it's also worth noting that SMB was also sold 1:1 physically, and also generally on one platform (at a time, at least, til that 1996 milestone,) and at "full price" as a AAA title.
Also there are 2.X billion more people in the world in 2024 than 96 😆 adjusting just for that puts Terraria way behind again lol
Not to diminish the obvious success of this game (though I personally tried it in 2015 and found it horrible:)
This particular milestone is only impressive when you flatten the 4th dimension and stack the numbers right next to each other, as they've done. There will never be another SMB no matter what the numbers say.✌️
(Thinking historically is like drawing in 3 pt. perspective. Ignoring history to make an easy point is like conversational fingerpainting.)
i remember reading in game players that the virtua racing cart cast 99 USD and to 8 yr old me it might as well have been a million. they also praised the game itself to the moon.
side note it's hilarious to me that this is tagged "news" 😂
"By the time Mr. Gates and Mr. Epstein first met, Mr. Epstein had served jail time for soliciting prostitution from a minor and was required to register as a sex offender.
'His lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing although it would not work for me,' Mr. Gates emailed colleagues in 2011, after his first get-together with Mr. Epstein."
Some games just are worth more than 60 bucks, so I don't really see why someone would be wrong for thinking so, that was my point. ive actually never heard anyone begrudge someone else for thinking an old game was valuable, that's a wild take imo.
I personally have never paid even close to 60 dollars for a used game, but my collection includes a few valuable games including Earthbound, Rtype 3, Xenogears, and Metal Storm. 👍
i played gorillas on IBM with my step dad as a small child, and when I rented Worms in psx in grade school, we were amazed! We played for hours, turning off the time limits and just going for it with epic battles that lasted all afternoon. great memories!
I also enjoyed Armageddon when it came out, but OG worms will always be my favorite.
depression is crazy, it can inspire you to great art, or destroy the part if you that even wants to bother.
I grew up playing VGA games on DOS (Jill if the Jungle, anyone?) but I loved switching over to the other graphics modes just to see what changed and how they used to do things. I truly believe there is an "art" to making it all work in the audiences' mind with limited tools.
Btw your Doom map sounds amazing! what a cool idea 😎👍
I get what you are saying, and this is one of those cases where I believe there are no wrong answers, really ✌️
I think everyone, creators and consumers of "art," all, has their own "sweet spot" for what they consider the "right" amount of constraints, for their own reasons. I love chunky pixels, but it's really NES imo when things started to get really "artistic" with it, and low poly 3d, but again saturn and psx are probably the first consoles to do anything "beautiful" in a 3d style. and of course I can think of exceptions.
I will say that Dreamcast represents the "right amount" of constraints in both 2d and 3d, for me. 👍 most beautiful console.
"You can't claim you want an artists interpretation and then say that it should be dictated by a limited color set."
hearing artists say that creativity is encouraged by constraints is so very common, it's bordering on cliché. it's also a notion that I personally tend to agree with, though I'm not convinced EGA is the answer for everyone (nor do I think that's the case these people are making.) ✌️
PS - disclaimer: I didnt RT entire FA because TL so I DR.
As far as the tech goes, I'll bother with all that when the cost comes down. I wouldnt spend that kind of money, even if I had it!
Those sony Wega tvs were and are truly the holy grail, but my Sharp Xflat looks as good as anything has a right to, and has been reliable and performed perfectly. and it cost me 20 bucks from a neighbor's garage sale 😆 you just cant beat that!
"Anyways! LOL Never cared too much for the PS2. I was all about that Dreamcast It had one of the most amazing console launches of all time. It was just after the Summer of 1999, and video game-wise, to me, represented the end of the last greatest decade before computers ruined the world. lol"
YES, besides hating ps2 lol I fully agree with this entire statement. 👍 Dreamcast was the most HYPED I ever got for videogames!
(im a fan of complimentary opposites, and DC, PS2 and cube are probably the most complimentary trio in all of gaming. It's three wonderful flavors that taste even better together 😊 literally the ultimate expression of the "big three" before it was all ruined as you mentioned lol. and with the untimely death of the dreamcast it was all over tio soon.)
PS - 1998 through 2001 were absolutely the best years in videogames, and everyone agrees. 👍✌️
"... but Nintendo wasn't going to take 'just can't be accurately replicated without an original controller' for an answer!"
i agree with you! they didnt know what they were doing with the analog stick so they accidentally made it special (if flawed.)
I would say, there was a period after Nintendo messed around and perfected/cemented the soon to be standard layout with the SNES controller (BAXY diamond + shoulders,) where what you said applies to everything they did: Virtual Boy, N64, Gamecube, DS, Wii, and Wii U all have distinctive, aggressively creative controllers that can't just be mapped to any ol dualshock controller you have lying around.
This was the best time to be a Nintendo fan and I'm glad I was here for the ride ✌️ (statement of opinion, YMMV, all restrictions apply, see store for details)
One: the years of playing guitar, listening to music too loud, and live music have rounded off the top end of my hearing nicely, so I don't notice so much anymore 😅
Two: some CRTs are worse than others in this regard. 👍
there is literally nothing like playing Fzero GX on a nice big, snappy, colorful CRT with S-video Component inputs! Compared to that, everything ive played on Switch (and indeed, the entire "HD era,") is a fundamentally different experience. It's like a peek into a future that flat panels, online, the death of arcades, and the "cozyfication" of gaming took from us.
One perk of living in this particular s-hole is that I can afford to rent a decent size house for the money, to accommodate extra stuff like CRTs and things. in this way, I am blessed.
I found just the right little solid Cherry tv stand for my 13", with a shelf for a couple consoles and two(!) drawers for related accessories, cords and controllers. it fit right into my life and its just perfect. 😙🤌 if you TRULY dont have the space in your situation, i know thats a real tough or impossible constraint, but this setup really is quite compact for how much joy I'm getting from it.
I'm a furniture builder and wood finisher, and one project id like to take on is building perfect little stands for small crts, in order that people might find them just handy enough to make space for a legacy setup in their limited space. 👍
Thanks for sharing. 😊 I've read over both our comments a number of times, for some reason it is soothing for my mind, so thanks for that.
Videogames are powerful, aren't they? Most people understand the power of film and music, but unless you enjoy playing it seems that it completely eludes you that gaming can have similar effects on people, their hearts and minds, and relationships.
When I played Earthbound the first time, it was in the first few years that my dad had gone away. Let me tell you, that game SPOKE to me. it possessed me. It cleaned my wounds, and soothed my soul. I played it alone in my room, and felt like Shigesato Itoi was directly guiding me through the pain and confusion. I understood that I wasn't alone in the world, even though it felt like no one around me could possibly understand.
It sounds like your dad was a complex individual. I'm so happy for you that you were able to repair some of your relationship, and it sounds like you were able to process what had happened while he was still alive, and get some closure. What a blessing! I'm sure know this, but that's a rare and beautiful thing, and you can't just "think" your way to the same conclusion on your own, very easily at least. Believe me, I've tried!
I'm stunned at the parallels regarding hand drawn Zelda maps on dot matrix paper! 😯 Thinking back on it, I'm not surprised that Zelda inspired more people to do the same thing, as it was such a unique game for its day, and basically BEGGED to be mapped out in a way that few other games had at the time.
I remember the first time I played it, the feeling of "hold on... I can just do WHATEVER?" was so strong and distinctive. every other game id played had such a prescriptive path, with high pressure from ninjas or commandos or what have you coming on strong from the very start, or even time limits! Zelda was such a nice relief by comparison. Maybe that's why my dad liked it. 🤔
It sounds like you've experienced a lot of loss, in quick succession. I'm sorry for that, friend. It does seem to come in horrible waves, in my experience. We have to REALLY appreciate the good times, the points of light that inevitably peek out between the shadows. Nurse the embers of goodness in our lives into cozy campfires to share with the great people we've gathered around us, in order to stay warm in the darker times, or else be consumed by the darkness.
It sounds like music is one way you've found to do that, and I think that's great! I play guitar, too, though I have a really hard time expressing my feelings concretely through music, in words. It's a journey!
I hope you have a good day, wherever you are. Mine is just starting. ✌️
Apparently I live in the land of plenty: I picked up another late-model CRT, this time a 2001 RCA 27" with s-video for 5 bucks, and a 13" Sanyo that I got specifically to give to a friend. No idea what to do with the RCA yet, as I already have a 27" Sharp xflat that I play ps2 and cube on, and a 13" JVC that i enjoy for older consoles. 👍 i also have a ~20" Symphonic crt that I don't know what to do with! If they weren't such a pain to ship, I'd offer them up here to you all ✌️
one day perhaps I'll try getting my legacy consoles working on the big screen but for now I'm enjoying the CRTs while they last!
You'll never stop thinking of him, but it does get less painful over time. Maybe youve already felt that happening, but it will come.
I played OG Zelda with my dad. he was an "outdoors" kind of guy, and to my knowledge, it was the only game he had any interest in. He even came across (NO idea how he managed this) maps that someone had hand drawn on graph paper, on big connected pages like from a dot matrix type printer! they looked like blueprints of the game, and even had notations with clues for the puzzles and locations of secret items, bombable walls and things. this must have been 89 or 90.
I cherish these memories. My dad was an addict, an alcoholic, and just a troubled guy. I knew he loved me, but he took off when I was 8, and never talked to me again. I was 33 when he died, 5 years ago. He was only 59 years old. I thought I still had more time to build up the courage to reach out to him, but it doesn't always work out like you think, obviously.
I played SMB with my gpa, it was my first game ever (along with Duck Hunt! 🤘🤘) and we played it until we beat it. I instantly fell in love with gaming.
He had little interest in 2 and 3, but when SNES came out, we both got one for XMAS that year! and World, of course. Let me tell you, we played the heck out of that game! over the course of playing and eventually beating that game, I felt my skills slowly eclipse his. I felt like I was growing up, haha 😂 I loved playing Mario with him because we would watch each other play when it wasnt our turn, and learn from each other, and cheer each other on. it was the best time I ever had playing videogames and to be honest, I will be chasing that feeling likely for the rest of my life, especially since at this point I'll likely not be having kids of my own.
He eventually developed Lewy Body Dementia, and died April 10, 2021.
He was my best friend.
(Sorry for oversharing, haha. it feels good to talk about it, in a way. ✌️ If you want to talk about your dad to an anonymous stranger, I'm here.)
after decades of innovation, ambitious controller design, handheld-console cross play, etc etc, I find it a bit disheartening that Nintendo's "best console" is the PSP-like underpowered one with uninspired (and tbh, out of the box, terrible) controls.
I love my Switch and it's my no-second-guessing clear choice for this generation, but articles like this reinforce my opinion that Nintendo's real "competition" is emulation of its own legacy, not besting the standards it set for itself during its golden age.
no apology necessary, my friend! it's all ancient history. ✌️ daydreaming, history, and counterfactuals are all we have left, along with our memories and aging consoles 😂
I agree that MGS2 had alot to do with the popularity of the PS2! in the ballpark of DVD playback and PS1 backwards compatibility.
Typical year 2000 gamer conversation:
You like games?
yah.
Me too what's your favorite?
well Earthbound, but right now I'm into Shenmue and Toy Commander. ✌️
I got a dreamcast for my birthday that year, 1 month after release. I had such high hopes for that console, and I spread the good word for that entire glorious 18 months, bringing it to every gathering, birthday party, etc etc. it's the only time I can remember EVERYONE taking turns playing, EVERYONE wanted to get into Soul Calibur, NFL2K, Crazy Taxi. NO one could believe what they were seeing! It was the biggest perceptible technological jump of my lifetime, like a miracle!
Like you, DC owners were rare in my area. In actual fact, I never met a single other person who had one during it's short life, and to this day I have one other friend who does. It felt like my own little portal into the future!
Nevertheless, the writing was on the wall already when I saw MGS2 fir the first time, and realized there was no way I was missing out on the sequel to MGS. It did feel like I was betraying my DC, but I'd have happily supported both consoles at the same time. they were the Genesis/MD + SNES of their time, like peanut butter and jam.
For the record I still have both, and they are probably still my two personal favorite Nontendo consoles ever. 👍
"I am convinced that if Sega paid enough to make MGS2 exclusive, they would have won the console war."
btw, I hadn't ever heard this. was this in the cards at one point?
i was disappointed initially as well, but then the game proceeded to blow my 15 year old mind, and become one of my personal favorite videogame experiences of all time 🤯
(ps the 'boat' chapter of this game was indeed a new benchmark for attention to detail and interactivity in a game! I'll never forget what a wonder that was at the time 🥂)
some heavy projection going on there, friend. surely, some people were encouraged by the dvd playing ability, while others didnt care about that, or already had a dvd player (✋.)
for me, the main selling point of the playstation 2 was that it was the new playstation, broadly, and Metal Gear Solid 2, specifically. 👍 it ended up being one pf the best games consoles of all time, while i personally played very few dvds on it ever, and never found it to be a particularly great player. ✌️
"I know that one and several others on the list too."
I thought this would be the case 😊
"Shame they dropped out of the industry in 1995."
indeed! If either has non vgm music available I would be interested in hearing it. it's just good stuff, no matter the format!
"And that Pictionary theme goes harder then it has any right to do."
I must agree! 😅 it's almost like they didn't know what game they were writing for, and I love it!
if somehow you've missed the Plok OST, the song "beach" is something like if genesis and stevie wonder collaborated. 😆 lots of great ones on there, and a pretty good game, to boot. ✌️
I still have my 1985 IBM model M keyboard, which i used all the time back in my desktop computer days. GREAT piece of gear, in terms of function, aesthetics, and size. it must weight at least 5lbs! 😅
now, i barely ever use a "computer," and when I do, it's not for any kind of fun.
this stuff all looks great, though 👍
quick question: can you use these keyboards with Switch in any way?
I love this idea (ive wanted a pressure sensitive dpad since the PS2s underused one) but it would require both a lot of r and d by the manufacturer, and possibly games designed for it. at least thats what im thinking 👍
light criticism: one thing lacking in these reviews, often, is relatable context, or even some hard number dimensions.
specifically, "the D-pad was actually a pleasant surprise. While it is small, it's also precise and accurate."
okay, thats cool and fine, but I still have no idea how to visualize the size of the dpad. is it the same size as the gameboy advance dpad? smaller? how about a dimension across, in millimeters, say?
otherwise, good review, and this looks great! ill likely pass on it due to the small controls (I'm 6'3") but OTOH, i have no problem with the GBAs controls...
Comments 950
Re: "We Passed A Somewhat-Obscure Game About A Plumber" - Terraria Overtakes Super Mario Bros.
@Blast16
"it was pack-in success too"
yes and also remember that the NES was a total gamble, in the aftermath of "the collapse."
"that’s even more impressive as this game alone sold millions of consoles"
one could almost see the NES as a pack in success for being bundled with SMB rather than the other way around 😆✌️
Re: "We Passed A Somewhat-Obscure Game About A Plumber" - Terraria Overtakes Super Mario Bros.
@Captain-N
it's also worth noting that SMB was also sold 1:1 physically, and also generally on one platform (at a time, at least, til that 1996 milestone,) and at "full price" as a AAA title.
Also there are 2.X billion more people in the world in 2024 than 96 😆 adjusting just for that puts Terraria way behind again lol
Re: "We Passed A Somewhat-Obscure Game About A Plumber" - Terraria Overtakes Super Mario Bros.
Not to diminish the obvious success of this game (though I personally tried it in 2015 and found it horrible:)
This particular milestone is only impressive when you flatten the 4th dimension and stack the numbers right next to each other, as they've done. There will never be another SMB no matter what the numbers say.✌️
(Thinking historically is like drawing in 3 pt. perspective. Ignoring history to make an easy point is like conversational fingerpainting.)
Re: Super-Camp Shmup Series 'Cho Aniki' Is Making A Comeback
Historically, the psx sequel was translated to "Chou Aniki: Great Brother"
the new standard is probably more accurate but I think it's interesting to follow along, through the years.
these are good games! I remember how "craaazy!" they were perceived back in the day, and it makes me chuckle. Times change!
EDIT - in case anyone doesn't believe me, or is curious, here's an undated but clearly old blog post about the game:
https://www.geocities.ws/loserv21/chouaniki.html
CONTENT WARNING: homophobia and unseemly language typical of the bad old days ✌️
Re: Genesis Virtua Racing Port Almost Cost As Much As The Console Itself, Thanks To The SVP Chip
i remember reading in game players that the virtua racing cart cast 99 USD and to 8 yr old me it might as well have been a million. they also praised the game itself to the moon.
side note it's hilarious to me that this is tagged "news" 😂
Re: 1980s Radio Show With Guests Such As Bill Gates, Gene Roddenberry And Douglas Adams Is Being Preserved
Per New York Times:
"By the time Mr. Gates and Mr. Epstein first met, Mr. Epstein had served jail time for soliciting prostitution from a minor and was required to register as a sex offender.
'His lifestyle is very different and kind of intriguing although it would not work for me,' Mr. Gates emailed colleagues in 2011, after his first get-together with Mr. Epstein."
👎
Re: Random: Used Book Retailer Half Price Books Is Selling Zelda: Minish Cap For $400
@Yousef-
Some games just are worth more than 60 bucks, so I don't really see why someone would be wrong for thinking so, that was my point. ive actually never heard anyone begrudge someone else for thinking an old game was valuable, that's a wild take imo.
I personally have never paid even close to 60 dollars for a used game, but my collection includes a few valuable games including Earthbound, Rtype 3, Xenogears, and Metal Storm. 👍
Re: Random: Used Book Retailer Half Price Books Is Selling Zelda: Minish Cap For $400
@PinballBuzzbro
"Anyone who thinks a game is worth any price above 60 dollars is up their own arse lmao."
I have a bunch of games that I think are worth more than 60 dollars. What are you saying, here?
Re: GBA-Style JRPG 'Tako no Himitsu' Has Golden Sun And Terranigma Staff Involved
looks fab, if it comes out ill buy it 👍
Re: Konami's Jackal Hits Arcade Archives On Switch And PS4 This Week
i got weirdly confronted last time i pointed this out, but this is yet another arcade game that was better on NES. ✌️
(not that im turning my nose up at the arcade version!)
(aaand the Jackal music is now looping in my head. see jeep, hear Jackal 😄)
Re: Random: This Custom Controller Is The Coolest Way To Play Super Monkey Ball
1 ) this is cool and the guy is clearly brilliant
2 ) the headline is false, because the arcade cabinet already has BANANA
3 ) you famously "control" your monkey(ball) in game by tilting the entire stage, not rolling the ball directly, so this is a little weird to me
4 ) i miss large trackballs with inertia in arcades a la brunswick bowling 🥲
5 ) a controller which is like a giant analog stick, with a large flat platform that you tilt using both hands would be a cool way to play this game
Re: The Making Of: Worms, The Bedroom-Coded Classic That Spawned A Million-Selling Series
i played gorillas on IBM with my step dad as a small child, and when I rented Worms in psx in grade school, we were amazed! We played for hours, turning off the time limits and just going for it with epic battles that lasted all afternoon. great memories!
I also enjoyed Armageddon when it came out, but OG worms will always be my favorite.
Worms collection on Switch, when? ✌️
Re: Tekken 3 Co-Director Shares The Story Behind King's Iconic Player 2 Design
@KitsuneNight
where I'm from, I think we say "tidbit."
"tomato, tomato." ✌️
Re: "I Have No Interest In 3D Games" - Meet The Devs Keeping EGA Alive In The Modern Day
@Azuris
depression is crazy, it can inspire you to great art, or destroy the part if you that even wants to bother.
I grew up playing VGA games on DOS (Jill if the Jungle, anyone?) but I loved switching over to the other graphics modes just to see what changed and how they used to do things. I truly believe there is an "art" to making it all work in the audiences' mind with limited tools.
Btw your Doom map sounds amazing! what a cool idea 😎👍
Re: "I Have No Interest In 3D Games" - Meet The Devs Keeping EGA Alive In The Modern Day
@Poodlestargenerica
I get what you are saying, and this is one of those cases where I believe there are no wrong answers, really ✌️
I think everyone, creators and consumers of "art," all, has their own "sweet spot" for what they consider the "right" amount of constraints, for their own reasons. I love chunky pixels, but it's really NES imo when things started to get really "artistic" with it, and low poly 3d, but again saturn and psx are probably the first consoles to do anything "beautiful" in a 3d style. and of course I can think of exceptions.
I will say that Dreamcast represents the "right amount" of constraints in both 2d and 3d, for me. 👍 most beautiful console.
Am I still on topic? It's early. ✌️
Re: "I Have No Interest In 3D Games" - Meet The Devs Keeping EGA Alive In The Modern Day
@Poodlestargenerica
"You can't claim you want an artists interpretation and then say that it should be dictated by a limited color set."
hearing artists say that creativity is encouraged by constraints is so very common, it's bordering on cliché. it's also a notion that I personally tend to agree with, though I'm not convinced EGA is the answer for everyone (nor do I think that's the case these people are making.) ✌️
PS - disclaimer: I didnt RT entire FA because TL so I DR.
Re: "I Have No Interest In 3D Games" - Meet The Devs Keeping EGA Alive In The Modern Day
@Azuris
"Just compare Yoshis Island to Tekken"
reckon this is the first and last time I'll ever be instructed to do so 🤔 😂
Re: This $30 PS2 HDMI Module Is Mod-Free And Lag-Free
@WaveBoy
As far as the tech goes, I'll bother with all that when the cost comes down. I wouldnt spend that kind of money, even if I had it!
Those sony Wega tvs were and are truly the holy grail, but my Sharp Xflat looks as good as anything has a right to, and has been reliable and performed perfectly. and it cost me 20 bucks from a neighbor's garage sale 😆 you just cant beat that!
"Anyways! LOL Never cared too much for the PS2. I was all about that Dreamcast It had one of the most amazing console launches of all time. It was just after the Summer of 1999, and video game-wise, to me, represented the end of the last greatest decade before computers ruined the world. lol"
YES, besides hating ps2 lol I fully agree with this entire statement. 👍 Dreamcast was the most HYPED I ever got for videogames!
(im a fan of complimentary opposites, and DC, PS2 and cube are probably the most complimentary trio in all of gaming. It's three wonderful flavors that taste even better together 😊 literally the ultimate expression of the "big three" before it was all ruined as you mentioned lol. and with the untimely death of the dreamcast it was all over tio soon.)
PS - 1998 through 2001 were absolutely the best years in videogames, and everyone agrees. 👍✌️
Re: Tekken 3 Co-Director Shares The Story Behind King's Iconic Player 2 Design
"the coolest any fighting game character has ever looked"
-references thumbnail-
🧐 🤔
Re: "It's The Worst" - Perfect Dark Expert Delivers Withering Verdict Of Nintendo Switch Port
@Yousef-
thats a nice way to put it! 😆👍
Re: "It's The Worst" - Perfect Dark Expert Delivers Withering Verdict Of Nintendo Switch Port
@BulkSlash
"... but Nintendo wasn't going to take 'just can't be accurately replicated without an original controller' for an answer!"
i agree with you! they didnt know what they were doing with the analog stick so they accidentally made it special (if flawed.)
I would say, there was a period after Nintendo messed around and perfected/cemented the soon to be standard layout with the SNES controller (BAXY diamond + shoulders,) where what you said applies to everything they did: Virtual Boy, N64, Gamecube, DS, Wii, and Wii U all have distinctive, aggressively creative controllers that can't just be mapped to any ol dualshock controller you have lying around.
This was the best time to be a Nintendo fan and I'm glad I was here for the ride ✌️ (statement of opinion, YMMV, all restrictions apply, see store for details)
Re: This $30 PS2 HDMI Module Is Mod-Free And Lag-Free
@Poodlestargenerica
I have two thoughts on the matter.
One: the years of playing guitar, listening to music too loud, and live music have rounded off the top end of my hearing nicely, so I don't notice so much anymore 😅
Two: some CRTs are worse than others in this regard. 👍
there is literally nothing like playing Fzero GX on a nice big, snappy, colorful CRT with S-video Component inputs! Compared to that, everything ive played on Switch (and indeed, the entire "HD era,") is a fundamentally different experience. It's like a peek into a future that flat panels, online, the death of arcades, and the "cozyfication" of gaming took from us.
Re: "It's The Worst" - Perfect Dark Expert Delivers Withering Verdict Of Nintendo Switch Port
Nintendo, what has happened to you? 😢
Re: This $30 PS2 HDMI Module Is Mod-Free And Lag-Free
@GameGear1991
One perk of living in this particular s-hole is that I can afford to rent a decent size house for the money, to accommodate extra stuff like CRTs and things. in this way, I am blessed.
I found just the right little solid Cherry tv stand for my 13", with a shelf for a couple consoles and two(!) drawers for related accessories, cords and controllers. it fit right into my life and its just perfect. 😙🤌 if you TRULY dont have the space in your situation, i know thats a real tough or impossible constraint, but this setup really is quite compact for how much joy I'm getting from it.
I'm a furniture builder and wood finisher, and one project id like to take on is building perfect little stands for small crts, in order that people might find them just handy enough to make space for a legacy setup in their limited space. 👍
Re: Review: Anbernic RG28XX - A Delightfully Dinky Emulation Handheld
Thanks for sharing. 😊 I've read over both our comments a number of times, for some reason it is soothing for my mind, so thanks for that.
Videogames are powerful, aren't they? Most people understand the power of film and music, but unless you enjoy playing it seems that it completely eludes you that gaming can have similar effects on people, their hearts and minds, and relationships.
When I played Earthbound the first time, it was in the first few years that my dad had gone away. Let me tell you, that game SPOKE to me. it possessed me. It cleaned my wounds, and soothed my soul. I played it alone in my room, and felt like Shigesato Itoi was directly guiding me through the pain and confusion. I understood that I wasn't alone in the world, even though it felt like no one around me could possibly understand.
It sounds like your dad was a complex individual. I'm so happy for you that you were able to repair some of your relationship, and it sounds like you were able to process what had happened while he was still alive, and get some closure. What a blessing! I'm sure know this, but that's a rare and beautiful thing, and you can't just "think" your way to the same conclusion on your own, very easily at least. Believe me, I've tried!
I'm stunned at the parallels regarding hand drawn Zelda maps on dot matrix paper! 😯 Thinking back on it, I'm not surprised that Zelda inspired more people to do the same thing, as it was such a unique game for its day, and basically BEGGED to be mapped out in a way that few other games had at the time.
I remember the first time I played it, the feeling of "hold on... I can just do WHATEVER?" was so strong and distinctive. every other game id played had such a prescriptive path, with high pressure from ninjas or commandos or what have you coming on strong from the very start, or even time limits! Zelda was such a nice relief by comparison. Maybe that's why my dad liked it. 🤔
It sounds like you've experienced a lot of loss, in quick succession. I'm sorry for that, friend. It does seem to come in horrible waves, in my experience. We have to REALLY appreciate the good times, the points of light that inevitably peek out between the shadows. Nurse the embers of goodness in our lives into cozy campfires to share with the great people we've gathered around us, in order to stay warm in the darker times, or else be consumed by the darkness.
It sounds like music is one way you've found to do that, and I think that's great! I play guitar, too, though I have a really hard time expressing my feelings concretely through music, in words. It's a journey!
I hope you have a good day, wherever you are. Mine is just starting. ✌️
Re: This $30 PS2 HDMI Module Is Mod-Free And Lag-Free
Apparently I live in the land of plenty: I picked up another late-model CRT, this time a 2001 RCA 27" with s-video for 5 bucks, and a 13" Sanyo that I got specifically to give to a friend. No idea what to do with the RCA yet, as I already have a 27" Sharp xflat that I play ps2 and cube on, and a 13" JVC that i enjoy for older consoles. 👍 i also have a ~20" Symphonic crt that I don't know what to do with! If they weren't such a pain to ship, I'd offer them up here to you all ✌️
one day perhaps I'll try getting my legacy consoles working on the big screen but for now I'm enjoying the CRTs while they last!
Re: Review: Anbernic RG28XX - A Delightfully Dinky Emulation Handheld
@Guitar_bard
You'll never stop thinking of him, but it does get less painful over time. Maybe youve already felt that happening, but it will come.
I played OG Zelda with my dad. he was an "outdoors" kind of guy, and to my knowledge, it was the only game he had any interest in. He even came across (NO idea how he managed this) maps that someone had hand drawn on graph paper, on big connected pages like from a dot matrix type printer! they looked like blueprints of the game, and even had notations with clues for the puzzles and locations of secret items, bombable walls and things. this must have been 89 or 90.
I cherish these memories. My dad was an addict, an alcoholic, and just a troubled guy. I knew he loved me, but he took off when I was 8, and never talked to me again. I was 33 when he died, 5 years ago. He was only 59 years old. I thought I still had more time to build up the courage to reach out to him, but it doesn't always work out like you think, obviously.
I played SMB with my gpa, it was my first game ever (along with Duck Hunt! 🤘🤘) and we played it until we beat it. I instantly fell in love with gaming.
He had little interest in 2 and 3, but when SNES came out, we both got one for XMAS that year! and World, of course. Let me tell you, we played the heck out of that game! over the course of playing and eventually beating that game, I felt my skills slowly eclipse his. I felt like I was growing up, haha 😂 I loved playing Mario with him because we would watch each other play when it wasnt our turn, and learn from each other, and cheer each other on. it was the best time I ever had playing videogames and to be honest, I will be chasing that feeling likely for the rest of my life, especially since at this point I'll likely not be having kids of my own.
He eventually developed Lewy Body Dementia, and died April 10, 2021.
He was my best friend.
(Sorry for oversharing, haha. it feels good to talk about it, in a way. ✌️ If you want to talk about your dad to an anonymous stranger, I'm here.)
Re: Review: Anbernic RG28XX - A Delightfully Dinky Emulation Handheld
@Poodlestargenerica
"What a tone deaf and weird comment."
I have to always remind myself that these boards are anonymous and open to all, and some people here are like 13 years old (one would hope.) ✌️
Re: Review: Anbernic RG28XX - A Delightfully Dinky Emulation Handheld
@Guitar_bard
I play Zelda and think of my dad, I play SMB and think of my gpa. 🥲 more power to you, I think videogames in nature is a lovely, wholesome idea. ❤️
Re: It's Insane How Much 'Zelda' Is On Switch, And That's Why It's Nintendo's Best Console
@GameGear1991
excellent comment, great point
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ would reply again
Re: It's Insane How Much 'Zelda' Is On Switch, And That's Why It's Nintendo's Best Console
CONTENT WARNING: UNPOPULAR OPINION
after decades of innovation, ambitious controller design, handheld-console cross play, etc etc, I find it a bit disheartening that Nintendo's "best console" is the PSP-like underpowered one with uninspired (and tbh, out of the box, terrible) controls.
I love my Switch and it's my no-second-guessing clear choice for this generation, but articles like this reinforce my opinion that Nintendo's real "competition" is emulation of its own legacy, not besting the standards it set for itself during its golden age.
Re: Review: SAROO - A $60 Sega Saturn Flash Cart That's Worth Every Penny
i miss my saturn so much 😣
Re: Poll: What Do You Think Of Jo's New Look In Perfect Dark?
OMFG why did I read these comments? 😒
Re: Talking Point: Is Nintendo Erasing Its Own History In Its War On ROM Sites?
@LadyCharlie
great comment! I came here to say something similar but assuredly less clever. 😆
btw, I am sure you meant "...I hope Nintendo understands, this is not a war they can win." or similar. ✌️
Re: Unseen Raw Footage Of E3 2001 Shows Why The Defunct Event Was Such A Huge Deal
good to see the Sack get some attention on here! Great channel!
Re: Modern Vintage Gamer Digs Into The PS2's Much-Hyped "Emotion Engine"
@Sketcz
no apology necessary, my friend! it's all ancient history. ✌️ daydreaming, history, and counterfactuals are all we have left, along with our memories and aging consoles 😂
I agree that MGS2 had alot to do with the popularity of the PS2! in the ballpark of DVD playback and PS1 backwards compatibility.
Typical year 2000 gamer conversation:
You like games?
yah.
Me too what's your favorite?
well Earthbound, but right now I'm into Shenmue and Toy Commander. ✌️
😐😑😐
Re: Modern Vintage Gamer Digs Into The PS2's Much-Hyped "Emotion Engine"
@Sketcz
I got a dreamcast for my birthday that year, 1 month after release. I had such high hopes for that console, and I spread the good word for that entire glorious 18 months, bringing it to every gathering, birthday party, etc etc. it's the only time I can remember EVERYONE taking turns playing, EVERYONE wanted to get into Soul Calibur, NFL2K, Crazy Taxi. NO one could believe what they were seeing! It was the biggest perceptible technological jump of my lifetime, like a miracle!
Like you, DC owners were rare in my area. In actual fact, I never met a single other person who had one during it's short life, and to this day I have one other friend who does. It felt like my own little portal into the future!
Nevertheless, the writing was on the wall already when I saw MGS2 fir the first time, and realized there was no way I was missing out on the sequel to MGS. It did feel like I was betraying my DC, but I'd have happily supported both consoles at the same time. they were the Genesis/MD + SNES of their time, like peanut butter and jam.
For the record I still have both, and they are probably still my two personal favorite Nontendo consoles ever. 👍
"I am convinced that if Sega paid enough to make MGS2 exclusive, they would have won the console war."
btw, I hadn't ever heard this. was this in the cards at one point?
Re: Modern Vintage Gamer Digs Into The PS2's Much-Hyped "Emotion Engine"
@jimmytodgers
i was disappointed initially as well, but then the game proceeded to blow my 15 year old mind, and become one of my personal favorite videogame experiences of all time 🤯
(ps the 'boat' chapter of this game was indeed a new benchmark for attention to detail and interactivity in a game! I'll never forget what a wonder that was at the time 🥂)
Re: Modern Vintage Gamer Digs Into The PS2's Much-Hyped "Emotion Engine"
@mwatcher
some heavy projection going on there, friend. surely, some people were encouraged by the dvd playing ability, while others didnt care about that, or already had a dvd player (✋.)
for me, the main selling point of the playstation 2 was that it was the new playstation, broadly, and Metal Gear Solid 2, specifically. 👍 it ended up being one pf the best games consoles of all time, while i personally played very few dvds on it ever, and never found it to be a particularly great player. ✌️
Re: Limited Run's New "PC Micro Edition" Hasn't Gone Down Well With Some Fans
They never bother to ask themselves, "Does this look low-effort?"
Re: Review: Razer Edge - A Little Blunt In 2024, But Still A Solid Emulation Option
rounded display corners? absolutely not.
Re: Meet The Man Behind The $99 MiSTer Clone That's Changing FPGA Gaming Forever
@Nahhhtendo
lolol 🥂
Re: Meet The Man Behind The $99 MiSTer Clone That's Changing FPGA Gaming Forever
@Nahhhtendo
https://youtu.be/0wALArd2rvo
Re: Video Game Music Legend Geoff Follin Has Passed Away
@Ruler-Of-All-Evil
I cant imagine what that's supposed to mean 🤔
@KitsuneNight
"I know that one and several others on the list too."
I thought this would be the case 😊
"Shame they dropped out of the industry in 1995."
indeed! If either has non vgm music available I would be interested in hearing it. it's just good stuff, no matter the format!
"And that Pictionary theme goes harder then it has any right to do."
I must agree! 😅 it's almost like they didn't know what game they were writing for, and I love it!
if somehow you've missed the Plok OST, the song "beach" is something like if genesis and stevie wonder collaborated. 😆 lots of great ones on there, and a pretty good game, to boot. ✌️
Re: Video Game Music Legend Geoff Follin Has Passed Away
@KitsuneNight
My friend! Please indulge in the greatness of the Follins!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeih6YWB_TKFO4KALPPcQISxILFqWmFnA&si=E1Fnr96BBvKR94c4
RIP Geoff, it is a sad day indeed. My heart goes out to Tim.
PS - for anyone interested, the Tim Follin interview episode of The Legacy Music Hour belongs in the Podcast Hall of Fame. 👍👍
https://youtu.be/idilpAOYKio?si=hzDPno5XAng1-MOH
Re: Evercade Alpha Is A Bartop Arcade System Packed With Capcom Games
@rob7979
" 8” High-Resolution IPS 4:3 Screen"
"H-410mm X W-244mm X D-316mm"
👍
Re: 8BitDo Just Dramatically Expanded Its Keyboard Range
I still have my 1985 IBM model M keyboard, which i used all the time back in my desktop computer days. GREAT piece of gear, in terms of function, aesthetics, and size. it must weight at least 5lbs! 😅
now, i barely ever use a "computer," and when I do, it's not for any kind of fun.
this stuff all looks great, though 👍
quick question: can you use these keyboards with Switch in any way?
Re: Ever Wondered What The Symbols On The PlayStation Controller Really Mean?
This comment section is making me irrationally cranky.
Re: Review: Anbernic RG28XX - A Delightfully Dinky Emulation Handheld
@cyxceven
I love this idea (ive wanted a pressure sensitive dpad since the PS2s underused one) but it would require both a lot of r and d by the manufacturer, and possibly games designed for it. at least thats what im thinking 👍
Re: Review: Anbernic RG28XX - A Delightfully Dinky Emulation Handheld
light criticism: one thing lacking in these reviews, often, is relatable context, or even some hard number dimensions.
specifically, "the D-pad was actually a pleasant surprise. While it is small, it's also precise and accurate."
okay, thats cool and fine, but I still have no idea how to visualize the size of the dpad. is it the same size as the gameboy advance dpad? smaller? how about a dimension across, in millimeters, say?
otherwise, good review, and this looks great! ill likely pass on it due to the small controls (I'm 6'3") but OTOH, i have no problem with the GBAs controls...
thanks 😊✌️