Monopoly has joined forces with Nintendo to introduce a new Pokémon-themed edition of the classic board game. This new set allows players to adopt the role of their favourite Pokémon trainers and explore locations from the Pokémon series.

• Key Features:

• Pokéballs replace currency in this spin on Monopoly.
• Players collect 48 different Pokémon, with one from each type needed to win.
• Location cards now read Desert, Countryside, and City instead of traditional streets.
• A unique twist where players engage in Gym Battles against each other.

The game is priced at $24.99/£24.99 and ships before Christmas, available for pre-order from Amazon.

Do you think this new twist adds value to the classic board game?

https://k-tec.uk/

PixelHeart Replenishes SNES Stock with New Cart Releases

PixelHeart, a well-known retro publisher, has recently announced the re-release of several previously sold-out Nintendo SNES games.

• New Titles Available: Four indie game titles and two original officially released games from the Nintendo Classics range have been reprinted by PixelHeart under its JoshProd label.

Indie Games:

• Jim Power (Recently Finished) A puzzle platformer developed in the 1990s that was recently completed and finally released.
• Iron Commando (Reprinted with New Artwork) Originally exclusive to the Super Famicom in 1995, this scrolling beat 'em up has been reprinted with new artwork.
• Dorke & Yump (Developed but Never Released) Developed in the early 1990s that was never brought to market. It offers a unique blend of puzzle and platforming genres.
• Unholy Knight (2017 Ex-SNK Staff Development) A one-on-one fighting game from 2017, developed by SNK alumni.

Original Games:

Tetris & Dr. Mario and Super Soccer, both from the Nintendo Classics range, are available as brand-new copies.

What Does This Mean for Enthusiasts?

Stocks of these reprinted games are limited, so fans should act quickly to secure their favorite titles.

Which game from this list sounds the most appealing to you?

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To Celebrate 30 Years Of Sega Saturn: New Version Of Yaba Sanshiro Coming Soon

Key Facts:

• Emulator Update: Yaba Sanshiro, a popular Sega Saturn emulator, is getting an update for Windows computers.
• Release Timing: The new version is set to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Sega Saturn console release in November.
• Enhancements: It will include various updates and bug fixes.

Background:

Yaba Sanshiro, also known as uoYabause, has long been one of the most popular Saturn emulators available.

How do you feel about emulators like Yaba Sanshiro contributing to the longevity of retro gaming?

https://k-tec.uk

Taylor’s Tater Terror, a new Amiga game being developed by FutureVision Retro Publishing, is dedicated to Taylor Calk, who tragically passed away in February 2023. The project aims to complete a classic platformer inspired by the memories of Taylor.

Key Points:

• Developer: FutureVision Retro Publishing
• Platform: Amiga
• Funding: The game is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter to bring the project to completion.
• Story Inspiration: Taylor Calk tinkers with his Amiga, which suddenly 'comes to life' before sucking him into a digital world filled with boss fights and challenges.

A statement on the Kickstarter page shares that Taylor’s untimely departure had a profound impact on those who knew him, and his legacy is being honoured through this game which keeps his memory alive.

How do you feel about this project? Do you think it’s worth supporting to keep Taylor’s spirit alive through the world of Amiga gaming?

https://k-tec.uk

Sovietborgs on Mega Drive Preview

Sovietborgs is a new overhead shooter being developed for the Mega Drive/Genesis, created by the retro-gaming enthusiasts at Retro Sumus.

Gameplay Overview:

• A squad-based approach where you control multiple attackers.
• Requires managing your troops through relentless enemy fire, with the ultimate goal of advancing by destroying hostile nests and finishing waves of enemies.
• Combines strategic movement to maintain combat readiness alongside tactical shooting positions.

Features & Mechanics:

• Graphics & Aesthetics: Utilizes a distinct 70s communist theme with green, brown, and grey colours. Requires further development in detail but is promising in its early stages.
• Sound Effects & Music: Also at an early stage, with some initial voice work and sound effects appearing.
• Game Balance: Well-balanced design between movement and shooting, emphasizing practicality and experience.

Development Stage: This preview suggests that the game is still in development but shows promise. With additional firepower additions like more weapons and bombs, two-player cooperative mode is an interesting idea on the horizon too!

How do you think Sovietborgs will compare to other squad-based shooters on the Mega Drive? How should Retro Sumus refine the gameplay mechanics as it progresses through development?

King of Fighters '98 Scales at $13,000

Japanese company Tanita has collaborated with SNK to create a professional body composition monitor that not only measures your fitness but also serves as a platform for playing King of Fighters '98.

Key Points:

• The device costs 2 million yen (approximately $13,000 USD).
• It features an LCD screen where you can play KOF '98 by plugging in a controller through its USB port.
• The device combines health monitoring with gaming, though it requires significant investment for such a quirky feature.

This is one of the most unusual collaborations we've seen. Would you be tempted to purchase this, or do you think the price tag and functionality are too high?

The Booze of Monkey Island: A Fan-Made Game Paying Tribute

Monkey Island is a classic point-and-click adventure game that has captivated players since its release in 1990. The latest fan-made tribute, 'The Booze of Monkey Island', follows Guybrush Threepwood on Booty Island, where he must outsmart LeChuck and escape before it's too late.

This indie game is developed by the Bean Adventure Agency and currently available for free in Early Access. It offers a shorter but engaging adventure compared to its legendary predecessors.

• Developers: The Bean Adventure Agency
• Gameplay Style: Point-and-click adventure
• Setting: Booty Island
• Objective: Escape the island before LeChuck catches you!

With no official continuation in sight, this fan effort is a delightful homage allowing enthusiasts to revisit the beloved series.

Will this unofficial tribute inspire LucasArts to consider continuing the Monkey Island saga?

Sega has officially announced the development of a new Virtua Fighter game.

• Justin Scarpone, Sega’s global head of transmedia, confirmed during an interview with VGC that a new Virtua Fighter game is in the works.
• Key Points:
• The last mainline release, Virtua Fighter 5, was released almost two decades ago in 2006.
• Since then, only minor appearances of Virtua Fighter characters have been seen, such as in the Yakuza series and Virtua Fighter 5 Ultimate Showdown.
• Speculations point towards this game possibly being Virtua Fighter 6.

This news marks a significant milestone for the series, which has been somewhat dormant in recent years. What do you think about this development? How might we see Virtua Fighter evolve in the future?

When Lunar Remastered was announced, it sparked widespread excitement among retro gaming enthusiasts. This renowned JRPG series has been through various localisations over the years, but one of the most memorable is certainly Working Designs' English voice acting for the Sega CD and PS1 versions.

However, GungHo, the company behind the remasters, is currently not including these original voice-acts in the Lunar Remastered package. Victor Ireland, founder of Working Designs, was quoted as saying that they have offered the old working designs recordings at a discount but are yet to hear back from GungHo.

Key Points:

• Original English Voice Acting not included in Lunar Remastered.
• Offered by Working Designs: Ireland made the content available at a low cost but received no response so far.

What do you think about GungHo’s decision? Do you think they have a valid reason for not including the original voice acting? Or is this just another case of prioritising profit over passion?

SuperSega Explains It's Afraid Analogue Will Steal Its Ideas

SuperSega, the project behind a FPGA console aiming to run games from all Sega home consoles, has faced backlash over poorly shot videos and misleading marketing. The Spanish development team has released a Q&A addressing some of these issues.

Key Points

• Financial Constraints: SuperSega members say they are not rich but claim enthusiasm is their driving force. They have limited resources due to funding challenges, resulting in basic prototypes with no excess money for professional video production or fully finished boards.
  • Quote: "We only have 2 boards, which cost us 15K euros per not finished board."
• Prototype Protection: They are worried that showing a prototype could expose their technology to Analogue or other competitors, risking intellectual property theft or copying of designs.
  • Quote: "If we send some unit, it may be damaged, loosen, etc, and also can be taken by other company like say Analogue etc.. and then they can reverse and copy us the cores and design."
• Video Quality: Poor videos are attributed to insufficient funding for better production quality. They have showcased limited progress due to the lack of proper equipment and resources.
  • Quote: "Not enough resources."

SuperSega aims to adhere strictly to a published timeline. Despite these challenges, their ambitions remain clear: delivering an FPGA console that can run all Sega classic games with minimal performance compromises.

Do you think SuperSega's concerns about Analogue are grounded in reality? Have you pre-ordered and been charged the full amount?

Sega's Emojam: A Pager for Kids... and a Missed Opportunity?

Context

For many retro gaming enthusiasts, the announcement of new hardware from a major gaming company is always exciting, especially when it comes to Sega. The company is known for making iconic home video game systems like the Dreamcast, but since 2001, they've not ventured into mainstream console territory.

Key Points

• The Announced Device: The "emojam" is a pager-style device aimed at children that uses emojis to communicate. It's produced by SEGA Fave Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the larger SEGA Group.
• Target Audience and Features: The device is designed for kids and equipped with Wi-Fi for messaging and featuring over 1,100 original emojis. Kids can create secret messages using a combination of emojis, and there's even an "emoji lab" function to make new ones.

Safety Measures and Concerns

• Safety Functionality: The device has measures in place to ensure that only contacts who physically touch the bottom of the device can exchange information with the child. This is aimed at preventing communications with strangers online, a common concern for parents of young tech users.
• Unique Selling Points: Unlike other messaging tools, emojam encourages safe communication and offers a "puzzle-solving" element by encouraging kids to decode messages using emojis.

Thoughts on the Release

• Market Positioning: Emojam is positioned as a novelty item for children in Japan, which is interesting given the current saturation of smartphones among youth. It remains to be seen if this unique concept can capture an audience in today's technological landscape.
• Future Implications: The release of emojam seems to position Sega more towards toy and technology innovation rather than traditional gaming hardware, a shift that could have implications for its future product lines and target market.

How do you think the emojam will be received by both children and their parents in today's digital age? Will it carve out enough of a niche to make a significant impact on kids' communication tools?

EGM Compendium hits $500K in Crowdfunding

Overview of the Fundraising Success

EGM Compendium, a significant project aimed at creating a comprehensive collection of Edge of Game Magazine (EGM), announced last month that they had reached over $250k on their crowdfunding campaign. This momentum has now propelled the campaign to surpass the $500k mark in just a couple of weeks.

Key Features and Perks

• $500K Milestone Reached: With this milestone, EGM Compendium unlocked additional perks for backers, such as better quality paper and extra articles in the final book. One of the most exciting new perks is the commemorative fold-out cover, which adds a premium finish to the book.

Project Details

• Campaign Duration: The campaign still has a week left, creating potential for even higher fundraising totals.
• Backers can Still Order: For those looking to relive nostalgia or add to their collection, it's not too late to place an order. Orders are accepted until the end of the campaign.

Community Engagement and Future Plans

• Artwork Announced: As soon as they hit $500k, EGM Compendium updated their campaign page to announce that they would commission a crossover-packed fold-out cover for EGM #265, paying homage to the iconic EGM #100. An artist will be selected in the days ahead.

How do you feel about EGM Compendium's success? Do you have particular issues or magazines that you would love to see included in this collection?