Those of you who are a little more observant, may have noticed that little box over there on the right side of the home page that keeps track of the database stats. See it over there? Pretty neat isn't it? Well, you might notice that the total number of scans is just over 50,000. That's right, in a little over 5 years, RFGeneration has accumulated FIFTY THOUSAND scans.
This is obviously a momentous occasion for THE Classic and Modern Video Game Database, but we couldn't have done it without the hundreds of dedicated members who put in hours of their own time to scan these games. I've done my share of scanning, and I know how much work it can be to scan several games at once, so to those of you who have done thousands of scans, my hat goes off to you.
Some of our top image submitters since October 2006 include:
Tan
ga5ket
Fuyukaze
Y2richie
Pop Culture Portal
Rajaat the Warbringer
Belgarath
Funk_Buddy
Madir
James
Mezmoron
VACRMH
sharp
Tynstar
Lios
These are not the only users that deserve applause, however. There are hundreds of you that have submitted anywhere from one to hundreds of scans, and each and every scan is truly appreciated.
As the newest Site Director, I would like to personally thank each and every one of you that have contributed to the 50,000+ scans the site now has.
Now, let's see how quickly we can get to 100,000 scans!
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!
Hey guys. I finally got everything in order (camera, batteries charged, pics loaded onto laptop and photobucket, some spare time, etc.) and have some pics of the new game room. We have spent our focus during the last week getting most other rooms set up for a family visit tonight and therefor left the gameroom in dissaray for now. I am also trying to get a hold of someone who can help me put up some proper shelving before I unpack everything. Anyway here it is at last:
It doesnt look like much now, but I've got a lot of plans for this room. All the music stuff will be in another area of the house so that will free up a lot of room. I've been playing around in Paint for the last few weeks with possible ideas to paint the room. I would like to get some custom shevling installed lining the entire closet. An Arcade Cabinet in the corner alcove. Custom entertainment center to hold all my consoles and have them hooked up simultaneously. Maybe some carpet and other things as they come to me.
First and most important goal is the shelving. I've had sub-par shelving for the last 2 years and really need to step it up. I've had a carpenter friend offer to help me build something once we got a house so now Im just trying to track him down and work out the details. After the shelving is up I'll have to see what I've got for money to spend and figure out what will come next.
NES_Rules also sent me some helpful info to make my Blog posts look a little spiffier so as the room comes together I'll hopefully be making improvements to my Blog posts at the same time. This one was kind of a rush job to get the pics up before our family comes to visit so I'll put more time into making the next look more unique.
Today at the gamescom convention in Cologne, Germany, Sony finally confirmed alltherumors of the PS3 Slim. The new unit will be 33% smaller and 36% lighter than the existing models. Most importantly, it will launch on September 1st for $299. Can't wait that long? All PS3 systems are now $299, effective tomorrow.
Here's SCEI CEO Kaz Hari unveiling the new PS3 model at the gamescom press conference. It also gives you an idea just how much smaller it is when he holds the system in his hands.
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.
Another slow week for me. I didn't get to do much saling on Saturday because my uncle was having a huge cookout so I had to go over and help set up around 10:30 in the morning, so I only got a couple hours of saling in. On Sunday I had to help my mom setup for a "Slovak Fest" and then help clean up from the party before going to the flea market, so I didn't get there until after 11, and there was a huge crowd with very few good deals left. However, I did get a couple good things, so make sure to read on to see what they are.
Well we were able to get the moving truck a day earlier than expected. We wanted it for Sunday, but they are not open on Sunday so I grabbed my little brother to help and we picked up the truck Saturday at 11:30 and have it until early Monday morning. Yet we only have to pay for a one day rental which rocks!!
I was to eager to get moved in so instead of waiting for my wife to get off work and my dad to get home to help and a friend to get off work, my brother and I loaded and unloaded boxes all morning. My wife met up with us when we were just finishing up unloading our first full truckload at the new house. Shortly after that my dad got home and helped us load the heavier stuff (couches, dressers, etc.) onto the truck. We waited a little while (my first break all day, and I worked a graveyard shift the night before so I was tired). Hung out with my son for a bit, whom my mother had been taking care of all day so we could work on getting into the house.
My friend and father-in-law both came to help so we went and unloaded almost everything else. On Sunday we only have a very small amount of stuff left to move and then we can focus on painting/unpacking.
I've been playing around with Microsoft Paint for the last couple weeks and I think I know what I want to do with my game room paintwise. Im not very artistic, but I think I can handle what I have in mind with my skills (and maybe some help from my much more artistic wife). The only other room we are painting is my son's bedroom which has priority over my game room so I probably wont start painting the gameroom for a while yet.
Once I unpack my camera I'll take some snapshots of the game room in its current condition with all my games boxed up inside the room. I'll also try to take snap shots of any improvements I make to the room including painting, shelving, setup and any other adjustments I may make.
The one question that I think all collectors eventually ask themselves is: "Why do am I collect?", which will sometimes precede the most dangerous of all questions: "Why do I have all this crap?" The last time I asked myself this I ended up dropping a good chunk of my most prized pieces on eBay before I managed to stop. Since that dark day over two years ago, I have lived in fear of the eventual day the question floats back into my conscious mind. I hoped to never think it again, or if I did, it would be far enough into the future where I could pass my collection to my son or daughter. The other day as I brushed my teeth I thought idly: "Why do I collect?" I stopped brushing and thought about it, bringing the origins of this errant question from light grazing to mental mastication. I guess there are several reasons I collect. Part of it is the thrill of the hunt, a feeling many of you share, I think. Another is the enjoyment I get from watching my collection grow on a shelf (something like retail therapy maybe), because after all, nothing looks better next to a game than another game. But often there is another reason that keeps me collecting: a reason that can either jump start a collecting frenzy or drive me away from the thrift stores. The thought process behind these things generally take time with me, like the incubation period on the ebola virus; and the longer it takes, the more negative the effects are. This savior/killer of collections is nostalgia, and this time it started with a read through of one of my favorite articles, and a listen to one of my favorite podcasts. Three weeks ago I read NES_Rules' Treasure Hunt Chronicles #15 and noted the Tiger Electronic game. It was a brief note, and I promptly forgot it after spying the CIB NES haul further down the article. The other night as I washed the dinner dishes I listened to the lastest Retronauts (which was covering the history of handhelds). About halfway through I had a brief thought, "Hm. Didn't mention tabletop games." Of course they did closer to the end and I once again forgot. No doubt at this point my subconscious was brewing something especially rose-tinted, and later that night (about 11pm) these two thoughts emerged, dripping with nostalgia from my childhood. One involved a small and very cheap Tiger LCD game, and the other was a heavy and somewhat cumbersome to play tabletop arcade game. The name of the game I could not recall. All I could remember is playing a side-scrolling shooter while I kept warm at the heating vent in my room. I would play it obsessively, and at one point finished it no less than three times in a row before being called down for dinner. Thunder Blade, maybe. Hmm. The second, however, is a much clearer memory. I remember a sort-of friend (more like a bully whom declared a temporary truce) tell me of a kid who traded video games. I accompanied the sort-of friend to this kids house, and was quick to note there was not one videogame in the place. I asked him about trades, and he seemed to remember a game, which turned out to be the Tomy game, Tron. At this point I'd never seen a tabletop arcade game, and I was instantly floored. I had to have it. The problem was, while the douche-bag was finding the game, he also found a dull kitchen knife, and proceeded to try to throw it into his bedroom wall. I think we can effectively blame the American Ninja movies and Michael Dudikoff for this kind of behavior. The sort-of friend who had accompanied me quickly joined in, and things started to look glum. There was a definite air of pre-pubescent testosterone in the air, which youthful experience had taught me an ass-whuppin' was close at hand. All the money I had left was a five-spot, which represented about two days of bottle hunting (in Michigan 1 bottle equals 10 cents). This money was destined for the token machine at Little Caesar's Pizzeria, I reasoned with myself, but that Tron game looked damn awesome, and my decision was made in the space of a few seconds. I made a quick transaction, and hauled my geeky ass out of there. What followed was about an indefinite, but long period of total bliss, and nothing would even come close until a friend down the road got an NES. What happened to this lovely piece of hardware, I may never know. I have my suspicions, which may or may not involve my father and a garbage bag. However, I would not mourn for long, as in Christmas of 1988 I received a NES. My mystery Tiger LCD game, along with my beautiful memory of the Tomy Tron tabletop vanished and lay dormant for over twenty years. When the memory came back fully in my mind (the other night), I sat down in front of my laptop and researched for an hour or so. Before long I had correctly identified the Tiger game as ThunderBlade from scanned instructions on Hasbro's website, and watched video on YouTube that some blessed soul put up for the Tron game. Needless to say I desperately want to re-experience those games, so I checked around a bit. A no-go on the ThunderBlade game, but that was nothing more than I expected. The Tron game was also a bust, but in a different way. The only copies I found were on eBay, and the owners aren't willing to part with their machines for less than $120 (UPDATE: There is one for actual auction now, so we'll see how that turns out). I normally don't like using eBay (or walk-in stores for that matter), as the hunt is pretty much what motivates me to collect. I mean, I could walk into Destiny Games (a local gaming shop) and get an original Xbox or a N64 pretty cheap, but pulling one out of a cardboard box full of odd junk as if it were a baby being birthed by cesarean is much more fulfilling. So here I am, in something of a strange situation. My nostalgia for handheld games is unfulfilled, and since I'm a hunter at heart, I'm unlikely to get my fix anytime soon. The oddity is that because of this, my focus is now on handheld and tabletop gaming exclusively. I've since made a few finds in that department, which I'll write about later (first: honey-do list). I even passed up a NES with Tetris and MAX controller so I could look in couple more stores first. But if this reads as if I'm complaining let me assure you: I'm loving every minute, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
If you look up rare European titles for the Mega CD, or at least European exclusives for the Mega CD, one company comes to mind in both: Domark. Or to be more accurate, D0MARK. This was for 3 reasons:
Two of the games were planned for a US release but cancelled
All four of their games were released between late 1994 and 1995
They were all shovelware titles
Especially the last point, all of the games were ports of Amiga or Megadrive games with music and in some cases FMV cutscenes being the only improvement/addition.
So as you can tell, I have one of them. Continue reading to see what it is.
This week wasn't spectacular in that I didn't have any really big finds, but instead, I had a lot of little finds, each one a great find in their own right. For once, my first treasure of the week didn't come from Friday, but on Thursday for a change. But I didn't get much garage saling in on Friday or Saturday and then I didn't go to the flea market on Sunday at all. The majority of my finds all come very early on Saturday this week.
Well I'm back on English soil after spending a week in Barcelona, I had a good time. Along with going to the Picasso and Dali museum, me and my family went around the city, got lost (according to maps and taxi drivers, our hotel doesn't exist, but the internet shows it does), swam in what was the Olympic swimming pool, went bowling, played in the arcades and all the things tourists do on a holiday.
Despite having over 50 Euros I didn't buy any games, but I did get something game related.
On a forum which isn't RFgeneration I'm currently ranking videogame music which is recommended to me. I would do it on this site as well but it's already hard enough to keep up with the recommendations. So... if you are at all interested in videogame music you may find this neat. And, if you guys like the idea I will take recommendations from you guys in the future when I'm not so backlogged.
This entry will have two distinct parts. The first part I will rate and talk about the songs in the order I received the recommendations, give a numerical number and link to the song. The second part will be a ranking. The numerical numbers assigned to the songs only exist to show how much more I prefer a song than another. Thinking of them as something to make reference to. Essentially a 5.5 is not an average and neither is a 7.5. They just exist as references to one another. The second part of this is the actual rankings.
Clock Tower (AoS)- You ****ing got me. I made a list of the top overlooked songs of the past generation and this song topped it. Perfectly fits the mood of the clocktower moreso than even Tragic Prince. Starts melancholy... slowly builds... then explodes. It's unbelievable. (8.5) http://www.imeem.com/peop...shiro-hokkai-clock-tower/
Rainbow Road (F-zero)- Eh. I prefer the other version much more, plus this version has an extremely repetitive and annoying drum machine beat. (5)
Heartful Cry (Persona 3 FES)- I'm about 30 hours in and loving this game. The beginning sounds familiar but I don't ever recalling hearing the rest of the song. Really neat song, nice, upbeat, entertaining. Nothing wrong with it at all and it's memorable. (8.0)
Divine Service- I really don't like the voice of whoever it is who is sing/talking. The music itself is decent I guess. I dunno. The ending is really neat though so that's a plus. But I really don't like the vocals. (5) http://www.imeem.com/maxy...-boutique-divine-service/
Arthas, My Son (WotLK)- Pretty much sounds like any stereotypical 'epic' song ever conceived. Absolutely nothing special whatsoever, but that doesn't mean it is bad. But yeah, sounds like every single 'epic' song ever created. (4)
Buy Somethin' Will Ya! (Earthbound)- It's upbeat and goofy which is a plus. Other than that nothing too special, but I do like it. (5.5)
Seeking Victory (Tales of Legendia)- Awesome song, except for the percussions. It's like they gave some five year old with Tourrets two wooden blocks, let him be for about 30 seconds while recording, then decided to include it into a super sweet song. Ugh, it's really annoying. Other than that amazing song. (6, but with better percussion this would be much higher).
Yellows Theme (LocoRoco)- Haha, what a guilty pleasure. That was extremely upbeat, very goofy in the Japanese style, memorable chorus, then all the sudden it gets even more goofy during the last 1/4. This song is great fun, but I'd hate to be caught listening to it. (7)
Ending Credits (Terranigma)- Mesmerizing song. Calm, pleasant, makes you feel good when you listen to it. For the most part it sounds pretty much like the exact same 30 seconds or so of song looped together for 6 minutes, but it really isn't that bad considering... well, like I said it's mesmerizing and calming. (7)
Snow (Kirby 64)- Man this brought a smile to my face. I absolutely love music like this that really depicts a scene-- in this case snow. The bells are awesome, whistles are great, the progression is fantastic, it's pleasant, uplifting, heartwarming... awesome. I used to rent this game all the time when I was younger but never really appreciated the music, but this brings such a smile to my face. (9)
Wrapped in Black (Sonic Rush)- Talk about vocals ruining a decent song. Love the part where the violins come in around the 1 minute mark up until about 1:26 when the awful vocals come in again. Seriously, take out the vocals and you've got a decent song. (4.5)
Stickerbrush Symphony (Brawl)- This version is not as good as DKC2 at all. Still fantastic though, but a lot of the environment and mood is lost in this song because the song is much more upbeat. That being said... it still has the same amazing composition, great inclusion of new instruments, still a damn good song-- just not as good as the original. (8.5)
Spagonia Rooftop Run Day (Sonic Unleashed)- Well, this kinda sucks. It's noisy, hectic, incredibly repetitive, it's like a bad garage rock song. The main violin riff is pretty neat-o though, so I guess it doesn't completely suck (4.5).
Open Waters I (Aquaria)- I had to listen to this a second time to fully wrap my head around it. It's good, it's very good. But I wasn't sure how high of a score to give it. There is a ton going on in this song and everything meshes together very well. The main downside is that it requires a lot of effort to fully appreciate this song beyond the main riff. Also note, I edited this writeup quite a few times because I couldn't decide what to give it-- at one point I even had it as high as a 9. (7)
Marionette Purple (Blaz Blue)- Well damn that was awesome as well. I love songs which incorporate multiple genres. In this case we have hard rock mixed with piano melodies in the vain of something from a 20s club cool jazz, and super sweet violins. How the hell this works is beyond me, amazing song. (9)
I'll Face Myself (Persona 4)- You know, I really didn't care for this song for the first 40 seconds or so then it finally begins to pick up and has an extremely awesome guitar riff which predominates around the 1 minute mark. It's a weird song, there is some stuff I don't care for but then there are some killer guitar riffs. Not sure how to rank this one. (7)
The Extreme (FFVIII)- Nice. Beautiful. Calming. Forgettable. It's a good song but I just don't really think I will remember anything at all about it. It seems like something that would be better if I heard it in the context of the game. (6)
Zero Two (Kirby 64)- Neat song. Creepy, unsettling, dark, but beautiful violin arrangements. Really surprised me when I found out it was from Kirby 64. Cool song but kinda too creepy for my tastes. (6.5)
Transcending Love (Suikoden III)- Fun fact, I have had this game for about 3 years and never played it. Haven't had the time. Anyway, the song is neat, sounds like some Indian music or something. It's nice, not my personal preference but I appreciate it and can see why other people would enjoy it. (6.5)
Gang-Plank Galleon (DKC)- I'm going to try my hardest to not rate this based on nostalgia. I played DKC all the time when I was younger, and I mean all the time. Anyway... ****ing awesome song. Starts out like a lot of typical upbeat pirate type songs, then around 31 seconds the song begins to change until it metamorphosis into something new and completely badass. Great song (7.5)
WANDA WANDA (Katamari Damacy)- Eh, I don't care too much for this one. I like goofy, but this is just out there. I mean, not that it's entirely bad, it's just not particularly good. The vocals are extremely interesting, but I'm not necessarily sure if I'd consider them good or bad. Eh, I just really don't care for this too much. (4.5)
Victorious (Outrun 2019)- Hehe, man this sounds like some super awesome 8-bit Capcom song, but I know it isn't. The beginning is just alright, but eventually it picks up and becomes quite impressive. As soon as it alternates left and right speakers the song really begins to shine then there's a really neat chime type rhythm followed by a lot of sweet stuff that seems like it could be straight from the best of Megaman. Neat song. (7) http://www.imeem.com/peop...p/shigeki-sako-victorious
Mental Institution (Serious Sam 2)- Another 'epic' song. Unlike the Arthas one though, this one has a pretty sweet violin arrangement around the 1:30 mark which sets it apart from most of these 'epic' songs. Also, the ending with the chorus is pretty neat. Overall, it manages to break the monotony of most of these types of songs. (6)
You Smiled Kindly (.hack//G.U. Volume 3)- It's pretty no doubt about that. I don't particularly care for the vocals... which is weird because I tend to enjoy these type of vocals. From 1:50 to around it is sublime 2:21 it is absolutely wonderful. Overall, I'd say it's a very pretty song with some great moments... and some very typical elements to other ballads, for lack of better words, of this type. (6.5)
Opening (Ys II)- Fast, uptempo, interesting. Pretty good. I enjoy the arrangement and songwriting but I'm not to fond of the actual way the instruments sound if that makes sense. Not a bad song by any means. I personally think that this could be much better if the pace slowed down and the instruments didn't make the distorted tone that they do... but that's just me. I can see the appeal. You'll eventually get me with something I find super awesome SuperAngelo, I'm sure of it. (6.5)
Fonthene (Opoona)- Easy listening song, but sadly that means that I kind of forget that I'm listening to it. It's nice, pretty, and forgetful... kinda like 90% of Coldplay. Or at least that's how it is until around the 2:20 mark. Then a really neat guitar comes in which leads into a great violin piece. Up until that part the song isn't really too special. But from 2:20 or so on it's a great song. (7)
Meaning of Birth (Tales of the Abyss)- That was... awesome. Beautiful, and not in the 'this is pretty...' type of way I've been mentioning before. It's exciting while maintaining elegance and style. Really raises your spirits... if only it was a bit longer. Still super awesome. (8.0)
Bell of Judgement (One Piece Grand Battle 2)- It's a good song, not my personal preference as far as style and sound go though. Very cheerful and upbeat, good arrangement, I just don't care too much for the vibe of the song. Still good though. (6.5)
Guile Theme (Street Fighter II)- You know, a lot of early Capcom songs have the exact same type of feel to them. I can't quite pinpoint my finger on it, but you can just tell it's a Capcom song. Anyway, Guile's Theme is a good song. Not necessarily amazing, but it is good. The 16 bit trumpet has an extremely unique sound that isn't quite a trumpet or... well... anything. It's pretty great. The song itself just sounds like something that wants to be respected-- or be played when there is royalty or someone nobel around. Anyway, I enjoy the arrangement, but its short and repeats a lot. I wish it had a bit more depth. (6.5)
Endless Possibility (Sonic Unleashed)- Finally, a Sonic song I'm not going to rank low. And something that fits the 'epic' genre which I find entertaining and not bland. The horns are great, love them, love the main riff with the dun dun dunnnnn dun DUN dunnnnnn, if you know which part I'm talking about. Besides that... well man, there are a bunch of pretty neat parts to this song. Even segments where violins play background to the percussion. Can't say I see (hear?) that much. Fast paced, epic, enjoyable, very good song. (7.5)
Creation of Heaven and Earth (Tales of Innocence)- Initial impressions were 'this is pretty.' Normally when I think that I think above average song but not much more. Then violins came in making a grand noise which made me double take. Wonderful string arrangement. This isn't pretty, it's beautiful and enchanting. Slowly lures the listener in, absolutely captures their attention and doesn't let go until the end. Also, I would love to note how it isn't unneccessarily long which is how most songs of this calibur tend to turn out. This is great. (8.5)
K. K. Metal (Animal Crossing)- By now I really enjoy seeing what you have in store for me since I know it's going to be interesting. This is song has an extremely simplistic main riff in a very unique tone backed with an overly synthesized (or an extremely unique sounding) voice. It's not like much I've heard, but the riff propels it forward until it deviates into a spastic clatter then up tempo rendition of the turning point of Gang-Plank Galleon (not exactly, but that's what it reminded me of). It's a good song in the sense that Kid A is a good album. I don't necessarily find it amazing at first, but I guarantee it will grow on me. (6.5)
Wicked Child (Castlevania)- Got me. I absolutely love this song, in fact I hum it at work frequently. It starts out up beat but creepy. A declining progression hints towards a change in tone and boy does that happen. The song manages to become even more upbeat and even uplifting. The main riff is incredibly memorable, and it leads into an extremely awesome upward progression. Perhaps what makes this upwards climb in notes so awesome is the high pitched echo which exemplifies the main melody. This is without a doubt one of the most entertaining and catchy songs in the series. (8.5)
X vs Zero (Mega Man X5)- Extremely fast and repetitive drum machine. Other than that it has some great moments, but really the extremely fast drum machine is just annoying and predominates everything else. (6) http://www.imeem.com/peop...b5ZheyF/capcom-x-vs-zero/
Aquatic Base Level 2 (Sonic 06)- Eh... don't care for this Sonic song at all. Nor do I really see much of the appeal. It has some decent guitar arrangements around the minute mark followed by a repeating melody of about 3 or 4 notes for a while which is alright, but other than that I really really really do not care for the 'industrial' sound the song has going for it. I'd say it's a below average song with some goodish moments. (5)
Intro/Main Theme (RoboWarrior)- This reminds me of something straight from a classic Mega Man game. That's a compliment in my books. The melody of the main theme is very simplistic and easy to hum along to and then towards the end it begins to pick up space and kind of spazz out. Very nice. (7)
Terran Theme (Starcraft)- Initial impressions-- another 'epic' song. And that's essentially what it is except with a sense of despair in the air. Luckily around the minute mark the song shifts gears and distinguishes itself with a nice string arrangement which eventually leads into a much more optimistic tone. The ending is lovely with horns and... well... I can't tell what the instrument is but the metamorphosis from something dark and cliched into an uplifting yet no overbearing epic is a good change of pace. (7)
Biophotron (G-Darius)- I'm not quite sure how to classify this one. It seems like it's meant to be creepy and foreshadow something evil or something. I don't care for the beginning at all with the loud THUD THUDs constantly, but repeating increase and decrease in melody after the uninteresting thud thuds is alright, but it really doesn't do anything to distinguish this song anymore than average. (5.5)
hope(Ver1.00)- It's pretty, but not necessarily in the sense that I've been using it. It never fully falls into the category of beautiful but I wouldn't label it as just pretty by any stretch of the imagination. The main melody is extremely pleasant and memorable, but by far what sets this song apart from most others is the increase in intensity at the 1:50 mark which demands to be listened to. This part really exemplifies that the melody is absolutely fantastic. Good song and well worth the trouble of trying to find it. (7.5)
Deoxys Battle Music (Pokemon FR/LG/E)- Extremely computerized. Not even in the techno sense, it's actually a bunch of blips and bloops. And... it's fairly awesome. The beginning is mesmerizing with the rapid repetition of increasing and decreasing computer blips. But the computerized 'horns' which come pounding in steal the show with their slow inclusion and then absolutely grand thunder. Great. (7.5)
Marionette Purple (9) Snow (9) Stickerbrush Symphony- Brawl (8.5) Creation of Heaven and Earth (8.5) Wicked Child (8.5) Clock Tower AoS (8.5) Meaning of Birth (8.0) Heartful Cry (8.0) Gang-Plank Galleon (7.5) hope(Ver1.00) (7.5) Dark Gaia Phase II (7.5) Deoxys Battle Music (7.5) Open Waters (7) Yellow's Theme (7) I'll Face Myself (7) Ending Credits- Terranigma (7) Terran theme (7) Fonthene (7) Victorious (7) Intro/Main Theme (7) Zero Two (6.5) Transcending Love (6.5) K. K. Metal (6.5) Bell of Judgement (6.5) Opening- Ys II (6.5) Guile's Theme (6.5) You Smiled Kindly (6.5) The Extreme (6) X vs Zero (6) Mental Institution (6) Seeking Victory (6) Buy Somethin' Will Ya! (5.5) Mario Party 2 Credits (5.5) Biophotron (5.5) Divine Service (5) Rainbow Road- Fzero (5) Aquatic Base Level 2 (5) Wrapped In Black (4.5) WANDA WANDA (4.5) Spagonia Rooftop Run Day (4.5) Arthas, My Son (4)
I recently decided to get GameFly because I found that there were so many new games I wanted to try out, but not necessarily buy them. So far, i've been very impressed by the service. So much so that I thought I'd let you all know about my experiences so far. If you don't know, GameFly is a rental service, much like NetFlix, that allows you to rent games by mail.
First, let's talk about the main part of the service, renting. Their library of games is extensive. They have almost any game you could want for PS3, 360, Wii, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, DS, PSP, and GBA. So far it seems like most of the games I've wanted to rent are readily available, with the exception of brand new games, which tend to have Low to Very Low availability. But usually they'll be more available in a week or two once the initial renters have returned their copies.
The process of selected what games you want is fairly simple. You simply search the site for the game you want to rent and add it to your GameQ. Once you have titles in your GameQ, you can rearrange them to tell GameFly which you would like to have top priority. When you return a game, they will pick the next available game out of your GameQ and send it. Pretty simple.
You receive the game disc/cart only in an envelope that opens up into a pre-paid return envelope. Inside the envelope you'll find a protective cardboard sleeve with a paper sleeve inside that contains your game. You can keep any game as long as you want. Once you are done with a game, just put it back in the envelope, drop it in the mail and they'll take care of the rest. Once they receive your game, they'll ship out the next available game on your GameQ
In addition to offering rental services, GameFly also has an extensive library of used games for you to buy at a discounted price. Often times, their used game prices beat out GameStop. For example, I bought Prince of Persia for PS3 from them for only $22, whereas GameStop was charging $27 at the time I bought it. Another example: GameStop wants $55 for Red Faction: Guerilla whereas GameFly only wants $43 for it. Another nice thing about GameFly is that if you rent a game and you end up enjoying it, you can opt to keep the game without having to send it back. Oh, and all you CIB whores out there, don't worry, if you decide to keep the game, they will mail you the case and instructions for free. Since the case and instructions haven't been touched by anyone, they're in perfect condition. Oh yeah, I should also mention that all 6 games I've rented from GameFly so far have been in mint condition with no scratches or fingerprints of any kind.
Their shipping times are pretty good too. I live in Minnesota, and it usually takes three days for me to get a game from them or for them to receive a game I send back. However, sometimes when sending a game back, they will use something called fast return, where they ship your next game as soon as they get tracking confirmation from the post office that you put the game in the mail. I haven't figured out how that works yet, however.
Their plans are pretty well-priced too. $15.95 per month for one game out at a time, $22.95 for two games, $29.95 for three games, and $36.95 for four games.
GameFly offers a program called GameFly Rewards to all of its members at no charge. Every three months you are a member, you will get $5 GameFly Dollars to used in their used game store. Also, if you're a member for six months, you will get 5% all purchases from them, and if you're a member for a year, you'll get 10% off. So the longer you remain a member, the better of a deal you'll get if you buy games from them. Add that on top of the $5 they give you every three months, and the savings start to stack up pretty well.
Click here to give it a shot! They have a free trial, and your first month is discounted if you decide to keep going with them.
For those of you who aren't keeping up on current video game news, there is a channel on basic cable called G4 that broadcasts gaming news and events; in addition to a lot of the tv show, "COPS". Every year, a show called X-Play hosts an award show for the best games of each category. Upon watching the awards, I began to think what we as collectors think.
G-Phoria 2009 Award Winners Are:
Game of the Year - Fallout 3
Best Graphics - Killzone 2
Best New Character - Sackboy - LittleBigPlanet
Best Party Game - Rock Band 2
Best Racing Game - Burnout Paradise: Big Surf Island
Best Shooter - Gears of War 2
Best Strategy Game - Halo Wars
Best Sports Game - Fight Night Round 4
Best Action Game - InFamous
Best Role-Playing Game - Fallout 3
Most Original Game - LittleBigPlanet
Deserves an Uwe Boll Movie - Legendary
Best Online Multiplayer Game - Left 4 Dead
Best Downloadable Content - Fallout 3: Broken Steel
Best Handheld Game - GTA: Chinatown Wars
Best Voice Acting - Fallout 3
Best Soundtrack - Fallout 3
Longest Lasting Game presented by Stride Gum - Fallout 3
Favorite System - Xbox 360
Best Downloadable Game - Castle Crashers
I want to know what old school gamers think of these new games, how we all think about the direction gaming is evolving, and what you think about the winners of each category.
We are a community of collectors, gamers and the likes, and some of us enjoy to let the world know what is on our mind. For those members, we have the community blogs, a place where they can publish their thoughts and feelings regarding life, universe, and everything. Some of those members might even choose to write about gaming and collecting! Whatever they write about, you can find it on their blog. You can either see the latest community blog entries in the feed you see to the left, or you can browse for your favorite blog using the menu above. Interested in having your own blog hosted on RF Generation? It's rather simple, first be a registered member, and then click the "My Blog" link that you see in the navigation above. Following those two steps will certainly get you on your way to blogging.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy our entries, rantings, and completely unrelated series of thoughts. We write for you to read, so we certainly hope that you enjoy our material.
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 recently decided to get GameFly because I found that there were so many new games I wanted to try out, but not necessarily buy them. So far, i've been very impressed by the service. So much so that I thought I'd let you all know about my experiences so far. If you don't know, GameFly is a rental service, much like NetFlix, that allows you to rent games by mail.