☆ Let's Plan A Prison Paradise ☆ @IVSoftware @PrisonArchitect

Alpha 34 , now that seems like a lot of Alphas doesn't it?

 

I suppose it is but hey why not take the time to get this game right?

Prison Architect has everything I like in a game.

 

It's simple on the surface but then as you get underneath those tasty layers it exposes you to things that you never thought that you would need to consider.

☆ A Commodore 64 Story For Us All ☆ @Retro_Fusion #Kickstarter #Retrogaming #C64

My appetite for retro gaming related books continues and is routinely appeased by the plethora of cool books that seem to be emanating from the retro gaming community with great success.....

The one i'm excited about today is the latest awesome book project from fusion retro books.......

☆ Mr Iwata - Corporate President - Developer - Gamer ☆ #RIPIwata #GamersUnite #Nintendo

Having seen the news break on Twitter and now read many of the tributes to the great man it seems like words can't really do justice to what Satoru Iwata meant to everyone (and not just gamers).

What really comes through from the tributes and quotes is the fact that the man was a gamer foremost and corporate president last. 

His sense of fun runs through the core of everything Nintendo does and will do forever more.

In honour of this wonderful man I have scoured the internet for the best fan art tributes and articles that really give you a sense of how much Iwata San will be missed.....

☆ Giant Ants EVERYWHERE!! ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #SEGA

For a while now the long awaited Megadrive Version of IT CAME FROM THE DESERT has been in production from Cinemaware after a successful Kickstarter campaign

On the news front it had gone silent for a long while......

Then this week I received some promising news on its progress.......

☆ PLAY it! - Manchester Is Coming......Are YOU Ready? ☆ @ReplayEvents #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

We've Been Passed Some Really Exciting News About A Video Gaming Event Called PLAY it! Manchester......

Those cool dudes at Replay Events have been busy again and have pulled together another awesome sounding event!

You Can't Afford To Miss This...........

☆ Save Your Progress? >Yes No ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

It's been a while since I had the pleasure of of slotting a Game Boy cartridge into the back of the Game Boy and firing up a game of Super Mario Land.

 

But that's exactly what I did this morning on my commute into the office.

 

Earphones in, Game Boy out and away we go……..

☆ My Very Own Video Games Console Book Idea ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Yes I have about a thousand ideas a year about video games related projects.

 

Whether that be retro gaming related books, arcade machines, retro gaming barcades, retro gaming shops and all sorts of other video game related projects, my brain seems to be constantly thinking about a way to channel my love of video games into something tangible.

☆ Super Retro Summer Sports Games ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

This super summer sunshine, Ashes Cricket and Wimbedon Tennis has got me in the mood to play some super cool summer sports.

 

Obviously when I say 'play', I mean dust off some cool retro games and get playing some of the best summer games related games of the last 30 years!

 

So let me get my thinking cap on and bombard you with 5 of my favourite Summer Video Games!

☆ Cream Of The Kickstarter Crop - "Legends Of Fire & Steel" ☆ #Kickstarter #GamersUnite @boomzap

Kickstarter is full of awesomeness when it comes to new video game related projects.

My regular Kickstarter sweep of all things video games brings up a whole host of exciting looking projects. 

I just wish I had enough money to back them all!

So instead of trying to back all of these beauties I will be sharing with you 
"The Cream Of The Kickstarter Crop" to spread the word on these amazing projects....

Without further ado, let me introduce you to the first of my Kickstarter favourites....

☆ Grab A Slice Of Terrible Video Games History ☆ @ashens #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

We've all read those online lists of the "WORST GAMES EVER" 

We read them and say things like, 

"Oh yeah I remember that, it was really bad!" 

or 

"Oh yeah I remember that, it wasn't THAT bad!"

Well Stuart Ashen has come up with a book full of terrible games that were so bad that you will never have heard of them........

(at least 99% of them anyway!)

☆ An Encyclopedia Of Atari Knowledge ☆ @thevgatv #Retrogaming #Gamersunite #Atari

The Atari 2600 is the godfather of the consoles and deserves every inch of coverage that it has received over the years.

 

Imagine a world without the Atari 2600…………then imagine a world without the mighty console generations that followed it......that's how important the Atari 2600 is.

☆ The Definitive NES Guide, A New NES Game and Garpage Pail Art! ☆ @GamingVgbs @JoeSimko #Kickstarter #GamersUnite

Kickstarter Campaigns Come And They Go.....

BUT We Can't Just Let This One Just Pass Us By....

Retrogamers You Need The Following Kickstarter Backed Items In YOUR Life

☆ Retrogaming Music To My Ears ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Video Game music is an often overlooked or under estimated element to a video game.

 

Imagine Gameboy Tetris with another soundtrack! It just wouldn't be Tetris! 

(would it?)

 

I like to think the video game and the music go hand in hand in order to deliver the game experience.

☆ The Alcatraz Barcade Dream ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite @AlcatrazLondon

We've all had the dream of opening up our very own Barcade haven't we?

I've always felt that there are definitely not enough great barcades in London and there is a definite gap in the market for a top Barcade like the Brooklyn Barcade to be opened in London.

I have been in contact with a guy called Marcus Gordon who is looking to make that dream a reality by opening Alcatraz Bar in London.

Alcatraz Bar is currently trying to get funding to open a retro/current console gaming bar in London, with a unique flavour........

☆ Website Of The Day "BOX=ART" ☆ @Gidkilla #retrogaming #gamersunite

If like me you adore great box art and the beautiful Japanese designs that adorn the Japanese versions of games then you will love my Website Of The Day .......

BOX=ART

☆ WIN YOUR VERY OWN SEGA MEGADRIVE ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #SEGA

How Do You Fancy Getting Your Hands On YOUR VERY OWN Original SEGA Mega Drive?

Read On And I Will Tell You Exactly What YOU Need To Do To Win A Mega Drive Courtesy Of Games Freezer.......

☆ Kickstart A Retrogaming Music Legend ☆ #retrogaming #GamersUnite #Kickstarter

Have you heard of the retrogaming legend Uncle Art?

If you haven't heard of him then you will probably have heard his work before probably without realising it…..

☆ SEGA The Second Coming? ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #SEGA

Us Retrogaming folk generally hark back to the days of SEGA vs NINTENDO in the console wars era of the 90's or the glory years of Atari and it's always great to reminisce on those days of trailblazing video games when things seemed much simpler.

☆ Fallout 4 Looking Fierce ☆ @BethesdaStudios @Bethblog #PipBoyEdition #fallout4

So E3 is over and I've had some time to reflect on the thing I was soooo excited about…..

 

FALLOUT 4 and its oscars-esque reveal in Hollywood California

☆ Time To Fire Up My NEW SUPER PANTENDO! ☆ @Pantendo #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

I'm always looking for inspiration to start building my very own arcade machine and believe me I have found lots of inspiration but my lack of expertise always seems to let me down.

I'd love to create my own arcade machine BUT I want tit to look good and play well. Something shoddy would make me sad.......

Then recently I stumbled across a really cool project by Dean Taylor called "Super Pantendo"

This has reignited my desire to at least complete one arcade project in my lifetime!

Read Dean's story and see if it inspires YOU like it did ME.......

☆ Portalnauts Is A NEW 16 Bit Action Platformer! ☆ @portalnauts #Kickstarter #GameDev #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Of Course I'm A Sucker For A Kickstarter Campaign Which Features 16 Bit Platforming Action.......

But I Have Got To Say This One Needs YOUR Attention Today!

We Have Less Than 2 Weeks To Get This Beautfully Crafted Retro Inspired Video Game Funded..........

☆"My Favourite Video Games WOW Moments"☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

What Is A Wow Moment In Video Games terms?

For me it's been the moment when I've started to play a new game and then wham! Something happens that you didn't think was possible until you just witnessed it. 

These kind of moments are few and far between but I am going to attempt to share with you my 10 WOW moments that will stick with me forever, when a video game took my breath away (for various reason)

☆An Arcade Work Of Art - "PIXELKABINETT 42"☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Arcade

Over the last few months I've seen some classic arcade machine custom designs but this beauty has got to be my current favourite............

Say hello to the 

"PIXELKABINETT 42"

☆ EGX Rezzed Back In The Dock For 2016! ☆ #GamersUnite #GameDev #IndieDev #Gamer @EGX

Games Freezer has been informed that EGX Rezzed will return to London 

from Thursday 7th to Saturday 9th April, 2016.

☆ 8 Bit Retro Gaming Power That Fits In Your Wallet! ☆ @bateskecom #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

I've been taking a look at this cool Kickstarter that is looking to create a video game system the size of a credit card to play super cool retro styled games much like a miniature version of the original grey brick Gameboy…..

Have a look at the cool things that I have discovered bout this tiny marvel of engineering and geekery…..

☆ The Wasteland Story Continues ☆ #Fallout4

I'm not the kind of person to get caught up in the hype of a new video game announcement but there are two exceptions........

1. HALF LIFE 3 (Let's Get REAL This Will Never Happen)

2. ...............................................................

☆ Blinking Light Win ☆ #retrogaming #GamersUnite #NES

Today I stumbled across a really cool Kickstarter that I managed to miss first time round.

It's called BLINKING LIGHT WIN NES REPAIR SYSTEM.

☆"Super Nintendo SEGA Genesis, When I Was Dead Broke Man, I Couldn't Picture This"☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

I flicked my iPod to shuffle and then out of the blue Biggy Smalls sang to me…….

His iconic line from "Juicy" got me reminiscing ,as I generally do, and I began to think about all my favourite tunes over the years that featured a reference to video game.

☆Are You A Kick Off 2 World Master?☆ @ko2cup #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Dublin

You spent your youth mastering one of the greatest football video games of all time and now it's YOUR time to shine on the World Stage...

☆ Forget Snakes On A Plane, There's Games On A Train! ☆ #GamersUnite

My daily commute to work consists of a 2 mile walk to my local train station, followed by a half hour train ride into the city.

It's usually a pretty low key dull affair, but recently i've noticed a video games related change in the train journey.....

☆ Hold Onto Your Joypads, PLAY Expo 2015 IS Coming! ☆ @ReplayEvents #Retrogaming #Gamers

The Play Expo 2015 at Manchester’s EventCity Venue Is The Video Games Show That Excites Me The Most!

Play Expo Has Landed For Its Fourth Year And It Truly Is One Of The Most Diverse Video Games Shows In Existence!

☆Games Freezer Retrogaming World Cup - "Full Time Report"☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

A little while back I began the Games Freezer Retro Gaming World Cup 2015....

By The POWER Of Twitter We Now Have Our CHAMPION!

Read The First Half Report HERE

Read On To Find Out Who Triumphed, Can YOU Guess Who It Was?

☆ Have You Played Half Life 3 On The NES? ☆ #Retrogaming #NES #GamersUnite

Well I'm stretching the truth a bit here, maybe we could call it artistic licence?

But the truth is that it is now possible to own a NES cart with some cool NES 8 Bit artwork on it from a more recent video game…. 

(although Half Life 3 hasn't even been released yet!)

Read on and let me explain............

☆ My Video Games Heartbreak ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Let me tell you the sad tale of the day I fell out of love with video games......

As you can guess from my website, my love for video games is massive......but do you know what, that hasn't always been the case.

☆Space Invaders Art Ambushes Unsuspecting World! ☆ @Artikyn #retrogamers #retrogaming

Invader has been leading a worldwide Space Invader Art Invasion that has seen this mystery artist take pixel art to the streets of The World.

Invader's art is hidden in places where if you are not paying attention, you will miss them as you busily commute into the office....

Take a step back and see how many you can find during your daily route into your city....

☆ RUN! OKHLOS AND THE ANGRY MOB ARE COMING! ☆ @Okhlos #GameDev

Earlier on this year I told you the story of 

how I managed an angry mob at EGX Rezzed

Well, soon enough YOU will get the chance to manage that very same mob!

💾🕹️ Commodore Amiga Dreams 2015 💾🕹️ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

"Commodore Amiga Dream Machine"

Last night I had a dream about an Amiga 500+ that had been left in a car park underneath my car with a massive box of disks!

I saw this as a sign to write about the amazing Amiga as I feel I have neglected it recently in the column inches department.

☆Super Trese Bros Are Back In Town……Templar Battleforce Is Coming JULY 2015!☆ #GameDev #GamersUnite @corytrese

The Boston based Trese Brothers are an unstoppable force in the indie game dev world.

These dudes are dedicated to producing some the most in depth and addictive play experiences to the hardcore gamers who want something more from their Indie Games.

☆ A Dark & Desolate Android Experience ☆ #Android #GamersUnite

A couple of years back I played the demo of Limbo and fell for it's atmosphere, lead character and devious puzzles that I had the opportunity to play.

 

The demo let me play up until the infamous spider puzzle and then teased you by telling you that to continue playing you had to buy the full game.

 

I resolved to buy the game at my earliest convenience…..

☆ Video Game Endings That You Will Never Forget ☆ #retrogaming #GamersUnite

I've always been a sucker for a great video game ending and always hungered to see those animated sequences at the end of a game.

There were always those times when you get to the end of the game and all you get is a "CONGRATULATIONS!!"

WHAT A LET DOWN.....

But then there are those endings that stay with you forever.....

☆ Let's Try Stimulating The Retro Gaming Nostalgia Gland ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

The memories of our retro gaming pasts are sometimes better than the reality.

BUT the stories that they evoke are truly priceless and bring a smile to your face as the nostalgia gland* in the brain sends waves of rose tinted memories through your central nerve system into the tips of your fingers.

*there is no science behind this statement but just try and stick with me on this one ok?!*

☆ The Thinking Man's Sonic The Hedgehog Film ☆ @thehedgehogfilm #Retrogaming #SEGA #Sonic

THE HEDGEHOG

7 min short - drama

SYNOPSIS:

"A lone boy wanders the open landscape of a suburban park.

Dressed as his favourite video game hero, he daydreams for adventure but the reality of his uneventful world disappoints him.

He follows a strangely familiar man to an old house where he stumbles upon a peculiar truth to his lonely existence."

☆Go Retrogaming Crazy And C64 Yourself☆ @RETR0JOE @C64Reloaded @C64_endings #c64 #Retrogaming

Have you ever wanted to C64 yourself and retrogamify your appearance?

 

Well my friends I believe that I have located the solution to all your retrogamification problems……

☆ I Stormed Bowser's Real Life Retro Gaming Castle ☆ @ReplayEvents #PlayBlackpool #Retrogaming

Norbreck Castle was the perfect setting for a Retro Gaming event such as Play Blackpool. 

From the outside it looked like Bowser could quite easily reside there in comfort.

☆ Help Make My Retrogaming Dream A Reality ☆ @RetroGamesColl @8BitCentral @RETR0JOE #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #voom

I often have retrogaming day dreams about how to turn my retrogaming passion into a viable career (these usually occur in the shower, on the toilet and on the commute into work)

 

I have thousands of ideas on the subject and would love to be able to do all of them but there is one idea that sticks with me which I think would greatly benefit the retrogaming community……..

☆ Retrogaming Golfing Greats Galore ☆ #retrogaming #GamersUnite @McIlroyRory #GOLF

From an early age, golf games have figured a lot in my video gaming experiences.

In fact I'm pretty sure that a golf game may have been the first ever video game that I played!

☆ "Super Mario Is A 30 Something" ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

So as we all know, Super Mario (& Luigi) are now 30 somethings.....

What I didn't know about until today was the cool NINTENDO homepage that celebrates this fact in a retrogaming styley!

☆Watch Out For The Great Retrogaming Magazine Thief In The Sky☆ @Kosmikat #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

A few weeks ago I thought it would be a good idea to dig out my complete collection of Super Play Magazines as I just adore the Wil Overton covers and the magazines themselves are up there with the Mean Machines of this world.

☆ Setting Up A Retrogaming Legend In The 21st Century ☆ #Retrogaming #SEGA

As I made my way through the darkness I stumbled and fell….

As I fell my head landed on a plastic box like structure that made a dent in my pride and in my noggin….

I pulled myself to my feet and there before me, like a gift from the Retrogaming gods was a beautiful jet black box full of joy……

☆Welcome To Retrogaming Heaven.......Take A Seat And PLAY!☆ @ReplayEvents #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #PLAYBlackpool

With only 4 weeks to go until the retrogaming extravaganza that is PLAY Blackpool I thought it would be a good idea to see what is going down on the 2nd, 3rd & 4th May 2015…….

I'm MEGA glad I took a look as it heating up to be an AWESOME weekender!