Revival Retro Events

23/12/2023

Day 23 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Sony PSX!

Released solely in Japan in 2003, Sony’s added digital video recorder capability to their hugely successful PlayStation 2 console to create this premium multimedia entertainment system. The extremely heavy unit was their first piece of hardware to use the ‘Cross Media Bar’ menu system, allowing users to play games using its unique gloss white joypad, watch analog or digital TV through its various connections, record programs to either a 160Gb or 250Gb hard drive or DVD, or on later models, export them to memory stick for playback on a PSP.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

21/12/2023

Day 21 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Pioneer LaserActive!

As the gaming generations moved on, manufacturers would look at current technologies and media to bring different gameplay experiences to an expectant audience. Utilising the storage space and already-experimented arcade medium of Laserdiscs, in 1993 Pioneer partnered with Sega and NEC to both integrate their popular game libraries and offer expanded functionality games in conjunction with manufacturer-specific ‘PAC’ modules, capable of playing cartridge, CD and Laserdisc games in one multimedia system that could also play movies and be used for karaoke.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

20/12/2023

18/12/2023

Each A5 hardback book is printed in glossy full colour, with a matching protective dust sleeve and interwoven bookmarking ribbons to save reference points.

18/12/2023

Day 18 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Nintendo 64 DD!

Following on from yesterday’s misstep by the ‘big N’, this expansion for the Nintendo 64 was Nintendo’s first move away from cartridges after the questionable decision to stick with ROM chips for their next generation console. Using proprietary magnetic disks, the expansion was talked about in 1995 during the already drawn-out development of the main console, only eventually seeing release in Japan via mail order in 1999 as an attempt to extend the console’s lifespan. With only a couple of expansion titles and art packages released for this pseudo-development platform, a high cost and waning interest saw it attract little interest with the approaching millennium and 6th generation systems.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

18/12/2023

Day 17 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Nintendo Virtual Boy!

Designed by creator of the Gameboy, Gunpei Yokoi, the prototype ‘VR32’ was scheduled to be a successor in the line of Nintendo’s popular portables/handhelds. Using independent spinning mirrored lenses to create a stereoscopic layered effect, the clever design was conceived to capitalise on the rising concept of virtual reality gaming. Cost cutting to reduce the displays to monochrome red and black from the possible colour lenses and the desktop profile of the heavy unit made for an uncomfortable gaming experience in any prolonged session, never finding an identity or audience at a time the world was entering into the next generation of powerful home consoles. With less than 20 official games released and never even getting chance in a PAL region, the system was rapidly dropped from support by Nintendo after 1995 to focus on the Nintendo 64.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

16/12/2023

Day 16 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the TurboExpress!

Released 3 years after their home console, NEC’s 1990 handheld version of the PC Engine/TurboGrafx was leaps ahead of other portable consoles of the era. Though a little chunkier for the technology packed inside, this completely portable version of the home console goes as far as to include the turbo fire button sliders and using the exact same compact HuCards for the games, rounded up with a higher quality colour LCD screen than either the Lynx or Game Gear could manage. Marred only by a high cost and limited marketing, having access to the excellent game library of the home console offers an objectively superior experience than the contemporary competitors, commanding a high price in collecting circles today.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

15/12/2023

Day 15 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the TianLi K989GE Education Player!

Not only do Sega have a storied history of excessive hardware research and releases, but they have famously collaborated with some major electronics companies to create some fascinating hybrid systems. A lesser known example (owing to its exclusive Chinese market release) is the integration of their 16-but hardware into a range of disc-based movie players. This model from 1998 is both a VCD movie player and capable of playing Megadrive games from pre-pressed discs of uncompressed ROMs. Not only is it close to original hardware, but the player uses a split video system, allowing a game to be loaded into RAM, then a movie to be loaded and played simultaneously on a separate video output.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

15/12/2023

Last little event of the year; helping out with a bit of gaming entertainment at a Christmas party! For those wondering, yes you can hire our services in any capacity from small to grand, from a few consoles to full arcades, whatever the occasion!

Time for a Christmas break now before plans get underway for Revival 2024!

14/12/2023

Possibilities, possibilities…

14/12/2023

Day 14 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Sony Bravia KDL-22PX300!

Combining the last of the product lines of one of their successful TV ranges and the final revision slim PS2 motherboards, Sony’s 2010 integrated ‘PS2 TV’ has the unusual distinction of being an obscure and interesting release that was released exclusively in the U.K. and Europe, rather than the larger home territories of Japan or America, as had been the trend for rarities for decades prior. Connected internally via component video for the best quality output and with patches available to play games in widescreen with progressive scan, it’s one if the best ways to enjoy the world’s best selling console.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

13/12/2023

Spacious 🤔
Soon be time to dig out those membership cards, people…

10/12/2023

Day 10 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Super FamicomBox!

Created by Nintendo to deliver their 16-bit games in a variety of commercial settings, the rugged industrial design features a pass-through for a TV mounted on top, as well as an optional side-mounted coin box to offer different pay-per-play situations. A custom bios menu system and variety of timed settings allows users to easily choose games to play, read gameplay instructions, watch demos and pay to enjoy them; for example by rates added to a hotel room bill or by direct physical coinage.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

09/12/2023

Day 9 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Sega Mega Jet!

Originally created as a rentable device on Japanese airlines to play Megadrive games in flight, this portable unit was later licensed to Alpine for integration into premium in-car entertainment systems. Demand for it eventually led Sega to produce them in limited numbers for the general public exclusively via mail order.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

08/12/2023

Day 8 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Neo Geo AES!

Seasoned arcade game developers SNK made a bold move in 1990 by not only releasing a new swappable arcade game standard that would help arcade operators deliver more choice with less floor space, but making that same technology compact enough to be repackaged for entry into the home console market. As staggeringly expensive as the home systems were, owners had access to the exact same games they were playing in their local arcade, for a price far cheaper than that of a full arcade machine. Players even had the ability to save games started at the arcade to continue at home with similar controls, thanks to the default arcade style joystick controllers.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

07/12/2023

Day 7 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Sega SG-1000!

Before finding relative success in some territories with the Master System, Sega experimented with 8-bit architecture to try and produce a console to contend with the Famicom in Japan. Based on the planned specs for their SC-3000 microcomputer, the SG-1000 console actually launched before it in that region in 1993. Comparable in power to contemporary micros around the world, it’s lower specs didn’t prevent it from getting solid ports of many popular arcade titles, and set the design template for their 8-bit hardware going forward.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

06/12/2023

Day 6 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Fujitsu FM Towns Marty!

A rare foray into the world of dedicated video games for the tech giant, 1993’s Japan-only console variant of the FM Towns PC hardware was an interesting and unique fusion of both worlds. In the awkward time between the first experiments with CDs as a console format and the polygonal powerhouses that eventually successfully used discs, this pricey system had a plethora of 2D arcade-perfect ports and some of the best DOS-era PC titles ported to it, complete with floppy disc and mouse support for a more eclectic mix of genres.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

05/12/2023

Day 5 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Commodore 64 GS!

Released in 1990 by a declining Commodore brand, this iteration of the highly successful Commodore 64 computer ditched the keyboard and relocated the cartridge slot to a top-mounted position, in an attempt to enter the rapidly growing console market at minimal cost. Though the joystick ports supported 2-button controllers and cartridges offered instant loading, higher capacity games, the fundamentally identical hardware and case design just made Commodore fans see through it as an overpriced, lesser-featured ‘64, with few reasons to buy it over the original machine.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about obscure systems like this today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

04/12/2023

Day 4 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Zeebo!

Created as an accessible modern console for emerging markets in South America, the mobile chipset-powered 2009 console exclusively used 3G mobile internet delivery for updates, software, online play and social interactivity. Coupled with era-trending motion controlled sports titles, the surprising game library features platform-exclusive arcade and console ports from Data East, Capcom and Namco Bandai, enhanced mobile ports and some unique IPs not seen on any other system. Still not fully emulated and sold in such limited markets with a now-defunct content delivery system, loaded consoles are now a rare and collectible find, particularly in the U.K.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about playing this system today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

03/12/2023

Day 3 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Amstrad Mega PC!

Exercising Amstrad’s formerly successful practice of creating ‘all in one’ solutions for consumers, the Mega PC 386SX merged a low-range home computer with Sega’s successful 16-bit Megadrive, to deliver era-appropriate console gaming in a unit that could also see more serious home or business use. Though woefully underpowered hardware for 1993, heavily overpriced and sold in poor numbers upon first release, the novel combination concept and modern modification potential have drastically raised desirability and cost in collector circles today.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about playing this system today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

02/12/2023

Day 2 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the Treamcast!

Unlike other major players of the 6th console generation, Sega’s final system design didn’t allow for easy peripheral integration or be around long enough to see development of a bolt on screen for convenience. Stripping down legitimate Japanese Dreamcasts, giving them a custom bios and rehousing them into a new shell with an integrated LCD, Chinese bootleggers created a series of convenient all-in-one portables that saw a lot of success in Hong Kong and grey import market.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about playing this system today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

02/12/2023

Really good night last night at Arcade Club Bury with some of the RRE team for a pre-Christmas get-together, bash some ideas about for REVIVAL 2024 and a bit of friendly competition on games we all mostly suck at!

Roll on the return of REVIVAL’s social gaming excellence next year, where we can enjoy this with so many more of our retro gaming buddies!

01/12/2023

Day 1 on YamYam Retro Gaming’s ‘Game Not Over’ advent calendar is the iQue Player!

Officially licensed by Nintendo as a system to circumvent China’s strict video game and import laws, Nintendo 64 hardware was shrunken down to fit in a more comfortable controller unit, with games installed via special shop kiosks onto a proprietary memory module. Priced at less than £50 on release, it’s the closest we have come to date to a true ‘N64 mini’, and sadly never made it outside of China.

See more pics, game reviews and learn more about playing this system today in ‘Game Not Over’, available here: https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

Play it for real at REVIVAL 2024…

23/11/2023

To help people still looking to pick up a copy of my book ‘Game Not Over’ or who may have referred it to others outside of Facebook, you can now order one of my remaining copies from eBay at the following link:

https://tinyurl.com/GameNotOverVol1

This will help those looking for more payment options and allow those outside of my normal reach to easily place an order. I only have about 40 copies left now of this first run, so grab one while you still can!

With just under 1000 books sold to date, I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported production of this first book and hope those who enjoyed it will consider checking out volume 2, which should be coming in the Spring.

Each A5 hardback book is printed in glossy full colour, with a matching protective dust sleeve and interwoven bookmarking ribbons to save reference points.

20/11/2023

Wanted: Sony KDL-15G2000

I’m currently reworking my monitor collection for upcoming events and am looking for more of these specific monitors. If you have one or are able to find one in your area you could collect for me, I can either buy it from you or trade it with a different branded TV of similar or larger size, if you need one for console testing use etc.

Not interested in other TVs, I’m specifically after this one. Don’t care about remote but ideally will have the power supply. I also need dates such as stands and PSUs, so if you have any of these, please let me know here or in DM.

10/11/2023

With the popularity of the obscurities I exhibited back in August at Zzap Live prior to the launch of my book, I’ve prepped a few more factoid placards for some new unusual snippets from the ‘Game Not Over’ vault, that I’ll be bringing with me to Crash Live next weekend.

There will also be a chance to pick up a physical copy of the completed first book if you haven’t got one already, as well as see a rolling preview of the chapters completed so far for volume 2, which is expected to be out sometime in the Spring. Stop by, have a game, chat about the weird and unusual platforms that passed you by and maybe just support my efforts by grabbing a copy of the book while you’re there! 😉

29/10/2023

Need a favour from any of my London-way friends, if any are available? Bought 3 arcade monitors that I need picking up from Heart Of Gaming arcade in Croydon. I’m not in a particular rush but was wondering if anyone down that way could collect them for me who is perhaps coming up to Crash Live in Kenilworth on the 18th November, or I could meet up with at another time to collect? Will save me worrying about their safety with a courier and be a big help in my resto efforts that I’m having to pace myself on.

Give me a shout if you’re available and could grab them for me, and I’ll buy you a beer. Much appreciated 👊🏻

22/10/2023

Up in that there Sheffield city centre today for the ‘Out of this World’ Halloween/gaming/comic con style community event happening across the city. RRE have taken a small dose of the most popular retro systems for all to enjoy at this completely free event. 👍🏻

Come check us out if you’re in the vicinity…

20/10/2023

A few good times over the last decade…. 2024 is right around the corner…