retro gaming

Having Issues Streaming Retro Games With a 4:3 Aspect Ratio on Twitch? Try This Overlay Design Trick in OBS!

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In a world where 16:9 is the norm, retro games created with the old 4:3 aspect ratio can be a pain to stream. Having to fit a square gameplay feed into a rectangle overlay leads to a lot of empty space, forcing streamers to create overlays specific to retro gaming.

One potential way to fill the extra space is to mirror the gameplay and blur the background. This effect is most commonly used when displaying vertically-shot videos on a widescreen display. Here’s how to implement this look on your stream!

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Catherine: Full Body and Revisiting Old Games

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Originally released in 2011 and remastered for modern consoles in 2019, Catherine: Full Body makes its presence felt on the Nintendo Switch today. It’s an opportunity for new players try one of gaming’s most unique titles while also having a bit of new material for experienced players.

My strong affinity for the game will probably be enough motivation I need to purchase it. However, carving out the time to actually play through it is a much more difficult challenge.

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The Value of Classic Atari Games in Modern Times

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I have a soft spot in my heart for Atari games. My earliest gaming memories are of me as a toddler, playing Defender on a hand-me-down Atari 2600. Though it wouldn’t be long before Nintendo took a firm grip of my soul, my nostalgia for that console and its games never let go.

A few days ago, I bought the Atari Flashback Classics collection on the Nintendo Switch. Containing 150 titles released in the arcade, Atari 2600, and Atari 5200, I got it for on sale for a measly $25 CAD (roughly $20 USD). Granted, it’s far from a definitive collection when it comes to selection, but to get ports of so many foundational games of the medium’s history for dirt cheap feels…unsettling.

This reality though isn’t that surprising. While old Nintendo consoles and games are highly sought after and sell for high prices, Atari’s products haven’t retained their value in the same way. If anything, it’s only getting worse as time goes on.

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KEEP COLLECTING AMIIBO! Why it’s still worth getting these Nintendo figurines!

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The Amiibo hype train certainly isn’t what it used to be. Even so, that hasn’t stopped me from building my collection! Everyone’s reasons are different, but I thought I’d share my rationale for collecting Amiibo figures to this day!

This video was so fun to make! Spent way too long capturing slo-mo clips; most of which didn’t make it into the final cut. Will be sharing a lot of these slo-mo clips separately on social media!

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[Purchasing through this Amazon affiliate link gives me a small commission without adding any extra cost or effort to you. Thanks for your support!]

Mr. Driller Review

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Mr. Driller on the PS1 may look cute, but his quest to the bottom is treacherous. As he digs below the surface, he must be mindful of his depleting air supply and falling blocks that can flatten our hero like a pancake. How low can you go?

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A Look Back at Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey

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In the wake of NBA Jam, developers attempted to translate the arcade magic to other sports. Some games took off in their own right, such as NFL Blitz. Many others fell off the face of the Earth. Not actually sure where Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey stands in the pantheon of arcade sports games, but it’s one that I remember fondly. Continue reading →

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Lost Let’s Play

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It was a random afternoon weekend in the early 90s. I was a kid at the time, playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game on the NES for the umpteenth time. Out of the blue, I had an idea.

“Wouldn’t it be cool if I had video of me playing this game right now?” I thought to myself.

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Sega Genesis Mini Review

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Sega could have been the publisher that kick-started the modern wave of mini retro consoles. They were releasing products in this market years before Nintendo did. Unlike the Big N though, Sega didn’t take this market seriously for a long time. Outsourcing the work to AtGames, they published shoddy devices with poor emulation meant to be sold on the cheap.

Then the NES Classic happened. Consumers appreciated its quality hardware and emulation and the device sold gangbusters. Taking the operation back in-house, the Genesis Mini represents Sega’s attempt at creating a high-caliber mini console that can not only compete against the new wave of competition, but present their legacy in a better light.

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The Worthwhile Compromise of Retro Mini Consoles

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Playing old video games in modern times is a weird experience. On one hand, we’ve been able to play older games on newer hardware for quite some time. However, I’ve always preferred the experience of playing games with original controllers on original hardware.

Going the other way, collecting and playing retro games in their original form is such a pain and only getting harder. Classic consoles are oftentimes difficult to hook up to modern TVs and the picture is often compromised. Worse yet, the prices for original copies has soared due to scarcity and demand.

When done right, the modern wave of retro mini consoles is proving to be a solid compromise between the two.

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