Lovely. The following link will let you bid on 8 issues (AA 88-95) of the CPC magazine everyone loved. Seller ships worldwide and Amstrad Action is still wonderful. Really. The excellent free pdf Amstrad Action tribute magazine is proof enough.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
SEGA 32X: The Genesis Arcade Upgrade (of sorts)
Possibly the least successful console ever produced by Sega, the much maligned Genesis 32X was nonetheless a relatively affordable way to upgrade that aging 16-bit Genesis and -in a way- enter the pop world of 32-bit 3D gaming and arcade perfect conversions. It even got itself a few rather excellent games, mind. Anyway. Here's a new in box Sega 32X @ eBay. It's a US only auction and grabbing this one for less than 80$ should be considered a bargain.
Posted by gnome at 1/30/2009 0 comments
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thompson Twins Adventure Game Flexi Disc
The people that still can't accept tapes as a proper data storage medium will surely feel rather shaken after noticing the picture above. It is after all a flexi disc, that unlike your average LP is not there to play music. It holds gaming data instead, was published by Quicksilva and was originally given away free with Computer & Video Games Magazine back in 1984. Find out more about this lovely disc and other forms of vinyl gaming here. Download them flexi disc contents from World of Spectrum.
Oh, and do bid on this rather fab Thompson Twins Adventure Game Flexi Disc @ eBay. Seller ships to Europe, Asia, United States, Australia and Canada.
Posted by gnome at 1/29/2009 7 comments
Labels: rare items, Retro Games, Spectrum, ZX Spectrum
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
The Discreet Charm of the Atari Lynx
By far the shiniest handheld screen a retro console could wish for, and wait till you see the thing scaling, zooming and rotating bitmaps. Yes, the Atari Lynx (the Lynx II to be precise) was -and still is- a fantastic console and if you follow this eBay auction link you will have the chance to bid on a boxed unit complete with three boxed games. Seller ships worldwide, and I'd expect this package to sell for a bit over 50 pounds (70$ / 53 euro). Oh, and do find more about the Lynx here.
Posted by gnome at 1/28/2009 0 comments
Labels: Atari, Lynx, Retro handhelds
Monday, January 26, 2009
A Speccy Lightpen
Here's something that will hopefully sort of answer dear Deitrix's questions regarding the artistic abilities of the humble ZX Spectrum:a boxed Spectrum Lightpen @ eBay (seller ships worldwide). Apparently by DK Tronics. Find out more about it here.
Posted by gnome at 1/26/2009 6 comments
Labels: accessories, Spectrum, ZX Spectrum
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tempest 3000 - Nuon
Of all the weird, innovative and ultimately failed platforms Jeff Minter supported, the Nuon was the one that got itself the fewest games (the Konix MultiSystem doesn't count, mind). Eight games to be precise, and Jeff's Tempest 3000 was by far the most intriguing. You can bid on it and hopefully grab a complete boxed copy via this Tempest 3000 Nuon eBay auction. Seller ships worldwide.
Posted by gnome at 1/23/2009 4 comments
Labels: Nuon, Retro Games
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Boxed Spectrum +3
The rarer, most advanced and not particularly successful Sinclair Spectrum +3 was an Amstrad computer, that tellingly used those 3'' discs the 6128 and PCW were known for. Happily, you can now treat yourself to it and find out more about the peculiar delights it can offer by following this Spectrum +3 auction link. Seller ships worldwide, the computer seems to be in great condition and you'll also be getting 5 games on one disk.
Posted by gnome at 1/21/2009 8 comments
Labels: 8-bit home micros, Amstrad, Spectrum, ZX Spectrum
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Sega Game Gear Lot
In essence a Sega Master System with improved graphics crammed into a handheld system, the Game Gear was one of the competitors to the Game Boy throne, that, well, failed to actually compete. Still, it was successful enough to get its fair share of great games and be easy enough to track down on eBay. Prices usually start around 20 pounds, 28$ or 22 euros. Oh, and this particular Sega Game Gear & carry case & 7 games seems like quite the offer. Seller ships worldwide and you'll even be getting a lovely AC adapter to save on the battery costs.
Posted by gnome at 1/20/2009 7 comments
Labels: Retro handhelds, Sega, Sega Game Gear
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Mac)
Created by Steve Meretzky and Douglas Adams himself, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is one of the funniest, most impressively boxed and nigh on unsolvable text adventures ever released by Infocom (or anyone else for that matter). Still, it also is an absolutely brilliant game and one you can easily grab in its complete glory via this HHGttG for Apple Macintosh eBay auction. Seller ships worldwide. Oh, and you can play the excellent BBC remake here. For free of course. No tea included.
Posted by gnome at 1/19/2009 6 comments
Labels: Adventures, Infocom, Mac/Apple, Retro Games
Saturday, January 17, 2009
bargain.bin retro review: Target; Renegade (8-bits)
People keep on talking about Streets of Rage 2, as if it actually were the best retro side-scrolling beat-'em-up you could ever play in the comfort of your home. How very odd! We all know that Target; Renegade on the ZX Spectrum was better, don't we? And affordable too. And released back in 1988 by Imagine, all those years after Ocean had already gotten said publishing label for itself. Oh, and it also was a truly rare instance of a sequel to an arcade that didn't get an arcade sequel, meaning of course that it was the sequel to an 8-bit arcade conversion; the aptly named Renegade.
Now, assuming not everyone has (had) a Spectrum or a capacity for vivid memories, let me briefly remind everyone what Target; Renegade was all about. You, the player, entered the 80s shoes of ridiculously-named Renegade in a mission to avenge your brother's death. This of course would turn out to be a particularly violent mission, as the game would take you for a brutal fight through the gritty locales of Scumville in search of Mr. Big, a gang-lord and a murderer, whom you would then have to beat to death; preferably with a snooker cue. Not Dostoevsky exactly, I know, but these games can't be judged by their plot, can they?
So, why care about Target; Renegade then? Easy. The game features some great, impressively varied graphics, a lovely selection of baddies that cover everything from ladies of the night and shooters to Beastie Boys fans, excellent controls, excellent pace and five -yes, excellently- characterful stages to battle through. Oh, and, yes, it plays brilliantly (and in a most excellent manner) and is as addictive as, well, a particularly addictive thing. In a nutshell, it's an absolute classic and it hasn't aged a day!
Only problem is it's a multiload, but -in our age of the emulator and the mp3 player- that shouldn't really bother anyone...
Other, by definition inferior (though some might argue with that), versions of Target; Renegade have appeared on the CPC, the Commodore 64 and even Nintendo's very own NES. Oh, and if you have a 128k Speccy prepare yourselves for some fantastic music too.
Where to get it:
Target; Renegade (all formats): eBay.com, eBay.uk
Free Download (Spectrum version): World of Spectrum
Remakes: Target; 2006, Target Renegade Remake
More info on Target; Renegade:
Sensible Soccer (Commodore Amiga)
Berzerk (Atari 2600/VCS)
Posted by gnome at 1/17/2009 17 comments
Labels: 8-bit home micros, bargain bin, Retro Games, Spectrum
Friday, January 16, 2009
Apple Disk II Drive 1 - A2M0003
A beautiful vintage disk drive for your beautiful vintage Apple II computer. Grab it here. Seller ships worldwide.
Posted by gnome at 1/16/2009 2 comments
Labels: accessories, Apple, Apple II
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Shanghai for the Atari Lynx
A beautiful and quite classic puzzle game this one and you can try acquiring an incredibly well-priced, complete and still boxed copy of the cartridge via this Shanghai (Lynx) auction. Provided you live somewhere in the E.U. that is. Find out more about the game here.
Posted by gnome at 1/15/2009 2 comments
Labels: Atari, Europe, Lynx, Retro Games
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tengen Tetris NES
If there is one collectible NES game that has legendary I.P. conflict written all over it, then it has to be Tengen Tetris. Atari-controlled company Tengen, you see, despite apparently only having the rights for the computer versions of Tetris, went on and produced an excellent port of the game for Nintendo's 8-bit console. But, with Nintendo having already acquired the Tetris rights on consoles (only) and producing -an inferior, though legally superior- version of the game, Tengen was forced to withdraw and remove its cartridges from shops worldwide. Thus Tengen's Tetris became a rarity. A rarity you can now grab for a modest price by following this Tengen Tetris NES eBay link. Seller ships worldwide.
Posted by gnome at 1/13/2009 4 comments
Labels: NES/Famicom, Rare games
Monday, January 12, 2009
eBay Rampage: NES
The Nintendo Entertainment System, also known as the NES, is the 8-bit gaming console that signaled the beginning of the modern video games industry. Apparently it also spawned such enduring game series as Mario, Zelda and Metroid and never fared that well outside the US and Japan. Then again, you know all there is to know about it, don't you? Oh, and you can usually grab one for something around 20 pounds, 23 euros or 30$.
Posted by gnome at 1/12/2009 5 comments
Labels: 8-bit consoles, eBay Rampage, NES/Famicom, Nintendo
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Quill (Oric-1, Atmos)
Never knew that Gilsoft's classic adventure creating program The Quill had been released for the Oric-1 and Atmos. Well, apparently it has and you can grab a brand new and sealed copy of the program (complete with manual) via this The Quill auction. Seller ships worldwide. Oh, and do find out more about that excellent and classic piece of software here.
Posted by gnome at 1/10/2009 0 comments
Labels: Adventures, Atmos, Oric
Friday, January 9, 2009
Get Lucky with an Amiga 1000
The Commodore Amiga 1000 was -by far- the most beautiful Amiga computer ever released. Sadly, being also quite a rarity, it can fetch some pretty steep prices on eBay, though this Amiga 1000 auction might turn out better. Provided you don't want a monitor, can do with an extra 8 megs of memory and dare to take some chances, that is. Seller ships only within the US.
Posted by gnome at 1/09/2009 0 comments
Labels: 16-bit home computers, Amiga, Amiga 1000, rare items, US/Canada
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Amstrad CPC 464
Here's a UK only offer for people who've always wanted to own an 8-bit home computer with a multi-coloured keyboard. Simply click this CPC auction link and have a look at the auction for a CPC 464 complete with colour monitor, keyboard, light pen, head cleaner, both instruction manuals, demo tapes, all necessary leads and 18 games. The rest of us can have with this brilliant CPC emulator.
Posted by gnome at 1/08/2009 7 comments
Labels: 8-bit home micros, Amstrad, CPC, CPC 464, UK
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Jaguar JagLink by Atari
The JagLink thingy advertised above allows two Atari Jaguar consoles to be networked together and provide a nice little home gaming LAN of sorts. The JagLink box includes all you need to connect two Jaguars, though, sadly, only three games can use the thing (Air Cars, BattleSphere, and Doom), as it didn't quite set the Atari world on fire. For a brand new, obviously boxed, Atari JagLink do try this boxed JagLink auction. Seller ships worldwide.
Posted by gnome at 1/07/2009 2 comments
Labels: accessories, Atari, Jaguar
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Complete ZX Spectrum 48k
You really couldn't ask for more... This fantastic Speccy eBay auction includes the classic rubbery 48k Spectrum, the lovely clicky LO external keyboard, 3 joysticks, a Kempston interface, one cassette recorder, the parallel interface, a RGB TV interface, the oddly named ZX-BOX sound amplifier, a Trojan Light Pen, books, manuals and an assortment of other interfaces and bits to bolt onto the Speccy. What's more, 84 games and a selection of software are also thrown in.
Said games and software include: Melbourne Draw, Saboteur, Matchday, Elite, Sherlock, Decathlon, Wanted Monty Mole, The Great Escape, Kwikload, Horace & the Spiders, Tapper and the Horizons Software Starter Pack. Europe only.
Posted by gnome at 1/06/2009 2 comments
Labels: Europe, Sinclair, ZX Spectrum
Monday, January 5, 2009
Bandai's fantastic WonderSwan
Designed by legendary Game Boy creator Gunpei Yokoi, the WonderSwan from Bandai was a powerful little handheld console released in 1999, that happily went on (in all its various... err... variants) to sell a very respectable 3.5 million consoles worldwide. Apparently got a couple hundred games released for it too, including the brilliant Gunpey and some Gundam offerings. The original version of the machine in particular, the one with the black and white display, usually sells for 30-40$, meaning this very impressive and apparently absolutely new in its box WonderSwan (Skeleton Black model) could go for quite a bit more, though apparently not much. Seller ships worldwide.
Posted by gnome at 1/05/2009 2 comments
Labels: Bandai, Retro handhelds, WonderSwan
Saturday, January 3, 2009
CD1500: CDTV Professional
Commodore's CDTV was stylish, powerful, imaginative, Amiga compatible and unfortunately a huge commercial flop you can read about here. The CD1500, on the other hand, the CDTV Professional upgrade, was less stylish, more of a flop, definitely disk-centered and apparently quite rare. It also manages to turn the DVD player styled CDTV into a proper Amiga 500 computer with a CD-ROM. What's more you can actually grab one boxed CDTV Professional with extras via eBay. Seller ships worldwide.
You will be getting the CDTV Professional which gives you a keyboard, mouse and floppy drive for the CDTV and -as an added bonus- the CD1252 infrared mouse and the CDTV infrared trackball. Oh, and an already working CDTV should also come in handy, as one isn't included.
Posted by gnome at 1/03/2009 0 comments
Labels: Amiga, CDTV, rare items
Friday, January 2, 2009
Games for your Master System
It's a UK only auction for Sega Master System games and I couldn't be more jealous. Haven't grabbed anything for my poor 8-bit Sega for ages you see, and the poor thing is just sitting in a corner next to a burnt Amiga monitor. Oh, well... At least you lot can enjoy such gems as Sonic, Sonic 2, Castle of Illusion, Taz-Mania and one more copy of Sonic 2.
Posted by gnome at 1/02/2009 0 comments
Labels: 8-bit consoles, Game Collection, Master System, Sega, UK