retro
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A Mac SE becomes a store sign
This is some fantastically creative use of an old Mac that still has some life left. Bonus points for using it at what appears to be a retro clothes shop, since the Mac SE is a bit of an antique in its own right. I wonder if the Mac is for sale too? [Photo credit: Maduarte]
Fight the (super) power as Kim Jong Un in this bizarre retro-styled shooter
Ah, the '90s. A decade of mullets, heroin-addled rock-stars and 16-bit video games where North Korean dictators waged one-man wars against the United States. Wait, what? In Glorious Leader!, you play as modern-day despot Kim Jong Un in a retro-styled 2D fight against the entire United States Army. Over the course of seven levels, your task is to destroy the Western invaders either on-foot or on the back of a unicorn, and if you can enlist a pal, they'll play as Dennis Rodman. Seriously. Developer Moneyhorse Games stresses that the game is purely tongue-in-cheek and is promising a November release for mobile devices and the PC. Until then, if you want more Sega Genesis-styled mayhem, the teaser after the break will have to do.
Hipstamatic brings its retro filter editing to video with Cinamatic
Hipstamatic was early to the filter-driven photo editing fray, and now it takes aim at Vine with the Cinamatic app. The new offering allows users to long press on the screen to record videos that range up to 15 seconds in length -- just like you've encountered before. Once the footage has been captured, a smattering of retro-inspired presets are available for punching up the vids. Unfortunately, there's no way to delete portions of of the video right now, so you'll have to start fresh when you drop an accidental expletive. Unlike Vine or some other popular apps, there's no built-in feed. Cinamatic means for you to beam clips out to other social avenues for circulation. The price of admission is $1.99 and it comes with five filters to start, with the ability to make those tempting in-app purchases to pad the toolbox.
Introducing the Analogue Nt, a $500 1080p NES
You say you want to play some classic retro games, but you want to do so in the most modern, fiscally irresponsible way possible? Analogue Interactive has just the thing. According to its lengthy, almost fetishistic feature list, the Analogue Nt is crafted from a single block of "6061 aluminum," which contains the same hardware used in the construction of the original NES. As a result, the Analogue Nt supports all NES peripherals (such as the Zapper light gun) as well as cartridges for both the NES and its Japanese analogue, the Famicom. Furthering its modernist design principles, the Analogue Nt offers video output in every common standard, up to HDMI at 1080p resolution. Granted, many NES games were specifically designed to be played on a classic CRT television at a resolution lower than you'd find on a cheap mobile phone, but stretched pixels are easy to ignore when you're incredibly wealthy. Unfortunately, you'd have to be incredibly well-funded to grab an Analogue Nt as an impulse purchase. Pay a visit to the website's storefront and you'll find a $500 price tag attached to the Analogue Nt. Oh, but that's just the base model. An HDMI adaptor (no, you won't find one included in the packaging) will set you back $50, and if you'd like your machine in a color other than "nude aluminum," you should expect to shell out another $50. Controllers are likewise expensive, with "new" NES controllers fetching $50, while refurbished models are priced at a mere $30. Analogue Interactive hopes to ship the Analogue Nt at some point during this Summer. If you just can't wait for your NES fix, know that the original hardware is widely available at a fraction of the Analogue Nt's price tag. [Image: Analogue Interactive]
This Apple II Raspberry Pi enclosure is incredible
Why just put that Raspberry Pi into a boring little plastic box when you can give it a classy place to live? Charles Mangin is selling these Apple II Raspberry Pi cases at his RetroConnector Etsy shop for US$115. Mangin is the same clever fellow who developed the tiny Disk II SD card reader we covered last month. The cases actually come in several varieties, including the the original Apple II, the IIe or the Platinum IIe, and it's also available in Bell & Howell "Darth Vader" Black. Put the case together with the wee Disk II SD card reader, and the result is even more pure awesomeness.
The sexiest Mac desk you'll ever see... from 1988
Everyone takes photos of their Mac desks these days, but rarely do we get a glimpse at setups from yesteryear. Ned Raggett was ahead of the game in 1988, snapping a photo of his computer desk way before it was the cool thing to do. His describes the setup as follows: "Let's see, dot-matrix printer on the left, my Mac 512K enhanced with the Kensington add-ons here and there (yes, including the little mouse pocket), extra disk drive on the right along with the disk holder itself, mouse pad...well well well. " In 1988, this was a respectable rig, and that rather ornate table is the perfect place for it all to sit. Great stuff. [Photo credit: Ned Raggett]
How to turn your iPhone or iPad into a retro game console without jailbreaking
The iPhone and iPad are already super-capable gaming devices, with thousands of quality titles spanning all genres and tastes, but sometimes it's nice to take a trip back to yesteryear... and sometimes you want to see those games on the big, beautiful HDTV screen in your living room. Here's how to do it. What you'll need A capable iOS device - Anything starting with the iPhone 4s should do fine. With older hardware you risk some serious performance issues with certain games and won't be able to use AirPlay. An A/V adapter w/HDMI or Apple TV - The cheaper route here is to use the official Apple A/V adapter (either for Lightning or the older 30-pin connector), but using AirPlay along with an Apple TV allows you to go cordless and, depending on the emulation software you choose, AirPlay may provide a more responsive, lag-free experience. Emulation software - We'll go over the options here in a little bit. An MFi game controller (optional) - If you prefer real buttons, several emulators allow you to use these accessories for a more tactile experience. The Software Once reserved for gamers willing to jailbreak their devices, game emulators can now be downloaded straight from the web. You'll almost always have to to some trickery with your device's date and time settings in order to get the apps to install correctly, but it's not too much trouble. GBA4iOS - A Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance emulator, GBA4iOS version 2.0, was recently released to much acclaim. It supports MFi game controllers as well as built-in AirPlay functionality that puts the game on the big screen while you use your iPhone or iPad as the game controller. Game downloads can be handled from within the app, with no file management required. NDS4iOS - This Nintendo DS emulator features the same AirPlay and controller support as GBA4iOS, with the added bonus of splitting the DS's twin screen between your TV and iDevice, the latter acting as the console's bottom touch screen. Similarly, game downloads require no file management. MD.emu - A fully featured Sega Genesis / Mega Drive emulator, MD.emu (find on this list) is a bit more demanding in that it doesn't allow you to simply download game ROMs directly to the app itself. Instead, the app lets you browse your iOS file system in search of the games, which you'll have to download and place in the app's "Documents" folder via iTunes and then sync your device. There's a persistent bug with how the gamepad overlay appears on screen, but it's still playable, and MD.emu does not support MFi controllers. SiOS - Like MD.emu, SiOS (find on this list) isn't quite as streamlined as the "4iOS" emulators, but it's still entirely capable of offering a great Super Nintendo (SNES) gaming experience. It includes frameskip support, saves, and a few other nice features, but the most important thing is that the emulation is nearly flawless. You'll need to use iTunes to add ROMs to the app. Does not support MFi controllers. Setting up Once you decide whether you want to go the wired or wireless route, getting things set up is fairly straightforward. If you decided to go with the A/V adapter and HDMI cord, simply plug your iPhone or iPad into the adapter and then connect it to your TV via HDMI. Start up your emulation software, load a game, and enjoy the action on the big screen. AirPlay through the Apple TV is even simpler, letting your wirelessly toss your iDevice screen onto your HDTV. Regardless of which method you choose, be sure to put your HDTV into "Game Mode" or something similar, to cut down on lag between button presses and on-screen action. Adding a controller If you have an MFi controller handy -- like the SteelSeries Stratus, MOGA Ace Power, or Logitech PowerShell -- you have the added option of tactile control with a couple of the emulators available. There are tradeoffs to using each one, however, so keep these in mind: SteelSeries Stratus - The only wireless controller, the Stratus is perfect for kicking back on the couch, but it also introduces a tiny bit of lag that makes fast-moving games hard to play. Platformers and racing games are rough with the Stratus, but RPGs and other, less twitchy games are ideal. The Stratus is also the only MFi controller you can use without having an Apple TV. MOGA Ace Power & Logitech PowerShell - Both of these require the iPhone, so iPad gamers are left out, but on-screen button response is nearly perfect when compared to the wireless Stratus. However, because both of these controllers cover the Lightning port on your iPhone, you'll need to use the AirPlay option instead of the wired A/V adapter. Note: The use of emulators to play game ROMs is a topic that has sparked many an argument, and that's not likely to change any time soon. Some feel that emulating software you already own -- or dumping your own ROMs from your own copy of the original game -- adds some grey area to the issue, but as the ESA notes, using ROMs will almost always run afoul of user licensing agreements. Read up on the effects and potential consequences of game emulation and proceed at your own risk.
The best Nintendo DS emulator on iOS doesn't require a jailbreak
Apple has a pretty strict stance on emulators in regards to the App Store, so unless you're willing to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad, the options for retro gaming are usually pretty slim. That is, unless the developers of said apps decide to ignore the App Store entirely -- that is the case with NDS4iOS, a Nintendo DS emulator from the same team that launched the jailbreak-free GBA emulator, GBA4iOS, to much acclaim. Much like its predecessor, NDS4iOS can be downloaded straight from the official website. After some finagling with the date, which is required since Apple predictably revoked the dev certificate, the app will load up and present an empty list for game ROMs. You can tweak settings like the opacity of the controller overlay as well as frame skips and other performance enhancements. When you're ready to play, you can seek out game ROMs (to games you already own, of course) via the built-in site links, which then download directly to the app or to a synced Dropbox account. Loading a game is instantaneous and the game provides save state functionality to resume previous play sessions automatically. Perhaps the best part about the app is that it features full touchscreen support for the "bottom screen" of DS games, offering a true DS experience without the system itself. I found that some games seem to suffer a bit in the transition, however, such as the unexpectedly laggy Mario Kart DS. Other games work splendidly, so it's really a bit of a crapshoot. If you're thirsty to relive your DS glory days, this is as good as it gets without dragging out your dusty Nintendo handheld and trying to remember where you left the charging cord.
A Mac graveyard
I'm not sure of the back story on this somewhat creepy collection of defunct computer hardware, which includes quite a few elderly Macs including a Power Mac G4 Cube and a gaggle of iMacs. The photo description says simple "In an old Mac shop," which makes it even more mysterious. Either way, it looks like a meeting of depressed Macs, discussing their glory days. There are some other classics in this collection. Anyone see that Commodore CBM Model 4032 hiding near the Cube? [Photo credit: Martin Deutsch]
Apple's state-of-the-art, ground-breaking, game-changing... cassettes?
It's hard to believe, what with modern Macs abandoning even SuperDrives en masse, but way, way back in the late 1970s, programs on the original Apple II came on these. My, how far we've come. [Photo credit: Jim Abeles]
You came to the wrong neighborhood, Windows user
There's something a bit menacing about the ways these vintage Macs have gathered, like they're just waiting for an unsuspecting Windows XP user to walk by and get roughed up. [Photo credit: Peter Baldes]
Tumblr goes retro by letting you post with a phone call (update: more feature revival than retro)
Forget trying to be retro-cool by replacing your digital music with vinyl -- that's so 2013. Tumblr believes that this year's trendsetters will use its throwback dial-a-post service instead. You can now make an audio post on the social network by calling a toll-free number; all you have to do beforehand is link your phone's digits to your account. Will Tumblr's new feature be a gimmick for most users? Absolutely. However, there's definitely an appeal if you're on a spotty data connection or want to get around online censorship. And besides, it's probably your first opportunity in years to dial the internet. Update: As it turns out, the phone-in feature is itself a bit retro. Tumblr had implemented call-based posting a few years ago -- the company is just drawing attention to its sadly neglected option.
Instacube photo frame finally shipping, will arrive with support for video
Well, that took awhile. Remember Instacube, the purpose-built digital photo frame designed to pull images directly from your Instagram feed? The Android-powered photo screen found itself short on both funding and manufacturing options last summer. These issues set production back almost a year, but come April 5th, it'll all pay off -- the first units are finally shipping out. Instacube's creators used the extra time productively, at least: the final hardware was redesigned to include speakers (to support Instagram video). Future updates will imbue it with the ability to stream content from Facebook, Vine, Flickr and other services, too. Kickstarter backers who opted for the white or classic models should get their units in the next few months, but the team says additional styles won't be available until production hits full steam. A bummer for sure, but hey, folks have waited longer to get Instagram.
Unfortunately, Guess The 90s is really, really good
There are already enough (or perhaps too many) trivia games on the iPhone. There are all-encompassing gems like QuizUp but most aren't nearly that well done, and to be honest, I was kind of hoping Guess The 90s would be a dud as well. I was born in the mid 80s, so the vast majority of my childhood memories took place during the decade that brought us Pogs and popularized snap bracelets. But to my chagrin, the trivia puzzler is fantastic, and so I've been reliving my childhood in 2-minute bursts for the past week or so. The puzzles in Guess The 90s simply ask you to name whatever object, musical group, tv show, or other piece of pop culture it displays on the screen. You have rows of letters with which to spell out the answer, and you can use a hint if you get stuck (but a simple Google search is usually a quicker way to find the answer if you truly get stumped). What really makes the game special is the wealth of 90s content on offer. There are some truly obscure items here, and you'll need a pretty robust knowledge of 90s media, with a huge focus on the TV shows that were popular at the time. There's also a ton of toys to name, one-hit-wonder bands, and even some fashion trends that will make you cringe. Guess The 90s is free to play, but includes in-app purchases of "coins" (which are used to gain hints), as well as the occasional pop-up advertisement. The cash-making features shouldn't hinder your experience too much, and if you don't want to drop a few bucks to score some cheap hints, you can always use the web. If you're a 90s kid -- or really anyone who wants to take a brief nostalgia break -- you might find yourself getting sucked into it.
Slayin' is a hack-and-slash trip down memory lane
Do you remember the old 8-bit hack-and-slash games? You know, the ones where your little knight or wizard was composed of a total of about a dozen pixels, and they walked in one direction and essentially demolished everything in sight? Slayin' is all of those games, condensed and crammed into a single, frantic all-out brawl. You never actually go anywhere, but rather navigate a screen-sized chunk of land while enemies pour in from all angles. They crawl up from below, drop in from above and pop up in every corner of the screen. Your job is to dispatch them -- surprise! -- and thanks to several content-filled updates, there are now a total of six playable character classes, each with their own specialty and weakness. The knight attacks with his sword, but is vulnerable from behind; the wizard can become temporarily invincible, but lacks a jump; and so on. The enemies start out mild, but ramp up to be quite formidable. There are also some seriously epic boss fights tossed in to punctuate the action. These battles are nothing to sneeze at, and you might even be reminded of the mind-numbingly difficult battles from the 8-bit generation. As you progress through the waves of bad guys, your character will gain experience, levels and coins. Your cash can be used at merchants to purchase newer, more powerful weapons and to replenish your health. There's also a type of in-game currency called Fame Points, which are used to unlock things like interface tweaks and additional characters. Slayin' oozes nostalgic charm and it's a bargain at US$0.99. You simply won't find a better way to relive the joys -- and frustrations -- from the yesteryear of gaming than this.
Wooden iPad mini case creates the 1950s TV that never was
Jeffrey Stephenson has long had a knack for giving PCs an elegant retro look, and he's now bringing his crafting skills to the mobile realm. His recently completed DuMont project turns an iPad mini, a Jawbone Jambox and a heap of wood into a tiny 1950s TV set, complete with a woven speaker grille; the owner just has to slot devices into the enclosure's side to indulge in some nostalgic viewing. Stephenson isn't officially selling the box, but he is taking inquiries from those who want a tablet TV of their own. If you're wondering how he did it, you can visit Bit-Tech's forums to check out the project work log.
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Watch as Lightning Returns to 16-bit days in this story recap video
If you're looking forward to Lightning Returns but haven't yet played Final Fantasy 13 or 13-2 - or even if you have - you're not going to find a funner way to recap the story so far than this SNES-y video by Square Enix. Yes, "SNES-y" isn't very clever, but Square Enix already had "retro-spective." It's impressive it fits 900 hours (or something like that) of JPRG narrative into an 8-minute video, albeit with some creative liberties - my favorite moment is around the 6:20 mark. But does it make the stories any more understandable? The jury's out on that, but the jury will soon be in on Lightning Returns. The third game of the FF13 trilogy hits on February 11 in North America, and February 14 in Europe.
Free-to-play JRPG Tales of Phantasia launches for iOS
Namco Bandai has resurrected its 1995 Super Famicom RPG Tales of Phantasia as a free-to-play IOS app supported by in-game microtransactions. The iOS version of Tales of Phantasia retains the classic JRPG's storyline and unique side-scrolling battle system, but ramps up its difficulty to encourage players to purchase optional status boosts and items that revive characters after death. Touch Arcade reports that the game's microtransaction system requires a constant online connection. Tales of Phantasia has seen numerous ports over the last two decades, including enhanced remakes for the PSOne and PSP. The majority of these ports were exclusive to Japan, however. Previously, the only existing English-language version of Tales of Phantasia was a Game Boy Advance port published by Nintendo in North America in 2006. Phantasia is the first of several Tales of... series games debuting stateside in 2014. Tales of Symphonia Chronicles will launch in February, followed by the release of Tales of Xillia 2 later this year. The latest series entry, Tales of Zestiria, was recently announced for the PlayStation 3 in Japan.
Kid Tripp has more charm than it has pixels
As someone who grew up in the 8-bit days, I have a weakness for retro-styled platformers regardless of the platform. So, when I saw Kid Tripp, I snapped it up without hesitation. What I found was a game that not only looks like the vintage titles of yesteryear, but it's also just as difficult as those games ever were. Platformers on the iPhone or iPad -- with virtual touch buttons -- usually suffer from a lack of tactile control. Kid Tripp gets around this by having your character auto-run to the right at all times. Tapping on the left side of the screen lets you jump, while tapping on the right makes you throw a rock. The levels are filled with gaps, pits, spikes and a ton of different enemies that either sit in your path or attack you with projectiles of their own. In short, there are more ways to die in Kid Tripp than you might think. The game gives you 10 lives to start, and you'll burn through those pretty quickly your first time through. A timer is constantly running in the upper-left corner, which means you'll always have a time to beat once you complete a level, and perfecting a run is really where the game turns into an addiction. If you're into speedrunning games -- or the idea of finding the optimal route through a level sounds interesting to you -- you're going to have a lot of fun here. Thanks to the ultra-basic graphical style, the game runs as smooth as can be, which is important when perfectly timed jumps are crucial. Everything is bright and vibrant, and each of the four worlds has a unique flair. The experience is polished further by a retro soundtrack that fits the game perfectly. Oh, and the game has no in-app purchases at all. It's US$0.99, and that's all you have to spend to get the whole experience. That's a rare treat these days, so if you have any interest in old-school platformers, this is the one to buy.
Here's how you activate Broken Age's pixelated retro mode
Hidden within Double Fine's new adventure game Broken Age is a special aesthetic option that coats the game's colorful graphics in a heavy sheen of thick pixels. Though Double Fine hasn't publicized this feature, YouTube user "The Phawx" provides a simple, step by step guide to activating the mode in the above clip. Simply enter the game's options menu, crank its resolution down to 640x480, assign a button to the new icon you'll find in the game's "Controls" menu, and voila, that button now enables retro mode. Even better, once you've activated the hidden feature you're free to return the game to a higher resolution, but will still be able to toggle retro mode on and off with whichever button you've selected. This isn't a true aesthetic makeover, as much as a video filter overlaid on top of the game's default graphics, but at the very least it does give players an excuse to use the game's 640x480 resolution setting - an otherwise largely pointless holdover from the days when computers were all beige rectangles and the Intel Pentium 2 was considered amazing technology.
