Pandora handheld begins shipping, homebrewers rejoice
Filed under: Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding, Gaming Gear
Emulation geeks unite! We’ve been hearing about the Pandora (the pocket-size gaming system/mobile internet device) for quite some time and I almost thought it would’ve ended up in Digital Press with the rest of gaming history, but no: it’s alive! Not only that, but the infection is shipping.
Homebrew games will most likely start spawning like crazy and may encourage the modding community to do some extra work. If it’s a huge success, it may even start becoming a thorn in the side of some of the bigger players in the gaming industry as emulations pop up from people’s basements. It can run Super Mario 64, for Jebus sake!
[Hat tip: Engadget, GP32X, openXile]
Manomio follows up C64 iPhone emulator with Amiga emulator
Manomio, the guys who made the Commodore 64 for iPhone app, says games will be released as separate packaged apps. There’s not much information on which Amiga games we’ll see, though Archer MacLean’s classic fighter International Karate should be one of them according to Retro Gamer magazine.
Emulation for scrollers like Xenon II, Turrican, Ghosts ‘n Goblins, and R-Type are also said to be running “perfectly smooth.”
Though there’s no release date yet or more info rest assured we’ll be on top of any developments.
[Hat tip: TouchArcade]
Sega Ultimate Genesis Collection brings Sonic and friends to the iPhone and iPod touch (and iTablet?)
Filed under: Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding
OK, I realize that every game has there preferred platform to play their favorite titles, but seriously, is anyone clamoring to relive their childhood memories on the iPhone/iPod touch? SEGA thinks so, and apparently deemed it a fine time to launch a classic gaming portal that’s set to arrive in the App Store in February.
According to the fine chaps at Gizmodo, SEGA’s Ultimate Genesis Collection app comes bundled with one title (the highly suspect Space Harrier II), but allows gamers on the go to make in-app purchases. The lineup supposedly consists of:
• Sonic the Hedgehog: $5.99
• Golden Axe: $4.99
• Ecco the Dolphin: $2.99
• Shining Force: $2.99
Not bad, but someone tap me on the shoulder when Outrun and a decent controller accessory appears.
Review: 8-bit Left 4 Dead
Filed under: Action, Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding, Reviews
The much talked about 8-Bit version of Left 4 Dead has arrived, and after some quality time with it I can tell you that this is the most addicting game I’ve ever epic failed in. It’s a brutally tough game even in the easier difficulty, and it takes a little bit of time to get accustomed to the controls. The music, however, is awesome. While you may not be able to download this at work and play (it’s deeper than your standard TimeWaster), it’s highly suggested that you give it a shot at home.
Portable SNES will make you happy, wallet sad
Filed under: Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding, Gaming Gear
Sure, the Super NES was totally awesome, but would you be willing to blow $700 on the thing? Now, you may really love your Pilot Wings and Super Mario World, but we’re in the mother-of-all recessions here and $700 seems like quite a lot considering that you can play all those games for free these days. Besides, the controls on the thing look very awkward with the D-pad and buttons position way high (not to mention the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-type color scheme going on).
On the upside, the display looks to be full color, and has a max resolution of 256 x 224 (which is even a hair sharper than the Nintendo DSi’s 256 x 192). Plus, there’s a 3.58-MHz processor in there . Not bad I guess, but for the price you can get a device that can do a whole lot more besides play SNES games. And with rumors of the Apple iSlate, who knows what apps and emulators may be coming out.
[Hat tip: Technabob & That Girl's Site]
Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril invites you to dust off your NES for 2D, 8-bit action
Filed under: Action, Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding
The NES lives! Sort of.
A group of retro-minded dudes at Sivak Games plan to release Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril on a real Nintendo Entertainment System cartridge. Yep, a homebrewed NES game on a real cart, which will be available at website RetroZone. Starring a green-suited floaty kid name Timmy, Battle Kid resembles the Mega Man series, complete with disappearing blocks, rooms full of insta-death spikes, and giant snake bosses.
8-Bit Left 4 Dead: Free NES-Quality pWnage Coming In January
Filed under: Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding, Run and Gun
Few titles have had as big an impact on videogaming in such a relative small period of time as Valve’s co-op zombie slaughterfest, Left 4 Dead. Not only is the much-anticipated sequel hitting store shelves today, but game’s also inspired the creatively-named iPhone/iPod touch overhead zombie shooter Alive 4 Ever, and what may be the most awesome followup of all: an 8-bit version.
Created by Eric Ruth using Pixelforce NES, it will be available in January for zombie hunters as a free download onto their PCs. It features all the campaigns and characters from the original game, and you’ll be able to play with your friends as well as the game features a multiplayer mode.
The infected seem to work very interestingly, as in the video a boomer just sprays bile all over the place. It will be interesting to see how the horde, tank and others all play out (especially the witch).
Eric Ruth posted a FAQ on his YouTube channel, which you can check out below for more info on this promising homebrew. Maybe that Neo Slim 3000 can be put to legit use, eh?
Neo Slim 3000 Handheld Doubles As Media Player, ROMzzz Portable
It doesn’t have the sleek, polished designed of the GamePark GP2X Wiz, but the Neo Slim 3000 offers another choice to rebel gamers who like their portable media players mixed with a dash of illegal ROMz – - excuse me, homebrews. Regardless of their true intentions, those in the hunt for such a flexible device could do worse than these specs:
- 3.5-inch (320 x 240) display
- 2GB of storage (with SD, miniSD, and TransFlash support)
- Worldwide FM radio support
- JPG/BMP/GIF/PNG photo support
- MP3/WMA/OGG/APE/FLAC/WAV support with synchronous lyrics display
- WIN2000/XP/VISTA/WIN7/MAC
Perhaps most sexily, it supports Famicom, Mega Drive, Super Famicom, and GameBoy Advance games right out of the box, so if you happen to be programming homebrews for those platforms, you’re good to go. Price and availability are still up in the air, but it’s the type of device you’d see in Chinatown, or being sold online at Play-Asia, for around $200.
11-Year Old Hates Contra and All That Is Fun In Life
Filed under: Emulation, Homebrew, and Modding, Gaming Culture
Props to /gamer for unearthing one of the more intriguing gaming related YouTube clips that has ever graced the popular video repository. Kerry of Nerd Balloon has launched “Project D” a social experiment in which he sits down an 11-year old (raised on a steady diet of modern first-person shooters) in front of a computer emulator to play the games on which we were reared. Games like Contra.
Contra is known for three things: Twitch gaming, the Konami Code, and tough-as-nails difficulty. Oddly, I thought the latter was more hype than reality; a shared “games were harder back in the day” mentality used to elevate our skill levels to god-status (for those that finished it), or help construct a mythos of frustration (which explained why some were unable to finish it). I was wrong, it seems. Of Contra, the youngster says:
“It’s pretty hard. It’s not as easy as Halo 3 or Call of Duty World at War.”
That’s about as good as it gets, as junior proceeds to take a solid one all over Contra, as expected. The PlayStation may have very well have been his first console.
According to Kerry, the next game that kid will tackle is Battletoads. The kid’s toast.
Commodore 64 for iPhone Rejected From iPhone App Store; Retro-Geeks Heated
File this one under “it’s a damned shame” category: iPhone developer Manomio has crafted what appears to be the mother of all mobile Commodore 64 emulators – - the appropriately named Commodore 64 for iPhone – - only to have Apple shut the door, lock it, and turn out the lights. The app, which has been in development over the past year, wasn’t rejected because it’s unlicensed; quite the contrary, Manomio got official support from the Commodore rights holders. The reason?
…it violates the iPhone SDK Agreement; “3.3.2 An Application may not itself install or launch other executable code by any means, including without limitation through the use of a plug-in architecture, calling other frameworks, other APIs or otherwise. No interpreted code may be downloaded and used in an Application except for code that is interpreted and run by Apple’s Published APIs and built-in interpreter(s).”
If you have the burning desire to cry bullocks, we fully support your outburst. Check out what we’re missing:
-
Categories
-
Circle of the Joystick
By Business Card Designs
Get your 2D-X gear!
-
Most Popular
- TimeWasters: Infector: World Domination
- How To: Beat the Turtle (and other bosses) in Civilization Wars
- Interview: Herb Yang, Managing Producer for Dungeon Fighter Online
- 4chan Features The Most Epic Pokemon Artwork Ever
- Epic 4chan Pokemon artwork: Take 2
- Interview: Ray Murakawa, Producer, Tecmo NBA Unrivaled
- Project Needlemouse becomes Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1
- Interview: Robby Zinchak, Associate Producer, Final Fight: Double Impact
- CES 2010: Hands-On with Super Street Fighter IV
- CES 2010: Hands-On With Dark Void Zero
-
Recent Posts
- Interview: Jimmy Soga, product manager, Lunar: Silver Star Harmony
- Is PlayStation Move the Nintendo Wii killer?
- Review: The Battle of Olympus (NES)
- Interview: Mike Fahrny, producer, Tecmo Bowl Throwback
- Gameworks, Las Vegas: SEGA’s gaming oasis in the desert
- Virtual Vox Pop: What’s the hardest 2D game you’ve ever played?
- Microvision’s Show WX pico projector pimps your portable playing
- Shank pre-GDC gameplay trailer is bad ass
- Free Twin Blades DLC revealed in new trailer
- Grab your stylus: Scribblenauts sequel coming this fall
