Sometimes it’s difficult to parse every piece of retro gaming related news that flies through one’s news feed every week. Retrospekt prides itself on producing up-to-date classic gaming related content, but until we annex the entire retro gaming world ;) we feel it’s our duty to record and share all the nostalgic gaming news that we uncover. For the sake of brevity and information dissemination, we’ll be providing a semi-regular curated list of the best retro news that passes our desks. We won’t necessarily make comment nor pass judgement on the news in our roundups, that can be better served in articles, reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, podcasts and videos. Instead, our roundups are intended for sharing of news and promoting thought and discussion within the classic gaming appreciating community.
Here we go…
- The RepliCade X Centipede, a one-sixth sized arcade cabinet is kicking goals on Kickstarter. This stylistically and functionally accurate miniature (right down to the trackball) appears to be the first of more licensed facsimiles of Atari arcade machines. If you’re keen on collecting the lot, prepare to dig deep. More here and on Kickstarter.
- This impressive homemade Nintendo Switch replica is great for on-the-go retro gaming fun. Of course, there are plenty of other solutions for this, some of which we’ll be discussing and analysing over the coming months.
- Some of our retro-loving good friends from Melbourne, namely Ausretrogamer, Weird and Retro, Press Play on Tape, Bartronica, and more, will be at PAX Australia later this week. This article at The Age is a wonderful exploration of the Melbourne retro gaming scene. If none of us are in Melbourne this time around (you never know), plans are afoot for Retrospekt to be back again in 2018… ;)
- A new four player Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles arcade machine has been teased. It’s based on the new look animated turtles which should look great on an arcade machine using modern technology. Assuming it plays well, a new multi-player arcade brawler is a GOOD THING.
- Pitfall on the Atari 2600 was notoriously difficult to attain a perfect score, let alone complete the game in the twenty minute time limit. This map with hints could be the solution to your treasure hunting woes.
- Ready Player One, a basement bar in Detroit Michigan, has recently opened. Boasting 30 arcade machines, nine pinnies, and a variety of tap beers and food, it looks very enticing for the arcade and / or beverage fan. There’s over thirty photos to check out, and the place definitely looks great…just don’t mind the article’s description of “90s arcade games”…
- Kotaku pays credit to the Jeff Minter Classics release from AtariAge for the Atari Jaguar. Yeah, I made the music for the menu, as well as the promo video, but it’s a historical and cult thing that seems to be making some waves online (not least for the fact that people are surprised that game are still being made for the Jag!).
- Dazzleland…ahead of it’s time. What happened to this 1990s amusement park / videogame arcade / roller-coaster in Adelaide’s Myer Centre? Read here to find out more. It was definitely a product of its time, but it makes you wonder if anything even vaguely similar to could happen again…
- Mike Tyson’s Punch Out on NES turns 30 years old! Mike Tyson himself indicates that he didn’t really like the game, wasn’t particularly good at it, and only could deal with fighting Glass Joe. Heh.
- Pop Vinyls – love ’em or hate ’em, this series of Sonic the Hedgehog figures arriving in December are rather well-done.
- This one is VERY Australian centric. Kylie Mole had a Commodore Amiga TV advertisement. I don’t remember seeing this ad, but it could’ve easily gone unnoticed as it closely apes The Comedy Company segments the character originated from.
- Rob Hubbard, the legendary retro computer gaming musician, has a number of his Atari 8-bit and ST tunes featured in this article. There’s definitely some audio feels to be had here.
- Talking about gaming music, check out the Streets of Rage 2 soundtrack, released by Pixel Crib. Clear vinyl, Gatefold cover, lithographic art prints, bonus tracks, completely remastered; what’s not to love?
- The classic arcade game Green Beret is being reimagined for the Commodore Amiga. This work-in-progress video on Indie Retro News shows the game’s arcade roots with more than a hint of 8-bit graphical and audio styling. It’s looking like it could be fun reimagining.
- Finally, and not specifically gaming related, this is a comprehensive look at the origins of the Kenner Star Wars Boba Fett figurine. That intro… ;)
