Author | Lightnews

James - PixelRefresh.com

@james.pixelrefresh.com

670 followers 1.6K following 620 posts

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

www.pixelrefresh.com

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · May 27

Hello everyone! About time I reintroduced myself...

I'm James from the UK, a Freelance Journalist...

I own & run Pixel Refresh, a website specialising in #retrogaming, gadgets & modern tech since 2006 www.pixelrefresh.com

Articles, reviews, podcasts and video content.

Pixel Refresh

Retro games reviews, restorations, podcasts and guides. Discover classic video games, vintage consoles & computers as well as modern gadgets & tech.

www.pixelrefresh.com

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 3d

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.

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 4d

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.

Reposted by James - PixelRefresh.com

Tony Warriner 🔜 Amiga40 @tonywarriner.bsky.social · 5d

A few more pics of the mythical, lost for 25 years, BS2 GBA :)

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 11d

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

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 15d

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

www.pixelrefresh.com

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 15d

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!

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 25d

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?...

Adding Linux GPU Benchmarks: Best Distributions for Gaming Tests, ft. Wendell of Level1 Techs

YouTube video by Gamers Nexus

youtu.be

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 29d

It's currently rolling out

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · 29d

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! 😉

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Sep 14

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!

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Sep 13

Nice! Any difficulties?

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Reposted by James - PixelRefresh.com

Tony Warriner 🔜 Amiga40 @tonywarriner.bsky.social · Sep 10

Can we get to 800 backers before we shut it down on Sunday?? These big-boxes are going to be super rare! #indiegame #pixelart #UrbXWarriors 😅

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ton...

UrbX Warriors - for the PC & Spectrum Next

- Late Pledges… Limited Time - A super-fun retro-inspired arcade-adventure by Tony Warriner & Stoo Cambridge

www.kickstarter.com

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Sep 3

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.

Reposted by James - PixelRefresh.com

Tony Warriner 🔜 Amiga40 @tonywarriner.bsky.social · Aug 25

Late pledges keep ticking up, but not long left for these now. Get ye collectable one-off big box while ye may :) #indiegame #bigbox #spectrumnext #PCGaming #linuxgaming #macosgaming RT🙌

www.kickstarter.com/projects/ton...

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Aug 16

Glad you're having a positive experience with gaming on Linux. The hardware and software are key to how good the experience is. It's really coming along in leaps and bounds, so I'm excited to see what will happen in the coming months and years.

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Aug 16

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-...

Playtesting Adventures, ZX Spectrum Next (KS3), Retro LANs & Neo Geo Ports - Game & Gadget Podcast #42 | Pixel Refresh

James & Tony discuss game development tours, UrbX Warriors playtesting & retro LAN parties with Windows XP machines.

www.pixelrefresh.com

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Aug 10

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...

Wolverine to Discworld - Pixel Artist David Swan Shares His Journey | Pixel Refresh

David Swan 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

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Aug 7

Sign me up too!

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Aug 5

Spotify lossless audio was announced in February 2021...

We are still in 2025 over 4 years later waiting for its release 🫠

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Aug 3

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/...

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Aug 3

Launmched? 🫠

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Jul 31

Thanks Ajay!

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Jul 25

Retro certainly isn't kind to the wallet 🫠

James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Jul 25

Whatever next 😁

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James - PixelRefresh.com @james.pixelrefresh.com · Jul 17

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!

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