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Fun Things

Fighting Game Titans Street Fighter x Mortal Kombat Unite in Unprecedented Crossover Event

Posted on February 25, 2025February 25, 2025 by Owen

A landmark collaboration is set to reshape the gaming landscape as three of the industry’s most celebrated franchises converge. Developers have today announced a crossover event that will merge the worlds of Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and Fortnite, offering fans the opportunity to see their favourite fighters share a screen for the first time.

Epic Games has remained tight-lipped on the full scope, but a spokesperson hinted at the vision: “We’re bringing together these beloved universes to create something fresh yet respectful of their legacies. Expect gameplay that celebrates their histories while pushing what’s possible in Fortnite.” The crossover aligns with the season’s “Lawless” theme, featuring a criminal underworld aesthetic that complements the ninja personas of Sub-Zero and Scorpion, alongside Street Fighter’s martial arts icons.

The collaboration promises more than just skins. Leaks suggest limited-time challenges and possibly new points of interest tied to Mortal Kombat, enhancing the battle royale experience with nods to its brutal roots—albeit toned down for Fortnite’s broader audience. While a unified narrative remains speculative, the inclusion of such iconic characters hints at a loose storyline bridging these worlds, a tactic Fortnite has mastered with past crossovers like Marvel and Star Wars.

Ive wanted to see this since the 90s and @Fortnite actually made it happen Mortal Kombat X Street Fighter pic.twitter.com/vNDbi9G9Cl
— UnRooolie ❼ (@unrooolie) February 23, 2025

Analysts see this as a bold step in gaming’s evolution, merging the nostalgia of 1990s fighting games with today’s dominant battle royale format. “This is a landmark moment,” said Trent Murray, a veteran esports writer for Sports Illustrated. “It’s not just about skins—it’s about uniting communities across genres and generations.” The move reflects a growing trend of leveraging intellectual properties to create hybrid experiences, a strategy Epic has honed since Fortnite’s rise to cultural phenomenon status.

With the season now live as of February 21, 2025, excitement is palpable across gaming forums and social media. Posts on X highlight fans’ enthusiasm, with some calling it the closest they’ll get to a Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat showdown—a dream matchup long desired but never realized in a traditional fighting game. Ed Boon, Mortal Kombat’s co-creator, even acknowledged the crossover’s significance online, fuelling speculation about future additions like Mileena or Raiden.

F/LAWLESS VICTORY pic.twitter.com/3FvqzMuMuK
— Ed Boon (@noobde) February 14, 2025

This pioneering event not only celebrates decades of gaming heritage but also signals a future where cross-genre collaborations could become the norm. As players dive into Fortnite’s latest season, the stage is set for an unforgettable clash of titans—one that’s already shaping up to be a milestone in interactive entertainment.

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Fun Things, Nintendo

Nintendo Alarmo: Now Available at Best Buy for $99

Posted on February 24, 2025February 24, 2025 by Owen

Consumers with a taste for nostalgia have a new reason to celebrate as Best Buy recently listed the Nintendo Alarmo, an innovative alarm clock that pays tribute to the iconic Nintendo legacy. The device artfully marries modern technology with vintage gaming aesthetics, promising to appeal to both devoted Nintendo fans and collectors of retro tech. Previously only available from the Nintendo Store, and if you had a Nintendo subscription, it is now available for everyone.

Developed by Nintendo, the Alarmo features design cues that evoke memories of classic gaming consoles. Its customizable alarm tones include chiptune sounds reminiscent of early video game soundtracks, offering users a playful wake-up experience steeped in nostalgia. Alongside its retro styling, the clock boasts a clear digital display and intuitive controls, ensuring functionality is never sacrificed for form.

The strategic release of the Nintendo Alarmo is seen as a smart move by Best Buy, targeting a niche audience that values the charm of retro gaming alongside everyday functionality. With demand for nostalgic gadgets on the rise, the product is expected to become a coveted addition to any retro collection.

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Collecting, Fun Things, Nintendo

Preorders Open for Totally Rad Official Vinyl Soundtrack

Posted on February 24, 2025February 24, 2025 by Owen

Respawned Records, in partnership with Retro‐Bit, has unveiled a limited edition release that promises to excite both collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts. The new offering – the “Totally Rad Official Vinyl Soundtrack” – revisits the distinctive 8‐bit soundscape of the classic 1991 NES game, Totally Rad, celebrated for its dynamic chiptune compositions and high-energy melodies.

The record is pressed on neon‐yellow vinyl adorned with magenta, orange and green splatters, a design choice that mirrors the game’s vibrant, California‐cool aesthetic. Encased in a high-gloss jacket featuring artwork inspired by the surreal visual style of the game, the release is as much a visual statement as it is an auditory one. Each copy is individually numbered, underlining its status as a collector’s item and ensuring that no two records are identical.

Pre-orders for the soundtrack are now open, with the preorder window set to close on 22 March. Following this period, full production will commence, with shipping expected to begin in June 2025. At a price of $29.99, the record is positioned as an accessible yet exclusive addition for fans of both vinyl and the retro gaming era.

This release is being hailed as a significant nod to the preservation of video game history, capturing the unique spirit of early NES titles through modern production techniques. Music aficionados and collectors alike are invited to secure their piece of nostalgia before the limited run sells out, ensuring that the legacy of Totally Rad is enshrined in both sound and style.

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Collecting, Fun Things

Collector Digitally Preserves Iconic Street Fighter II Figures

Posted on February 24, 2025February 24, 2025 by Owen

A prominent digital archivist, known online as KeshiCorner, has successfully 3D scanned the complete set of 20 figures from the renowned Street Fighter II series. The project, announced via social media four days ago, utilises advanced 3D scanning technology to create detailed digital replicas of the collectable figures, preserving them for future generations.

The Street Fighter II series, which played a pivotal role in defining the arcade era of the early 1990s, remains a cultural touchstone for both gamers and collectors. By digitally capturing every nuance of these figures, KeshiCorner aims to safeguard these artefacts against the inevitable deterioration of time, while also providing enthusiasts and historians with an opportunity to study the intricate details of the collectables without risking damage to the originals.

I'm happy to announce that I've 3D scanned the full set of 20 figures in the Street Fighter II keshi figure series released by Bandai in Japan in 1992!

You can download the full set of 3D scanned figures here: https://t.co/I2FtZiyhzK pic.twitter.com/5BtjtPTor6
— Keshi Corner (@KeshiCorner) February 20, 2025

The scanning process employs high-resolution imaging and precise laser measurement, ensuring that even the smallest features are meticulously recorded. This digital archive is expected to serve as an invaluable resource, offering a permanent record of a significant piece of video gaming history and setting a benchmark for future preservation projects.

KeshiCorner is no stranger to such projects. In a previous initiative, the digital archivist completed a similar 3D scanning project for Amada’s 1985 “Super Mario Bros. Color Pose Doll” series, one of the earliest collections of Super Mario memorabilia. This earlier work further highlights a growing trend among collectors to leverage modern technology in the conservation of cultural and historical artefacts.

The initiative not only underscores the importance of digital preservation in maintaining cultural heritage but also illustrates how technology can bridge the gap between physical memorabilia and its virtual preservation. As interest in such projects continues to grow, similar ventures will become increasingly vital in protecting and celebrating the legacy of popular culture for years to come.

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Fun Things, Nintendo

Linux Lands on NES and GameCube: A Retro Tech Triumph

Posted on February 23, 2025February 23, 2025 by Owen

A pioneering project has fused retro gaming with modern computing by running a lightweight Linux distribution on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and within Animal Crossing on the GameCube. Dubbed NES86, this breakthrough leverages an IBM PC emulator hosting the Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset (ELKS)—a minimal Linux kernel tailored for low-resource hardware.

The NES, with its 2 kilobytes of RAM and 1.79 MHz processor, falls far short of ELKS’s 256-kilobyte RAM requirement. To bridge this gap, developer “decrazyo” crafted an emulator mimicking an Intel 8086 PC, a 16-bit system from the IBM PC era. “We’re not running Linux directly on the NES—we’re emulating a PC that runs ELKS,” decrazyo explained. This emulation, detailed in the video, uses memory mapping to access larger ROM capacities, overcoming the NES’s constraints despite significant processing delays.

Adding a twist, the project exploits Animal Crossing’s built-in NES emulator on the GameCube. Originally designed to play classic NES titles in-game, this emulator was patched via a custom NES ROM loaded from a GameCube memory card. Decrazyo doubled the emulator’s RAM allocation to support the x86 emulator and ELKS, as shown in a 6-minute YouTube demonstration. The result: Linux boots within a virtual Animal Crossing house, albeit at a glacial pace—about 1/64th of normal speed.

The technical hurdles were steep. The NES’s 8-bit architecture and limited memory demanded creative solutions, likely involving bank switching (possibly via the MMC5 mapper, though unconfirmed), to emulate a 16-bit PC environment. The Animal Crossing setup required rewriting parts of the in-game emulator to handle unsupported features and extra RAM, a feat documented on Hackaday.

Collaboration enriched this effort. Decrazyo built on prior work by James Chambers (who exposed Animal Crossing’s emulator capabilities in 2018) and Cuyler36, alongside inspiration from the ELKS project. While the broader NES Dev Community and Animal Crossing decompilation team aren’t directly credited, their foundational contributions to retro hacking paved the way. Performance lags, with noticeable keyboard input delays, reflect the emulation’s overhead, yet the proof-of-concept stands firm.

“This isn’t about speed—it’s about what’s possible,” decrazyo noted, hinting at future refinements like a custom cartridge to enhance compatibility. The project echoes a wider trend of retro experimentation, from Doom on NES to Linux on PlayStation 2, showcasing a passionate community’s drive to reimagine old hardware.

In conclusion, NES86 blends nostalgia with technical prowess, proving even the humblest gaming systems can host modern OSes. Future iterations might streamline performance or target other platforms, keeping retro tech vibrant and relevant.

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Collecting, Fun Things

Retro Gaming Thrives Among Gen Z in the UK, New Study Finds

Posted on February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 by Owen

A recent study in the Metro has revealed that retro gaming is alive and well among younger generations, with one in four Gen Z Brits owning a classic gaming console. Despite growing up in an era dominated by digital downloads and high-end graphics, many younger gamers are gravitating towards the nostalgia and simplicity of older systems.

The research highlights a growing appreciation for vintage gaming, with consoles like the PlayStation 1, Super Nintendo, and Game Boy remaining popular choices among younger players. The appeal appears to stem from a mix of factors, including an interest in gaming history, a love for pixel art aesthetics, and the desire for a more straightforward, pick-up-and-play experience compared to modern, complex titles.

Another contributing factor is the rising trend of second-hand and refurbished console markets, making it easier for younger generations to access older hardware. Many online retailers and independent sellers cater specifically to the demand for classic gaming, offering refurbished consoles and cartridge-based games in near-original condition.

Social media and content creators have also played a major role in fueling the resurgence. Popular YouTubers and TikTok influencers frequently showcase retro games, sparking curiosity among their followers. Additionally, modern re-releases and mini-console versions, like the SNES Classic Edition, have made it even more convenient for newcomers to experience old-school gaming without hunting down original hardware.

This study reinforces the idea that retro gaming isn’t just for those who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s—it’s a timeless hobby being rediscovered by new audiences. With gaming history becoming more accessible and celebrated, it’s clear that classic consoles and their iconic games will continue to find a place in the hearts of future generations.

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Fun Things, Gaming History, Sony

Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within Returns to The Big Screen as a Landmark in CG Animation

Posted on February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 by Owen

More than two decades after its original release, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within is set to return to the big screen as part of a film festival celebrating milestones in Japanese CGI animation, as reported by Eiga. Though the film is best remembered for its financial struggles and the turmoil it caused Square Enix, it remains an important piece of cinematic history.

Released in 2001, Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within was a bold attempt to bring the beloved RPG franchise into the world of photorealistic CG films. With an enormous budget and cutting-edge technology for the time, it aimed to push animation boundaries. However, despite its technical achievements, the movie failed to resonate with audiences and became a box office disaster, nearly leading to the downfall of Square Pictures and playing a role in Square’s eventual merger with Enix.

Despite its commercial shortcomings, the film has since gained a cult following and is recognized for its ambition to pioneer realistic computer-generated characters. The upcoming screening at the festival will highlight its significance in shaping the future of CGI in Japan, influencing later works in both animation and gaming.

This renewed interest in The Spirits Within reflects a broader appreciation for experimental projects that dared to push industry limits. While it may not have been the blockbuster Square Enix hoped for, its impact on the gaming and animation industries remains undeniable. For fans of the Final Fantasy series and animation history, this screening is a chance to revisit a film that was ahead of its time.

Collecting, Fun Things

LEGO Nintendo Game Boy Set, Launching This October

Posted on February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 by Owen

LEGO has partnered with Nintendo to announce a new LEGO set modelled after the iconic Nintendo Game Boy, revealed on January 9, 2025, via Nintendo’s social media channels. According to a leak from Falcon Brick Studios—a renowned LEGO news source known for accurate leaks—on February 20, 2025, the set, identified as LEGO Nintendo Game Boy (72046), is scheduled for release on October 1, 2025, with a price of $59.99 and 421 pieces. This brick-built tribute taps into the nostalgia of retro gaming fans and LEGO collectors.

This isn’t LEGO’s first collaboration with Nintendo, as previous sets have featured everything from a fully interactive NES console to Super Mario-themed playsets. However, the Game Boy holds a unique place in gaming history as one of the most successful handhelds of all time, making it a particularly exciting addition for collectors and nostalgic gamers alike.

Given the popularity of past LEGO gaming collaborations, this one is likely to sell out quickly when it hits shelves later this year.

For longtime Nintendo fans and LEGO enthusiasts, this Game Boy set is a perfect blend of two beloved brands. Whether you grew up with the classic handheld or just appreciate well-crafted LEGO designs, this is one retro gaming tribute that’s worth keeping an eye on.

Collecting, Fun Things

Marvel Rivals Funko Pops Are Flying Off the Shelves

Posted on February 20, 2025February 22, 2025 by Owen

The highly anticipated Marvel Rivals Funko Pop collection is proving to be a massive hit, with preorders selling out rapidly across multiple retailers. These collectable figures, based on the Marvel Rivals game, bring fan-favourite superheroes and villains to life in Funko’s signature style, making them a must-have for both collectors and gaming enthusiasts.

The Marvel Rivals Funko Pop line includes characters from across the Marvel universe, featuring iconic heroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and Black Panther, alongside notorious villains such as Venom and Thanos. Each figure is designed with intricate details inspired by their in-game appearances, adding an extra layer of appeal for fans eager to get their hands on them.

With demand surging, many online retailers have already run out of stock for key figures, prompting collectors to scramble for remaining inventory or look to secondary markets. Given the popularity of both Marvel and Funko Pop figures, this frenzy isn’t surprising. Past limited-edition Marvel Funkos have appreciated significantly in value, making them not just cool display pieces but also desirable collector’s items.

Presently there is a Dr Doom, Magneto, Iron Man and Galacta available at Amazon for $12.99, with the Galacta one showing as unavailable for pre-order at Amazon.

If you missed out on the initial preorder wave, don’t panic just yet—additional stock is expected to become available closer to the official release date. However, based on early sales trends, these figures are likely to be hot commodities, so keeping an eye on restocks will be essential.

For Marvel and gaming fans alike, the Marvel Rivals Funko Pops are a fun way to celebrate the upcoming game. Whether you’re an avid collector or just looking for a standout figure to display, these highly detailed Funkos are sure to be a highlight in any collection.

Fun Things, Uncategorized

Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks Return with New Kickstarter Campaign

Posted on February 20, 2025February 20, 2025 by Owen

Fans of classic adventure gamebooks have reason to celebrate—Fighting Fantasy is making a comeback, thanks to a new Kickstarter campaign. The legendary solo adventure series, created by Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone, is returning to print, giving both longtime fans and new readers a chance to experience these interactive stories once again. I grew up reading these books so it is great to see them being remade for newer generations to enjoy.

The Fighting Fantasy series, which debuted in the early 1980s, revolutionized the gamebook genre by blending branching narratives with dice-based combat and character progression. Each book allows players to make choices that shape the story’s outcome, creating a dynamic and immersive experience. The newly announced Kickstarter campaign aims to bring back several beloved titles in beautifully reprinted editions, staying true to the original while incorporating high-quality production values.

This revival is not just about nostalgia—it’s also an opportunity for a new generation to discover the magic of Fighting Fantasy. With a growing interest in solo tabletop gaming, these books offer an engaging alternative to traditional RPGs. The campaign also promises additional perks for backers, including exclusive editions, collector’s items, and stretch goals that may unlock even more content.

Gamebooks have seen a resurgence in recent years, fueled by digital adaptations and renewed interest in interactive storytelling. The Fighting Fantasy franchise, in particular, has remained a fan favourite, with past titles inspiring video games, role-playing systems, and even board games. The Kickstarter campaign ensures that these timeless adventures remain accessible to modern audiences while preserving their classic appeal.

Presently the campaign has reached £91k massively exceeded the goal of £19,850 and has seen over 2,000 backers despite having 26 days to go. The options for backers are $15 (£12) for a single book up to $60 (£48) for the entire series.

For those who fondly remember rolling dice and navigating treacherous dungeons through the pages of a book, this reprint project is an exciting opportunity to relive the adventure. Whether you’re a veteran adventurer or a newcomer eager to explore the world of Fighting Fantasy, this revival promises to deliver thrilling solo experiences once more.

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