🧠 Struggling To Perform In Front Of A Crowd - "My video games performance anxiety…" 🧠

Okay so I struggle to play video games in front of others. An activity that is pretty much second nature to me becomes an anxious experience when I’m in a public place with people I don’t necessarily know.

If I’m playing a game with someone in a local co-op scenario then I’m fine e.g. Pro Evo Soccer Co-Op is one of my fave things to do ever (you gotta love a 4 player co op game on PES!)

If I turn the tables slightly and then go head to head, I invariably crumble…

Why is this the case?

🕹️ Play Expo London 2018 - "A homage to the colossal retro gaming event that was Play Expo London 2018" 🕹️ #Retrogaming @ReplayEvents

"A homage to the colossal retro gaming event that was Play Expo London 2018!

Full of Arcade Cabinets, Retro Systems and tons of merchandise it was a retro gamers dream..."

🕹️ Kingdom Of Carts: The Paris Return 🕹️ @kingdomofcarts @BrittRecluseuk

I wrote an article on our previous retro gaming sojourn to Paris (one of Faye’s favourite places) last year and commented on the price there and the gaming culture of Paris in general, however, we didn’t really know what to expect on that occasion.

This time, we built the holiday specifically around our love of gaming and so we were able to visit more places and also plan our treks more (we ended up clocking over thirty miles of walking in three days!) than our previous trips.

🕹️ Which Video Games Were The Best Arcade To Console Conversions? 🎮 #Retrogaming

Back when the Arcades ruled the video games world the ultimate accolade was to be seen to produce an arcade perfect conversion onto home consoles and computers.

As a gamer you'd look out for the phrase arcade perfect in any review and you knew that was the game to buy if those immortal words were uttered.

It got me thinking about some of my favourite arcade to console conversions over the years and I have compiled a nice little top 5 to show off my fave arcade to console conversions.

☆ Timewarp Arcade - Bridgwater - "Let’s do the Timewarp (arcade) again." ☆ #Retrogaming

I wrote an article on the very awesome Timewarp arcade in Bridgwater, Somerset last year (http://www.gamesfreezer.eu/2017/10/britts-bridwater-bender-at-time-warp.html), I originally visited as part of a friend’s stag weekend and completely fell in love with the place and its retro gaming charms.

Even as we travelled back to Cardiff from that trip, we all decided that we wanted to go back as soon as possible.

Finally, after a busy winter, we had all managed to find gaps in our schedules make time to head back and once again, it was a great experience.

☆ The Sozu Arcade Stick - "A Thing Of Beauty!" ☆ #Arcade #Retrogaming

Every time I go onto Shika Arcades website I fall in love with the awesome video game arcade stick that they have created for the Super Nintendo / Super Famicom.

It's a work of art and the Sozu Arcade Stick joystick is now available in a small amount of units from Shika.

☆ Replicade Are Back With A Mini Tempest Arcade cabinet ☆ #Arcade #Retrogaming

During the RepliCade x Centipede campaign, the Replicade legends revealed that the next 1/6 scale arcade machine would be none other than Atari's arcade masterpiece, Tempest. 

The time for Tempest has arrived!

☆ Awesome Video Game Arcade Flyers ☆ #Retrogaming

If like me you love cool video game Arcade Flyers then you have to check out this awesome collage of some of the most awesome Arcade Flyers ever produced....

What's your favourite?

☆ Capcom Arcade Games - The Best Of 1985 to 2000 ☆ #Retrogaming #Arcade

🎮 "Take a trip down memory lane with me as I look at some of the finest Capcom Arcade Games ever made!" 🎮

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

☆ Video Game shopping in Amsterdam - "Booze, drugs and (It’s only) Rock ‘n’ Roll…on the Commodore 64" ☆ #Retrogaming

Anyone who has travelled to the continent and had a brief sojourn into any retro gaming store knows that the prices over there tend to be higher than in the UK, in France this is even more apparent (although it’s still possible to grab some serious bronze).

Recently, I travelled to Amsterdam for a friend’s fortieth (panic not, for I am still fresh out of the oven at thirty-four) and I did some research before-hand and discovered that there was indeed a few game shops out there and also a couple of arcades, good! 

It would provide a break from the coffee shops/head shops/seed shops / astonishingly expensive bars.

☆ Dragon Ball FighterZ and a Venom Arcade Fight Stick are the perfect 2 Hit Combo! ☆ #DragonBallFighterZ

 To celebrate the launch of the Dragon Ball FighterZ video game Venom has announced that their multi-format Arcade Fight Stick is now available for purchase from Argos at an incredible reduced price when purchased alongside Dragon Ball FighterZ!

☆ The Best Video Games From Data East ☆ #Retrogaming

🎮 Data East was in operation from 1976 to 2003, and released 150 video game titles.

Its main headquarters were located in Suginami, Tokyo with its USA HQ in San Jose, California.

Out of those 150 games released i'm going to choose "The Best Of Data East"

See if you can see your fave Data East in the video and let me know which titles you would have chosen!🎮

☆ The Mini Centipede Arcade Machine Has Officially Broken The Internet! ☆ #Arcade #Retrogaming

Would you like to own a miniature replica of one of the most iconic arcade video games of all time?

This Kickstarter Campaign Has Broke The Internet!

☆ The 10 Best Fighting Video Games Ever ☆ #Retrogaming #Arcade

"Round 1 FIGHT!"

"Ten of the greatest fighting games ever assembled in one place 

with Music By Malabaster"

(Track: Steak Pie Please)

☆ Britt's Bridwater Bender At Time Warp Arcade ☆ #Arcade #Retrogaming

Over the weekend of 15th September, I was away at a stag weekend, it was set at that most typical stag destination, the market town of  Bridgwater in Somerset. There was obviously a lot of smoking, boozing and curry-eating but there was also a large amount of button-bashing and joystick-waggling. 

☆ Sun, Sea & Arcade Games Part IV - Back To The Islands ☆ #Arcade #Retrogaming

For me, a trip to the seaside/beach means 3 things...

1. Fish

2. Chips

3. Arcade Games

1&2 were consumed heavily

☆ This Mario Kart VR Looks Awesome! ☆

You gotta check this Mario Kart VR out. 

This is one VR Project that has got me salivating.

☆ The Video Game Arcades Of The People "Chip Shops, Video Shops , Newsagents & Taxi Ranks" ☆ #Arcade #Retrogaming

If like me you only ever went to the seaside once a year then your experiences of a true video game arcade were limited to these holiday visits. Those arcade visits are the ones that shaped the way I feel about arcade video games to this very day.

The thing is the unsung heroes of the arcade world for the other 52 weeks of the year were the arcade cabinet pioneers on our local high streets. 

These local shops who would have one or two arcade cabinets on their premises so we could get our fix of Street Fighter II, Altered Beast, Golden Axe and Bad Dudes even if we lived nowhere near Southend On Sea.

☆ Get Your Arse To Blackpool For Retrogaming Heaven! ☆ #Retrogaming

PLAY EXPO BLACKPOOL 2017

It's back for its sixth year and did you know it's the UK's longest running retro expo?

The PLAY team have somehow managed to cram in more than ever before so let's take a look at what is in store for you this year...

☆ Ben The Arcade Guy ☆

Today we hear from Ben and how his nostalgic video games trip down memory lane led him to a garage full of wonders and his very own Arcade cabinet to be proud of.