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Tetris Forever, more Spectrum news, and Amiga Addict magazine details
More retro gaming news than you can fit in a WHSmith carrier bag!
Christian Cawley
August 28, 2024
Hello there! Okay, get ready for what is - I think - the biggest retro gaming news roundup we’ve done to date. Since last week’s news mailout, we’ve had the details about The Spectrum leaked and confirmed, and that’s not even biggest news.
I was at a wedding in London on Friday, on what was probably the single busiest day of the past week for new retro gaming announcements. My favourite is probably Tetris Forever, which is the main story below, but we’ve got magazines, events, and demakes to cover this week, so let’s get on with it.
Table of Contents
Tetris Forever celebrates the game’s 40th anniversary
A huge collection of Tetris games are compiled in Tetris Forever, set for release on the Nintendo Switch later this year.
Like the Atari 50 collection, this is a virtual Tetris museum, bringing together classic titles such as the original 1988 Famicom version of Tetris, Tetris 2 + Bombliss, Tetris Battle Gaiden and more.
Also included is a brand-new Tetris experience called Tetris Time Warp, where you’ll jump between gameplay styles from across the series! The collection also features all-new documentary videos, digital artifacts and an interactive timeline.
Also coming is the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Tetris, and a Tetris 99, both exclusive to the Nintendo Switch and arriving in the winter. There’s no indication on price as yet, but this is definitely one to watch out for, and we’re expecting one or two physical special editions to be confirmed soon.
30% off the Star Wars Arcade1Up cabinet!
If you fancy playing the original Star Wars arcade game but have been holding out on the Arcade1Up reissue in anticipation of a sale, now is the time to act.
This version includes Star Wars, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, and has a 17" monitor, light-up marquee, and four-button cloche controller. Oh, and that legendary sampled sound of Sir Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi!
The Arcade1Up Star Wars cabinet is now 30% off at Amazon! Other Arcade1Up cabinets (such as Mortal Kombat and Ms. Pac-Man) are also on sale.
Get tickets for CRASH Live 2024, Sat 23 November
In collaboration with the Arcade Club and The Retro Computer Museum, CRASH Live 2024 will take place at the Holiday Inn hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire on the 23rd November, 2024.
Opening at 10am, the event features 60+ Sinclair systems arranged by timezones, with hardware, games, magazines, and peripherals to suit. Each system from the ZX80 to the PC 200 will be represented, with other Sinclair-related areas including An Adventure Zone.
You can also expect to see:
A Fusion area will be present where non-Sinclair systems will be available to play and in addition, an Arcade Room where there will be selection of original and new arcade and pinball machines.
We have some brilliant guests already lined up including Mike Richardson (Scuba Dive, turbo Esprit), Bob Hamilton (The Pyrmid), Sandy White (Ant Attack), Jon Ritman (Head Over Heels, Match Day etc). More will be announced shortly.
We will also be hosting a brand new live The Spectrum Show with Paul Jenkinson and Geoff Neil
The ZX Spectrum NEXT team will be present.
The event features a fully licenced bar throughout the day, with food available to purchase, and a raffle. A special edition FUSION magazine will be included with entry.
General ticket prices are £20, with under 3s free. Various concessions and special offers are available, along with accomodation, so get yourself to the CRASH Live 2024 webpage for details.
Further details confirmed for The Spectrum
If you caught our last update, you’ll know that The Spectrum is the new retro console coming from Retro Games Ltd later this year. Some further information has been released concerning the device:
All pre-installed games are officially licensed, and can be played using only the keys, just as they were when originally released.
Includes a BASIC programming interface.
Detailed control mapping instructions for all games, which can be accessed from the themed User Interface.
Keys incorporate an array of functions delineated by different coloured words, a visually interesting and practical design element.
Four USB ports in total, and is compatible with a variety of new and old proprietary and third-party controllers/joysticks.
Here’s the official trailer:
And it seems RGL have wanted to do a Spectrum console for as long as we’ve been hankering for one. Paul Andrews, Managing Director at Retro Games Ltd:
“While we’ve enjoyed working on our other retro computers, this is the one that we’ve always really wanted to do. We all remember it fondly from our childhoods, so it was important that we got every detail right, it’s been a real passion project. So many enthusiasts will be excited by the return of this iconic machine, and we don’t want to let them down, so we’ve poured years of exacting detail into our recreation of arguably the most loved home computer of all time.
“It has drawn an emotional response from those who have seen it, which is not surprising given its close association with childhood and the 1980s, which are now viewed as a halcyon time. We can’t wait for gamers to get their hands on The Spectrum and enjoy a truly magical reminder of the past”.
Available from various retailers, you can order The Spectrum on Amazon now, ahead of its November 22nd release.
The big retro gaming news roundup
With so much news to share this time out, I’ve grouped it by hardware and software to keep things a little simpler…
Retro hardware news
The original colour scheme for the six Retroid Pocket Minis have been revised, with the selection down to just five designs.
Retro hardware manufacturer Retro-Bit Gaming displayed a SEGA Saturn-themed arcade fightstick at Gamescom.
Overkill.WTF has a look at the ModRetro Chromatic, an FPGA Game Boy capable of running GB and GBC carts.
You can now order the FlippyDrive, a solderless Nintendo GameCube optical drive emulator that fits into the console without removing the physical drive.
An old project that aimed to add 4MiB RAM that the Sega CD and 32xCD could access has been revived. If successful, games could use more memory, potentially usable for graphics as well as sound and game logic. Check the GitHub if you’re inclined.
The Super R2 is an upcoming AMOLED-screened MISTer handheld from Taki Udon, and it looks intriguing.
The Anbernic RG40XX-V is now available to order. This ARM-based Game Boy-style handheld has 1GB of RAM, at least 64GB of storage, and comes in a range of colours. It has a retail price of $66.99 (around £89).
Latest retro game news
Game news now. Hold onto your SNES controllers, it’s a big one…
A new Kings Quest VI demake is available to download free (runs on PC).
Following the successful release of Aero The Acro-Bat on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch, Aero The Acro-Bat 2 is following. Here’s the trailer.
Atari is reviving Fatal Run, the classic 2600 and 7800 console title. It’s planned for release on the Nintendo Switch. There is a trailer.
Shadow of the Ninja Reborn is out on August 29th for Nintendo Switch, PS4/PS5, Xbox, and Steam, and sports 16-bit style graphics. Here’s the trailer:
Rare Japanese PS1 rhythm game Mini-Moni. Shakatto Tambourine! da Pyon! has been given a long-overdue English translation. This work has been done by Hilltop, who does a few of these localizations, and is free to download for fans of the game.
The Game Boy Advance port of Super Mario 64 is looking better by the day. (Project video)
PS1 classic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night port is making progress and looks great in this video.
TAITO has confirmed the release of a new cartridge of 10 titles for the Egret II Mini Arcade. The collection will be released on December 19th, 2024, from TAITO’s online store (switch the language to English in the top-right corner).
New Game Boy title, Unearthed, is from the developer behind Grimace’s Birthday. The trailer describes it as an “interstellar puzzle game,” that you can download from itch.io or buy as a physical cart from Limited Run Games.
Scorpion Engine-built Amiga game Dr Dangerous has been updated with new levels and music backing track.
A new Super Mario Bros. ROM hacking super-site has launched. Check out smbarena.com for Mario ROM hacks.
And finally… PC Gamer's Editor-in-Chief, Tyler Wilde observed Sid Meier’s old 386 PC in the lobby at Firaxis, where it is on display with Meier’s chair. That PC was used to develop the original Civilization.
Still want more retro news? Keep reading.
New Amiga Addict and Pixel Addict editions
The latest editions of Amiga Addict and Pixel Addict have been announced.
Amiga Addict #32
Once upon a time there was a game that I loved so much, I turned its title into an exclamation of greatness. That game was Championship Manager.
In Amiga Addict 32, one of the Amiga’s greatest ever games is celebrated, with the facts and stats on the game explored in a nine-page article. It includes interviews with the original developers Paul and Oliver Collyer, plus a full history to the series.
Also in Amiga Addict 32:
Scorched Tanks, free full game coverdisk download.
Amiga CD-ROM hacking.
Amiga Shopper classic magazine coverdisk retrospective, remembering PowerBase database software.
Latest game releases: Tony - Montezuma's Gold and Shift reviews.
Dafel: Bloodline - the tale of an innovative unreleased game from the Amiga’s twilight years.
Classic gaming with Qwak, Bill's Tomato Game and Soccer Kid CD32.
Updates on new floppy drive and disk image solutions GoDRIvE BiG BoX and DrawBridge Plus.
ImageFX graphics editing and effects guide.
Summer demoscene roundup with h0ffman.
Regulars including former-Sensible Software's Stoo Cambridge, AMOS coding tutorial, Amiga news and User Groups.
Plus lots lots more..!
Honestly, if you’re an Amiga fan, you should be reading this. I’ve got every issue so far! You can order from the Amiga Addict shop ahead of its September 5th release. Amiga Addict is also available in branches of WHSmith across the country, and subscription options are available.
Pixel Addict #23
For another take on retro gaming and all things classic entertainment from the 80s and 90s, Pixel Addict is also available. Issue 23 is along next week, with key features on the NES Duck Tales game, as well as Ceefax and Teletext.
DuckTales is critically acclaimed as a "system-seller" for the NES console. Our in-depth six page cover story celebrates the history of this classic Disney game for the Nintendo, featuring exclusive interviews with original producer Darlene Lacy and lead designer of DuckTales: Remastered remake Matt Bozon.
Special Feature: Celebrating 50 Years of Ceefax and Teletext. We showcase the heroes and lasting legacy of the British nation's fondly remembered digital information service! Featuring Paul "Mr. Biffo" Rose of Digitiser and other VIP guests.
"Slabtop" computing - classic portables from Tandy, Epson, IBM and Palm.
Ready Player One Arcade visit and interview with owner Simon Davolls.
Rare vintage hardware including Exelvision EXL 100.
Commodore VIC-20 computer memories.
Outcast classic PC game retrospective.
Parasol Stars new retro game re-release on Nintendo Switch.
New books reviewed: 50 Years Of Boss Fights and Memories Of Firebird.
Computer game-derived movies Gran Turismo and Warcraft: The Beginning.
Ex-Bullfrog Productions developer Alex Trowers discusses the making of Theme Park and other Theme games.
Regulars such as News, Covermount Classics, NES Assembly Programming tutorial series, vintage toy collectables (Tomy's Zoidzilla) and Homebrew Heroes games section.
Plus lots lots more..!
Pixel Addict ships from September 5th, so place your order at www.addict.media. Note that unlike Amiga Addict, this magazine is not available on newstands, but it also has subscription options.
Video of the week: DOOM’s first level remade in DOOM Eternal
Remade as a mod by BloodShot1, the actual music doesn’t appear in the mod but has been added to the video for effect.
Doesn’t it look great?
Game Over
So, that brings us to the end of the midweek retro gaming news roundup.
Thank you for reading. Please share the newsletter with your retro gaming friends, and help me to reach more people.
And I’m very interested to know your thoughts about The Spectrum, so feel free to hit reply and let me know.
Until next time, take it easy!
(This newsletter contains affiliate link(s) that help me to cover the costs of hosting, promotion, and distribution.)
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