

There aren’t too many stores you can walk into and find whole cabinets full of 20+ year-old video games for sale. It’s fun to search through second hand stores and op shops to find hidden treasures, but if you want a guaranteed treasure trove of retro gaming goodies, then you better hit your local Cash Converters store.

The variation of retro gaming items you find in a Cash Converters store creates a lot of excitement and sets the nostalgic juices flowing. While you have made a bee-line towards that old Atari 2600 game that has taken your fancy, another one, a Sega Master System case, catches your attention to the left of it. This kind of a visual sensory overload is quite welcome when you are on the hunt.

As you allow the nostalgia to wash over you, you realise that you need to take a step back and take your time to take it all in – from that Atari CX-40 controller and Nintendo 64 console, to those Game Boy games tucked away behind the bigger cartridges, you want to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Chatting to the staff about classic video games, you sense their enthusiasm of the products and the memories they bring back for them. I tell you, that nostalgic feeling is super addictive. We were deep in conversation about Super Mario and Game & Watch games with one of the staff members, when one of their colleagues enthusiastically produced a few choice Japanese GameCube titles that had arrived earlier that day. Talk about great timing – our retro gaming senses were now well and truly hitting overdrive!

The thrill of hunting old video gaming items you cherished from the 70s, 80s or 90s does become addictive. Luckily, there are Cash Converters stores nearby to provide you your much needed retro gaming fix. For those that are comfortable shopping from the comfort of their own home, don’t fret, the Cash Converters Webshop is full of items to browse and provide you with that nostalgic fix all from the comfort of your armchair.

With our Christmas shopping all done and our wish list completed, we’ll put out the milk and biscuits for Santa, hoping that he will reward us for being good for another year. Have a retro gaming and safe Christmas!

To stay up to date with the latest Cash Converters news follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google +.

The Thrill Of The Chase: Vintage and Memorabilia Hunting

December 2, 2014 By ausretrogamer

It had been some time since our last The Thrill Of The Chase. With the close of 2014 getting nearer, we are aiming to squeeze a few more thrills before the curtain falls on this year!

With the adrenaline rushing, we blazed a path across Melbourne to some vintage markets, pawn stores and a very funky memorabilia store. What we found was great and thrilling, but prices of items precluded us from taking things back home.

So, what did we find you may ask? Rather than words (Ed: boring!), check out the below photos!

Celebrating like it is 1984!

Let’s take a look, shall we

Um, this memorabilia store is a fire hazard – it’s packed to the rafters!

TANANA NANANA TANANA NANA TANANA NANANA TANANA NANA GHOSTBUSTERS!

A very expensive Freddo!

Old school WWF is where it’s at baby!

E.T. will phone home!

At last, some Game & Watch beauties

The ubiquitous Pac-man and Simon!

Sega, Atari and Nintendo games!

Donkey Kong Hockey Micro Vs for $65? No!

Atari is best

Scarface playing cards? Say hello to my……

Perfectly tactile QWERTY keyboard

I spy a MOTU boxed product!

Whoa! I wonder if this Taito Asuka & Asuka arcade cabinet is for sale?

Before DVD, there were some big ass LaserDiscs

Oh man, Gakken Super Puck Monster tabletop! Very hard to resist

Let’s hookup this Mac to the internet

Scarface – enough said!

Surely this Taito Speed Race machine is for sale?

Oh damn, it’s for fun only

I play while Ms. ausretrogamer shops

Three screen action aplenty!

Yoda overseeing our shenanigans

The Thrill Of The Chase: Pinball Dreams

August 8, 2014 By ausretrogamer

This thrill of the chase is special. Well, all of the chases and hunts are special and exciting in their own unique way, but this one, this one tops them all (Ed: for now!).

You know that one item you had been lusting after for decades, but it was always out of reach? Yeh, that one! The latest thrill fulfils a life long lust for a pinball table. I can now cross off ‘get a pinball table’ from the retro gaming bucket list. The previous owner did warn me though – you can never stop at one pinball machine! I shudder at the thought.

Once PIN•BOT was in its rightful place and switched on, it was like I had traveled back in time, a time when I was young and carefree. The sight of the flashing lights, the sounds, the metal ball – there is nothing quite like pinball. Oh yeah, that robotic speech just sends chills down my spine!

The table has been set to freeplay and I can tell you, PIN•BOT is one punishing game. I definitely need to work on my twitch skills!

Bazaar Retro Gaming and Toy Hunt

July 8, 2014 By ausretrogamer

The natural ‘high’ that the thrill of the chase provides can never be underestimated.

There is always excitement and giddy anticipation when hunting at a new locale. With Ms. ausretrogamer in tow, we hit the antiques and collectables bazaar. From vintage toys, kitsch furniture, obscure video games to the oh-my-gosh collectables, we weren’t disappointed.

After a few hours of meticulous hunting, we both walked out with big smiles and a bit lighter in the hip pocket. Nothing satisfies like a fruitful hunt.

images copyright: ausretrogamer

The Thrill Of The Chase: Gone Hunting

June 23, 2014 By ausretrogamer

There was only one thing to do on a cold and miserable Sunday – go hunting! No guns or ammunition were required for this hunting trip. We armed ourselves with warm clothing and a keen eye to find some retro gaming gear and other vintage items.

Once the target was found, we went in to prowl. It was clear from the outset that this hunting trip was not going to disappoint. Once we got past the usual household kitsch items, we found precious arcade machines from the 1970s, lots of comics, vinyl records and a number of classic video gaming systems and games.

The selection of retro gaming systems and games did get the nostalgic nerve quite excited. There was no way we were going to leave empty handed on this hunt. Sorry wallet.

Didn’t know where to focus on this collection of action figures. Daytona USA lurked in the background

Aha, there it is!

The perfect tube to play some Pong

Found hiding – some MOTU pals

These Atari games look lonely

RoboCop action figures!

Robie Junior would not have been happy if this guy came home with us

Alex Kidd tuned in on a proper vintage TV! Hells yeah!

Sega delights

Did someone say Sega, Atari and Nintendo?

Vintage vinyl!

Keeping it reel

Perfect price for a fighting game

Perfect price for an ice hockey game

KISS!

More KISS baby!

Can’t hide from me Mr Macintosh SE!

CIB Battlecat? No way!

The dreaded Castle Grayskull

LCD goodness in this cabinet

A throwback to the WWF!

More Sega goodies

I spy with my little eye something beginning with N

The holiest of holy, 1974’s Speed Race. And it’s in working order!
More old arcade beauties found!

The perfect ending to a great hunt

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!

The Thrill Of The Chase: MegaZone and Double Dragon

November 25, 2013 By ausretrogamer

Sometimes it is the little things that have the greatest value. I don’t mean monetary, but sentimental value.

The MegaZone magazine was Australia’s attempt to emulate the big gaming publications from the UK. Since it was Australia’s first multi-format video gaming system publication, it holds a very dear place in my heart. I remember being excited and quite proud of knowing that this was home made. Pity I turfed issue one back in the day as it is worth a kidney nowadays. Damn you hindsight!

Am I a Double Dragon fan? If you have known me for longer than five minutes, you would know the answer. If I find anything remotely connected to Double Dragon, I give it some serious consideration. When these Tyco action figures of Jimmy Lee (Ed: why is he blonde?) and a few of the Black Warrior henchmen were found for a few dollars, I knew I had to snap them up. Now, I am off to find Billy (not Bimmy!) Lee.

thrill of the chase

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