We have already established that the term Holy Grail is a highly subjective adjective in the first part of this series, along with identifying systems 11-20 of those that 98PaceCar and I deem worthy of this lofty title. We now move on to the Top 10 - those systems that truly are the center pieces in any hardware collection.
As in the past article, we limited ourselves to considering the standard release of a console (no crazy development units, clones, protos or LE/SE editions).
As in any collecting field, the more obscure and rare and item is directly impacts its price. We did not list any suggested prices for any of these systems, but some descriptors will give you a pretty good idea of their value in terms of cold hard cash (along with availability).
Most of the following consoles are unknown to the standard gamer. These are systems that basically should be targeted by only the most serious hardware collector and require substantial investment. Finding these at all will take considerable effort (for the most part).
OK, let's get to it - the Top 10 Holy Grails for the hardware collector.
The True Holy Grails of Video Game Hardware - The Majors.
10. Bandai Pippin @WORLD
In 1995, Apple Computer Inc. joined the console foray by finishing the development of a system based on a scaled down version of their System 7 OS. Named the Pippin, Apple followed the 3DO Company's lead by licensing this technology to an outside manufacturer - Bandai Digital Entertainment. The Bandai Pippin @WORLD is the North American release of this console. It is estimated that only 5,000 of these were sold during its limited lifespan.
09. Funtech Super A'Can
In 1995, Funtech Entertainment Corporation released the first original gaming system in Taiwan - the Super A'Can. Produced and sold exclusively in its native country, the console and controllers feel very fragile, constructed of thin plastics that belies its strong, dark grey outwardly appearance and extremely high price tag. Very few of these systems were sold, and it has been reported that Funtech Entertainment Corporation lost $6 million USD in this venture. This is a hard one to acquire since it does have a pretty strong cult following due to the obscurity of this system.
08. APF Imagination Machine
In late 1978, a company by the name of APF Technologies released a simple cartridge based system similar to other consoles on the market named the APF M1000. The console itself could then be "docked" to the MPA-10 to create a hybrid computer. The combined unit became the APF Imagination Machine and provided the BASIC program language, keyboard, 9K of RAM and could be expanded to 17K RAM, color graphics and a built in cassette recorder. Finding a complete system is extremely difficult due to the fact that these are cherished by collectors from the era (both video game and computer enthusiasts).
07. Entex Adventure Vision
Released in 1982 to a lukewarm reception, the Adventure Vision had only about a year lifespan on the market before it was pulled. The consoles that were sold were fragile and troublesome, so few have survived to today. This makes it difficult to find a working example and nearly impossible to find one for a low price. It's estimated that only 10,000 of the consoles were made. Few other consoles have the star power of the Adventure Vision. It's a well known grail item that any true collector will have at least heard of. The only downside to hunting for one is that you will often find yourself bidding against hand held collectors as well as console collectors, making the interested audience that much bigger. If you want to add an Adventure Vision to your collection, you had better be ready to break out the checkbook.
06. Casio PV-1000
Casio of Japan, known for their line of calculators, decided to cash in on the console videogame craze. In 1983 Casio produced the PV-1000 console. This Japanese exclusive was below average compared to the competition (Sega SG-1000 and the Nintendo Famicom) when it debuted and met its demise quickly. This is an extremely rare item and only recommended for the ultra-serious console collector. This console lacks the fanfare of the some earlier entries, but is actually more difficult to find due to its limited run.
05. Capcom CPS Changer
In 1994, Capcom decided to follow SNK's lead in the Neo Geo AES and released the CPS Changer. Based entirely upon existing arcade hits, this system produced excellent quality and game play. This system is a new addition to a very lucky member of the VGCL team - 98PaceCar. Both of us have been hunting for this system for quite a long time and have only seen it available on Yahoo-Japan once or twice. Only 11 titles were released for this Japanese system. This system is extremely pricey - expect to be competing with arcade collectors as well when trying to acquire this treasure.
04. Bandai SuperVision 8000
Notable game developer Bandai was very involved in hardware development and manufacturing beginning in 1977 with its popular line of TV-Jack pong based consoles (six total releases within two years). Building on their mild success in this arena, the Bandai Super Vision 8000 debuted in 1979 and was the very first programmable game cartridge system released in Japan (before Sega and Nintendo). This system is one of the least known amongst collectors, but its place in history is unquestioned and is truly a milestone in any collection.
03. Daewoo Zemmix Turbo CPG-120
Korean based Daewoo produced the Zemmix CPG-120 console (Zemmix in Korean means "It's Fun") that was the pinnacle of its line of MSX based systems. This console was basically a MSX computer in a console casing. It was an NTSC based machine capable of playing MSX cartridge games. All Zemmix systems are expensive and rare, but this 'UFO' anomaly is a true grail for the hardware enthusiast. Be prepared to dig out and sell any gold fillings you may have - this console is a serious investment.
02. Katz Media Player KMP 2000
The Katz Media Player is the European release of the Bandai Pippin ATMARK (itself a rather obscure system). 98PaceCar and I have never seen one of these for sale in all of our combined years of collecting hardware. This may be a questionable entry to this list since there is some speculation if this system was actually sold for retail. I can not even guess what it would take to acquire one of these beasts. If you were married to Jessica Biel, expect to pimp her for a good two years straight to pay for this peach.
01. RDI Halcyon
For the console collector, there are no systems that will match the rarity of the RDI Halcyon. If you are fortunate enough to locate one, it will be the centerpiece of any collection. Little is known about the true production of the system and it is a non-confirmed rumor that the system was even available at retail. Current information tells us that no more than 10 units were built for the investors of the company, all of them by hand. It doesn't get any better than this folks - welcome to the true holy grail of video game hardware!!
Did We Miss Any Consoles from our Two Part Series?
As I grow more experienced in life (a.k.a. get old), I find myself becoming less patient and accommodating for daily idiocies that I once blew off without a moment's thought. I'm a pretty easy going guy, but there are quite a few things that are truly beginning to torque me off.
o Clueless dolts talking on their cell phone in the check-out line at CVS o The Fire Sauce Gestapo at the Taco Bell drive through window o Two foot long receipt for my $0.99 Tic-Tacs purchase o Idiots taking up three spots because they don't know how to parallel park o My lady friend for making me sit through the Housewives of New York City
When it comes to video gaming, there is one specific pet peeve of mine that is really starting to get my BP fluctuating as of late - the "No Soup For You!!" attitude of game developers. Let me explain.
Like most gamers, I follow certain series and can't wait for the next release. I'd like to think of myself as an investor in these franchises - without forking down my hard-earned coin for their games there would never be any sequel. So what do I get in return for my loyalty, financial backing and continued support? You guessed it - usually NOTTA.
There are some exceptions to the rule, but for the most part very few titles in the post 16-bit era allow you to import data from your previous adventure/season/etc. I am not necessarily looking to start off a new gaming venture with my super-human character from a last installment - that would basically ruin the new game experience/fun. But I admit I do want a little "sumthin-sumthin". Give me some bad-ass sword, first pick in the draft, a special mission, whatever. Recognize that I am a loyal follower of your series (as well as a suido-shareholder).
I am happy to see new game releases like Mass Effect 2 that will actually take notice and compensate me for beefing up my Shephard in ME1. In my humble opinion, the employment of this "thanks for your loyalty" programming strategy should be the rule rather than the exception.
There is no excuse why developers can't show us some love for our continued patronage of their respective gaming series. With today's technology and expanded media formats, they can surely squeeze in a few 0's and 1's to at least recognize our past efforts. It's bad enough that my wallet is getting brutalized like a contestant on Hell's Kitchen for DLC and the like. Throw me a bone (extra lives, cool outfit, a retro car, etc.) - I have earned it!!!
Give me my soup!!
The Quest For Glory series allowed me to import and grow Gabriel, my Paladin who dished out more pain than a 24 hour dentist.
Suikoden II did it the best (regarding importing data), rewarding players by being able to welcome back old friends.
Is my point of view coming from left field? What are your thoughts?
Everyone is very familiar with the term Holy Grail - we see it utilized in auctions and being bandied about in user forums like a birdie during a badminton match. At times we may not agree with the assessment as we deem the item 'not worthy' of this high compliment. In all honesty, this is truly a very subjective arena and really comes down to whatever your heart is fixated upon. That being said, this collector posed the very simple question to myself: How does a video game system truly merit the lofty title of being a Holy Grail?
When tackling this question, I conferred with my friend and fellow hardware collector 98PaceCar. We both agreed: it is all about rarity and availability (almost synonymous). That was the easy point of our discussion. We now we had to tackle the lineup of consoles that justify Holy Grail status. Let me tell you, this was no small feat.
When developing our list, we limited ourselves to considering the standard release of a console (no crazy development units, clones, protos or LE/SE editions). Even after this filtering, we still were left with 20 systems that warranted accolades - way too many for one article.
This initial entry of this two part series is entitled The Minors - those systems that just missed out being in the top ten Holy Grails of all time. Let's check out the consoles 11-20 on our list.
20. Nintendo 64DD (Disk Drive)
Though system peripherals were not to be initially included in this countdown, the Nintendo 64DD will be an exception. Released on December 1, 1999 as an add-on for the Nintendo 64, the 64DD was doomed from the start. Technology had passed up the capabilities that it offered (see the PS2 and Xbox) and development for this system ground to a halt. Only nine (9) titles were ever released for this Japanese exclusive. Even the promising RANDnet online gaming service could not save this sinking ship.
19. FM Towns Marty
The Fujitsu Company decided to make an attempt to penetrate the console games market by taking their popular FM TOWNS line of computers and adding in some special components to create a stand alone video game console. The result was the FM Towns Marty, the world's first 32-bit video game console. This is a system that is not hard to find, but the cost to purchase one is steep. Another rare bird is the FM Towns Car Marty - a portable gaming unit that you could plug into the cigarette lighter and enjoy gaming on the road.
18. Sony PSX DESR-5100
The Sony PSX is a high priced multimedia device designed to be the center of your home entertainment experience. The Sony PSX is driven by the "heart and soul" of the Playstation 2 console. This gives the Sony PSX all the features found in the Playstation 2 console (Progressive Scan DVD playback, Music CD playback, Playstation 2 and PlayStation games) combined with full DVR capabilities (and the XMB found in the PS3). The DESR-5100 model was the only edition released in the cool Satin Silver finish (hence this is the desirable model). This Japanese exclusive is not hard to find, but acquiring one is a very pricey proposition.
17. Aiwa Mega-CD
The Aiwa Mega-CD (pictured to the right), was one of these such machines. The system consists of two parts - the top CD player and the bottom docking station that provided the Sega Mega Drive/CD interface/capabilities (except sound). This rare bird was a Japanese exclusive and will lighten your pocketbook quite a bit (if you can find one).
16. Pioneer LaserActive with All PAC Units
Everyone is familiar with the Pioneer LaserActive, but to have one with all of the add-on PAC units is a true feat for any collector. The Sega Pac is rather common, but the NEC unit is the exact opposite. Add to the that the Karaoke and the Computer Interface PACs and you are looking at some serious cash. The rare 3D goggles are another expected expenditure. It was the second most expensive video game console ever released during its day - it retains that expensive distinction to this very day.
15. Gakken Compact Vision
Gakken was a popular manufacturer of arcade and handheld games throughout the 1980s. In 1983, Gakken decided to try their hand at the home console market with the Gakken Compact Vision. This is definitely one strange bird - the controller is built into the system itself and is definitely one of the oddest designs ever created. All games (only 6 were released) are single player affairs. This system never saw the light of day outside of the Japanese market.
14. Nichubitsu My Vision
Another console released only in Japan. Arcade game maker Nichibutsu wanted to take a chance on the console market. In 1983 they released the KH-1000 better known as "My Vision" (manufactured by Kanto Electronics). The My Vision carts were all based on board games. Its biggest focus was on the game Mahjong. The My Vision also provided an external port for Mahjong expansion cartridges. This is another system that never took off and owes its inclusion on this list due to its obscurity.
13. Sharp Famicom Titler AN-510
Having the distinction of being the only Nintendo Famicom system that delivered S-Video output, this console is truly a behemoth. In addition to being a full gaming machine, the Titler incorporating video editing capabilities (subtitles, credits, etc.) complete with a writing pad and styles. You could plug your video camera directly into the back of the system and edit to your heart's content. To this day, I still can not fathom why this was done. It any case, this oddity is definitely a prized possession in any collector's display.
12. Commodore 64GS
In 1990, Commodore set their attentions on the videogame console market. They followed the same concept as other computer companies (Fujitsu with the FM Towns Marty and before that the Amstrad GX400). Their new system was called the Commodore 64GS (GS = Game System) and was released only in Europe. The unit was basically just a repackaged Commodore 64 computer. It did not fair well as all since technology had already passed it by at the time of its release.
11. Tomy Pyuuta Jr.
The Tomy Pyuuta Jr. was the dedicated console release of the Tomy Pyuuta, a hybrid computer released in Japan in 1983. The original Pyuuta had a moderate amount of success, enough so to have models released in Europe (Grandstand Tutor) and in North America (Tomy Tutor). This is another Japanese exclusive and is a tough find due to its limited release as well as its unpopularity. Expect to import this if you are able to find one at all.
What Consoles Do You Think Will Make the Top 10??
Stay tuned for Part II in this series, The Majors!!
Loose games are definitely the red-headed stepchildren of the video game collector. Regardless of how many hours of enjoyable game play they provide, I always find myself harboring a certain disdain for these orphans. I can organize till my heart's content and yet they don't even come close to presenting as well as their CIB counterparts in my Room of Doom. In all honesty, I find myself utilizing them as 'spacers' or 'props' for their CIB brethren rather than integrating them fully into my collection.
I love the game Halo and (believe it or not) the actual disc (pictured to the left) still plays great, even though my brother's dog got at it like it was a piece of fresh steak. The only reason this would be displayed in my collection would be as a conversational piece. Now that is just wrong.
As any CIB purist will tell you, the solution is to simply re-buy a game in its complete state. I wholeheartedly agree, but let's face reality - not many people (including me) have the unlimited discretionary funds at their disposal to do this. I just want to be able to proudly display these strays, while keeping my financial investment at a minimum. To accomplish this, there are basically two areas that we need to focus upon - the casing and the accompanying artworkcover.
Let's provide some redemption for these lost souls - all for around $1 per game!!
Game Casing
The first step in our 'orphan makeover' is to get them a new holder. Seeking out some of the oddball packaging (Sega CD, CD-i, 3DO, etc.) is not really an option since we need to keep the total cost per game at about $1. The table below shows what replacement case to use for a respective system, along with some popular web links on where to purchase (these will open in a new window).
Standard CD Jewel Case Approximate Cost $0.24
You can use these for any of the CD based systems, including the TurboGrafx (Hue Card - with modification). I am not a big fan of these, but they do save on space. Systems that originally came in this packaging were the Sony Playstation (for the most part), Sega Dreamcast (various colors). TG-16CD, Philips CD-i (without the big box) and the Bandai Pippin (though deeper). The Casio Loopy and Bandai Playdia also came in modified versions of this CD case.
This is my preferred method of storage for loose disc-based games. Tall, plenty of room for artwork, manuals, easy to display, etc. - I love DVD cases! This was the standard casing for the Sony Playstation 2, Nintendo GameCube and NUON titles. In addition, this is the casing of choice for Sega CD, Panasonic 3DO, Philips CD-i, NEC PC-FX, Memorex VIS and the original longbox Sony Playstation games.
The standard casing for the Nintendo Wii is the white DVD case - nothing flashy but highly effective in it's presentation. I haven't had the need to replace any of my Wii titles as of yet, but these will run you a few more cents.
These translucent green cases are designed for Microsoft Xbox and Xbox 360 games. These are a little bit trickier to find. You will pay through the nose for them on the various auction sites - I definitely recommend getting a lot of these and split them up with you buds. This will save you a boatload of cash.
This frosty clear Sony PS3 case can be rather expensive. Sometimes you can score these pretty cheap on the mainstream sites, but don't expect them to have the signature Sony logo on them. If you want that be prepared to shell out another $3.50 or so per case.
The Universal Game Case - our orphan's true savior. This marvel can hold nearly any cart that you have lying around. It is the same height / width of a DVD case, but is twice as deep (1"). Definitely purchase them in bulk - you will end up three times as much if you don't.
Now that we have some new digs for our loose games, it is time to get them a little 'paint'. There are a few websites out there that offer downloadable artwork, but the best by far is The Cover Project.
At this website, you can download very professional renditions of the original game's jacket, as well as some customized versions. With all cover art organized by system, the site is very easy to navigate and downloading the artwork is a snap. For each submission the author lets you know what game case the design was intended for. Simply down, print and place in your previously purchased game case and you are ready to roll. Here are some of their sample offerings (size scaled down for this article):
Samples for use with The Universal Game Case
Sample for use with a CD Jewel Case (FrontBack)
Samples for use with DVD Style Casing
To print the full-sized inlays at home costs around $0.20 (depending on your printer) per copy. This is based on using regular paper - not the shiny high-gloss variety (which you really don't need for this project). To send it over to your local Kinkos will run you around $0.53. This is not a bad deal either to be honest, especially if you do not have the means at your home to produce quality color documents.
In Summary
My bro is never going to get a free pass for letting his dogs destroy my copy of Halo, but for around a buck I can once again fully integrate it proudly into my main collection. Do not give up hope on those loose, misbegotten souls - new life is just $1 away.
NOTE: None of this is necessarily 'new' info, but I thought it would be helpful for all collectors, regardless of experience, to have this info all in one place. And no, I am not getting any kickbacks from any of the sites listed/featured in this article. I am listing them only as a possible resource for you.
The level of enjoyment of any multi-player gaming experience is heavily dependant upon your fellow gamers. Whether it be teaming with a bud in a co-op couch game of Contra or joining an online bout with hundreds of unnamed souls in Worlds of Warcraft, it still boils down to the same - are the people you are interacting with cool?
This was never so evident to me after the massacre I stomached during my recent online gaming experience (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2). Gamers come in all shapes and sizes as well as dispositions. This mirrors the varied communal landscapes that we respectively reside within. The diversity of the players truly make the gaming experience, but let's face it - they are those that we would be A-OK to never see or hear from again.
The following pokes a little fun at the each of these types by describing the pros/cons of playing with them.
The BFF-Wannabee a.k.a. Overly Friendly Dude
The Gaming Posse / Clan a.k.a. Brothers Fo' Eva'
Pros
o Pretty affable and easy to get along with o They are always encouraging even if you suck
Pros
o Their good teamwork can really rock the score o Sometimes their bantering can be humorous
Cons
o Tend to get on your nerves rather quickly o Talks way too much during a gaming session
Cons
o Can have a self-driven, elitist mentality o Slow to make a decision - no alpha wolf present
The Overly Charged a.k.a. The Cry Baby
The Night of the Living Dead a.k.a. Catatonics 'R Us
Pros
o They'll definitely keep the team objective focused o No question as to what they are thinking/feeling
Pros
o Good team players and receives direction well o Doesn't clutter the airwaves with useless musings
Cons
o Easy to throw off their game with a little goading o Constant whining is akin to that of a 9 year old
Cons
o Hard to tell if they are even alive and breathing o They are about as much fun as a 24-hour Dentist
The Serious Joe a.k.a. Too Smart For My Own Good
The Big Easy a.k.a. Laisser-faire United
Pros
o These achievement whores will carry your team o Will take 'point' on difficult tasks/objectives
Pros
o Goes with the flow - never makes waves o Open for any variation of the game, at any time
Cons
o I Am An Island (they don't really care about you) o Most are basically egocentrically a-holes
Cons
o Sloooow player... this isn't chess holmes! o Easily loses focus while admiring game scenery
The Flirt a.k.a. Anonymity Rocks!!
The Drunk & Stoned a.k.a. Pass The Cheetos Dude!
Pros
o Always nice hearing a sexy sounding female voice o Gets imagination thinking it might be Jessica Alba
Pros
o This guy is a riot to play with when not puking o Easy to send in as the sacrificial guinea pig
Cons
o Unnecessarily distracts your hard-up teammates o Jessica Alba is NEVER on the other end of the mic
Cons
o Leaves the game every 5 minutes for munchies o Asks many questions; forgets own name allot
The Unfocused Multi-Tasker a.k.a. ADD Sufferers
The Hater a.k.a. Mad At The World Guy
Pros
o Juggles multiple team assignments well o Pretty OK when changing games
Pros
o Fun to rile them up - easy target for verbal abuse o Hmmm... I honestly can't think of anything else
Cons
o Usually never knows what the heck is going on o Spends time dicking around instead of playing
Cons
o Always making excuses and blaming others o Basically they are a pain in the ass
The Legend a.k.a. The Old Fart
The Child Prodigy a.k.a. The Most Hated of All Gamer Types
Pros
None, unless you are are looking for... o ...a history lesson on games like PONG o ...a true Alpha Wolf to make decisions (j/k pups)
Pros
None, unless they are your kid and can have them... o ...fetch your favorite beverage during a session o ...set you up for life by winning game tourneys
Cons
o Leaves game every 5 minutes for the bathroom o They ARE the 24-Hour dentist o Basically sum of Cons above, just a bit different
Cons
o They don't even have to try to beat you o You will never be as good as they are at age 10 o Trash talk, show-boating, etc. Need I go on???
What Other Gaming Types Did I Miss?? Which One(s) Would You Consider Yourself?
Obviously this writing plays upon some common stereotypes and associated personality quirks. We all have our unique peccadilloes and probably can honestly pick a few of the Pros / Cons from the various types depicted above. Special thanks to the anonymous pictured in the above public domain pictures featured in this article for allowing us to have a little fun.
The Answer To Being Competitive in Today's Virtual World
My little brother (age 35) has been pestering me for months to get with the times and pick up a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I was extremely hesitant - getting beat on like a piñata by a group of 'any' year olds is not my idea of a fun time. He promised that I could ease into it with the help of his online posse (team CoDa). I reluctantly agreed and picked up a copy this past weekend.
Once logging in and becoming acquainted with my new 'squad', I have to admit that I was feeling rather stoked! "I love the smell of napalm in the morning... Smells like... victory" kept playing over and over in my head. With my newly found confidence, I marched proudly alongside my Band of Brothers onto the virtual battlefield. The action was furious, explosions were breathtaking and the adrenaline rush I experienced was one of the best I have had in quite some time. The end result:
Marriott_Guy --> 0 Kills, 1 Assist, 19 Deaths
Of course I knew the upcoming verbal assault I was about to endure would dwarf the shellacking that ‘earned’ me those numbers. They did not disappoint – the comments were fired out at a rate to rival the M240 machine gun. My personal favorite: "Dude, no offense, but are you 'special' or something?". After taking my medicine like a man (much like the round after round of head shots I recently absorbed), I quietly exited the PS3 playground to console myself. I am no match at all for today's gamers.
Being an older gamer (43), I fully accept and understand that I will not be able to master any of the newer titles due to my limited time resources. However, I would like to think that I could at least be somewhat competitive and not be viewed as 'dead money' every time I enter the virtual arena. There has to be a way to level the playing field for the old guard.
I am extremely analytical and attempted to statistically dissect this (a.k.a. my own futility). Here are the results:
Statistical Sample Size = 1 (me)
As is clearly evident from the above, I just can not keep up with the ever increasing number of Controller Action Buttons (and associated combos). This button escalation mirrors the expansion of the general obligations and responsibilities in my life. The net result of these two corresponding phenomenon equates to less time for gaming for us old farts. I don't know about you, but being the glutton of punishment every time I venture into an online gaming session is not my Cup o' Joe. Fear not grey beards, a solution does exist - the Online Gaming Leveler (OGL). Here is how it works:
(
Total Hours Gaming Per Week
)
=
OGL
(Age) X (# of Controller Buttons)
The OGL is a percentage that is used as a multiplier against the maximum level for a certain game statistic (i.e. Health Points). Basically, this provides a handicap for the less experienced player (blue hairs and casual gamers). The following table will demonstrate this in action:
Sample OGL Demonstration
Game Information
Game Name
Name of your game
Platform \ System
Microsoft Xbox 360
# of Controller Buttons
10
Player Information
Name
Marriott Guy
Young Buck
Little Brother
Da' Old Man
Age
43
16
35
62
Hours Gaming Per Week
10
30
15
2
OGL
2.33%
18.75%
4.29%
0.32%
Leveling the Field - The OGL Modified Statistic
Max Health Points
1,000
1,000
1,000
1,000
Less OGL
23
188
43
3
Net Health Points
977
813
957
997
I arbitrarily chose 1,000 as the being the Maximum Health Points for the example in the table above. I used a variety of ages to compare the control group (me) to show how the OGL formula works. I am sure you will agree that the advantage of having 16.42% more Health Points than the Young Buck would have at least assisted me in being more competitive. On the other hand, I should give a bit to Da' Old Man since he doesn't play that often and he truly is older than dirt.
This same OGL modifier can be applied to a variety of game statistics to further even the playing field:
+/- Amount of Gold achieved from victories (Action RPGs)
+/- Experience gained per kill (RPGs)
+/- Number of bullets in your standard ammo clip (FPS)
+/- Rate of speed of incoming objects (all genres)
+/- Number of Ships\Lives (Shmups)
+/- Time to make a play call (sports)
Here is what the sample game screenshot would look like with OGL being implemented:
Yes, this article is somewhat of parody and just my way of venting a bit after the trouncing I recently endured. But then again, go ahead and try out the formula - it does work with most scenarios. Click Here for the worksheet for you to play around with.
I am a normal guy. I don't kid myself thinking I am the sharpest pair of skates on the ice, but on the other hand I know that I am not a dullard (contrary to the comments made after my CoD MF 2 debacle). I have responsibilities and the like that severely deters the time I can invest in my passion (gaming). If the OGL system were in place, I might have been a playa this past weekend instead of the beaten farm animal.
But in all honestly, I think my lady friend hit the nail on the head after she read this article prior to being published. She said that OGL was not really an abbreviation for the Online Gaming Leveler. It was really just my way of coping with middle age - Old Guy Logic.
I always knew there was something I didn't like about her.
Let's have some fun with this (albeit at my expense).
What do my fellow grey beards think of this idea? What other game statistics would you have modified if the OGL System were in place?? Is this really just Old Guy Logic??
Like any other gamer or collector, I take great pride in the preservation of the spoils of war that reside in my Room of Doom. I do not loan out my games to just anyone. I made the unfortunate mistake of including my brother in my extremely limited 'circle of trust'.
Halo: Combat Evolved was our game of choice when it came to head-to head battle. After years of beating on him like a farm animal, I reluctantly lent him my copy to allow him time to refine his skills. Three years later while celebrating my niece's birthday at his home this past month, he presented to me the following:
Brutal, just plain brutal - that is all I have to say about the above picture, though it is still CIB in a somewhat masochistic way. Of course my brother apologized for the condition, albeit chuckling heavily during the entire time of his 'remorseful' delivery. I present to you now the villains (both of whom reek of guilt), who happened to be sitting just to the right of us during this exchange:
I have to admit that my brother used his time wisely when he basically annexed this game from my collection. We eventually fired this up that evening and I received the beating of a lifetime. The can of 'whop-ass' he released on me dwarfed the abuse that I had once imparted upon him.
Lesson 1 --> Don't lend your games out to people who share a household with the villains (or like) pictured above. Lesson 2 --> Beating on your little brother is always fun. Why risk losing that opportunity and loan him a game?
What Have You Got??
Pictures really enhance your story - please include if you can.
Though not a huge game collector, I do tend to invest in software for the more unique systems in my collection. I enter into this fully aware that the games (for the most part) will see limited action and will require me to pay a premium due to their limited availability andor production. This is something we all encounter to various degrees in our respective treasure hunts. That being said, there are some specific consoles that require heavy financial commitment to collect for, regardless of the title.
The systems listed below have software libraries that exceed, at a minimum, 20 titles. It is true that these could hardly be considered mainstream in regards to overall market penetration. With the exception of the Neo Geo AES, the remaining contenders were basically failures in the gaming industry.
One consistent characteristic shines through for each one of these consoles - the high price of their software. Regardless of the title, these systems have the highest average mean when it comes to collecting. This is mostly due to availability as well as how the system was initially marketed and the respective target audience.
Nintendo Virtual Boy System Released: 1995 Games Released: 22
Pioneer LaserActive System Released: 1993 Games Released: 44
In all honesty, I have no idea what the attraction is for this systemgames. Sure, it was innovative for the time, but all I get from an experience with the Virtual Boy is a severe migraine. The games overall are pretty crappy IMHO, but yet most CIB games will run you around $20-$25 at a minimum for the common titles. I am not exactly sure why games for this system fetch a high price tag. Want a Japanese version - tack on another 20% (for most titles) plus the extra shippinghandling .
The second most expensive game system ever released and the games will still hit your wallet pretty hard. It is true that most of the games for this system originally retailed at around $100 USD. In today's market, these Laser Disk games begin at around $40 USD and go on up. None are really anything to write home about, but I do admit that they do look impressive compared to a NES cart. Most of the games have to be imported from Japan, where the Pioneer LaserActive was a much bigger hit than in the USA.
Neo Geo AES System Released: 1990 Games Released: 154
Bandai Pippin System Released: 1995 Games Released: 93
Still regarded as the 2D powerhouse of the home console market, the Neo Geo produced games on cartridges that rival the size of a library book. Ginormous is the only way to describe them. Be prepared to shell out some cash to add some of these beasts into your library. The cheap games will fetch around $20 USD, but on an average you can expect to doll out between $50-$60 USD for most average titles.
Lack of availability completely drives the Bandai Pippin game market. The releases were pretty average for the day, but the system itself failed miserably trying to become the first true consolecomputer hybrid in the market. Most titles were released in Japan, but even there software is scarce. Expect your credit card to get beat on by an average of $50 USD (plus shippinghandling) when getting any title - much more for the true gaming software.
I used a 20 game minimum library to create this list. This takes out the truly obscure systems like the Capcom CPS Changer, Bandai SuperVision 8000 and the RDI Halcyon. Obviously, those systems with under 10 total games released command top buck.
I don't know about you, but I tend to be rather ritualistic when preparing for a serious gaming session. Just like setting the table for dinner, everything has to be set just so prior to my indulgence. Preparation is paramount in order to fully enjoy my upcoming virtual experience. Yes, I admit that my OCD tendencies might have some bearing on the extremely structured routine I follow. I would like to believe I am not an island and that all of us gamers share certain 'peccadilloes' in this regard.
Anyway, the following details some of my required groundwork prior to firing up the system and getting lost in the worlds of Oblivion. Items are listed in the order that they are executed.
Hunt & Gather
The right selection and quantities of munchies and beverages are critical for any gaming tour of duty. You can't expect to give it your all while working on an empty tank - you will need to visit the refueling station every now and again to replenish the reserves.
When it comes to munchies, I personally avoid anything that can either 'crumb' or that I can indent my fingerprint upon. The last thing I need is a controller pasted with chocolate residue and lighted 'flavored' with potato chip salt. Also, any food that requires delivery utensils of any kind (i.e. fork) is forbidden in my sick world. Slim Jims fit the bill for me: easy to eat, the correct portion size, no mess at all - the perfect combination (and taste pretty good too). Low maintenance is a key here in choosing my favorite rations.
Regarding fluids, I have been on a continued quest since 1995 to find a suitable replacement for my ultimate gaming beverage of choice - Gatorade Ice Tea. This drink had it all - excellent flavor, generous portion size (32 oz.) and provided immediate refreshment. I am a HUGE ice tea fan, but not so much of the aftereffects endured while deeply entrenched in my game. The continual runs to the john to pay back the piper gets old quick. I didn't have to consume great quantities of Gatorade Ice Tea to get the best of both worlds (ice tea flavor and personal rehydration). Gatorade Frost Glacial Freeze is now my weapon of choice, but I still dearly miss long lost gaming friend.
Eliminate Human Contact
Alone time is always optimal when getting involved with the latest release or a cherished classic by oneself. There is a time for sharing our passion with our family and loved ones, but during a focused gaming session is not one of them. The last thing I want to hear, in one simple word, is anything. I have a task at hand forthcoming and human interaction will distract me from my primary mission - mastering the awaiting challenge ahead.
At times this is a pothole that can not be easily avoided. Family and loved ones always take precedence, that is a given. But on the rare occasion when you have the crib to yourself, you must be prepared to act decisively. GAMING DEFCON 1 actions need to be immediately enacted. In other words, my cell phone ringer gets switched to 'Emergency' and 'I Won The Lotto' modes - all others get the dreaded voicemail. Yes, I agree that this may be a little extreme. Tell me I am wrong that you aren't peeved to no end when your buddy calls to shoot the breeze when you are smack in the middle of a mob of henchman and fighting for your virtual life.
Don the Garb
Just like the virtual warrior I am about to become, armor selection is paramount. Comfort is obviously the key with old baggy clothing usually fitting the bill. For me, I prefer layering to a degree to give me some flexibility. My 4 Star Suit of choice is a pair of those cheap woven sleep pants from Target, wool socks, a Haines T-Shirt (have to love the no-tags) and my Mr. Rodgers sweater. Propping my baseball cap on the melon and I am ready to go.
Adjust Atmospheric Conditions
Proper alignment of your gaming cockpit is a must. Any serious gamer already has this already in place in their Room of Doom, but still this is something that can never be overlooked and should be addressed.
Seating is critical and I, like most, have my own special gaming chair – a high-back swivel desk chair with an accompanying plush ottoman to rest the dogs. It provides ease of movement along with the proper support for both my arms and neck (especially needed in those marathon sessions). Personally, I can not stand gaming while having my keister planted on a couch. I grant you that the sofa is perfectly suited for co-op play and catching the game on a Sunday afternoon, but not so much for extended game play. As for a loveseat, forget it. To this very day I truly have no idea what its function is. I have vowed never to own one.
No set up is complete without the proper gaming side table. This should be large enough to shoulder your rations and remote, but cheap so you don't have to worry about using a coaster for your beverage. No need to spend a million dollars on these either - you can snag one from Wal-Mart for $4. My lady friend rather hates them since the molded plastic table does not fit in at all with the rest of my decor. Hmmm.... perfectly coordinated furnishings or a functional piece of equipment? Sorry honey, you'll have to live with them.
Last thing to do is to set the lighting low, close all vertical blinds and get into cave-mode.
Assemble the Mascots
This is basically all about our support group that accompanies us on our gaming adventure. Most of us have one, whether it be a favorite lid for our dome or a funky pair of slippers. For me it is all about my 'gaming blankie'.
I have to admit that I was rather relieved at the reaction when I shared this personal fact about myself in a previous article. To much of my surprise, I found that most could relate, sometimes first hand, and shared some form of this 'mascot' tendency. One person had a sock puppet that always stuck by his side, for another it was a 60 ounce glass stein for his beverages. Whatever the case, they need to be ready and available to join your efforts.
Game On!!! (?)
A fistful of Slim Jims and a cool Gatorade sit next to me on my $4 table. My 'pleather' desk chair creaks a bit but welcomes back my ever-widening bum as I plop down into position. My freshly laundered 'gaming blankie' is draped loosely across my legs. Nothing left to do except to get it on!!
I press the center button on my Xbox 360 controller and eagerly await the system screen to begin my assault on the lands of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. Nothing. Hmmm.... I press it again, somehow expecting a different result. Still nothing.
If only I would have remembered to get batteries for my controller!!!
These are a few of my pecadilloes - what are yours?
I have always been intrigued by video gaming systems, beginning with my first experience with my Uncle Glenn's Atari PONG system at the tender age of 7. I was a gaming panhandler during my early years until my father told me in 1979 that he had decided to take the plunge. I remember my heart racing with excitement!
Would he choose the Atari 2600 that seemed to catapult my buddy P-Man into demigod status overnight once he got one? Or maybe the Magnavox Odyssey 2 that was the showstopper at my cousins house the Christmas prior? Either way, I knew I couldn't lose.
The day finally arrived when my pops entered our humble abode with the fruits of his efforts - the Texas Instrument TI-99/4A!
Wait a second.... a TI-what??? What was he thinking??? More importantly, what was this thing that looked like an electric typewriter???
The TI-99/4A was a personal computer hybrid that was released in 1979 (as the TI-99/4) by electronics heavyweight Texas Instruments. This is widely considered to be the first 16-bit personal computer to be available to the general public in this genre and was very advanced for the time period. This hardware debuted at a retail price of $1,200 - and that was a lot of pesos back then (and now for that matter). The glorified, shiny silver casing sports an odd 'ramp' leading up to the recessed cartridge slot. I used the term 'hybrid' earlier since the TI-99/4A primarily utilizes propriety cartridges for its software (around 300 total titles). An optional joystick was available, but do yourself a favor and stick to the keyboard for navigation - the TI version is squirrelly as hell and more sensitive than a rug burn on your kneecap. Better yet, splurge for the Atari 2600 controller adaptor and really live large ($5).
A very nice thing about this beast is that it connects directly to your TV and doesn't require an external monitor. Another interesting fact is that there was an optional Voice Synthesis module for use with games - and you could teach the system how to talk! It also supported a plethora of add-ons including a thermal printer, cassette deck (for recording/saving/playing programs) amongst others. Check out a fully loaded TI-99/4A below:
I won't be detailing the specific hardware information in this article - Wikipedia and dedicated fan sites can provide that much better than I. I will say that Texas Instruments introduced many innovations with this model, some which are common to this very day and will be summarized in the conclusion of this writing. My intent in this writing is to share the gaming experience, so let's get to it!
When firing up this hardware, you are presented with a Texas Instruments home screen. After pressing any key, a text driven menu is displayed to allow your choice of entering into BASIC mode (yes, this baby was programmable) or starting the inserted game cartridge. Let the games begin....
This was the first game that accompanied our TI-99/4 back in the day. It is rough by all standards to be honest. You had a selection of 4 plays for offense/defense and you had to be sneaky quick to rifle through them quickly and set your formation so your opponent wouldn't catch you locking 'in'. After your virtual gridirons (football helmets) are aligned, there is nothing really else to do but to click a button and watch the play unfold - you had no control of your warriors. This was still a blast with my buddy Drago and we still reminisce at times about him uttering "The Bomb" when I was set in my "Goal Line" defense in a 3rd and 2 situation. You can guess the outcome of that scenario - Drago 7, Marriott_Guy 0.
I hated this game to be honest, but I would be remiss not to include it since everyone that has owned or experienced the TI-99/4A has been subjected to this sick form of torture know as Alpiner. First off, what is even remotely fun about climbing a virtual mountain and dodging a deluge of rockslides that look like ginormous piles of horse dung? Nothing, in my humble opinion. Secondly, my 'hero' flickers so bad that after playing for more than a few minutes I start to feel like some of those afflicted souls in the movie The Happening - I just want to take a running start and take a dive off of a tall building. Thinking about it now, that would be a more pleasant outcome to be honest than playing this pig for any extended period of time.
This was not a bad clone at all of Space Invaders. Game play was flicker free and fast. The sound effects were much better than the Atari 2600 version. This game had to be displayed in this article to give you a comparison for the era.
This is a classic must-have for any TI owner. It is basically a Scrambler clone, but it is well done and features great voice synthesis work during game play. Sound effects in general are excellent, but most importantly this game is a BLAST!
Another classic TI game, this time by a third party developer, TigerVision. I am not a huge fan of this game, but this game does demonstrate the advancement in game technology due to TI's loosening their stance on external software development and embracing willing partners rather than attempting to have a virtual monopoly on all software development for the TI-99/4A.
The two videos above are provided in this article to demonstrate how far the development had gone towards the end of this system's life. Both are excellent translations and truly display the possibilities of the TI-99/4A.
Though initially disappointed with my father's purchase at the time, I quickly grew to really respect and enjoy this system immensely, even to this day. You can now score one of these systems on the cheap - say around $20 or so. I recommend giving one of these a shot - this retro 'hybrid' is a low capital investment with a high rate of 'fun' return.
Firing up a cherished classic or the latest next-gen release is always a pleasure, regardless of when we can set aside free time to indulge in our passion. That is a given. But what are truly are the best conditions that we enjoy for gaming?
The following lists a few of my favorites.
During a Storm
Who doesn't love firing up the console when the heavens open up and Mother Nature unleashes her fury? Whether it be a darkened sky caused by a May rain squall or a complete white-out during a December blizzard, there is just something that screams out "Let the Games Begin!" to even the least passionate of players. Hearing your windows being repeatedly pelted by the outside elements is like a mating call from your favorite system - you just can't deny 'her'.
Adverse weather conditions also offer the perfect gaming environment. The cave-like feeling that is created is optimum for hunkering down in front of the big screen and setting your warrior loose to wreck some havoc. The games, for whatever reason, seem to almost look better during a storm! Granted the darkened exterior has a great deal to do with this, but there is something more to this phenomenon that I can not fully place my finger upon.
The best part of gaming during a storm is the multitude of excuses that are Express Mailed directly to you. During these turbulent times gamers do not have to strictly rely upon their creativity in generating reasons to their loved ones for game time allotment - bad weather gives us the grounds we need and all are defensible. Exterior\yard responsibilities? Covered (for obvious reasons). Interior\house projects? Covered (would you really make me go out in this weather to get paint?). The only catch here is to ensure that you plan ahead and have your gaming food and beverage rations on hand prior to the storm hitting. They will be mad as hell if you are man enough to brave the elements to hunt and gather for some Slim Jims and Power Ade but balk at going shopping with them.
After the Speakeasy
My 'party like a rock star' days are definitely behind me, but that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy a tall cold one every now and again with my buds. Friday night is usually our 'Boys are Back in Town' evening when this occurs since Saturday is designated as 'date night' with our respective honey. After catching up on real life activities (a.k.a. round table venting session), we move on to more interesting subject matter - video games! The usual course of reminiscing, chest-beating and other caveman talk ensues and we are finally ready to blow out of our local watering hole and get to some gaming. They know the routine well and love it - my icebox will be stockpiled with "personality juice", late night munchies aplenty and at least four classic systems hooked up and ready to go.
Once back at my 'crib' (yes - old guy here trying to be 'fly'), we bust out the crowd favorites and begin the controller assault. Previously consumed cocktails are not helping our technical prowess - this is mediocre at best to start with and this statistic decreases by at least 5% per the hour (remember - full ammo in the fridge). To be honest this just adds to the experience when we make some dumb move or have to eat some crow after a misfired bit of trash talk. The laughter just doesn't stop until we all just dead tired and have no other option to crash for the night.
Side Note: Our lady friends are cool with this monthly "Gamers Night" (sleepover) at my house. Heck, we even get breakfast made in the morning for all of us! All of this does come at a price though - primping sessions for all of them at the local salon (we are making out on this deal I think).
Waking Up at 2 AM
Ever try to sneak in a power nap after a long day and end up waking up in the middle of the night? Wide eyed and wired after your 6 hour hibernation, there is always the comfort of your system to work off some energy. You more than likely have the entire gaming room to yourself, no worries about friends calling and pretty much free of all responsibilities (no one can expect you to be truly productive at 2 AM, can they??).
Regardless if I have to work the next day or not, I feel pumped at the fact that I will have approximately 4 hours of uninterrupted gaming before the world begins to awaken. This is a conscious choice. I know at the end of the 'real' day that I will probably be pretty wiped out after having this ultra-early gaming session. Nonetheless, once I hear that whir of my console firing up and after my eyes adjust to the artificial light of my television, I know it will be well worth it.
Side note: Having your favorite gaming 'blankie' during this time is a must. Let's be honest - most of us have retained this dependency from infancy. For those who have not, you don't know what you are missing.
On 'Sick' Days
Isn't odd that when you feel under the weather and are not able to go to school or work, you can somehow muster the inner strength for a good, long gaming session? Nuff said.
These are a few of my favorite gaming times - what are yours?
A special thanks to Dave and his community at the Video Game Critic for the inspiration for this article.
Every video game enthusiast absolutely loves adding a new title or system to their collection. Whether it be a treasure that has been extremely elusive or simply an anticipated release for a current gen system. We love them all and experience a certain rush with any new addition to our respective "Hero's Chest". On the flipside, a boatload of irritants accompany your new conquests of war. Some of these are akin to mosquito bites while others can truly suck the life right out of your soul. The following lists a few of my 'favorites'.
Storing Boxes
I am definitely a CIB fanatic when it comes to video game hardware collecting. That being said, I absolutely hate going through the arduous task of storing system boxes once they are displayed in my collection.
First there is the simple fact that 90% of us do not have unlimited space to devote to our hobby. When I first began collecting, I thought that it would be cool to be able to present every original box with its respective system as a part of my presentation (hence basically relieving myself of this storage issue). This was great in theory but not so much when my collection began to quickly outgrow the physical constraints of my Room of Doom. A secondary space needed to be allocated, but not just any closet to toss the boxes in and forget about them. I need room to maneuver for my biggest annoyance - box rotation.
Even with the Star Trek Deflector Shield activated (aka monster bubble wrap), the pure combined weight of mounded system cartons will eventually crush even the sturdiest of these retail packagings. In lieu of using the 'box-in-a-box' method for preservation (thus requiring even MORE storage space), the only way to protect them is a solid rotational program - a time that I have come to dread every month without exception. What a pain!
Being "Out-Sniped"
You have the sought-after mint Atari Lynx system with 19 games in your crosshairs. The auction ends on a Wednesday evening at 4:00 AM (not exactly the Friday closing bell time of the NYSE - perfect!!). You set your alarm clock for 3:45 AM to ensure that the 'morning' duties (microwave a cup of yesterday's leftover coffee; hit the bathroom while your cup of Joe "brews") do not interfere with your upcoming focused bidding efforts. Now positioned in front of your PC (3:57 AM), you see that the opening 'feeler' bid of $9.99 is still all that has been placed. Yahtzee!! you say to yourself. You increase your maximum bid to $75 (better to be safe than sorry you say to yourself). Time ticks down and you can almost taste victory....
I don't have to finish this personal recollection - obviously I lost this auction to a sniper (which I was coincidentally trying to do) for $75.50. This defeated feeling we all know too well - missing out on a good deal. I also feel this way when I am 'asleep at the wheel' and view "Sold" items that I missed out on that went for a great price.
Cleaning the Wares
I'll keep this section short and sweet since this is pretty obvious - we all hate this. I find this so tedious that I actually farm out this chore (albeit to my lady friend). It costs me a gift certificate to Michael's Salon for her every month, but this is well worth it for me to get out of doing this necessary task (also ensures she looks good and maintains her eye candy appeal).
UPDATE : As with most of my articles, I chose to share this writing with the aforementioned "her" prior to publishing. What a mistake! She took one look at this section and began to blackmail me wanting an additional $20 gift cert to said salon for, of all things, a pedicure!!. I don't know about you, but feet don't do a whole lot for me. Well groomed or not, they should stay stay firmly planted in their 'sock house' and only be allowed out once a day max (for the morning shower). I ended up reluctantly agreeing to her new terms, but only after I had successfully negotiated moving another despised duty off of my list and onto hers - laundry.
Shuffling the Display
I feel safe in saying that most video game collectors have a fierce sense of organization and require their spoils of war to be displayed just so. It is pretty easy to incorporate one game into your presentation - quite another when dealing with bulk software purchases or adding a new system.
Besides the obvious space issues, many times items need to be rearranged to properly incorporate your new acquisition. For hardware, I have everything displayed by the year of its release (yes - I admit to having a bit of an OCD issue). Adding a console released in the 1970s requires me to move the rest of the systems 'up one' in my main shelving unit to accommodate this new hardware. I know I may go a bit overboard in this regard, but I am sure you can relate in your own way based on your own Room of Doom. You develop a style\feel within it and anything new has to be properly 'integrated'.
Selling
Need I say more?
No one likes to sell anything when they have invested substantial time and effort in acquiring. Trading dupes is one thing: the win-win ratio is nearly 100%. Selling a holy grail from one's collection is a completely different animal and many times this truly has nothing to do with price\rarity of the item.
For instance, I have a copy of King's Field for the Sony Playstation CIB in the original 'long box'. Nice - sure it is, but rare or pricey it is not. However, I love this game and it was\is one of my favorite titles to this day. Parting with it would be difficult.
How many posts have you read where people wish they would have kept their original NES system and ended up having to purchase another one many years later? Regret, like the weather, can never be accurately forecasted.
These are a few of my frustrations - What really "chaps your ass" about being a collector?
This past Friday I caught a quick 9 after work and I can only put it one way - I got my money's worth. I really do not consider golf to be a social activity whatsoever, but I have never met so many people during a round in my life. I sprayed shot after shot into everyone's fairway except for my own. It got so bad that yelling 'FORE' and my resulting apology to my new 'friends' became a natural part of my post-shot routine. To add insult to injury, I could not even dull my frustration nor offer my new 'buds' a compensatory beverage - the Beer Girl had the night off! By the end of the round, I was dead tired (I probably hit that ball 8,000 yards on a 3,625 yard back 9 course) and felt humiliated beyond description. This 8 Handicap player had just carded a 63 - with no penalties! This was not the way I wanted to start off my weekend at all. I needed some sort of redemption.
The best way to heighten a sagging spirit like my own - get a video game! Call me a glutton for punishment, but I picked up Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010 for the Xbox 360 on my way home. I fired it up and was once again all was right with the world. Birdies were no longer just a multiplier for my eventual score on basically every hole I had just experienced two hours earlier on the real links. This brought back fond memories of the various video golf games I had experienced in my past. The following is a trip down down memory lane for all of those wishing they could actually perform as well as their virtual golfing counterpart - I give to you my favorite and most memorable video golf games of all time.
Birdie King
Released : 1982 Developer : Taito Platform : Arcade
Golf
Released : 1984 Developer : Nintendo Platform : Nintendo Famicom
Now I do admit that this arcade classic was basically my introduction to the video gaming golf world. A roller-ball type of control was used, which was as responsive to the touch as one of my early dates to the High School Homecoming Dance - then again, maybe the problem was me all along (on both fronts). I do remember absolutely hating that circling buzzard - it would knock my perfect drive into oblivion and then consume more of my hard earned quarters without any remorse as I stupidly chose to 'continue' my round.
This was the first golf video game for a console that I truly enjoyed - I was actually a person (Mario wannabe) rather than just some white block on the screen. For whatever reason, this was important to me. The introduction of the 'swing meter' was also a welcomed addition. I grant you that this is as basic as it gets when it comes to the early golf games - but it was fun! I could change clubs and saw my 'linkster' in action. I still had to figure out and estimate the yardage and the like - a small price to pay for a rewarding experience back then.
Big Event Golf
Released : 1986 Developer : Taito Platform : Arcade
Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf
Released : 1988 Developer : SNK Platform : Nintendo NES
Big Event Golf was truly the pinnacle of arcade golf during its day. The first golf game to really capture the sport IMHO (along with my quarters). Rich colors and a detailed environment truly allowed one to really feel 'on the links'. The best part though was the viewpoint - you watched the flight of the ball from behind the golfer and could see your wayward drive disappearing into the underbrush - or the lake. Wind was either a friend or a foe. I cannot say enough about this game - it is a blast with your buds. I picked one up for $50 from a neighborhood that I would never venture into again (I didn't know this at the time). After a refurbishment, we still play this game religiously to this very day.
The infamous reverse 'TV-style' game view was just among the many things that made this fast paced simulation a hit. This was one of the first home console versions to feature multiple courses (two) and four-way play. The graphics were pretty impressive compared to the competition - golfers were more 'lifelike' rather than the cartoonish and the landscape, though still flat, featured much more detail than any of its predecessors in this genre. Still probably my favorite golf game for the NES system (just beating out Jack Nicklaus' Greatest 18 Holes of Major Championship Golf).
Arnold Palmer Tournament Golf
Released : 1989 Developer : Sega Platform : Sega Genesis
Links 386: The Challenge of Golf
Released : 1990 Developer : Access Software Platform : PC
This game did not introduce a great deal to the genre, with the exception of two vital things we still see in today's games - shopping for gear and the ability to upgrade your skills. Another interesting note is that your golfer (Arnie) is HUGE - almost 1/2 the size of the screen. You have three varied courses to chose from along with multiple play formats. The background tunes are kind of catchy too (or maybe I am just rather bland).
The true advent of the game as we know it today - Links 386 definitely has a place in every virtual golfer's heart. The lush, highly detailed terrain was no longer flat - it now breathed of life right down to the the occasional belch from a nearby frog. Commentary was digitized and spot on ("Jim, I think he hit the tree") and the amount of options were unlimited. Add-on courses were also available, in attractive boxes (5.25 disks). This series set the standard.
PGA Tour Golf III
Released : 1994 Developer : Electronic Arts Platform : Sega Genesis
PGA Tour '96
Released : 1995 Developer : Electronic Arts Platform : Panasonic 3DO
As Links 386 set the standard for the more advanced hardware of a personal computer, the PGA Tour series became the yardstick for the home console. PGA Tour III was the pinnacle of this series in the 16-bit generation. This game had everything - tournament play, a massive eight courses and 54 Pros to compete against. The digitized golfers are well presented and game play is fast. I can remember tournaments being held at the local speakeasy I frequented - yes, I rocked these due to my knowledge of the '50% rule' for those 'tweener' shots.
Thank goodness for 32-bit systems - courses are no longer flat!! Courses took a little longer to load, but the wait was well worth it. The undulating fairways and landscapes really blew you away - hearing the realistic sounding crowd cheer you was also a nice perk. The commentator is kind of funny to be honest - always speaking in a hushed voice and usually adding something that does nothing to help out your psyche ("This... for the bogie... to go 8 over"). Still a classic and ground breaking golf simulation for the home console system.
Now this is the one game I have not personally experienced on this list, but I would be remiss to exclude it. This is probably the most expensive golf video game that is out there for the home console. It reminds me very much of the early Golden Tee arcade games, specifically the camera angle that follows the flight of the golf ball after being struck. From what I have gathered the few people that I do know that have this game, they all say it is a blast and definitely the highlight of arcade-style golf games. I will have to save up for this ($200+).
OK - I admit this up front - this is the weakest entry on this list by far. T&E Software had previously released some real clunkers in this genre (Pebble Beach, Wicked 18, etc.) and I was not eagerly anticipating this game at all. Others had been rele3ased, but for whatever reason I could not (and still don't) embrace the analog stick swing control - I hate it! Swing Away Golf was the only alternative that I had since they still utilized the old-school 3-click swing, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the anime-style cartoon golfers, this game is very deep and a load of fun.
XavixPORT Golf
Released : 2004 Developer : SSD Company LTD. Platform : XaviXPORT
Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2010
Released : 2009 Developer : Electronic Arts Platform : Xbox 360
This is not a well known title at all, nor is this video game console. Graphics are on par somewhere between a Neo Geo and a 3DO - not that great to be honest for a system being released in 2004. However, what merits its inclusion is the controller - an actually golf club! That is right, before the Nintendo Wii, the XaviXPORT was the first game console to entirely embrace motion sensing technology. The game is fair at best in all honesty, but swinging that club makes it a blast! Simple, easy play is its forte - time to get off the couch!
All I have to say is that I am happy to be reacquainted with an old friend - the 3-click meter in a next-gen golf game. Making it's reappearance in Tiger Woods 2008, this release in the most successful golf franchise of all-time is why I keep coming back. Luscious visuals, easy to use controls, this has it all for me. There are some things that still need to be tweaked here and there, but you will not find this old-school gamer complaining at all. This truly displays all of the innovations that have occurred within this genre.
There are many golf games\series that just missed inclusion but all are great games in their own right, most notably Hot Shots Golf and Golden Tee among others. I admit that this gamer is 100% biased to games utilizing the 3-Click swing method - that is why they call me Tripe O-G at work - I am definitely old-school, Let's here your thoughts, experiences and top golf games!
One thing I learned many years ago is to never throw away a necktie, unless I had soiled it beyond repair by dribbling Arby's barbecue sauce all over myself during a rushed luncheon. Neckties are to gentlemen like shoes are to women - they will always come back in style at some point down the road. I almost hate myself for saying this. I know I am just pouring gasoline on an already healthy fire known as my lady friend's 'Shoe Museum' that now occupies the space formerly known as my closet. The most popular medium of today's internet is somewhat similar - the Forum.
While perusing a Sacred 2: Fallen Angels board this morning an odd déjà vus moment hit me. The year was 1991 and my warrior was getting beat on like a rent-a-car in Conan the Cimmerian by Virgin Interactive on my Packard Bell 386 computer. Back then the rage was all about 'Hint Lines' - a telephone number you could call to get assistance and tips on a certain game. But there was another option that was available to frustrated gamers - the Bulletin Board System (BBS). This was basically the precursor to what we now know as Forums.
The BBS was developed in the late 1970's as a means to allow users to share information, data and to communicate with each other on their mutually shared passion. Most of these were purely text generated graphical affairs requiring a modem to dial into the host - for the most part they were not supported in the early days of the internet. A long distance call was often required from your LAN line to connect to these hubs (usually ran off a dedicated server in some guy's house). You had to be quick - get in, post/get your info and log off. Time dawdling would result in your telephone bill skyrocketing beyond your fiscal means (at least for me). The foundation for the Forum as we now know it was laid.
Besides the sharing of information, creating communities has always been a goal of the internet. I did not embrace this aspect of the BBS in its early days - I just wanted the info to defeat Saranj and his entourage of saber wielding bandits in the courtyard of Nanuck. I was frugal with my discretionary financial resources, which were extremely limited at the time, to fully partake in this aspect of the BBS. Thank goodness technology has evolved to allow resources like RF Generation, Digital Press, ASSEMblers and the like to provide this integral goal for free.
Unlike most of my 50+ neckties that sit in storage awaiting their rebirth, the groundwork established by the BBS has reemerged countless times during the development of the internet. From My Space to Twitter to our favorite bookmarked Forums, the legacy of the BBS still lives on and flourishes to this day. Only time will tell what new incarnation of the BBS will surface down the road.
I am the first one to admit that I was wrong about my initial impressions on handheld systems - they are not just jealous little rug rats of their technically superior big brother consoles. They do have their unique appeal and I have found that this attraction was not limited to the specific 'handheld fan-boy' target audience. I have learned that console gamers of all ages typically have a portable system or two in their back pocket and enjoy the gaming experience on the small screen just as much as they do with a title being displayed in Hi-Def on their 56" LCD. The drivers of this cross-over enjoyment tend to focus on three main areas - portability, convenience and unique software releases. I admit that these items were also the primary reasons for me changing my tune regarding these 'mighty-mites' (I finally 'get it'!). But this personal admission/discovery is not the point of this article. Having the best of both worlds is my focus along with my hardware solution.
While hanging out at the Memphis International Airport during a layover, I found myself pondering a very simple question - why had I been so reluctant to test out a handheld system in all my years of gaming? Being a console hardware fanatic, I initially thought the technical limitations of the portable machine would be the primary culprit behind my former 'handheld racism' beliefs. In reality, a much more intimate 'friend' turned out to be the nemesis - my OCD condition, or 'tendencies', as I prefer to phrase it.
I am not the type of player that has 18 games going at one time with a slew of carts/CD cases strewn all over the floor in front of my Toshiba DLP. I am definitely a 'focused' gamer - I like to get very involved with one game and primarily play it in its entirety. This personal fact, coupled with my preference for the superior graphical capabilities that a console system provides, is the crux of my anguish. I spend 95% of my game time with console releases, due to their (usually) heightened content and superior visual/audio output. If I am going to get engaged in a title, I want my time to be invested in the best technology has to offer (for the time/console period). I realize that the fun factor and not the bells and whistles are what make a software title truly successful (no need for that sermon playa's - you would be preaching to the choir). Sure, there are console/TV adaptors that will deliver my handheld output to the big screen, but I want it all - the technologically advanced console experience with the ability to take it on the road (along with my game saves) to continue my adventure. I can't do that with today's Next-Gen systems.
There have been systems that have allowed this in the past, most notably the NEC Turbo Express and the Sega Nomad / MegaJet. These were released after their parents (NEC Turbo Grafx 16 and the Sega Genesis) and were the byproduct of enhanced electronic engineering/development - same software/media format, same system, just squeezed into a smaller box. The problem is that newer technology was arriving on the scene as both of these were released. With all of the strides that the video gaming industry has made in this technical area, why can't they do that today right out of the box when it is released? This is my idea, and the point of this writing. Develop one system that provides the advanced offerings of the console and includes a portable, compatible gaming device to continue your gaming experience on the road or out on your back patio.
Let's take a look at the design/workings of this fictional machine, which I will refer to as the SX2. Now bear with me since I am not a graphic designer at all - the referenced picture I threw together using MS Publisher and is only meant to point out a few features. Also please note that I am not an electrical engineer and do not get into any detail in this arena (though all are plausible). Also, cost is not a factor in this exercise (but will be addressed later). The following picture shows the layout of the front face of the SX2. This would be angled at a slight 10 degree angle to allow gravity to assist with the docking of the Portable Gaming Device (PGD) unit. The face of the PGD would be proudly displayed. The rest of the console in this design is as basic as you can get. The point I want to focus on is the PGD Docking Station.
The Docking Station serves two purposes - to recharge the batteries of the PGD and to interface directly with the main hardware. The PGD would have a pretty big hard drive (say 10 gigs or so) along with built-in Wi-Fi and the standard multimedia capabilities (MP3, etc.). The size would be a little big larger than the Sony PSP. There would be no media input slot for this unit, with the exception of a memory card slot. Everything would be downloaded to the PGD through the Docking Station from the SX2 main system, including software. Here is where it gets tricky.
The standard media format for the SX2 would be the Blu-ray disc (storage capacity of 50 GBs). A software title would in essence have two versions: High-Def (for main system playing) and Low-Res (for use on the PGD). The two systems would have the same core programming architecture/OS so much of the game coding could be utilized in both versions contained on the disc. The big difference in the two editions would obviously be graphical resolution and audio performance. I have a little background in programming as a hobbyist but I am the first to admit almost complete ignorance in this technical area. That being said, some of the following might not be at all possible.
Game development would obviously be focused on the High-Def version for the main system. Once this has been done, the Developer's Conversion Tool (DCT - I made this title up) for the SX2 could then be used to lower the resolution of all, or select, existing graphic files, thus creating them for use in play on the PGD. I guess the best example I can give for this idea is 'crunching' a picture file - it retains the same file association and technical uses but loses some of the originals sharpness, depth, etc. The DCT would be developed and provided by the manufacturer to incent game developers and lower their cost.
Another integral part of the DCT would be the management of disc space allocation - what must be ported to the handheld device to ensure the same gaming experience delivered by its 'big brother'. The file size for downloaded games to the PGD would be a maximum of 2 GBs. This would allow 5 full titles to be stored on its internal hard drive. The DCT would manage this process for the game developers and guide them in making decisions on what might need to be left on the editing room floor for the Low-Res / PGD version (like some FMVs or other non-critical item).
As to the actual gaming experience, saved game data would be consistent and shared between the main system and the handheld via the Docking Station. This would be a two way interface, with a check for which saved game data file is most recent. Since both versions use a compatible data format in this area, your game would pick up at the same point on either platform - you would have all of your warrior's stats, gear, etc. and be placed at the same location in the actual game world.
The controllers would have to be somewhat similar - this programming item is critical and the button mapping requires a great deal of code at times. I do see this as one of the drawbacks and have no answer for this.
I guess we would have to discuss costs for this beast. I have no idea what the R&D would be for a project like this, but I would have to think that for an existing manufacturer that most of it would be invested in my fictional DCT application. Just looking at the hardware and using absolutely no scientific formulas, I would estimate it retailing for $500 or thereabouts. This automatically would put it out of the price range of many consumers.
Yes, there are many flaws to this brainstorm of mine including, but not limited to, technical obstacles, programming nightmares and lest not forget a company's desire to be profitable. I do think this could be successful on many levels though. Handheld and console systems have for all intensive purposes lived in separate realms. Why does it have to be that way? I am sure the think-tanks at Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have considered this in the past and have decided not to 'muck' the waters by developing a product like this. I am the first to admit that this system would dilute their respective target audience for the hardware they currently manufacture.
The same thing occurred in the early 1990s when there was the craze for developing all-in-one multimedia devices. Systems like the Philips CD-i, Panasonic 3DO, Memorex VIS and the Bandai Pippin (amongst others) all met rather tragic deaths due to trying to be 'everything to everyone'. It is interesting that what failed in the 1990s is a basic standard in what we enjoy today in the Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii. Timing is everything which is evident. Perhaps this idea will catch on down the road in some facet and become "The Way of The Future".
I know this writing completely exposes myself to being picked apart and beat on like a farm animal. I don't profess to be an expert in any area that was touched upon - it is only my intent to share an idea and hear your thoughts on this matter, which are always welcomed as you know.
You have stumbled upon my little piece of the RFG universe where you will find my published articles and various other writings / rantings. Having first hand experience through the evolution of the video gaming field (fancy way of me just telling you that I am old), the topics vary greatly.
We have already established that the term Holy Grail is a highly subjective adjective in the first part of this series, along with identifying systems 11-20 of those that 98PaceCar and I deem worthy of this lofty title. We now move on to the Top 10 - those systems that truly are the center pieces in any hardware collection.
Everyone is very familiar with the term Holy Grail - we see it utilized in auctions and being bandied about in user forums like a birdie during a badminton match. At times we may not agree with the assessment as we deem the item 'not worthy' of this high compliment. In all honesty, this is truly a very subjective arena and really comes down to whatever your heart is fixated upon. That being said, this collector posed the very simple question to myself: How does a video game system truly merit the lofty title of being a Holy Grail? 
This past Friday I caught a quick 9 after work and I can only put it one way - I got my money's worth. I really do not consider golf to be a social activity whatsoever, but I have never met so many people during a round in my life. I sprayed shot after shot into everyone's fairway except for my own. It got so bad that yelling 'FORE' and my resulting apology to my new 'friends' became a natural part of my post-shot routine. To add insult to injury, I could not even dull my frustration nor offer my new 'buds' a compensatory beverage - the Beer Girl had the night off! By the end of the round, I was dead tired (I probably hit that ball 8,000 yards on a 3,625 yard back 9 course) and felt humiliated beyond description. This 8 Handicap player had just carded a 63 - with no penalties! This was not the way I wanted to start off my weekend at all. I needed some sort of redemption. 
I am not the type of player that has 18 games going at one time with a slew of carts/CD cases strewn all over the floor in front of my Toshiba DLP. I am definitely a 'focused' gamer - I like to get very involved with one game and primarily play it in its entirety. This personal fact, coupled with my preference for the superior graphical capabilities that a console system provides, is the crux of my anguish. I spend 95% of my game time with console releases, due to their (usually) heightened content and superior visual/audio output. If I am going to get engaged in a title, I want my time to be invested in the best technology has to offer (for the time/console period). I realize that the fun factor and not the bells and whistles are what make a software title truly successful (no need for that sermon playa's - you would be preaching to the choir). Sure, there are console/TV adaptors that will deliver my handheld output to the big screen, but I want it all - the technologically advanced console experience with the ability to take it on the road (along with my game saves) to continue my adventure. I can't do that with today's Next-Gen systems.
Game development would obviously be focused on the High-Def version for the main system. Once this has been done, the Developer's Conversion Tool (DCT - I made this title up) for the SX2 could then be used to lower the resolution of all, or select, existing graphic files, thus creating them for use in play on the PGD. I guess the best example I can give for this idea is 'crunching' a picture file - it retains the same file association and technical uses but loses some of the originals sharpness, depth, etc. The DCT would be developed and provided by the manufacturer to incent game developers and lower their cost. 
Yes, there are many flaws to this brainstorm of mine including, but not limited to, technical obstacles, programming nightmares and lest not forget a company's desire to be profitable. I do think this could be successful on many levels though. Handheld and console systems have for all intensive purposes lived in separate realms. Why does it have to be that way? I am sure the think-tanks at Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have considered this in the past and have decided not to 'muck' the waters by developing a product like this. I am the first to admit that this system would dilute their respective target audience for the hardware they currently manufacture. 
