Box Art Wednesday.

Click the pics to make Atari 2600 size!

Intellivision's Astrosmash was reworked for the Atari 2600 and released by Mattel's "M" network as Astroblast. Just like in its original form, Astroblast requires you to control of a laser cannon trying to destroy falling asteroids and other debris.

Spacemaster X-7 is probably based on the sci-fi 1958 movie of the same name, at least I assume it is since 20th Century Fox games released it. In terms of gameplay you are tasked with destroying enemy bases, they are protected by shields that expand and shrink so you need to time your shots well...and not touch the shields.

I haven't been able to really find anything about Sprintmaster other than you compete against the console or other players on a variety of tracks, dirt, pavement, and ice. Barriers also litter the tracks to add difficulty to the gameplay. I was able to find a YouTube video for it at least.

When you are through checking out the above video, make sure to head over to www.Retroist.com to check out all the cool Halloween themed posts that are being made! I believe there is even a game review of John Carpenter's Halloween for the Atari 2600.

Friday Flyers.

Click the awesome pics above to make 1980 sized!

There is not a single pinball machine pictured in these flyers that I wouldn't put good money down to be able to play this very evening. I'd probably have to pick the Buck Rogers one as my favorite for this week.

When you are finished reading the flyers above make sure to hop on over to the Retroist site, you might even find a couple of movie reviews that I have done. Give it a look and join the rest of us in the enjoyment of retro discussions on the forum at www.retroist.com

Friday Flyers.

Click on the pics to gaze at the majesty of 1973!

Would you believe I have not been able to find any real information on these arcade titles? I will say that the Duck who has been shot on the cover of the flyer for Fowl Play oddly looks happy to me.

Sorry about the short post but at least it will give you plenty of time to hop over to the Retroist, they've started the Halloween celebration early, while you are there you should check out the amazing game reviews already submitted...maybe even submit your own! In fact why don't you sign up at the forums and join us all on some wonderful retro discussion? www.retroist.com

As always a big thanks to the Arcade Flyer Archive for the scanned images posted above!

Saturday Supercade!

Sorry, but there is only the one post today. The Victory Pellet Vault has been busy beyond belief the last few days. It seems that Radium Chimp #34 contracted some type of strange flu during his brief journey to the Moon and spread it to me...which is of course when the electrical systems start to fail and my hands are just full with keeping my prisoners-ahem, I mean guests from leaving their cells. I mean suites.

Thanks to Kotaku for the heads up on this photo snapped by Meeko from the South Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Mesa, California. It seems the mall made this display to celebrate Pac-Man's 30th anniversary. Wow, that makes me feel old.

Everyone have a great weekend and assuming I can crawl out of bed come Monday I will see you all then. If you get some spare time though make sure to jump over to:

http://games.retroist.com/

They were kind enough to post my review of the Spider-Man Atari 2600. While you are there make sure to check out all the other great reviews and hop over to the main site, the Retroist just put up a podcast about the classic Adventures of Superman television show!

Impossible You Say?

A different sort of post for today. Last evening once I was able to escape the confines of the Victory Vault I decided to visit my local Vintage Stock to see if I couldn't pick up a few titles to review for the Retroist site. I picked up a handful of Atari 2600 titles as well as a few choice selections from the NES section.

Imagine my surprise when I came upon this Mission Impossible cart from the video store I used to work at in my youth and not only that but it still had the stickers with my handwriting on it. What are the odds that after 20 years whomever had owned this game wouldn't have removed the stickers?

It Was A Very Good Year - Frank Sinatra

Box Art Wednesday Interrupted for...

...Super Mario Bros. Crossover! A big thanks to the awesome Retroist, more than usual that is, for finding this absolutely killer game. The creator of this title, Jay Pavlina, apparently worked for over a year on creating this beautiful flash game and the love he has for the NES is quite apparent from spending a few minutes playing his first ever offered title.

Beside the mustachioed plumber you can also choose the vampire slaying Simon Belmont, the intergalactic bounty hunter Samus Aran, the jungle fighter turned alien slayer Bill R., the mega-awesome Mega Man, and the Hero of Hyrule, Link. These brave companions have sworn to set out and rescue Princess Peach from the villainous clutches of Bowser.

This isn't a simple mash-up, the music for the game changes for each character, the music from their own titles. Each character brings with them some of their special abilities, like Simon's axe throwing, or Samus's bomb drop.

I can only hope that Nintendo, Konami, and Capcom see what a wonderful piece of work has been given to the masses this day. Take a moment to play and I think you'll agree this is worth its weight in Koopa shells.

Thanks to Wired for the picture above.

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/534416

Box Art Wednesday. What if?

Taxi 8 bit by RetroPeachy

Faulty towers by RetroPeachy

Golden girls by RetroPeachy


We have a very special presentation of Box Art Wednesday for you readers! Thanks to the incredible musical talent of my friend, Peachy, from over at the Retroist I am able to post some of his 8-bit musical offerings for your enjoyment.

Because who of us hasn't wondered what a Taxi NES game would sound like? Peachy can answer that question and more for you over at http://soundcloud.com/retropeachy

Since I have an Atari Label Maker at my disposal I went ahead and created these what if? cartridge scans for these popular TV shows.

Angela's Theme/Taxi - Peachy

A word from Roger Ebert.

We here at the Victory Vault would like to thank that amazing Archaeologist of the recent past, the Retroist, for the information below.


"Dear Readers:

Most web sites generate less income than they cost to maintain. Mine is no exception. Because I want to preserve free access to the site, I've come up with an idea I'd like to run by you. I'm announcing The Ebert Club, which will offer a group of additional attractions and conveniences for members.

Membership in the club will not be expensive. Through March, we'll have a special introductory rate of $4.99 for a year's membership. After April 1, the price will shoot up to $5. No, this is not an April Fool's joke. April 1 is the date I was appointed movie critic of the Sun-Times,
and I plan to live it up.

Your membership benefits will include:

1. The site's RSS/Newsletter feed, which Includes quick clickable links to all my new reviews and other site content. (Full disclosure: This will also continue to be free).

2. Quick links to my Special Pages for Twitter. These are free-standing web pages I create on the spur of a notion.

3. Quick links to new postings on Roger Ebert's Journal and Jim Emerson's Scanners.

4. Selected @ebertchicago, winnowed to improve the signal to noise ratio. All the joys of following my Twitter stream, from the comfort of your inbox.

5. A private discussion thread for Club members. This will resemble one of the comment threads on my Journal, but its URL will be made available to members only.

6. The Web Report: Unexpected and delightful web discoveries. I find links myself. Readers send me amazing pages. As a club member, we will not bother you with anything dumb.

7. Occasional Special Pages for club members only.

8. Advance notice of Ebertfest tickets going on sale. The festival sells out early every year. At Ebertfest, I'll hold a meet-and-greet for club members.

9. You will be helping enormously to support this web site. Well, that's worth something, isn't it?

10. We're open to your suggestions about live chats for Club members only and things like that.

Click on the link below if you'd like to join us.

Thank you,

Roger"