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@ctrl.alt.retro

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Yesterday's fun, today's technology! We update old video games & consoles so you can relive your old childhood memories or make new ones with others!

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I got a game from 1995 for Super Nintendo, re-released in 2026 by @limitedrungames, running on my Microsoft Xbox from 2001, all in 2026 🤣 Still some optimizations to be made and a lot more testing but for my first boot up running on a version of MesenCE with FX3 support I ported over to the original Xbox, I’m happy it just displayed something 😀 by @ctrl.alt.retro

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3 hours ago

Getting closer and closer…
#say hello to Death Panzer 64, a spiritual successor to Death Tank/Death Tank Zwei on the Sega Saturn! Also if you’re quick enough you may see another project I’ve been working on alongside this one 😉 by @ctrl.alt.retro

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7 days ago

Been waiting for this for what feels like forever! Played the **** out of the demos; ready to dig into the full game! Can’t wait for the cartridge to@show up! by @ctrl.alt.retro

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8 days ago

Sorry all, been away for a minute trying to get things situated with a large move and career change. Luckily the time away has given me some time to work on some other projects I’ve been wanting to do. The first I’m excited to share with you is a new N64 game I’ve been working on by myself and am excited to let you all play it soon! For now here is a quick sample! A crisp high five to the first one who can name what game I’m getting inspiration from! 😂 by @ctrl.alt.retro

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9 days ago

We have a naked Super Nintendo motherboard resting on the workbench today that we're wrapping up work on which inspired this post. Before we put it back in its plastic shell, we want to see how well you know your 16-bit hardware.

Can you guess the exact game this PCB belongs to? Here are your hints:

Hint 1: Look closely at the massive chip right in the center. This PCB features the custom Super FX (GSU-2) coprocessor. It is one of only three SNES games released in the console's lifespan to make use of the Super FX 2 chip.

Hint 2: If you look at the bottom of the board, you will notice the extra pins on the cartridge connector, which were required to support that extra processing power.

Hint 3: While this game is technically numbered as a sequel in the West, it is actually a prequel to an entire massive series.

Hint 4: The main star of the show is forced to escort an annoying baby that won't shut up.

The Verdict:
Think you know the answer? Drop your guesses in the comments below! 👇 (We will pin the first person to get it exactly right).

Trust your hardware to the pros:
Whether you need your classic cartridge slots deep-cleaned, traces repaired, or dead batteries replaced, we keep the heavy hitters of the 16-bit era running flawlessly. Reach out to see how we can get your 16-bit consoles and games up and running again! www.ctrlaltretro.shop 🛠️✨

#ControlAltRetro #TriviaTuesday #RetroGaming #SNES #SuperNintendo #ConsoleModding #GamePreservation #RetroHardware #Motherboard #MaricopaAZ #ArizonaGamers by @ctrl.alt.retro

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2 months ago

Happy #MeetAClassicMonday! Today we are celebrating a massive 20th anniversary for a game that completely divided the Nintendo community when it launched exactly two decades ago today, on August 3, 2006.

Meet Star Fox Command.

By 2006, fans were begging for a return to the classic rail-shooter magic of Star Fox 64. Instead, Nintendo released Command for the Nintendo DS—a bizarre, ambitious hybrid that mashed classic dogfighting with turn-based tactical strategy.

Instead of just flying forward, you used the DS stylus to draw flight paths for your squadron on a tactical map, intercepting missiles and enemy fighters before jumping into short, timed arena battles. It was the very first Star Fox game to feature online multiplayer via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and it had nine completely different endings depending on the choices you made during the campaign.

It was a massive departure from the formula, and while it wasn't the Star Fox 64 sequel people wanted, it remains one of the most mechanically unique games in the entire franchise.

The Question:
Did you play Star Fox Command back in the day, or did the tactical stylus controls scare you away? Let us know below! 👇

Trust your hardware to the pros:
Still have a Nintendo DS with a busted hinge or a heavily scratched touch screen? We don't just do home consoles—we bring handheld legends back to life. Reach out today to see how we can help! www.ctrlaltretro.shop! 🛠️✨

#ControlAltRetro #MeetAClassicMonday #StarFox #StarFoxCommand #NintendoDS #RetroGaming #GamePreservation #HandheldGaming #20thAnniversary #MaricopaGamers #ArizonaGamers by @ctrl.alt.retro

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2 months ago

Welcome to Throwback Tech Thursday. Today, we are looking at how far racing games went to push hardware boundaries long before VR headsets existed.

Back in 1983, a company called Tatsumi released a racing game called TX-1. This was the true successor to Atari's Pole Position, and it was famous for one massive, expensive feature: It used three CRT monitors angled around the player to create an ultra-wide panoramic view.

It was a nightmare to maintain, incredibly heavy, and cost arcades a fortune, but the immersion was unlike anything else on the market. Driving through the game's various stages felt insanely fast because your peripheral vision was completely engaged.

Why are we talking about a massive 1983 arcade cabinet today? Because Hamster just revived it! As of today (July 30), they officially released Arcade Archives TX-1 on the Switch and PS4, plus an upgraded Arcade Archives 2 TX-1 version for modern hardware like the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and the new Switch 2.

The new ports even support VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) to emulate the original arcade monitors as perfectly as possible.

The Question:
Did you ever get to sit down in a massive, multi-monitor arcade racing cabinet back in the day, or did you build a crazy multi-monitor racing rig at home? Let us know below! 👇

Trust your hardware to the pros:
While we can't fit a 500-pound TX-1 cabinet on the workbench, we can fix the consoles that brought those arcade ports home or even build you your own custom arcade cabinet. www.ctrlaltretro.shop! 🛠️✨

#ControlAltRetro #ThrowbackTechThursday #TX1 #ArcadeArchives #RetroRacing #ArcadeCabinet #SimRacing #RetroGaming #GamePreservation #MaricopaGamers #ArizonaGamers by @ctrl.alt.retro

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2 months ago

Exactly two years ago today—on July 29, 2024—the Xbox 360 Store and Marketplace officially shut down forever.

For 19 years, that storefront was the digital heartbeat of the 7th generation. It is where we first experienced the Xbox Live Arcade revolution, downloading games like Castle Crashers, Braid, and Limbo. It completely changed how the console industry handled digital distribution, DLC, and indie titles.

When Microsoft closed the doors, they assured everyone that any previously purchased 360 game would still be downloadable via your account history. More importantly, thanks to backward compatibility, those classic purchases and game updates are still supported on the Xbox One and Series X|S hardware today.

But that closure was a massive wake-up call for the retro community. It was the moment that truly sparked the modern conversation about game preservation and why physical media and hardware modding are so critically important. When the servers eventually go dark, all we are left with is the hardware in our hands and the discs on our shelves.

The Question:
What was the absolute best Xbox Live Arcade game you remember downloading on your Xbox 360? Let us know below! 👇

Trust your hardware to the pros:
Still rocking an original Xbox 360? Don't let the Red Ring of Death take your childhood console. From deep cleaning and thermal paste replacement to custom RGH mods, we keep the 7th generation alive at www.ctrlaltretro.shop! 🛠️✨

#ControlAltRetro #Xbox360 #XboxLiveArcade #GamePreservation #PhysicalMedia #RetroGaming #GamingHistory #ConsoleModding #Microsoft #MaricopaGamers #ArizonaGamers by @ctrl.alt.retro

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2 months ago

We just wrapped up three absolute top-tier Nintendo GameCube builds, and they are officially ready for the workbench spotlight.

For all three of these rigs, we didn't just stop at the console. We meticulously reshelled their matching Game Boy Player accessories to complete the aesthetic. Under the hood, every single component was completely torn down, deep-cleaned, and individually inspected. Anything on the brink of failure (like aging, leaky capacitors) was replaced on sight.

To future-proof them, all three feature upgraded silent cooling fans, hyper-efficient thermal pads, and self-serviceable coin battery holders—meaning when that clock battery eventually dies, you can just pop in a new one without ever touching a soldering iron.

But while the foundations are identical, the loadouts are unique. Here are the specs for each:

🟩 The Clear Build

Aesthetic: Matching clear shells with a vibrant green power LED.

Video: Premium Pluto HDMI output delivering razor-sharp digital visuals directly to your modern display.

Drive & Tech: Features a meticulously restored, fully working original disc drive paired with a PicoBoot modchip.

Storage: Equipped with the SD2SP2 Game Loader system and a 1TB microSD card inserted directly into Serial Port 2 for fast, convenient digital library access.

🟪 The Transparent Purple Build

Aesthetic: Matching transparent purple shells, a custom UV-printed disc tray, and a chartreuse power LED.

Video: Pluto Lite HDMI modification for flawless modern resolution.

Tech & Storage: Completely modernized with a CubeODE and a massive 1TB microSD card. No moving laser parts, just pure, instant loading.

🟥 The Warm Red Build

Aesthetic: Matching warm red shells, a custom UV-printed disc tray, and a striking pure white power LED.

Video: Pluto Lite HDMI modification.

Tech & Storage: Outfitted with a CubeODE and a 1TB microSD card to house your entire backup and homebrew library effortlessly.

The Question:
If you had to claim one of these for your living room setup today, are you taking Clear, Purple, or Red? Let us know below! 👇

Trust your hardware to the pros:
Want a custom rig built to your exact specs? From bespoke UV-printed shells by @ctrl.alt.retro

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2 months ago

Happy #MeetAClassicMonday! Today is a massive milestone in retro hardware and software history. Exactly 37 years ago today—July 27, 1989—Nintendo released a game in Japan that completely rewrote the rules of the RPG genre: Mother (later known to us as EarthBound Beginnings).

In 1989, almost every RPG on the market was obsessed with dragons, knights, and medieval fantasy. Then creator Shigesato Itoi came along and built a sprawling RPG set in 1980s Americana. Instead of drinking potions, you healed with hamburgers and orange juice. Instead of wielding broadswords, you fought hippies, aliens, and stray dogs with cracked baseball bats and frying pans.

The craziest part of its history? Nintendo of America fully translated the game for the NES under the title Earth Bound, completed the code, manufactured the promotional materials, and then... completely shelved it in 1990 because the Super Nintendo was about to launch.

For over a decade, that finished English translation only existed on an ultra-rare prototype cartridge, becoming one of the most legendary "Holy Grails" of the early ROM dumping and reproduction cart scene before Nintendo finally released it officially in 2015.

The Question:
Did you ever play the original 8-bit Mother, or did you jump into the series with EarthBound on the SNES? Let us know below! 👇

Trust your hardware to the pros:
Still playing your Famicom imports the hard way? From permanent Famicom-to-NES pin adapter mods to full motherboard preservation, we keep your 8-bit history running perfectly. Reach out and see what we can do for you today! www.ctrlaltretro.shop. 🛠️✨

#ControlAltRetro #MeetAClassicMonday #EarthBound #Mother #Famicom #NES #Nintendo #RetroGaming #GamePreservation #ConsoleModding #8Bit #MaricopaGamers #ArizonaGamers by @ctrl.alt.retro

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2 months ago

It’s the #FridayFaceOff, and with Classic Game Fest kicking off today in Texas with a massive retro tournament lineup, we are looking at two of the heaviest hitters in couch multiplayer history.

In the N64 corner:
Mario Kart 64 (1997). This is the game that practically invented the 4-player 3D kart racer. It gave us the modern Blue Shell, the sprawling 3-lap Rainbow Road, and those chunky, low-poly graphics that still perfectly define late-90s nostalgia. It’s pure, classic, drifting perfection.

In the GameCube corner:
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003). Nintendo took the formula and completely broke the rules. Two characters per kart, character-specific special items (like Bowser's giant shell), and the absolute fastest, most aggressive physics engine the series had ever seen. Plus, if you had the broadband adapters, you could physically link GameCubes together for 16-player LAN madness!

The Verdict:
You have four controllers plugged in for the weekend. Which one are you booting up?
🍄 Comment MK64 for the nostalgic N64 purity.
🏎️ Comment DOUBLE DASH for the chaotic GameCube co-op.

Let the blue shells fly in the comments! 👇

Trust your hardware to the pros:
Whether it’s a sloppy N64 analog stick that needs replacing or a GameCube laser that won't read discs, we keep the ultimate multiplayer machines running right. Reach out today to book your console in for a refresh or a total renovation! www.ctrlaltretro.shop

#ControlAltRetro #FridayFaceOff #MarioKart #MarioKart64 #DoubleDash #Nintendo64 #N64 #GameCube #NintendoGameCube #RetroGaming #ClassicGameFest #MaricopaGamers #ArizonaGamers by @ctrl.alt.retro

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2 months ago

Welcome to Throwback Tech Thursday. With the early access for the Halo: Campaign Evolved remake officially dropping today, we have to talk about the physical hardware that made the original 2001 game a cultural phenomenon: System Link.

Before Xbox Live existed, if you wanted 16-player Halo: Combat Evolved, you had to work for it. You needed four heavy CRT televisions, four Original Xbox consoles, 16 massive controllers, and a hub of Ethernet cables linking everything together.

Microsoft built an Ethernet port directly into the back of every Original Xbox—a massive gamble in 2001 when most homes didn't even have broadband internet. It meant you didn't need to buy an expensive, bulky network adapter like you did for the PS2. You just showed up to a buddy's garage, plugged in a standard Cat5 cable, and you were instantly screaming at each other across Blood Gulch.

That single hardware decision didn't just sell consoles; it laid the entire networking foundation for what Xbox Live would become just a year later.

The Question:
Who is diving into the Halo: Campaign Evolved early access today👇

Trust your hardware to the pros:
Got a classic Original Xbox that needs its trace rot repaired, its clock capacitor removed, or a fresh TSOP flash? We keep the LAN party legends alive right here. Reach out today to set up your Xbox for a refresh or a total revamp! www.ctrlaltretro.shop. 🛠️✨

#ControlAltRetro #ThrowbackTechThursday #OriginalXbox #Halo #HaloCampaignEvolved #MasterChief #SystemLink #RetroGaming #LANParty #XboxModding #RetroHardware #MaricopaGamers #ArizonaGamers by @ctrl.alt.retro

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3 months ago