We’re great believers of the freebie at Retro Gamer, so the news that the incoming Xbox Live update of N64 classic Banjo Kazooie would be free if you pre-order Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts was bound to get our attention.

As well as getting the classic platformer for absolutely nothing, you’ll also be able to play it nearly two weeks ahead of its official street date, which makes it even more of a bargain. For more information about this amazing offer simply head along to Rare’s official website at www.rareware.com/company/news.html

By all the things that are good and holy, Capcom’s Leo Tan has just turned up in the office with two Street Fighter IV arcade cabinets. Taking stock of this momentous event I have now made a list of the most important things to ever happen in my life.

1) Street Fighter IV turns up in office

2) First child is born

3) Second child is born

4) I get married to this woman

5) I’m the editor of Retro Gamer

There’s been an absolute dearth of classic retro games on Live Arcade recently, so imagine our joy when classic FPS Duke Nukem 3D appeared on the download service last night.

Although it’s not been given any sort of graphical update (although many would argue it’s not needed) it controls exceptionally well on the 360’s pad and has all the violence and risque humour intact. Shaking a fist-full of greenbacks at a stripper has lost none of its charm, while even the flushing of toilets brings back a wave of giddy nostalgia.

Some will no doubt be disappointed that this isn’t the superior Saturn port, but there’s no denying that Duke Nukem still remains a brilliant little blaster. Available for a paltry 800 points, this is a must have blaster and should tide us over until Duke Nukem Forever comes out.

Funny, brutal and still brilliant. God bless you Duke.

Being the busy editor that I am, I don’t get to update this blog as often as I’d like. Still, here are a few pictures from when I recently (around a month ago now) went to Pisa and Florance in Italy.

Here’s an Italian pidgeon that’s perched on some statue. Despite the fact that it lives in another country, it sounds exactly the same like an English pidgeon.

This is the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s easy to identify this monument as there is a sign next to it saying Leaning Tower of Pisa and lots of idiots have their picture taking in front of it so it looks like they are trying to push the thing over. Apparently no one is allowed to take a photo of the tower unless they do the same thing at least ones.

Here’s the Umbrella Logo from the Resident Evil series. This is obviously undisputed proof that the T-Virus actually comes from Italy. Therefore whenever a new game comes out you’ll never have to listen to the awful story that accompanies it as you now know the actual answer.

Here’s my gorgeous wife, Melanie enjoying an icecream in Florance. When ordering icecreams point to the smallest cone possible, otherwise you’ll end up paying £6.50 for one like my wife did. It was bloody nice, but then  you’d expect it to be for an insane price like that.

This last picture is particularly interesting as the Italian government has obviously stolen Sega’s Dreamcast logo, stuck a hose on it and is trying to pass it off as an emergancy sign. If there is any justice in the world, the money Sega gets back from the Italian government for wrongful use of their logo will be used to fund Dreamcast 2. Oh sorry, Nintendo’s already done that…

I’ve had a few readers asking why I haven’t been posting up any new Atari Lynx games at the moment. Don’t worry, I haven’t given up on Atari’s wonderful handheld - recent additions to the collection include Ishido: The Way of Stones and Lynx Casino. It’s just that I currently don’t have access to a Paypal account - it’s a long boring story that involves my card running out, being unable to add a new one, not being able to speak to a human being at their call centre and lots of swearing when all I got was an automated voice - and therefore not being able to buy anything new.

eBay users almost predominantly use Paypal now, so I’ve missed out on some absolute bargains over the last few weeks, which has annoyed me greatly. Granted, I could simply set up a new account, but I don’t see why I should have to. Normal service should resume soon, but in the meantime here’s a pack shot of my latest collection additions. Enjoy.

This is a solid little board game that’s eaten up a fair amount of my time. So much so in fact that I forgot to enter the Rampart high score competition at Atari Age.

I’ve never really seen the point in gambling games when you can’t physically win anything. Not one of my better Lynx purchases.

Another month and another fantastic Retro Gamer cover for you to all gawp at. It’s a bumper packed issue this month, so sit down and be amazed by the sheer amount of content we’ve been able to cram into everyone’s favourite retro magazine.

Ready For Remake: Ant Attack

Sandy White looks back at the creation of his 8-bit isometric classic and reveals the sequel that nearly came to be.

The Classic Game: Planescape: Torment

It’s widely regarded as one of the greatest D&D games of all time. Discover what makes Torment is a classic. 

The Making of… Defender

Defender blew our minds when it blasted onto arcade machines in 1980. Creator, Eugene Jarvis explains why.

Retroinspection: Game & Watch

The simple idea that became a global phenomenon and sired the Game Boy and DS. Meet the Game & Watch.

Developer Lookback: Shiny (Part 1)

You can’t really talk about Shiny Entertainment without discussing David Perry, so the first part of our lookback charts his early beginnings…

The Making of… Soul Calibur

In an exclusive new interview, Namco reveals how it converted its huge arcade hit to Sega’s Dreamcast and redefined the concept of the coin-op conversion.

The Making of… Night Shift

 Mike Bevan goes behind the scenes of the biggest toy factory to ever feature in a computer game.

Conversion Capers: Chase H.Q.

Ex-Ocean staffer, Bill Harbison reveals the difficulties of cramming Taito’s coin-op in the Speccy and Amstrad.

The Making of… 4D Sports Drivin’

Atari’s Hard Drivin’ may have been the best, but 4D Sports Drivin’ remains a great addition to the genre.

And much, much more including: S.T.U.N. Runner, 1942: Joint Strike, Robo-Squash, Toki, Atic Atac, Marble Madness II, Super Mario World, Commando, Jammin’ 

Irritating Stick’s box art badness is legendary. Its artwork basically comprises of three things 1) the word ‘irritating’ 2) the word ‘stick’, and 3) a first person picture of a Gundam Robot waving a baton around. The game is based on Japanese game show that asks contestants to pull a stick through a metal maze without letting that stick become irritated – very similar to those carnival games thingies you see at…um…carnivals.  The box art clearly states that this game is for ‘everyone’, but don’t be fooled by these words. That label should really read ‘this game is for human beings who waste time originating pointless groups like ‘bring back Big Break’ on social networking sites.     

Ignition has recently announced that The King of Fighters ’98: Ultimate Match is swiftly heading to the US of A.

Okay, so it’s not been officially announced here, but considering Ignition’s track record it’s only a matter of time before it does turn up, so you may as well start getting excited.Easily one of the best games in the lengthy series, it’s priced at a very generous $19.99 (read £19.99 for the UK) and boasts a staggering 64 fighters to choose from - nine of which are exclusive to this new PS2 version. Worry not though for the original NEO-GEO version of the game will also be available as well, meaning that both newcomers and old hands of the franchise should be happy.

Still, as great as this news pleases us (’98 is up there with ’96 as far as we’re concerned) it does make us wonder when we’ll finally get to play the version of Garou: Mark of the Wolves that has been available in Japan for ages now. Please make it happen Ignition.

Terry gets given a headache courtesy of Shermie.

We’ll give you two reasons why we love playing as Mai…

I’m sure a few readers have already seen the following picture, but I was looking through some old files and stumbled across it again.

Anyway, this is what happens when an overweight man in his mid-thirties looks like when he goes to his Christmas Party as a videogame character. I should also point out that everyone else at the do was wearing Tuxedos and elaborate dresses.

Yes I know it’s a lazy blog post but Stuart is off on holiday and I’ve been a bit busy playing with my new iTou… sorry, working on the magazine.