☆ 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!

☆Games Freezer Retrogaming World Cup - "Half Time Update"☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

So we've reached the halfway stage of the Games Freezer Retrogaming World Cup 2015 and so far it has been a cracker!

8 matches in and we've had some awesome matchups that have been decided by the fantastic Freezer Followers via the power of a Retweet or a Favourite.

☆My Retrogaming Football Management Obsession☆ @KevinToms #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Football Management Simulations have been an obsession of mine since I was first introduced to Football Manager 2 on the Amstrad CPC.

Ever since that moment I have searched for the perfect footy manager sim.

☆A Retrogaming Piece Of History Bought At A Tupperware Auction!☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

A guy called Dallas walks into a Tupperware auction and then walks away with a piece retrogaming history (or so the story goes)

Dallas was in the right place at the right time when he visited an injection mold auction which consisted mainly of tupperware molds and then up popped the beautiful nugget that Dallas just had to bid for..............

☆I Managed An Angry Mob At EGX REZZED!☆ @CpmStudio @acidnerve #GameDev #GamersUnite

As I sit here writing this article my head is still spinning from the sheer amount of great games that I got to play at EGX REZZED!

The sheer quality of the games was mind blowing and I had an awesome time trying my hand at some of these great titles aswell as watching others play some of the latest releases.

If you've never been to an EGX event before I would highly recommend it.

☆ The "Games Freezer Retrogaming World Cup 2015" Kicks Off Next Week ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Gamers #Gamer

Last Sunday I had a friend and his wife over for lunch 

(not very Retrogaming I hear you cry)

 

Whilst we were chatting I said to him….."Fancy a game of Super Mario Kart?"

 

When I explained to him that we'd be playing the original SNES Super Mario Kart on the Wii his mind imploded and his face lit up like an 8 year old at Christmas!

☆ What Type Of Arcade Cabinet Should I Build? ☆ #Retrogaming #Arcade #Gamer #GamersUnite

Since my first post (read it here) about making a video games cabinet I have been mulling over ideas constantly for the last two weeks.

I want to make sure that ,before I build this beauty, I am fully prepared for what needs to be done and how I'm going to build it.

More importantly I need to know WHAT I am going to build!!

☆EGX Rezzed Is Coming So Get Your Dancing Shoes On!☆ @EGX @JoypadBar #Gamer #GameDev #Gamers

Well there's only 9 days to go before EGX Rezzed and to say i'm excited is an understatement!

This is going to be my first EVER video games show that i've attended! (at the ripe old age of 35)

I can't wait.........oh and i'm also going with a press pass in hand as Games Freezer will be reporting the highlights from the first day of the show........on the 12th March

☆ A "Flashy" Retrogaming Gameboy Gadget ☆ #Retrogaming #Gamers #Gamer #GamersUnite

Whilst on Tindie browsing all the cool hardware on offer I stumbled across this smart geeky gadget for Gameboy.

☆ A 21st Century Retrogaming ZX Spectrum ☆ #retrogaming #gamersunite

Well this got my retrogaming excitement levels raging today.....

The Sinclair ZX Spectrum is going to get another reincarnation!

"The ONLY full-size recreation of the 1980s personal computer - The Sinclair ZX Spectrum"

☆ Dare You Enter The Digital Press Library!? ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Imagine a place where all the almost forgotten Video Games Magazines, Games Manuals, Game Maps, Game Posters and all sorts of other forgotten or hidden away video gaming treasure lay awaiting discovery.......

Imagine no more as I take you to a place called Digital Press 

"The Video Game Database"

☆ Pangman's Video View - "Part 7: The Gamers React series " ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Gamers #Gamer

Pang Man Is Back With Another In His Latest Series Of Video Views......

Next Up Is The "React Series"...........Which Includes Some Hilarious Mike Tyson's Punchout Reactions!

☆ An Ode To The Humble Video Game Manual ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Gamer #Gamers

How Cool Is The Metal Gear Solid Manual!!

I'm not sure if I was alone in this, but buying a new video game meant that I would always extend the anticipation of my first play by reading the game manual from cover to cover.

 

Not only did it extend that pre game feeling of excitement it also meant you got to soak up any backstory (if there was one) and learn what the controls were for the game.

☆ Welcome To The Wonderful World Of Custom Made Arcade Cabinets ☆ #retrogaming #Gamers #Gamer #Arcade

http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2010/03/pixel_art_coin_op_poster_for_c.php

Recently I've been lusting over pictures of custom made arcade cabinets...

Nothing unusual there then!

☆ Pangman's Video View - "Part 6: Arya Stark reacts to the NES!" ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Gamers #Gamer

When you grow up in the 80's sometimes you forget that not everyone has played or even heard of gaming machines such as the NES, Sega Master system or the Amiga 500. 

In fact for many youngsters today, the first machine they ever played, was probably a Playstation 2. 

☆ Gameblast....The Aftermath! ☆ @SpecialEffect @gameblast15 #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

For the last month or so I have been fund raising for GameBlast15 which is is a video gaming charity event that raises money for the marvelous work done by Special Effect.

 

As I mentioned in my previous post on Special Effect, they are an amazing charity who help change the lives of gamers with disabilities by modifying games consoles in a way to create a level playing for all gamers to stand side by side and game to their hearts content. This allows inclusion for all the gamers who are unable to game due to their disabilities whatever they may be.

 

I thought I'd give you an insight into the small part that I played in this epic weekend of video gaming and fund raising.

☆ Can YOU Name A Retrogaming Game That YOU Have Truly Mastered? ☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Over the years I have played hundreds of different video games.

Of those hundreds of video games there havn't been many that I could truly hand on heart say that i've mastered.

☆ My 7 Favourite Retrogaming Video Game Specific Controllers ☆ #Retrogaming #Gamersunite

There are some retrogaming games out there that really need their native controller or control method to be present to enjoy the game to its fullest.

Some control methods were built specifically for that video game and other contollers or control methods were ones that I stumbled across in the days of joystick experimentation on the older systems such as the Commodore Amiga and SEGA Megadrive.

Here's my favourite examples of games that just need to be played with a certain type of controller to really enjoy them!

☆ Help Special Effect Spread The Joy Of Video Games ☆ @SpecialEffect @gameblast15 #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

On the Weekend Of 20th February Until 22nd February The GameBlast15 Weekend Gaming Marathon Will Take Place.

The Aim Is To Raise Money For The Video Gamers Charity,Special Effect Who Help To Make Disabled Video Gamers Life That Much More Inclusive And Fun!

☆ Pangman's Video View "Part 5 : Cat Mario! - So difficult that you die every 15 seconds!" ☆ #GamersUnite #Gamers #Retrogaming

"The next video is one of the funniest things I have ever seen! 

Perhaps it is just my sense of humour but if you are fan of the Super Mario games, then you will probably appreciate this.

☆ Pang Man's Video View - "Part 4: Guile's theme goes with everything!" ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Gamers

Today Pang Man Steps Up To The Plate With An Absolute Classic & Hilarious Set Of Video Clips All Based Around Guile's Theme Music From Street Fighter 2......

☆ Can YOU Name A Video Game Where The Main Character DOESN'T Jump? ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite #Gamers

"Atari Jaguar White Men Can't Jump box art" by Source (WP:NFCC#4)

Recently whilst "chilling" in the Freezer I've been thinking about the most common mechanics that always seem to be present in every video game.

 

It got me thinking,

 

"What Video Game Mechanic Could You Not Live Without?"

☆ The Nintendo Wii Is My New Best Friend Thanks To The Games Shed! ☆ @GamesShed #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Me and my Wii are best buddies again…

I used to neglect my bright white, dusty friend….

I only ever really used him for when we had non gamer guests over who wanted to partake in a casual game of bowling or standing on the Wii balance board to head imaginary footballs……

Then last week this all changed……

I wrote my article on how I was going to resurrect my Wii <HERE> and since then the Wii resurrection has consumed me!

I've written before about the XBOX being a great emulation machine (once modded) but in my opinion the Wii surpasses the great XBOX.

So…..why all of a sudden is the Wii my best retro gaming emulation friend?

Well here's why…………

☆ Pang Man's Video View - "Part 3: Street Fighter II (The Church Edition)" ☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Our Resident Purveyor Of All Things Video Games Takes Another Look At You Tube For Some Video Games Gems YOU May Have Missed Out On............

Part 3 is entitled "Street Fighter II (The Church Edition)"

☆ How To Revive Your Nintendo Wii From The Dead! ☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Do you remember the halcyon days of the Nintendo Wii? (it wasn't that long ago, so I suspect you do)

 

Like a plague of locusts the Nintendo Wii seemed to consume everything in its path, smashing all before it, breaking all sorts of records for unit sales. 

Everyone seemed to own a Wii……the world went Wii crazy

 

There were websites that told you where the nearest stock of Wiis were, such was the clamor to jump on the motion controlled bandwagon

 

and then all of the sudden………………

☆ Build Your Own Gameboy! (Out Of Paper) ☆ @cubeecraft #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

My desire to get involved with the whole 3D printing scene has been halted every time I look at the prices of 3D printers (although they are coming down)

So my 3D lust has had to be satisfied through a different type of 3D creativity…..

☆ Pangman's Video View "Part 2: Tetris Mastery" How Good Are YOU At Tetris? ☆ @KevinDDR #GamersUnite

When I was a kid, I was given a Gameboy and Tetris for Christmas. Tetris was the main flagship game for the Gameboy at the time, and was/is so popular that the franchise is still going strong today. 

At the time I thought I was a pretty good player, but sometimes all it takes, is to see an expert in action, to bring you crashing back to reality.

☆ Pangman's Video Views - "Part 1: Player Piano" Amazing #Retrogaming Music ☆ @SonyaBelousova @PlayerPianoVids @TheRealTomGrey

Every so often, I would come across a gaming related video, that was so good, that I would instantly want to show it to a neighbour. 

So with this in mind, we have decided to include a Games Freezer semi regular column, relating to awesome videos that we have found on the net. 

So without further delay, here is the 1st installment of Pangman's Video Views!

☆ The Greatest Emulation Machine In The World ☆ @RetroGamesColl #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Before christmas last year, Ant at Retro Games Collector sent me an early Christmas present in the form of an awesome modded XBOX that was ready to play retro games............

 

Ant sent me the XBOX in the response to my article on the imminent release of the RetroN5. 

Ant and a Google+ buddy James, advised me not to bother with the RetroN and instead get myself a modded original XBOX that has the XBMC media center on it.

 

At first I was a bit confused as I wasn't aware of the XBOX modding / retrogaming scene and how well supported it is.

 

Ant sent me the beautiful XBOX in the post and when it arrived my adventure into XBOX Retrogaming Emulation began!

☆ Retrogaming Website Of The Day - "Red Parsley" ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

My latest search through the retrogaming blogosphere brought me to Red Parsley....

This Blog is "For ALL Things Retrogaming.....AND More Besides!"