Episode 26 discussion thread: http://www.rfgeneration.c...rum/index.php?topic=14536
15 years ago, a mighty machine was unleashed... the SEGA Dreamcast. It came onto the scene with a fantastic library, innovative accessories, and forward-thinking online play. We were all ready to head into what appeared to be an amazing 21st century.
We spend some time reminiscing about the DC, dissect it, and talk about notable and collectable games. Be sure to share your favorite Dreamcast memories with us!
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Show Notes
Music: SoulCalibur (DC)
Topic: 30:17
Outro: 3:12:21
Hey I want you guys to see my TINY Collection[img width=480 hight=640]http://HNL_0028_MPO(http://articuno032sblog.wap-ka.com)[/img](this is a picture test)
[img width=610 height=343]http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o736/Fleach/narrative_zps859eae95.jpg[/img]
Lately the Community Playthroughs have allowed us to play a handful of incredible games. Coming right off of Ico I'm facing the question of how video games use or misuse narrative.
Whether used well or not, a game's narrative pulls in and ties together the experience the game is attempting to illicit for the player. Just like the laces on a pair of shoes, you can haphazardly tie them into a knot, but you may look a little odd and your shoes might fall off your feet. Without a story, a game can't effectively gel with the player, which at worst, results in a game left unfinished. Sometimes tight, solid gameplay can't redeem a game with a lackluster story. The narrative of a game serves a key role -- it is the foundation that the game's motifs and objective(s) rest upon.
Continue reading The Thing with Narrative...
[img width=336 height=252]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Video%20Game%20Scores/3503CD9E-3791-4A0E-9E1D-569BCF2768C5_zpsxjbo5tva.jpg[/img]
Pre-owned Madden football games are everywhere. When you have a series that has been churning out a title every year for twenty years, there are a lot of discarded games to be peddled at flea markets or garage sales. With a massive supply built across almost every console for gaming generations now, the previous editions of Madden football have an almost nonexistent resell value. Outside of this mass production, there is one title that is not common and is one of a number of sports titles that hold value for collectors. John Madden Football Championship Edition was a rental store exclusive released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis and it is the Holy Grail of Madden Football games.
Continue reading The Holy Grail of Madden Football Games
[img width=700 height=437]http://i.imgur.com/qAtBW1L.jpg[/img]
Sometimes it's fun to be the bad guys, especially when their ships are so freaking cool. Tie Fighter is undeniably one of the best space combat flight simulators of all time. It withstands the test of time because it does so many things well and, even though it is dated visually, it is just plain fun to play.
Continue reading Dust off Your DOSBox and Play Tie Fighter
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It's that time of the month again! No, not that time, the good time where we thank all those awesome members of our wonderful little site that have helped to grow our most prized possession, the Database!
I'll start off thanking some names I didn't recognize, though they have been around the site since 2013, so thanks amprice5474 and josulli3 for becoming active and making over 100 submissions. And then there's a couple regulars, CoinCollector, Furnessly, and Sauza12 who also each made over 100 submissions. But the real butt-kickers in August were Shadow Kisuragi with over 500 submissions, ae.tc with over 700 submissions and ApolloBoy with nearly 1000 submissions. Thanks to all of you and everyone else who made a submission in August.
But we can't forget about our awesome staff members who work tirelessly to make sure all those submissions are being reviewed and approved. Izret101 and Tynstar each had almost 300 approvals. ApolloBoy had almost 800 and Shadow Kisuragi had almost 1000 approvals. Thanks guys for keeping the gears of the RFGen running smoothly and getting those submissions taken care of.
[img width=601 height=800]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140907_22_22_17_Pro_zpsa45f215f.jpg[/img]
We went to the 2014 Salt Lake City Comic Con Fan XPerience in May, and it was awesome for me. I got to meet Elvira and two of the Boondock Saints, plus some other celebrities. This time, it was almost unbearable. I had some fun, but was very disappointed overall for two big reasons:
#1) The amount of tickets sold/people in the building was terrible on Saturday. At one point, the fire marshall stopped people from entering. According to the event site, over 90,000 people attended the Saturday events (our day to be there). The convention center was just not big enough for those numbers. Trying to prove your validity should never take a back seat to fan enjoyment.
#2) The ability to meet and greet with the celebs was all about the heavy cash. Seriously, to get an autograph was one fee and to take a picture while you were standing there was another. One picture to show that you got to meet someone that you admired. The autograph fee was PER autograph. I took some things down to get signed for friends and figured that the story behind them was enough for the celebrities to want to sign. Their "handlers" wouldn't allow it before I made it to the table, so no story possible. It was an assembly line. Yes, they had security guards of sorts, and usually some balding fat guy or teenager that volunteered and didn't have a clue who he/she was fan-blocking. Imagine, if you will, spending your $30 to $70(Stan Lee) to pander to someone's ego and tell them how much you appreciate their work.
So, we drove ALMOST FOUR HOURS down, and then the same distance back, to meet far fewer celebs than hoped.
Here is the much less exciting slide show this time around:
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140907_22_38_39_Pro_zps041b9b61.jpg[/img]
I had Ernie Hudson sign a NES Advantage. I was disappointed that he didn't seem to recognize/remember it as I was talking about the Statue of Liberty scene from Ghostbusters 2. HE FORGOT. And then I was handed a Ghostbusters 30th Anniversary card after I paid.
Hulk Hogan signed my NES WWE Steel Cage box, but looked at it in confusion, He was as arrogant as was warned. I shook his hand, and he made a point to introduced me to his daughter Brooke. Did I get a thrill out of meeting the wrestling legend? No, but guess what...
I did get the thrill of getting my picture taken with this one!
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_13_05_50_Pro_zps8cdd20c3.jpg[/img]
Jimmy Hart was great and let me hold the tool of his trade.
[img width=700 height=697]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140907_22_47_44_Pro_zpsa1dc9cf5.jpg[/img]
One of the celebrities that was I very anxious to meet was Gigi Edgley, Chiana from Farscape. She was as open and talkative as anyone you might meet on the street. Very cool, and we chatted for over 10 minutes before I remembered that others behind me might be getting impatient. And yes, there is an actual Farscape movie script in existence, straight from the Nebari.
Since the girlfriend bought a Marty POP! figure for me the other day, I grabbed Doc.
And the man that created one of my favorite movies as a kid, The Last Unicorn, Was promoting his national screening tour of the movie. Peter S. Beagle signed the DVD that I already owned for free and we had a great chat about the music from the film and his tour. I look forward to seeing him again in November.
And finally, some items from Artist Row:
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140907_22_46_21_Pro_zps7250095a.jpg[/img]
The Mario pixel interpretation is hilarious.
And some other pictures from the show:
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_13_52_46_Pro_zps925da59d.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_13_52_15_Pro_zpsd42f8978.jpg[/img]
[img width=450 height=800]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_13_09_42_Pro_zpsb4033c52.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_13_12_38_Pro_zps3d6d4a8f.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_17_41_50_Pro_zpsb9144011.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=393]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_13_34_34_Pro_zpsa08a4116.jpg[/img]
[img width=450 height=800]http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/EldredgeJ/WP_20140906_13_17_39_Pro_zps237b1dc1.jpg[/img]
Will I attend next year? It is really going to depend on the celebs and if the promoters consider slimming down the tickets sales by a bunch, which won't likely happen.
[img width=700 height=394]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d8/SteamOS_main_menu.jpg[/img]
For years, console gamers have stayed away from PC games because they prefer sitting on a couch and playing games with a controller on their TV sets. Thanks to the advent of HDTV, the future is now. With each day that passes, the line between console gaming and PC gaming is blurred even further. And while "next gen" consoles are now current gen, some of us have opted to just stick with PC's as our consoles of choice. The industry has recognized this trend and Valve has announced the living room friendly Steam Machine line of consoles which aim to tackle this exact niche. Unfortunately, official Steam Machines have been postponed to next year - or at least this holiday season, depending how you look at it. In the meantime, you can still have a console-like experience using your PC, and in this article, we'll talk about how to do so.
Continue reading So You Want To Set Up A Steam Box
It seemed too good to be true: I'd just picked up a nice bright-red "heavy" DS for just $4.00 at the local Savers thrift...
[img width=395 height=265]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/redds_zps3d1833cc.jpg[/img]
...only to find out it was too good to be true:
[img width=481 height=438]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/Score9-5-2014c_zps96e2c4b8.jpg[/img]
It was a tragedy no one should have to face, and one I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Forcing its way through the lead-dense wall of grief and sadness, however, was opportunity: I had another heavy DS that, while otherwise fully functional, lacked a battery and cover. It was a recipient in desperate need of a donor... which had just dropped into my hands. In my possession was the means of turning tragedy into triumph.
I had to perform a transplant operation, stat.
So I prepped the patients, and readied the specialized and highly sensitive surgical tools.
[img width=700 height=490]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans1_zpse79d2392.jpg[/img]
Before I could make the first incision, however, a most difficult step had to be made: taking the donor off life support.
[img width=466 height=501]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans2_zpsd162a6ec.jpg[/img]
The reassurances from the family that "this is what she would have wanted" did little to blunt my feelings of guilt, or lessen the emotional impact of pulling the plug. Fortunately, the battery and cover will maintain viability until they are fully incorporated into the recipient... if the procedure is performed quickly enough. There is no time to lose...
The moment of truth had arrived. I drew a deep breath. "All right," I stated with a mix of resignation and conviction, "let's do this."
[img width=651 height=545]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans3_zps8c4ba5a4.jpg[/img]
Fair warning: the following sequence of images is quite graphic and disturbing. They're not for the squeamish or faint of heart. Better escort the kids out of the room before you scroll down any further. On second thought, go ahead and force 'em to watch; emotional trauma builds character.
[img width=270 height=512]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans4_zpsa5a51454.jpg[/img]
[img width=531 height=532]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans5_zpsf06ddaa6.jpg[/img]
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[img width=606 height=492]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans7_zps9b2f92c9.jpg[/img]
The power I wield from literally holding another's life in my hand is downright overwhelming in its intensity. It's quite intoxicating, and not a little frightening. So this is what it's like to play God...
[img width=473 height=524]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans8_zpsd90a7eac.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=404]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans9_zps1fc9c196.jpg[/img]
All right, let's close 'er up.
[img width=438 height=540]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans10_zpscbd06960.jpg[/img]
[img width=479 height=546]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans11_zps14fafa63.jpg[/img]
And now we'll see if the patient pulled through.
[img width=448 height=411]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans12_zps31d3b5a3.jpg[/img]
Aaaaand...
[img width=509 height=520]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/dstrans13_zps552606f4.jpg[/img]
I couldn't help but shed a tear of joy for the life I'd saved. But this joy was a sweetness turned bitter by the sacrifice of one so that another may live. It was a profound and traumatic experience, one that showed me that nothing should betaken for granted in this life. My world would never be the same, ever again.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to sell this baby to the highest online bidder. 
BTW as I was putting this blog together, I thought to myself, I sure hope Duke.Togo won't experience any traumatic flashbacks while reading this. 
Speakin' of The Dukester, it's time for a bonus feature! Take a gander at what I discovered the other day at the Santa Clara Goodwill:
[img width=367 height=490]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/miracle1_zps2b2f55f2.jpg?t=1409981831[/img][img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/BilWat_zpsa9b4b1a0.jpg[/img]
That's right, kids: yet another boxed NES Miracle Piano. I opened 'er up to see if it contained the ever-elusive foot pedal that our esteemed CollectorCaster extraordinaire has been longing for.
[img width=653 height=490]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/miracle2_zps72653818.jpg?t=1409981897[/img][img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/BilHappy_zpsebe88522.jpg[/img]
Oh, the suspense...
[img width=653 height=490]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/miracle3_zps5ce63f46.jpg?t=1409981924[/img][img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/BilEcstatic_zpsbab8626a.jpg[/img]
Aaaaand...
[img width=653 height=490]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/miracle4_zps0ec0fc78.jpg[/img][img width=110 height=96]http://i1273.photobucket.com/albums/y409/Zagnorch/BilDisptd_zps70c91f0a.jpg[/img]
D'oh! Looks like I struck out yet again. Sorry if I got'cher hopes up there, Dukey. But fret not: considering how frequently I'm encountering Miracle Pianos at the thrifts, it's merely a matter of time...
'Late
[img width=550 height=482]http://www.rfgeneration.com/images/games/U-087/bf/U-087-S-08830-A.jpg[/img]
Suikoden Tierkreis was the second Suikoden game made by Konami for a non-Sony system and was the first to be released outside of Japan. The first, Suikoden Card Stories, was released on the Game Boy Advance (Japan exclusive) and is basically a retelling of Suikoden II as a trading card game. Though I have no idea what I'm doing in that game due to the language barrier, I do know what's going on in Tierkreis. Tierkreis was the first Suikoden game released since Suikoden V on the PS2, and was anxiously awaited by fans of the series, since there was about a three year gap between these releases.
Continue reading Psychotic Reviews: Suikoden Tierkreis
"Truth is not elusive. We avoid it. We do not desire honesty, as it makes us aware of our complicity. Truth is a singular shining light that burns away our comfortable illusions. Therefore, a child is not healthy to absorb the whole of any truth, and not one of us is yet fully grown." - Nights In Forever
In those formative years just before high school, I had next-door neighbors with a son a few years my senior. The only electronic entertainment in their home was a simple 13" color TV in his room with an NES and three or four games. Normally he'd come over and enjoy our larger gaming library and bigger TV, but my own family strife meant every now and then we'd grab a few games and head to his house, sacrificing screen size and gaming access for peace and quiet.
One day after school, I stopped by his home and found an unusual sight; his mother and older sister were in his room, boxy grey controllers in hand, playing the original Super Mario Bros. I'd known my friend for over a year and had no clue anyone else in his family played games; no one in mine ever did. I was further surprised to realize that his mother was in world six; who went there when the warp pipes bypassed all of that?
My friend told me we'd have to game at my place, seeing as his mom and sis would likely be at this 'till past bedtime. They took over the NES on occasion, and would exclusively play through Super Mario Bros. several times in a row, from the beginning until 8-4, and loop again.
Continue reading The Gaming Naive
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Welcome to the first of a monthly series about my favorite bad system. I thought we would take a look at the name. Why would you name a system "32X"?
First, there was 8-bit (Not really, but for the purposes of this discussion just go with it). What is 8-bit, what does it mean? In the case of the NES, the term 8-bit is referring to the 8-bit microprocessor that the NES used as a CPU. That means that, at most, the CPU can handle data units that are 8 bits (one octet) wide. The Nintendo Entertainment System and the Atari 2600, or VCS if you prefer, weren't heavily marketed as "8-bit machines". Probably because there was not another apples to apples comparison. There were no 4-bit machines. When the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis came along, they were both heavily marketed as 16-bit machines. And why not? 16 is twice as much as 8, it must be twice as good! The 16 bit marketing worked well for both machines as it clearly demonstrated, in familiar terms, just how much better this product was supposed to be. Towards the end of the 16 bit era, whispers of a 32 bit monster could be heard all across the X-Band waves...
Continue reading The 32X: The Best Worst System
[img width=610 height=343]http://media.edge-online.com/wp-content/uploads/edgeonline/2013/10/Kentucky-Route-Zero.jpg[/img]
I'll often step away from the grand scale RPGs I normally play to indulge in bite sized gaming experiences I can finish in a few hours. These shorter titles are ones that have fun gameplay or offer small nuggets of great stories. Kentucky Route Zero by Cardboard Computer falls into this second category
Continue reading Review: Kentucky Route Zero
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Enter 1990 (maybe early 1991). Hot from months of playing Final Fantasy (my introduction to the genre), I needed a new RPG to play, but I found my funds seriously lacking. So what do I turn to? The small wall of $20 games at the local game store. Of that lean selection of 15 or so games, there was one that caught my eye, with a description of "Action fantasy role playing" on the back of the box. With a joy that only children with extra funds can know, I bought Hydlide, unaware in the slightest the impact this game would have on my life as a gamer.
Continue reading Hydlide - Looking Into the Face of History
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