Latest news with #SpaceInvaders
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Museum hosts exhibition blending arcade gaming, te ao Maori
''Arca Arcade: Round One'' exhibition designer Preston McNeil amid a colourful array of arcade machine-inspired art at Tūhura Otago Museum. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Space Invaders, Pac Man, Asteroids, Donkey Kong — if you were a child in the 1980s or '90s, the warm glow of a spacies machine at the local fish and chip shop or dairy was alluring, almost intoxicating. Now, that atmosphere is being reimagined through the lens of contemporary design and te ao Māori in a new exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum, titled "Arca Arcade: Round One". Exhibition designer Preston McNeil, of Wellington, said it was a bold fusion of industrial design, retro technology and cultural storytelling. It featured custom-built, wall-mounted machines, adorned with original artwork from some of New Zealand's top contemporary artists, including Gina Kiel, Flox, Otis Frizzell, Joe Sheehan and Otis Chamberlain. Visitors can play the games housed inside each uniquely designed cabinet, making it as interactive as it is artistic. Mr McNeil said the exhibition was believed to be a world first in arcade machine design because it integrated carved pounamu and whakairo-inspired design elements. He had wanted to create something that honoured the history of arcade gaming and the richness of contemporary New Zealand art. The result was a powerful collision of classic video game culture with te ao Māori — a celebration of play that was deeply rooted in place and identity, he said. "These machines are a love letter to every kid who dropped their last 20cents into a game they knew they couldn't win, but tried anyway. "Blending those memories with the depth and craft of Māori design has created something I never imagined I'd be able to build. "And it's amazing to finally bring it to the South Island." The exhibition opens at the museum tonight, and it is the first time it has been held in the South Island. Tūhura Otago Museum exhibitions and design head Craig Scott said the museum partnered with the Centre of Digital Excellence (Code) to present the exhibition, in the hope of showing young people what was possible when design, technology and culture collided. "This is about inspiring, as much as it is about fun nostalgia." Mr McNeil will give a free public talk at the museum tonight, sharing insights into the creative process, the challenges of building playable art, and how he collaborated with the artists to bring each machine to life. The exhibition runs from July 19 to September 21.
Stuff.tv
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
How Donkey Kong went from arcade brawler to Banana royalty
Nintendo is home to some of the most iconic and beloved characters to have graced a games console, but its first ever mascot, Donkey Kong, is long overdue some proper respect. That may seem a tricky proposition when the gorilla was originally designed as oafish and dumb, but he's come a long way since debuting more than 40 years ago. He's gone from titular antagonist to beat at the arcade, to a playable platforming hero in his own right from the SNES onwards. And while he's had fewer headline outings than Mario, every time he's come back it's always with an inspired reinvention. With the release of Donkey Kong Bananza, the biggest exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2 to date, it's a good time to look back at the key games that have defined and transformed this lovable ape over the years. Donkey Kong (1981) Looking back now, it's amazing to think 1891's Donkey Kong was originally meant to simply salvage thousands of unsold cabinets for failed Space Invaders clone Radar Scope. Nintendo then tried to license Popeye the sailor man to star in it. What we ended up with was a platformer all about climbing ladders and jumping over barrels, as you attempted to reach the top of a construction site to rescue Pauline from the great ape. The game was an enormous success, becoming the highest-grossing arcade game in the US that year, and was responsible for giving Nintendo its first major foothold in the West – long before the NES would make it a dominant force. Not bad for a game that marked the debut for a plucky young designer called Shigeru Miyamoto. It was of course also the game that introduced the world to Mario, although here the dungaree-wearing hero was simply known as Jumpman. Donkey Kong (1994) Besides home ports of the arcade original, the Donkey Kong franchise actually went dormant for a while after Donkey Kong 3 took things down the shooter route and replaced Mario with an 'exterminator' called Stanley. The Game Boy revival, better referred to as Donkey Kong '94, was more of a puzzle platformer, with over 100 levels for Mario to rescue Pauline from DK across. The gameplay would later inspire spiritual successor Mario vs Donkey Kong on the Game Boy Advance, which was eventually remastered for the original Nintendo Switch. It's also significant for being the game that gave Donkey Kong the signature red necktie sporting his initials, and redesigned Pauline as a long-haired brunette in a red dress. Donkey Kong Country (1994) A far more significant Donkey Kong revival arrived later that year, not from Nintendo but the British studio Rare. Donkey Kong Country reinvented the ape as a playable platforming protagonist who, with his nephew Diddy Kong, sets out to recover stolen bananas from the evil King and his Kremlings. A much trickier platformer than the contemporary Mario games, here you're relying on skill rather than power-ups. It's especially fiendish if you want to nab all the collectibles. What set it apart for many was its groundbreaking pre-rendered 3D models, keeping the ageing 16-bit SNES relevant as the real 3D gaming revolution was beginning elsewhere. David Wise's charming score is meanwhile as catchy and memorable as Koji Kondo's finest for Mario and Zelda. Donkey Kong 64 (1999) The Nintendo 64 was the de facto home of the 3D platformer, having gone stratospheric courtesy of the revolutionary Super Mario 64. It was only a matter of time as to when DK would make his proper 3D debut there. On paper, Donkey Kong 64 sounds like a winner: you get to play an ensemble of Kongs – DK, Diddy, Tiny, Lanky, and Chunky – with different abilities, and developer Rare had already proven its 3D chops with Banjo Kazooie. Unfortunately, while a hit at the time, DK64 is largely looked back on as a tedious slog of a collectathon. The whopping 3,831 total collectibles earned it an entry in the Guiness World Records. It's perhaps no surprise that subsequent DK games have opted to revert to side-scrolling platforming. But hey, at least it gave us the DK Rap. Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (2004) Jungle Beat is a niche GameCube release that sees you controlling DK with a pair of bongo drums, which were originally designed by Namco for its rhythm game spin-off Donkey Konga. But it's still an important part of DK's history. This was the first major game in the franchise to be developed by Nintendo in-house after Rare had been sold to Microsoft. It controversially ditched a lot of the elements from Donkey Kong Country (that series wouldn't be revived until 2010 by Retro Studios) including its characters and challenging platforming, though just getting your head around its quirky control system is already challenging enough. A curio for sure, but it's better remembered as the debut of the Nintendo division that would go onto make Super Mario Galaxy. Donkey Kong Bananza (2025) More than a quarter of a century later, DK has finally been given another 3D outing. And who better to right the wrongs of DK64 than the team behind Switch 1 masterpiece Super Mario Odyssey? Bananza is still a 3D platformer but it's less reliant on Country's twitch platforming and more on DK's brawn. You can literally smash up terrain to dig up secrets or carve your own path. There's still plenty to collect, in the form of Banandium Gems – think of them as edible crystal bananas that are much like Odyssey's Power Moons. What separates this from being a mere collectathon is the absolute delight of causing chaos as you explore each layer of this world in your journey towards the planet core. It's not just sheer monkey mayhem, either, as you can also transform into other animals with other powers, like a speedy zebra or a flying ostrich (I know, ostrich don't fly in real life, but let's not interrogate that too deeply). We've already seen the big guy's redesign both in the Super Mario Bros. movie and Mario Kart World, but it's in Bananza where you really appreciate just how expressive his silly face is. Bananza also pays tribute to the great ape's history, so there's not just cameos from the DKC family; it's also got a few secret side-scrolling sequences, Jungle Beat's ability collect to nearby items with a clap, and the DK Rap playing when you have a rest. The biggest reinvention though comes with Pauline, no longer a damsel but a pint-sized tween with a big singing voice that powers DK's transformations. The pair's relationship is surely a nod to Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope, alongside a story with emotional and musical cues that wouldn't feel out of place in a Disney movie. This gorilla's never had a bigger outing and a bigger heart.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Three incredible DIY man caves are going head-to-head to be named Britain's Pub Shed of the Year.
Included is a traditional local-style pub with its own brew room, an Irish-themed bar and a boozer which comes complete with a hot tub inside. Organisers have revealed the finalists for Britain's Pub Shed of the Year. The winner will be selected from three finalists - picked from more than one thousand entries. The Cattle Shed, in Brownhills, West Mids., was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a 'proper homely pub feel' like the locals he went to as a youngster. It features a pool table, big screen TV, comfortable sofa seating and bar stools, a cosy log burner and a separate room for brewing beer and cider. Glen Gandy, from Willenhall, Wolverhampton., is in the running with his stunning back garden creation called Cognitos, which he built with the help of friends. It boasts a DJ booth with decks, a Space Invaders arcade machine, juke box, its own beer garden, a hot tub and even a toilet/shower room. The third finalist Chris Brennan built the BrennInn in Burnley, Lancs., in June 2023 with the help of his wife after their social life "took a hit" following the birth of their daughter. The spacious wood-panelled interior is decorated with fairy lights and neon bar signs, has a dartboard and pool table as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area. All three men will now compete to be crowned Ngage Radio's Pub Shed of the Year and the winner will be announced on August 23. Visit to vote for your favourite.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Irish bar, BBQ haven & hot tub tavern go head-to-head for Pub Shed of the Year… would YOU DIY a back-yard boozer?
A TRIO of incredible back yard boozers are going head-to-head to be named Britain's Pub Shed of the Year. The DIY man caves have all been built in back garden sheds by proud beer-loving 'sheddies' across the UK. 8 Glen Candy built Cognitos with the help of his friends Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a 'proper homely pub feel' Credit: SWNS 8 Chris Brennan built the BrennInn in June 2023 with the help of his wife Credit: SWNS They include a traditional local-style pub with its own brew room, an Irish-themed bar and a boozer which comes complete with a hot tub inside. Organisers today revealed this year's finalists after whittling them down from more than one thousand entries. Glen Gandy, from Willenhall, Wolverhampton, is in the running with his stunning back garden creation called Cognitos, which he built with the help of friends. It boasts a DJ booth with decks, a Space Invaders arcade machine, juke box, its own beer garden, a hot tub and even a toilet/shower room. The Cattle Shed, in Brownhills, It features a pool table, big screen TV, comfortable sofa seating and bar stools, a cosy log burner and a separate room for brewing beer and cider. The third finalist Chris Brennan built the BrennInn in Burnley, Lancashire, in June 2023 with the help of his wife after their social life "took a hit" following the birth of their daughter. The spacious wood-panelled interior is decorated with fairy lights and neon bar signs, has a dartboard and pool table as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area. Most read in Money All three men will now compete to be crowned Ngage Radio's Pub Shed of the Year and the winner will be announced on August 23. Wolves-mad Glen said he had been planning his bar since Covid lockdown but only started building it in June 2023. It was finished in April 2025 and they've had some "amazing nights so far". I'm being forced to tear down my loft conversion - my neighbours call it a 'monstrosity' but I'm going to fight back He added: "The bar, console, and back bar we built ourselves with the help of friends. "The bar is always fully stocked has a great sound system with ceiling speakers, power amp, DJ console, juke box, 85 inch TV and arcade machine. "There is also a hot tub and toilet/shower room and a split aircon unit so it can be used all year round. "We built an outside BBQ area for the odd occasion we have some sun." "The bar has two rules - 1. You don't need an invite and 2. Nobody gets out sober." Kev, a father to three teenagers, said he decided to covert the garage/workshop where he stored his classic VW after buying his kids a pool table and found there was nowhere to put it. He wanted it to be a space where he could enjoy the "odd beer or two" but also somewhere their kids could invite their friends to. He said: "As we wanted a real pub feel, we needed a separate entrance from the main pub, and after a few studded walls and a lot of rewiring, we had a feel of how it was going to be. "After many hours on Pinterest looking for ideas, we had a vision of how we wanted it to look. "We knew it needed a fully functioning toilet and running hot and cold water for it to be practical, and a fully working bar was a must." He added: "The recent addition of the brew room off the side of the pub means we can make our own beer and cider for optimum hangovers. "I'm so happy to be chosen as a finalist and wish all the luck to both other finalists." 8 Cognitos even has its own beer garden Credit: SWNS 8 Chris said he got the idea of creating BrennInn after seeing a surge in homemade pub sheds during the pandemic Credit: SWNS Chris said he got the idea of having his own bar after seeing a surge in homemade pub sheds during the Covid pandemic. He added: "But I was late to the party when wood prices rocketed so put it on the back burner until later last year and thought me and my wife Abby don't really go out much. "Having a five-year-old child, your social life in the local boozer and town takes a massive hit." The couple "bit the bullet" and bought the shed and it was built four days after it arrived a month later. Chris added: "Then from there Abby has to take all the credit for the design, interior of an Irish theme and then the name of the pub trying to incorporate it into our last name with it's Irish roots." Two Fat Blokes and Ngage Radio run the annual competition, now in its fifth year, for back garden publicans to enter the converted Pub Shed of The Year. Organiser Ashley Turner said: "The humble back garden boozer is being built in record numbers. "Exact numbers are hard to come by, but experts believe there are over two million pub sheds in the UK, a number only set to grow as the local pubs close at an alarming rate. "To recognise excellence in the back garden pub shed builds Ngage Radio run an annual competition to find the Pub shed of the year. "The public are now being asked to vote for their favourite." The winner will be announced live on Ngage Radio at 8pm on August 23. Read more on the Irish Sun DJ Danny Drayton said: " We're so proud to be involved with Pub Shed of the Year again, we have so many loyal listeners form the pub shed community. "They are really engaged with our station so being able to knock on the door of the winners live on the radio is a wonderful experience." 8 Cognitos was finished in April 2025 Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed even has a separate room for brewing beer and cider Credit: SWNS 8 BrennInn has an Irish-themed interior Credit: SWNS
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Irish bar, BBQ haven & hot tub tavern go head-to-head for Pub Shed of the Year… would YOU DIY a back-yard boozer?
The winners will be announced next month SHED LOAD Irish bar, BBQ haven & hot tub tavern go head-to-head for Pub Shed of the Year… would YOU DIY a back-yard boozer? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TRIO of incredible back yard boozers are going head-to-head to be named Britain's Pub Shed of the Year. The DIY man caves have all been built in back garden sheds by proud beer-loving 'sheddies' across the UK. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Glen Candy built Cognitos with the help of his friends Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a 'proper homely pub feel' Credit: SWNS 8 Chris Brennan built the BrennInn in June 2023 with the help of his wife Credit: SWNS They include a traditional local-style pub with its own brew room, an Irish-themed bar and a boozer which comes complete with a hot tub inside. Organisers today revealed this year's finalists after whittling them down from more than one thousand entries. Glen Gandy, from Willenhall, Wolverhampton, is in the running with his stunning back garden creation called Cognitos, which he built with the help of friends. It boasts a DJ booth with decks, a Space Invaders arcade machine, juke box, its own beer garden, a hot tub and even a toilet/shower room. The Cattle Shed, in Brownhills, West Midlands, was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a "proper homely pub feel" like the locals he went to as a youngster. It features a pool table, big screen TV, comfortable sofa seating and bar stools, a cosy log burner and a separate room for brewing beer and cider. The third finalist Chris Brennan built the BrennInn in Burnley, Lancashire, in June 2023 with the help of his wife after their social life "took a hit" following the birth of their daughter. The spacious wood-panelled interior is decorated with fairy lights and neon bar signs, has a dartboard and pool table as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area. All three men will now compete to be crowned Ngage Radio's Pub Shed of the Year and the winner will be announced on August 23. Wolves-mad Glen said he had been planning his bar since Covid lockdown but only started building it in June 2023. It was finished in April 2025 and they've had some "amazing nights so far". I'm being forced to tear down my loft conversion - my neighbours call it a 'monstrosity' but I'm going to fight back He added: "The bar, console, and back bar we built ourselves with the help of friends. "The bar is always fully stocked has a great sound system with ceiling speakers, power amp, DJ console, juke box, 85 inch TV and arcade machine. "There is also a hot tub and toilet/shower room and a split aircon unit so it can be used all year round. "We built an outside BBQ area for the odd occasion we have some sun." "The bar has two rules - 1. You don't need an invite and 2. Nobody gets out sober." Kev, a father to three teenagers, said he decided to covert the garage/workshop where he stored his classic VW after buying his kids a pool table and found there was nowhere to put it. He wanted it to be a space where he could enjoy the "odd beer or two" but also somewhere their kids could invite their friends to. He said: "As we wanted a real pub feel, we needed a separate entrance from the main pub, and after a few studded walls and a lot of rewiring, we had a feel of how it was going to be. "After many hours on Pinterest looking for ideas, we had a vision of how we wanted it to look. "We knew it needed a fully functioning toilet and running hot and cold water for it to be practical, and a fully working bar was a must." He added: "The recent addition of the brew room off the side of the pub means we can make our own beer and cider for optimum hangovers. "I'm so happy to be chosen as a finalist and wish all the luck to both other finalists." 8 Cognitos even has its own beer garden Credit: SWNS 8 Chris said he got the idea of creating BrennInn after seeing a surge in homemade pub sheds during the pandemic Credit: SWNS Chris said he got the idea of having his own bar after seeing a surge in homemade pub sheds during the Covid pandemic. He added: "But I was late to the party when wood prices rocketed so put it on the back burner until later last year and thought me and my wife Abby don't really go out much. "Having a five-year-old child, your social life in the local boozer and town takes a massive hit." The couple "bit the bullet" and bought the shed and it was built four days after it arrived a month later. Chris added: "Then from there Abby has to take all the credit for the design, interior of an Irish theme and then the name of the pub trying to incorporate it into our last name with it's Irish roots." Two Fat Blokes and Ngage Radio run the annual competition, now in its fifth year, for back garden publicans to enter the converted Pub Shed of The Year. Organiser Ashley Turner said: "The humble back garden boozer is being built in record numbers. "Exact numbers are hard to come by, but experts believe there are over two million pub sheds in the UK, a number only set to grow as the local pubs close at an alarming rate. "To recognise excellence in the back garden pub shed builds Ngage Radio run an annual competition to find the Pub shed of the year. "The public are now being asked to vote for their favourite." The winner will be announced live on Ngage Radio at 8pm on August 23. DJ Danny Drayton said: " We're so proud to be involved with Pub Shed of the Year again, we have so many loyal listeners form the pub shed community. "They are really engaged with our station so being able to knock on the door of the winners live on the radio is a wonderful experience." 8 Cognitos was finished in April 2025 Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed even has a separate room for brewing beer and cider Credit: SWNS
