People pay my wife good money to write, edit, format and post blogs on professional web sites, she tells me tricks to increasing readership and exuding quality include: posting regularly, using pictures conservatively and keeping each blog post to a few paragraphs or less.

I don't want more readers, so I make blogs super long, post very randomly and, like in this case, use so many pictures as to be annoying.

Welcome to my blog on the Portland Retro Gaming Expo 2013.



[img width=700 height=525]http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3669/10180032274_a8d0904abe_b.jpg[/img]
^{I remember seeing Tron in Halo 1,2 and 4, don't you?}


The show took place Saturday and Sunday October 5-6 at the Portland Oregon Convention Center. Because I put off doing everything except procrastination, this is being written a month and a half later.


Continue reading Portland Expo 2013

Sneaking up on the complete N64 NTSC collection Boxed Posted on Nov 17th 2013 at 05:52:19 PM by (Tadpole13) Posted under N64, Box Manual

Update to my N64 collection

So it has been 5 months since my last update on my N64 collection.  I have been hard at work and my collection has actually made another big jump since my last post.  I think i may be coming to a huge stoppage in games however due to me being on the final stretch.  So lets start.


So I think it was around March or so when I made my first post of this journey.  This is what I currently had on hand as of that time.



It seems like it was only yesterday I made that original post and I think if I knew what I know now about the value and the time it takes to look into these games I might of been scared off before I started.  However I am happy that is not the case and I now proudly own ruffly 240 different N64 titles boxed and I also have 10 more games on order.   It would seem as if I would be nearing the end very shortly, but as any of the fellow CIB collectors in here knows, things slow down alot.  Some of these titles rarely show up on ebay and when they do I try to only purchase the best of the best.  So lets hope for a complete collection sooner then later as this might be my last post about the collection til then



I went ahead and grabbed a few titles that I think stand out value wise and you should defiantly keep a eye out for to avoid paying a arm and a leg.  The Blitz Special Edition and Mega man 64 are both sealed.    There are a handful of other games I do not own that you might want to keep a eye out for as well and that is.  Stunt Racer, Indiana Jones, Worms Armageddon, Bomber Man 2nd Attack,  Battle Zone: Rise of the Black Dogs, Daikatana and now as of recent Tom and Jerry: Fists of Furry.



Thanks for checking out my post and If any of the members here have any of the titles below in decent shape and want to sell or trade them please let me know. 

    Aerogauge
    All-Star Baseball 2001
    All-Star Tennis 99
    Battle Zone: Rise of the Black Dogs
    Bomberman 64: Second Attack
    Brunswick Circuit Pro Bowling
    Bust A Move 99  Manual/Game
    Bust A Move 2
    Castlevania Legacy of Darkness
    Chameleon Twist 2
    Daikatana
    Destruction Derby
    Donald Duck's Going Quakers
    Dual Heroes
    Elmo's Number Journey
    FIFA 99  Manual/Game
    Fighter's Destiny 2
    Geomon's Great Adventure
    Harvest Moon
    Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
    Iggy's Recking Balls
    In Fisherman Bass Hunter 64
    Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
    International Superstar Soccer 2000
    International Track and Field 2000
    Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask  Non Collectors Edition
    Looney Tunes: Duck Dodgers   Manual/Game
    Mia Hamm Soccer 64
    MLBPA Bottom of the 9th
    NBA In The Zone 2000
    NBA Jam 2000
    NFL Blitz 2001
    HNL Blades of Steel 98
    PGA European Tour
    Razor Freestyle Scooter
    Road Rash  Manual/Game
    Rocket Robot on Wheels
    Space Invaders
    Starshot Space Circus Fever
    Stunt Racer 64
    Tom and Jerry: Fists of Furry   Manual/Game
    Top Gear Hyper-Bike
    Turok 3 Shadow of Oblivion
    V-Rally 99
    WCW Backstage Assault
    Wetrix
    Worms Armageddon

Episode # 48 - Gamer Day Pick Ups Video Posted on Nov 17th 2013 at 01:20:45 AM by (A8scooter) Posted under Atari, Nintendo, Sega

State of Play 11-8-13: Ready to Launch Posted on Nov 11th 2013 at 10:52:20 PM by (slackur) Posted under New System Launches, PS4, XBox One, why yes I also enjoy black friday shopping.

Next week, I'll be helping our store launch the PS4.  It will be a long, long night.  I'm looking forward to it!  I enjoy midnight launches.  Especially in reflection of all the negativity mentioned last week.

Dozens, often hundreds of people, all gathered around and excited for the same thing.  I enjoy it for the same reason people like Comic-Cons or PAX: pretty much everyone is there because of a shared interest.  (As well as the relatives/significant others easily spotted by their deer-in-headlights expression or apathetic gaze.)  Sure, there are a few obnoxious jerks, same as any group of people, but for the most part folks at these events are fun to chat with and hang around.  I've even met a few individuals that became lifelong friends at such events.

Even if I didn't work in the business (and by business, I mean, of course, the industry) I'd still go to midnight releases.  In fact, I've been to many for personal pickups, and even my Beloved tags along when she can.  We've braved everything from freezing rain to Wal-Mart line savagery in order to meet and hang out with other like-minded gamers.  We've set up impromptu GBA Mario Kart LANs, Wireless Bomberman DS matches, and during the Halo 3 launch some dude in a huge pickup opened the tail-gate to two screens and a Halo 2 MP setup that kept the crowd entertained for hours.  And you'd be surprised how even the stand-offish turn nice when we pick up a few cheap pizzas and share the love.

In the modern era of our industry (and by industry, of course, I mean the business) there's an added bonus to attending launch parties for those who play online.  Often the circle of trusted friends to play with can be tough to expand.  We sometimes get random friend invites from a really good game, but without any connection to said individual, real ties rarely form.  By chatting with other gamers while waiting in line for a product launch, it's easy to get to know someone well enough to make an educated guess if this person would be fun to play games with online.  And having an actual face attached to xXDeAthScReAmCuTiEXx and 7JakeLovesREM gives every sniper-shot and puzzle match a deeper relevance. 

There is also a bit of history to be appreciated.  Saying that I bought my first Playstation on a random Wednesday, two years after the systems came out, doesn't really stay in memory or have any significance.  My Beloved and I waiting for several hours in line to get a launch Gamecube, while playing Super Mario Advance multiplayer with strangers (one of which still comes over to game) is a memory I'll forever cherish.  Interestingly, it's one of my favorite Gamecube memories, and it happened before I opened the box!

Oh, and sometimes I actually stay awake after getting home from the launch so I can actually play whatever goofy thing we just bought. 

Angry Gamer Kid! Posted on Nov 11th 2013 at 04:25:53 PM by (GameDave) Posted under angry gamer, video games, castlevania, broken gameboy, final fantasy vii, weapons, game dave

Bottling up gamer rage is never a good idea...



Have you ever gone overboard with video game anger and done something regrettable?

Episode # 45 - Gamer Day Pick Ups Video - Flea Market Edition Posted on Nov 10th 2013 at 11:23:07 PM by (A8scooter) Posted under Atari, Standalones Pong Atari

Halloween Hangover: Beyond a Shadow of Sobriety BELATED Posted on Nov 10th 2013 at 02:56:23 AM by (Zagnorch P. Welinskivich II, Esq.) Posted under Shadow the Hedgehog, Sonic, Sega, Halloween, Drunk, Emo, PS2

DISCLAIMER: The following presentation has content that may be offensive to some... and a turn-on to others.




PREFACE: hey now, fellow RF Gentlemen. The following presentation is the second of what I plan to be an annual Halloween series (view the first one at http://www.rfgeneration.c...Giants-and-Booze-2318.php ). Before you dive in, however, I would like to apologize for posting it so late. Between work, editing my drunken ramblings into something remotely coherent, thrift runs, and-- well, you'll find out in the postscript-- I wasn't able to put this out in as timely a fashion as I'd have liked. I only ask that you forgive my blatant tardiness as


Hey now...

Well, it's that time of year again. Just me in my humble domicile, all by my lonesome, with a big bag of Skittles and Starburst that'll never see the inside of a trick-or-treater's goody bag, a few choice libations, some Detroit-based snacks, and a certain game to (hopefully) enjoy as my BAC increases throughout the night. This time 'round, I've decided to go with a fellow who'd fit right in with the whole Halloween scene. He's got the whole goth/emo thing down pat, from the black color scheme (with red trim), to his bleak and tragic half-remembered past. The furry fanboys adore him for his stoic, grim-and-gritty demeanor. The fangirls just can't stop writing really creepy ship-fics about him. And, after seeing him in action in this game, the NRA is still trying to get him to be their next chairman.

Of course, I'm referring to...




Oh, for--NOT THAT SHADOW THE HEDGEHOG! Dammit, I thought I burned every last copy of that picture! CURSE YOU, INTERNET!



Nope, I'm talking about THIS Shadow the Hedgehog:



I could go into exhaustive detail about how the opening teaser alone represents all that is wrong and just plain absurd about this game, but that territory has been trod upon so much over the last eight years that it's rather hackish to discuss it any further. Besides, my nerdball musings on the matter will cut into my fitshaced playing time. Which reminds me: for this foray into one amnesiac, emotionally unstable hedgehog's fight for his Second Amendment rights...



...I've decided to go with absinthe, which is the preferred drink of the goth/emo crowd, according to the internet. And if nothing else, the internet is the ultimate bastion of truth and accuracy.



Ummm... I also grabbed a six-pack of Redd's Apple Ale. Why this particular pick-up, you ask?



Oh... no particular reason at all, nopey nope nope.

Also on hand, courtesy of my main man Razor Knuckles: Reese's Pieces and Better Made BBQ flavor potato chips. Oh, and Faygo cream cola and strawberry soda, which has inspired me to take a listen to my fave ICP album while playing this bad boy.



And, bless his little heart, Raze also provided the game. Which means I have the perfect scapegoat to place the blame on should this not go well. If that isn't the mark of a true friend, then I don't know what is.



Oh, and I decided to get in costume for this little electronic excursion:



All right, let's get this show on the road.


STAGE 1: Westopolis

I started by taking out just about anything that shot at me, and then decided to limit my kills to the alien freakos, and the GUN robots. The aliens have the cooler weaponry, anyway, with zap-zap-shooty-lazor-beams. Not as cool as, say, a nice chaos-spear energy blast from my hands, but hey, you gotta make do. And why is Sonic "helping" me out? Who does he think he is, Tails from Sonic 2?



Stage 2: Glyphic Canyon

Oh great, now I got Knuckles helping out now. So much for that rugged loner rep. And he's a bit toofriendly here, too . and even dopier than usual.man, I miss the days when he was trolling Sonic and Tails something fierce. Now hes just a comic-relief punching bag in the cutscene backgrounds. Well at least his voice is more pleassnt than that Dr. Claw-sounding dude.

Geezus, the controls are like, Im trying to get Shadow to move and aim at the right taraget, but its like the surface of every level is greased with Crisco... and Shadows coping with a brain injury. Hell, I must be coping with a brain injury to be playing this. Maybe you should dump the jet skate things and just run like that faker. With any luck I'll get hosed to the point of blacking out and not remembering any of this.


Stage 3: Prison Island

Charmy, just goway . Your anything but charming to... well to anyone really. nobody likes you.. Go have a duel to the death with omochao or something. Hopefully youll kill each other and Big the Cat gets offed in the crossfire. I know the Chaotix had to make some budget cuts, but why did Mighty have to be one of them?

Ooh here comes my fave ICP track gotta turn it UP



Stage 4: Sky Troops

Okay, now I got eggbotnik helping out. Well at least it gives me his robots and ships to shoot at. And I gt to use a canon to shoot at the eggships. Just like skylanders niiiiice. BTW I found a way to make this game a lil more enoyble: imagine the guys im shootin at wrote some really pervy Shadow fanfics, or poretend theyre Rule 34 artists, and Im getting revenge on em by KILLIN THEM DEDD.



STAGE 5: Don't know dont care

Wow this games growin onme for some reason. Im achuallygettin into it. Hold on, Gonna pause th game for a mome an give our hero a lil talkin to. Um, Hey... hey shadow? I knw youre fictional an stuff, but Im surprised you haven't put th moves on Rouge yet. I mean come on it'sno secret you really dig her.


Seriusly ou really goota let maria go man. Your relationship comes off less like a close friendship, and more like some creepy furry-pedo-necrophilia thning.



It really gives me the dooch chils. I mean You don't see Sonic-- er I mean that faker caught up in such shenangians--



Oh. Riht never mind.

Look, all Im tryin to say is... HEY F*CK THE STUPID GAME! IM TRYIN TO HELPS OU HERE, @$$HOLE!

...

Lokk im sorry man, I didn mean to yll atcha. You... you know... you know is till love you right? Right? Yeah yeah, no homo, hee heeee... hey wait a minute



Um, why are you staring... there? An grining?




Holy crap youre not gonna do what I think you're




OH MY FREAING GOD IM GONNA SPEW FFWOIDHWERFOERDPWEBDEHGBIPEHOPFREOIHDIFIEU[9AWE

*GASP* Oh god the taste and smell of half-digested reeses pieces mixed wih absinthe is so disgusting here comes a second wave fjrefroiffoitgbhrog;flhlfofohhf[ioja[sehgde

*GUUUUHH* sweet haysoose h. some of that last heave went out through my nose that's just gross oh no not agai--  fmfrfmlrefmerlfmre-wq329r43jroinefrefmrlfrlf

*UUUURGH*GASP* okay im good now... all emptied out. Gonna need some gatorade though, and

Wait whats this




OH JESUS FU-- MDTMNFWKJLEVNBFLDHN NHXICU HTDFOIDFCJ GIG LNFAHD VIUF HFO SIFGHRIS;O FHD FOUGOUSCHFCMKLVDHGMSCOFHVDMFCDJACNIVOGHROIOCFSHDVG OR HCFSVGHRSEOICFHGCSECFRVDFHCEAOFG RHVOCFE NSAMOIVGRI

*THUD*


POSTSCRIPT:  In case you're wondering: no, I did not regain consciousness in a puddle of my own sick the next morning. I took the precaution of keeping a high-capacity wastebasket within reach. It's a lesson I learned the hard way. Speaking of learning the hard way:




ANYway, a few days after playing Shadow the Hedgehog on an Allhallow's Eve bender, I decided to go at it sober. And I don't know what it was, but... I actually kinda liked playing this nonsensical game with the absurd missions, slippery controls, and annoying interchanging "sidekicks." Hell, I'm STILL playing it as of this writing, trying to unlock and complete every mission, beat every boss, and access every single good stage, evil stage, ring, key, damned fourth chaos emerald, computer room, and weapon! I even ordered the Prima strategy guide for goodness sakes! Meanwhile, I've hardly touched my new copy of Sonic Lost World. Good lord, what the hell is wrong with me?!



All right, time to wind this up. Yes, Shadow the Hedgehog is dumb... but it's dumb in a way I find oddly entertaining and compelling. If I were to give it a cinematic parallel, it would be Dude, Where's My Car? which, despite being downright idiotic, I couldn't stop watching from start to finish. Sure it insulted my intelligence, but, dammit, it was fun to watch.  And when you get down to it, the most important thing about gaming, or watching movies, or any other hobby or pursuit, is to have fun while doing it. Shockingly and improbably, Shadow the Hedgehog delivered for me...

...and it's all Razor Knuckles' fault.

I hope you're proud of yourself, "friend."



'Late

RF Generation Collectorcast Episode 18: 96 Holes on SEGA Mars Posted on Nov 9th 2013 at 06:02:22 AM by (Duke.Togo) Posted under Collectorcast, Podcast, Duke.Togo, Crabmaster2000, wildbil52, episode 18

Episode 18 discussion thread: http://www.rfgeneration.c...rum/index.php?topic=13298

Get the show at http://www.collectorcast.com
Follow the Collectorcast on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Collectorcast
Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Collectorcast
On Stitcher (enter Promo Code RFGeneration): http://www.stitcher.com/RFGeneration
On iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/u...collectorcast/id524246060
On YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DukeTogo74

While the cat's away, the mice will play. Crabby has been very busy recently in getting his store, Game Quest, up and running. That has left Duke and Bil all alone to run wild and discuss a topic that would never make it past the Crabmaster, the amazing SEGA 32x. Join us as we delve deep into the market that created the first 32-bit SEGA console, its release, games, and our personal stories. Surely Crabby will be back soon to put a stop to the shenanigans, so enjoy the guilty pleasure while it lasts!

As usual, we also catch up on some fantastic grabs from the RF Generation forums. Make sure to stay tuned to the end of the show for an interview that the Crabmaster made for his local radio station all about his venture. It will have to provide your Canadian fix for this episode.

Show Notes
Retro Game Cave: http://www.retrogamecave.com/

Music: Knuckles Chaotix (32x)
7:15 Small Scores
2:24:29 32x Discussion
4:50:50 Game Quest Radio Feature
4:55:41 Outro

Episode # 44 - Gamer Day Pick Ups Video Posted on Nov 8th 2013 at 03:51:22 AM by (A8scooter) Posted under Atari 8 bit

RF Generation Secret Santa 2013!!! Posted on Nov 4th 2013 at 03:22:47 PM by (wildbil52) Posted under Secret Santa, Christmas

[img width=425 height=282]http://www.boysstuff.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/video-game-santa.png[/img]

The time has come, once again, to be the Secret Santa for a randomly selected RFGen member.

Head on over to the Secret Santa thread for details and to sign up http://www.rfgeneration.c...m/index.php?topic=13257.0

Next Gen mulitplayer Posted on Nov 4th 2013 at 12:40:54 AM by (Boshamp) Posted under Next Gen, Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, PS4, XB1, Wii U

I have almost given up on blogging or even commenting on here because I feel my words come out sounding like something my 12 year old brother would type. That being said, sometimes I read something on here and wonder how it is possible that my thoughts are typed in a way that sounds so much better than what I would type. A blog I saw today is one of those times.

My point of view on the next generation has come down to my past, The Wii U will be my next console for the exclusives as I am tired not only of the nitpicking and mud-slinging, but of one of the corporations as well. Microsoft as well as "Cliffy B" (Cliff Blezinski of Gears of War fame) are taking this "Piracy" of console gaming too far. When Microsoft announced they would require online only gaming and prevent my from sharing games with my friends and family, (as well as other reasons), I decided to go elsewhere for my future. Even though they changed their stance, I chose to return to my roots, Nintendo.

I miss the Mario and Zelda franchises, and gaming in groups in one building instead of online. This brings me to my next topic, multiplayer next-gen gaming.

I have played many multi-player games with my brother and our friends over the years. In middle school, it was mostly Super Smash Bros., Mario Party, and Goldeneye 007; in high school, it was Timesplitters 2, Soul Caliber 2, Halo (first and only time I system linked, and it was with four consoles for 16 players), and Super Smash Bros. Melee; in college, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Halo 3 split-screen, and Mario Kart (multiple systems).

With that said, I also spent a great deal of time on two player experiences with my bro, namely Kirby Super Star, TMNT 2, 3, and 4, (Beat 3 with 1 pellet of life left between us and no continues remaining), and the Donkey Kong Country series; as well as some current gen multiplayer as we are living in different states. Dead Rising 2, Army of Two, and Resident Evil 5.

So where does that take us? To the Wii U. I have been missing the old days of single console play and nintendo's first party releases so far are more than enough to satisfy that...with my younger brothers in their teens and my son getting older, it is time to really get back into one room.

What multiplayer experiences defined your childhood? Do you prefer the Call of duty-like multiplayer of today over the old school? What would you like to see from the future in regards to multiplayer?

State of Play 11-2-13: Which Number Tells Me How Much Fun I'm Having Again? Posted on Nov 3rd 2013 at 02:49:18 PM by (slackur) Posted under when number tracking is bad for you, PS4, XBox One, Battlefield 4, OK I dont game on PC much because I wont use the computer for work anymore once I see it a

Like everyone else picking up a new system on launch day this month, I've been keeping up on the news feeds for the new gaming/media/adware consoles.  And since Battlefield 4 is a day-one pickup for my shiny new toy, naturally I've followed up on stories concerning it.  Which has lead to reading about the minor blowup between blogs and threads concerning how, for both Call of Duty: Sequel (er, Ghosts) and Battlefield Again (um, 4) the XB1 natively outputs at 720p (upscaled to 1080p) whereas the PS4 natively outputs to 1080p for .  Both target to run at 60 FPS.  Also, according to the PC Master Race, with the right graphics card you can run them both at the same time at 8K with light beamed directly into your optic nerves so its cute that console players think anything without a mouse and keyboard is worth playing because Steam.

Sorry.  A bit of vitriol must have spilled over from the forums I was reading and spilled onto my keyboard like the slime from Ghostbusters 2.  No offense to PC gamers.  It's not as if some console gamers say less goofy things.  And the XB1/PS4 number game is a perfect example; it's no exaggeration to say that folks have changed (or confirmed) their next generation console purchase decision based off this technical data about COD/BF4. 

I suppose on the surface it can make sense.  The XB1 is at a $100 premium over the PS4. To read that it appears to run two of the premier, AAA production games less impressively than the cheaper competition is understandably frown-worthy.  Especially if you're picking up Microsoft's Halo DVR instead of the Play-It-Safe 4.  (Settle down, kids, I love you both. )

However, the internet gives an unfortunate advantage most of us would never have otherwise; the ability to see both console versions, running side by side.  In the real world, unless at a convention or PR event, we're not going to stare at each one and pick out how may grains of sand are on each picture, or if that power line appears a little more jagged on the left versus the right.  Screen shots from our gaming magazines begat these comparisons decades ago, but we've moved from showing the technical prowess of an Intellivision vs. Atari 2600 to the point that we now read about counted pixels and imperceptible 2-3 frames per second.

While there can be a noticeable difference between upscaled 720p and native 1080p, in reality if we were to see one and then later the other, many people would not be able to distinguish much difference.  (Well, since RFGeneration tends to cater to the OCD gamers, probably more of us here would notice than the average gamer.)  Sure, there are differences.  Would it truly keep us from enjoying the game on an 'inferior' version?  Phrased another way, if an XBox One Battlefield 4 gamer never heard/read about these numbers, they probably wouldn't care and it certainly wouldn't keep them from enjoying the game on their system.

The relative power of both new consoles are close enough that we are not in a Atari versus Intellivision type of disparity.  I think Nintendo was brilliant to stay out of this horsepower horserace; games on the Wii U are their own thing (many of which are great, IMHO) and the weakest games on it tend to be ports from other consoles. 

It's a strange trait for most of us, that ignorance really can be bliss.  When I first got Cruisin' USA for the N64, I enjoyed it for weeks.  Then one day I off-handedly read a critical review of it in a magazine.  It was thoroughly trounced as the reviewer nit-picked and complained about a dozen issues, none of which I had even noticed while playing.  As I went back to the game, I couldn't 'unsee' what I now saw.  Every criticism I read pointed itself out to me, and I just didn't have fun with it anymore.  Where before I just took the game at face value and enjoyed it, now my eyes were searching for flaws both real and imagined.

For this reason I've become enormously careful about video game reviews.  I certainly have no problem with a critic giving opinions and it is valuable for the technical merits or flaws to be discussed and pointed out.  But assigning an 'entertainment value' in the form of a number or grade strikes me as strangely foreign to a new media many consider a form of artistic impression.  It's not that I don't want to know things a critic finds 'wrong' with a game, especially if it is technical; it's that more and more I see an emphasis on obtuse nitpicking and general negativity instead of a passionate enjoyment of the hobby. 

I want to know if a game is buggy or has a flawed save system, sure.  And for those who own more than one system it's nice to know if there is a performance disparity for multiplatform releases.  I have no issue with sites like Digital Foundry discussing the numbers and breakdowns of a game's performance or comparisons between systems.  My issue comes from what is normally done with this data: the increasingly aggressive flame war that prevents people from the whole point.  Most people play games to have fun.  Yet to hear it from forums, and indeed overheard in game stores, apparently we are having the wrong kind of fun.  Folks are belittled for enjoying or desiring to enjoy a game with some lesser numbers attached.  It is as if we must have a certain kind of fun on a certain optimum setting, or we are messing up some arbitrary thing or we are judged as ignorant for liking some subpar experience.

However, after great (and continuing) mental effort, I have found that detaching these data points from my attention makes for a far more entertaining experience in gaming.  I still go back and enjoy Starfox on SNES.  That game's frame-rate runs like a ViewMaster with a lethargic child on the lever, but I can still see it with the mind's eye of my 15 year-old self and have lots of fun.  The Dreamcast version of Unreal Tournament runs laughably bad compared to the PC version and is very trimmed down content-wise, yet the summer vacations my friends and I spent on it come rolling back every time I load it up.

The ability to overlook flaws works differently for each gamer, of course.  Going back to Goldeneye for me is an exercise frustration, and it is largely due to the technical issues.  (How on earth did I ever find my way around when the cavern wall is a single color with no definition!?)  I never liked Resident Evil's original 'tank' controls, and after the last few games in the series, going back to the older games wasn't as fun as I had hoped.

And back in the now, no one wants to spend more on an XBox One for 'second best.'

(-PC gamers: "Third best!")
(-XB1/PS4 gamers: "Shut up!  Nobody asked you!") 

However, to rile antagonism over launch era multiplatform games comes across as being needlessly negative, especially when the parity requires side-by-side comparisons to tease out differences.  Over the last generation I preferred the XBox 360, not for any 'superior' multiplatform games, but because of the franchises exclusive to that system.  Ditto for every Nintendo platform released.  The beginning of this console generation has me excited for several Wii U games.  And because more of my online friends will have one, a PS4 is our next system.

One day I have no doubt XBox One will be in the queue because of some franchise exclusives that interest me.  Our family picks up what we'd like to play for fun as opposed to an arbitrary corporate allegiance.  I recommend the same thing at the gaming store I work at, yet I'm always overhearing about how someone is making some kind of wrong entertainment choice.  And all across the web, gamers are actively making fun of and trashing other people's opinions.

Most of us are taught at a young age that entertainment at the expense of others is a form of bullying and should be avoided.  No one realistically expects internet forums to 'behave,' but it would be preferable if gamers focused more on the positive elements of our industry instead of generating and perpetuating pointless negativity.  Let's always keep in mind, these electronic doodads are here to entertain us and make life a little nicer; if we let them generate more negativity, I think we're missing the point.

Episode # 43 - Gamer Day Pick Ups Video Posted on Nov 3rd 2013 at 02:15:47 AM by (A8scooter) Posted under Atari Pong NES Nintendo

Redd's Gaming Adventures: Halloween'd Posted on Oct 31st 2013 at 11:47:32 AM by (ReddMcKnight) Posted under Halloween, Games, Scary

Ah, Halloween. That time of year that revolves around tricks and treats. I like this holiday. Who doesn't enjoy messing with people and fleeing from the boys in blue? But enough on that. There are plenty of great games that are practically meant to be played on Halloween. Here are some of my favorites:

[img width=640 height=640]http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/box/4/5/6/589456_51662_front.jpg[/img]

Okay, so it's not really that scary, but Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, is full of all kinds of monsters to kill. This is my favorite GBA Game ever, tied directly with Metroid Fusion. And before you ask, yes, I do enjoy it more than Symphony of the Night. It's also set in the FUTURE! What more could you ask for?!

[img width=640 height=572]http://image.gamespotcdn.net/gamespot/images/box/5/8/4/929584_71191_front.jpg[/img]

The definitive version of Resident Evil (that's debatable) is Resident Evil DS. Originally released for the PlayStation, it had it's scary moments, but what was truly frightening to most people was it's Voice Acting, which makes people cringe to this day. One particular interesting thing about it is it's uncut into, which was not censored because of violence, but simply because the main character was smoking a cigarette. Think about that, take it any way you want.

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Siren: New Translation (Siren: Blood Curse in the US) is scary. Very scary. It revolves around a group of people who must escape from a new kind of undead called Shibito. These dangerous, Zombie-like creatures cannot die. Ever. Instead, you must use a gameplay element called Sight Jacking to evade them. Sight Jacking, as the name implies (sort of), allows you to see through the eyes of nearby Shibito, allowing you to evade them easier. As I said before, this game is scary. It made me jump more than once, and I actually screamed out loud at one point. I highly recommend this game.

And there you have it. Three great games to play on Halloween. Go get scared.

NOTE: Siren is only available as a download in the US.

Unexpectedly Spooky! Thief: The Dark Project Posted on Oct 30th 2013 at 03:33:54 PM by (SirPsycho) Posted under thief, pc, looking glass, zombies, the dark project

Greetings Ghouls 'n Ghosts! I am back and bringing you a spooktacular with a game that at first glance, should not be an experience that delivers goosebumps and stiff hairs. So, why does a game remembered as a stealth/action game have such a creepy atmosphere?

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Thief: The Dark Project is a game that spent such a long time in development that it is rather surprising it came out to be such a great game and experience. Other games which spent so long in development include such well remembered classics like Daikatana, Duke Nukem Forever, and Aliens: Colonial Marines.

Thief stars who else than a master thief by the name of Garrett in an unnamed medieval/magical/steampunk metropolis simply called 'The City.' Garrett is a former Keeper, masters of stealth and the keepers of ancient tomes and knowledge. But, now he's a freelance thief who finds himself caught up in a supernatural plot.



So, what makes this game spooky? As a result of its long development it went through many early builds and re-writes before the game was really built. The Dark Project was its final working title, and at times could have become a first person swords and sorcery action RPG involving communist zombies. The developers added stealth elements and realized that sneaking by the enemies was more fun than trying to fight everybody.

[img width=550 height=778]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/games/U-027/bf/U-027-S-05740-A.jpg[/img]

True story: the design team was inspired towards the stealth model by everybody's favorite submarine simulation, Silent Service. In the final game Garrett is an unstoppable force of sticky fingers while hidden or in the shadows, when exposed you must be a master of the combat system or face certain death.

Some of the inspiration from the early zombie idea was left in the final product, these are known as the Monster Levels. The game goes through a cycle every two or three levels, one type of level being a human based level, the other being one of the monster levels. The monster levels include useless zombies and quite a few more original monster designs.

Most of the creepy feelings and moments come not from the actual encounter of the monsters though, but the suspense built up by Eric Brosius' sound design and music compositions.



Sadly, Thief's sequels broke away from the horror inspired monster levels, being all but non-existent in Thief II: The Metal Age. There is a throwback towards The Dark Project's horror levels in the third Thief game, Deadly Shadows. It may just be one of the single greatest levels in the history of level based gaming. The Shalebridge Cradle...



So, the next time you're itching for a midnight gaming experience to enjoy in the dark, fire up Thief Gold, the total expanded version of the main game, turn out the lights, put your headphones on and immerse yourself in The City.

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