For many, scaling Mount Everest has stood as the ultimate challenge of one's strength and endurance. An achievement of a lifetime. For long-time Doom players, however, there is an equivalent: NUTS.WAD. Legend has it that NUTS.WAD descended upon Doom players in the year 2001: a map from the future in which players are dropped into a single map with more than 10,000 enemies and a handful of power-ups. And now - for the first time ever - it's playable on a games console.
I'm half-joking, of course, but the ability to load in any Doom mod is just one great feature found in the latest version of Doom and Doom 2. Helmed by Nightdive in cooperation with id Software and Machine Games, this new version is worth looking at as it is the most feature rich, best-performing version of Doom on consoles. It's available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series consoles, Switch and even last-gen PS4 and Xbox hardware. The game was transitioned over to Nightdive's KEX engine and brings with it a vast array of enhancements - 120fps support on consoles, 16-player multiplayer including co-op, and a new soundtrack from the legendary Andrew Hulshult.
But it was the mod support that was my first destination and with it, the chance to see how Nightdive's work would cope with the NUTS.WAD challenge. This pushes beyond the limits of what Doom engine was intended to handle and now we can test it on console and the results are interesting. Before we go on, it's worth stressing that all current-gen machines can handle 4K gaming at 120fps - and yes, that includes Series S. The engine is optimised and fast - all the included content and every map I tested runs like greased lightning. I wanted to raise this caveat because the challenge of NUTS.WAD is so extreme and cruel that I don't want people to get the wrong idea. The fact that you can run NUTS.WAD at all is cause for celebration!
There you are, rambling through the woods of Interactive Entertainment with an empty pack and a spring in your step. Here I am, lying in wait behind a tree. Wham! Bam! You reel back in consternation as I bounce into the path and clobber you with a sack containing no less than eight venerable RPGs, from Baldur's Gate to Warhammer 40,000: Rogue's Trader - well over a thousand hours worth of dungeons, dragons, dicerolls, dwarven shopkeepers and many other things I refuse to spend time alliterating, all of which will (currently) set you back just £32.07.
Were you planning to spend this weekend playing some cute two-hour artgame sideshow, without any levelling at all? Shut up, you DOLT. You will play what the nice journalist tells you to play! Best lay in extra caffeine tablets, because it's going to take you till Monday just to get through the character creators alone.
Last week, Bethesda released a remastered edition of Doom and Doom II on Steam, with lots of extra episodes and improvements. One of these new features is a built-in browser for mods, and support for many existing mods that previously required a different version of the game. Basically, lots of good fan-made mods are now playable on the Steam version of ye olde Doom. That's neat! Ah, but there is some demon excrement on the health pack, so to speak. The mod browser lacks moderation and lets people upload the work of others with their own name pinned as the author. That's prompted one level designer to call it "a massive breach of trust and violation of norms the Doom community has done its best to hold to for those 30 years."
There you are, rambling through the woods of Interactive Entertainment with an empty pack and a spring in your step. Here I am, lying in wait behind a tree. Wham! Bam! You reel back in consternation as I bounce into the path and clobber you with a sack containing no less than eight venerable RPGs, from Baldur's Gate to Warhammer 40,000: Rogue's Trader - well over a thousand hours worth of dungeons, dragons, dicerolls, dwarven shopkeepers and many other things I refuse to spend time alliterating, all of which will (currently) set you back just £32.07.
Were you planning to spend this weekend playing some cute two-hour artgame sideshow, without any levelling at all? Shut up, you DOLT. You will play what the nice journalist tells you to play! Best lay in extra caffeine tablets, because it's going to take you till Monday just to get through the character creators alone.
Last week, Bethesda released a remastered edition of Doom and Doom II on Steam, with lots of extra episodes and improvements. One of these new features is a built-in browser for mods, and support for many existing mods that previously required a different version of the game. Basically, lots of good fan-made mods are now playable on the Steam version of ye olde Doom. That's neat! Ah, but there is some demon excrement on the health pack, so to speak. The mod browser lacks moderation and lets people upload the work of others with their own name pinned as the author. That's prompted one level designer to call it "a massive breach of trust and violation of norms the Doom community has done its best to hold to for those 30 years."
There’s really nothing quite like playing an Atari 2600 game, and The Atari 2600+ is coming to capitalize on that. The technological restraints of the 1970s forced the Atari 2600’s games to be simple and addicting. In so doing, the library would go on to become iconic, instantly recognizable, and timelessly fun. Somehow it even managed to hang on to some relevancy well beyond the NES era. Even today this library holds a special place in the hearts of gamers and technology buffs of all stripes.
Atari is no stranger to revivals either, with countless collections of old games repackaged for modern systems being released over the decades. We’ve also seen plenty of console emulation boxes released under the Atari name with varying results. Most of these attempts were marred by limited functionality, poor emulation, or some combination of the two. Now, however, a new kind of revival is underway. The Atari 2600+ has emerged and seems to be hitting a lot the right notes. If handled correctly, this could very well be the ultimate revival for the undisputed golden era of gaming. Here’s what we know so far.
Identical form factor (80% scale)
Atari’s official mini/classic console launches on November 17th, 2023.
Wood grain, ridges, switches and all. The Atari 2600+ is not trying to modernize the design like the baffling VCS. This is a plain and simple miniaturization of the original machine, like the NES classic. Perhaps a bit more in line with Konami’s Turbografx-16 mini, as it won’t be that much smaller than the original. The original stylings of the switches are the most interesting part of this. That particular design language is so alien today, and will certainly stand out in modern living rooms.
Compatibility with original 2600 and 7800 games.
This is wonderful news, and instantly sets the 2600+ apart from nearly every Atari clone console before it. The majority of Atari clone consoles that have emerged only contain whatever AT Games felt like including. Also including the small-but-excellent 7800 library is a nice tough. How the 2600+ runs the games is a big question, though. Latency, compatibility and accuracy are big sticking points for much of the community. However, generally speaking, being able to pop in my own copy of Spider Fighter and play it on my TV from the sofa is alluring. That said, compatibility isn’t perfect, as Atari reveals on their website. More on that later.
Will Yars Ever Get His Revenge?
New Joystick and Paddles
Seemingly identical in form, and hopefully at least equal in build quality. These new controllers seem to be aiming to look, feel, and function just like the originals. However, weight could be an issue, as light controllers can feel cheap and unsatisfying to use. The paddles in particular need to be well-made, as most original paddles today are not working well. The Atari 2600+ only comes with one joystick, though, so others will come at an additional cost. This is a bit of a letdown considering the $129 price tag. Although given the connection type, you should be able to use your original controllers as well. Atari’s website does confirm that the new controllers will work on the original 2600. It’s fairly logical to assume the inverse is true as well.
10-games-in-one Cartridge Included
This cart includes Haunted House, Adventure, Dodge ‘Em, Combat, Missile Command, Maze Craze, Realsports Volleyball, Surround, Video Pinball, and Yars’ Revenge. Any compilation of Atari games will feel like it’s missing something, but overall these are great choices. The major genres of the era are represented here. Combat on its own has several modes and difficulties that can easily provide many hours of single or multiplayer mayhem. Compared to the 20+ games Nintendo, Sega, and Konami offers on their mini consoles, though, 10 is less than impressive.
A 10-games-in-one-cartridge is included. So only 10 games are included.
HDMI Output
This is essential in today’s world. Most of the clone consoles and emulation boxes released under the Atari name have been composite (red, white, and yellow cables) only. Having HDMI immediately puts the 2600+ in the upper-echelon of ways to play these games. Whether we’re going to get 1080p or 4K remains to be seen, but ultimately might not matter. Most modern displays still recognize 720p today. For the sake of future-proofing though, the higher resolution we can get, the better. Extra points are up for grabs if Atari can throw in some display options. Scanlines, screen curvatures, or other filters would be welcome. No word on anything like that yet, outside of the Black and White switch anyway.
Sold separately
The 2600+ is going to launch alongside some companion products. Mr. Run and Jump, a new game designed for the 2600. A so-called enhanced edition of Berzerk. An additional compilation cartridge focused on paddle games Breakout, Night Driver, Canyon Bomber, and Video Olympics. This appears to come with a new set of paddles as well, which is great. Most of the original paddles hanging around today are barely working – if at all. An additional joystick is also going to be available, and should be an easy upsell. The 2600+ only comes with one, after all.
Potential pitfalls
Pitfall will work on your 2600+, but not everything will.
Before throwing down your hard earned money, there are a couple byte-sized issues to consider.First, the $129 price tag itself. You could buy Atari 50 today for significantly less and play it on the modern console you already own. In so doing you would immediately have access to exponentially more games than the 10 included with the 2600+. $129 vs $30. 10 games vs 90 games. Also, the inclusion of only one controller almost certainly means you’ll need to buy another. This drives up the price even more. Do with this information what you will.
Secondly, hardcore enthusiasts might be left wanting with the 2600+. Atari confirms on their FAQ page that the 2600+ is using emulation to run the games. This isn’t inherently problematic, but it could spell trouble for rom hacks and homebrews. Also, the compatibility list on Atari’s website confirms several official games will fail to work. Super Cobra, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Real Sports Boxing are among them. Many more are listed as “untested” which is frankly bizarre. I know it’s no small task, but if Atari is serious about this, why not test all the games? This makes the “No Cartridge Left Behind” moniker on the webpage ring more than a little hollow. A potential saving grace here is the USB-C port. This will almost certainly be utilized by the community to improve compatibility. For now though, the incomplete compatibility is a notable red flag. I highly suggest all Atari enthusiasts take a look at the list before claiming a pre-order.
Flawed or exciting? Depends on the beholder
These issues aren’t huge ones, but they do muddle up the deal a bit. Casual players who want a quick nostalgia trip could understandably be put off by the price point. Conversely, hardcore enthusiasts may balk at the emulation and incomplete compatibility. The perception of a high floor and low ceiling could threaten the appeal of the 2600+. That said, there is certainly value here. Between the nostalgic form-factor, HDMI, and generally solid compatibility with games and controllers, the 2600+ makes a decent case. Hyperkin’s Retron 77 may have it beat with price, but there is something to be said for an official Atari product. The hassle of converting the video signal of an original 2600 is arguably worth paying $129 to side-step. Yet the phoniness of emulating Atari games on a computer undercuts the entire experience. You could certainly look at it either way.
The 2600+ may not be for the super fanatical or the super casual. This is a bit of a shame, as it comes quite close to being an ideal solution for everyone. Still, here are more comprehensive and cheaper solutions for those two extremes. Are there millions of people who would pay a premium to play the vast majority of their Atari games in a modern, yet authentic way, though? Absolutely. It’s just going to come down to whether or not Atari can get them to do it. If marketed well, and supported with some post-launch firmware updates, the 2600+ could easily soar to great heights.
Atari 2600+ releases this November
We won’t be waiting long to get our hands on this thing. The 2600+ launches right before Thanksgiving. This might just prove to be perfect timing. Whipping an Atari out after Thanksgiving dinner for a few rounds of drunken Missile Command with the family sounds like an excellent way to wrap up the Holiday. If nothing else, it could at least distract everyone from whatever arguments transpired during dinner.
Atari 2600+ releases on November 17. Do you plan to jump back into some retro favorites? Or do you prefer more old-school ways to enjoy old-school games? As always, let us know what you think down in the comments!
Classic titles may get a lot of flack, but their designs were second to none, so we’ve decided to rank them! These posters highlight some of the best classic titles out there – along with some beautifully recreated and original illustrations.
For the sake of transparency, ‘retro’ has been defined here as anything that was released before the eighth console generation. So, before the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch’s release.
NeoSprint is a top down racer for Switch, Steam and other platforms. I reviewed the Steam version for this review. I found it fun, thought rough around the edges, too easy spin out and lose the race. But lets back up. There’s single player and multiplayer. In multiplayer you have a campaign mode, a gran-prix mode, free-race and obstacle races. The campaign is the meat of single player. There are three campaigns, made up of sixteen tracks divided into 4 sets. In each set you have three regular races, and then a must-win duel with the area’s champion. The gran-prix is just four race sets of any tracks you like. Obstacle races are time trails, except there are obstacles you must avoid, hit them and lose seconds.
Game play on steam is with the keyboard. WASD or arrow keys plus right shift for hand-brake/drift. However you can change them if you like. Driving is easy, hard to master. My problem is that is too easy lose a race with one mistake. In the campaign, there are only three retries available in each set. Good luck! Still I had fun with NeoSprint in the time I played. Its not too taxing and you’ll want to play more.
Finally, you can build your own tracks in NeoSprint. however, I found the editor nearly unusable. There’s no mouse support, so placing tracks is with WASD keys, and precision placement is night impossible. But if you want to try your luck, I’m sure you can create masterpieces. Overall, I give Neo Sprint a Recommended Verdict with a seven-back end score.
Overall: NeoSprint is a fun-little racer that is rough at times, but overall I found it fun! I gave it a Recommended verdict.
Studio Wildrose announced that we will see new Penny Blood: Hellbound content soon, as the roguelite title is getting Early Access Update 2 on August 8, 2024. It took to Kickstarter to discuss all of the new elements that will show up after the patch arrives, with online multiplayer being a big addition.
The update is designed to offer more reasons to explore both alone and with others. A fourth area will be added alongside new weapons for every playable character. Studio Wildrose also confirmed the game will also be receiving an online multiplayer mode, but didn't detail how it might work. New quests, enemies and NPCs, and blood-surfing functionality for the ranged characters is also on the way.
The update from Studio Wildrose included an apology for the delay in the full 1.0 release of Penny Blood: Hellbound. It was originally supposed to appear in Summer 2024. The note stated that the team is working to address the issues brought up in player feedback, with major bug fixes on the way. The full list of changes will be made available on the official Discord. The developer also stated the plan is to have the full release out by early Fall 2024.
Penny Blood: Hellbound is now available in Early Access on Steam for PCs. Penny Blood is slated for a 2025 release for the PC, Xbox Series X/S, and the Playstation 5.
Pieces Interactive, the developer behind the recent Alone in the Dark reboot, has been shut down by Embracer.
The developer's website now reads "thanks for playing with us" and the dates 2007-2024. "Our last release was the reimagining of Alone in the Dark," it concludes (thanks IGN).
Embracer acquired Pieces in 2017 after working on a number of Titan Quest projects. The Swedish conglomerate has closed a number of developers over the past year, resulting in layoffs.
The perpetually scarlet-faced and jovially maladroit folk of Embracer have done their usual vaudeville comedy routine of spinning around with negative-dollar signs in their eyes and trampling on another game development studio - in this case, Pieces Interactive, creators of the recent Alone In The Dark reboot. The Swedish studio's website is now a tombstone, bearing the dates 2007-2024. Oopsy-daisy!
The perpetually scarlet-faced and jovially maladroit folk of Embracer have done their usual vaudeville comedy routine of spinning around with negative-dollar signs in their eyes and trampling on another game development studio - in this case, Pieces Interactive, creators of the recent Alone In The Dark reboot. The Swedish studio's website is now a tombstone, bearing the dates 2007-2024. Oopsy-daisy!
Announced today, The Thing, a 2002 video game sequel to the 1982 film The Thing—yes, they both have the same name, it’s weird—is being remastered by the experts over at Nightdive Studios and will be released on consoles and PC later this year.
Vimm’s Lair, one of the oldest places on the web to find and download classic video game ROMs and emulators, recently announced the removal of many titles due to requests from Sega, Nintendo, Sony, the Entertainment Software Association, and Lego.
John Romero's autobiography Doom Guy: Life in First Person is being adapted for screen in two different forms.
As reported by Deadline, the story of the id Software co-founder is being made into a documentary by Canadian filmmaker Rob McCallum.
Meanwhile, a dramatised adaptation of the Doom creator's book is also in the pipeline. Both of these projects are going to be executive produced by Naomi Harvey of Golden Possum Productions.
Atari has purchased the Intellivision brand, ending what Atari claims to be the "longest running console war in history".
Atari's home consoles went head-to-head with Mattel's Intellivision in the late 1970s and 1980s, long before Nintendo and Sega competed in the 1990s. Intellivision even enlisted actor George Plimpton for an infamous series of adverts comparing the two consoles.
Now Atari owns the rights to over 200 games from the Intellivision portfolio and its trademarks. However, Intellivision Entertainment will continue developing and distributing the Amico console under a new brand and with a licence from Atari to distribute new versions of Intellivision games on that console.
Have you noticed that there are a lot more horny games lately? Despite what some people may think, there’s no shortage of sexiness in modern gaming, with salacious titles readily available on Steam and even the Nintendo eShop. And it turns out that there’s an explanation for this, and it’s relatively simple, according…
As part of a $1 billion investment in internal game development, Hasbro is working on a new game set in the G.I. Joe universe which will focus on the team’s resident ninja, Snake Eyes. The project was first revealed to be in pre-production last year and is being developed by a team made up of Batman Arkham veterans.…
It’s been barely a month since the reboot of horror classic Alone in the Dark arrived, but it looks like developers Pieces Interactive are now making a number of layoffs in the wake of its release.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, jedna z nejoblíbenějších klasických her pro PC, změnila majitele. Bylo oznámeno, že vývojářská společnost Frontier Developments prodala práva na hru společnosti Atari za částku 7 milionů dolarů.
Společnost Atari má samozřejmě se sérií RollerCoaster Tycoon dlouhou historii, neboť byla vydavatelem drtivé většiny dílů série, a to jak hlavních, tak ostatních. Co se týče samotné hry RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, Atari a Frontier Developments se v minulosti dostaly do jistých sporů – Atari například zažalovala Frontier Developments kvůli nezaplaceným licenčním poplatkům – takže by to mělo udělat za těmito bouřlivými vztahy tlustou čáru.
„V době, kdy s [tvůrcem série] Chrisem Sawyerem slavíme 25. výročí RollerCoaster Tycoon, jsem opravdu rád, že můžeme tento důležitý a úspěšný titul série spojit se zbytkem série,“ řekl Wade Rosen, předseda představenstva a generální ředitel společnosti Atari. „Pro Atari to vytvoří nové příležitosti, protože budeme pokračovat ve skvělé práci, kterou odvedla společnost Frontier, a přineseme výhody fanouškům her z celé série RollerCoaster Tycoon.“
Hra RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 vyšla původně pro PC před dvěma desetiletími, v roce 2004. V roce 2020 byla hra portována také na konzoli Nintendo Switch.
Společnost Atari uvádí, že hodlá „vyvíjet nové tituly, rozšiřovat digitální a fyzickou distribuci a zkoumat spolupráci se značkami a merchandisingem v rámci dlouhodobého plánu“, který má sérii RollerCoaster Tycoon vynést do „nových výšin“.
Nintendo has delivered a brand-new Indie World showcase. It lasted about 20 minutes and gave us a look at some cute and cozy games, a few of which are launching today. Unfortunately, there was no Hollow Knight: Silksong news, but there was still plenty to get stoked about.
The Early Access build of Penny Blood: Hellhound is now available on Steam. This version of the game will have several new features, as well as improvements based off feedback from the closed beta.
You can watch the Early Access trailer for Penny Blood: Hellhound here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_Hp0V-zuY
You’ll be able to play as the Axeman for the first time, which means that there will be five playable characters now. The Daidouji Temple area will also become accessible, which means a new boss, as well as new enemies, to fight. There will also be several new NPCs, with two of them being specific to the dungeon. Once you befriend them, they will fight alongside you in the dungeon. The Early Access build also has the Accessory System, as well as the Gambling System (Psycho Hanafuda). This system has the potential of netting you a lot of currency, but of course, there’s always the chance of losing it all.
Penny Blood: Hellhound is the roguelike hack ‘n’ slash spin-off of Penny Blood, which is still in development. It serves as a prequel, and gives players a sneak peek at some of the enemies they’ll be fighting against in Penny Blood proper. Previously, Hellhound was only available as a closed beta, and you can read our review of it here.
Penny Blood: Hellhound is readily available on Windows PC via Steam and it’s Early Access.
Your most commonly visible bones are your teeth, so what better way to worship at the fleshy altar of Doom than by polishing those bones with an electric toothbrush whose little LCD screen is running Id Software's seminal satanic shooter? The latest delightfully weird device rising to the eternal question "Can it run Doom?" is a WiFi-enabled 'smart toothbrush', which is juuust powerful enough to run a version of Doom. You can even control it with your mouse. Here, check this out.
When dramatic parents panicked over the satanic influence of Doom in the 90s, maybe they had a point. Doom has burned through people's souls and minds, filling them with a desire to play Id Software's seminal shooter on every device they can. The question "Can it run Doom?" has driven these demonic vassals to make it playable on everything from tractors to teletext. These hellbound hearts are even daring to corrupt the totemic device of American liberty: the lawnmower. Come April, you will be able to play Doom on the Husqvarna Nera line of robotic automowers. Is nothing sacred?
When is the Alone in the Dark release date? Survival horror has been going through a bit of a renaissance in recent years, so it’s high time that we bring back the one that started it all. After a 16-year hiatus (no, we’re not counting Illumination), Alone in the Dark has emerged from the shadows in the form of a rebooted reimagining, and we’ve got all the details on the release date, news, and story to get you up to speed.
2024’s Alone in the Dark is a love letter to Frédérick Raynal’s original game of the same name, which rose to critical acclaim following its release back in 1992. It’s often hailed as the grandfather of survival horror, having inspired the development of Resident Evil – and, by proxy, all the survival horror games thereafter. However, the days of MS-DOS are long gone, and developer Pieces Interactive has breathed new life into this classic experience with modern-day graphical fidelity and Hollywood A-listers. Here’s everything we know ahead of the Alone in the Dark release date.
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