@MontyMole Check out this website https://www.retrodock.com/finder/ You can choose the price you would want and systems you want to emulate. Emulating up to PS1 has become the standard for handhelds $40 and above. N64, PSP, and Saturn emulation is where things get more complicated.
My Anbernic RG351P from 2020(?) still works and runs PS1 perfectly with custom firmware. I got an Anbernic 35XX+ back in November for $46. I was kind of expecting the build quality to take a hit but it's really nice.
Anbernic makes quality products in my experience, especially when you get into the $75 - $200 range.
People see this stuff online and assume it's cheap "Chinese junk" without even holding one in their hands. That may have been true 10 years ago when all you could get was Nintendo on a Chip type devices but things have drastically changed in just a few years.
"Here is what to do if you want to get a lift from a Vogon: forget it. They are one of the most unpleasant races in the Galaxy. Not actually evil, but bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous."
@Astropez "One that can, idk, create poses on demand for character references, extend an idea to improve art"
No need to use Ai, this has been a feature in digital art programs for years. You can bring in 3D models of people and objects, rotate around them, move their limbs, zoom in/out, etc.. Not to mention the thousands of pose photos that people have made available for free for artists to use. Seems like you should have known this if you knew what you were talking about.
"...and proper regulations, people will finally realise that generative AI is just another tool for artists."
Why would such a benign tool for artists need regulation? Do the 10 million Ai images that have flooded the internet over the last few years count as a "few bad corpo"?
"I'm not sure if you're trolling or if you don't actually know what you're talking about... Let's admit you're an artist (something I actually doubt..."
The best thing about this argument is that someone might see you calling me a liar and then see that I am indeed a professional artist. Just in case they don't want to click my profile, they can google hexapus-ink.
Almost makes this all worth while... almost.
Cheers
@Astropez There's a link to my IG in my profile. I'm arguing that Ai is doing something that has no historical equal or analogy.
Your claim that a Wacom tablet/digital art is the same as Ai is wrong. It doesn't actually do anything extra for you, the artist draws and paints with pixels instead of graphite, ink, and paint. That's it. Sure it helps to have layers and undo to fix a mistake but it also opens up a whole new set of problems. Traditional art has its own set of problems. Honestly I don't remember any outrage over digital art and I became aware of it around 1996.
If you want to be good at anything you have to put in the work. This is not optional. You're not creating art if you're typing in a prompt, the computer is the artist, not you. You're not a chef if you order a steak nor are you the butcher.
The printing press only replicated what was already created, it didn't write the books.
And yes I was having a bit of fun with that last comment since @poyo_pie was just repeating what he already stated and was conveniently ignoring my points.
Sure, people could and I'm sure some do, use Midjourney as reference material. Is that what happened with the sexy space girls in this article?
If you don't have the skills to do something, and you truly want to be a programmer, for example, then learn to code. If you want to be a writer, learn how to write. Practice, fail, try again, fail some more. Worthwhile endeavors take time and you only cheat yourself when you let the computer do the work for you. Which btw is totally optional and not the necessity that you and others would like people to believe.
Edit: I deleted my third reply to Poyo_Pie for the sake of civility. I admit that it sounded funnier in my head than it did on paper. My apologies if came across as offensive.
@poyo_pie I'm not just talking about jobs and it's clear that you, like so many others, cannot tell the difference between art and product.
Who would Stephen King hire to hand write for him? He would do it himself with pen and paper, obviously. I cannot blame you for your ignorance of the creative process but equating creating art to using a calculator or a cash register is clearly ignorance.
If you think Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and other programs won't 100% replace an artist, you're being a bit naive as the game in this article is proof that they just let the computer make the art for them without even fixing the two left hands error. "it's a bonus!"
Why would an industry built in no small part by artists, such as video games or films, see the artist as a waste of resources? Especially when the artists of various forms are pretty low on the monetary scale as it is.
You see art as an obstacle that needs to be done away with or made more efficient/cost effective, where an artist that creates with true expression needs to create as one needs to eat and sleep.
Leave it up to the machines and you get soulless repetition that may look nice on the surface but it lacks the human qualities that gives art its true value. I'm not saying these programs/Ai don't make impressive images, they do at times but it's almost alien in its interpretation of what it was supposed to create.
Again, I'm not talking about reproduction machinery, I'm talking about automating the creative act itself which is what AI "art" programs set out to do. I find it very hypocritical and quite bizarre that every other task is seen as essential but the human artist is deemed expendable. Especially within the creative industries.
@poyo_pie "keep in mind, at one point in history the same fear mongering was happening with type writers, calculators, and computers" = False Equivalence
Stephen King didn't sit down at his typewriter and say "okay, typewriter, give me scary story" when he wrote The Shining. Gutenberg's printing press didn't write the Bible as it printed a book for the first time. That was work done by humans and mass produced, that same work, by a tool. The tool didn't create anything. This is not the same as AI generated imagery.
Typing in a prompt is not the same as using a paint brush or a Wacom tablet. Don't tell me that my lifetime of practice and study of drawing and painting is the equivalent to you typing prompts into Midjourney.
We are not the same and you sound like you have no idea what it means to put in the effort, time, and sacrifice needed to create something well or the value of doing it. You just want it fast and easy and above all else free.
"...some people just simply can't afford artists, and learning art takes time."
You take your car to a mechanic to get it fixed. You get a plumber to fix your sink. You get an accountant to do your taxes. Shall I go on? These people do you a service with skills you don't have and you pay for it.
If you don't want to pay an artist for their skills, fine, use ai. Just don't expect anyone to pay you for your coding skills, full stop.
@dok5555555 Yeah but it's only a matter of time before those problems are sorted out and we won't be able to tell. Whether that's ultimately a good or bad thing is debatable.
@dok5555555 it's getting hard to tell. If you look at the awkwardly dancing space girls on the soundtrack image, it appears that the one with blue gloves has two left hands. Her hand that's closest to the other space girl is backwards. Her thumb should be on the other side.
The cleavage one has different shaped pupils. Eyes are a telltale sign as they are often misshapen. It's not that human's can't make the same mistakes but AI imagery is usually deformed in some way.
If you look at the thousands of AI waifus that these programs spew out, you'll see that they all use similar techniques with lighting and color. They're probably trained with the same 10 artist's work. Sometimes I'll see something really impressive then notice that the woman's dress has mutated into her leg or something.
@HelenaFG13 Don't let that become the excuse that keeps you from creating. You can find many creative people claiming that they can't do what they want because of X, Y, and Z but the truth is, they're scared.
I've been there. It's difficult to push forward with such a daunting task and the "excuses" start to look like real obstacles. I've seen many artist friends completely give up and use the "they won't let me" line. "They" might be money, family, kids, corporations, the government, etc.. I've seen it a lot. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
If you truly have passion for your ideas, see them through. Go boldly forward regardless of the unknown(and probably unreal) dangers ahead. If you make something so good that a corporation wants to sue you, deal with it when and if it happens. Nothing is stopping you.
@MrPeanutbutterz I'm aware. It was either a copyright issue or SoA just wanted a different name. I've read conflicting stories but I'm guessing it was a little of both.
As much as I love all things Japanese and would like to side with SoJ, the fact is that SoA made the Genesis a success by taking Nintendo head on in a way SoJ wouldn't. SoA is largely responsible for Sega's glory days and we got to reap the benefits of the 16bit rivalry they started. It should be celebrated even if you prefer the name Mega Drive.
Like I said, I do like the name Mega Drive, but "Genesis does..." and the name is not going away anytime soon.
@MrPeanutbutterz @Elthesensai @SilentBluntman @bring_on_branstons
Lets check the UK web that sits atop Big Ben... hold on, it's actually called the world wide web and it says that Sega was started in the US and it eventually became a joint US-Japanese venture... 50 years before Sega Europe even existed. It also says that the Mega Drive came out in 1988 in Japan and the Sega Genesis came out in August of 1989 and it didn't come out in the UK until September of 1990, a full year and a month after North America.
So the black/grey grid motif that we all know and love came from Sega of America, which contributed to the success of the Sega Genesis while it was failing as the Megadrive in Japan. The same style that's often erroneously referred to online as the "European theme".
It wasn't Genesis replacing Megadrive on the box, it was Megadrive logos replacing the Genesis logo. If anything, the Genesis is the true name of the console since it was the success of the NA market that made it a global contender.
So it seems that "you Americans" have to accommodate your British "quirks" because without us you wouldn't even have your Virgin Mastertronic Mega Drives.
I do like the name Mega Drive but journalists and fans can call it whatever they like. It's ironic no one here is whingeing about the SNES not being called the Super Famicom in the article.
@PinballBuzzbro Sound design and music are really taken for granted across all media unfortunately. I didn't notice anything in this(I'll take your word for it) but I totally get what you mean. Anytime I hear the BFG sound or the dragon sounds from War Craft 2 in a movie or when sound/music/dialogue is arbitrarily changed, it grinds my gears.
Not that this game sounds bad in any way, I'll be downloading this for sure. Batman Returns has a special place in my heart.
@Yojimbo The Amico. I'm not defending him or the money that was taken but I think Tellerico just made some unbelievable blunders with the development/company. It was a fascinating train wreck for sure but at least Tellerico had some experience and he's not a total villain.
The Supersega just seems like a criminal enterprise.
@Bod2019 I think you may be on to something. They used the Sega name, the logo/font, and claim it will play all of Sega's games. They could have called it anything else, especially if they were serious about making a console.
It's the perfect cover when they say the money is all tied up in legal fees. I wonder if Sega even sent a cease and desist letter.
At best they'll claim this was all performance art/parody and the people that got scammed payed for the experience.
I'm a fan of the SNES but any tool is only as good as the skill level of the person using it. Revenge of Shinobi was practically a launch title on the MD and it has some of the greatest music of the entire 16-bit generation.
The idea that the MD had "bad sound" is only perpetuated by brand loyalists in order to make their favorite company seem superior and ultimately the only choice.
Much like the claim that the Genesis "just had Sonic and sports games", it's basically propaganda at this point.
Truxton 2 is really underrated. Some of the best pixel art I've ever seen. A lot of people talk about Truxton, partly because of the old CGR videos, but Truxton 2 is rarely mentioned.
@mollipen Ah I should have gone to Youtube. Thanks for clearing it up! It's interesting that they sent the VHS tape to you during the trial.
I loved GameFan! I still have 4 issues that I managed to hold onto over the years. You guys had the best screenshots and paper quality in my opinion. It felt like you were getting something special with each issue.
Edit: It turns out I have 11 issues - 7 from 1993 and 4 from 1994.
The Vs screen and character art is pretty blatant. Other than that it looks like a lot of the other SF2 clones from back in the day.
What I really want to know is where she "found" this VHS tape. Why do people always post these amazing finds but never explain how they found the rare item?
I can't imagine how much money it would take to beat Magician Lord in an arcade. Even playing it at home involves continuing every few minutes. Good luck staying transformed for more than 5 seconds before you lose the power up.
Definitely one of the hardest games ever made. It's just so cool to me that I keep coming back to it. I remember seeing it in an arcade and being blown away by the art style and concept.
Edit: What happened to that SNES version? That looked like faithful port of the first stage.
@FurgelFrNurgle I agree but maybe not as insulted lol. Really over-hyped for sure but the bar is low for western animated shows.
I thought season one was okay(first 6 episodes?) but season 2 was a chore to get through with some really sloppy/rough animation in parts. Besides the Alucard scenes which were pretty good, there wasn't much that I enjoyed about the show.
I can overlook the choppy animation but the story and dialogue was also bad in my opinion. Dracula's motivation episode followed by an episode with Dracula's minions explaining Dracula's motivations. Never getting to Dracula's castle... Animation isn't cheap, make it count.
I know people really like it so I don't want to trash it too much but it was not my cup of tea.
I thought the tap card was a cool idea. Almost like an alternate reality where games and programs were distributed that way. I could imagine it being used in a gritty sci-fi film set in the "future". Cramped apartment with a retro futuristic screen and a game console. "High tech, low life" Cool novelty to have on a shelf for sure.
Discs on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. Why not use real or burned discs at that point?
@archaicking You can assume that they are not the same but I have seen many a friend decry the death of Star Wars but watch every single episode/movie Disney releases. Often checking in on social media opening night.
You underestimate people's need to feel "in the know" or part of a group.
@JonathanChapman This is the only thing corporations respond to. Just boycott this temporary digital ownership BS and go about your day.
People who complain about all the garbage remakes/reboots/superhero movies from Hollywood are a prime example. They keep making them because all those same people complaining, they go see the movies or binge the awful shows on opening night. Stop giving them your money(because of FOMO) and they will have to change the way they do business.
Cancel your Disney+, Paramount+, and stop buying things from Nintendo, PSN, and Microsoft. You will survive.
The first LoK is so underrated. I've said it before on this site but that's the game in the series that deserves a remake with Diablo 4 style graphics.
Keep the voice acting from the original and update the graphics and the terrible 3D cut scenes. The voice acting in LoK was really almost too good for the game. They really did a phenomenal job with the story and acting.
I know everyone thinks of Soul Reaver when they hear "Legacy of Kain" but Soul Reaver was more like Tomb Raider and (in my opinion) not very appealing after playing Blood Omen.
@slider1983 No problem. I'm hoping we see more FPGA devices in this price range. Last time I looked into a Mister it was in Neo Geo territory with that high price tag.
@slider1983 If you watch Taki's first announcement video from a while back he explains the situation. IIRC he was able to source a chip that's a key component in FPGA devices for a lot less money. Don't remember if it's a clone chip or if the price has gone down significantly.
The Mario64 Ai looks exactly what I would expect from a promptist. They have no idea that it's the most horrific looking Mario ever or why it looks terrible. They want everyone to pat them on the back saying "Look what I made." when it's just the computer spewing out it's own interpretation of something made by humans.
Reminds of Cronenberg's The Fly with the computer not understanding "the flesh".
@knight0fdragon I think perhaps you underestimate the cost of items and the cost of labor/time/overhead to make something like this. The proof you're looking for is the basics of capitalism. Amazon or Walmart are not selling you products for $3 that they paid $1.50 for, they paid maybe .10 cents and sell it for $3.
It would make little business sense to buy working Saturns at retail prices and then put all the time/energy into something like this(3d printing, sourcing chips, soldering, designing the console, testing, etc.). That's a lot of work for something that sells for less than $200. And they are selling so people want them.
The only way this Aliexpress seller makes a profit is if everything they get is dirt cheap in addition to the labor and overhead costs(employees, rent for work space, utilities, shipping supplies, what ever safety regulated requirements/supplies they may have, etc.) . The odds that they're get working consoles so they can permanently turn them into something else is slim to none. It's possible, sure, but I would bet they got a pallet of "junk" consoles for maybe $10 each.
Also the $28 Saturns on eBay(if that's what you're referring to with $20 Saturns) shipping is $40 so after taxes you're paying over $70 for console only. That's the catch on eBay, the seller can charge any amount for shipping, make a profit that way and keep the item price low.
For those unaware, there's a site called Unseen64 that's devoted to unreleased/cancelled games. Not sure how often it gets updated but worth checking out.
I think this is a case of - if you look hard enough for something you will find it. I played SF2 in the arcades and never thought that it was east vs west. It was martial arts vs martial arts.
As someone else pointed out, once SSF2 came out, Ken's fire dragon punch, with it's ridiculous reach and 5 hit combo potential seems to contradict any kind of political rivalry theory.
The culture here, in the USA, was threatened by Japan's global manufacturing dominance(not by Pop-culture) in the 80s/90s and the perception/myth that Japan was buying up the US.
That didn't stop people from buying Sony or Honda products, like Marty McFly says in Back to the Future(1985) "What are you talking about, Doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan."
Not to mention the fact the Japan and the US were strong allies after WWII.
There's no way GS is going to sell these games and consoles at reasonable prices. It's hard enough for local retro stores to sell games. If GS is re-entering the market with this idea, it's almost a sure thing that games that go for $20 to $50 online will be $100 at GS. Just look at the random people trying to sell Sonic 2, in a beat up case, for $80+, or old band shirts for $400.
I'd love to see this in a positive light but GS has never been anything other than corporate.
On a side note their ESPN style advertising video/audio nightmare that's blasting in every store can burn in hell.
I hope they update the graphics as well as adding extra layer effects.
SFX are cool and all but the flaws in Bloodlines, in my opinion, have always been the clashing color palettes, the almost unfinished look to some backgrounds, and the odd looking enemy sprites. Making new versions of these games that are worthy of each console is the real trick. Not really interested in 1:1 ports tbh.
Looks great but the "4shared" download link from Youtube is suspect. DL doesn't start, insists that you log in with social media. F that, I'll find it elsewhere.
There's an enemy in Super Adventure Island II that looks just like Tails. It's a flying fox with the same colors. I'm guessing Hudson Soft knew exactly what they were doing.
Wasn't there some issue between Sega and Hudson over Wonder Boy?
@Blast16 Back in the day this was a known tactic to get funding and interest. I think it was Friday the 13th that had a full page ad in a major publication before a script/story was even done. IIRC it got them the funding they needed to make the film. That's the only reason I can think of to announce a new SF movie, 2 years in advance, that nobody is waiting for. There's no guarantee that this movie even gets made at this point.
I pretty much feel the same way. I'll be more interested when and if it's actually filming and we know who's playing the characters.
@RetroGames You're right, it is a pretty tame insult. You have always had well thought out arguments, whether I agree with them or not, I appreciate that kind of discourse. It's the repeated drive-by middle finger from some people that triggered me. That's on me though, I shouldn't read the comment section first thing.
I would like to see more cross platform ports and this is kind of a "what could have been" project. For example, the remake of Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the MD, it looks incredible so far.
I'm guessing Konami had their reasons like budget restraints, but SNES versions of their MD games would have been really great, not only for Nintendo but for the consumer as well. I'd love to see Castlevania Bloodlines on the SNES.
Capcom kind of went down that road with Strider, SF2, and Mega Man but I can understand why it might not have been in the company's best interest to make a version for every platform.
Comments 139
Re: Review: Game Kiddy Bubble - The Game Gear Tribute Act We've All Been Waiting For
@MontyMole Check out this website https://www.retrodock.com/finder/
You can choose the price you would want and systems you want to emulate. Emulating up to PS1 has become the standard for handhelds $40 and above. N64, PSP, and Saturn emulation is where things get more complicated.
My Anbernic RG351P from 2020(?) still works and runs PS1 perfectly with custom firmware. I got an Anbernic 35XX+ back in November for $46. I was kind of expecting the build quality to take a hit but it's really nice.
Anbernic makes quality products in my experience, especially when you get into the $75 - $200 range.
People see this stuff online and assume it's cheap "Chinese junk" without even holding one in their hands. That may have been true 10 years ago when all you could get was Nintendo on a Chip type devices but things have drastically changed in just a few years.
Re: A Demo Of A Lost PC Game Based On George Orwell's 1984 Has Been Archived Online
Imagine playing this game for hours and hours only to beat the game by drinking Victory gin in the Chestnut Tree Cafe and capitulating to Big Brother.
Re: Xeno Crisis Developer Bitmap Bureau Is Working On A Terminator Game
Oh man this looks incredible. The Terminator and T2 are among of my favorite films. A welcome surprise.
Re: Interview: "My Job Is Largely Divorced From Reality" - Legendary Artist Katsuya Terada Talks Zelda, Virtua Fighter, & Prince of Persia
As great as his old work is, his newer work is even more incredible. Great interview!
Re: "There Is Only So Much I Can Take" - Creator Of Roland MT-32 Emulator MT32-Pi Calls It A Day
"the VOGONS forum" name checks out.
"Here is what to do if you want to get a lift from a Vogon:
forget it.
They are one of the most unpleasant races in the Galaxy. Not actually evil, but bad-tempered, bureaucratic, officious and callous."
Re: Retro Indie Title "Moons of Darsalon" Is Headed To Consoles, Complete With Icky AI Art
@Astropez "One that can, idk, create poses on demand for character references, extend an idea to improve art"
No need to use Ai, this has been a feature in digital art programs for years. You can bring in 3D models of people and objects, rotate around them, move their limbs, zoom in/out, etc.. Not to mention the thousands of pose photos that people have made available for free for artists to use. Seems like you should have known this if you knew what you were talking about.
"...and proper regulations, people will finally realise that generative AI is just another tool for artists."
Why would such a benign tool for artists need regulation? Do the 10 million Ai images that have flooded the internet over the last few years count as a "few bad corpo"?
"I'm not sure if you're trolling or if you don't actually know what you're talking about... Let's admit you're an artist (something I actually doubt..."
The best thing about this argument is that someone might see you calling me a liar and then see that I am indeed a professional artist. Just in case they don't want to click my profile, they can google hexapus-ink.
Almost makes this all worth while... almost.
Cheers
Re: Retro Indie Title "Moons of Darsalon" Is Headed To Consoles, Complete With Icky AI Art
@Astropez There's a link to my IG in my profile. I'm arguing that Ai is doing something that has no historical equal or analogy.
Your claim that a Wacom tablet/digital art is the same as Ai is wrong. It doesn't actually do anything extra for you, the artist draws and paints with pixels instead of graphite, ink, and paint. That's it. Sure it helps to have layers and undo to fix a mistake but it also opens up a whole new set of problems. Traditional art has its own set of problems. Honestly I don't remember any outrage over digital art and I became aware of it around 1996.
If you want to be good at anything you have to put in the work. This is not optional. You're not creating art if you're typing in a prompt, the computer is the artist, not you. You're not a chef if you order a steak nor are you the butcher.
The printing press only replicated what was already created, it didn't write the books.
And yes I was having a bit of fun with that last comment since @poyo_pie was just repeating what he already stated and was conveniently ignoring my points.
Sure, people could and I'm sure some do, use Midjourney as reference material. Is that what happened with the sexy space girls in this article?
If you don't have the skills to do something, and you truly want to be a programmer, for example, then learn to code. If you want to be a writer, learn how to write. Practice, fail, try again, fail some more. Worthwhile endeavors take time and you only cheat yourself when you let the computer do the work for you. Which btw is totally optional and not the necessity that you and others would like people to believe.
Edit: I deleted my third reply to Poyo_Pie for the sake of civility. I admit that it sounded funnier in my head than it did on paper. My apologies if came across as offensive.
Re: Retro Indie Title "Moons of Darsalon" Is Headed To Consoles, Complete With Icky AI Art
@poyo_pie I'm not just talking about jobs and it's clear that you, like so many others, cannot tell the difference between art and product.
Who would Stephen King hire to hand write for him? He would do it himself with pen and paper, obviously. I cannot blame you for your ignorance of the creative process but equating creating art to using a calculator or a cash register is clearly ignorance.
If you think Midjourney, Stable Diffusion and other programs won't 100% replace an artist, you're being a bit naive as the game in this article is proof that they just let the computer make the art for them without even fixing the two left hands error. "it's a bonus!"
Why would an industry built in no small part by artists, such as video games or films, see the artist as a waste of resources? Especially when the artists of various forms are pretty low on the monetary scale as it is.
You see art as an obstacle that needs to be done away with or made more efficient/cost effective, where an artist that creates with true expression needs to create as one needs to eat and sleep.
Leave it up to the machines and you get soulless repetition that may look nice on the surface but it lacks the human qualities that gives art its true value. I'm not saying these programs/Ai don't make impressive images, they do at times but it's almost alien in its interpretation of what it was supposed to create.
Again, I'm not talking about reproduction machinery, I'm talking about automating the creative act itself which is what AI "art" programs set out to do. I find it very hypocritical and quite bizarre that every other task is seen as essential but the human artist is deemed expendable. Especially within the creative industries.
Re: Retro Indie Title "Moons of Darsalon" Is Headed To Consoles, Complete With Icky AI Art
@poyo_pie "keep in mind, at one point in history the same fear mongering was happening with type writers, calculators, and computers" = False Equivalence
Stephen King didn't sit down at his typewriter and say "okay, typewriter, give me scary story" when he wrote The Shining.
Gutenberg's printing press didn't write the Bible as it printed a book for the first time. That was work done by humans and mass produced, that same work, by a tool. The tool didn't create anything. This is not the same as AI generated imagery.
Typing in a prompt is not the same as using a paint brush or a Wacom tablet. Don't tell me that my lifetime of practice and study of drawing and painting is the equivalent to you typing prompts into Midjourney.
We are not the same and you sound like you have no idea what it means to put in the effort, time, and sacrifice needed to create something well or the value of doing it. You just want it fast and easy and above all else free.
"...some people just simply can't afford artists, and learning art takes time."
You take your car to a mechanic to get it fixed. You get a plumber to fix your sink. You get an accountant to do your taxes. Shall I go on? These people do you a service with skills you don't have and you pay for it.
If you don't want to pay an artist for their skills, fine, use ai. Just don't expect anyone to pay you for your coding skills, full stop.
Re: Retro Indie Title "Moons of Darsalon" Is Headed To Consoles, Complete With Icky AI Art
@dok5555555 Yeah but it's only a matter of time before those problems are sorted out and we won't be able to tell. Whether that's ultimately a good or bad thing is debatable.
Re: Retro Indie Title "Moons of Darsalon" Is Headed To Consoles, Complete With Icky AI Art
@dok5555555 it's getting hard to tell. If you look at the awkwardly dancing space girls on the soundtrack image, it appears that the one with blue gloves has two left hands. Her hand that's closest to the other space girl is backwards. Her thumb should be on the other side.
The cleavage one has different shaped pupils. Eyes are a telltale sign as they are often misshapen. It's not that human's can't make the same mistakes but AI imagery is usually deformed in some way.
If you look at the thousands of AI waifus that these programs spew out, you'll see that they all use similar techniques with lighting and color. They're probably trained with the same 10 artist's work. Sometimes I'll see something really impressive then notice that the woman's dress has mutated into her leg or something.
Have you ever seen John Carpenter's The Thing?
Re: Talking Point: Are Nintendo's Legal "Ninjas" Stifling The Creativity Of Tomorrow's Game Makers?
@HelenaFG13 No problem! All the best to you and your future games!
Re: Talking Point: Are Nintendo's Legal "Ninjas" Stifling The Creativity Of Tomorrow's Game Makers?
@HelenaFG13 Don't let that become the excuse that keeps you from creating. You can find many creative people claiming that they can't do what they want because of X, Y, and Z but the truth is, they're scared.
I've been there. It's difficult to push forward with such a daunting task and the "excuses" start to look like real obstacles. I've seen many artist friends completely give up and use the "they won't let me" line. "They" might be money, family, kids, corporations, the government, etc.. I've seen it a lot. It becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
If you truly have passion for your ideas, see them through. Go boldly forward regardless of the unknown(and probably unreal) dangers ahead. If you make something so good that a corporation wants to sue you, deal with it when and if it happens. Nothing is stopping you.
Re: This Christmas, You'll Be Able To Play SNES Batman Returns On Your Genesis, For Free
@turboxray "I shall leave you as you left me, marooned for all eternity, in the center of a dead Mega Drive... buried alive.”
Re: This Christmas, You'll Be Able To Play SNES Batman Returns On Your Genesis, For Free
@MrPeanutbutterz I'm aware. It was either a copyright issue or SoA just wanted a different name. I've read conflicting stories but I'm guessing it was a little of both.
As much as I love all things Japanese and would like to side with SoJ, the fact is that SoA made the Genesis a success by taking Nintendo head on in a way SoJ wouldn't. SoA is largely responsible for Sega's glory days and we got to reap the benefits of the 16bit rivalry they started.
It should be celebrated even if you prefer the name Mega Drive.
Like I said, I do like the name Mega Drive, but "Genesis does..." and the name is not going away anytime soon.
Re: This Christmas, You'll Be Able To Play SNES Batman Returns On Your Genesis, For Free
@SilentBluntman I never said it wasn't called the Megadrive in Japan first. However you said the name Genesis was "inaccurate" which is false.
Re: This Christmas, You'll Be Able To Play SNES Batman Returns On Your Genesis, For Free
@MrPeanutbutterz @Elthesensai @SilentBluntman @bring_on_branstons
Lets check the UK web that sits atop Big Ben... hold on, it's actually called the world wide web and it says that Sega was started in the US and it eventually became a joint US-Japanese venture... 50 years before Sega Europe even existed. It also says that the Mega Drive came out in 1988 in Japan and the Sega Genesis came out in August of 1989 and it didn't come out in the UK until September of 1990, a full year and a month after North America.
So the black/grey grid motif that we all know and love came from Sega of America, which contributed to the success of the Sega Genesis while it was failing as the Megadrive in Japan. The same style that's often erroneously referred to online as the "European theme".
It wasn't Genesis replacing Megadrive on the box, it was Megadrive logos replacing the Genesis logo. If anything, the Genesis is the true name of the console since it was the success of the NA market that made it a global contender.
So it seems that "you Americans" have to accommodate your British "quirks" because without us you wouldn't even have your Virgin Mastertronic Mega Drives.
I do like the name Mega Drive but journalists and fans can call it whatever they like. It's ironic no one here is whingeing about the SNES not being called the Super Famicom in the article.
Re: This Christmas, You'll Be Able To Play SNES Batman Returns On Your Genesis, For Free
@PinballBuzzbro Sound design and music are really taken for granted across all media unfortunately. I didn't notice anything in this(I'll take your word for it) but I totally get what you mean.
Anytime I hear the BFG sound or the dragon sounds from War Craft 2 in a movie or when sound/music/dialogue is arbitrarily changed, it grinds my gears.
Not that this game sounds bad in any way, I'll be downloading this for sure. Batman Returns has a special place in my heart.
Re: To The Shock Of Absolutely Nobody, Sega Is Trying To Shut Down The SuperSega FPGA Project
@Yojimbo The Amico. I'm not defending him or the money that was taken but I think Tellerico just made some unbelievable blunders with the development/company. It was a fascinating train wreck for sure but at least Tellerico had some experience and he's not a total villain.
The Supersega just seems like a criminal enterprise.
Re: To The Shock Of Absolutely Nobody, Sega Is Trying To Shut Down The SuperSega FPGA Project
@Bod2019 I think you may be on to something. They used the Sega name, the logo/font, and claim it will play all of Sega's games. They could have called it anything else, especially if they were serious about making a console.
It's the perfect cover when they say the money is all tied up in legal fees. I wonder if Sega even sent a cease and desist letter.
At best they'll claim this was all performance art/parody and the people that got scammed payed for the experience.
Re: Capcom Art Account Shares Early Sketches of Street Fighter Alpha, Darkstalkers, Cyberbots, & More
@Coolmusic That would be great! Megaman vs Astroboy, who will win?
Re: Capcom Art Account Shares Early Sketches of Street Fighter Alpha, Darkstalkers, Cyberbots, & More
Wow thanks for sharing this. I love seeing concept sketches, especially from Capcom.
Re: The Genesis Just "Broke Another Myth" With This Amazing Rendition Of A Classic Castlevania Tune
I'm a fan of the SNES but any tool is only as good as the skill level of the person using it. Revenge of Shinobi was practically a launch title on the MD and it has some of the greatest music of the entire 16-bit generation.
The idea that the MD had "bad sound" is only perpetuated by brand loyalists in order to make their favorite company seem superior and ultimately the only choice.
Much like the claim that the Genesis "just had Sonic and sports games", it's basically propaganda at this point.
Re: Review: Toaplan Arcade 3 (Evercade) - Batsugun And Truxton II Make This Practically Essential
Truxton 2 is really underrated. Some of the best pixel art I've ever seen. A lot of people talk about Truxton, partly because of the old CGR videos, but Truxton 2 is rarely mentioned.
Re: A Rare VHS From Data East & Capcom's 'Fighter's History' Trial Has Been Found
@mollipen Ah I should have gone to Youtube. Thanks for clearing it up! It's interesting that they sent the VHS tape to you during the trial.
I loved GameFan! I still have 4 issues that I managed to hold onto over the years. You guys had the best screenshots and paper quality in my opinion. It felt like you were getting something special with each issue.
Edit: It turns out I have 11 issues - 7 from 1993 and 4 from 1994.
Re: A Rare VHS From Data East & Capcom's 'Fighter's History' Trial Has Been Found
The Vs screen and character art is pretty blatant. Other than that it looks like a lot of the other SF2 clones from back in the day.
What I really want to know is where she "found" this VHS tape. Why do people always post these amazing finds but never explain how they found the rare item?
Re: Neo Geo Classic Magician Lord Gets Tentative Fan Port To NEC SuperGrafx
I can't imagine how much money it would take to beat Magician Lord in an arcade. Even playing it at home involves continuing every few minutes. Good luck staying transformed for more than 5 seconds before you lose the power up.
Definitely one of the hardest games ever made. It's just so cool to me that I keep coming back to it. I remember seeing it in an arcade and being blown away by the art style and concept.
Edit: What happened to that SNES version? That looked like faithful port of the first stage.
Re: Castlevania: Nocturne Director Hints Season 3 Will Only Happen If You Support Season 2
@FurgelFrNurgle I agree but maybe not as insulted lol. Really over-hyped for sure but the bar is low for western animated shows.
I thought season one was okay(first 6 episodes?) but season 2 was a chore to get through with some really sloppy/rough animation in parts. Besides the Alucard scenes which were pretty good, there wasn't much that I enjoyed about the show.
I can overlook the choppy animation but the story and dialogue was also bad in my opinion. Dracula's motivation episode followed by an episode with Dracula's minions explaining Dracula's motivations. Never getting to Dracula's castle... Animation isn't cheap, make it count.
I know people really like it so I don't want to trash it too much but it was not my cup of tea.
Re: Fan-Made 'Mega Castlevania IV' Project Is Alive And Well In This New Footage
@RetroGames Yeah the MD SCIV intro looks pretty rough at the moment but the gameplay seems to be largely intact.
I'm definitely more excited about a possible SNES Bloodlines. Hopefully they see it through to the end.
Re: MiSTer FPGA's Next Trick? Launching Games From CD
I thought the tap card was a cool idea. Almost like an alternate reality where games and programs were distributed that way. I could imagine it being used in a gritty sci-fi film set in the "future". Cramped apartment with a retro futuristic screen and a game console. "High tech, low life" Cool novelty to have on a shelf for sure.
Discs on the other hand, I'm not so sure about. Why not use real or burned discs at that point?
Re: New Storefront Law Tells Us What We All Should Know: We Don't Own Digital Games
@archaicking You can assume that they are not the same but I have seen many a friend decry the death of Star Wars but watch every single episode/movie Disney releases. Often checking in on social media opening night.
You underestimate people's need to feel "in the know" or part of a group.
Re: New Storefront Law Tells Us What We All Should Know: We Don't Own Digital Games
@JonathanChapman This is the only thing corporations respond to. Just boycott this temporary digital ownership BS and go about your day.
People who complain about all the garbage remakes/reboots/superhero movies from Hollywood are a prime example. They keep making them because all those same people complaining, they go see the movies or binge the awful shows on opening night. Stop giving them your money(because of FOMO) and they will have to change the way they do business.
Cancel your Disney+, Paramount+, and stop buying things from Nintendo, PSN, and Microsoft. You will survive.
Re: Review: Legacy of Kain Collection (Evercade) - Take A Bite Out Of Two Gothic Classics
The first LoK is so underrated. I've said it before on this site but that's the game in the series that deserves a remake with Diablo 4 style graphics.
Keep the voice acting from the original and update the graphics and the terrible 3D cut scenes. The voice acting in LoK was really almost too good for the game. They really did a phenomenal job with the story and acting.
I know everyone thinks of Soul Reaver when they hear "Legacy of Kain" but Soul Reaver was more like Tomb Raider and (in my opinion) not very appealing after playing Blood Omen.
Re: Visegunne Is A Gorgeous-Looking Mecha Shmup That's Coming To Steam Soon
This looks incredible. They're really nailing the '80s anime aesthetic.
Re: Review: MiSTer Pi - A $99 Gateway To FPGA Retro Gaming
@slider1983 No problem. I'm hoping we see more FPGA devices in this price range. Last time I looked into a Mister it was in Neo Geo territory with that high price tag.
Re: Review: MiSTer Pi - A $99 Gateway To FPGA Retro Gaming
@slider1983 If you watch Taki's first announcement video from a while back he explains the situation. IIRC he was able to source a chip that's a key component in FPGA devices for a lot less money. Don't remember if it's a clone chip or if the price has gone down significantly.
Re: AI, Please Leave Our Favourite Video Games Alone
The Mario64 Ai looks exactly what I would expect from a promptist. They have no idea that it's the most horrific looking Mario ever or why it looks terrible. They want everyone to pat them on the back saying "Look what I made." when it's just the computer spewing out it's own interpretation of something made by humans.
Reminds of Cronenberg's The Fly with the computer not understanding "the flesh".
Re: Please Stop Buying Unofficial "Saturn Mini" Consoles
@knight0fdragon I think perhaps you underestimate the cost of items and the cost of labor/time/overhead to make something like this. The proof you're looking for is the basics of capitalism. Amazon or Walmart are not selling you products for $3 that they paid $1.50 for, they paid maybe .10 cents and sell it for $3.
It would make little business sense to buy working Saturns at retail prices and then put all the time/energy into something like this(3d printing, sourcing chips, soldering, designing the console, testing, etc.). That's a lot of work for something that sells for less than $200. And they are selling so people want them.
The only way this Aliexpress seller makes a profit is if everything they get is dirt cheap in addition to the labor and overhead costs(employees, rent for work space, utilities, shipping supplies, what ever safety regulated requirements/supplies they may have, etc.) . The odds that they're get working consoles so they can permanently turn them into something else is slim to none. It's possible, sure, but I would bet they got a pallet of "junk" consoles for maybe $10 each.
Also the $28 Saturns on eBay(if that's what you're referring to with $20 Saturns) shipping is $40 so after taxes you're paying over $70 for console only. That's the catch on eBay, the seller can charge any amount for shipping, make a profit that way and keep the item price low.
Re: Music: Story Of Thor's Vinyl Debut Is Yuzo Koshiro At His 16-bit Best
Revenge of Shinobi is his best work in my opinion. This is good too but SoR and Actraiser would be higher on my own personal list of favs.
Re: Hudson Soft Almost Created A Castlevania-Style Dungeons & Dragons Game For SNES
For those unaware, there's a site called Unseen64 that's devoted to unreleased/cancelled games. Not sure how often it gets updated but worth checking out.
Re: Game Researcher Says Street Fighter II Was "USA Vs. Japan" And Japanese People Aren't Happy
I think this is a case of - if you look hard enough for something you will find it. I played SF2 in the arcades and never thought that it was east vs west. It was martial arts vs martial arts.
As someone else pointed out, once SSF2 came out, Ken's fire dragon punch, with it's ridiculous reach and 5 hit combo potential seems to contradict any kind of political rivalry theory.
The culture here, in the USA, was threatened by Japan's global manufacturing dominance(not by Pop-culture) in the 80s/90s and the perception/myth that Japan was buying up the US.
That didn't stop people from buying Sony or Honda products, like Marty McFly says in Back to the Future(1985) "What are you talking about, Doc? All the best stuff is made in Japan."
Not to mention the fact the Japan and the US were strong allies after WWII.
Re: GameStop Announces Launch Of New "Retro GameStops" Stores
There's no way GS is going to sell these games and consoles at reasonable prices. It's hard enough for local retro stores to sell games. If GS is re-entering the market with this idea, it's almost a sure thing that games that go for $20 to $50 online will be $100 at GS. Just look at the random people trying to sell Sonic 2, in a beat up case, for $80+, or old band shirts for $400.
I'd love to see this in a positive light but GS has never been anything other than corporate.
On a side note their ESPN style advertising video/audio nightmare that's blasting in every store can burn in hell.
Re: MechWarrior Fans, Take Note - Boomer Shooter 'Mekkablood: Quarry Assault' Is Coming Soon
@AJB83 That makes sense. I thought maybe the pixel artist just really liked hairy arms.
Re: MechWarrior Fans, Take Note - Boomer Shooter 'Mekkablood: Quarry Assault' Is Coming Soon
I see they used Robin Williams as a reference for the pilot's arms.
Re: Castlevania: Bloodlines Is Being Unofficially Ported To SNES
I hope they update the graphics as well as adding extra layer effects.
SFX are cool and all but the flaws in Bloodlines, in my opinion, have always been the clashing color palettes, the almost unfinished look to some backgrounds, and the odd looking enemy sprites. Making new versions of these games that are worthy of each console is the real trick. Not really interested in 1:1 ports tbh.
Re: This Amazing Sega Genesis Port Of Real Bout Fatal Fury Special Is Available For Free
@AJB83 I do have an adblocker but I disabled it and refreshed. I probably need to clear my cache. I'll try a different browser. Thanks!
Re: This Amazing Sega Genesis Port Of Real Bout Fatal Fury Special Is Available For Free
Looks great but the "4shared" download link from Youtube is suspect. DL doesn't start, insists that you log in with social media. F that, I'll find it elsewhere.
Re: Random: Was Hudson Copying Sega's Homework With Adventure Island III's Palm Trees?
There's an enemy in Super Adventure Island II that looks just like Tails. It's a flying fox with the same colors. I'm guessing Hudson Soft knew exactly what they were doing.
Wasn't there some issue between Sega and Hudson over Wonder Boy?
Re: Legendary's Street Fighter Movie Gets 2026 Release Date
@Blast16 Back in the day this was a known tactic to get funding and interest. I think it was Friday the 13th that had a full page ad in a major publication before a script/story was even done. IIRC it got them the funding they needed to make the film. That's the only reason I can think of to announce a new SF movie, 2 years in advance, that nobody is waiting for. There's no guarantee that this movie even gets made at this point.
I pretty much feel the same way. I'll be more interested when and if it's actually filming and we know who's playing the characters.
Re: Here's Super Castlevania IV On The Sega Genesis / Mega Drive
@RetroGames You're right, it is a pretty tame insult. You have always had well thought out arguments, whether I agree with them or not, I appreciate that kind of discourse. It's the repeated drive-by middle finger from some people that triggered me. That's on me though, I shouldn't read the comment section first thing.
I would like to see more cross platform ports and this is kind of a "what could have been" project. For example, the remake of Ghouls 'n Ghosts on the MD, it looks incredible so far.
I'm guessing Konami had their reasons like budget restraints, but SNES versions of their MD games would have been really great, not only for Nintendo but for the consumer as well. I'd love to see Castlevania Bloodlines on the SNES.
Capcom kind of went down that road with Strider, SF2, and Mega Man but I can understand why it might not have been in the company's best interest to make a version for every platform.