☆ Pang Man Part 26, Cool Collectibles- McDonalds Super Mario Happy Meal Toys! ☆ #Nintendo

I am a big fan of gaming collectibles so anything gaming related will appeal instantly grab my attention. A few weeks ago I was driving to pick up some Vietnamese takeaway when I spotted a big billboard with Yoshi on it.

A closer look revealed that the 2017 range of Super Mario toys were now available at McDonald's.

☆ The Games Freezer Retro Gaming Directory ☆ #Retrogaming

When I first started to delve into the retro gaming video games subculture I was eager to search for the websites and blogs to visit as well as the people to follow on Social Media.

I wanted to seek out the cream of the crop so as I could learn as much about the scene as possible as well as gaining ideas in order to launch my beloved Games Freezer Blog.

☆ My SNES Mini Wishlist Video Is Now LIVE On YOUTUBE! ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

(Picture Credit Link)

The Games Freezer SNES MINI Wishlist Video Is Now LIVE On YOUTUBE!

If You Get A Moment Then Go & Take A Look (take two looks if you want)

☆ Which Console Was Code-named Dolphin? ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

After listening to the Bombcast podcast recently my memory was jogged on the subject of codenames for consoles before they were released to the general public.

 

Whenever we were privy to information on a new console pre-release it would be contained within the pages of CVG or Mean Machines and it may be referred to with an artists impression of what it would look like.

 

My memory was of these mysterious names that were associated with these 'next generation' consoles.

 

I've done some digging and have found a fair few of these names but maybe some are not as glamorous as I remember….

☆ The UK's Video Game Market is BACK! ☆ #RetroGaming

The UK's biggest market style event dedicated to video gaming is back and takes place in just under two weeks!

☆ Get Involved In The Awesome Games Freezer Give Away! ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

🕹WIN ONE OF THESE AWESOME SUPER FAMICOM CARTS!

 

☆ 2017 "The Year Of Video Game Emulation?" ☆

Emulation of video games over the last 3 years seems to have come from the shadows of gaming into the mainstream in a big way.

When I started this site in 2013, emulation was a dirty word only spoken about in hushed tones within a dark corner of a gamers forum on the internet.

Now fast forward to 2017 and one of the biggest and oldest video games companies in the world has brought a dedicated emulation machine in the form of the NES Mini Classic.

🎰 Could This Become A Video Game? 🎰

Sometimes you look at a TV show and instantly you think “Wow! That would make an awesome video game!”

Often the reality is that a developer picks up the rights to do the game and makes a complete hash of it even though the source material is top-notch.

My list below has 8 TV shows listed that could still inspire the creation of a brand new video game either retro-styled or right up to date.

Take a look and see what YOU think of this list of awesome TV shows that totally need a good video game.

☆ Gaming Memories: Sarahsharkbait And The Power Of Video Games ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

This week we are happy to welcome you to another Friend Of The Freezer and their very own video games memories story to share with us all.

Say hello to Sarah (Sarahssharkbait) from www.gamesleaks.net

Today Sarah will tell us the story of how video games have always been in her life and how it has helped her through difficult times.

☆ Goonies Meets X Files, Meets Stephen King's IT! ☆

It’s a Thursday morning and I’m cold to the bone. I’m walking to the train station to begin my journey into work and I enter the train carriage feeling like I need something to warm my soul.

As I find a space on the packed commuter carriage I pull out my phone and begin to listen to the Giant Bombcast to cheer my way into Thursday with a mix of chat and video games. 

Just as I begin to smile I realise I have something special that I NEED to watch on Netflix…..

☆ Review: "So grab your mouse, round up the mob, it's time to play OKHLOS OMEGA!" ☆ #GameDev

OKHLOS: OMEGA (PC)
On February 6^th, Coffee Powered Machine released their largest update since their initial release back in August 2016. The update was so big that they aptly renamed the game Okhlos: Omega. This is truly a well-done mobocracy gaming experience that leaves those with control issues foaming at the mouth for more yet not quite satisfying the true nature of complete control.  

So grab your mouse, round up the mob, and prepare to take down soldiers and Gods alike as you leave a wake of destruction in your path and a furrowed brow.

☆Review: Miniclip's First Ever Console Release Hits With MX Nitro ☆ #GameDev

MX Nitro - PS4

Miniclip, a company most well-known for browser-based Flash games and, more recently, mobile games have decided to take on the console gaming market with their first release to the platform, MX Nitro.

So how has it turned out?

Well, I got my hands on it for the PS4 to review so here we go..

☆ What's On YOUR SNES Mini Wishlist? ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

The NES Mini got a lot of Nintendo fans excited last year as Nintendo launched a mini retro marvel to the world packed with 30 fan favourite games.

The stampede to pre-order was audible and the excitement created was tangible.

As someone who loves the retro gaming scene, this was a brilliant concept and I loved the discussion it promoted around the re-living of those golden days of the Nintendo Entertainment System.

☆Review: "Visit the land of ‘Hogswart’ (I didn’t make that up)" ☆ #GameDev

EPIC MANAGER - PC

Made by ManaVoid Entertainment, it was funded on Kickstarter, it met CA$ 37,933 of its CA$ 35,000 goal, with it reaching the goal in November of 2014. 

Two years on, in December of 2016, 1.0 was released on Steam, with a Mac port released only on the 13th February.

Does it meet the standards of what they themselves set? 

An epic adventure with many twists and turns, based on an enthralling fusion of two genres?

☆ Mobile Game Of The Day - Gunblazer - Inspired By Galaga & Xenon..... ☆ #Retrogaming

Gunblazer is a retro arcade shoot em up inspired by classic Galaga, Xenon, etc.

Your mission is to destroy the waves of incoming alien ships and kill their MASTER BRAIN leader. 

☆ Peasants Quest Will Brighten Up Your Day...☆ #Retrogaming

Have You Got A Spare Moment On This Friday Afternoon?

☆ Retroblox Is One Pretty Looking Console... ☆ #Retrogaming

Something that we haven't covered yet on Games Freezer is the exciting new retroblox Kickstarter campaign! 

The images of this new modular machine have stirred up a lot of excitement in The Freezer and I thought it would be a good idea to share the official press release....

Let Me Know Your Thoughts On This Cool New Machine.............

☆ Exciting News For All NEO GEO Fans ☆ #Retrogaming #NeoGeo

I've just received some awesome news from BITMAP BOOKS relating to their next exciting retro gaming book.....

It's going to be a Neo Geo Art Book! 

Neo Geo has it's own beautiful art style that is both unique and beautiful, you can truly tell a Neo Geo Game apart from all other systems due to it's lovely brighty chunky sprites that bring so much character to the video games.

Read On For More Info Directly From Bitmap Books................

☆ GameBlast17 - Gamers Changing Lives 24-26 FEB 2017 ☆ #GameBlast17 #GamersUnite

It’s not long now until GameBlast 17 kicks off! 

And I for one can’t wait for this brilliant video games fundraising event gets underway. 

☆ HAMA Bead Pixel Art Is So Cool! ☆ #Retrogaming #PixelArt #GamersUnite

When it comes to HAMA Beads and Bead art I have been an admirer from afar for a while now.

I always loved the sight of fellow gamers creating well-known sprites from well-known video games.

☆ Pang Man Part 25: Cool Video Game Places: “The Kirby Café”- a missed opportunity! ☆ #GamersUnite

On my final day in Tokyo, I was feeling a bit peckish and so I decided to see if any gaming related restaurants were nearby. After a bit of digging, I found the perfect place to eat.

It was an official Kirby-themed restaurant called the Kirby Café which looked amazing.

🕹️🎮 17 Reasons to Let Your Kids Play Video Games 🕹️🎮 #GamersUnite

We all know that video games are a lot of fun, especially when we play them with our kids.

But did you ever feel a twinge of guilt letting your kids play video games, maybe thinking in the back of your mind that you weren’t doing them any good?

☆ The Deep Freeze Number 1 (Jan 2017) – Getting To Know The Games Freezer Staff! ☆ #GamersUnite

One of the things I loved about the gaming magazines of old is that the writing staff weren’t just nameless, faceless souls.  They felt like real people, people you could hang out and play video games with or share a beer with.

The 1st Magazine that really did this for me was the legendary Mean Machines.

How did they do this you might ask?

☆ Pang Man Part 24 - Cool Video Game Places: “GameBar A-Button” (A Retro-gaming bar) ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Although my trip to Japan was coming to an end, I managed to squeeze in a visit to one final retro-gaming bar called GameBar A-Button.

(address: Taitou-Ku Taitou 1-13-9)

http://a-button.jp/

☆ 2016 -The PS4 Diaries Part 20 "Fallout.....Fallout Never Changes" ☆ #PS4 #GamersUnite

Saying that something never changes is not necessarily a slur or a derogatory remark against it and in this case, I'm happy to say it's a compliment. 

☆ Pang Man Part 23 – Cool Stores: The Pokémon Centre (Mega Tokyo) ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

In a previous article, I covered a visit to the Pokémon Centre in Skytree, 

(Pang Man Part 17) however for completeness, I thought it best to pay a quick visit to the only other Pokémon store in the city; the Pokémon Centre Mega Tokyo branch.

☆ Pang Man Reviews: "Exiles End" Inspired By 2D Side Scrollers Of Old ☆ #Retrogaming #WiiU

Exiles End is a 2D side scrolling platform adventure game, reminiscent of the Commodore 64 games of old. The story begins when your spaceship crash lands on a distant planet and a battle of survival begins.

☆ What Was YOUR First Video Gaming Love? Mine Was A Disk Box!! ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

I Recently Made A Guest Appearance Over At www.arcadeattack.co.uk Where I Was Asked To Write An Article Detailing My Love Of Video Games And Where It All Stems From.....

After Much Thought, This Is My Article Which Is Now Published Over At The Awesome Arcade Attack....

☆ Pang Man Part 22: Cool Video Game Places: a trip to the Japan Arcades ☆ #Arcade

We join Pang Man on his tour of the Japanese video gaming scene.

This time the Pang Man is on his merry way to the Japan Arcades to see what cool arcade greatness awaits........is the scene still alive and kicking?

☆ Pang Man Part 21: Gaming Memories: The London Trocadero (Funland) Arcade ☆ #Retrogaming #Arcade

Let's join the Pang Man in a reflective mood as he discusses the legendary London Trocadero Video Games Arcade and it's eventual demise along with a selection of arcades in London that could potentially fill the arcade gap.

☆Pang Man Part 20: Cool Stores: Super Potato (A Retro-gaming shop) ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Pang Man continues the Retro-Gaming journey around Japan with a visit to the legendary Video Game Shop "SUPER POTATO" !!!

If there's one video game shop on this planet that I would love to visit it would have to be Super Potato.

This Video Games Shop retains all the character of the old school video games shops without the blandness that we are presented with nowadays from the chains like GAME & GAMESTOP...

Read on for a retro-gaming treat like no other....

Ladies and Gentlemen....I present to YOU...

PANG MAN'S VISIT TO SUPER POTATO EXCLUSIVELY FOR GAMES FREEZER!

☆ Review: 8Days "Dud Or Dynamite?" - Beth Decides ☆ #GameDev #GamersUnite

There seem to be a fair few dual stick retro-styled shooters around at the moment and our resident reviewer Beth Gwynn has been getting her hands dirty with 8Days in a bid to see if this shooter is a dud or dynamite.......

Let's see what Beth has to say........

☆ Pang Man Part 19: Cool Stores: The Square-Enix Store ☆ #GamersUnite

Pang Man is here to treat us all to another snippet of Tokyo gaming culture as he recalls his awesome trip to Japan.

This time we are privileged to be able to tag along with the Pang Man on his pilgrimage to the Square Enix Store......

☆ Can The SEGA Master System Survive After A Coca Cola Spillage? ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

I'm lucky enough to consider the nice dudes over at Arcade Attack as Friends Of The Freezer.

Recently Dylan from Arcade Attack suggested that he would love to write an article for Games Freezer!

Needless to say, I was super excited about this prospect as it was to be a Dylan Bio on his gaming background (these are the articles I love the most!)

Recently Dylan's article popped into the Freezer and I am glad to say Dylan didn't disappoint!!

Read on for a video games lesson.............

☆ Pang Man Part 18 – Cool Video Game Places: “The 8-Bit Café” (A Retro-gaming bar) ☆ #GamersUnite #Retrogaming

Pang Man Continues His Travels Around Tokyo With A Visit To "The 8-Bit Cafe" Just For Games Freezer.

This Place Turns Out To Be A Retro Gamers Dream So Read On To Find Out More!

☆ Pang Man Part 17 – Cool Stores: The Pokemon Centre (Skytree Town) ☆ #GamersUnite

Settle Down And Read on As Pang Man Continues His Tokyo Travels As He Takes A Trip To The Pokemon Skytree Town ..........

☆ Pang Man Part 16 – Cool Video Games Places: "The Star Club!" (A Super Mario Themed Bar!) ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Pang Man is BACK and this time he's been on his travels to Japan!

Our roving reporter has sampled some video gaming delights from the land of the rising sun and is about to share these with all our lucky readers.....

Now let's head off to The Star Club with Pang Man!

☆ The Best Disney Video Games Of The 16 Bit Era ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Disney Video Games Over The Years Have Been Amazing To Look At And Quite Often Backed Up By Great Game-Play Too!

The Disney Video Games From The 16 Bit Era Of The Super Nintendo and SEGA Mega Drive / Genesis Are The Video Games That Get My Disney Associated Nostalgia Gland Pumping!

So Here Is My GIF Homage To My Top 5 Fave Disney Video Games From The 16 Bit Era.

☆ "Gamer Geek Girl Is The Undisputed Chun Li Queen Of Street Fighter 2" ☆ #retrogaming #PS4 #GamersUnite

"Chun Li Looks Good For 48 Years Old!!"

When you come across the amount of awesome people I do within the video games community you tend to want to know their background and how they originally got into video gaming.

My favourite stories from people are the ones where they reminisce about early video games memories as I just love to wallow in the nostalgia of being blown away by a NES, SNES or SEGA Mega Drive.

To me and a whole generation of awesome dudes and dudettes these were the formative years of our love affair with video games.

Today I would like to introduce you all the Bethany who is the latest member of the Games Freezer family.

Bethany has agreed to share with us all her video games life story so far and I know a lot of this will bring smiles to all those people who were 80's & 90's kids....

☆ 2016 -The PS4 Diaries Part 19 "Turn Based Combat Perfection" ☆ #PS4 #GamersUnite

1. A video game that is beautiful

2. A video game that sounds mystical and fantastical

3. A video game that sweeps you away into a mystical world

☆ The Games Freezer Retro Gaming Links Roundup ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

As you know, the Games Freezer choc full of FROZEN RETRO GAMING Goodness.

I've been sitting a few frozen retro gaming gems for a few weeks now and I thought it would be a good time to share these nuggets with you all.

☆ My Top 5 Super Nintendo Mode 7 Moments ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Mode 7 is a legendary graphics mode that was present in a certain number of Super Nintendo Video Games during the 1990's. 

It made everyone's jaw drop with its 3D looking effects that were unheard of in the console world at the time. 

I was a sucker for these games and I'm going to revisit some of my favourite Mode 7 Moments with you all now.

Watch Out Because Mode 7 Is ABOUT!!

☆ My Top 10 Mortal Kombat 2 Fatalities, Babalities & Friendships! ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

For me, Mortal Kombat 2 was like nothing that I could possibly imagine and when it first came out in the early 90's I was in awe of this horror movie of a fighting game!

It shocked me and I loved it. 

It made the with blood / without blood Street Fighter 2 conversations melt away into insignificance.

☆ Retrogaming GIFS From The Gods ☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

The last few days of my life have been dominated by one thing.............

GIFS

More specifically ..............

RETROGAMING GIFS!

I discovered recently how to create GIFS on GIPHY and now i'm addicted.....

HELP!

☆ Own Your Very Own Video Game Arcade At 1/12th Of The Price☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Size Matters Right?

Well I have fallen in love with some tiny wonders from the world of the arcades and I want to share these little beauties with you all....

Come and take a peek..........

☆ The Mini NES And It's Online Video Game Manuals.....☆ #Retrogaming #GamersUnite

Nintendo has finally provided some more details about its upcoming console (not the NX) 

The NES Classic Edition, the miniaturised re release of the 1985 console that started it all for a lot of us....

☆ 2016 -The PS4 Diaries Part 18 "Half Max Is Better Than No Max" ☆ #PS4 #GamersUnite

In my recent PS4 Diaries entry I spoke at length about my Life Is Strange experience and how it completely exceeded any expectations that I may have had going into it!

I forgot to mention a funny glitch that I encountered whilst trying to save Chloe in one of the most dramatic scenes in the video game....

<IT IS NOW WITHIN THE WRITTEN INTERNET LAW TO SAY "SPOILER ALERT!">

☆ 2016 -The PS4 Diaries Part 17 "Life Jim But Not As We Know It" ☆ #PS4 #GamersUnite

Going into Life Is Strange I didn’t really know what to expect.

I’d been browsing the Playstation Store and came across the first episode for FREE.

I’d always thought that this game wouldn’t be for me. I’d imagined that it was some kind of teen drama aimed at well……..Teens...............

But I thought that I’d give the first episode a go as it was for Free.

I’d watched the trailer and fell in love with the music and art style that was being used to great effect in the game.

☆ EGX 2016 And The Hedgehog Strikes Back! ☆ #GamersUnite #EGX2016

EGX 2016 has been and gone.

4 Days Of Video Gaming Bliss Have Passed.

I was lucky enough to attend this prestigious event as a member of the press and I would love to tell you EVERYTHING that happened BUT that would probably take up around 5000 words.

Instead of that then I will shower you all with pictures of the merriment on offer and give you a flavour of my favourite part of EGX 2016.

☆ Say Hello To The Super Pantendo MINI ☆ #retrogaming #GamersUnite

Last Year I Featured The SUPER PANTENDO Made By My Retrogaming Buddy Dean Taylor.....

Well Now Dean and The Super Pantendo are BACK Smaller Than Ever!!!

Say Hello To The "Super Pantendo Mini"