WayFoward’s take on Double Dragon, Double Dragon Neon, was an awesome beat ’em up game with a rocking 80s soundtrack. Now it’s coming to Steam, with online co-op to boot. For $9.99, you can punch bad guys in the head, which is better than getting hit yourself, as this trailer illustrates with science. It says “coming soon,” so there’s no date, but I’d imagine it won’t take long for it to come out. Now PC gamers can enjoy this old-school game too! Read more…
I love it when players discover new things in old videogames. For something to remain hidden in the Internet Age is quite amazing, and it doesn’t happen often. In this case, YouTube user GarlandTheGreat has found a new sidequest in Final Fantasy IX. It involves going to the Tantalus hideout at the start of the fourth disc, where Zenero and Benero are looking for Marcus and Cinna. This is just the start of the sidequest, which involves triggering certain major events like boss fights or cutscenes to advance the quest. When going back after one of these events, you’ll see a new family member wondering where the previous family members are. Going all the way through the quest earns the player a Protect Ring. Read more…
Want a blast from the past? Here are some awesome photographs taken by Ira Nowinksi from 1981 and 1982, giving you a glimpse back to the classic arcades of yesteryear. There are around 700 photos total, all recently added to the Stanford University Libraries. It’s pretty neat to see this kind of stuff get documented, although I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. And man, talk about an intense stance up there. You thought we were bad today, leaning towards the TV, controller clutched tightly? Try that pose for 3 hours. Check out a few more photos after the break! Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jul 26, 2012 in Tech, Videogames
Another Kickstarter, I know. I’m getting sick of seeing them posted everywhere too, but I still stumble across a cool one every now and then. For example, here’s a neat little project that’s almost fully funded. The GameDock is a device designed to take the iOS platform to the next level by offering a classic console experience. It claims to be compatible with iCade titles, so there should already be a handful of games supported. The dock itself will be able to connect to your HD displays via HDMI out with a crisp 1080p resolution. Some of the games will even have support for two players. Just note that in order for them to send you an actual unit, you’ll need to “donate” at least $125 at this point, and you’ve gotta ask yourself, do you really need an iOS console? Really? Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Mar 24, 2011 in Videogames
ThinkGeek recently updated their stock with this awesome Space Invaders hoodie. Not only does it speak to my inner-gamer, but it’s actually fashionable. I love a good argyle — top that off with some 8-bit prints and I’m sold. With those April showers less than a month away, picking one of these up might not be such a bad idea. Normally they retail for roughly $60, but ThinkGeek actually has them on sale for 50% off list price for a limited time. That means only $30 before shipping. Head over and order yours today.
A remake of the arcade classic, Double Dragon, hit the app store last week. Brizo Interactive teamed up with Aksys Games to revive the license from the grave with fresh graphics, revamped gameplay and a remastered soundtrack. I had a chance to sit down and give it try and while the touch controls can be difficult to master, especially with the newly added move-sets, but otherwise it plays well. Unfortunately, I still find myself asking why they couldn’t just post the title to Xbox Live!, Playstation Network, or Wiiware for that matter. It’s a fantastic remake, but it’d be nice to have an actual controller. The app’s current price of $3.99 is a limited time offer. I can’t imagine them pricing it much higher, though. Still, if you loved the original, you’ll definitely want this app.
Posted by Michael Sacco on Sep 13, 2010 in Videogames
It looks like even the folks behind the Iron Curtain couldn’t resist the appeal of an arcade. Dangerous Business highlights their visit to the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games with shots of the amazing arcade machines therein, from the undoubtedly thrilling “Torpedo Attack” (above) to the slightly more mundane “Traffic Sign Quiz” to the incomprehensible “Turnip Strength Tester” (below). What’s notable is that none of these machines seem particularly jovial — all hard edges and dull colors, the hardware equivalent of “programmer art.” Connal Hughes of Dangerous Business noticed it too, commenting that they “looked like they were designed with the same sense of fun that an engineer would use to construct a hospital waiting room.” Who would’ve known that Brutalist design could even producethese kinds of machines? I guess when things in your country are as bad as they were for the Soviets, you have to take what you can get. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Jun 15, 2010 in Videogames
This is Space Invaders: Infinity Gene — Square-Enix and Taito’s latest attempt to revive the Space Invaders franchise. In all fairness, I haven’t actually had a chance to play this yet — though I might at this week’s E3 — and my first impressions are based on the video above. Still, I find myself completely confused by everything I saw. Sure it’s neat, and innovative, at least by comparison to the classic Space Invaders I knew and loved, but it’s as if the designers simply refused to draw a line. As a result, we’re left with a mess of lines and shapes which I really had trouble making heads and tails of. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen the formula work — Geometry Wars was a great example — but until I really get a hands on with it, I’m simply not sold on this and I’m left wondering if I’m the only one who feels that way. Read more…
I can’t even begin to tell you how hard it is to find decent formal wear that really speaks to my inner geek, but occasionally I luck out — such was the case with this fantastic Space Invaders inspired neck tie by Since 1337. The aliens are available in both green and blue, while both look sharp, the green might come off a bit loud. Unlike the game, it’ll probably cost you more than a few quarters at $38 plus tax and shipping, but they’re probably worth it. After all, they’re designer ties. For more info, check out the Since 1337 online store. Read more…
Miyamoto is THE man who made Nintendo what it is today: He got his start with designing Donkey Kong and is also the genius behind Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. Of course most casual videogame won’t know this, but that’s the joy of this t-shirt featuring a Shigeru Miyamoto gag if you’re a hardcore retro-gaming fan. I also love the Iron Chef reference as well…
This Airdrop T-Shirt by Glennz Tees answers the age old question: Where the hell do those damn blocks keep coming from? Of course like any good NASA mission a question always raises another question — and in this case that question is “…and why?”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Oct 27, 2009 in Videogames
3D Dot Game Heroes is an RPG game for the Playstation 3 which is due out on November 5th in Japan. This title which is designed by From Software takes place in a classic retro gaming RPG kingdom whose king declares that his world should be in 3D to celebrate the defeat of a demon lord. What I love about this title is that it pays tribute to old school videogames while breaking the third wall of the medium by incorporating the medium of the medium into the plot of the game: Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Sep 9, 2009 in Videogames
The 1988 NES game Contra
Contra Rebirth is a WiiWare title that’s based on the 1987 Konami arcade game Contra ((魂斗羅) where you get to play an mutant killing commando (as a game the plot owed a great deal to the popular films of that era like Predator). The original game did so well that it was ported to NES in 1988 and has a well deserved rep of being the toughest game to beat. I’m really glad that we’re starting to see the market for retro games move out of the hobbyist era and into something more mainstream. Here are some screenshots: Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Aug 28, 2009 in Videogames
For your entertainment I’ve stitched together three commercials from the early 80s for Intellivision Major League Baseball. The first spot features none other than sports writer George Plimpton giving a comparison between Intellivision and Atari. What then follows is a spot which show rabid fans in the bleachers who feel the same way, and that’s followed by a French translation! Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Aug 16, 2009 in Videogames
I loved this obsessive fan made video which is a montage of nothing but death scenes from old school video games set to the music of the Misfits! Part I above features the song Skulls while Part II below uses Night of the Living Dead as the soundtrack: Read more…
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man Banpresto will be releasing this beautiful Zippo lighter in November of this year. I love the added touch of having the high score at the top and having the bitmap typography at the bottom — it’s the little bits and bites that count. Read more…
As a retrogaming fanboy my eyes lit up when I glanced at this NES Controller Business Card Case. Normally I try to discourage my friends from mixing anything fannish with business — for example having a cartoon character on your tie is a great way to say “hello I’m a dork!” However in this case I’ll make an exception for this business card case because it’s clever enough and would open doors across multiple generations. Being a Japanese card holder there are two compartments: one to hold your cards, and another to store cards that folks give you.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 22, 2009 in Tech, Videogames
If you’re a retro computing fanboy like me on Saturday you were devastated to learn that Apple denied permission to the developer who created a Commodore 64 emulator for the iPhone. Now normally this news wouldn’t surprise me, but what broke my fanboy heart is that the developer jumped through all the right hoops: Not only did they get a license from the owners of Commodore but they even got positive signals early on from Apple. Read more…
In the great tradition of Marvel vs. Capcom comes Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All Stars! Old school anime fans will be very familiar with Tatsunoko as the animation studio behind Battle of the Planets, which was a watered down version of Science Ninja Team Gatchaman. Other Tatsunoko properties featured in this game are characters from beloved classics like Tekkaman and Yatterman and more recent titles like Karas. And of course on the Capcom side you can pick from characters from Street Fighter and Mega Man. This title has already come out in Japan, but I’m very pleased to see that they’ll be bringing it over to North America for the Wii. Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jun 2, 2009 in Videogames
What’s great about this 1982 advert for Demon Attack is that the commercial seems to have absolutely nothing to do with the content of the videogame that’s being advertised. Although that disconnect wasn’t too uncommon in that era as the games were rather abstract looking and the box art often told a different (and more detailed) story: Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 30, 2009 in Videogames
As an interface designer there’s very little in the world of hardware that looks more clunky than the original NES controller from the 80s (well except for Apple’s original iMac hockey puck mouse), but in a sense it’s that primitive charm that makes it such an iconic symbol for an bygone era of videogame innocence. Also in a sense the clunky factor adds to the fun of game play which brings one back to the good old days before ergonomics became a trendy. This Retro NES USB Controller is being distributed by ThinkGeek and features a modern USB connection and is perfect for MAME and NES emulators: Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Mar 25, 2009 in Videogames
To celebrate the 31st Anniversary of Space Invaders Taito is shipping this very cute replica of an original tabletop Space Invaders game. This cute collectable allows you play an actual game and its even is coin operated like the original — except for the fact that you’ll need Japanese coins to make it work.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 4, 2009 in Videogames
When was the last time that retail employees wore a tie? The year is 1991 and this training video show retail employees how to dodge problem customers who want to return their Gameboy and NES Sports Sets. My favorite example in the video is the “nice customer” who is using the wrong port and is so grateful for the help that she offers to bring the store employee a pie. By the way notice how the customer is always at fault in this video as if Nintendo would never ship a defective product.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 9, 2008 in Videogames
This is a really bad low budget spot from 1992 for Yoshi’s Cookie which was published by Nintendo for the NES and GameBoy. With current craze of kitchen oriented videogames this old school snack food title suddenly popped into my mind, here’s an example of the game play: Read more…
