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Tue Mar 04 2025
More than 20 years after its demise in 2004, Acclaim, the iconic publisher of the 80s and 90s, is announcing its return. The company, which left its mark on generations of gamers with titles such as Turok, NBA Jam, Shadow Man and Burnout, intends to concentrate on independent games and the return of its cult franchises.
Behind this resurrection is a group of industry veterans, led by Alex Josef, now CEO of Acclaim. The company has surrounded itself with an advisory board made up of Russell Binder (Striker Entertainment), Mark Caplan (Ridge Partners), as well as Jeff Jarrett, a former wrestler and well-known figure in the wrestling video game world.
Jarrett, who has worked with Acclaim on the WWF and TNA Wrestling games, says he is honoured to be involved in this new venture:
I've seen first-hand the impact that great games can have on gamers and fans. Resurrecting Acclaim is an opportunity to pass on that same passion to a new generation.
The project is also supported by Phil Toronto (VaynerFund) and Eric Vogel (JET Management), who will provide their financing and management expertise to ensure sustainable growth.
Acclaim's ambition is not only to publish promising independent games, but also to breathe new life into its historic catalogue. CEO Alex Josef is already promising big announcements:
We're fortunate to have an extremely talented team and have already signed some incredible indie titles, which we'll be unveiling soon.
This relaunch is bound to raise expectations: will we soon see remasters or sequels to cult licences such as Turok, Shadow Man or Burnout? The next few months should reveal the new direction Acclaim is taking.
With its experienced team, Acclaim seems well equipped to reclaim its place in the video game industry. It remains to be seen whether the studio will be able to appeal to both nostalgic fans and a new generation of gamers, and whether the publisher will not fall into the ‘easy’ trap of lazy remakes or remasters content with their names and nostalgia as the sole sales drivers.
One thing's for sure: it's great to see a first-rate publisher from the 80s and 90s rise from the ashes.
Sources : Time Extension / RetroDodo
Tue Mar 04 2025
As every fortnight, you can take part in a new challenge on the Recalbox Discord. This challenge is open to everyone. The principle is simple: try to achieve the best score on a game drawn at random, often from the arcade catalogue.
Developed and published by Capcom, and released in 1993, this beat'em all lets you play as The Punisher (or Nick Fury for player 2), an iconic character from the Marvel comic book universe.
Originally released on the CP System (arcade), the game was ported to the Mega Drive in 1994. Players take on the role of the famous Marvel anti-hero, ready to do battle in a variety of settings, driven by boundless vengeance.
To do this, Frank Castle (his real name) uses his fists and mugs, and can use various elements of the scenery to smash his enemies in the face. Very early on in the game, weapons (numerous but limited in use) are added to the gameplay.
The game remains an excellent memory (and a great way to let off steam) for all those who have tried it. The graphics, although classic, pay tribute to the character's origins by displaying a few onomatopoeia on the screen, in the style of comic books.
As Frank Castle, your aim will be to achieve the highest score in a single credit.
The challenge runs from 4 to 18 March, midnight. You can try as many times as you like.
/submit score leaderboard command on the same channel.To ensure a fair challenge:
The challenge is all about discovering games, sharing tips and, of course, having fun, all in a spirit of competition that's always welcome!
The winner will win a game key (GOG, Steam, etc.) to choose from a list of over 80 titles.
📌 If you've won a challenge in the last three months, the reward will go to the next one 🥇🥈🥉.
Good luck to you all, and may the highest score win! 🎮🔥
Fri Feb 28 2025
Fans of video games, retrogaming and good causes, you'll be aware that the fifth edition of SpeeDons is taking place from Thursday throughout the weekend!
Last year's SpeeDons was a huge success, raising €2,066,663 for Médecins du Monde and attracting 1.5 million viewers. For this 2025 edition, the objective is clear: to beat this record!
The project was initiated by MisterMV, who is hosting the event alongside a host of content creators including Zerator, Antoine Daniel, DamDam Live, Gom4rt, Hugo Délire, Jarmou and many others.
The best speedrunners will be on hand to finish both modern and retro games in record time: Zelda, Doom, MediEvil, Metal Slug, Resident Evil, Donkey Kong, Cuphead, Okami HD... In all, over 70 games are on the programme, so there's something for everyone!
As well as these performances, the streamers will be taking part in events, challenges and discussions about Médecins du Monde, highlighting the charity's work.
The event, which takes place in Lyon, is sold out. But if you want to support the initiative, you can follow the live stream on Twitch from MisterMV. There you'll find links for making donations, taking part in challenges in the form of bets or buying T-shirts, all in aid of Médecins du Monde.
If you'd like to follow a particular game, the weekend schedule is available at this link. You'll also find the full schedule at the bottom of the page.
If you're new to speedrun, you should know that it involves completing a video game as quickly as possible, exploiting techniques such as glitching or optimising every action for maximum efficiency. This discipline requires intensive training and in-depth knowledge of games.
For example, some players have set impressive world records, such as finishing Super Mario Bros. in 4 minutes 54 seconds and 881 milliseconds!
Thu Feb 27 2025
8BitDo has announced an update to its Ultimate controller, soberly named Ultimate 2.
Like V1, the configuration of the joysticks and buttons is based on that of the Xbox controllers. In terms of new features, 8BitDo boasts ultra-low latency (1000 Hz / 1 ms), optimised by its in-house 8Speed wireless technology.
Whether in wired mode via the USB-C cable or via Bluetooth 2.4 GHz, the controller's responsiveness will no longer be an excuse for defeat.
Another addition is the L4 and R4 buttons, positioned slightly between L1/R1 and L2/R2. The joysticks incorporate TMR technology, offering greater sensitivity and precision than Hall Effect sticks, while consuming less battery power.
Fans of flashing lights will be delighted to learn that the joystick bases are equipped with an RGB halo, fully customisable in terms of colour and behaviour (fixed, flashing, reacting to joystick movements, etc.).
To adjust these settings, you can use the 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2, which also allows you to configure the entire controller (sensitivity, dead zone, etc.).
There's also the option of toggling your triggers between a linear Hall Effect mode and a non-linear mode, a great feature if you regularly change your style of play. Like its little sister, the V2 offers a vibration function and a Turbo button.
Finally, a nice touch from 8BitDo: a charging station is supplied with the controller, making it easy to recharge without searching for a cable in a drawer, while still proudly displaying your controller.
The controller is available in the US and UK via Amazon (and will soon be available in Europe) for $59.
Thu Feb 27 2025
If you follow news from Anbernic, the famous manufacturer of portable consoles dedicated to retrogaming, you may have heard about the 1.0.6 update for the XX range.
This version introduced an application enabling users to download ROMs directly onto their device via Wi-Fi, a bit like an eShop, but free of charge... and with copyrighted games.
This is obviously illegal, as emulation or FPGA solutions are not allowed to offer licensed content. However, Anbernic took the risk of rolling out this update, which was withdrawn almost immediately to the astonishment of many in the retrogaming industry.
It should be remembered that Anbernic is a Chinese company where, although the principle of copyright is well known, it is sometimes applied less rigorously than in Europe, and especially than in the United States and Japan.
This abortive attempt by Anbernic raises many debates. If these consoles exist and are so successful, it's largely because many retro games are no longer legally available for purchase. The issue of preserving video games and piracy is therefore more topical than ever.
Emulation systems and homebrew projects have always put the spotlight on retrogaming. Some players in the video game industry have shown a degree of tolerance and even welcomed some of these projects.
But to go so far as to openly encourage piracy via homebrew software... the risk of major publishers banging their fists on the table seems obvious. A reaction that could call into question this fragile tolerance, which would be regrettable for the community as a whole.
Mon Feb 24 2025
An incredible find this week for arcade fans! An American by the name of Tristen McCormick is offering for sale seven brand new SEGA arcade machines, still in their original boxes.
The advert was posted on a Facebook group dedicated to trading and selling arcade equipment. The machines, which have been kept intact until now, have been unpacked for the sole purpose of being moved.
McCormick states in its announcement:
"They have all been removed from the boxes to make them easier to move. No burns on the tubes as they have never reached the floor of a game room."
He also points out that the PCB game cards are not included and reminds us in passing that the kiosks are not JAMMA. They therefore have screens, controls and sound systems, but no integrated games.
The kiosks were originally intended to house Fighting Vipers, a 3D fighting game by SEGA, first released in arcade format in 1995 before being ported to Saturn the following year.
A potential buyer contacted McCormick to find out more. They came from a former distributor who, following a misunderstanding with SEGA, never marketed the fifteen terminals he had received. SEGA then asked him to return the PCBs of the games, leaving him with the ‘blank’ terminals for logistical reasons.
Of these fifteen terminals, eight had already been sold. This left seven at the time of the announcement, priced at €500 each or €3,700 for the lot. In other words, they've probably already been sold by the time you read this...
Source : Retrododo
Sun Feb 23 2025
If you have a Recalbox arcade machine, you can start a game directly. This trick allows you to have a terminal dedicated to a game without having to go through the menus. This is also possible with other configurations, but it's particularly important here, because it suits the needs of an arcade cabinet.
To begin with, your Recalbox must be up to date (as always), as this feature has been added to version 9.2.
You can do this in your Recalbox's advanced settings:
All you have to do is select the game you want to launch when your Recalbox starts up. To do this, go to the game in question, press START to open the game options without launching it, then find the line "Boot on this game ’ in the menu and activate it.
As you know, when you start your Recalbox, the system starts by playing a start-up video. If you want to start the game directly without this start-up video, you can deactivate this option.
This will have the effect of starting your Recalbox directly by launching the selected game, just like on an original arcade machine.
Of course, you can still press "Hotkey + START" in the middle of a game to return to the Recalbox menu.
You'll find the whole process in Fabrice's video below:
Sun Feb 23 2025
The news surrounding Tony Hawk's Pro Skater has been very busy in recent days. Launched in 1999 on Dreamcast, Nintendo 64 and PlayStation (for home consoles), this cult licence has left its mark on a whole generation of gamers and is about to return.
The series has been released a number of times, all of them of high quality, most recently with a remaster in 2012 (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD) and a remake in 2020 (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2). The latter was developed by Vicarious Visions, the studio that merged with Blizzard under the Activision umbrella.
This merger does not mean the end of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, quite the contrary. Tony Hawk himself had indicated his involvement in a future project, and more recently, pro skateboarder Tyshawn Jones said:
"I'm in a Tony Hawk coming out, so that's cool. They've got a new one they're remastering, so that's about to come out. I was in the last one."
If you still had any doubts, Activision has just launched a countdown on the game's official website, giving us a date of March 4, 2025. Call of Duty Black Ops 6 players have also been treated to a new map called Grind, set in a skate park and clearly reminiscent of the Tony Hawk franchise.
If you're observant, you'll notice that the official website mentions the Iron Galaxy studio, already at work on the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 remake and the remakes of the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro franchises.
So all we can do now is wait until 4 March for a very likely trailer.
Photos: Activision
Sat Feb 22 2025
After several twists and turns, the film adaptation of Street Fighter by Legendary Entertainment and Capcom finally has a director. Kitao Sakurai, an American-Japanese filmmaker best known for his work on The Eric Andre Show, will take the reins of the project.
This announcement comes after the departure of brothers Danny and Michael Philippou, directors of the horror film Talk to Me, who had initially been approached to direct the feature film. In June 2024, they chose to concentrate on another project, Bring Her Back, leaving Street Fighter without a director and casting doubt over whether it would ever come to fruition.
With the arrival of Sakurai, the project now seems to be on the right track. Although the 42-year-old director has limited experience of making feature films, he is nonetheless a creative force renowned for his work on The Eric Andre Show. He has also directed Bad Trip, a Netflix comedy, and several episodes of the series Twisted Metal and Butterfly. He is also executive producer of season 2 of Beef, a hit Netflix series.
Capcom is directly involved in this adaptation, co-developed and co-produced with Legendary**. Scheduled for release on 20 March 2026 under the Sony banner, this film will attempt to restore the image of previous film adaptations of Street Fighter.
The franchise has already been adapted twice in Hollywood, the most famous (and controversial) of which was in 1994, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme as Guile. Although the film was a critical flop on its release, it has now acquired a cult following among fans, thanks in no small part to its exaggerated tone and the surprising performances of its actors.
For the moment, very little information has been revealed about this new adaptation. For the time being, Legendary has only shared the film's official logo (at the top of this article), leaving fans waiting for more details about the story, the cast and the artistic direction of the project.
It remains to be seen whether this new version will manage to capture the essence of the famous fighting game, whose latest opus, Street Fighter 6, released in June 2023, won the Best Fighting Game award at the Game Awards 2023.
Sources: Time Extension / Hollywood Reporter
Sat Feb 22 2025
This week, publisher Red Dunes Games and developer BLAST ZERO announced Samurai Pizza Cats: Blast from the Past, a 2D action-RPG based on the famous anime series Samurai Pizza Cats, well known to children in the 80s and 90s.
Produced by Tatsunoko Studios, this 54-episode Japanese series premiered in February 1990. It features three pizza-delivery cats who, thanks to their samurai skills, battle a multitude of robotic enemies in a Japan combining medieval times and technology.
In the game, it will be possible to switch instantly between the heroes to exploit their unique abilities, whether to solve puzzles or triumph in battle, with special attacks directly inspired by the anime.
The title will also feature a RPG Lite aspect, allowing characters to level up and equip them with special cards to improve their chamurai skills.
Fans of VO will be delighted to learn that the original Japanese and American casts will reprise their roles, adding an extra touch of authenticity. The series' original scriptwriter, Satoru Akahori, will also be taking part.
The trailer below reveals the first visuals of the game, and it's clear that the graphics, animations and menus pay homage to the anime.
You can play Little Tokyo in 2026 on all major platforms.
Wed Feb 19 2025
There's been a major blow to the video game trade in France: Micromania has officially been put up for sale by its American owner, GameStop.
It's no secret that the physical video game market is in trouble. This is due to the rise in popularity of dematerialised products, which offer regular promotions and immediate accessibility, the success of subscription-based services such as Game Pass and PlayStation Plus (not to mention PC-based offers), and the growth of cloud gaming, which is becoming increasingly relevant with the roll-out of fibre.
Against this backdrop, GameStop has decided to refocus its activities on the United States. Already weakened by its near bankruptcy in 2021, the American giant recently sold off its shops in Italy, which have found a buyer, while in Germany the shops were forced to close for lack of a buyer.
Founded in 1983, Micromania has established itself as a leading video game retailer in France. Bought out by GameStop in 2008 for $700 million, the store tried to adapt to dematerialisation by diversifying its activities with Zing, a range of derivative products dedicated to video games and pop culture.
But this strategy has not been enough to turn around sales in the 300 or so shops across the country. This is due to very low margins, which even the release of the Switch 2 will not be enough to compensate for. As for GTA VI, it doesn't seem to have convinced GameStop either. One of the reasons? The fact that Micromania shops are located in the shopping malls of large supermarkets, where the big names slash prices as soon as blockbusters are released to attract customers.
Micromania was keen to reassure its customers in a message published on X:
"Hello, the announcement by our parent company GameStop that the French structure Micromania-Zing has been put up for sale in no way affects our operations. Our activities are continuing as normal, and we are continuing to develop our range of video games, merchandising and services. Past (and future) pre-orders will of course be honoured. Credit notes and vouchers will continue to be valid."
The situation is bound to change over the coming weeks. If GameStop finds a buyer, the business will be able to continue, but potentially at the cost of a reduced shop network and some closures. On the other hand, if no buyer comes forward, the outright disappearance of Micromania would mean the closure of its shops and the loss of many jobs.
Finally, France is not the only country affected by this decision, as GameStop shops in Canada are also affected.
Tue Feb 18 2025
A recent survey of 2,000 Generation Z Britons has just been published. It looks at the retrogaming habits of this population, born between 1997 and 2012, who are unfamiliar with the hardwares we usually cover here.
The results are surprising, even encouraging, for the hobby we cherish and share.
The survey reveals that, over the last two years, 66% of Gen Z members have purchased retro technology (consoles or other), and 24% own a retro console. This craze for retrogaming is explained in 89% of cases by a desire to break away from the Internet, but also by a feeling of relaxation provided by vintage games for 74% of those surveyed.
We also learn that 77% of the panel feel a sentimental attachment to their original hardware, encouraging them to keep their equipment.
The study was not limited to video games and explored other retro trends. The report is even more surprising in this respect: 30% of Britons say they would consider swapping their smartphone for a flip phone, and 61% say they are interested in audio cassettes, believing they will make a comeback, just like vinyl records.
These figures may seem high, but nostalgia plays an important role. Nonetheless, some of Gen Z are expressing a desire to distance themselves from the omnipresent Internet, in order to rediscover a certain simplicity and a bubble free from constant solicitations.
The report also echoes other persistent fashion effects, such as the return of the success of music from the 90s and 2000s or the growing interest in preserving "Youngtimer ’ cars.
Remember that Gen Z is relatively unfamiliar with vintage consoles and has not been the generation most affected by their use. The oldest were born the year the Nintendo 64 was launched, while the youngest were born the year the Wii U came out.
Finally, one last point that marks an epochal turning point: the Alpha generation, born from 2013 onwards, and those that follow will almost exclusively know dematerialised.
This survey was commissioned by Pringles (photo illustration), to mark the opening of a temporary ‘clinic’ in London, offering free repairs to retro, portable and home consoles. A similar survey was published a few days ago in the United States, reporting similar behaviour (article here). To date, no similar study has been carried out in France.
Source: Metro.co.uk
Tue Feb 18 2025
As Dreamcast owners may know, it's still possible to connect online using DreamPi, a Raspberry Pi-based solution that connects the console to the Internet for online gaming. Although there are other alternatives, this is still the most popular.
If you're tempted by the idea, the Time Extension website published a detailed guide to the procedure last September, available at this address.
Today, a news item linked to DreamPi deserves our attention, once again relayed by Time Extension. Developer Robert Dale Smith has come up with a solution for saving VMU saves in the cloud, just like modern consoles.
Called Virtual VMU, this open source solution is accessible via the Dreamcast web browser through the DreamPi portal mentioned above.
Protecting and recovering your backups online is therefore possible on Dreamcast 26 years after the release of the 128-bit console, with one notable advantage over similar services on modern consoles... it's free.
Tue Feb 18 2025
Nike is continuing its foray into the world of video games with a new collaboration. After partnering with EA Sports, Fortnite, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo 64, the brand with the comma has been forging one partnership after another for over thirty years. Some are purely commercial and questionable - notably those focused on NFTs - while others pay genuine tribute to a franchise or a landmark anniversary.
Today, the spotlight is on a classic from the 90s: Donkey Kong Country 2, released in 1995 on Super Nintendo. Colours, graphics and materials have been carefully chosen to appeal to fans of the franchise.
This pair of sneakers will feature beige, brown and yellow hues, evoking Donkey Kong's fur, with suede even imitating the hair of the famous gorilla. The Nike logo (the swoosh) will adopt the red colour of Donkey's tie and angles inspired by the 16-bit era, recalling Nike's dedicated video game range.
The tribute will be rounded off by a number of details, including a pixelated ‘NIKE AIR MAX’ logo on the tongue and soles featuring iconic gaming motifs such as coins and bananas.
Dubbed SWOOSH x Nike Air Max 1 ‘Big Head Origins ’, this special edition is expected to be released in Spring 2025 at a price of around €150. It will be exclusively reserved for Swoosh Nike members. Registration available here for those interested.
Tue Feb 18 2025
A new handheld console project aims to bring back the magic of the text adventures of the 80s. Called Ink Console, the device is currently in development and was recently presented on the crowdfunding platform Crowd Supply.
The Ink Console will feature a 7.5-inch e-ink screen, offering a resolution of 800 x 480 pixels in black and white. The device also features Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi 4 connectivity, allowing a degree of flexibility when it comes to adding content.
Unlike traditional handheld consoles, Ink Console is not an emulation machine and does not seek to support a wide variety of genres. Its operating system has been designed to incorporate mechanics specific to text-based adventures, such as a health system and an interactive inventory.
Three initial titles, or rather ‘interactive books’, are already in the pipeline: Toto Umbrella, The Visit and Breath. The device will feature an SD card reader to allow players to add new titles to their library. The project also plans to make its development kit public so that other developers can create their own interactive stories. Ultimately, the whole project should even become open source after the funding campaign.
The initiative is spearheaded by Daniel ‘Dana’ Puchau. He explains that the idea for Ink Console was born out of a desire to adapt the concept of text-based adventures from the 80s, such as Zork I, to a new generation of gamers. He also cites other interactive books, hoping that this fun format will encourage young readers to discover the pleasure of reading.
The crowdfunding campaign has not yet been launched, but it is already possible to sign up on Crowd Supply to be notified when it opens and to reserve a copy of the Ink Console.
Source: Time Extension
Tue Feb 18 2025
Originally released in 1998 for Nintendo 64 and later for PlayStation and PC, Glover is a 3D platform game with a unique concept. Players take on the role of an animated glove, tasked with manipulating a bouncing ball through a series of puzzles and challenges. With its six worlds and 30 levels combining skill and reflection, the game has carved out a special place in the platforming landscape.
Now Glover is set to return in an HD remastered version, which promises visual improvements while retaining its original charm. A new trailer has also been unveiled, showcasing modernised graphics and updated gameplay. The icing on the cake is that a physical version of the game is planned for Nintendo Switch via Limited Run Games.
The wait won't be long: the remaster of Glover will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch from 27 February.
As a reminder, Glover features an unlucky magician whose spell goes awry, causing him to lose his enchanted gloves. One of them becomes evil after falling into a mysterious potion, while the other - the game's hero - goes on a quest to find the lost crystals and save the Crystal Kingdom from chaos.
With its mix of puzzles, platforming and action, Glover offers an original experience based on the mastery of glove and ball movements. This remaster promises adjustments for smoother, more accessible gameplay on modern consoles.
Mon Feb 17 2025
As every fortnight, you can take part in a new challenge on the Recalbox Discord. This challenge is open to everyone. The principle is simple: try to achieve the best score on a game drawn at random, often from the arcade catalogue.
Released in 1992 on arcade terminals, Sunset Riders takes you to the Wild West. A side-scrolling shoot ‘em up developed by Konami, Sunset Riders features four “cowboys” who have to shoot faster than their shadow to hope to reach the end of each level. The game is set in a world taken from westerns, with all the familiar codes: a Wild West town, a saloon, a ride on a train...
You'll need to search the boards, which hold a few secrets that will give you bonus scores and additional, more powerful weapons.
The game's colourful art direction makes it difficult at times to distinguish enemy projectiles, as the scenery is so full of detail. Enemies are fairly easy to kill, but you can quickly get trapped by obstacles.
Each level ends with a boss with a nice ‘dead or alive’ bonus.
In control of your cowboy, your aim will be to achieve the highest score in a single credit.
The game is less impressive than Gunbird 2, our previous challenge, in terms of enemy projectiles, but don't be fooled: if you get swamped or trapped by a barrel or dynamite, your chances of survival are slim.
**The challenge runs from 18 February to 3 March **.
🕹️ Launch the game (rom ‘ssridersubc.zip’)
🏹 Play and try to beat the best score.
📸 Take a screenshot or photo of your final score.
📤 Share your score on the Discord #challenges channel or use the /submit score leaderboard command on the same channel.
To ensure a fair challenge: The score must be achieved in a single credit, without save state, rewind, cheats, or auto-fire (unless provided for in the game).
The challenge is all about discovering games, sharing tips and, of course, having fun, all in a spirit of competition that's always welcome!
The winner will receive a game key (GOG, Steam, etc.) to choose from a list of over 80 titles. Note that if you've won a challenge in the last three months, the reward will go to the next one 🥇🥈🥉.
Congratulations to R3DeMoN who won the previous challenge on Gunbird 2 (at least at the time of writing, as the battle is still raging on the challenges channel).
Good luck to you all, and may the highest score win! 🕹️ 🔥
Mon Feb 17 2025
Shinobi is one of those games that has a special aura in the hearts of SEGA fans. The saga, which began in 1987 on arcade terminals, has seen numerous sequels and adaptations.
In recent months, the franchise has remained in the spotlight thanks to several homebrew projects, such as the porting of the Game Gear to Mega Drive version and the adaptation of the arcade game for Neo Geo, a console that had never before hosted the series.
This time, it's an official project that's revealed in detail with Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Announced at The Game Awards 2023 without much in the way of details, SEGA has put an end to speculation by revealing a gameplay trailer that confirms that the game is indeed being developed by French studio Lizardcube, already acclaimed for its work on Streets of Rage 4.
One look at the video is enough to recognise the studio's signature style: entirely hand-drawn graphics and exceptionally dynamic animation. However, this modernisation respects the saga's heritage, as Ben Fiquet, the game's creative director, points out:
"Special powers, combos and even certain enemies, levels and bosses capture the very essence of the old Shinobi games. This is particularly true of the bamboo forest, which makes its return in this title and is sure to provoke a sense of nostalgia among fans of the Shinobi games."
The game is due to be released on 29 August on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, priced at €29.99.
If the ‘retro-ninja’ universe appeals to you, this year will be particularly rich, with the concomitant release of Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, also in 2D. Developed by Spanish studio The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous) and published by French outfit Dotemu (TMNT: Shredder's Revenge, Streets of Rage 4), it promises to be another serious contender in the genre.
Sun Feb 16 2025
If you follow FPGA projects, you may have heard of the Game Bub, an open source handheld console capable of reading Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance cartridges.
This console will also support the Game Boy link cable, incorporate a vibrator and have a docking station, sold separately, offering an HDMI output.
The project is being closely followed by Nintendo retrogamers who still own their cartridges and who, thanks to a single device, would be able to play games from three consoles natively.
However, this project is rekindling a sterile debate between the supporters of FPGAs and those of emulation. As a reminder, an FPGA reproduces the operation of original hardware via its electronic circuitry, while an emulation system simulates this operation on standard hardware (PC, Raspberry Pi, etc.).
Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages. However, some manufacturers, such as MiSTer FPGA and Analogue Pocket, tend to defend their approach by claiming to offer unrivalled precision through software emulation.
Engineer Eli Lipsitz, who is currently working on the Game Bub, does not share this opinion. His project is based on a Xilinx XC7A100T FPGA chip, but in his opinion this does not give it any intrinsic superiority over emulation:
"There's a lot of misleading marketing and hype around FPGA retrogaming. Some people claim that these devices are not emulators (because they are supposed to ‘act like the original chips’), that they achieve ‘perfect precision’ or that they are superior to software emulators", says Lipsitz.
The developer goes even further, calling this claim ‘patently false and actively harmful ’, before adding:
"FPGA retrogaming devices are emulators: they pretend to be something they are not. And they are only as accurate as they are programmed to be, since they are recreations. An FPGA can facilitate some aspects of accuracy, but it doesn't guarantee it.
Software emulators can be extremely accurate. Moreover, perfect accuracy (if it is possible at all) is by no means necessary to take full advantage of a system's game library. Some people say that FPGA emulators are the only way to preserve a system, but I'd say that software emulators are a much more accessible way (no special hardware required!) of achieving this goal.
I think FPGA emulators have only one real advantage over software emulators: they can more easily interact with the original hardware, such as physical cartridges or other consoles via link cables."
Lipsitz concludes:
"I did this project not because I think FPGA emulators are inherently better than software emulators, but because I think they are interesting and fun to build."
FPGA or emulation, the best solution is the one that suits us and that we enjoy working on. Below is a non-exhaustive table that simplifies the comparison between the two approaches:
Source: Time Extension
Sun Feb 16 2025
Many of you follow Fabrice's live every Tuesday, devoted to reading the JV press from our childhood. Many of you send us your collections to share with the community.
This community spirit has attracted the attention of our friends at Abandonware Magazines. If you're not familiar with their site, its aim is to collect and scan as many computer and video game magazines as possible to make them available in their online library.
And their work is colossal! In November 2024, the site reached 20,000 issues scanned, covering around 180 different magazines, all in French.
Created in 2002, the site has continued to evolve thanks to the arrival of new contributors, each of whom has made his or her own contribution to the edifice.
However, some collections are still incomplete, and that's where you can help! The Abandonware Magazines team has got in touch with Fabrice so that we can start passing on issues, and you can also take part in this initiative.
If you have a collection, or even just a few issues, you can contact the Abandonware Magazines team via their Discord. They'll let you know if they're interested in scanning your magazines.
Wondering what happens to the magazines once they've been scanned? There are three possibilities:
So, if you've got any magazines lying around in your garage or attic, you know what to do! 👉 Discord Abandonware Magazines
Many thanks to Catel for his availability, his information and, as a bonus, the photo he sent us of a scanner used for the site: