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Internet Archive adds 2,500 more DOS games to playable database
Since 2013, the underappreciated heroes at Internet Archive have been working diligently to preserve old and abandoned PC games. In 2015, the organization started hosting 2,400 DOS games, allowing you to play cult classics like Gods and Tongue of the Fatman in your browser. This week, the organization added another 2,500 DOS games to its database.
Disney is tweeting everything that's coming to Disney+
The Disney+ launch is less than a month away, and the streaming service is busy drumming up nostalgia in an attempt to hook users. Today, it started a massive tweet thread sharing "basically everything" coming to Disney+ on November 12th.
Atari's VCS will offer 'thousands' of retro games through a subscription
The Atari VCS is still months off (barring more delays), but it should at least have a healthy selection of retro games when it does arrive. Atari has forged a deal that will offer an optimized and expanded version of Antstream's Arcade game subscription service exclusively on the VCS when it launches. You'll have access to Atari's full library of 300-plus games, plus "thousands" more titles from other vintage platforms -- you could be playing a Nintendo 64 or Neo Geo game if Asteroids is no longer scratching your itch.
Disney's retro 'Aladdin' and 'Lion King' games reach modern systems this fall
If you childhood was defined as much by playing Disney's movie tie-in games as it was watching the movies, you're in for a treat. Nighthawk Interactive and Digital Eclipse are releasing a Disney Classic Games: Aladdin and The Lion King collection on October 29th that brings its two namesake games to modern systems like the PC (via Steam), PS4, Switch and Xbox One. These aren't just upscaled versions of the 16-bit titles, either. They both have modern creature comforts as well as a museum-like approach to the material.
TurboGrafx-16 mini arrives next March with nearly 50 games
Konami's attempt to ride the retro console bandwagon, the TurboGrafx-16 mini, now has a release date and a rather hefty game list. The company has revealed that the mini will be available exclusively through Amazon on March 19th, 2020, with pre-orders starting July 15th. While the designs will vary depending on which region you hail from, you'll have access to just shy of 50 games (there are a few duplicates, despite Konami's claims) split between the US' TurboGrafx lineup and Japan's PC Engine catalog.
Pre-orders for Atari's retro VCS console start at $249
If you're tired of hearing about delays and revisions to the Atari VCS and just want to know when you can buy the damned thing as an everyday customer, you're in luck. The retro console will be available for general pre-order today from both the company site as well as GameStop and Walmart, with orders from the last two expected to ship in March 2020 (crowdfunding backers may get theirs in December 2019). How much you'll pay will depend on just how nostalgic you are, though.
'Contra' anthology will include game versions from around the world
Konami has outlined the full game lineup for Contra Anniversary Collection, and it's good news for, well, collectors. In addition to the four already-announced titles (Contra, Super Contra, Super C and Contra 3), the anthology will include both more familiar games (such as Hard Corps and Operation C) as well as examples you probably wouldn't have bought when new, including the European adaptations Probotector for the Mega Drive and Super Probotector for the NES. You'll even get the slightly upgraded original Contra for Nintendo's Famicom.
Logitech resurrects its classic MX518 gaming mouse
Long-time PC gamers have fond memories of the MX518 for a reason: the 2005-era mouse combined a comfortable shape, convenient buttons and brisk performance at a fairly reasonable price. Even its 2011 replacement was ultimately a spin on a successful formula. If you miss that original design, though, you'll be glad to hear that it's coming back. Logitech has revived the mouse as the G MX518, preserving that egg-like body while giving it 2019-era innards built for modern gamers.
Speak & Spell is B-A-C-K
If you're a techie of a certain age (cough), you probably have fond memories of the Speak & Spell. The Texas Instruments toy's quirky speech synthesis may be quaint by modern standards, but it sounded like magic at a time when getting any computer to talk was a big deal. You'll be glad to hear it's back, then. Basic Fun is introducing a revived Speak & Spell that includes all the familiar games, that simple segmented display (albeit one based on modern LCDs) and, of course, that signature orange-and-yellow design. However, there is one important change you'll have to consider: the voice.
Nintendo warns it won't make more retro NES and SNES consoles
Just because Nintendo revived the NES Classic doesn't mean you'll have the luxury of buying a retro console whenever you'd like. In a chat with the Hollywood Reporter, the company's Reggie Fils-Aime warned that the NES Classic and SNES Classic will sell in the Americas through the holidays, but will be "gone" once they sell out. If you want to walk down memory lane after that, you'll have to take advantage of the games that come with Switch Online.
'Sonic' and other Genesis classics come to Amazon Fire TV
You won't have to shell out for a mini console to revel in Sega-style nostalgia. The gaming pioneer has released a Sega Classics collection for Fire TV devices that brings 25 of the developer's better-known Genesis games to Amazon's media players. They're frequently games from the same franchise, but that's not necessarily a bad thing -- Sonic the Hedgehog is well-represented here, as are the Golden Axe and Streets of Rage franchises. You'll also find individual hits like Altered Beast, Columns, Gunstar Heroes and The Revenge of Shinobi.
Nintendo could make a playable Game Boy phone case
Now that Nintendo has a couple of nostalgia-inducing consoles under its belt, there's a common question: how would it tackle the Game Boy and other handhelds of yesteryear? We might have an idea. The USPTO recently published a Nintendo patent application for a folio case that would turn a smartphone into a functioning Game Boy replica, complete with physical buttons that translate presses into touchscreen input. It's more than a little familiar if you've tried a device like Hyperkin's Smart Boy, only here you wouldn't need to plug in cartridges to play officially sanctioned game copies.
Casio's see-through G-Shock watches are an icy blast of nostalgia
Casio's G-Shock watch line is enjoying a bit of a renaissance on its 35th anniversary (you can even get a full metal model if you like), and the company is making the most of it with some particularly eye-catching wristwear. It just introduced a Glacier Gold collection of G-Shocks that are virtually guaranteed to stand out while scratching that nostalgic itch. Each model has a semi-transparent resin casing and band, with a gold-colored watch sitting at their heart, recreating both the look of classic G-Shock models and the clear style of 1996's stand-out DW-6900K.
Ford Mustang Bullitt review: Almost Steve McQueen cool
Nostalgia is powerful -- it's why we still have Star Wars movies. It's the reason everyone loves the '80s, and if you've ever talked to someone about their favorite music, it's usually from bands that came out while they were in high school. So when Ford announced its special-edition Mustang Bullitt on the 50th anniversary of the movie that starred Steve McQueen -- and contains arguably one of the best car-chase scenes in cinematic history -- the general consensus was "well, of course it did."
The C64 Mini brings its nostalgia to the US on October 9th
You no longer have to toy with importing The C64 Mini if you just have to relive a childhood spent mashing on a Commodore 64's keys. Retro Games has announced that its '80s revival will reach North American retail stores on October 9th. This version still includes 64 pre-loaded titles, including era favorites like Epyx's sports games (such as California Games and Winter Games), Boulder Dash and Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe. You can still add more, and even run C64 BASIC if you plug in a USB keyboard.
iPhone 3GS comes back from the dead in South Korea
Have you ever wished you could relive the experience of owning a classic smartphone? You can, if you live in South Korea. SK Telink is putting the iPhone 3GS back on sale at the end of June after finding a slew of unsold units in a warehouse. Yes, you too can revisit the heady days of 2009, when the Black Eyed Peas dominated the music charts and LTE was still a pipe dream. It won't cost a lot to walk down memory lane when the phone costs 44,000 won (about $40), and don't stress too much over the nine-year-old battery -- SK Telink is inspecting each unit to be sure it's working.
Canon ends film camera sales for good
Canon stopped building film cameras eight years ago, but it had still been selling them from old stock. Now, it has quietly announced that it will end sales of its last film SLR, the EOS-1V, marking an end to an era that started in 1934 with its first camera, the Kwanon. "By the way, we finally decided to end sales for the film single lens reflex camera 'EOS-1V,'" it said in an apologetic statement.
'Sonic the Hedgehog' and other Sega classics are coming to the Switch
Sega's latest nostalgia trip isn't limited to a mini Genesis and Shenmue ports. In the wake of a Japanese announcement, Sega has confirmed that it's releasing a swath of classic Master System and Genesis games on the Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe this summer. The titles will fall under the Sega Ages bundle, and most of the initial roster are titles you'll recognize: Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, the arcade version of Gain Ground and Thunder Force IV. The new series should ultimately include over 15 titles.
Dear HMD, the world is finally ready for the Nokia Communicator
The phone that stole the show at last year's MWC wasn't an Android, didn't have a Samsung badge on it, could barely connect to the internet and didn't have a touchscreen. The relaunched Nokia 3310 traded on one key thing: nostalgia. But it was enough for it to grab most of the headlines, and even see a re-rerelease later that year with souped up "3G" data speeds. That wasn't it though, just a month ago, we finally got the 4G version we presume some people were asking for.
How Netflix keeps ‘Stranger Things’ lo-fi in a high-tech world
Netflix is still surprised that Stranger Things, a science-fiction series starring five young kids, became a worldwide sensation immediately after it was released. Unlike some of its biggest hits, like House of Cards (which is based on a British series), Stranger Things was an unknown property when it premiered in July of 2016. But it quickly captivated audiences, thanks to its '80s nostalgia and the perfectly executed homages to Hollywood classics from the likes of Stephen King and Steven Spielberg.
