Be Afraid. Be Slightly Afraid. It's Atic Atac.

Posted by: Paul Smith

In almost any context, it is usually a good idea to avoid trapdoors.  They are the sort of thing that just sound like trouble, or else they would be called welcome gates, or warmth ways. Or cuddle ports.

Two brothers - Tom and Chris Stamper - certainly understood the tacit malevolence of trapdoors in 1983 when they decided to invent a sprawling maze of a game set in an underground castle, into which the player stumbled after falling through a - yes - trapdoor.  The game itself, Atic Atac, was excellent, combining a tangible sense of doom with several key gaming innovations.   It was, for example, the first game in which the player could choose a character class - wizard, knight or serf - with differing skills and tactics.  The aforementioned sense of doom was provided in no small part by Tom Stamper's artistic understanding of the 'less is more' principle of suspense building - which is handy, as with only 48k of memory around, Doom was a very long way off. 

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I Spy Something Beginning With Classic Gaming - It's Spy vs. Spy!

Posted by: Paul Smith

 The ideal place for storing state secrets in the post Cold War era is on laptop computers, which are then placed in briefcases and left in random places upon the public transport networks of Southern England.
 
In the Eighties it was a very different kettle of coconuts.  With the ever present threat of nuclear oblivion and massive ideologically exclusive armies poised to hurl themselves at each other across the European landmass, things were rather more watertight.  Obscure software house First Star Software decided that the best way to represent this global powder keg was by having a couple of pointy faced fools chasing each other around a split level video game.  For those of you who might want to introduce a trick question into a very dorky indeed pub quiz, it definitely was Spy Vs. Spy that has the accolade of being the first split level game.  Motor racing trailblazer Pit Stop 2 usually claims this title; however, while its split screen was certainly the first in development, Spy vs. Spy was the first to mix it up in Woolworths with the Thompson Twins 12 inch singles and Return Of The Jedi trading cards.

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Desktop Arcade Cabinet

Posted by: Gary Stanton

If you don't have the space for a full sized arcade cabinet, this could be the answer.

It's a familiar story. You desperately want an arcade cabinet running Mame with the best custom joystick parts... But either you've got no space, or more often a wife/girlfriend who strongly disagrees that the spare room should be used as a games room. (Honestly... I run a company selling video game t-shirts, you knew what you were signing up for!)

Well this desktop sized cabinet could be the answer. Combining top quality parts, with a small build, this is a truly beautiful piece of kit - and importantly, can be easily hidden in a cupboard.

We were lucky enough to get chatting to the creator of this awesome cab in a pub recently, so we're hoping to eventually get them for sale on the site, but you can get your hands on the prototype right now over on eBay. And for a mere £350, you're not going to find a better deal, anywhere, ever.

Desktop arcade cab eBay auction

 

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Calling all Street Fighters!!

Posted by: Lawrence Wong

Do you have what it takes to be UK's best Street Fighter IV player? 

That's right, our friends over at Neo Empire are hosting a Street Fighter IV tournament this Sunday (7th June). Best of all, the winner will earn a place at Capcom Europe's UK finals (without having to gain a mountain of GP via the game's Champioship Mode). Sweet. It takes place at Westminster University, Harrow (North West London) and will be run on the Xbox 360 so don't forget to bring a stick/pad. The original 128 places have been filled but they've extended the number of slots by an extra 32. Only a handful of places remain so sign up soon.

You can find out more on the mini-site here: http://www.neoempire.com/sfiv/

And here's the signup thread: http://www.neoempire.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5767

Sadly, we won't be there to kick arse since we'll be at Collectormania in Milton Keynes but we wish everyone the best of luck. While I'm at it I may as well plug Neo Empire's Games Night: Sunday held in London nearly every Sunday. It's basically a session of fighting games where players get to meet and square up face to face. Due to popularity, most machines are currently set up with Street Fighter IV but they also cater for Marvel, Virtua Fighter, King of Fighters, etc. The players are always friendly and helpful. It's a great way to pick up tips and improve your game, I recommend it to anyone who loves fighting games. http://www.neoempire.com/

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New Designs added: Tank Rush, Famicom & Gauntlet

Posted by: Lawrence Wong

Finally. It's been a busy couple of weeks but we're proud to announce 3 new designs. The first is influenced by the RTS 'tank rush' tactic and comes in orange vinyl which looks totally sweet on both brown and white shirts. The second is based on Nintendo's japanese Famicom pad and the last is Atari's classic dungeon crawler Gauntlet.

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Retro GT @ MCM Expo & Collectormania 15

Posted by: Lawrence Wong

Just a quick update to say that we will be attending 2 shows in the coming weeks. The first will be London MCM Expo on Sat 23^th - Sun 24^th May 2009. This is the one with all the fantastic cosplay and Manga madness. More info@>> http://www.londonexpo.com/

 Two weeks after that will be Collectormania 15 on Fri 5^th - Sun 7^th June. Traditionally held in Milton Keynes shopping centre it has now moved to a new venue, the MK Dons football stadium. Entry is still free and Leonard Nimoy (aka Spock) among others are set to attend. More info on guests here >> http://www.collectormania.com/

Our show offer of 2 shirts for £25 will be available and we're working feverishly on new designs in time for the shows. Our new Gauntlet design has already been on sale at the markets.. just finishing off something else. Watch this space. ;)

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Paperboy - it's delivery madness!

Posted by: Paul Smith

Since medieval times, children riding mountain bikes around housing estates have been the traditional English method of buying drugs, guns, and litters of dangerous dogs.   Happily, across the Atlantic, things are very different.   In America, children are healthy, hearty, cheerful, and consider a lithe physique and an excellent well rounded education to be the foundation stones of a happy, productive society.    It for this reason that Paperboy, released by Atari in 1984, finds the titular hero delivering Scientific American around Southern California rather than dumping Inside TV in a canal in Leeds. 

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Ready-Up set gaming world record!

Posted by: Gary Stanton

Our mates over at ready-up.net have always been pretty fanatical about gaming. It's pretty much all they ever talk about which, frankly, is fine by us. So we weren't entirely surprised when we heard that they were going to attempt to get themselves in the Guinness book of records for a gaming challange... Seemed about right... what was surprising however, is how they intended to do it. A 24-hour gaming marathon, playing Burnout Paradise.

Now, let's break this down a little bit.
Gaming... right, we like gaming... that's fine.
Gaming for 24 hours straight? Well... wow that's going to be kinda difficult, right?

I mean sure, you can lose track of time playing certain games... I've played Civilization for around 10 hours without realising that the sun's beginning to come up, I'm sure we've all been there... but 24 hours is a LONG time to be playing a game. All they get is toilet and brief food breaks... that's it.

Ok fine, I'll buy that if the game's particularly engaging... but a racing game?!
24 hours driving? I imagine they could see the road in their peripheral vision for about a week afterwards!

Nevertheless, six of the Ready-Up team took up the challenge, and joined by members of the community over X-Box live, they raced the day, and night, and day away. They are now proud holders of the racing game marathon world record.

It's not all fun and games though (well, it is obviously, but there's a serious side too) the event helped to raise money for 'GamesAid' - a new charity aimed at using the gaming industry to help young people. Which is all pretty admirable really.

So, 24 cheers for the Ready-Up team!
http://ready-up.net/worldrecord

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But You Have So Much To Live For! Lemmings Uncovered

Posted by: Paul Smith

For an innocuous and perfectly likeable little mammal, lemmings seem to have attracted something of a bizarre press.   For instance, it was once widely believed that they formed clouds and were rained down during storms.   It was then argued that although they did regenerate spontaneously, they were blown in by Scandinavian winds, and were killed by grass.   This was in turn debunked, and replaced by the popular myth that lemmings are gloomy little animals, who end up hurling themselves off cliffs in fits of despair.   It's all nonsense, and your average lemming is a perfectly happy little chap, eating leaves and various grasses, pausing only to sleep and breed.   Sounds quite nice, really.

Fortunately, there is no such ambiguity surrounding Lemmings, released in 1991 by Psygnosis.   It was universally loved, and even hailed as a latter day Tetris in some quarters.   It also contains perhaps the most eclectic soundtrack of any video game, as a result of Psygnosis' canny avoidance of copyrighted music.   Hence, players can find themselves playing solemnly to Chopin's Funeral March, or enthusiastically to camp fire classic She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain.  On later versions, it was possible to be stirred by Scotland the Brave, or treat yourself to a right old knees up to the strains of My Old Man (Said Follow The Van) .  So where did this rodent themed musical extravangza come from?   And in God's name, why?

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New designs added: Salamander & Bubble Bobble

Posted by: Lawrence Wong

Spring is here, and despite the gloom in the daily news the glow of the shining sun and warm air dare to promise good times ahead. So we bring you not one, but two new designs to accompany those cheerful vibes. One features the giant brain of Salamander attacking pixellated ships, sweet!! The other features bubbles from legendary platformer Bubble Bobble. Bubble Bobble is available in two varieties, each one representing the bubbles blown by that player. 1up (Bub) blows green bubbles and 2up (Bob) blows blue bubbles. Enjoy.

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Street Fighter IV - In training (Week 3)

Posted by: Danny Morgan

Technically this is week 4, but I've been away on an exotic cycling trip to the Isle of Wight. I know...you're jealous right!? Anyway, this is my 3rd week of actual training.

To be honest, my training has somewhat been neglected. I haven't been training that much at all. It's like joining a new gym. At first you're really up for it. You want to get that six-pack, build those biceps and woo the...ladies. But, then you get tired, fed up, sore and just generally de-motivated. You begin to resent paying for that membership.

Well, I'm in a similar scenario here. Don't get me wrong. I love the game. But I hate just plodding along. Whereas the first 2 weeks I felt like I was learning, improving and building those virtual biceps, this week I have gotten nowhere. I've become too predictable with my usual characters and I can't seem to get remotely good with any new ones. The honeymoon period is over.

If I could afford it I would buy an arcade stick - I'm definitely struggling with the combos. It's extremely frustrating as I KNOW I'm pressing the right buttons, in the right order and quick enough. The game just isn't recognising this, obviously it's a glitch - there's no way it has anything to do with me being rubbish.

I have a mate who is going to teach me how to show off some moves and deal some damage. In his words he is 'kickass' at Street Fighter 4 and routinely dishes our some serious 'ownage' online. I dunno - these young people and their new online lingo. I'll let you know if it works either at week 4 or 5.

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Retro GT @ Memorabilia

Posted by: Lawrence Wong

It's show time again and the first show we're attending this year is 'Memorabilia' at the NEC in Birmingham. It's held over the weekend of 28th / 29th March and we've been making t-shirts in preparation. With any luck we'll have time to squeeze out a new design too. As usual, you can pick up two t-shirts for £25 at the show... bargain.

Geared towards nostalgia fans, Memorabilia features guest appearances from the worlds of TV, Film and sport. Craig Charles and Robert Llewllyn of 'Red Dwarf' fame will be there on the Saturday while Jack Coleman who plays Noah (aka HRG / Claire's dad) in hit show 'Heroes' is due to attend on Sunday. Follow this link for more details of the show: www.memorabilia.co.uk.

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Street Fighter IV - In training (Week 2)

Posted by: Danny Morgan

I'm annoyed. Frustrated. In pain. Tired and drowsy yet worryingly satisfied.

It's week 2 of my training and I've improved. Only ever so slightly, but still improvement nonetheless. I have managed to grasp at least 3 fighters in the form of Ryu, Ken and Fei Long. I can also use Abel, but to be honest...he sucks. It's probably me, but he's far too slow for my liking. In any case, Ryu, Ken and Fei Long seem to be fighters that suit my style and I have learned most of the combos for. I can now easily use Supers and Ultras facing either direction - using the d-pad is a must.

Rather than spread my infinite 'skill' learning all the fighters, I stuck with a few. I still find the charge moves hard to pull off and that's partly the reason I choose fighters with the easier combos. The main thing I have learned is to choose attacks wisely rather than go full on with fists flying so to speak. It's far more effective and you are less vulnerable to counters. Blocking has also become an essential part of my game and there is nothing more satisfying than blocking multiple attacks and then counter attacking with a shoryuken.

The reason I've been frustrated with Street Fighter 4 has been trying to do various combos in trial mode. I'm in pain because I've spent so many hours trying to do one move on the d-pad that the skin on my thumb has worn away through friction. Typically I get to Trial 3 with any fighter and get stuck. At the moment it's Ken giving me hassle with the Heavy Kick/Hadoken combo. Seems pretty straight forward and I'm sure most people pull it off, but I have real trouble with the quick combos.

I've also been wading through the arcade mode in a bid to unlock some more fighters. I've been quite successful so far, but I do find the mode tedious and it's a real pain to have to keep going through it. I suppose it forces you to get to grips with other fighters though.

Hopefully in the next blog I will have grasped those combos and I will look to venture online to test my new found skillz innit.

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Street Fighter IV - In training

Posted by: Danny Morgan

I'm about to say something that might send shivers down your spine. In fact it's quite disgusting if I say so myself. I have never really got into any Street Fighter game. Now before I receive an abundance of Hadokens aimed at me, just read on.

I always admired the Street Fighter games, but the honest truth was that I was terrible at them and I hate losing so naturally I didn't play the games I wasn't any good at. However, I have matured now and with all the hype surrounding Street Fighter 4 I just had to buy it. I will write a few short blogs detailing my progress as a Street Fighter 'noob' and my thoughts on the game.

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Neo Empire SFIV Ranking Battles

Posted by: Gary Stanton

By now I'd expect that everyone's had enough time to rush out and purchase the AWESOME new Street Fighter IV, find out about the wealth of new fighting strategies it provides, and in all probability, create massive sores on their hands through extensive gameplay.

So... Reckon you're any good?

Well, now's your chance to prove it, as the wonderful Neo Empire have set up a series of Ranking Battles at London's famous Trocadero - Picadilly Circus.
The first one was a great success and over the next five consecutive Fridays, you'll have the chance to play some of the greatest players around.
It's an XBox 360 tournament, so remember to bring your own controller!

So, that's Fridays from 7pm - 11pm, HMV Gamerbase, Trocadero.

As always, Neo Empire have put together some footage of last fridays event for you all to marvel at... Neo Empire presents SF IV London Ranking Battle 1:1

 

Oh, and no playing as Seth - that's just ridiculous.

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