James - PixelRefresh.com
Founder of 🌐 https://www.pixelrefresh.com
Love of Retro Gaming & Modern Tech - articles, podcasts & videos
🎙️ Host of Game & Gadget #Podcast
🎵 Creator of #ScummVM Music Enhancement Project
My post topics: #retrogaming #retrocomputing #retroconsoles
- I've been experimenting with AI coding recently. I've wanted to build a MIDI playback app with features I want to use that take advantage of my Yamaha & Roland devices. The macOS app has been a fun journey & very informative of what's possible and indeed the pitfalls, but I have a nice usable app.
- It's handy to see SysEx commands on my Yamaha MU2000 menu options so I can trigger them through an app or music composition easily. XG MIDI files can be played in a Native mode or BASIC, backwards compatible which is spot on. Fumbling through menus isn't fun, but triggering using an app is great
- It's been a rather fun Xbox system link gaming day today. Also had a chance to check the clock capacitors on these two, which is THE capacitor that will itself decide to ruin your original Xbox at some point if left unchecked. #retrogaming #retroconsoles
- Welcome to my MIDI family... The Roland Sound Canvas SC-88 Pro. I'm surprised how many vocal samples it has. Very distinct instrumentations really enjoying it. Sadly the SC-55 mode isn't 100%, so I'll certainly keep that around but for what it is, I'm really happy with it.
- Yamaha MU2000 with DX, VL, and SG Expansion MIDI was huge in the 90s. The MIDI file used here is a 64-channel demonstration provided by Yamaha, to show the sounds of the MU2000 and the optional plugin boards when combined together. Amazingly, the file is just 61KB! youtu.be/qo2pqp_dy9g?...
- It's amazing how many tech news titles feature the word "Finally", even if it never needed the word!
- Here is my Dell XPS 710 from around 2007 (with a 720 motherboard), 8GB RAM, upgraded to GeForce Titan and Q6600 CPU. It's just had its first clean and oh my the heatsink! So much dust!!! You couldn't tell until you took it apart. All sorted now though.
- Experience the DOS floppy disk version introduction of Simon the Sorcerer on real Roland MT-32 hardware. Simon the Sorcerer is a classic point and click adventure game by Adventure Soft. youtube.com/shorts/hi9PW... #retrogaming #mt32 #simonthesorcerer
- Experience the DOS floppy disk version introduction of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge on real Roland MT-32 hardware. Monkey Island Two is a classic point and click adventure game by Lucas Arts. youtube.com/shorts/022pw... #retrogaming #retrocomputing #scummvm
- Experience the DOS floppy disk version introduction of Monkey Island 1 on real Roland MT-32 hardware. The Secret of Monkey Island is a classic point and click adventure game by Lucas Arts. youtube.com/shorts/QWbBx... #monkeyisland #mt32 #retrogaming
- Victoria Coach Station in London UK still using the Microsoft Windows XP operating system in 2025 🫠 I spotted on my way back home... #windowsxp
- This needs quite a bit of work doing to it and a really good clean, but I've already had a great deal of fun with the FM synthesis features on this excellent Yamaha PSS-780 keyboard released in 1989. #yamaha #fm #synth
- My very first music keyboard was the Yamaha PSS-270 powered by FM synthesis released in 1986. I had a little look around online to relive that childhood nostalgia and found this example in original box and after collecting it and giving it a very light clean it's in absolutely amazing condition!
- My latest project is in this case cleaning a classic Yamaha PortaSound PSS-390 music keyboard. It's in good condition and works perfectly, but needs a clean. The era of FM synthesis was a fun one and this reminds me so much of my childhood.
- I still get a wonderful feeling playing GM, GS & XG MIDI files from the 90s and beyond. Knowing that the instrument sampled data is coming directly from the unit makes them feel alive. The displays help also! Featured here are the Roland Sound Canvas SC-55 Mark 2 and the Yamaha MU80.
- Slowly rebuilding my PS3 collection... Sony had enormous success with the PS1 and PS2, had a sudden jolt of reality with the PS3 and got back on track with the PS4. And yet, the PS3 has some cracking titles that really shows what it is capable of when the hardware is mastered.
- Not sure how old these sealed brand new floppy disks are that a friend has found and given to me, but they reference a 286 PC 🤣 #retrocomputing
- Broken Sword The Smoking Mirror Reforged has been announced for PC and console platforms, releasing in 2026. www.pixelrefresh.com/broken-sword... #retrogaming #retrocomputing #brokensword
- My Dell Optiplex 3010 is now running Debian 13 replacing Windows. Slowly moving the majority of my hardware over to #Linux. This is my 4th. Intel Core i5-3470 16GB RAM RADEON 6400 4GB GPU 256GB SSD Also enjoying Two Point Campus on it, which runs fab!
- This is great news for Linux. We may get some less than optimal results for those rooting for Linux to do well versus Windows, but hopefully it will inspire a new push for Linux in gaming and beyond! youtu.be/5O6tQYJSEMw?...
- It's great that #Spotify now supports lossless audio, although capped to 24-bit 44KHz after an insane 4 and half years of waiting!!! 🤦 Maybe they can now announce Dolby Atmos spatial audio next and begin the 4 year wait for that too! 😉
- Another day, another laptop refurbished. It's very therapeutic restoring tech & even a five year old laptop you can see the CPU thermal paste Incredibly dry so time for a refresh. After the cleaning & paste, fan now comes in much less & replaced Windows 11 with Debian 13 and it's been excellent!
- My MacBook Pro from ~2014 with Retina display is still very capable, but macOS for it is end of life... Linux Mint to the rescue and now on the just released Linux Mint 22.2 (Zara). Although Windows and macOS have their advantages, Linux Mint is proving a worthy OS, especially on older hardware.
- Playtesting Adventures, ZX Spectrum Next (KS3), Retro LANs & Neo Geo Ports – Game & Gadget Podcast #42 @tonywarriner.bsky.social and I discuss game development tours, UrbX Warriors playtesting & retro LAN parties with Windows XP machines. www.pixelrefresh.com/playtesting-...
- New writer @daveswan.bsky.social for @pixelrefresh.bsky.social shares his career in pixel art, sprites & textures – from early arcade inspiration to creating graphics for games: - SEGA Manx TT - Wolverine: Adamantium Rage - ...and the Discworld series. www.pixelrefresh.com/wolverine-to...
- Spotify lossless audio was announced in February 2021... We are still in 2025 over 4 years later waiting for its release 🫠
- It's 2025 and still the 37 year old SEGA Mega Drive console sees new amazing releases. Earthion is a wonderful, jaw dropping, frantic & pleasing SHMUP that is accessible for newcomers to the genre and challenging for the experienced. Bring on the cartridge! store.steampowered.com/app/3597580/...
- I have a great number of CRT TVs for retro gaming, but the Mister FPGA using scanlines while triggering HDR to boost the brightness is pretty darn impressive! CRT TVs have other benefits too, but this is effective on modern displays!
- Legendary writer & game designer @steve-ince.bsky.social kindly shares 30 items from his ‘201 Things for Better Game Writing’ book exclusively for @pixelrefresh.bsky.social. www.pixelrefresh.com/30-things-fo...
- Fun times testing out for a future Retro LAN. Went fairly smoothly, so looking forward to when a bunch of friends get together to relive some Windows XP memories... Think Quake 3 Arena, Unreal Tournament 99, Unreal Tournament 2004, Quake and more... Can't wait!
- You know when you've watched too many modern gaming graphics analysis videos when you sit in your garden one sunny afternoon and think to yourself, "The shadow resolution isn't half bad".
- If I was going to buy a brand, this is the one for me...
- Not long ago, I was given 7 PCs that would have otherwise gone to landfill. I have built 3x PCs now from the parts (Win98, 2x WinXP) for retro gaming. HP from 2009 here I'm going to upgrade to 16GB RAM and an intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 CPU so I can dabble building a retro gaming LAN server with Linux.
