Do homebrews stress you out? (keeping up to date, having money...)

[courtesi96]

I just got back into gaming after a long hiatus. I decided this time that I wouldn't go insane with trying to collect absolutely everything; and would instead just try to buy what I absolutely must have.

 

Unfortunately I'm stressed out as it seems there are hundreds of homebrews that have been released since I have been gone - and a lot out of print. Plus there is a lot of current activity - it just seems like stress for the casual collector.

 

Here are a list of what I've been looking for:

 

2600 - Boulderdash

5200 - Boulderdash

Colecovision - Boulderdash, Lode Runner (I've been told there are two versions - have no idea how to tell the last), Son of Nibbler (Nibbli?)

NES - Super NESnake 2

Atari Lynx - Lode Runner.

 

I think Son of Nibbler is just starting (Have no idea where to buy it - waiting on PM's. Super NESnake 2 is for sale but I'm not sure what NES console to buy it for. Since I've been gone it seems like there are two dozen NES clones and it's all rather confusing.

 

If you haven't gathered by now - Boulder Dash, Lode Runner, and Snake/Nibbler type games are my favorite. I've decided to be more casual this time. I will probably only own the older cartridge based consoles this time around - and on those maybe 1-5 cartridges max. For example I want to buy another Odyssey 2 but will probably only stick with KC Munchkin.

 

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this.

 

 

[+Gemintronic]

If cash constraints and availability of homebrews is getting you down then avoid it completely. Get a flash cart or enjoy emulators with homebrew released for free.

 

http://pdroms.de/

[Kiwi]

Nibbli is finished and now in production to be release by Collector Vision. As for Lode Runner you'll have to ask Collector Vision to see if they have any in stock. You can PM coleco_master to ask question or place an order. You should be able to get Nibbli.

BoulderDash 2600 is finished and there won't be a second run afaik. However, Intellivision version of BoulderDash haven't been release yet. It is close to be finish. Here's the thread on this game.

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/218608-boulder-dash-r-for-intellivision/

[courtesi96]

Thank you for the info on INTV Boulderdash! I wasn't sure if I would re-buy a INTV - theres not much that interests me - but I would buy one for this!

[youki]

If you are looking where to buy homebrews. look here

 

http://www.collectorvision.com/

http://www.teampixelboy.com/

http://www.gooddealgames.com/

[godslabrat]

I had to cut back on collecting for money reasons. Homebrews were the first major casualty. Not because I didn't want to support independent programmers... It's just easier to justify a $6 used game than a $40 homebrew.

[bennybingo]

There's always this...

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/206287-colecovision-homebrew-availability-list/page-3?hl=%2Bcolecovision+%2Bhomebrew%26%2339%3B&do=findComment&comment=2785833

 

I'm not sure how regularly it is updated, but it isn't too old at this point. I hope it will help you out!

 

[Andre81]

A lot of the new homebrews are of very low quality. Limited game play, awkward controls, but expensive. $75 for a bad game, hell no! No need to get them all. I only buy high quality fun games. I don't need everything and don't buy multiple copies as an object of speculation.

[Trebor]

Here are a list of what I've been looking for:

 

NES - Super NESnake 2

...

I'm not sure what NES console to buy it for. Since I've been gone it seems like there are two dozen NES clones and it's all rather confusing.

http://www.retrousb.com/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=60

 

"System Compatibility List:

Works on authentic Nintendo Systems including NTSC, PAL A, PAL B, and Asian systems.

Works on clone systems like the Yobo and FC Twin.

May not work on all NEX systems.

Works on Famicom using 72-60 pin converter.

Untested on portable systems, should work."

 

..Snake/Nibbler type games are my favorite.

http://atariage.com/store/index.php?l=product_detail&p=962

[jaybird3rd]

A lot of the new homebrews are of very low quality. Limited game play, awkward controls, but expensive. $75 for a bad game, hell no! No need to get them all. I only buy high quality fun games. I don't need everything and don't buy multiple copies as an object of speculation.

Exactly. Don't encourage the bad games by paying top-dollar for them, even if you have enough money to keep up with all of them. Buy the kinds of games that you like and that you intend to play. Hobbies are supposed to be fun, so nobody should ever be stressing out over buying homebrew games.

[BydoEmpire]

I don't get stressed out about it. I bought a bunch of homebrews over the years and they're awesome. There are a few more (especially Frenzy) I just haven't been able to pick up yet, but I wouldn't have time to play it anyways. I'm just not a completist and I don't really collect for the sake of collecting.

[+save2600]

I appreciate the efforts of a couple of people lately (Rev on the Intellivision scene quickly comes to mind) by putting up a "sticky" thread of sorts or creating their own pages devoted to the latest developments, but no doubt - becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with everything. Talking about the threads that have several pages of garbage, but little to no substance and important details such as specs or ordering info get lost quite quickly.

 

And this business of preorders for boxes, manuals, etc. with long ass threads is for the birds. The delays, foreseen or not - doesn't matter. I've supported a few of these in the past, but probably will not going forward. Really wish people would wait until they have a finished product to truly sell vs. having too many coals in the fire and forgetting who all you've given money to throughout a year. Or two. Or completely forgetting (or never knowing) who is offering what and then missing out, only to find certain titles magically being speculated over at ePay.

[Keatah]

I keep hearing more and more of this "syndrome", for lack of better word. People are becoming near burned out with trying to keep up with a constant barrage of releases in conjunction with building the classics portion of their library. I saw this same thing back in the days of when the market glutted itself prior to the big reorganization. And that was without the internet!

 

I might humbly suggest trying emulation, while it will unfortunately exclude a good number of homebrews, it will relieve the financial stress and physical space requirements or a burdensome collection.

 

Of course emulation requires a different mindset and consumes time in its own fashion. And emulation isn't for everyone.

 

I've been doing emulation since the mid 1990's and would never want boxes and boxes and rooms and rooms filled with hardware. However I do enjoy keeping a comprehensive Apple II, TI-59, and TRS-80 Pocket Computer collection. Two of those systems fit nicely those big sweater box things.

 

But most of all, the hobby should be fun! And I found that by converting to emulation I am able to bring everything with me and organize and work on it any time any place.

 

It also helps to focus on the system you had when you were a kid.

[BDW]

Exactly. Don't encourage the bad games by paying top-dollar for them, even if you have enough money to keep up with all of them. Buy the kinds of games that you like and that you intend to play. Hobbies are supposed to be fun, so nobody should ever be stressing out over buying homebrew games.

Double exactly. Half of the problem is homebrew collectors who buy literally anything that comes out. If people are tired of seeing lazy Pong and Space Invaders rehashes being sold for $40 a pop, just stop buying them.

[+Random Terrain]

I only buy batari Basic homebrews that were created in 2 hours, especially if they were not not bug tested or polished.

[+Gemintronic]

I think the first step towards relief is to consider yourself a gamer rather than a collector. Step away from the rarity, box condition and price. Just play the games you have and try the ones you never had via emulation.

 

UPDATE:

 

I only buy batari Basic homebrews that were created in 2 hours, especially if they were not not bug tested or polished.

 

R.T. is my best customer! I'm rolling in the monies!!

[Keatah]

I appreciate the efforts of a couple of people lately (Rev on the Intellivision scene quickly comes to mind) by putting up a "sticky" thread of sorts or creating their own pages devoted to the latest developments, but no doubt - becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with everything. Talking about the threads that have several pages of garbage, but little to no substance and important details such as specs or ordering info get lost quite quickly.

 

And this business of preorders for boxes, manuals, etc. with long ass threads is for the birds. The delays, foreseen or not - doesn't matter. I've supported a few of these in the past, but probably will not going forward. Really wish people would wait until they have a finished product to truly sell vs. having too many coals in the fire and forgetting who all you've given money to throughout a year. Or two. Or completely forgetting (or never knowing) who is offering what and then missing out, only to find certain titles magically being speculated over at ePay.

 

Yes I must agree with all of that. I never pre-order anything. Ever ever ever. Show me the goods and if I like it we will make a deal. And if I stay steadfast with that rule - I find myself eliminating 90% of the garbage. All this pre-order stuff is fund raising and hype generation. Nothing more. And the amount of crap in the homebrew market is increasing at an alarming rate. I wish it weren't so.

 

I also find myself unsubscribing from many threads I once found interesting - because of the single word posts like "awesome" and "omg" and "I want one" and "put me down for 2"..

 

Reminds me of the loudness wars the music industry does. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_wars

 

Finally I tend to be real old school and keep ebay pricing separate from AA and AA's marketplace forum.

 

This is supposed to be a hobby about fun and games!

[sega_SHARK]

I use a Gamecube to run emulators for most systems on a SD card. I have a Colecovision hooked up, and most of those games are played off an SD card.

 

 

I must have lucked out on homebrews. I don't buy all of them, but I've been really pleased with what I have purchased.

[wolfy62]

I love the boxes and the art work too much so therefore I must collect.New games are fun too!

 

This is my hobby, I love it!

[Cobra Commander]

I got a lot bigger shit to be stressed about than home brew video games.

[+save2600]

I only buy batari Basic homebrews that were created in 2 hours, especially if they were not not bug tested or polished.

 

…and only if their premium priced, boxed copies are sent in a padded envelope.

 

AtariAge store or bust! Sucks to have standards. Believe me, I know.

[Keatah]

I only buy batari Basic homebrews that were created in 2 hours, especially if they were not not bug tested or polished.

 

Pfagghhh!! I go one step better and buy only homebrews I make. That way I don't have to deal with shipping costs.

[courtesi96]

Thanks for everyones input. You guys are a friendly helpful bunch!

 

Also for pointing out 7800 Worm. I really love those Snake games a lot.

[AtariTexas]

I only get what interests me or is truly something different......but it is true....there are a lot of crap homebrews out there

[BassGuitari]

I don't buy homebrews very often. I couldn't afford to if I wanted to. But I'm just more interested in a system's original titles anyway, the games that really tell you what the system was about back in its time and place. Homebrews tend to get away from that "authenticity;" even adaptations of contemporary classic games tend to be colored by modern sensibilities and expectations (which is fine; after 2-3+ decades, why shouldn't they be?). I do own several homebrews and I enjoy them very much, but I treat them as a separate category of games.

Speaking of adaptations of contemporary games, if there's one criticism I have (aside from the artificial rarity created, wittingly or not, in some circles), it's that many homebrew scenes are dominated by rehashes. It feels like 9 in every 10 homebrew titles are adaptations of one early '80s arcade golden oldie or another. While these are often excellent games (though there are surely a few stinkers out there, too), it's hard for me be excited about "new" games I've already played a billion times on 87 different platforms, let alone to want to pay $30, 40, or 50 apiece for them. One thing I appreciated about games like Princess Rescue on the 2600 and Doom on the VIC-20 is that, although they're still rehashes of other games, they brought something a little bit different to their platforms, or at least did it in a different way.

Another random observation: at what point do homebrews stop being "homebrews?" AtariAge, for example, is essentially a third-party publisher with freelance developers. AA games generally are as professional as any of the ones from Atari, Activision, et al ever were. The word "homebrew" does a bit of a disservice.