Awesome 8-bit

Despite their primitive gameplay and rough graphics, we have a fond place in our hearts for the old Atari 2600. Mauri Helme pays tribute to the classic 8-bit console with a 3D voxel art animation, featuring scenes from Pitfall, River Raid, Frostbite, Keystone Kapers, and the oft-maligned E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Back in the 1980s, the demoscene was all about creating cool motion visuals and music using the computers of the day. Engineer Matthias Kramm figured out a way to create an old-school demo without a computer by hacking the output of an old Commodore 1541 floppy drive into a video signal. More details on his blog.

Idaho artist Thunktronix makes playful pixel-art sculptures of characters from video games and pop culture. Each of the sprites is made from 1/4″-thick plexiglass which has been decorated with translucent colors on back. Robotron, Donkey Kong, and the Mooninites from Aqua Teen Hunger Force are among our favorites.

New Wave Toys expands its collection of 1/6th-scale arcade machines with a duo of vertical scrollers. The Romstar low-boy 1942 machine is pristine, while the 1943 Overhaul Edition has a battle-worn coin door. Both cabinets play both games and include a mini arcade stick for 2-player action. Pre-order by 3.17.21 and save $20.

Arcade1Up created these retro video game systems that you can put on a tabletop or mount on a wall. Each one features a 17″ color LCD screen, arcade-quality joystick and buttons, and comes loaded with eight licensed games. QVC sells the Asteroids, Pac-Man, or Ms. Pac-Man variants, while HSN has a Centipede version.

Fans of 8-bit console gaming and adult beverages will love these wood coasters from Cutting Boredom. Each of the six available designs envisions a drunk version of a classic NES game, with titles like “Drunkey Kong” and “Mike Tyson’s Pass Out!!” Each one is printed in color then sealed with a two-coat polyurethane finish.

Created by Brendan Becker aka Inverse Phase in 2012, Pretty Eight Machine is an awesome tribute to the music of Nine Inch Nails, performed on 8-bit gaming and computer sound chips. Now, you can pre-order it as a vinyl double album. The set includes 13 tracks from the SE release, and will be pressed on splatter art discs.

The Boston track Foreplay/Long Time is a masterpiece of 1970s prog rock, kicking off with an epic instrumental intro, leading into a rock-and-roll classic. 8-Bit Universe presents an equally entertaining chiptune version of the nearly 8-minute long track.

Arcade1Up continues to build out its collection of retro-inspired video game cabinets with this stand-up system that lets four people play Pong at the same time. It also plays Warlords, Circus Atari, Tempest, Super Breakout, and a couple of other Pong variants. Pre-orders start shipping 4.1.2021.

Jeremy Messersmith’s heartfelt folk tune looks back fondly on his childhood days playing video games. The track is accompanied by a wonderful papercut animation by Eric Power that includes imagery from classic games like Joust, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Tetris, and Asteroids. From the album Mixtape for the Milky Way.

Celebrate your love for Namco’s classic arcade game with this series of premium wearables from Brava Fabrics. The collection includes a mix of cotton shirts and wool sweaters embellished with pixel art characters. Our favorites are the printed long-sleeve shirt and the less subtle, holiday-friendly Jacquard sweater.

This DIY handheld gaming system offers gamers an opportunity to learn about electronics. The system features a 2.42″ monochrome widescreen and comes with 200 Arduboy games pre-loaded into its memory. Advanced users can even program their own games for it. Available with or without a tool kit.

NoQuarterArcade handbuilds these sweet mid-century modern style arcade tables which play a wide variety of classic arcade games. They come with authentic arcade quality controls for two players, and pre-loaded with a number of games. They sell a 60-in-1 version, as well as a 412-in-1 version, and an 800-in-1 version.

This upcoming 8-bit title from GreenBoy Games gives you a new reason to dust off your old Nintendo Game Boy. Where Is My Body? sends a disembodied hand on a quest to find the rest of its body. Gameplay takes inspiration from adventures like Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island.

The coolest item to come out of the partnership between LEGO and Nintendo (so far) is this brick-built replica of the classic NES game console. The 2646-piece set comes with a retro TV set that displays a level from Super Mario Bros., which actually scrolls when you turn its crank. Drops 8.1.20 on LEGO.com.

Also known as “The Death Generator,” this fun website lets you render classic video game screens with your own custom text. There are over 150 game screens to choose from, including Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, The Oregon Trail, and Metroid, many of which offer configurable backgrounds and characters.

A diminutive version of SEGA’s 8-bit Game Gear handheld. The system measures just 3.1″w x 1.7″h x 0.8″d, and will come in four colors, each with four games. Its 1.15″ screen is so tiny that they’re selling a magnifier called the “Big Window Micro.” Launching in Japan on 10.6.20 for about $45 each. Collect them all!

Nintendo fans, start your day with Paladone’s officially-licensed Nintendo Game Boy alarm clock. It looks just like the classic 8-bit handheld. Use its D-pad and buttons to set the time and alarm, which plays the chiptune theme music from Super Mario Land.

This tiny 6.5″ tall arcade machine features graphics inspired by Stranger Things‘ Palace Arcade, along with images from Namco games Dig Dug, Galaga, Galaxian, and Pac-Man. It’s fully playable, with those classic 8-bit titles, plus 16 Stranger Things-themed games.

This basic, bargain priced handheld gaming system comes loaded up with 400 old-school 8-bit games. It’s got a 2.8″ color LCD screen, and a TV-out port in case you want to play on a bigger one. Grab one for $19.95, or a pair for $34.99 in The Awesomer Shop.

This iOS game asks you to play not one, but four retro 8-bit games simultaneously on screen. There are 30 virtual game cartridges to play (with more to come), and you can earn power-ups to slow down games or earn bonus points. Drops 2/20/20 on the App Store.

Chicago-based Etsy shop Pixelixir makes these adorable 8-bit pixel art flowering plants, perfect for video gamers who lack green thumbs. They’re made from fused beads and each one includes a planter and rocks so they’re ready to display.

This unique battery pack lets you play retro style console games while your phone charges. It packs an 8000 mAh battery, a built-in gamepad, and a 2.8″ color screen. It comes loaded with over 400 games from the 8-bit era.