I'm so glad that Hamster's Arcade Archives are a thing.

[Sweatlord_STG]

Anybody up for a new shirt with old design? Say, like the emblems of now defunct developers of the golden age of The Game Center? Or games only The Hardcore Generation can appreciate? The perfect conversation starter at any unsocial gathering! Wow, hey! I know I would buy one or more if the right stuff comes along. Dang right!

Hamster does some. Like Nichibutsu, Video System etc. So those look cool and you can even consider them to be official. I can't find it anymore but if you email them and ask for t shirts, they will send you links to Amazon for a few different countries so you can see and order them. They have quite some. Also Hoodies etc, even different ones from the same old company. I like the Nichibutsu ones because I like their games plus the logo looks badass on clothing.

Yeah I just ordered the Nichibutsu longsleeve, but it's annoying that the logo is just on the upper right of your shirt rather than the full center. Still cool enough though.

There is more than just one Nichibutsu thing. Did you get the links from Hamster? When they sent me the Amazon links, I tried them all because funnily they are all different. If I remember correctly, the UK link had the most items, while other links, most likely including the one you used, only had a few items to choose from. It says Chicago on your profile so I assume you used Amazon.com. Try their Amazon UK link instead, there was a gray hoodie that had a large print of the Nichibutsu owl logo on the front if I remember correctly.
I think I will just request the links again and then share them here.

[AGermanArtist]

Thanks for the tip, I must've missed this. The BW Nichibutsu tee is fucking gorgeous. Just bagged one.

[Sweatlord_STG]

Thanks for the tip, I must've missed this. The BW Nichibutsu tee is fucking gorgeous. Just bagged one.

This one is not by Hamster though, if you can live with that just sayin. Also the print looks messed up in the pic. The triangles should all be the same size but here the one in the middle is smaller etc, the whole pattern is messy, and there are things at the bottom that are not supposed to be there if you look closely. So send it back if you dont like it.

these are the ones by ham-chan: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?rh=n%3A83450 ... b_83450031

I think ill get the wife beater by nichibutsu and something by nmk and videosystem because i like some of their games plus videosystem = psikyo

[Lord British]

Hamster does some. Like Nichibutsu, Video System etc. So those look cool and you can even consider them to be official. I can't find it anymore but if you email them and ask for t shirts, they will send you links to Amazon for a few different countries so you can see and order them. They have quite some. Also Hoodies etc, even different ones from the same old company. I like the Nichibutsu ones because I like their games plus the logo looks badass on clothing.

Yeah I just ordered the Nichibutsu longsleeve, but it's annoying that the logo is just on the upper right of your shirt rather than the full center. Still cool enough though.

There is more than just one Nichibutsu thing. Did you get the links from Hamster? When they sent me the Amazon links, I tried them all because funnily they are all different. If I remember correctly, the UK link had the most items, while other links, most likely including the one you used, only had a few items to choose from. It says Chicago on your profile so I assume you used Amazon.com. Try their Amazon UK link instead, there was a gray hoodie that had a large print of the Nichibutsu owl logo on the front if I remember correctly.
I think I will just request the links again and then share them here.

I used Amazon. Tried Amazon UK but it just took me to Crazy Climber shirts and that's it.

[Sweatlord_STG]

Yeah I just ordered the Nichibutsu longsleeve, but it's annoying that the logo is just on the upper right of your shirt rather than the full center. Still cool enough though.

There is more than just one Nichibutsu thing. Did you get the links from Hamster? When they sent me the Amazon links, I tried them all because funnily they are all different. If I remember correctly, the UK link had the most items, while other links, most likely including the one you used, only had a few items to choose from. It says Chicago on your profile so I assume you used Amazon.com. Try their Amazon UK link instead, there was a gray hoodie that had a large print of the Nichibutsu owl logo on the front if I remember correctly.
I think I will just request the links again and then share them here.

I used Amazon. Tried Amazon UK but it just took me to Crazy Climber shirts and that's it.

There u go: https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?rh=n%3A83450 ... b_83450031


I kinda look like this:



so the wife beater is gonna look pretty good on me

Spoiler

How i actually look like:

[Sturmvogel Prime]

A Namco link to the past.

Before Pac-Man, before Ace Combat, before Xenosaga, Time Crisis and The Idolmaster, before Namco was "The Other Big N", there was Gee-Bee.
Yeah, Gee-Bee, the very first Namco game is this week's arcade title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202510/54191

[Jeneki]

Was there ever a compatible spinner with Arcade Archives console releases?

Taking a look at Hamster's Youtube channel, they definitely aren't playing this with an analog stick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mrg5-bEK7Z8

[Jucksalbe]

It supports a USB mouse (or the Switch 2 Joycon "mouse mode").

[SavagePencil]

Where is BIL to rally us to even the mediocre games

[Atariboy]

I was really hoping we'd see that Hori controller collaboration with Hamster before this long absent game showed up. I guess that dream is long dead at this point.

I'm glad they're at least providing USB mouse support here. Any word on if the Series X/S and PS4/5 builds will support the option?

[hamfighterx]

Where is BIL to rally us to even the mediocre games

Come on now, "mediocre" is not the right word to use for Namco's first ever in-house arcade game, and the first game designed by absolute legend Toru Iwatani. From a historical relevance perspective, this week is a 10/10.

Game might not be flashy or modern, but it's fine as a classic era score-chaser and the pinball meets breakout approach is solid. But this is release is really more about some real game history, and there's absolutely room for that in Arcade Archives (even if I do prefer the late 70s/early 80s stuff to be spread out a bit more on the release schedule).

[Sumez]

Actually hamfighterx is much more succesful at hyping us for mediocre games than BIL is. (BIL is all about extracting the crema)

And that's not meant as tongue in cheek. I love this passion for the deep cuts, and I want to see much more posts like this

[Sweatlord_STG]

A Namco link to the past.

Before Pac-Man, before Ace Combat, before Xenosaga, Time Crisis and The Idolmaster, before Namco was "The Other Big N", there was Gee-Bee.
Yeah, Gee-Bee, the very first Namco game is this week's arcade title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202510/54191

Look this is how I see your post now!



I used the same image file hoster as you (imgur) and I can't even see my own pictures anymore (without changing my ip address) that I posted here on the forum because that website decided "From September 30, 2025, access to Imgur from the United Kingdom is no longer available." lol

Is there any similar image file hoster I can use from now on?

Actually hamfighterx is much more succesful at hyping us for mediocre games than BIL is. (BIL is all about extracting the crema)

And that's not meant as tongue in cheek. I love this passion for the deep cuts, and I want to see much more posts like this

<3

Hamster sent me the links for their gear again so I wanted to share them here. New stuff was added btw! I haven't compared the links yet to see whether the UK link still offers more than the US one so you can just see for yourself. This is their email:

"Dear [...],

This is the Hamster Support Center.
Thank you for your inquiry.

We'd like to share with you the Amazon pages for our official merchandise in seven countries.

amazon.com
https://www.amazon.com/s?rh=n%3A7141123 ... orporation
amazon.co.uk
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?rh=n%3A83450 ... orporation
amazon.fr
https://www.amazon.fr/s?rh=n%3A34085503 ... orporation
amazon.de
https://www.amazon.de/s?rh=n%3A77028031 ... orporation
amazon.it
https://www.amazon.it/s?rh=n%3A28444330 ... orporation
amazon.es
https://www.amazon.es/s?rh=n%3A28462200 ... orporation
amazon.co.jp
https://www.amazon.co.jp/s?rh=n%3A35248 ... orporation


Also, as noted below, new products have been added since last week.
https://www.arcadearchives.com/en/topic ... ory/goods/

We plan to add new products every week from now on, so please keep an eye on our official website and Instagram.

Arcade Archives
https://www.arcadearchives.com/en/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/hamster_corporation/

If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know.
Thank you very much.


[Reception number:20250926-0000004403]

HAMSTER Corporation
4-10-1 SETAGAYA BUSINESS SQUARE TOWER 24F,
YOGA SETAGAYA-KU, TOKYO 158-0097 JAPAN
https://www.hamster.co.jp/en/ "

"new products every week"!!!

[AGermanArtist]

Dangar Butt plug

[hamfighterx]

Actually hamfighterx is much more succesful at hyping us for mediocre games than BIL is. (BIL is all about extracting the crema)

I bow down to BIL-sama's expertise and enthusiasm, truly one of a kind. But thank you, I'm pleased I can provide some value or entertainment, however small it may be, when I get excited and try to champion some obscure AA release and maybe get just a few more eyeballs on it. Even if that means more competition for those games played by a small enough number of people that even little old me shows up decently high on the leaderboards!

On that note, before we get too far from last week's oddball Nichibutsu release, I did want to mention that the most interesting thing to me is that the two versions of the game - Dacholer and Kick Boy - are substantially different. I wasn't aware of that before checking it out, but it's not just a graphics overhaul (though it is also very much that), there are also significant gameplay changes such as losing a life in Dacholer from the ball ricocheting into you, where you get no damage taken in Kick Boy. This one isn't going to make my pantheon of favorite mediocre AA games, but it's fine, and people who are more into the whole Pengo/Bomberman style might get more out of it than I do. Another good example of Hamster going the extra mile to include different variants though, love to see it.

I prefer Dacholer because I like the Ostrich, and also Kick Boy's black backgrounds on the main playfield just look so much more empty and unfinished as compared to Dacholer's greys and greens. I might actually prefer the gameplay of Kick Boy a bit more, but I'll side with aesthetics on this one. And I absolutely like this Ostrich-girl over newsboy cap boy, she makes me feel strange feelings. Make Way for the Mischievous Ostrich and its Strong Legs indeed!

Hamster sent me the links for their gear again so I wanted to share them here.

Really interesting! Does anyone happen to know if there are any physical retail locations in Tokyo where one might be able to find some Hamster merch, or similar stuff (I'd be tempted to buy a Nichibutsu Owl t-shirt lol)? Gonna be there in a couple months and I'd add that to the agenda. Feels like something you might see in Beep's Akihabara store, but yeah I want some official Ham-chan stuff and I don't think they'd be thrilled if I just show up to the office asking them to point me to the Dangar butt plugs!

[Atariboy]

Where is BIL to rally us to even the mediocre games

Come on now, "mediocre" is not the right word to use for Namco's first ever in-house arcade game, and the first game designed by absolute legend Toru Iwatani. From a historical relevance perspective, this week is a 10/10.

Game might not be flashy or modern, but it's fine as a classic era score-chaser and the pinball meets breakout approach is solid. But this is release is really more about some real game history, and there's absolutely room for that in Arcade Archives (even if I do prefer the late 70s/early 80s stuff to be spread out a bit more on the release schedule).

Sadly for many gamers, if it's pre 1985 it's just automatically dismissed as garbage.

[SavagePencil]

Where is BIL to rally us to even the mediocre games

Come on now, "mediocre" is not the right word to use for Namco's first ever in-house arcade game, and the first game designed by absolute legend Toru Iwatani. From a historical relevance perspective, this week is a 10/10.

Game might not be flashy or modern, but it's fine as a classic era score-chaser and the pinball meets breakout approach is solid. But this is release is really more about some real game history, and there's absolutely room for that in Arcade Archives (even if I do prefer the late 70s/early 80s stuff to be spread out a bit more on the release schedule).

Sadly for many gamers, if it's pre 1985 it's just automatically dismissed as garbage.

In this case it’s an interesting historical artifact but not a $7 purchase. I have it in the Wii Namco collection and it’s intriguing but not compelling to come back to a lot.

I’d kill for more pre-1985 games. I wish Hamster could get Western licenses. Spy Hunter, Berzerk/Frenzy, Adventure, Wizard of Wor, etc.

[BrianC]

In this case it’s an interesting historical artifact but not a $7 purchase. I have it in the Wii Namco collection and it’s intriguing but not compelling to come back to a lot.

Gee Bee is in the Wii Namco collection? I thought that one only had the third Namco breakout/pinball Cutie Q (which had a Vic-20 clone done by HAL that was possibly official in Japan)?

[SavagePencil]

In this case it’s an interesting historical artifact but not a $7 purchase. I have it in the Wii Namco collection and it’s intriguing but not compelling to come back to a lot.

Gee Bee is in the Wii Namco collection? I thought that one only had the third Namco breakout/pinball Cutie Q (which had a Vic-20 clone done by HAL that was possibly official in Japan)?

Dang, I was coming here to admit my mistake but you beat me to it. I fired it up last night and indeed the Wii version has Cutie Q. So yeah, there is value here in a title that would otherwise have continued to go unreleased.

[BIL]

Where is BIL to rally us to even the mediocre games

Apologies chaps (■｀w´■) I've been back on the mean streets, FUCKIN JUST TO SURVIVE (｀w´メ)

So I log back into SHUMPFARM only to see... Dick Stock has taken out Imgur in CUCK ISLAND >w<

Oh Lord, this is gonna be a pain in the ass. And not the kind I'm used to dishing out on DEEZ STREETZ! ShumpFarmin via TOR, whodathunkit... it's my fault, as Dick Stock chairman I take full responsibility.

BUT!

The pattern's broken...just like an egg.

Technos Scrambled Egg is this week's and last title of the month.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202508/50765

Another unexpected surprise: SNK is back on the Arcade Archives.
Koukuu Kihei Monogatari (The Legend of Air Cavalry) better known here as Chopper I is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202508/50213

Ahem! Have I told you chaps about mahfuckin SEARCH AND RESCUE ???

tbh, just the ghost of a chance of that and GENSHITOU aka PREHISTORIC ISLE IN 1930 and BERMUDA TRIANGLE and VANGUARD and BATTLE FIELD aka TIME SOULJAHS on ACA to join Tank, Ikari, Dogosoken, Guevara, Psycho Soldier, Sasuke vs Commander, and I guess Athena (barf!) Datsugoku (oof!) and Ikari III (meh!) gets me FAPPING AGAIN

And Technos Japan, say no more, innovators of violence. I wonder how balls-hard and/or balls-deep they'll go with that recent collection about, though. Oh well! Ham-chans know what they doing. Would kill a muhfucka for XAIN'D SLEENA and DOBLE DRAGON III tbh. I always wondered if the latter got a bad rap on account of them there microtransactin's in the Overseas ver.

Always wanted to see Chopper One on here too, but I only played it for five seconds. But I liek that earthy gunmetal n' dirt (snifsnifsnif) and the tunes are bangin. I will have to try it out on the weekend!

Overall, situation reminds of ye olde Q3 2023, when musty auld Konami picks heralded their return and some real fuckin bangers ie Mystic Warriors and Surprise Attack and a few more I can't recall offhand. That's how I see it anyway! Well chaps, it's BACK II THA FUCC for your man on top of the pile

Actually hamfighterx is much more succesful at hyping us for mediocre games than BIL is. (BIL is all about extracting the crema)

I bow down to BIL-sama's expertise and enthusiasm, truly one of a kind. But thank you, I'm pleased I can provide some value or entertainment, however small it may be, when I get excited and try to champion some obscure AA release and maybe get just a few more eyeballs on it.

Can I have ya both?! (つ✧ω✧)つ

[Skyknight]

Main thing I want from the SNK set is Sky Soldiers.

[Sweatlord_STG]

Where is BIL to rally us to even the mediocre games

Apologies chaps (■｀w´■)

BIRU!

[Sturmvogel Prime]

Konami's Battlantis is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202510/54747

Curiously, the boss Asmodeus influenced one of the characters of Contra mythos, the terrible Emperor Demon Gava.

[AGermanArtist]

I hope it has "very easy" - even on Easy on MAME I find that game ultra punishing.

[OldSkoolShmuper]

Konami's Battlantis is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202510/54747

Curiously, the boss Asmodeus influenced one of the characters of Contra mythos, the terrible Emperor Demon Gava.

This kind of reminds me of Sega's Gain Ground.

I'm surprised I've never heard of this one before.

[Jonpachi]

Konami's Battlantis is this week's title.
https://www.famitsu.com/article/202510/54747

Curiously, the boss Asmodeus influenced one of the characters of Contra mythos, the terrible Emperor Demon Gava.

This kind of reminds me of Sega's Gain Ground.

I'm surprised I've never heard of this one before.

It's more like an advanced Space Invaders than GG.

[hamfighterx]

So, Hamster is sponsoring a Bandai Namco live music event in February to celebrate Rave Racer's 30's anniversary. Just gonna state the obvious and say heeeeeeeey, that might mean an Arcade Archives Rave Racer around February-ish.

https://www.timeextension.com/news/2025 ... nniversary

[AGermanArtist]

I was thinking that and then I thought something else and forgot.

[Sweatlord_STG]

I was thinking that and then I thought something else and forgot.

Sorry to hear that, AGA.

[AGermanArtist]

I think I was thinking about sandwiches again. FML.