Cartridgecade - Cartridge Arcade

New York Comic Convention

2011-10-18T16:40:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the New York Comic Convention this past week. I was really happy to spend some actual real world time with co-host Brian Letendre. Sorry we've been so absent in the blog section here. I hope to rectify that issue as soon as possible. Expect some upcoming posts about games and game related items. If you get a chance to head to NYC next year don't hesitate. There were tons of retro characters represented as well as the largest upright arcade machine in the world. The last time I saw it at the show I saw a huge line of people waiting to play giant Galaga. FANTASTIC.

Mario Where Are You!?

2011-08-25T05:40:00.000-07:00

Remember this commercial? I sure do. Brings back memories of the pre-Koopa days. Good times.

SEGAmaniacal Summer Challenge: Streets of Rage--Beaten!!

2011-07-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Well, I put Streets of Rage to bed this evening--what an awesome game. Great but simple control scheme, fun levels, and brutal bosses. After playing through this whole game, I think I enjoy it more than Double Dragon.

Anyway, the SEGAmaniacal Summer Challenge continues--on to Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master!

Dad Was an Arcade Hero Last Night

2011-07-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

Every year our family goes to Maine, and one of the best parts about the trip is that there are a few great arcades in the area. Last night we went to the Boardwalk Arcade at Wells Beach, and I had a great moment with my five-year old son. As we were winding down our arcade trip, my son pointed over to a machine in the corner--one of those "claw" games that are designed to rip you off (you know the ones). He pointed to the machine, and more specifically at a penguin plus toy inside and said "Dad, will you win me a penguin?"

I strolled over to the machine, only to find out this was a claw game with a twist. You have to play a Tetris-like minigame just to get a chance at using the claw. Lose the game, and you don't even get a try with the claw. So I popped my two quarters in, and beat the minigame on the first try. I then deftly maneuvered the claw over the penguin in question, and snagged it on the first shot.

As my son watched with glee, the claw dropped his brand new toy down the chute, and I walked away a hero for the day.

Sonic Not as Fast as We Remember?

2011-06-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

As I've been playing Sonic the Hedgehog this month for the SEGAmaniacal Summer Challenge, I've been thinking a lot about the franchise and how it's evolved over the years. Even moreso, I've been thinking about how pretty much every Sonic since the Dreamcast iteration has been criticized for the same thing--not being fast enough.

Go read reviews of any Sonic game over the past few years. Inevitably, you'll get to the part of the review where the writer laments how this new game doesn't stay true to the original concept of Sonic. The game isn't fast enough, Sonic doesn't run enough, there's too much stop-and-go gameplay, etc.

Many of the reviewers remember the original Sonic games as being one long footrace, where Sonic always runs at blinding speeds and the gameplay never slows down.

The thing is, that's not what the original Sonic games were at all. Sure, there are plenty of moments in the early Sonic games where you are racing through levels at insane speeds. But, there's also a great deal of times where you are at a dead stop, carefully planning your next move or jump, as you traverse lava pits, spiked bridges, and the like. I'd say it's probably a 6-40 split in terms of slow gameplay versus fast paced gameplay.

Thinking about this has made me want to play some of the more recent Sonic games that were panned critically, as I think a lot of reviewers were comparing them to the nostalgic view of Sonic they had, as opposed to what the actual games played like.

What do you think?

SEGA GENISIS on your Dreamcast

2011-06-03T04:52:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know, you can run many platforms on the Dreamcast thanks to many emulators available throughout the internet. With the SEGAManiacal Summer under way I thought I'd share some emulators with you. While I never condone piracy, I do enjoy putting the games I already own on easier to use platforms. For example. I'm planning on burning all three titles of the SMS onto one easy to load disc for one of my Dreamcast consoles. This way I'll have Sonic, Streets of Rage and Shinobi III all in one easy to find spot so I can make sure I get my play time in this year.

Here's a link to a pile of emulators for your Dreamcast.

The SEGAmaniacal Summer Challenge Starts Tomorrow!

2011-05-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

Dust off that old Genesis, because tomorrow kicks off the SEGAmaniacal Summer Challenge. Three months, three games, starting with the game that established SEGA's mascot for the 90's--Sonic the Hedgehog.

Over the next month, Jason and I will be checking in on the SI forums, as well as with a couple of podcast segments, so get playing!

Get Ready for the SEGAmaniacal Summer Challenge!

2011-05-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

It’s time to start doing thumb push-ups, and getting your 16-bit self in shape, as the SEGAmaniacal Summer Challenge starts in a couple weeks.

Last year, we took 3 NES classics and played them during the summer months. This year, we’re giving the same love to SEGA’s 16-bit masterpiece of a console. Three months, three games, a summer of awesome.

First up in June is “Sonic the Hedgehog” (1991). The mascot of of the SEGA Genesis, Sonic’s blend of speed and platforming was like nothing that came before it. Despite the fact that the series has gone downhill over the years, the original is still amazing.

“Streets of Rage” (1991) will be punching players in the face during the month of July. The side-scrolling brawler let’s you take on the role of either Adam Hunter, Axel Stone or Blaze Fielding, three rogue cops trying to clean up the gang-ridden streets of the city.

Everyone knows that August is the month of the Ninja, and this year will be no different. “Shinobi III: Return of the Ninja Master” (1993) is a fitting game to round out this year's trilogy. It combines the platforming and brawling of our first two games, and adds in some ninja flavor to make a casserole of carnage.

All three of this year’s games can be found on “Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection” for the PS3 and Xbox 360. You can also find some of them on Wii Virtual Console, Steam, or iPhone and iPad. And let’s not forget, you could dust off your old Genesis and play the original carts themselves. Either way, you have a couple of weeks to get your games before we kick things off in the first week of June.

Get ready!

Gameboy Advance Time Machine

2011-05-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy all the Famicon style designs Nintendo came out with in Japan back in the day. I loved the American version as well, but there's something really cool about these designs. The other really cool thing about early Nintendo in Japan is that they came out with all sorts of insane accessories. Later in the game, Nintendo actually created a "GBA Time Machine." I assume it was Nintendo and not a third party. It allows you to play your NES carts right on your GBA. Now, you can get a tiny card that supports micro SD slots to do the same thing via ROMs. But the fact that you can play your own carts and show off your coolness to all the other retro gaming nerds, makes me want one even more.

Getting My SEGA Supplies in Order

2011-05-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

I'm rummaging through my SEGA supplies. I have three SEGA Genisis Sytems but only one works. I'm trying to find the AC adapter for it, but I can't find it. You don't want to use just ANY AC adapter on an ancient unit like this. The last thing you want is to blow your system. I may need to order one off of Amazon. I also found all the original discs that came with it. I have my Night Trap, My SEGA Classics and even the music CDs. I forgot all about the Sherlock Holmes game that came with it. They gave you A LOT of media with the SEGA CD. I remember that Christmas morning well. Good times.

In a week or so I will put up some pics of my system and various controllers. Need to get it functioning before I show it off.

GIANT PACMAN GAME!

2011-05-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have not had a chance to fully explore this website, but the title "World's Biggest Pacman" pretty much sums it up. When you visit the site you are greated with THOUSANDS of gameboards. Click on one to begin. Each one is connect to another. You could munch power pellets all day! You can sync up with facebook and post your records. A really neat idea. If you're logged into facebook, you can even create your own levels.

One thing I want to explore more is the AI. The original pacman had great AI. Each ghost was different and various parts of the board yielded pros and cons. Also, when you head through a warp tube, ghosts slow down when following you. I'm not sure they even follow you in this version. To check it out, visit the link below! Enjoy!

http://worldsbiggestpacman.com/

Sony Playstation Outage Means Retro Game Time

2011-04-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

After DAYS of the Playstation Network being down, it's time to bust out my game retro consoles. Thankfully I recently received a SEGA Genesis recently and I've started with Sonic the Hedgehog and worked my way up to my TNN Bass Tournament. I may also bust out some Odd World from my PS3 downloads. Hopefully Sony will get on the ball and get the network running. But until then! Playstation will have me playing SEGA! SEEEEEEEEGAH!

It's a SEGA Genesis Easter

2011-04-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

This year Easter was a little more like Christmas for this retro gamer. When I got to my parents house my Uncle popped this puppy out of his trunk. Yes, that's a Sega Genesis Core System 2 in box!!! He also handed me a bag full of games:

TNN Outdoors Bass Tournament '96

I couldn't ask for a more amazing gift this Easter. Well, maybe a powerglove, but really, my Sega Genesis 1 (Original Model) Console Systemhas been out of commission for a long time with a busted controller input. I'm very happy to have this back in my collection. Now I can hook my Sega CD System - Video Game Console back up and play some Night Trap. Aw yeah!

Ms. Pacman Upright Lisbon CT

2011-04-23T08:44:00.001-07:00

At the O'Neil movie theatre at Lisbon Landing, CT. Hello retro. Also, the had a nice note that had a code to change Ms. Pacman to Pacman! If I remember correctly, UP UP UP DOWN DOWN DOWN LEFT RIGHT (wait for pacman to turn pink) Then hit start. Cool right? May work on all the combo machines.

Playing Galaga on my Motorolla Droid

2011-04-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting around trying to decide what to do and decided to fire up Galaga on my Motorola DROID X Android Phone using Nestoid. If you haven't tried out Nestoid on the Droid I highly recommend it. Unfortunately it is not available on the iPhone. If it were available I'd be playing some online NES action with Brian. We'll figure out something one of these days. I'm dying to play Double Dragon with him via the internet. I think I'm going to have to figure out a way to do that.

Retro Gaming Yardsale Adventures

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. We're getting deep into spring, the weather is nice and we've got a tiny bit of cash in our pockets. So we'll be on the hunt for gaming consoles. GAMES GAMES GAMES at deep dish discounts. Parents unloading kids electronics and kids who want to buy their next system and will sell me electronics super cheap. What will our finds be? Who knows! We'll be breaking out some serious fleamarket and tag sale stories in the upcoming episodes. Deals we got and deals we lost.

The top consoles on my list this year will be a Coleco Vision, Commodore 64c, Atari 2600 - Video Game Console, Atari 5200 - Video Game Console (System), Nintendo Virtual Boy - Video Game Console and some random handhelds. I'll also need new games for my new GBA as well as other consoles sitting in my collection.

If you are out and about and see crazy finds. Even if you don't buy them, share you story in the comments, on the forum or snap a pict with your phone and shoot us an email.

Retro Mint Box Storing Erasers

2011-04-15T13:27:00.001-07:00

I bought these mints a long time ago just to get this awesome tin. The Nintendo Store in NYC has all sorts of cool items like this! I now usr it to store my awesome erasers. It is a head turner.

Neo Geo Handheld

2011-04-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

16bits of glory! It's bad enough I didn't hav a NeoGeo as a child, but I didn't have the hand-held either. "The hand-held?" you say? That's right! I'm going to be on the look out for the hand-held version of this at the fleamarkets and tag sales. I'm dying to get my hands on the console or this portable beauty. A larger display than the GB AND 16bits of color!? How can you beat that? Well. With Mario, that's how. Chime in here or drop us a note in the forum and let us know if you had one, have one or want one.

Gameboy SP and Gameboy Advance Donations Arrive!!

2011-04-11T12:00:00.000-07:00

Recently a friend asked me if I'd want two Gameboy systems. One is a standard GBA and the other is a GBA SP, which is amazing because it has a back lit screen. Today they both came in the mail. Other than being a little grubby from some tender game play, they are in fantastic shape! Not only did they send along the two systems, but three games as well! Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Namco Museum. I'm super excited about the Namco Museum. I'm going to play the heck out of that. Look forward to my excitement on the next episode of Cartridgecade on Secret Identity Podcast!

Replace your batteries on your Gameboys and other handhelds

2011-04-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

A few years back I was very excited to find my Original Nintendo Game Boy, Gray at my parents house. I had all the original games and the original hard case. When I opened up the box I saw that Tetris was still in it. I thought I'd fire it up. Well it didn't fire up. I pulled at the cartridge and it didn't really want to come out. When I got it out I saw that it was coated in a blue patina. I had left the batteries in it. Not for very long either. Sadly when I opened up the unit, the cancer had spread throughout the circuit board and it was a lost cause. I still have it in case I need an extra body case etc... but I encourage all you retro gaming addicts to go to you closet, pull out your handhelds that you're not using and remove the batteries. NOW!

Pictured above: That's my childhood Gameboy. It was like watching my dog die before my eyes.

King Of Kong A Fistful Of Quarters

2011-04-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

If you haven't checked out King of Kong yet you better hop on Netflix, run over to Red Box, download it from Blockbuster or TiVo it now. If you listen to the show or read the blog this is a game that you should view, if not OWN. This documentary film brings you through the turmoil surrounding a man who just wanted to beat the world record in Donkey Kong. A record that hadn't even been touched in decades. You'll cheer for the hero and hiss at the "villain." Great film I watched it with my wife and she also liked it. That's a big plus factor for any of you married folks out there. But if you love retro gaming, enjoy underdog stories and documentaries, then it's time you get your grubby retrogame playing fingers on this. The bonus features in the special edition are also really cool. They do an animated history of Donkey Kong and various other tid bits.

This gets five out of five gorillas throwing barrels.

iCade for iPad. Perfect timing for the Atari App (Almost)

2011-04-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

My buddy Chris Eliopoulos mentioned today that if Atari was on top of their game they would have hooked us retro-gaming enthusists up with some awedome retro Atari controller for the Atari app. Well! Looks like someone is already jumping on that band wagon and preparing to launch a spiffy little device in June of 2011. A little late, but better than never! Check out think geeks iCade accessory for your iPad 2 today! But nothing really beats the awesomeness of the original Atari controller.

Watch Movies Via your Gameboy Advance

2011-04-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Holy cow! I don't know if this works but during my searching for Gameboy Advance systems I stumbled across this compact flash card that allows you to watch movies on your GBA. Since I'll be getting a donated GBA soon, I'm on the look out for anything and everything I can do with it. I've found multiple sites touting cards similar to an R4 to be used to play roms, but this is the first I've seen of this! Very cool. There's no product description but I can only assume is supports various types of movie file and allows you to watch them on the go.

100 Atari Titles Come To Your iPad and iPhone Today!!!!

2011-04-07T05:50:00.000-07:00

Wow. Just announced. 100 Atari titles coming at you on your iPhone and iPad. I'm very jealous, since I have neither. I'm going to post a few screen shots here and get you a nice list of titles. Awesome for any retro gamer.

The app is a free download that comes bundled with PONG, with the additional titles — 18 classic arcade games, 92 Atari 2600 games — available as in app purchases. The additional titles can be downloaded as 25 separate game packs at $0.99 each or at a price of $14.99 for all 100. Some titles have been enhanced to provide Bluetooth multiplayer modes.

The available game packs include:

Asteroid Pack
- 1. Asteroid
- 2. Asteroid Deluxe
- 3. Asteroids 2600
- 4. Canyon Bomber – Bluetooth Multiplayer
Battlezone Pack
- 1. Battlezone
- 2. Red Baron
- 3. Air-Sea Battle – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 4. Submarine Commander
Centipede Pack
- 1. Centipede
- 2. Millipede
- 3. Centipede 2600
- 4. Millipede 2600
Black Widow Pack
- 1. Black Widow
- 2. Space Duel – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 3. Desert Falcon
- 4. Space War
Crystal Castles Pack
- 1. Crystal Castles
- 2. Crystal Castls 2600
- 3. Surround – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 4. Maze Craze
Gravitar Pack
- 1. Gravitar
- 2. Gravitar 2600
- 3. Radar Lock
- 4. Demons to Diamonds – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Star Raiders Pack
- 1. Star Raiders
- 2. Liberator
- 3. Star Ship – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 4. Human Cannonball
Missile Command Pack
- 1. Missile Command
- 2. Missile Command 2600
- 3. Fun with Numbers
- 4. Flag Capture – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Lunar Lader Pack
- 1. Lunar Lander
- 2. Sky diver – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 3. Video Pinball
- 4. Code Breaker
Super Breakout Pack
- 1. Super Breakout
- 2. Breakout – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 3. Off – the – Wall
- 4. Circus Atari – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Tempest Pack
- 1. Tempest – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 2. Tempest 2600 – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 3. Outlaw
- 4. Atari Video Cube
Majar Havoc Pack
- 1. Major Havoc
- 2. Secret Quest
- 3. Sentinel
- 4. Yars Revenge – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Warlords Pack
- 1. Warlords – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 2. Warlords 2600
- 3. Combat – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 4. Combat 2 – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Adventure Pack
- 1. Adventure
- 2. Haunted House
- 3. Return to Haunted House
- 4. Save Mary
Tic-Tac-Toe Pack
- 1. 3d Tic-Tac-Toe
- 2. A game of concentration
- 3. Backgammon
- 4. Brain Games
Fatal Run Pack
- 1. Fatal Run
- 2. Dodge ‘Em
- 3. Night Driver
- 4. Street Racer – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Quadrun Pack
- 1. Quadrun
- 2. Slot Racers – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 3. Stellar Track
- 4. Math Gran Prix
Casino Pack
- 1. Casino – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 2. Slot Machine
- 3. Video Checkers
- 4. Video Chess
Sword Quest Pack
- 1. Swordquest Earthworld
- 2. Swordquest Fireworld
- 3. Swordquest Waterworld
- 4. Sprintmaster
Championship Soccer Pack
- 1. Championship Soccer – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 2. Golf
- 3. Double Dunk
- 4. Basketball
Football Pack
- 1. Football – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 2. Home Run
- 3. Miniature Golf
- 4. Bowling
Real Sports Basketball Pack
- 1. Realsports Basketball – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 2. Realsports Boxing – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 3. Realsports Tennis – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 4. Realsports Baseball – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Real Sports Football Pack
- 1. Realsports Football – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 2. Realsports Soccer – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 3. Realsports Vollyball – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
- 4. Video Olympics – BLUETOOTH MULTIPLAYER
Battlezone Pack
- 1. Battlezone 2600
- 2. Super Breakout 2600
- 3. Super Baseball
- 4. Super Football
Hangman Pack
- 1. Hangman
- 2. Black Jack
- 3. Steeplechase

NES skins for your X360

2011-04-06T18:42:00.001-07:00

Yep. That's right! One of my Facebook friends has designed a few nice backgrounds. He just posted them up on his site for download. Enjoy these retro NES inspired wallpapers for your X360.

Click here to visit site.

Gameboys

2011-04-06T05:53:00.001-07:00

I'm sure I've expressed my love for Gameboys in the past, but it's worth repeating. Recently I received and email asking me if I had any interest in a free Gameboy or a Gameboy Advance. What do you think my answer was? ABSOLUTELY! Even though I already have a GB and a GBcolor. You never know when these devices will die or accidentally fill with corrosion like my original GB. RIP. I still own it, but it may as well be a paper weight.

I am very excited about the GBA. I have never owned that unit and look forward to having some first hand game play. I also am thinking about picking up a GBA Flash card to allow me to download all the roms of all the GB games I already own and any GBA games I pick up. Much easier than lugging the actual carts around. As you know, I'm not a big fan of MASS ROM download. Just the games I own. Less wear and tear on my games and easier to carry.

If I had a choice to own any GB system it would be the Gameboy Mini. The device is insanely attractive and fits right in the pocket. I'm not positive, but it may also be backlit. If you've never seen one of these, drop by ebay and type in Gameboy Mini. Comes in a variety of flavors. If you have one laying around that you don't want, I'd be happy to pay shipping!

UPDATE: I just learned that one of my PS3 clan members recently sold off a mini. What a blow!! I'm afraid to ask how much he sold it for.

Original Tron Film Out On Bluray April 5th

2011-04-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

Oh man! I'm so excited to see they finally released the original Tron film on bluray. Last year when Tron Legacy came out I wanted to get the film prior to watching the sequel. Unfortunately it was impossible because Disney had done some testing and found that today's audience would be turned off by it. They actually had screenings where folks were laughing at the visuals. I have to tell you, the visuals are a bit better in Legacy, but it's still glowing folks running around inside a pretend computer.

I realize this is not a retro game, but it's based around the concepts of some of our favorite retro games of the past. It plays off of classic arcade game names and even has the awesome, "Flynn's Arcade" in the film. Super stuff. Get on it! Order one! I'm going to order mine soon and after I check out all the goodies I'll be posting a review.

Get Your SNES On

2011-03-25T04:37:00.000-07:00

Today, one of my friends sent me a link to www.superfamicon.org. Do you have a SNES or three like I do? Well! whether you call it a SNES, Super Nintendo, Big N, Super Comboyto or スーパーファミコン, you will find a complete data base here. Go, read, be fruitful and enjoy. Just take it easy on your thumbs.

Sad Flood News from a Donor - Dreamcast damage

2011-03-17T18:00:00.000-07:00

I received an email about a Dreamcast, SNES games and NES games found in a parents basements. The donor will remain anonymous. He offered up all this booty if I payed shipping and sent him a sketch. I'm more than happy to do so for such fantastic spoils! Shortly after receiving this amazing news I learned that his parents suffered some water in the basement. Unfortunately he had left the whole pile on the floor. (did you heart just sink? It gets worse.) His SNES was also involved in the terrible incident and may have been irrevocably damaged. I'm hoping to have him send me the units regardless to see if I can salvage these jewels of video gaming history.

Now, I want all you readers and listeners to head down to your basements or up to your attics and either put your retro gaming consoles somewhere safe or mail them off to Brian and I for safe keeping and sweet sweet playing. Game on!!!!

Trailer for Telltale Games' New Jurassic Park Game--Coming to PC in April

2011-02-23T04:10:00.000-08:00

Sony Announces PlayStation Suite for Android Devices

2011-02-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

Press Release

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) recently unveiled “PlayStation®Suite” (PS Suite), delivering the PlayStation® experience to Android™ based portable devices*1. Through this entirely new initiative, users will be able to enjoy PlayStation content on an open operating system for the first time in PlayStation history.

In the dramatically evolving and diversifying mobile market, the number of users who enjoy games casually on a variety of devices including mobile phones, smart-phones and tablet PCs, has been increasing significantly. By offering “PlayStation quality” content to this rapidly growing market, SCE will not only deliver the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users around the globe, but will also be able to offer game developers and publishers the potential to further expand their business opportunities to these devices.

In providing the PlayStation experience on Android based portable devices, SCE will commence a “PlayStation®Certified” license program for hardware manufacturers. Through this program, SCE will offer necessary support, including development support as well as logo licensing, to ensure the delivery of PlayStation quality experience across various devices.

On the software front, SCE plans to provide PS Suite content within this calendar year, starting with original PlayStation games*2 (PS one® classics) that will allow users to enjoy “PlayStation quality” gameplay on their Android based portable devices. SCE also plans to open PlayStation®Store where users will be able to download content in an easy to use environment, directly via the Android based portable devices. Moreover, SCE will provide a new game development environment in an effort to ensure new and compelling content is delivered on PS Suite, which will also offer opportunities for a wider base of developers and publishers to further expand their business on various portable devices.

Newly developed content for PS Suite can also be enjoyed on the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which SCE announced today. Users who have never experienced PlayStation content can get a taste of the PlayStation experience through PS Suite and from there, they can enjoy the ultimate portable entertainment experience that is only possible on NGP.

SCE will vigorously enhance the entertainment world delivering the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users.

Telltale Games Has Gone Back to the Future!

2011-01-30T16:32:00.000-08:00

While technically not a retro game, Telltale's new adventure game is based on one of the most beloved retro franchises of all time--"Back to the Future." The developer behind "Sam &Max" and other great adventure games have created a five-episode adventure game that picks up after the events of the third movie.

The story involves Marty going back in time to retrieve Doc Brown after the DeLoran returns to the present with him. Writer Bob Gale (who co-wrote the trilogy) helped work on the game, and Christopher Lloyd voiced Doc Brown himself!

You can grab the first episode of "Back to the Future" right now over at www.telltalegames.com/bttf. In the meantime, check out the game's trailer below!

Use your Wiimote on your Computer and Droid

2011-01-23T04:48:00.000-08:00

I was looking for a USB NES controller one day and a Facebook friend recommend I try and use my Wiimote as a controller while I waited to purchase a USB version. I did some Google searching and came across PieGlove. It's a simple program that allows you to use your built bluetooth or a dongled to control your Wiimote. It tooke me a few tries but I got it working. If you have trouble at first, try a different version. In Windows 7 64bit I had to use the older version, which was strange.

After successfully getting PieGlove to work, I had a fantastic idea. If someone made PieGlove, then certainly there must be an NES addict out there who made a driver for my Droid X. And I was right! After a quick search in the apps store, I found a WiiMote controller app (Wiimote controller by C.C.P. Crea@ions). I loaded it up and it worked perfectly with NEStoid (which is a GREAT emulator but the on screen controls can be annoying)

Attention SEGA Fans: The Dreamcast Collection Is Coming In February 2011!

2011-01-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced that a packaged compilation of classic titles from SEGA’s popular Dreamcast™ console will hit retail shelves for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC digital download. The Dreamcast Collection will be available on February 25, 2011, in Europe and February 22 in North America.

The Dreamcast Collection includes the fan favorites Sonic Adventure™, Crazy Taxi™, SEGA Bass Fishing™ and Space Channel 5™: Part 2. Players will get to enjoy four very different Dreamcast experiences, from hopping behind the steering wheel of Crazy Taxi, to taking things a little slower by luring in their fish before catching them hook, line and sinker with SEGA Bass Fishing. Alternatively, take over as intergalactic news reporter Ulala in Space Channel 5: Part 2 and dance your way past the evil Rhythm Rogues, or make it all about speed in Sonic's first Dreamcast outing, Sonic Adventure!

SEGA’s Dreamcast Collection features enhanced graphics for both platforms versions, providing an even more engaging experience. In addition to this, achievements and online leader boards will be available on Xbox 360 for each game providing a competitive edge and allowing players to prove their skills!

“The Dreamcast console is still remembered as a pioneering console for online gaming,” commented Gary Knight, VP of Marketing at SEGA of America and SEGA Europe “We are delighted to be able to offer to our large community of dedicated fans a collection such as Dreamcast Collection for them to enjoy old favorites on this Xbox 360 and Windows PC.”

Dreamcast Collection will be available in North America on February 22, 2011, for Xbox 360 and Windows PC digital download.

Retro Review--Donkey Kong (Wii Virtual Console)

2010-12-30T18:56:00.000-08:00

Man, I love me some Donkey Kong. There are certain games from my childhood that are embedded in my brain permanently, both for their gameplay and their unmistakable sounds. From the moment the ominous intro music starts, Donkey Kong brings me right back to 1981.

Sadly, however, the Virtual Console version of Donkey Kong fails to fully complete my nostalgic trip back to my childhood, as the version available for the Wii is the NES version, not the arcade one.

This is bad, because the NES version, for those that don;t remember, is missing one of the four levels (the conveyor belt one). This game has only three levels, and it’s also missing the intro where Donkey Kong jumps on the girders before Mario starts making his way up to Princess Paulina.

It’s not all bad--the base mechanics and graphics are fine, and the signature sounds are all still there. This version also offers two levels of difficulty, for those that like their barrels to be coming fast and furious.

So, if you’re looking to take a trip down memory lane, you can download Donkey Kong on virtual console for five bucks. Just keep in mind, you won’t be able to go all the way down memory lane. But, a short walk is better than no walk at all.

3 out of 5 Incomplete Trips to the Past

Grab Pac-Man on the New Chrome Web Store

2010-12-08T12:08:00.000-08:00

If you aren't using Google's Chrome web browser by now, you should be. Not only is Chrome a great, simple browser, but Google just launched an app store featuring hundreds to apps that will make your browser feel like your smart phone. Many of the apps are free, and a couple cool free ones feature everyone's favorite ghost-chomping hero, Pac-Man. The first is Pacman Classic Arcade, whihc is a recreation of the original, and the second is Google Pacman, which features a board designed like the Google logo.

Both apps are free, and when you download them to Chrome, they become buttons you can click when you open a new browsing tab. To find them on the app store, just do a search for Pac-Man.

Sure, you can find these game elsewhere as well, but it's nice to have them just a click away when you're already using the Chrome browser.

That Game is So Hard

2010-11-29T08:30:00.000-08:00

How many times have you heard that about an NES game? I was reminded of that line when I did an interview with No Apologies last week. I was speaking with Darrel Taylor and a few games came up.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
If you've ever played the original for the NES (and I don't mean the four turtles at a time walking around the street version) you know how hard it can be to make it through this game. All the side scrolling platforming in the sewers loaded with respawning enemies can be a bear. Not to mention, when you get low on life, you're listening to the loud beeping health reminder, go topside and get taken out by the rolling top view enemies of the streets. I always remember dropping the first three turtles like flies and then being VERY careful with the last and final turtle of the game.

Top Gun

Seriously, do I even have to point this out? How many of you can land the jet on the air craft carrier? We all have talked about it. I may have done it once or twice in my life. When I got to that point, I handed off the controller to the kid who could land it. And usually it was that kids only claim to fame. Any other game and he was terrible. But landing that plane? He could do it in a heart beat.

Transformers
Honestly, I never got past the first screen of this game. It's just ridiculous and rage inducing. And that all I really can say about it!

Retro Review: Splatterhouse (TurboGrafx-16 / Wii VC)

2010-11-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

"Splatterhouse" is one of the classic games from the TurboGrafx-16 console, and it was the one game that made me pine for that console (even though I never actually ended up getting one). Nintendo brought the game over to their Virtual Console, and now everyone with a has a chance to check out the game.

For those that don’t remember, "Splatterhouse" was an arcade game that was ported over to the TurboGrafx-16 console. The game put players in the role of Rick, a parapsychology student that went into a supposedly haunted house called West mansion with hi girlfriend Jennifer. They get attached by strange creatures, Jennifer is kidnapped and Rick is mortally wounded. Rick wakes up some time alter, having been revived by the “Terror Mask” (which looks a lot like Jason’s hockey mask), and he sets off to save his girlfriend.

The gameplay is straight beat ‘em up-style, with Rick punching and kicking his way through floors of hideous monsters. He can also pick up weapons along the way--2x4’s, machetes and the like. The game is very graphic, even in it’s “censored” TurboGrafx-16 version on the Virtual console, which replaces some of the more disgusting elements. There are six levels that culminate in boss battles, and the bosses are some of the more unique ones you’ll see in a beat ‘em up. One of my favorites is the second boss, which is basically a haunted room right out of "Evil Dead 2," where the furnishings themselves attack you. The final level features an interesting twist that I will let people experience for themselves.

"Splatterhouse" still holds up pretty well as a beat ‘em up in my opinion, and with the remake slated to arrive for the 360 and PS3 later this month, it’s a great time to revisit this old classic. I have heard that the original will be an unlockable in the new game however, so you may want to hold off on the Virtual console version us you plan on picking up the new game, as I’m not sure if the unlocakble version will be the original arcade game.

Steampunk Arcade Cabinets

2010-11-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

Many of you know I enjoy steampunk art and any sort of functional art. When I was googling steampunk cabinets today, I came across this steampunk arcade cabinet. How cool is this!? Would look great in my studio don't you think? Here's the article:

http://hacknmod.com/hack/dr-frankenstien-arcade-cabinet-epic-steampunk-gaming/

Review--Haunted House (2010)

2010-11-05T08:08:00.000-07:00

So I mentioned a little while back that Atari was updating the 2600 classic "Haunted House" after almost thirty years. I picked the game up a couple weeks ago, and I have been having a lot of fun with it.

In the 2010 version of haunted House, you play as one of the grandchildren of Samuel Silverspring, the protagonist of the original game.

You can choose to play as either his grandson Jacob, or his granddaughter Silvia. Samuel disappeared thirty years ago, and the grandkids get a strange letter that leads them to head to Graves Mansion to find out what really happened to granddad.

Like the original game, "Haunted House" has you exploring a creepy mansion and trying to put together the pieces of a magical urn (as well as solve the mystery of Samuel's disappearance). Much of the gameplay takes place in the dark, and players have to find light sources like matches, candlesticks and flashlights to help light their way and (in the case of the flashlight), fend off the ghostly enemies that populate the mansion. There are several floors to explore, with many rooms in the mansion requiring keys that must be found in the various chests, desks, dressers and other containers that are in different rooms. Along the way you face ghosts, bats and other supernatural creatures that can literally paralyze you with fear, as well as drain your health.

The controls in "Haunted House" are pretty simple, as you use the nunchuk to navigate, and tasks like opening containers, scrolling through belongings and using light sources are assigned to various buttons. When a ghost or other enemy freezes you, shaking the Wiimote will get your character to snap out of it and get moving again. Everything works well together, and even younger kids should be able to pick up the controls in a relatively short amount of time. The game also offers checkpoints in the form of fireplaces that, once lit, will serve as a save point should you die. Those looking for additional challenge can ramp up the difficulty, where enemies are more deadly and

What I liked most about the game is the sense of creepiness that you immediately feel by being plunged into darkness. Even the cartoonish graphics don't dull the sense of panic you feel when you run low on light sources and can hear ghostly moans or approaching footsteps in the vicinity. It's fun and scary at the same time, a perfect combination for younger players, and still really enjoyable for adults. You can also play two-player local co-op, so if it's a little too creepy for your little ones playing alone, you can always jump in and help.

I am really happy with the new "Haunted House," as the game keeps the spirit of the original and builds on the simple gameplay without changing too much. You can grab the Wii version on disc for $20 (like I did), or get the PC and XBox 360 downloadable version for $10. Either way, it's well worth the money if you enjoyed the original, or are looking for a fun and spooky family game.

4 out of 5 Don't Be Afraid Of The Darks

You should also check out the game's official website, www.atari.com/hauntedhouse, as you can play the original Atari 2600 version of the game there for free!

8-Bit Music and a Jonesing for Mario 2

2010-10-18T09:20:00.001-07:00

One big draw to almost any 8 bit game is the fantastic music the composers were able to come up with the limited pallet of sounds and virtual instruments. I've had the intro music for Super Mario Brothers 2 in my head all day. This made me want to youtube it up and watch some game play. As I write this blog I can here the under ground congo drums in the background and now the boss music as the eggs fly towards out hero Mario. Anyone who's played the game and hear the music in there head now. What are some of your favorite 8-bit anthems? Sound effects? Maybe we need to discuss this on the show, much like our early conversations about power ups. I will trail out this article listening to some more under ground music which also reminds me of desert level. Enjoy the clip.

X-Men Arcade Coming To PSN, XBLA!!

2010-10-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

Most retro gamers will probably remember the excellent 1992 X-Men arcade game. Up to six players could team up and battle against the likes of Nimrod, Wendigo, Juggernaut and a slew of other enemies. The co-op brawler featured Cyclops, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler and Dazzler (yes, Dazzler) as playable characters. Konami will be brining the classic game to PSN and XBLA this fall, and it will feature 4-player offline and 6-player online co-op.

For those that need a little memory jog, check out the trailer below that was shown at NYCC lat week.

EPIC MICKEY or World of Illusion

2010-10-04T05:34:00.000-07:00

Back in my days of SEGA Genisis I owned a game called World of Illusion. An awesome game to play with a friend or family member. As Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, you worked your way through the world of illusion fighting enemies and helping your friend reach higher places by jumping off of them or lowering a rope. The graphics were pretty good for that time period and the platforming was spot on.

Retro Review--Haunted House (Atari 2600)

2010-09-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Last week I mentioned that Atari is releasing a remake of their 2600 classic "Haunted House" in October. This week I dug out my Atari Anthology for the PS2 and played through the original. It holds up surprisingly well.

In "Haunted House" you are searching through the haunted Graves Mansion for three pieces of a magical urn, while trying to avoid tarantulas, bats and the ghost of old man Graves himself. On screen you're represented by a pair of eyes that look in whatever direction you're heading. The house is completely dark, and you'll only find the urn pieces by using matches to light up a small area around you and reveal anything that's close. The goal is to collect all three pieces of the urn and escape the house before losing the nine lives you are given to start with. Anytime one of the monsters touches you, you are scared to death and lose a life. You can pick up a magic scepter that protects you from enemies, but since you can only carry one item at a time, you'll have to put down the urn to carry the scepter.

What's great about "Haunted House" is that the base game is simple, and you add incremental levels of difficulty in the nine game modes that are offered. The basic game shows you the layout of each of the four floors of the house, and each floor is a different color. The doors are unlocked, and the main threat you have to worry about is avoiding enemies while looking for the urn. Once you feel comfortable with that, you can turn off the lights completely, which means you can only see walls, doorways and enemies when you have matches lit, or when the odd lightning flash illuminates the screen. If that's not enough, you can add the option of locked doors, that require you to find a key to open. These increased levels of difficulty ramp up the tension (particularly when everything is dark), and the game can get pretty atmospheric, which is saying a lot given the simple graphics and presentation.

For a game that's almost 30 years old, "Haunted House" is a still a fun, creepy game that kids and adults can pick up and play instantly. You can find it in the Atari Anthology for the PS2, or grab it in Microsoft's Game Room for the XBox 360. The new "Haunted House" will be coming out for Wii this Halloween.

Atari's Haunted House Update Launches Sept. 28th For Wii

2010-09-19T05:51:00.000-07:00

Holy cow! Everyone who grew up on Atari 2600 remembers the classic "Haunted House" and the iconic pair of glowing eyes that represented the player as they tried to navigate the haunted Graves Mansion. Well, at the end of this month, Atari is releasing a brand new "Haunted House," and it looks awesome. In this new game, you'll play the grandchild of the person who disappeared in the mansion years ago. Looks like fun for the whole family. Now I need to go play the original again--maybe I'll get a review up here on that one soon.

Check out the trailer for the new "Haunted House," which is also supposed to be coming to XBox Live, PSN and PC.

Super Mario Brothers Turns 25 years Today!

2010-09-13T17:51:00.001-07:00

How did the folks at Cartridgecade miss this one. I seem to find a lot of links on Facebook through Mike Swaby. And here is one of them now! Enjoy the article.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/707466/Super-Mario-Bros-Memories-25-Year-Anniversary.html

Had I known earlier I would have thrown a party tonight!

AURCADE: Arcade Locations

2010-09-13T05:47:00.000-07:00

I should remind everyone that visits this site, that you should visit http://www.aurcade.com/ and register your local arcade. They are becoming rare and hard to find. Help your fellow retro gaming geeks and lead them to quality arcades. There are too many ticket gambling arcades out there and we need to know where the sweet spots are.

So go to the site today and tell use where the retro gaming goodness is!

Retro Review--Shining Force (Sega Genesis)

2010-09-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

I started playing the Sega Genesis classic “Shining Force” on the recommendation of a friend this week, and I'm really glad he turned me on to it. I actually owned its dungeon-crawling predecessor “Shining in the Darkness,” but I had never tried the sequel.

The story involves your character assembling a group of adventurers and trying to stop the forces of darkness from resurrecting a powerful evil being. The opening hour is pretty cool, as you are sent out of town on an adventure, and the kingdom is invaded in your absence. You actually fight your way back in time to see the bad guy make his escape.

What stood out to me immediately about “Shining Force” is that you have a huge party. You can control up to 12 characters, and recruit even more. That's substantially more than most JRPGs (at least that I've played), and it gives a lot of depth to the turn-based combat. Because each class has it's own movement speed, and different attacks have different ranges, there are lots of ways you can approach a battle. I almost felt like I was playing chess when facing off against larger groups of enemies, and much like chess, you can make a few ill-advised moves and find yourself quickly outmatched. When your main character dies, you resurrect in the town church, having lost half of your money. You do keep all earned experience though, so even in losing battles you are grinding levels.

I'm only a few hours in, but I am already hooked on the battle system and the old-school storyline. I'd highly recommend checking this one out. I'm playing “Shinging Force” as part of “Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection” for the PS3, but you can get it on the GameBoy Advance, the Wii Virtual Console, and even the iPhone or iPad (for a ridiculously cheap $3).

Unused Video Games

2010-09-11T07:09:00.001-07:00

A link to the big fat blog comic about unused video games:
http://blog.bigfatwhale.com/2010/09/10/unused-video-games/

Cartridgecade Rides Again!

2010-09-10T18:18:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so we took the summer off from posting on the Cartridgecade blog--so what?! We were playing retro games all summer, or maybe you didn't hear about the amazing Summer NEStacular Challenge--Super Mario Bros., Metroid and Zelda. All classics, and we played them all summer long.

But you want blog posts, and you want podcast segments. We hear you. We're are re-dedicating ourselves to Cartridgecade over the next few months, so you can expect to get your fix more regularly. So stop crying in your Donkey Kong cereal and go play some retro games.

You know, you could post once in a while, too. Send us a review for cryin' out loud, and save us some work for once.

Mario Dances Swedish Ugly Dance

2010-09-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

Brian pointed out to me that we've been seriously neglecting out blog. I'm not going to make any promises, but I'm going to do my best to post here more often. The funny thing is, I've been browsing retro-gaming goodness and completely forgetting about tell you folks about it. So to kick off the more frequent blog posts I'm going to leave you with Mario dancing to the Swedish Ugly Dance. I'll post soon about the film Scott Pilgrim. A film that EVERY retrogaming fan should see!!

Now go watch Mario! dance.

NEStacular Summer Challenge Print

2010-09-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Well the print is done and sent out to the winners of our NEStacular summer challenge. Congrats on the folks who beat Super Mario Brothers, Metroid and Zelda this summer! IMPRESSIVE! Here is a sneak peak at what they won. I'm not sure what else Brian has intended for this print. But enjoy!

Google Pacman

2010-05-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday pacman. Today you can visit www.google.com and play the google logo as if it were a function arcade game. Decked out with "insert coin" button, it is a good time to http://www.google.com/

Contra Movie Trailer by Team Awesomerocks

2010-03-24T04:36:00.000-07:00

New King of Kong!

2010-03-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

Wow. This guy smashed the old Donkey Kong record by 10,000 points! If you haven't watched King of Kong a Fistful of Quarters, I suggest you do as soon as possible. I'm interested to see the next steps in this saga.

Here's the article

NES LED Mod

2010-02-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

There are tutorials all over the internet to change the color of your LED in your old NES. I think I will be trying this out soon and will talk about it on the show when it finally happens. Maybe I will put together a tutorial as well. Until then, you can watch this long winded version. Personally, I would have used theme music from Castelvania in the background or something 8-bit, but I suppose this will have to do. Enjoy!

Nintendo NES LED Modification Tutorial - Funny bloopers R us

Legend of Zelda Cartoon streaming on Hulu.com

2010-02-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

Every retro gamer was a fan of retro game cartoons at one time or another. If you are still a big fan of retro gaming cartoons, stop by the Legend of Zelda page on Hulu. They are currently streaming season one. I will try and post links to streaming retro gaming shows whenever possible. You can search through netflix and hulu to find a few right now.

Retro Gaming Donations

2010-02-05T06:14:00.000-08:00

Brian and I are always seeking new games, game consoles and accessories. If you think you have something kicking around your parents attic or in your basement and would like to donate the item, please contact us. We do our best to provide our audience with a wide variety of content ranging from the early days of gaming up to ten years ago. We promise, your piece of antique technology will get the love and care it deserves.

2010-02-05T06:03:00.000-08:00

That's right! Brian and I are back in action with NEW Cartridgecade segments. We'll be announcing the new episode soon. You'll be able to go check out the podcast by going to Secret Identity and downloading the latest episode, going to drivethrucomics.com to download or by streaming it via the link on the right column of this site. We'd like you to stop by our message board (RIGHT NOW) and tell us what games you want to hear us talk about.

XBox Live Game Room Announced for Spring 2010

2010-01-07T04:19:00.000-08:00

Last night at CES, Microsoft announced that this Spring, XBox Live users will be getting old-school arcades they can customize with a bunch of game cabinets. It will look and sound like an arcade, and there will be over 30 game available at launch, for an average of $5 apiece. Check out the video below:

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Launch Trailer

2009-11-15T10:55:00.000-08:00

I thought it was appropriate that on the day of its release, we posted the trailer for New Super Mario Bros. Wii. If ever there was a game that embodies the spirit of Cartridgecade, this is it.

NEW SNES/NES/GENESIS/N64 TO WII CONTROLLER ADAPTER

2009-11-05T16:07:00.001-08:00

This is fantastic. This is a SNES/NES/GENESIS/N64 TO WII CONTROLLER ADAPTER. I found it on ebay. I would love to pick this up. Especially if it works with the new Mario game due out on November 15th. If it has gamecube controller support, then I'm good to go. What do you think?

Can't Buy Me Love Video Game Reference

2009-10-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sweetest 8-Bit Rap Video Ever

2009-10-24T06:25:00.000-07:00

This Swedish rapper named Pato Pooh has put together an amazing video featuring nods to many of the best 8-bit era games. Whether you're a fan of his music or not, retro gamers will love this video. There are a few naughty words in the song though, so it's not really something for the kiddies.

C64 Kick - Opens new doors

2009-10-20T06:31:00.000-07:00

I've been in a Commodore 64 kick for a while now, but today I started googling away and searching on ebay. No luck. I also decided to look up the information on possibly building one. Not a lot of luck there. But I did find this crazy kit that is essentially a developer kit for retro gaming. Could you imagine a Cartridgecade video game starring Brian and I? So can I! You can check out more information about the kit (which boasts a $200 price tag) by visiting this link. If I were retired, I'd jump on this right now and become the leading software designer of retro gaming goodness.

Super Mario Borthers Wii

2009-10-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

I visited the Big Apple Convention this weekend with Brian and we were able to sneak into the Nintendo booth and try out the new Wii Super Mario! (just before getting kicked out...)

What a great game. It really brings you back to the old days with its side scrolling, Super Mario 3-esque goodness. I'm sure Brian will elaborate more in a future post. I will say this: We had three people on the screen at once and had a wonderful time jumping, powering up and yelling at each other for hogging. LOL. Lots of fun old-school-style action. I can't wait to buy this game and my only hope is that they provide us with some online action!! Can you hear me Nintendo?

Why collect the consoles if you can't play them?

2009-09-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

I am piling up quite the pile of consoles here and it's about time that I build a cabinet for me to actual play them rather than pulling them out one at a time and hunting for games and cables. I just want to list some of the consoles I have for now and eventully plan out a nice set up to house every system.

NES
SNES
N64
Sega Genisis
Sega Saturn
Sega Dreamcast
Sega CD
PS1
PS2
Gameboy
Gameboy Color
Atari (currently lost)

That about does it for my retro gaming systems. If I can set up a nice rig I'll be sure to post it. It will be a lot of organizing. Especially since I don't want components laying all over the place.

Gamestop 75% off Gameboy and Gameboy Color Games!

2009-09-24T09:13:00.000-07:00

75% off all pre-owned Gameboy or Gameboy Color games

Get 75% off all used Gameboy & Gameboy Color games and accessories.

Cannot be combined with any other offers. Offer valid in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam only. See associate for details. No dealers!

Arthur : Video Game Reference.

2009-09-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

I completely forgot about the scene in Arthur when Duddley Moore is trying desperately to win tickets in a game where he has to shoot a bear. Afterward, Liza is dragging him off and he says, "Oh! Space Invaders." But the never stop. Poor Arthur, he didn't get to play Space Invaders.

Anything else... well, anything else is just child's play.

2009-09-23T11:31:00.000-07:00

I just came across this while searching. I'll never forget when this fella came out. Loved it's scene in the film The Wizard. What else can I say really, other than if anyone wants to donate this thing to the podcast, I will do my darndest to get a youtube video up. Nice. Look how cool that kid is. Where do you think he is today?

CALLING ALL DONATIONS

2009-09-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

Hello All!

I'd like to take this time to thank everyone for listening and also to extend an invitation to our listeners/reader to donate retro game consoles or software. We've had a few people approach us and we thought it would be a good idea to let you all know that there is always more room in our collections. We will be putting a wish list together of consoles that we each would love. We are certainly not going to limit it to the list. I'm happy to announce that I may be a proud owner of a SNES soon. I have never owned one, but I was contacted by a facebook friend who needed to see their unused gear go to a good home. I will leave it at that for now and if anyone has any questions, please feel free to email one of us. Thanks!

From Chicago With Retro Love

2009-09-15T04:58:00.000-07:00

Friend of Secret Identity Richard Holland donated a king's bounty of Atari 2600 goodness recently. A console, controllers and a bunch of cool games (including the infamous 'E.T'). All that's missing is the power supply, which I will be picking up in the very near future. I grew up on the 2600, and I've wanted to go back and get one for a while now, especially so I can show my kids how we did it in to the old days. Many thanks to Richard for letting this baby go! I can assure you it has found a good home over at Cartridgecade.

If anyone else out there has wayward retro gaming equipment that needs some love, let us know!

NES Cart Humidor

2009-09-14T16:15:00.000-07:00

So, one of my good chums gave me this massive humidor thinking I could make a sweet guitar out of it. I might just do that. But as soon as I saw the size of it, I knew exactly what could fit in it. AND BAM! They did! While this is only a tiny tiny portion of my NES games, they look lovely in this well crafted cedar humidor.

I'm dying for a Gameboy Micro

2009-09-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

I was never lucky enough to own a Gameboy Advanced and didn't have a Gameboy color until recently. I just discoved the GBA Micro today. I guess it was short lived, but I can't help but want one. It's fancy dance design is significantly less obvious then my large gray brick or my neon pink GBC. A nice covert GB for times when I'm out of my nerd element. Here is a short article I found online from 2005. I'm still researching. If this thing can play GB games, I found my dream handheld.

Watch this guy open his brand new Virtual Boy.

2009-09-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

This video is absolutely hilarious. I would be beside myself if a friend handed me a brand new virtual boy. It begs the question; "Why the heck did the guys dad have a brand new Virtual Boy in his basement??"

Dreamcast Turns Ten

2009-09-14T04:58:00.001-07:00

Sega Dreamcast turns ten years old today. Why not celebrate by letting IGN tell you way it failed. Check out the video now!

Reprogram a NES Cart?

2009-09-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

So you don't have $135 to buy an SD style ROM cart for your NES? Try making your own. This mod is pretty cool. Easy? I don't know. But If I had the time I would get cracking on this tonight.

Here's more info

He's even got mods for stereo sound, remote start and more!

Program your own NES cartridge

2009-09-09T05:00:00.001-07:00

This is a very cool product. Unfortunately the price point is a bit high for my taste. It allows you to play your ROMs on a cartridge. It saves the roms on an SD card and you are ready to rock.

More info here.

New Dreamcast Game Coming in October 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-09-09T03:55:00.000-07:00

Hubba-Habba What?!!!

Believe it! Developer redspotgames is releasing a brand new racing game for the Dreamcast this October. It's called "Rush Rush Rally Racing," and it's a 2D grand prix style racer. Check out the trailer below, then head over to www.redspotgames.com for more details.

Yard Sale Score!

2009-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Drop us a line at the boards or shoot us an email and tell us if you have had any great retro gaming scores at yard sales, auctions (not online) flea markets etc... Until we get more, here is my story from today!

BAM!!! There it was. Sitting, each component bagged and tagged. It looked too good to be true. Two controllers, AV hookup, System and Four Games:

Robocop
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Legacy of the Wizard
Ice Hockey
That's right. A straight up Nintendo Entertainment System for $5 with games. Yes, I know... I have two already. But really! $5? How could I pass this up? I'm going to clean it all out and make sure it works. Now I'm fully backed up if I have any major issues. Have you seen how much NES controllers go for on ebay? See for yourself. With any luck I'll find a SNES laying around at a tag sale. I could really use one of those. Or some N64 carts.

Hope you enjoyed my yard sale find.

Bob's Sub and Cone in Welfleet MA

2009-08-07T17:19:00.001-07:00

There are not a whole heck of a lot of arcades in the Welfleet area that have upright machines that don't dispense tickets. I go up every year and I'm always happy to see that Bob's Sub and Cone still has some old school machines. Let power off a list here:

Dead Fantasy I

2009-07-23T18:26:00.000-07:00

Video Games | Dead Fantasy I

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

So if you're a fan of the "Final Fantasy" or "Dead or Alive" series of games, a guy by the name of Monty Oum created a series of videos that has the female characters of each series facing off against one another. The animation is fantastic, and I always find it interesting to see what kind of new content people can make by mashing up assets from games.

Arm Champs II at the York Beach Arcade

2009-07-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

The arcade at York Beach, ME is called 'Fun O Rama,' and I've been going there for over 25 years now. Every time I visit, I end up playing something for the first time. On Wednesday, it was "Arm Champs II," an arm wrestling game that feels like a cross between "Over the Top" and "Street Fighter." You are pitted against a variety of colorful characters as you literally arm wrestle the robotic arm of the machine. I can only imagine these fell out of style after some kids had their forearms shattered. Seriously, my arm was hurting after two matches and a bonus level strength test. Still, I did amass a 2-0 record, so I guess that makes me the arm champ.

Star Wars at the Happy Hampton Arcade

2009-07-22T06:25:00.000-07:00

We visited friends in Hampton Beach, NH yesterday and spent some time at the Happy Hampton Arcade. Among the great old games was "Star Wars Trilogy Arcade," a sit-down featuring a combination of FPS and vehicle combat in missions based on the original trilogy. I played the Hoth mission and took down some AT-ATs with my snowspeeder.

Brian

Boardwalk Arcade's 'Boardwalk Bank and Loan'

2009-07-21T05:12:00.001-07:00

One of the best ticket-based games at the Boardwalk Arcade, this one's an oldie and a goodie. You use the air gun to shoot the small targets, earning tickets for every few you hit. Most of the targets animate when hit, like the bank teller who hides under the teller counter, or the spitoon that rocks and makes a clanging noise when hit. Good stuff.

Brian

Chasing Ghosts : Retro Gaming Film

2009-07-20T09:56:00.000-07:00

My friend just brought this film to my attention. It is called "Chasing Ghosts." You can visit their website and find out the next time it will be on cable. I do not have cable, so I'll need to find it on DVD somewhere. Drop by our forum and let us know if you've seen it and if you enjoyed it. I know I loved "King of Kong, A Fistful of Quarters." I you haven't checked that out, I'd go out and get it now. Check out their site. It used to be a cooler site. Don't know what happened. We'll talk about that film more on the show and do a blog write-up for it. GAME ON!!

Boardwalk Arcade in Wells, ME

2009-07-20T06:21:00.001-07:00

So the family made our first trip to the Boardwalk Arcade at Wells Beach last night. This place has been here since at least the early 80's, and some of the original games from when it opened are still here. Like many arcades, most of the games are now ticket-based, but there are still a few stand-ups as well. Over the next few days I'll post some pics of indidual games.

Brian

Arcade Games Referenced in Film and TV

2009-07-18T16:54:00.001-07:00

We've been having a discussion on the show about video game machines popping up in films and TV. There have been a lot of great examples given on the forums and I'd like to share one of my favorites so far. I have not seen this movie, but I'm going to have to get my hands on a copy ASAP. I can see that I will love it. Enjoy! Thanks Niceguyeddie!

Track and Field Still Rocks

2009-07-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

While waiting for friends to jump on XBox Live last night, I went through my XBLA library and remembered that I had downloaded "Track and Field" a while back. I played for about a half hour, and the game holds up amazingly well. Everything about "Track and Field" is streamplined and simple, from the controls to the graphics. In fact, the original "Track and Field" is still better than most of the olympic-style games that have come after it in the past 20 years.

Another great thing about "Track and Field" is that the NES version is really good as well. So, if you haven't played this game for a while, track it down and give it a spin. It's a great multiplayer game as well.

Submit your Arcade Machine Sitings at Aurcade.com

2009-07-16T08:12:00.000-07:00

I submitted the question to our listeners: "Where are your local retro game uprights located." Well, after I posed that question, I started googling in my area and found the site www.aurcade.com. There is not much going on here in terms of New England. So I think it is our duty (being a New England based podcast segment) to fill up the gaps. Brian and I will do our best to do some updating, but I encourage all of our listeners throughout the US and Canada, to visit the site and fill'er up! Thanks!

Dirt Bike - The Game

2009-07-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

Back in college... a "few" years ago, I came across a game called Dirtbike 3D for the PC. It was a downloadible demo which quickly became addictive. I ended up buying a license. I don't remember what the price was, but it was worth every penny. Especially since it allowed online gaming. I'd like to share a link I found to it today: click here

I'm not sure if it falls into our retro category, but I drew my attention, because it gave me a 3D version of "Excite Bike" with some retro flare. You can also mod maps, riders and do insanely silly huge airs. Try it out and let us know what you think.

What game controllers do you have?

2009-07-16T06:39:00.000-07:00

I was zipping around the internet today seeking retro game goodness, when I came across this image in google images. Kotaku.com asks their readers, "which game controllers do you own?" I'm pretty sure I own seven from this picture. Do I know what they all are called? Nope. But I've got them. How many do you have?

Tell us about local retro upright machines in your area.

2009-07-14T09:50:00.000-07:00

Do you have an arcade with some retro games in it? Please share it with us. I will talk be talking to Brian on our next segment about arcades and where they are, where they have gone and how we can try and help our own stay in business.

I recently found a few games tucked away in the upstairs of the Foxwoods casino. I grabbed this picture off of the net to let people know where they are. There are some stairs behind the machines on the right hand side of this picture. Head up those and head all the way to the back. You'll find Pacman, Galaga and Spy Hunter waiting for you. They need some love. Visit the official Cartridgecade Message Board and let us know where your retro game uprights are hiding. A pizza place, arcade, local bar, pool hall etc...

NES controll mod for Wii

2009-07-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

I wish Nintendo would just release a completely white old school NES controller to attach to the Wii. However, rather than holding your breath, you could try this cool mod that I found while browsing for retro gaming goodness. There is nothing better (in my opinion) than meshing todays technology with my favorite old games. That's one of the main reasons I purchased a Wii.

Check out the mod by clicking this link.
Or just buy an adapter!!!!

GMP Game Media Player 2GB - NES Emulator + AV OUT (0549-0001)

2009-07-13T05:43:00.001-07:00

Not interested in obtaining piles of NES carts for your Mini Retro Handheld? Or you don't want to carry around you carts on your long road trips? Try out a handheld like the GMP Game Media Player 2GB - NES Emulator + AV OUT (0549-0001). You can load up your roms and go to town without the hassle of extra bulk. You can also listen to music and watch movies too.

Here is one place to get. You may want to shop around.

Manufacturer Specification

Memory: 2GB
External Memory: SD/MMC Card (Max 2GB)
Display: 3 Inch TFT LCD
Video Format: AVI
Conversion formats: MP4, AVI, WMV
Video Resolution: 320x240
FPS (Frames per Second): 25fps
Music Format: MP3, WMA
Bit rate: 32-320Kbps
Picture Format: JPEG, BMP, GIF
Built in MIC
Record Format: WAV
FM radio: 87.5~108.0MHz
Earphone Jack: 3.5mm
SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio): >85dB
Output of earphones: 2x23mW(16Ohm)
Output of Speaker: 2x23mW(16Ohm)
Languages: English, Chinese, French, Dutch, Czech, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish
USB: 2.0
System: Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP
Power Source: Built in Rechargeable Li Battery
Dimension: 62x130x19mm (LxWxD)

You can also check out this less expensive counterpart, which seems promising"
Click Here

China Manufacturer Specifications

Primary Function: Gaming and media player entertainment system
Display: 2.8 inch QVGA LTPS (Low Temperature PolySilicon) LCD Screen
Memory:
- Internal 4GB
- External Mini SD card
Controller Design: D-pad
Gaming Console Modes:
- NES (Nintendo Entertainment System - 8bit)
- SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System - 16bit)
- Sega Genesis (Sega Mega-Drive - 16-bit)
- GBA (Nintendo Game Boy Advance)
- Neo-Geo (SNK Neo-Geo)
- CPS1 and CPS2 (CAPCOM, arcade game systems, 1st and 2nd edition)
Compatible Video Formats: FLV, WMV, ASF, RM, AVI, MPEG, MP4, RMVB, SWF
Compatible Audio Formats: MP3, WMA, APE, FLAC
I/O Slots
- Earphone jack
- Mini-USB slot
- Mini-SD slot
- AV OUT (output to TV - NTSC or PAL, 16:9 or 4:3)
- Stereo Speakers
Additional Media Functions:
- FM Radio with recording function
- Voice Recorder (MP3, WAV)
- Image viewer (JPG, BMP, GIF, PNG)
- Ebook reader (with text to speech function)
Languages: English, Chinese (simplified), Chinese (traditional)
Dimensions: 125mm x 56mm x 14mm (L x W x H)
Manufacturer Ref: C244B8F4E8
Catalog Ref: Nintendo, DS, videogames, handhelds

Product Notes

Introduce your children to 8-bit and 16-bit gaming coolness and never hear another "I'm so bored" complaint from them again
NES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System - 16bit) = FC (Nintendo Family Computer, 8-bit)
SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System - 16bit) = SFC (Nintendo Super Family Computer, 16-bit)

Package Contents

Model CVFH-N03-4G Portable Game Unit
AC Adapter
Mini-USB adapter
User Manual - English
Earbuds

NES Cartridge Handheld

2009-07-13T05:36:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, you've always wanted to have full fledge NES games in a hand held format. I remember, as a kid, dreaming of playing Contra, Double Dragon or Legend of Kage on my car ride. Full color, glowing screen and all. It just wasn't possible. But now it is. You can click in a cartridge and hit the road with Think Geeks, Retro Mini Handheld.

Check out the item here!FC Mobile 2 II NES Portable System White

Product Features

Handheld NES system plays original full-size NES cartridges
2.4" LCD TFT Screen
Built in Speakers
Headphone out jack
Includes composite (NTSC) video/audio out cables for playing on a TV
You need to supply your own NES cartridges
Requires 4 x AA batteries (not included)
Runs for over 8 hours on a single set of batteries
Dimensions: 15cm x 9cm x 4cm deep

Dreamcast Donation

2009-07-08T03:20:00.000-07:00

Look what I picked up yesterday. I'm very excited. More to come...

DREAMCAST

NES Wii Game Skin

2009-07-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

I'm in a posting mood today because I'm googling 8 bit graphics to get this site under way. I keep getting side tracked!

Check out this cool skin for the Wii. Easy on-easy off decals to give your Wii that NES look. I actually might get this. I can't believe it, but I don't know that I can help myself. Simple concept: get stickers to transform your Wii. We've seen this idea to add your favorite character to your Wii, 360, PS3 etc... but never have I seen someone make a disguise for their system. I give if 5 out of 5 NES cartridges sitting sadly in a corner.

Check it out here.

Get Your Retro-game On with the Wii and Original Game Controllers!

2009-07-02T06:37:00.000-07:00

This awesome adapter allows you to hook up your N64, SNES or NES controllers to the Wii for that real retro game feel. Are you like me? You have a bunch of virtual console games on the Wii, but you want to feel like you're really playing the true system or you don't want to worry about batteries in your Wii mote while you try to beat Zelda all in one sitting? Well here is your answer. I may have to get this myself.

I found it here, but I'm sure there are other places on the net.

Let's Rock!

2009-06-24T05:28:00.002-07:00

Woo Hoo! Good to see everyone!

Wait, where is everyone?

Oh well. Let's get this retro gaming party started!