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Welcome to another edition of Retro Newsflash, the bi-weekly column where we cover news and current events on the retro gaming scene. Strap in and hold on, because we have a mega-sized pack of retro gaming news this time! Bring on the briefs.
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Nintendo Force Magazine #1 releases
The spiritual successor to the now-departed Nintendo Power magazine is now on sale for its first issue; Nintendo Force, comprised of an impressive contributor roster from mainstream gaming journalism outlets and notable Nintendo fans, aims to continue Nintendo-brand coverage right where Power left off. As announced on Twitter, the first issue is officially out, and questions can be asked on their Facebook page. As you can note in the preview image here, the publication will even include a dedicated Retro section with each issue.
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CollegeHumor reveals 16-bit parody video of a game based on the television series Lost
Surely there is a cross-over contingent of people who are fans of both old-school RPGs and the television series Lost; and, lucky for those people, CollegeHumor has posted an amusing parody video in retro gaming style. Each “level” portrayed in the amusing video is intended as a critique of the respect season of the show. Kotaku had the scoop, and any would-be viewers should be warned that the video definitely contains spoilers. Then again, with a franchise like Lost, do the spoilers really make any difference? The video is truly impressive in capturing the essence of the 16-bit era, down to the sound effects and musical touches, along with specifically skewering titles such as Pokémon, Super Mario Bros 3, and other classic games.
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New retro gaming event in the UK now booking
This is a brand-new gathering called NERG, which stands for “North East Retro Gaming.” As explained on the official website, this is an event aiming to focus on arcade cabinets and pinball machines. Although it does not take place until late June, booking just opened for NERG in the past week. The blog has frequent updates on what machines will be available to experience firsthand, and all machines will be set to free play for the duration. Our arcade-enthusiast friends across the pond may want to consider attending, and check out the Accommodations page for information on a special rate agreement with a nearby hotel.
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ScrewAttack seeking to hire a new intern, now accepting applications
Popular gaming culture website ScrewAttack is seeking to hire a new intern. Although any interested party should already be local to the Dallas/Fort Worth area, this represents a unique opportunity for hands-on involvement with the day-to-day operations of a gaming-centric website. Considering the popularity of their previous interns, the next successor is likely in for an enjoyable experience.
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Blue Core Studios releases Sonic the Hedgehog fan film
Intended as a “spec film” to demonstrate what a Sonic movie could conceivably be like, Blue Core Studios recently released an 18-minute short film on YouTube simply called Sonic. Not only does this effort likely represent the best possible Sonic movie until a major studio finds reason to try it themselves, but longtime fans of popular Internet personalities within the geek sphere will probably recognize a few familiar faces in the production. Check it out.
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Elite: Dangerous successfully reaches its Kickstarter funding goal
Kickstarter has become the premiere crowsourced-fundrasing venture for would-be new retro-style game projects, but this success story might be more significant than most. The Elite franchise of video games, now representing almost 30 years of history, has been highly influential, and was initially notable for an unprecedented level of ambition. Elite: Dangerous intends to reach new heights of ambition once more, as its Kickstarter page suggests, with a remarkable level of gameplay depth and staggering array of possible branches a player can opt to pursue. Fans of Elite, or enormous space-based games in general, may want to have a look at Dangerous.
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The ENIO project progressing to involve beta testers
I will be the first to admit that I lack the technical understanding to truly convey what is going on with ENIO, but I can definitely recognize that it is newsworthy for retro gamers, especially NES fans. The ENIO Wiki has this to say, as to what it is: “The ENIO is like a broker that allows the NES to communicate with devices and IP hosts without having to run an IP stack or bitbang serial data.The original goal was to build an ethernet adapter for the original toaster NES. Along the way, USB keyboard support was added with the possibility of serial communications as well.” So, basically, according to this video, not only will the ENIO allow an old NES console to play online, but will also enable other advanced features, like finally allowing homebrew makers to incorporate Famicom-style sounds into their cartridges. This is, potentially, a very exciting development, and one I hope to keep an eye on. Thanks to 1st World Podcast for the tip on this one.
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On Being Human releases first album, The Human Are Coming
A full-scale release is planned for a future date; but for now, fans of the retro game remix rock outfit On Being Human can purchase their first album from the RetrowareTV store. Note: Yes, this is the same product that debuted at MagFest this year. Also, thanks to Dexter himself for the tip that he, Retroware’s very own Power Strip cartoonist, is working on the album art for the upcoming wide release. You can see On Being Human’s videos on Retroware and elsewhere, but trust me, they are quite good.
Follow-Ups & Quick Hits
Wow, there is truly so much going on in retro gaming right now. If you do not already feel it, I can assure you: 2013 is going to be huge for vintage gaming fans. … It may not make its funding goal, but check out the GCW-Zero on Kickstarter, an open-source handheld system that would be a boon for emulator enthusiasts, among others. … Grey Alien Games, headed by Jake Birkett (who you can follow on Twitter), is working on a mobile version of the old-school shooter Titan Attacks. … Did you like the ENIO story above, and still want some NES hardware news? Then you need to check out the uXeBoy project. I have no idea what it is, but it apparently involves shoving the NES inside of a Game Boy with full-color display. Or something even cooler. … Hey, remember when you could play Donkey Kong Country on Sega Genesis? … Apparently, a Nintendo 64DD development kit sold at auction for a decent price. … If you want a laugh, try entering the Konami code here.
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And that, my friends, is a wrap. If you have any news tips, please send them to me. Seriously, newshounds: If you have a lead on something, let me know, because I want to report it! Thanks for reading.