Simple enough question no? As the hobby, which I believe has already peaked a couple of years ago, begins to shake those along for the short term or changes how others approach their own collecting, collectors find themselves under several different classifications defined mostly by the condition of their games.
Yes you read that right, Twisted Metal 2 for PC! I was surprised when I found out recently that one of my favorite PlayStation franchises made it's way to the Windows platform 11 years ago. As far as PC games go and as far as ports of hugely popular titles, this one is apparently quite uncommon to find these days. According to what I've read, Sony was afraid that their then popular but not dominating PlayStation platform, would potentially lose sales if the game was offered on more than one system. So shortly after release, they yanked the title and ceased printing. Did it work? Well TM2 sold over 2 million copies worldwide on the PS1, who's to say if PC sales would have affected it in the long run?
So to get right down to it, this would be considered an enhanced port. While the gameplay, design, graphics and sound are very similar to the console version, it does have the advantage of, in some cases, improved textures and vastly improved anti-aliasing. The greatly improved smoke and fire effects are the most obvious things that stand out. So much so in fact that they almost look too good as far as matching the rest of the game. Being able to significantly raise the resolution on a PC monitor definitely has it's advantages over the PlayStation, even the PS2's smoothing filter doesn't match what the PC version does standard. Soundwise, the game is virtually identical to it's console counterpart in every way, even right down to the menu effects and music.
Having spent many hours on the PS1 version, I can safely say I'm qualified to compare it's control to the PC version for you enthusiasts out there. The button mapping for the keyboard or a game controller has everything you'd want for a title in it's day but while playing, I find the game feels a bit more floaty controlling the vehicles, even the more nimble ones like Mr. Grimm.
As for gameplay, if you haven't at least played a Twisted Metal game once in the last 13 years, where have you been hiding? Seriously though, it's basically the same as the PlayStation version. Vehicular combat with exotic weapons and unique vehicles set in arenas and vastly different locales around the world. Addictive, colourful and fast!
Now here's where the PS1 and the PC versions part ways: multiplayer. Where the PlayStation had 1 or 2 player gameplay, the PC version has 1-8. Unfortunately, due to the game's age and it's availability, I wasn't able to easily jump into a player match as of the time of this writing. I will say however that there are small groups of hardcore fans out there keeping the game alive, and using the Kaillera client for network play. You can also run it on modern machines without too much hassle. I personally have tested it on Windows XP SP2 using a user-made patch that makes small improvements and changes and also using by using Win95 compatibility mode unpatched (though it was a bit less stable than with the easily downloaded patch).
So there you have it, a popular, memorable game that helped define one of the highest selling game systems of all time, that had a short stint on another non-Sony system. I've giving it an 8.5/10 because it's a fun title even on PC and because as a collector, I find it to be a great conversation piece and treasured item.
Yes that's right, it's time to "gather ye around the fireplace" and swap stories of powerups, gigantic bosses and bonus stages. Or maybe just big rocks you destroyed. You know, asteroids and those types of things.
Shmups, specifically spaceship based ones, have a long and illustrious history. From games like Spacewar! in 1962, to Galaga Legions and Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, we've had the pleasure of playing these games for 46 years. Imagine that, in four years Shmups will be celebrating their Golden Anniversary!
With 2008 being another big year for Shmups with games like 1942: Joint Strike, Aces of the Galaxy, Galaga Legions, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Ikaruga (re-release), Space Invaders Extreme, Thunder Force VI, shumps seem to have started yet another re-birth for new systems. Not to mention the dozens of great indie-made ones and even those that can be found on our very own Arcade here at RF Generation!
So as usual, feel free to share your list of favorite shmups or your criticisms of them for everyone else to read and comment on. This is and has always been, a group feature! Without further ado, here's my top 5 space shmups in no particular order:
For those of you who haven't seen these videos yet, here's a trio of great performances from artist Guillaume Reymond and his GAME OVER Project. These are stop motion videos of popular classic games by using people in an auditorium with colour coded t-shirts. You can find more of these via Youtube, or through the groups official website at: http://www.notsonoisy.com/gameover/
I highly recommend the Space Invaders video as well, excellent choreography and a surprisingly accurate interpretation. Below is the Tetris video, enjoy!
It's kind of ironic that a little over a year since my first blog post here at RF Generation, that I'd be blogging about another Space Invaders game. As you may or may not know, 2008 marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the original Space Invaders in the arcades back in 1978.
To commemorate this milestone, Taito, now owned by Square-Enix, released Space Invaders Extreme for both the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP roughly 3 weeks ago. A re-imagined game in the same sense as Pac-Man CE, that has a mixture of the old gameplay and new modes and elements common by today's standards.
Now et me get the bad stuff out of the way first. There aren't any sound options for turning down the music or sound effects (which are both good mind you). The Ad Hoc multiplayer mode is really simple and not all that feature rich. That's it, that's all the bad I have to say about this game!
The first thing I'll mention I like about this game is it's price. $19.99 is a great value for any game new and this one is no exception. Since the DS has such tiny controls for my hands, I decided to opt for the PSP version instead. It's also my preferred choice because of the bigger screen.
One of the best features of this game are the changes made to the gameplay. Now I like Space Invaders in all it's revisions and spinoffs, but that's not to say that it can't change while maintaining it's identity and heritage. Taito did a great job of keeping the core game intact while adding such things as powerups, boss battles, bonus stages and colour coded enemies and UFOs. In some ways, this game reminds me of a Galaga/Xevious/Space Invaders mashup with all it's parts and pieces of added gameplay elements. The boss battles are cool because they showcase the pixelated form of the aliens on a larger scale as well as adding a bit of strategy as to how each one needs to be beaten.
Control is simple and you won't get cramped thumbs trying to be everywhere at once on the screen. Graphics are crisp and colourful and there is an option to turn the background effects on or off if you find them too distracting. If you do those effects are replaced by a colourful background that doesn't move.
Difficulty is on a more steady curve and those who may not be pros at shooters or twitch/reflex types of games will still be able to enjoy it and survive for 10-15 minutes at a time. In other words it's equally suited both as a short diversion as well as a marathon high score challenge. Also as you play you'll unlock Stages which you can always go back to later on and rack up more high scores.
I think Taito did an amazing job in re-invigorating an old game for it's third decade of play. This has to be among the most addictive, simple and enjoyable games on the PSP system and one of my favorite games of the year so far. As far as this wave of retro remakes is concerned, Space Invaders Extreme sits very high on the quality list and sticks to it's roots while adding something new at the same time. A feat not easy to accomplish when you have 3 generations of gamers to try to appeal to!
You know, 10 years ago a post like this would have been considered ridiculous. But then again 10 years ago no one was aggressive about game collecting. Not just the collectors, nostalgic gamers and bargain hunters, but resellers, pawn shop owners and other people who see game collecting as a business to exploit and abuse.
Everyone has their methods, be it honest or not, of getting games at thrift stores and other places. Some are considerably more successful at it than others. Also new collectors to the scene may find it a bit overwhelming when they read these "find" threads and wonder how the hell they do it. And with it being a highly competitive hobby, let me share with you the 5 best tips for scoring great finds for used games:
Find out the best times of day/week to go hunting. Every store has a routine or schedule as to how they display their items. Chances are your fellow collectors know it as well, so it's always a matter of first come first serve.
Memorize paths and locations. Some people may find this a bit crazy, but knowing the quickest way to the games in each store makes all the difference. That extra 10-15 seconds you save gives you extra time to pick things out. If you have really competitive collectors in your area, they park outside the store 10 minutes before closing, so it's a rush to get in first, especially on weekends.
Grab everything you can whether you want it or not. Don't look at prices, check for manuals or anything, just grab everything you may be interested in and walk away. Chances are someone may follow you in a inconspicuous way to see if you put anything back. The bonus of grabbing everything is that you can examine it as you walk around the store. Better that than picking one off the shelf while someone grabs something else you didn't get to look at yet.
Check other areas of the store. You wouldn't believe the games you can sometimes find in the music CD, VHS or DVD movie section. The same can be said for strategy guides in the magazine/book sections. Not every employee can/will/cares about the difference between "Craft lover" and "Game Informer".
Pretend you know nothing about games. This may be the most important one of all. Unless someone knows for sure your a collector/gamer, you should always hide the fact. Some sellers in flea markets/thrift stores get edgy when you know more than they do and they'll feel threatened. Sometimes they may refuse to sell something to you or budge on the listed price. Pretending to be naive also makes other customers let their guard down, they may put a game back on the shelf while they think about buying it because they don't see you as a threat. You also may find store owners wil knock a bit off the price you may have haggled over just because they think they can sell you on something and take advantage of your lack of expertise. Never underestimate the usefulness of this tactic.
So you may read this and think I skirt the edges of proper decorum and manners, well your absolutely right. Joe Collector who picks up a R8 2600 game from the Salvation Army sure isn't going to feel bad about getting it before you did. With sites like eBay negatively affecting the collecting market, as collectors we need every advantage and dollar saved we can get.
Oh and one more thing, besides your want lists/check lists and wallet, bring a few batteries as well. You might want to check a handheld before you buy it regardless of it's condition. Feel free to add more tips in the comment section, those down on their luck and those new to the "sport" will appreciate it.
Now if your a diehard Nintendo fan or overzealous purist with a Zapper shoved so far up your ass that you view famiclones as unclean, stop reading, nothing for you to see here . If your a gamer, consumer and collector who has a significant investment in Nintendo hardware and wishes to preserve said hardware for years to come while enjoying the games you own, then read on, this may be of interest to you.
Although I usually consider myself an advocate of playing games on original hardware, I realize that the older NES's and SNES's become, the less chance they can be found for reasonable prices and/or in working order. Sure you can find them now, but what about in another 10 years? 20? 30? Hell I'm a young man..... 40 or 50 even!!
I've dabbled in emulation for over 10 years now. More for the curiosity of running a game in an unorthodox environment and experimenting with enhancements than any actual gameplay or as a viable platform for classic gaming. So I was well aware of the drawbacks of these "Nintendo on a chip" alternatives and the sacrifices made when using them. But I've also been aware of the advantages to a gamer and a collector who wishes to continue playing these games for many years to come.
I'm sure many of you have read the reviews, opinions and bashings of gamers and collectors from all over the world who have bought Items such as the Tristar 64, the Super 8, Messiah's Generation NEX, the various Yobo famiclones and various others. Now that the hardware patents have expired for the original hardware the market has dramatically increased over the last few years. All the while so has the quality and performance of these clones.
While I have my share of extra systems sitting in storage, I've long contemplated one of these for my daily gaming needs. Something I can beat around and not worry about maintenance, cleaning etc while I enjoy my games. Years had passed and I still just couldn't bring myself to pick one of these things up and before I knew it, CIB NES's and SNES's began to skyrocket in price. Have you searched eBay lately for a boxed NES or SNES in mint shape? You really should. It's less the market for nostalgic gamers and more for the enterprising seller with inflated prices, shady wording and uncertainty as to a system's true working condition. Or head to a flea market or average game specialty store and prepare to pay through the nose for one that may have a cheap replacement pin connector that will bend if you look at it sideways. Mind you it's not always the case but it is a common occurence.
So when I heard that Yobo released the FC Twin it was like "uh-huh, another famiclone." Then I found out it played both NES and SNES games. That piqued my interest. I waited many months watching the prices fall on these, reading user reviews etc etc. Just when it was beginning to fade from my thoughts I walked into a local game store and saw a brand new one sitting there, mint, cheap and beckoning me. Not usually such an impulsive buyer I found myself heading home with a FC Twin under my arm excited about the prospect of saving space in my shelves with a 2-in-1 and having something that doesn't require swabs and alcohol or Mr. Clean Magic Erasers every time I use it.
So I guess I'll give you a rundown of what I do and don't like about the FC Twin. Maybe it'll help some of you on the fence about buying one, maybe it'll squash rumors or exaggerated accounts of what these are and aren't capable of, in any case here goes:
What I don't like:
Can't use NES controllers or accessories (incompatible ports).
AC adapter has a short cord (at least I think so).
Usual incompatibility problems with a small number of games found with these clones.
No eject button.
What I do like:
Small footprint (size of a SNES 2) and available in different colours.
Plays both NES and SNES games, SNES games are nearly flawless.
Compatible with genuine SNES controllers
Very reasonably priced as an alternative to buying two different systems.
Has composite jacks (Yellow, Red, White) built in.
The two controllers it comes with are surprisingly well made and work well.
Now don't mis-interpret my message here. I'm not saying you shouldn't buy or use genuine hardware. I'm saying if your like me and wish to preserve the Nintendo hardware you own and could use a legal, yes legal space saver, or prefer playing real cartridges as opposed to downloadable games, this can be a great alternative. To be honest I'd prefer a Generation NEX, but until they come out with a SNES clone or a 2-in-1, the FC Twin sits proudly beside my Sega Master System and my Sega Genesis as my Nintendo equivalent 8 and 16 bit gaming platform.
That's right, 30 years since the release of the Atari 2600! Being the classic and modern gaming website we are, let me take a moment and bring some attention to this wonderful system.
Although the 2600 wasn't the first home console, it was the first mainstream one that broke gaming out of the niche market and into living rooms everywhere during Christmas 1977. At the time the main competition was the Fairchild Channel F which was also known as the "Video Entertainment System". At a price of $199 and a launch library of 9 titles, Atari entered the ring to duke it out with their system they called the "Video Computer System" or VCS for short.
Some interesting factoids about the 2600:
The Atari 2600 has the longest lifespan of any console in US history, 14 years and 2 months ending on January 1, 1992.
Sold an estimated 40 million units worldwide.
Licensed games spanning 13 years, (1977-1990).
Has had more cosmetic surgery over the years than Michael Jackson
Those are some truly impressive numbers. All of which adds to the cultural impact and iconic status of the Atari 2600. Whether you love it or hate it you can't deny the impact it has had on gaming or it's importance in gaming history. Even today, there's a large homebrew scene making new 2600 games, plug and play TV devices, T-shirts etc.
Remember this?
Looks surprisingly a lot like the Nintendo Wii commercials doesn't it? In 1977, the Atari 2600 was marketed as family entertainment. Here we are in 2007 with the Wii, Uno and Scene-it, misc systems like the Zapit Gamewave plus other games and systems that are promoting family participation. Parents who played the 2600 in their youth are returning to gaming once again with their children. They are also buying the games and systems of their childhood and sharing their love of the Atari 2600 with their kids.
Do you own an Atari 2600? If you do then I challenge you to dust off that joystick, find yourself a comfy seat that won't make your ass go numb after 16 hours and knock down some high scores or create scores for games not listed yet in our high score forum. If you don't own one then your missing out on one of the most varied, challenging and fun game libraries available. Check out the various threads in the Sales Extravaganza forum here at RFGen if your in the market for Atari 2600 games, systems and accessories. There are great deals for great prices and just in time for you to add to your collection and get involved during the Atari 2600 high score celebration!
Some of these scores are first runs through a game to get the ball rolling so don't feel intimidated if they seem out of reach. Crack your knuckles, meditate, time travel and check out what your currently up against as of today:
While your working on those high scores this month, keep it tuned to RF Generation between pee breaks for more Atari 2600 coverage as we celebrate this huge anniversary. Don't forget to keep an eye on the Atari 2600 high score thread listed here:
Remember nearly three months ago when I said I needed a pole vaulting coach to reach Lori Baker's record of 841 lines in Tetris DX?
Well it seems that I'll need around 5000 Crackdown agility orbs to reach the new record made by Neil Gewirtz. This Tetris freak of nature just set a new world record with 2,349 lines for a total of 2,426,967 points in a span of over 2 hours straight!
Setting aside my admiration for this achievement for the moment, I have to wonder how much practice this guy has had. If I play for over an hour I see Tetronimoes in my sleep or everytime I close my eyes for hours afterwards. Not to mention my thumbs almost fall off. And that's only for a couple of 500+ line games!
Now it seems my place in the line of succession for the Crown of the Kingdom of Blocks is permanently out of reach. Instead of being a potential front runner for the throne, I'm like the cousin to the sister-in-law of the guy who shines the King's shoes.
Just watched Ebert and Roeper for a few minutes. Ebert wasn't there for the "King of Kong" review but Roeper and the substitute both gave it rave reviews.
That doesn't mean a whole lot but interesting nevertheless. Especially with Ebert being all "games aren't art" and all, I'd like to have seen his take on it just out of curiosity.
It was still dripping with "games are geeky fads" stereotypical drivel. You'd think after 30 years and an expanded demographic even so called "experts" wouldn't be so ignorant of gamer culture. Right before that Roeper had mentioned how "in tune" with popular culture is his, obviously it's only by his own estimation.
They did mention how it was a good legit documentary with depth and that it was interesting, even to non-gamers.
But really, we all know the truth behind both Billy Mitchell's famous charisma and his amazing abilities. It's his hair. It somehow enhances his reflexes and concentration by manipulating the space time continuum that causes a time dilation field around him. Still with me? Good. This time dilation field slows down time and bends the laws of physics allowing him to anticipate the game's reactions and plan his next move. The longer his hair gets the more control over space and time he has. That's why as he gets older he gets better, it's because he's letting his hair grow to offset any loss of skill based on his age.
I still haven't come up with a theory that explains what abilities his beard gives him but I'm working on it. Right now I'm doing a comparison study between him and Chuck Norris, there may be some correlating evidence to support a hypothesis, stay tuned for updates on that.
In the meantime, check out this trailer for the movie which is now in theatres:
I just realized that yesterday was the 10th anniversary of the release of Goldeneye for the N64.
Time sure has flown since we were all sitting around with our friends in 1997, duking it out in the temple, or the complex using rocket launchers, Cougar Magnums and PP7's. You can Zelda me this, Mario me that, but where would the N64 have been without Goldeneye? For many people myself included, it represented the sole purpose we kept a Nintendo 64 and 4 controllers hooked up at all times. Big parties with multiple systems, plenty of booze and lots of pizza while playing Goldeneye represent a lot of my 18th and 19th year of existence.
I still pick the game up from time to time. I'm not nearly as proficient as I once was. Being spoiled by dual analog has further alienated the odd N64 controller. After a half hour of messing around I get the "feel" back for the stick and away I go. It's interesting that after so many years I can still remember patterns, objectives etc for the single player game.
"I ain't as good as I once was But I'm as good once as I ever was"
In the circle pf players that I frequently played, it was RC-P90's in the temple, proximity mines in the Complex, or rocket launchers in the caverns. Also enjoyed playing handguns only or remote mines as well. Wielding dual Dostovei's is another huge favorite of mine. And yes like most people, I hate the Klobb, even when you've got 2 of them.
Although I have fond memories of the game, it hasn't aged well at all. Nostalgia carries this game forward more than anything else and I had moved on to other systems before Perfect Dark came out. That being said, I think I'll dust off my N64, and play one of the most influential shooters of all time and reminisce of days before "tea bagging" and "pwning".
Here's a neat little App for all you Atari 2600 fans and classic gamers alike. You can add your own name, picture, text colour, controller etc and make a front and top label that's either 150 or 360 DPI in size.
Also for those of you who haven't seen this before, here's an Xbox 360 Achievement generator:
Here's a blast from the past for your viewing pleasure:
The wizard seems vaguely familiar to me, anyone know who he is? Being a site documenting everything both mainstream and obscure, this game falls into the middle somewhere. The system itself just shy of mainstream acceptance among collectors and the game is among the more notable of the O2 library. A good game and a great example of early RPG's that made full use of the O2's capabilities.
I just finished reading up on Activision's history starting from the Gamasutra article posted today and finishing with their Wikipedia entry and a retrospective look back based on my own experiences with them. Here's an interesting quote from David Crane mentioning one of the biggest reasons he and others left Atari to form Activision in 1979:
Quote
"This memo backfired however, as it demonstrated the value of the game designer individually. Video game design in those days was a one-man process with one person doing the creative design, the storyboards, the graphics, the music, the sound effects, every line of programming, and final play testing. So when I saw a memo that the games for which I was 100 percent responsible had generated over $20 million in revenues, I was one of the people wondering why I was working in complete anonymity for a $20,000 salary,"
Just imagine, in less than two short years a small development team of less than half a dozen programmers working out of David Crane's apartment created Dragster, Fishing Derby, Boxing, Freeway, Kaboom!, Stampede, River Raid, Starmaster, Barnstorming, Chopper Command, Pitfall and Spider Fighter and many others!
It's a testament to their established name that they managed to survive so long where others have failed. Even during their lean years in the late 80's/early 90's when they were bankrupt, sold, then re-organized they managed to crawl back to the forefront once again.
I do wonder though, can they can re-connect with that side of their history that made them who they are today? Can a company whose last majorin-house developed game came out almost 10 years ago, earn back the respect of the industry for their creativity? Or are they doomed to be the sequel churning corporate machine like EA? Solely a publisher and not a developer, buying franchises instead of making them? You could talk about Insert Company Name Here and say the same thing, there are plenty of examples. But Activision was the first, and at the moment they are the biggest.
My question to you: Is Activision a better company now? Or were they a better company nearly 30 years ago?
Yes you read that right, Twisted Metal 2 for PC! I was surprised when I found out recently that one of my favorite PlayStation franchises made it's way to the Windows platform 11 years ago. As far as PC games go and as far as ports of hugely popular titles, this one is apparently quite uncommon to find these days. According to what I've read, Sony was afraid that their then popular but not dominating PlayStation platform, would potentially lose sales if the game was offered on more than one system. So shortly after release, they yanked the title and ceased printing. Did it work? Well TM2 sold over 2 million copies worldwide on the PS1, who's to say if PC sales would have affected it in the long run?
Yes that's right, it's time to "gather ye around the fireplace" and swap stories of powerups, gigantic bosses and bonus stages. Or maybe just big rocks you destroyed. You know, asteroids and those types of things.
You know, 10 years ago a post like this would have been considered ridiculous. But then again 10 years ago no one was aggressive about game collecting. Not just the collectors, nostalgic gamers and bargain hunters, but resellers, pawn shop owners and other people who see game collecting as a business to exploit and abuse.
Now if your a diehard Nintendo fan or overzealous purist with a Zapper shoved so far up your ass that you view famiclones as unclean, stop reading, nothing for you to see here 
. If your a gamer, consumer and collector who has a significant investment in Nintendo hardware and wishes to preserve said hardware for years to come while enjoying the games you own, then read on, this may be of interest to you.
So I guess I'll give you a rundown of what I do and don't like about the FC Twin. Maybe it'll help some of you on the fence about buying one, maybe it'll squash rumors or exaggerated accounts of what these are and aren't capable of, in any case here goes:
That's right, 
Do you own an Atari 2600? If you do then I challenge you to dust off that joystick, find yourself a comfy seat that won't make your ass go numb after 16 hours and knock down some high scores or create scores for games not listed yet in our high score forum. If you don't own one then your missing out on one of the most varied, challenging and fun game libraries available. Check out the various threads in the Sales Extravaganza forum here at RFGen if your in the market for Atari 2600 games, systems and accessories. There are great deals for great prices and just in time for you to add to your collection and get involved during the Atari 2600 high score celebration!
Remember nearly three months ago when I said I needed a 
Here's a neat little App for all you Atari 2600 fans and classic gamers alike. You can add your own name, picture, text colour, controller etc and make a front and top label that's either 150 or 360 DPI in size. 
I just finished reading up on Activision's history starting from the Gamasutra article posted today and finishing with their Wikipedia entry and a retrospective look back based on my own experiences with them. Here's an interesting quote from David Crane mentioning one of the biggest reasons he and others left Atari to form Activision in 1979:
