DuckandCover

NOT that I could have been a competitive bidder had this thing landed on Ebay , but it is reassuring to know that there are such knowledgeable people here who are willing to look out for the interests of collectors. I had really hoped that this proto was the real thing, not because I'm a big Swordquest fan, but because I would have liked a glimpse at how Atari planned to wind the whole thing up. Between the analyses of Albert, Thomas, and Scott, I'm pretty convinced this is just a fake. (Scott's comparison of the title screen and the Nazgul from Lord of the Rings sealed it for me.) Too bad, but at least no one shelled out an enormous amount of money for a prototype that wasn't genuine.

I've always thought that Private Eye was somewhat underrated. Maybe it just got passed over back in the day because it appeared so late in the game. It's a lot of fun, and extremely addictive. (Extremely challenging, too.) I keep telling myself that I'm going to finish all of the cases someday...

Because I've become so used to the keyboard and mouse control scheme of PC FPS games, it's been hard for me to get enthusiastic about console FPS's. Still, I'd have to agree that FPS games that were designed for consoles (such as Goldeneye) have fared well, and are worth playing. I've really enjoyed Medal of Honor:Allied Assault, and all the positive reports on Frontline have certainly made me curious about playing it.

That deadbeat announcement is pretty hysterical. Makes you want to know the whole story behind the auction.

Despite the number of times I've played it, an evening game of Haunted House can still make me jump, especially when I run straight into one the house's lurking denizens. Frankenstein's Monster, although based on a horror theme, isn't particularly scary. Still, ya just gotta love it when the big blue guy takes over the screen when you lose! I agree with the inclusion of AvP. In terms of modern games, the PC AvP titles can definitely make you jump out of your skin. Wandering around, waiting for the next alien to jump out can get pretty nerve wracking!

Eventually, once I have my space problem ironed out, I want to take the plunge and purchase a couple of arcade machines. (My big ambition is Berzerk.) Meanwhile, it's just a matter of saving money. Congratulations on your purchase. All things considered, it sounds like you did well.

I just recently obtained my 800XL about four months ago, and have been buying carts for it off and on sonce then. My collection is still pretty small, but growing. I'd certainly agree that obtaining the carts that I have has been much less expensive than expanding my 2600 collection. Most of the 8-bit carts I have are in the common/uncommon range...but I've had a blast playing them! K-razy Shoot Out and Galaxian are my addictions at the moment.

I first encountered the 2600 in 1979, when I was nine years old. I spent the night at a friend's house, and he introduced me to the system. We played games like Combat and Space Invaders until his parents literally made us go to sleep. Of course, after that, all I could talk about wanting was a 2600. The following year, my parents gave me one for my birthday. My first cart, besides the pack-in, was Superman. I've had many, many happy years saving Metropolis!

I've had an odd question in the back of my mind that I've been meaning to ask the knowledgeable folks here. Over the last couple of years, I've spent a fair amountof time and money expanding my 2600 collection, and have obtained most of the common and "scarce" games. (I just recently scored a Pressure Cooker cart on Ebay for 4 bucks--never played it before, and looking forward to its arrival. ) At this point, most of the carts I need are in the rare category, which means they're hard to find in the wild, and will cost a pretty penny on Ebay to own. Please understand, I got into the hobby because I love playing 2600 games. I enjoy the thrill of collecting, but my main motivation is being able to burn some happy hours on my couch playing some awesome games. The thing I've noticed aobut some rare titles is...well, they're not very good games. Granted, I paid a fair amount for a copy of Crazy Climber, but have always felt it was worth it because I love playing the game. (I still can't get past the third building.) I've heard that Quadrun is a pretty solid title in terms of game play. However, outside of its value as a collectable, I have trouble with the idea of shelling out a lot of money for Swordquest: Waterworld because the Swordquest games just weren't much fun to play. I guess I'm wondering, of the titles that are considered rare, which are worth hunting for, or paying good money for, from a player's point of view? Sure, I hope to eventually acquire as many 2600 carts as I can, but I'm mainly interested in great games to PLAY.

Unsolicited plug/testimonial for a very cool game. I'm not one to frequently buy shareware, but a few weeks back I ran across the demo for XOP, and after playing it, I knew I had to have the full version! I first heard about it at ClassicGaming, but took my time about checking it out. I'm a big fan of 2D vertical shooters like Xevious, and if you like manic action, this game is definitely worth trying! The full version was only $14.95, and with as many hours as I've spent happily blasting enemies into oblivion, I think it was money well spent. You can get the demo at Toastsoft. You can also purchase the full version on CD at Hamumu Software.

There were some awesome titles on the 3DO. Always thought it was an underappreciated system.

Glad to have you join us. I think you'll really enjoy the community here. Very friendly and helpful folks.

My favorite 2600 game seems to be pretty fluid, depending on what I'm devoting my time to. Haunted House, Stampede, Superman, and Star Wars:ESB are perpetually amongst my top ten. I've recently developed a renewed obsession with James Bond 007.

Artillery Duel/Super Kung-Fu?

Any of the old Infocom titles held my attention pretty steadily. The Ultima and King's Quest games were outstanding too. One action game I remember really getting into was Activision's Die Hard. An early 3rd person 3D shoot 'em up! I spent hours blasting my way through that one!

If you can endure the game long enough to get each band member to the escape vehicle, you're rewarded with an Atari rendition of the Escape album cover, with the escape craft launching. Then...well it starts all over again, unfortunately.

Could it be...Fatal Run?

I have been a long time fan of the Odyssey 2, although a lot of people don't care for that system. Carts like Attack of the Timelord and Quest for the Rings still have a lot of magic for me. Kinda funny hearing all this talk about the Sega Saturn. I've recently come across a couple of good deals (I think) on Saturn systems, and have been wondering if the console was worth the investment. I may need to really consider purchasing one after all...

You can almost establish a rhythm as you're travelling through the water during the last part of that stage:blasting diamonds and dodging the divers. With practice, it gets easier to time your jump onto the platform. James Bond 007 is one of those games I keep telling myself I'm going to finish one day. (I do have some vacation coming up soon...Hmmmm.) For some reason, after mastering the first part of the game, I never put the time in to learn the next stage. I usually become a quick victim of the submarines or those blasted bombs that wipe everything out when they reach the top of the screen. Still, I'm sure with practice, it's conquerable.

HH has long been one of my all-time favorite 2600 games. Haven't played it in quite a while, and when I did I don't think I ever managed to use only 7 matches on game 9. The number of matches used was always how I used to score myself. All this talk has made me want to take another crack at game 9. I agree that luck has an enormous amount to do with your success, at least with regards to where the urn pieces are placed in each game. Still, Stan did manage that 7 match run with one piece on the 4th floor...

It is kinda sad that after all the effort you put into running the Egyptian gauntlet, all you get for your efforts are your treasures being counted off and a final score. Not even any victory music! I'd suggest trying to finish Secret Quest. It's an enjoyable game, and it's one I've thought about attempting myself...I've just never cleared the time to do it. It seems as though it would be easier to finish than Solaris. I just don't think I possess the necessary reflexes to finish that one. I thought I'd heard somewhere that after finally hitting the end of Fatal Run, the game just stops...no cool ending whatsoever. That could just be my bad memory talking though.

When I found out that Mattel was producing its handheld electronic football game again, I ran down to the local Wal-Mart to buy one! Those old hand helds were great fun! Great strip, Randy! Please keep 'em coming!

The end sequence of Star Wars:ESB might do it, with the sky flashing multiple colors. Also, the "flickering" effect when the walkers get close to the Rebel base is pretty disorienting.

Berzerk was one of my favorite arcade games back in the day. I've never had the chance to play the 8-bit version. (In fact, until I read this thread, I didn't even know one existed). I'd sure be interested in giving it a try though! A close Bezerk equivalent on the 8-bits is the previously mentioned K-razy Shootout. If you're a Bezerk fan, it's definitely worth playing.

I always really liked the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (Cloudy Mountain) cart. It's pretty challenging and involving.