👾 Retro Gaming Weekly News #0171
Welcome to the 171st issue of our weekly Retro Gaming newsletter! Thanks to everyone that takes the time to read and like/comment, its having a really positive impact and reader number are growing steadily - which is inspiring.
This week's newsletter is NES heavy with the 40th anniversary of the grey box, but loads of stories including failed PS1 logos, what the Zapper could have been called and a lot more.
Thanks for reading and wishing you all an excellent week where ever in the world you are reading this ❤️
News
🎮 The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) celebrates its 40th anniversary, marking four decades since the iconic gray box reshaped home gaming and global pop culture — Yardbarker.
🕹️ The Guardian reflects on 40 years of the NES, examining how Nintendo’s 1985 console launch revived the gaming industry and established household gaming worldwide — The Guardian.
📦 Nintendo’s former VP of Sales reveals that the company once struggled to sell a particular NES game, offering insight into the console’s early retail challenges — Time Extension.
🧩 8BitDo unveils a limited “NES 40th Anniversary Collection,” featuring a retro-styled controller, keyboard, and gaming speaker inspired by the classic console — GameSpot.
💾 Hackaday spotlights “EmuDevz,” an experimental project that functions as a playable software game designed entirely for developers — Hackaday.
👻 The new NES title Mister Scary is now digitally available, bringing retro-style horror gameplay to the classic console — GamesPress.
🎰 After four decades of operation, one of Japan’s most iconic arcades is closing permanently, signaling the end of an era for classic gaming venues — Time Extension.
🎮 The previously canceled Game Boy Color title Infinity is finally being released this December, more than 20 years after its original development — MP3s and NPCs.
🕹️ ModRetro announces the M64, a new console designed to play N64 cartridges with modern features and HDMI support — Android Authority.
🐙 A new deep-sea shooter inspired by Star Fox 64 adds a horror twist to the classic rail-shooter formula — Time Extension.
🐢 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles becomes the latest NES title to receive a native SNES port, created by the developer known as Infidelity — GBATemp.
🥋 Developers behind Mortal Kombat Kollection remain silent on whether the long-rumored SNES “holy grail” version will be included — Time Extension.
🧠 Analogue confirms that its FPGA-powered Analogue 3D console is still on track to ship later this quarter despite delays — NotebookCheck.
🎨 Gregg Mayles, a veteran designer and creative force at Rare for 36 years, announces his departure from the studio — Spilled.gg.
🎮 MagicX launches the One 35 handheld, featuring dual D-pads and retro-focused hardware for classic gaming fans — RetroDodo.
🚀 A brand-new shooter for the Sega Master System has been released, expanding the system’s homebrew library — GameReactor.
📀 EggConsole removes its reissue of the PC-88 RPG Burai Joukan following complaints from the game’s original creator — Time Extension.
🎶 ToeJam & Earl 5 is officially in development, with co-creator Greg Johnson confirming plans to bring the series back — NotebookCheck.
💿 Dream Disc 24 offers fans ten new homebrew Dreamcast games, available for the cost of shipping alone — Time Extension.
🐬 Ecco the Dolphin celebrates its legacy with a community game jam marking 33 years since the original release — GamesBeat.
🧛 Sacred Line III joins the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis catalog as the latest interactive horror visual novel in the series — Time Extension.
💿 The PC Engine Super CD-ROM version of Popful Mail is receiving a full English dub and fan translation — Time Extension.
🐊 Croc: Legend of the Gobbos – Platinum Edition brings 16 new trophies, including a platinum, to PS5 and PS4 on October 16 — PSU.
⚙️ The new Saturn emulator Ymir reaches over 90% compatibility with Sega’s library, marking a milestone in emulation progress — Time Extension.
🏁 Atari and Intellivision announce Sprint, a new project uniting both classic gaming brands under one initiative — Polygon.
💸 A rare Intellivision Amico console sells on eBay for over $2,200, with the seller refusing to sell “to haters” — Time Extension.
🎮 A classic PS2 title has been recreated using Unreal Engine 5, with a free fan demo now available — NotebookCheck.
🌀 One of the GameCube’s most beloved titles is reportedly coming to Nintendo Switch alongside its Wii sequel — ComicBook.
Features
🎮 Former Nintendo of America sales director Bruce Lowry reflects on launching the NES, the challenges of introducing it to retailers, and the ambiguity surrounding its initial “non-console” branding — Time Extension
🗡️ Nintendo reportedly wants to downplay three lesser-known Legend of Zelda titles that deviate from the franchise’s mainline formula — ComicBook
🦆 A focus group of housewives nearly derailed the NES Zapper’s “gun” concept before release, influencing how Nintendo marketed Duck Hunt — GamesRadar
🕹️ A reader essay explores how terms like “gamer” have become outdated, urging more inclusive language for today’s diverse gaming community — Metro
👾 A retrospective looks at how gaming evolved from a “geeky” pastime to mainstream pop culture dominance — Inside Pulse
🔴 The simple line “I like shorts! They’re comfy and easy to wear!” from Pokémon Red & Blue remains one of gaming’s most quoted moments — CBR
🩸 Castlevania: Circle of the Moon is being reappraised as one of Konami’s most underrated titles, despite being an accidental hit — ComicBook
🕹️ A London café offering £18 all-you-can-play access to retro consoles delivers a nostalgic experience for gaming fans — RetroDodo
📱 Did You Know Gaming reveals obscure Game Boy Advance facts, including scrapped hardware ideas and early software quirks — GoNintendo
🎨 Early PlayStation logo designs showcase a range of bold experiments before settling on the now-iconic final version — RetroDodo
📸 A modder upgrades a Game Boy Color into a modern multimedia device featuring dual cameras and 720p video recording — RetroDodo
🌀 The Sega Master System name originated from internal branding debates and Sega’s global marketing ambitions — Time Extension
💻 The new MD Engine tool simplifies Sega Genesis and Mega Drive game development with modern programming support — NotebookCheck
🕹️ Atari Gamestation Go offers a nostalgic hardware tour of the company’s legacy but suffers from performance and design flaws — Time Extension
🎮 The MagicX One handheld console debuts at $35, offering budget gaming performance with modest specifications — TechEBlog
🧩 A roundup highlights the best Xbox emulators for PC, detailing compatibility and performance across systems — Windows Report
🌍 Microsoft and gaming firms face regulatory scrutiny over data privacy and content policies in the UK — BBC
⚙️ Hands-on impressions of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handheld praise its power and design but note battery life concerns — RetroHandhelds
Lists & Rankings
🕹️ Rolling Stone highlights the greatest NES titles ever made, celebrating the 8-bit classics that defined early gaming history — Rolling Stone.
🎮 ComicBook revisits three PS2 platformers that failed to impress players and have largely faded into obscurity — ComicBook.
📊 DualShockers ranks every year of the Nintendo 64’s lifecycle, analyzing its highs, lows, and lasting legacy — DualShockers.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9s15wo
🥋 Time Extension reports that developers of Mortal Kombat Kollection continue to withhold details on whether a rare SNES version might be included — Time Extension.
🏰 XDA Developers examines three Disney video game releases that had a transformative impact on the gaming industry — XDA Developers.
👻 ComicBook recalls three PS1 horror games that delivered even greater scares than Resident Evil — ComicBook.
