Netflix has been killing it lately on original content and has really stepped it up on documentaries. If you’re all caught up on Tiger King, then you should definitely check out High Score that covers the early years of gaming.
Holy shit it John Romero!
I’m so jelly of his long salon quality hair.
High Score was released on Netflix on August 19.
[Source: Netflix]
There is one “high profile” console that has been in development for quite some time that will miss its 2020 Holiday launch. It’s not the Xbox Series X or the PlayStation 5 however, but rather the Intellivision Amico.
Okay, so maybe this is not an earth shattering delay for core gamers, but I’m sure there were folks who were pining for this thing.
Intellivision CEO, Tommy Tallarico (so that’s what Tommy’s been up to) has announced the delay during a livestream intended to show off the consoles initial library and gameplay.
The delay is due to challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, which has impacted pretty much everything imaginable globally. This is a real shame actually, as this is a cool looking device with a library of “wholesome” games for the whole family. I think it’s safe say that Mortal Kombat 11 will not be ported to this thing.
The plan is to now release a Founder’s Edition to initial backers on April 3, 2021, followed by a full launch a little later on April 15, 2021.
[Source: Intellivision]
Everyone knew this was going to happen, but Nintendo made it official. SNES games are finally heading to the Switch.
The first 20 games are below and will be available to play on September 5.
To go along with the above, Nintendo is also offering up SNES controllers, so you can play the games like god intended.
A good amount of other exciting titles were announced. Some of the highlights are below.
Nintendo Directs are usually pretty good. Yesterday’s Nintendo Direct was a exceptional.
[Source: Nintendo]
I dream of finding something rare and valuable at a garage sale. You hear about it all the time. Some jerk goes to a garage sale and unknowingly buys a fucking copy of the Magna Carta. Then its all champagne, caviar, and coke parties ever after.
Well, some lucky prick from Nevada is up $9,000 because he had some very forgetful parents. Scott Amos of Reno, NV was cleaning out his childhood home’s attic when he found a sealed copy of Kid Icarus for the NES along with an accompanying receipt from December 8, 1988.
How the game got there, no one knows for sure, but it’s possible that it was an forgotten Christmas gift.
Mr. Amos shared his find with Heritage Auctions who confirmed that he’s one lucky S.O.B.
“Kid Icarus is one of the hardest NES titles to find in sealed condition... To find a sealed copy ‘in the wild,’ so to speak, not to mention one in such a nice condition and one with such transparent provenance, is both an unusual and rather historic occurrence. We feel that the provenance will add a significant premium for serious collectors.”
Valarie McLeckie, Video Game Consignment Director at Heritage Auctions (Reno Gazette Journal)
That rarity, translated into $9,000 for Mr. Amos.
All joking aside, Scott Amos plans to share his windfall with family.
“I have an older sister, too. We’re splitting (the proceeds) 50-50. We’re going to do a Disney World vacation next month. Instead of doing something responsible, we’re going to have some fun with it.”
Reno Gazette Journal
Now I feel like the asshole, because he seems to be a nice guy.
[Source: Reno Gazzette Journal]
On March 19, 2020 you will be able to complete your axis of 90’s awesomeness and add the TurboGrafx-16 Mini to your collection. Provided you still have a SNES Classic and Genesis Mini by then. I find that the nostalgia wanes quickly after a few playthroughs, but whatevs.
Konami, who owns the rights to the TurboGrfx-16 brand, will start taking pre-orders on July 15 through Amazon.com, who is the exclusive retailer.
The American games line-up is below:
Solid list to relieve the 90’s to. Grab your flannels and crank the Pearl Jam.
[Source: Amazon]
Konami is taking a break from managing pachinko parlors, health clubs, and shitting all over the Metal Gear franchise by launching the Turbo Grafx-16 Mini.
Full disclosure, the Turbo Grafx-16 holds a sentimental piece of my heart. First off, it was a decent console, going up against monsters like Sega and Nintendo. Secondly, a good childhood friend owned one and I have a lot of great memories playing the console together. Lastly, I was given a TurboExpress for Christmas ’90, and it was by far, one of the coolest gifts I have ever received. The fact that it was a portable that played the same games as the home console equivalent was mind boggling at the time, even though it sucked up AA batteries faster than Rick James sucked up coke.
If you’re astute, you may be thinking why Konami is launching this. Simply put, the TurboGrafx-16 was co-developed by Hudson and NEC. Konami fully absorbed Hudson Soft in 2012, so Konami now owns the brand.
So yes, Konami is cashing in on nostalgia and doing what they do best, which is milking the brands they own while putting in minimal effort, but at least the titles announced so far look good. Also, if the U.S. version doesn’t get Bonk’s Adventure, that’s bullshit.
Konami is also recognizing all the console variants and games for different regions, so depending where you live, you’ll get the mini specific to your region.
North America / Europe:
Japanese:
Konami has not yet disclosed price and launch details.
In this day and age, it would be more surprising for a gaming company company to not release a mini console, which tugs at the heartstrings of gamers, looking towards the past with rose colored glasses.
There’s the NES and SNES Classic, the C64 Mini, the Neo Geo Mini, and the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis Mini, and now the PlayStation Classic.
Pre-Orders are up with a launch date of December 3, 2018. The console will cost $100, come pre-loaded with 20 titles, and 2 wired old school PlayStation controllers (you know, the ones without the two analog thumbsticks).
As for the pre-loaded games, the full list has not been revealed, but 5 titles were announced, including Wild Arms, Ridge Racer Type 4, Tekken 3, Jumping Flash, and Final Fantasy VII.
This is cute and all, and will probably sell well. Hell, I may even buy one and put it next to my NES and SNES Classics. However, it is of my opinion that games from this era, even though groundbreaking at the time did not age as well as their humble sprite based brethren.
It’s been a long stretch of slow gaming news. So why not pass the time by gawking at the unholy union between SNES Classic and a 1980’s era Montgomery Ward Boombox?
This mashup was actually created by a modder who runs a fascinating blog for modded musical hardware called Why Not Make, and he just recently shared his latest creation with the Retro Gaming subreddit.
As a child of the 80’s, this really tickles my fancy, but I can’t help to be bothered by one minor detail. I consider the SNES a console of the 90’s while Boomboxes are clearly devices that hit their cultural apex in the 80’s. A NES Classic would be much more fitting for this type of mod.
[Source: WhyNotMake.com]
[Via: Kotaku]
Devoted Donkey Kong fans rejoice. The long lost Donkey Kong 3: The Great Counterattack can be had by all, provided you don’t mind playing the game via emulator.
There is actually an interesting bit of history behind this title. Back in the early 80’s, Nintendo licensed out some of their franchises to Hudson Soft, which then released versions for Japanese PCs, like the PC-8801. Many of these machines couldn’t replicate the play mechanics of the original hardware, so certain liberties had to be taken.
Over time, intrepid fans were able to get their hands on the majority of these oddball Hudson Soft titles, but Donkey Kong 3: Daigyakushuu (The Great Counterattack) eluded for over 30 years. Then, In December 2017, a group pooled their funds together and purchased a rare version for the Sharp X1 computer and were able to ROM dump the game.
So if your’re a fan, or simply curious, you can finally get your hands on this elusive title, but beware, the game is apparently incredibly difficult, and I can imagine that the years have not been kind.
The Kindbudsman 