Retro Gaming Australia

Shaq Fu is one of those games that everybody loves to hate, much like just about every other entry into media the former all star attempted at the start of his career.

A new hack called Schmuck Fu attempts to make good by altering the game’s rather appalling story into something funny.

For all the hate Shaq Fu gets, its still far more entertaining than Shaq’s silver screen masterpiece Kazaam.

Mortal Kombat celebrates its 20th anniversary this August, and in preparation for the event, Gamespot recorded a series of interviews with the game’s developers – Ed Boon, John Tobias, John Vogel and Dan Forden – and three of the original cast – Daniel Pesina, Carlos Pesina and Ho Sung Pak.

The video discusses the origins of the game (including the well publicised Jean-Claude Van Damme connection), the challenges they faced in capturing the fighters on video and the game’s first location test.

Hollywood Reporter revealed in a story earlier today that movie studio Crystal Sky is working on another Tekken movie.

The film, entitled Tekken: Rise of the Tournament, will act as a prequel to the 2010 live action Tekken film.

Ong Bak director Prachya Pinkaew has been lined up to direct the film, though no script or casting has taken place. The story states that the producers of the film want the cast to use actors that resemble the game’s characters rather than star performers.

It also looks unlikely that the film will receive a theatrical release, though Crystal Sky CEO Steven Paul has hope that it will.

Should it come to fruition, Tekken: Rise of the Tournament will be the fourth Tekken movie to date.

Sega are pulling out all of the stops with digital distribution this month. Hot off the heels of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 2 comes the third round of Sega Vintage Collection games for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

Twelve games will be released as part of this run – Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Super Hang-On, Revenge of Shinobi, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World, Monster World IV, Streets of Rage, Streets of Rage II, Streets of Rage 3, Golden Axe, Golden Axe II and Golden Axe III.

The games are packaged differently based on which service you decide to use. On PlayStation Network, Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Super Hang-On, Revenge of Shinobi, Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World and Monster World IV will be available May 22nd for $US4.99 each.

Meanwhile, on Xbox Live Arcade, the games will be available in packs of three – Monster World Collection (Wonder Boy in Monster Land, Wonder Boy in Monster World and Monster World IV) and Alex Kidd & Co. Collection (Alex Kidd in Miracle World, Super Hang-On and Revenge of Shinobi) on May 23, while Streets of Rage Collection and Golden Axe Collection will arrive on May 30. All Xbox Live Arcade collections will be 800 points.

Nintendo eShop (Australia, Europe)

3DS Virtual Console
Kirby’s Dream Land 2 (Game Boy) – $AU6.00

Nintendo eShop (North America)

3DS Virtual Console
Kirby’s Block Ball (Game Boy) – $US2.99

PlayStation Store (Australia, Europe)

Deus Ex (PS2 Classics) – $AU15.95
Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty (PSOne Classics) – $AU8.45

PlayStation Store (North America)

Red Faction II (PS2 Classics) – $US5.99
Myst (PSOne Classics) – $US5.99

Good Old Games

New Releases
Silver – $US5.99
Torin’s Passage – $US5.99

Discounts
Rule the EA Worlds Sale (All $US2.99)
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri
SimCity 2000 Special Edition
Dungeon Keeper
Dungeon Keeper II
Populous
Populous II: Trials of the Gods

Today, May 17, marks the 10 year anniversary of the release of the Nintendo GameCube in Australia.

The Australian launch took place some eight months after the Japanese launch, much to the chagrin of local Nintendo fans. In fact, Nintendo Australia didn’t even have a planned launch date until some three months after the American launch.

The successor to the Nintendo 64, the GameCube had strong pre-release buzz in Australia, helped along by a nice pre-launch price drop from $AU399 to $329. It had a varied launch lineup, although it was the first Nintendo home console to launch without a Mario game. (continue reading…)

Downloadable content for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD has been confirmed via the titles official Facebook page, and the first DLC installment will feature levels from fan favourite Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3.

The Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 levels to be included are yet to be determined; and Activision, Robomodo (the developer), and Tony Hawk want fans to help decide . Simply head on over to the Facebook page and leave a comment sharing your favourite levels and why.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD is set for a June release on XBLA and PSN, but no date has been revealed for the first batch of DLC.

Ys I & II Chronicles has made its way to the PlayStation Vita store, well for North America anyway.

Ys I & II Chronicles, originally released on the PlayStation Portable in 2009 (for Japan, and in 2011 in North America), is based on Ys I & II Complete and thus includes enhanced remakes of the first two Ys games (1989) with updated graphics and FMV sequences.

Ys I & II Chronicles allows players to select between two game modes – one displays character portraits from Ys I & II Complete (Windows, 2001) and the other uses new portraits created for the PSP version. Additionally, the soundtrack can be switched between that of Complete or the reorchestrated soundtrack of Chronicles.

Europe received Ys I & II Chronicles on PSN, but apparently this version isn’t compatible with the Vita. At this stage, no announcement has been made regarding a PAL Vita release for Ys I & II Chronicles – but we will keep you posted.

Redux: Dark Matters is a new space scrolling shooter coming to Sega Dreamcast, iOS, Steam, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade.

The Sega Dreamcast and iOS versions are confirmed, but NG:DEV.TEAM are utilizing Kickstarter to crowd fund development of Redux: Dark Matters for Steam, PSN and XBLA by offering an exclusive Limited Edition version of the game for Sega Dreamcast as a pledge reward.

Redux: Dark Matters, which features gorgeous HD visuals (only on compatible devices), 6 stages, a tonne of weapons, and arcade-style gameplay; is set for release on iOS devices in July and in December for the Sega Dreamcast version. The all but confirmed Steam, PSN and XBLA releases are also expected in 2012.

The $25,000 goal has been met, but head on over to the Kickstarter page to snag a copy of the Redux: Dark Matters Limited Edition for Sega Dreamcast with a pledge $65 or more.

Rockstar are offering a free copy of Midnight Club II to members of the official Rockstar Group on Steam.

Ensure you sign up prior to May 15 (that’s tomorrow – so hurry!) and if your Steam account has at least one successful purchase, gift or retail registration to its name, expect to see Midnight Club II in your library by the end of the month.

Hooray for free stuff.