Nanotech’s Multipin is a digital pinball simulator, mashed-up with the physical look of a classic pinballer. The game is a full-sized pinball machine that provides electronic renditions of 17 pinball machines in a single cabinet. The system comes loaded with a number of original pinball games, as well as several modern remakes of classic Gottlieb pinball titles from the 1970s and 80s. And if 17 games aren’t enough Nanotech plans on offering upgrade packs with additional tables you can load in later.

Games are played on a large 32-inch 720p high-def LCD monitor that’s set into the playing surface under glass. Multipin not only looks like a pinball cabinet, the game is controlled with all of the classic trappings, a mechanical plunger, clicky flipper buttons, and a realistic audio experience which includes all of the sounds you’d expect to hear coming from a mechanical pinball machine. There are even digital motion sensors in the cabinet that let you nudge and shake the ball around (and eventually tilt the machine if you go too far). There’s also a second LCD screen under the machines backglass that’s used for displaying scores, game graphics, and the occasional mini-game.

Here’s some video from a recent episode of NBC’s TechNow showing off the Multipin in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The best thing about the Multipin? You can buy one for yourself – now. This isn’t vaporware, it’s a real thing. The $6000 (USD) machine is available now over at Hammacher Schlemmer. Sure, you’ll need some seriously deep pockets to buy one, but if you’re a serious pinball addict, you might want to put Multipin on your Christmas list this year.

Several new classic (and not so classic) arcade cabinets have recently surfaced on the artists’ Flickr page. Among the new machines are some of my faves like Asteroids, Millipede and Sinistar. And then there’s an awesome Terminator 2 game, complete with miniature gun controllers. He’s also getting set to release miniatures of Joust, Galaxian, Asteroids Deluxe, Burgertime, Mortal Kombat II and my personal favorite, Dig Dug.

Just like the original batch, each one of these mini arcade cabinets is handmade by J.W. using sturdy bass wood and detailed with colorful decals with graphics from the original arcade machines.

Prices for the new machines range from $20 to $30 (USD), and you’ll need reach out to Justin via e-mail if you want to order some for yourself. Check out the complete details here. As before, the little people aren’t included, but I’m sure your figurines will be lining up to play these games.

Super Turbo Arena is a motion-controlled fighting game. And we’re not talking about Wii Boxing here: the avatars pretty much do the same thing that the gamers do: Your avatar can pull off crazy moves like a fifty punch combo and then end with thirteen roundhouse kicks for good measure, but only if you can do the same. Well there are also projectiles and energy attacks, but if you have zero fighting skills then you’ll probably suck at Super Turbo Arena. I do not want this kind of gaming.

Turbo was written and directed by Jarrett Conaway for his MFA at the USC Cinematic School of Arts. Conaway says that he’s a “hardcore gamer”, whatever that means nowadays, and that he likes “Hadokening his friends into submission.” But enough chit chat, here’s the movie. Yes! Here it is, you can watch it right here:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

So? Quite flashy for a student film eh? You think Conaway and his crew can attract major distributors? What do you think of the word “Hadokening”?

[via Destructoid]

It plays games! It plays music! It’s equipped with Edison electric light, so don’t try to use a match on it! That’s what the warning label says, anyway, and it seems like sound advice. Though it’s always tempting to torch Frankenstein’s monster.

Dedicated builder Doug Haffner has documented the entire experience on a website, and if you want to watch a great deal of Lost – that’s apparently how he kept himself entertained whilst carving and fitting – you too can produce your own monster arcade machine.

[via Geeky Gadgets]

The SEGA Taikan Game Collection is a complete set of classic sit-down arcade games including OutRun, Hang On, Space Harrier, Thunder Blade and a fifth “secret mystery game” (scroll down to see the mystery revealed). Actually, the way that they’re being packaged, they come in a set of six, so you’ll get a bonus duplicate game you can give to a friend – or in case the dog eats one of your micro-machines.

Expect the Taikan Game Collection to ship this December. You can pre-order a set over at NCSX for $48.90 (USD).

[photo via Hobby Media]

And while I think the surface is actually a woodgrain veneer over composite board, it still looks pretty darned nice. The Singibigi has a dozen buttons, an can be used with the PS2, PS3 or PC via USB. They also include a PC profiler app that lets you configure the buttons to whatever keys you’d want to map them to on your PC, making it an ideal candidate for MAME and other emulators. It also features “Device Level Technology,” whatever that means.

About the only downside I can see to this controller is that it’s not wireless. But if you’re looking for a solid retro arcade joystick, you should definitely check it out. You can find the Singibigi joystick over at SuperUFO for the completely reasonable price of just $39 (USD).

The seller “mywantlist”, is offering both an original super-rare yellow Computer Space machine (only 1800 made), and one of the slightly less rare green models that came out after the initial popularity of the 1st gen. Both were made by Nutting Associates all the way back in 1971. I especially love the original manual, complete with mention of “Nolan K. Bushnell,Chief Engineer.”

The yellow machine is still functional, although it has a blurry picture. Unfortunately the green monster is only outputting some sounds and a “rolling picture”, so you’ll have to know something about game repair if you really want to get it working again. On the plus side, it’s the two player version, so if you ever get it working, you can take on an opponent.

The yellow one currently has a bid of $2499, but will probably climb over the next couple of days. The green one is only at $1499, so you might want to bid on that one if you’re more of a cheapskate when it comes to your classic arcade systems. While you’re over there, be sure to check out mywantlist’s other auctions, because he’s clearing house on some other rare retro arcade games too.

[via gamovr]

Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. There’s a catch.

Only 1,000 “Femme Fatale” fightsticks are being made – 650 for Xbox 360 and 350 for PlayStation 3. The bulk of them will be sold this weekend at the Penny Arcade Expo in Downtown Seattle, WA. For those not attending PAX (like myself, insert frowny face), a “very limited” number of “Femme Fatale” fightsticks will be available for purchase starting Friday at the Capcom Store and Mad Catz’ online GameShark store.

Oh, did I forget to mention it costs $159.99? Sorry. It does.

So if you’re big on fighters and collecting video game paraphernalia, and have half the price of a PS3 Slim to burn, well, then this weekend is your chance to own a shiny new fightstick upon which Cammy, Chun-Li, Crimson Viper, Sakura, and Rose grace the surface. As for the rest of us? Well, we’ll just be slummin’ it with our d-pads I guess.

[via Joystiq]

The current collection includes everything from Tempest to Galaga to Pac-Man to Donkey Kong. No detail is spared in the design of these wondrous miniatures…

Each of his tiny little arcade cabinets is handcrafted out of stiff bass wood, along with bits of balsa for some of the cosmetic details. They’re priced between just $20 and $25 bucks a piece (game figurines not included), which I think is a really great deal for such precision craftsmanship. You can get your hands one one of these miniature marvels by reaching out to Big J.W. via e-mail.

Big J.W. builds, paints and stickers each miniature cabinet to order, so maybe you can convince him to make one of your favorite games if you ask nicely.

[via Flickr]

pocket_lucho is no stranger to making mini arcade cabinets; he’s been simultaneously up- and downsizing old systems for a while, as you can see, but this Neo Geo model looks really slick throughout the process.

I’m not sure there could possibly be a better way to play some old school King of Fighters or Fatal Fury, though mini arcade systems might take a little getting used to. Of course, if I had these things lying around, I’d learn to use them posthaste. Y’know, for style.

[via hack-a-day]

Handmade by Mekishiko916 of GangsterGamer, each controller features American HAPP arcade hardware, including a hefty joystick, and the 6-button layout you’d find on an old Street Fighter 2 arcade game. As a matter of fact, Mekishiko precisely measured the position of the buttons on the original arcade machine, and cut each hole to match that exact spec.

Each one is built into a sturdy aluminum case with rubber feet and a Plexiglas protective layer over a Street Fighter-inspired graphic. The controller has a built-in rechargeable battery pack that can be charged up via your Xbox 360’s USB port. Look ma, no wires!

Here’s a video of the of one of the controllers in action:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Currently available in both Ryu (pictured top) and Akuma (pictured bottom), the Xbox 360 wireless controllers are available over on Mekishiko’s Etsy shop for $190 (USD) each.

You won’t find any Donkey Kong, Pac-Man or Space Invaders in this arcade museum. Nope. Games had names like Магистраль (Magistral), Городки (Gorodki) and Морской бой (Morskoy-Boy).

The early machines featured at the museum mirror some of the earliest U.S. and Japanese games with simple racing games, shooting gallery, a sub hunt game, and mechanical tabletops like basketball and ice hockey.

The museum currently has 37 different types of retro arcade machines in its collection, with 20 of them now restored to full working order. But even if you don’t get a chance to get to Russia any time soon, you can see many of the details of these oddities thanks to the excellent, detailed photography and descriptive overlays over on the website.

Perhaps the coolest thing about the site is that the designers over at Art Lebedev Studios went the extra mile by building playable Flash versions of many of the games.

Be sure to check out the online versions of Magistral, Gorodki, Morskoy Boy, and Autorally. You can even see the old 15 Kopek coins used to play these machines.

The Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines is located at the Moscow State Technical University, and you can find out more details about their amazing time capsule of retro games over on their English language page here.

Ah, finally a use for all those buttons. Sometimes it’s good to live in the past… at least, it is if it leads you to cramming good controllers into even better joystick controllers! Hifeno managed to get an Xbox 360’s innards, along with the necessaries from a Play and Charge kit all into the Advantage shell.

So while that second analog stick may be useful sometimes, you’ve gotta be willing to sacrifice for style.

[via BenHeck.com forums]

Take a little Breakout, a little Rainbow Islands for style, give it a coat of gloss, and voila! Perfect for the Xbox 360’s downloadable games service. Developer Strawdog Studios is also responsible for the crossplatform puzzler Geon, which is a mark in Space Ark’s favor.

Pricing and release info–all the important stuff, you know–is still up in the air, but no one seems shy about showing Space Ark off. With the popularity of downloadable puzzle games, this one’s probably in the bag as a success.

[Strawdog Studios via Joystiq]

ArcadeArt handcrafts these whimsical ghost coasters (aka ‘Ghosters’) that display Blinky the red ghost on one side, and then flip to reveal a post-power-pill blue ghost on the flip-side.

According to the artist, they’re made from “graffiti, wood, paint and pixels” – four ingredients that probably are all I’d need to survive on a desert island – assuming I get to keep my iPhone, wireless service, satellite dish, HDTV, DVR, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and some Red Vines too.

Ghosters are available individually over at ArcadeArt’s Etsy shop for $7.50 (USD) each.

The XCM Rumble Stick not only gives your PS3 games that authentic arcade feel, but offers built-in vibration feedback under the hood – a rarity for arcade sticks. The beefy metallic controller weighs in at nearly 5 pounds and looks just plain awesome. I just love how this stick has bright LED illumination behind all the buttons and inside the joystick ball too. Yummy.

Also along for the ride are programmable memory buttons which can store up to 20 button and stick movements in a single button. Ryu and Ken will finally be able to pull off all those crazy combo moves with just a single button push. There’s also rapid fire and turbo control modes to give you that extra edge.

And Xbox 360 fans don’t have to feel left out. Just pick up an XCM Cross Fire Converter for $50 and you can use the same stick with your 360 too.

You can order the XCM Rumble Stick from Console Shop for $119.95 (USD).

The tray features three different aliens and can make up to 24 invaders at once. You can get an Ice Invaders tray at Amazon for $8 USD. If you live in the UK it might be cheaper to get it from I Want One of Those; the base price is $8.31 but if you factor in shipping it might be cheaper overall.

[via Shiny Shiny]

Nintendo didn’t mess around with any of this fancy advance warning business, either; bam! The arcade additions were announced, and bam! You can already download a few via the Virtual Console. Here’s the list of games that have been announced:

• Gaplus (Namco Bandai): 600 Wii Points (available now)
• Mappy (Namco Bandai): 500 Wii Points (available now)
• The Tower Of Druaga (Namco Bandai): 500 Wii Points (available now)
• Starforce (Tecmo): 500 Wii Points (available now)
• Space Harrier (Sega) (coming soon)
• Solvalou (Namco Bandai) (coming soon)

[via The Tanooki]

Crafter gimcracks has this handmade 8-bit cross-stitch bookmark up in her Etsy shop for just $6 (USD) if you manage to snag it before someone else does.

Looks like I can finally retire that old Galaxian bookmark that’s keeping track of where I left off on my latest Harlequin Romance novel.

As you can see you can choose to play as Captain Commando or Baby the first Nite Owl or the first Silk Spectre. You then side-scroll your way along the crime-riddled , mailbox-riddled and trash can-riddled streets of 1942 New York.

Since I am a member of the superhero team Expertgamingmans, I’ll give you some tips on playing the game. Pay attention because the game has a reward for players who finish it.

Protip #1: This one’s a warning for the young gamers out there who have never played an old school beat ‘em up: THE ENEMIES ARE MORONS. Aside from wearing the exact same golf cap + turtleneck combo, they will also move to the same axis that you are as they approach you. They will do this even if there’s an obstacle in the way, such as the fire hydrant above. So they get stuck. You can then punch or kick them til they die. Or you can just watch them pile up behind a fire hydrant.

Protip #2: This is top secret stuff: You can wreck the garbage cans and mailboxes for extra points! Destructible environment FTW! That’s my Nite Owl in the 2nd stage of the game; as you can see my expertise allows me to use the strategy I mentioned in Protip #1 at will.

After 3 stages you get to square off with Moloch the Mystic. Protip #3: Apparently in 1942 New York, ‘Mystic’ means ‘knife thrower’. After defeating Moloch the game rewards you with…

A stream of the whole Watchmen movie! Of course not. You get to watch a trailer that you’ve probably seen before. But if you’re a real gamer, you know that the side scrolling journey is the prize itself.

[via Wonderland]