@WaveBoy Why can everyone not disagree today healthly? Everything has to be black or white thinking or hyper-polarised = caused by the cult of social media. No nuance or critical faculties.
If it is not a live service never ending FPS or an interactive cinematic movie pretending to be a game, what do the current generation of consoles like Series X and PS5 have to offer?
Super Monkey Ball would never get made today as just one pertient example, only 25 years later...
@WaveBoy People became even more individualistic and insular during Corona Virus and the Pandemic and have never went back. Technology is just a facilitator, to avoid human conversation and contact now plus empathy and basic responsibilities..
Great, I will just stick with the past and jump in and finally get an OLED original SWITCH and start amassing a physical collection for that next at long last, starting a decade late...
Most of Sony and Microsoft's content plus interactive movie games or FPS shooters do not interest me, and I have felt that way since the end of the Wii/360/PS3 generation...
One of my PS5 owning friends is not happy, and will sell his PS5 as he states he will own his entertainment not rent it digitally to a corporation. He is going PC, especially with PS6 likely costing at least a grand to purchase with component pricing when you could create a much higher spec PC machine...
I hope this plan comes back to bite SONY as the games industry could really do with a serious shakeup hardware wise.
That SNK Neo Geo console re-release looks even more appealling now...
There is a very good write up over at GI Biz by long time contributor and ex editor Rob Fahey about the whole Microsoft strategy this last decade.
"Can a top-down, focused software strategy save Xbox? | Opinion"
"The reality, though, is that slashing 3,200 jobs doesn't make much of a dent in the financial troubles of a department that's burned through $20 billion with nothing to show for it in the space of a few years. It's not nothing – direct employee costs and ancillary costs racked up on the projects they were working on probably amounts to about half a billion dollars a year – but on the scale of Microsoft's accounting, that's at least living right next door to nothing."
Worth a read, for wider perspective as is his weekly Friday column each seven days.
I stumbled across a comedy instagram account with videos called "The Warp Zone" yesterday. It's a bit like Saturday Night Live but dedicated to geek culture and videogames.
The funniest stuff was easily/definitely the series called "1 Gamer v 20 CEOs"
Kind of hit the nail on the head with these developers being gutted by Billion Dollar companies regularly and still posting record profits year on year...
I just bought a Rubiks Cube Magic Star Puzzle that interlocks into 2 pieces and can produce a novelty array of different shapes. Not as complex as the Rubiks Cube but easier to get into. When I was very young, I was obsessed with this simpler interconnecting and shape making puzzle. I found one in Tesco yesterday for a 50th birthday goody bag of fun things with Rubiks colours for extra novelty. You have no idea how pleased I was they still make them!
I miss not knowing about games and going blind on a boxart, or just a quick 5 min playthough at an import/indie shop or just a couple of screenshots previews/review in a magazine in Japanese!
@MisterStu Ah you are right, recalls copious shots from UK Resistence back in the day...
Sonic does have blue sky and that Green Hill Zone feel plus music is pure concentrated happy blue sky it's like the very first thing I think of/springs to mind internally to be honest...
If SEGA could bottle that feeling of nostalgia in carbonated form they would sell a truck load!
Game sold the Megadrive/Genesis as a sparkly fresh speedy antithesis to Super Mario during the 16 bit era, plus I am sure this is where the "blue sky in games" ethos/meme/philosophy originates from...
I always associate it with the early days of the 16 bit industry, the battle with Nintendo, Sonic 2- Tuesday 90s-early 93 having missed Sonic CD, Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles as well!
Then eventually jumping back in with Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast which was a bit of a mess, Sonic Adventure 2 was better, and then SEGA goes third party and the mascot starts appearing everywhere!
Sonic Rush games on DS I enjoyed, and Advance titles as more true to 16 bit origins.
He Man game inspired by Golden Axe looks impressive and very true to cartoon.
I would highly recommend going to see the new film in the cinema it was a 09/10 in my book, Skeletor was Oscar worthy nearly. It was also pitched just at the right seriousness/comedy level, plus really captured spirit of 80s toyline while being different from Dolph Lundgren 1987 version...
Was above my expectations by a long way and directed by same chap that did Transformers Bumblebee.
Shame it seemed to have bombed at box office. Maybe 20 years too late for the nostalgia wave.
Really nice article, long read. I have a complete set of M.A.S.K. comics by Fleetway they are amazing in quality and artwork really enhanced the universe beyond the cartoon and 1980s toys.
@Martin_H What level of emulation does the Anbernic RG Cube XX go up to Martin?
I have an Anbernic that is great for 16 bit and 2D games then Neo Geo but struggles beyond that. Ideally looking for something a little more powerful for 32bit, N64 and or Dreamcast?
I am suprised Pixar won this case, it's as if nobody in history will now be allowed to create a character from a unicycle and there is only so many ways you can make it move having one wheel and a saddle!
I bet it was because the cover boxart had a red coloured unicycle on it.
Only played on emulation but it is pretty fun and addictive.
That is an interesting fact/legal story, I am amazed there is in all purposes perhaps a blanket ban on little fun unicycles appearing in games just because of one short Pixar film and court victory...
The boxart appears very standard and in game the characters have not too much anthropromophism going on...how this design is a specific trademark/copyright amazes me.
Is it not a clear plastic polythene seal and the glossy is on the outside cardboard so can be seen/evaluated?
looks at screenshot of Super Mario game
This story does read like the $2million Mario 64, marketing/promotional piece sale that started this entire market during the early pandemic years to generate word of mouth/interest and to spike prices.
If you read into it the history of WATA it was initially setup and created by the same people that engineered the bubble in the rare coin market in the 80s.
Plus they were going around for years prior and buying up sealed games.
@PKDuckman There was a famous film with Brendan Fraser and Ian McKellan called Gods and Monster...might have something to do with it and or based on a book.
Perhaps that is why Adam Copeland performs in his real name instead of Edge now, and has no assocoation with the Edge name even in his moves like Edgeuction that he used to execute!
Although probably just a WWE trademark/character so could not use it, but he still has the same theme music in AEW so must have got that organised independently...
Z-Out is an Amiga original, as far as I am aware so is Battle Squadron (I am counting being released on Amiga first as in originated on the platform then ST conversion later if it got one, not just exclusively out on Commodore machine)
Z-Out is R- Type sequel to X-Out from Rainbow Arts
Somebody has already done an unofficial Agony remaster I was amazed as well had never heard of it, found it during Covid, will send link for yourself...
Good to hear I am ordering an A1200 for Christmas for myself...even if just to play It Came from the Desert and Antheads once again, plus other Cinemaware games...
£169.99 is pretty reasonable IMO, for a fully working A1200 with keyboard, workbench ability to load onto USB anything plus mouse and jopypad then 30 premium titles, just no AC Adaptor...
I recommended getting one to a friend for his son for Christmas to teach him loads of stuff with workbench and recreate the 16 bit learning experience on the Amiga of old!
Comments 436
Re: "I Can't Believe This Game Is Free" - Gradius And Thunder Force Collide In Doujin Shmup 'Spolous II'
Will give it a whirl...
Re: Can You Match These Konami Arcade Flyers With Their Games?
@WaveBoy Why can everyone not disagree today healthly? Everything has to be black or white thinking or hyper-polarised = caused by the cult of social media. No nuance or critical faculties.
Re: "Games Like PaRappa The Rapper Don't Get Made Anymore" - Shawn Layden Thinks Mainstream Gaming Has Gotten Too Safe
If it is not a live service never ending FPS or an interactive cinematic movie pretending to be a game, what do the current generation of consoles like Series X and PS5 have to offer?
Super Monkey Ball would never get made today as just one pertient example, only 25 years later...
Genuine Question.
Re: Can You Match These Konami Arcade Flyers With Their Games?
@WaveBoy People became even more individualistic and insular during Corona Virus and the Pandemic and have never went back. Technology is just a facilitator, to avoid human conversation and contact now plus empathy and basic responsibilities..
Re: Can You Match These Konami Arcade Flyers With Their Games?
@WaveBoy What will the 2010s Gen Z/ Alpha have nostalgia for in 20 years time = absolutely nothing, culture stopped evolving...
Great comment.
Re: I'm Really Not Sure How I Feel About Sony Killing Physical Media
Great, I will just stick with the past and jump in and finally get an OLED original SWITCH and start amassing a physical collection for that next at long last, starting a decade late...
Most of Sony and Microsoft's content plus interactive movie games or FPS shooters do not interest me, and I have felt that way since the end of the Wii/360/PS3 generation...
One of my PS5 owning friends is not happy, and will sell his PS5 as he states he will own his entertainment not rent it digitally to a corporation. He is going PC, especially with PS6 likely costing at least a grand to purchase with component pricing when you could create a much higher spec PC machine...
I hope this plan comes back to bite SONY as the games industry could really do with a serious shakeup hardware wise.
That SNK Neo Geo console re-release looks even more appealling now...
Re: "You Can't Rule Out The Possibility That Executives Are Idiots" - John Carmack On Microsoft's Gutting Of id Software
There is a very good write up over at GI Biz by long time contributor and ex editor Rob Fahey about the whole Microsoft strategy this last decade.
"Can a top-down, focused software strategy save Xbox? | Opinion"
"The reality, though, is that slashing 3,200 jobs doesn't make much of a dent in the financial troubles of a department that's burned through $20 billion with nothing to show for it in the space of a few years. It's not nothing – direct employee costs and ancillary costs racked up on the projects they were working on probably amounts to about half a billion dollars a year – but on the scale of Microsoft's accounting, that's at least living right next door to nothing."
Worth a read, for wider perspective as is his weekly Friday column each seven days.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/can-a-top-down-focused-software-strategy-save-xbox-opinion
Re: "You Can't Rule Out The Possibility That Executives Are Idiots" - John Carmack On Microsoft's Gutting Of id Software
I stumbled across a comedy instagram account with videos called "The Warp Zone" yesterday. It's a bit like Saturday Night Live but dedicated to geek culture and videogames.
The funniest stuff was easily/definitely the series called "1 Gamer v 20 CEOs"
Kind of hit the nail on the head with these developers being gutted by Billion Dollar companies regularly and still posting record profits year on year...
Soon they'll be nobody left to make new games!
Re: Random: The Internet Is Going Crazy For This Early 2000s Activision Surfing Game
Glad you mentioned Bluestorm, I was already starting typing my response in my head...
Re: Nintendo On Drugs, No TV Until '76 And Rampant Piracy - How South Africa's Crazy Video Game History Shaped Me As A Gamer
Great article John, excellent read, made my Sunday lunch, after working hard in the garden and sunshine.
Re: Interview: "It's Been Quite A Ride" - Xeno Crisis, Terminator And He-Man Studio Bitmap Bureau On 10 Years At The Apex Of 2D Indie Gaming
@AnonUser Its not really your place to judge what others like or dislike and to what extent.
That's the major issue.
Have a good weekend.
Re: "Probably The Best Puzzle In The World" - When The Man Who Made Tetris Met The Creator Of The Rubik's Cube
I just bought a Rubiks Cube Magic Star Puzzle that interlocks into 2 pieces and can produce a novelty array of different shapes. Not as complex as the Rubiks Cube but easier to get into. When I was very young, I was obsessed with this simpler interconnecting and shape making puzzle. I found one in Tesco yesterday for a 50th birthday goody bag of fun things with Rubiks colours for extra novelty. You have no idea how pleased I was they still make them!
https://www.theworks.co.uk/p/activity-toys/rubiks-magic-star-gift-set-pack-of-2/5055967333840.html
Re: "Embarrassing" - These $100 Sonic Re-Releases Aren't Going Down Well With Fans
Sonic + Gambling = $$$$$
Re: Konami Is Suing To Find The Identity Of The Metal Gear Solid 2 Source Code Leaker
Probably Psycho Mantis. Case solved 🤷♂️
Re: Interview: "It's Been Quite A Ride" - Xeno Crisis, Terminator And He-Man Studio Bitmap Bureau On 10 Years At The Apex Of 2D Indie Gaming
@AnonUser Hey this is getting way too weird. I am flagging this comment all over an aside over a movie score. 🤷
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
Is Sonic 2s-day the very first example of a coordinated worldwide launch?
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
@MisterStu
Ah the Blue Sky in Games campaign had a blue hedgehog silouette on white = staying classy!
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
@MisterStu Impressive Age!
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
@MisterStu I knew there was a good article somewhere. It was on Forgotten Worlds website not Time Extension....
https://www.forgottenworlds.net/uk-resistance
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
@Guru_Larry
I miss not knowing about games and going blind on a boxart, or just a quick 5 min playthough at an import/indie shop or just a couple of screenshots previews/review in a magazine in Japanese!
Simpler times.
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
@MisterStu
Haha, you and Gary should be interviewed if not already for Time Extension! [could not find a TE article by Googling]
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
@MisterStu Ah you are right, recalls copious shots from UK Resistence back in the day...
Sonic does have blue sky and that Green Hill Zone feel plus music is pure concentrated happy blue sky it's like the very first thing I think of/springs to mind internally to be honest...
If SEGA could bottle that feeling of nostalgia in carbonated form they would sell a truck load!
Re: Game Changer: Sonic The Hedgehog - 35 Years Ago, A Short-But-Sweet Love Affair Was Born
Game sold the Megadrive/Genesis as a sparkly fresh speedy antithesis to Super Mario during the 16 bit era, plus I am sure this is where the "blue sky in games" ethos/meme/philosophy originates from...
I always associate it with the early days of the 16 bit industry, the battle with Nintendo, Sonic 2- Tuesday 90s-early 93 having missed Sonic CD, Sonic 3 and Sonic and Knuckles as well!
Then eventually jumping back in with Sonic Adventure on Dreamcast which was a bit of a mess, Sonic Adventure 2 was better, and then SEGA goes third party and the mascot starts appearing everywhere!
Sonic Rush games on DS I enjoyed, and Advance titles as more true to 16 bit origins.
New films appear pretty popular for sure.
Re: Interview: "It's Been Quite A Ride" - Xeno Crisis, Terminator And He-Man Studio Bitmap Bureau On 10 Years At The Apex Of 2D Indie Gaming
@AnonUser
Hey it is still a 09/10 from me.
Have a good Sunday.
Re: Interview: "It's Been Quite A Ride" - Xeno Crisis, Terminator And He-Man Studio Bitmap Bureau On 10 Years At The Apex Of 2D Indie Gaming
@AnonUser Good to know your own personal rating system. I rated He Man 09/10 and that is not changing. Gets on with life.
Re: Interview: "It's Been Quite A Ride" - Xeno Crisis, Terminator And He-Man Studio Bitmap Bureau On 10 Years At The Apex Of 2D Indie Gaming
He Man game inspired by Golden Axe looks impressive and very true to cartoon.
I would highly recommend going to see the new film in the cinema it was a 09/10 in my book, Skeletor was Oscar worthy nearly. It was also pitched just at the right seriousness/comedy level, plus really captured spirit of 80s toyline while being different from Dolph Lundgren 1987 version...
Was above my expectations by a long way and directed by same chap that did Transformers Bumblebee.
Shame it seemed to have bombed at box office. Maybe 20 years too late for the nostalgia wave.
Re: Review: Super Pocket Rare Edition - Banjo-Kazooie Alone Makes This A Must-Buy At £50
@-wc- Thanks for the extra advice!
Re: "You'd Never Be Allowed This Kind Of Freedom Nowadays" - Remembering Fleetway's Sonic the Comic
Really nice article, long read. I have a complete set of M.A.S.K. comics by Fleetway they are amazing in quality and artwork really enhanced the universe beyond the cartoon and 1980s toys.
https://www.maskforce.com/uk-comics.html
Re: Review: Super Pocket Rare Edition - Banjo-Kazooie Alone Makes This A Must-Buy At £50
@Martin_H Thank you so much for the long comment with great advice!
Re: Review: Super Pocket Rare Edition - Banjo-Kazooie Alone Makes This A Must-Buy At £50
@Martin_H What level of emulation does the Anbernic RG Cube XX go up to Martin?
I have an Anbernic that is great for 16 bit and 2D games then Neo Geo but struggles beyond that. Ideally looking for something a little more powerful for 32bit, N64 and or Dreamcast?
Any suggestions?
Re: Review: Super Pocket Rare Edition - Banjo-Kazooie Alone Makes This A Must-Buy At £50
@murty
So I watched the 5 min film here directed by John Lasseter
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=96xGUa1a_zs
I am suprised Pixar won this case, it's as if nobody in history will now be allowed to create a character from a unicycle and there is only so many ways you can make it move having one wheel and a saddle!
I bet it was because the cover boxart had a red coloured unicycle on it.
Disney v Nintendo early 1990s and Lawyers though!
Re: Review: Super Pocket Rare Edition - Banjo-Kazooie Alone Makes This A Must-Buy At £50
@murty
Only played on emulation but it is pretty fun and addictive.
That is an interesting fact/legal story, I am amazed there is in all purposes perhaps a blanket ban on little fun unicycles appearing in games just because of one short Pixar film and court victory...
The boxart appears very standard and in game the characters have not too much anthropromophism going on...how this design is a specific trademark/copyright amazes me.
I'd need to go and watch the film.
Plus Nintendo rarely lose legal cases.
Re: Commodore's Next Hardware Release Is Dumb, And Proud Of It
But does it come with a tv modulator, mouse and massive power supply the size of a brick?
Re: Review: Super Pocket Rare Edition - Banjo-Kazooie Alone Makes This A Must-Buy At £50
No Uniracers...oh wait that was DMA Design I think!
Re: "Not Touched For Nearly 40 Years" - Rare Copy Of Super Mario Bros. Sells For $3 Million
@Oyaji_Music
Is it not a clear plastic polythene seal and the glossy is on the outside cardboard so can be seen/evaluated?
This story does read like the $2million Mario 64, marketing/promotional piece sale that started this entire market during the early pandemic years to generate word of mouth/interest and to spike prices.
If you read into it the history of WATA it was initially setup and created by the same people that engineered the bubble in the rare coin market in the 80s.
Plus they were going around for years prior and buying up sealed games.
Re: "Not Touched For Nearly 40 Years" - Rare Copy Of Super Mario Bros. Sells For $3 Million
Wasn't me this time!
I just bought a sealed UN Squadron!
Although I go with CGC instead of WATA or PSA.
Re: Review: Pixel FX Morph 2K - For $200, This Is Amazing Value For Money
@schweinebrot Thanks, I like scanlines!
Re: The Making Of: FIFA Road To World Cup 98, The "Greatest FIFA Of All Time"
@Member_the_game
I recall that game mode also, my brother and I used to regularly play it as offered a nice diversion with quick goals and close matches...
Re: "We Have The Means To Fight This Case To The End" - Gaming's Most Infamous Trademark Troll Is Back
@PopetheRev28
"What's Adam Copeland doing in the courtroom....."
A Five Second pose with Tim Langdell obviously!
Re: "We Have The Means To Fight This Case To The End" - Gaming's Most Infamous Trademark Troll Is Back
@PKDuckman There was a famous film with Brendan Fraser and Ian McKellan called Gods and Monster...might have something to do with it and or based on a book.
Re: "We Have The Means To Fight This Case To The End" - Gaming's Most Infamous Trademark Troll Is Back
@ecco6t9
He was obviously totally scared of WWE/Vince for the wrestler/character and the famous Stamford corporate lawyers...
"You think you know me"
Although Metal Lingus soundtrack is still absolutely awesome...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wPl3C7zt7Tc
Perhaps that is why Adam Copeland performs in his real name instead of Edge now, and has no assocoation with the Edge name even in his moves like Edgeuction that he used to execute!
Although probably just a WWE trademark/character so could not use it, but he still has the same theme music in AEW so must have got that organised independently...
Re: "We Have The Means To Fight This Case To The End" - Gaming's Most Infamous Trademark Troll Is Back
Have I entered a Time Extension Time Machine and travelled back nearly two decades to 2011!
The Rock Paper Shotgun article on this case resolution is absolutely legendary!
https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tim-langdell-loses-in-future-edge-trial
One of the best pieces of games journalism ever!
Re: "Just Handcrafted Pixels & Passion" - Amiga Euro Shmup Remake 'Apidya' Special' Flies Onto PC & Consoles This August
Z-Out is an Amiga original, as far as I am aware so is Battle Squadron (I am counting being released on Amiga first as in originated on the platform then ST conversion later if it got one, not just exclusively out on Commodore machine)
Z-Out is R- Type sequel to X-Out from Rainbow Arts
Re: "Just Handcrafted Pixels & Passion" - Amiga Euro Shmup Remake 'Apidya' Special' Flies Onto PC & Consoles This August
@romanista
"Oh wow, this is the only real arcade quality original shooter on the amiga"
Z-Out and Battle Squadron say hola!
Re: "Just Handcrafted Pixels & Passion" - Amiga Euro Shmup Remake 'Apidya' Special' Flies Onto PC & Consoles This August
@_Ex_
Somebody has already done an unofficial Agony remaster I was amazed as well had never heard of it, found it during Covid, will send link for yourself...
https://alestes.itch.io/agony-remake-demo
You can download the full game/demo above for Windows.
Re: "Just Handcrafted Pixels & Passion" - Amiga Euro Shmup Remake 'Apidya' Special' Flies Onto PC & Consoles This August
@mjparker77
Z- Out, Silkworm, Xenon 2, Battle Squadron, ST Dragon I could go on...
Apidya is awesome, amazing soundtrack as well!
Look forward to playing this!
Re: Review: Pixel FX Morph 2K - For $200, This Is Amazing Value For Money
@Damo Hi have you guys done an article on the Ocarina of Time remake announced yesterday by Nintendo?
Thought one would be up but might be saving it for Friday/Weekend...
Regards
https://www.polygon.com/legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-remake-confirmed-release-date/
Re: "We Didn't Want To Keep You Waiting" - Here's The Resurrected Amiga 1200 In The Flesh
@GravyThief
Good to hear I am ordering an A1200 for Christmas for myself...even if just to play It Came from the Desert and Antheads once again, plus other Cinemaware games...
Re: "We Didn't Want To Keep You Waiting" - Here's The Resurrected Amiga 1200 In The Flesh
@metaphysician
£169.99 is pretty reasonable IMO, for a fully working A1200 with keyboard, workbench ability to load onto USB anything plus mouse and jopypad then 30 premium titles, just no AC Adaptor...
I recommended getting one to a friend for his son for Christmas to teach him loads of stuff with workbench and recreate the 16 bit learning experience on the Amiga of old!
Re: Review: Pixel FX Morph 2K - For $200, This Is Amazing Value For Money
@Martin_H
Thanks for comment Martin that was helpful.