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A Sprite

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  3. Posted · Edited by A Sprite

    But that's because I wasn't paying attention to the post. My apologies. If you mean it as an after market add on, you could do the same to any system.

     

    But, as Gorf said, half the charm of a retro system is it's "personality" - the unique look and feel of it's games caused by working around or with the system's limitations.

  4. Posted

    I mean...can't a cartridge with an 020 inside, or an add-on pass through cartridge with an 020 chip (somewhat similar to 32X) be built?

     

    Pokey or 32x?

     

    Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done. You need the intellectual property to make it worth buying, before you can even think of offering it.

     

    IP? On the processor, you mean, right? I'm just talking theoretical here, not actual product (though maybe a developer wants to run with the idea).

     

    As for Pokey or 32x, I was actually thinking more along the lines of Sega's aborted plan to issue an SVP pass through cartridge instead of putting it in the cart (as it made the Genesis version of Virtua Racing retail for $100). Think lower power than 32x, obviously, but without the need for extra power supplies, etc.

     

    But, yeah, you could imagine it as like a Pokey on a 7800 pass through cartridge that doesn't have a game on it. So instead of developers adding the chip to each cartridge (thus driving up the cost), they'd just have to have support for the pass through cartridge. On Jag, it would just be a chip to add more "oomph" to the games, and assist TOM in it's functions, freeing TOM to focus more on graphics calculations rather than run double duty. Or, if an embedded ARM or even 020, to take over what developers who didn't know any better had the stock 68k do (AI logic operations).

     

    But maybe it's not possible. That's why I ask.

     

    Did Jag CD actually add anything processor wise to Jaguar? Non-sound related, I mean.

     

    I know you meant it as a hypothetical - it's just my hypothetical consumers want to know what justifies the hypothetical cost...

  8. Posted

    I mean...can't a cartridge with an 020 inside, or an add-on pass through cartridge with an 020 chip (somewhat similar to 32X) be built?

     

    Pokey or 32x?

     

    Just because it can be done, doesn't mean it should be done. You need the intellectual property to make it worth buying, before you can even think of offering it.

  9. Posted · Edited by A Sprite

    What would be the difference between these games and regular ones?

     

    post-12969-1183812177_thumb.png

     

    You can't see it in this picture, but there are three enemy ships and a humanoid. My own ship disappears when I fire. The game is trying to murder me, but moves slower than Jason Voorhees' gumless greatgrandfather.

     

    post-12969-1183812223_thumb.png

     

    With the superchip, I don't stand a chance. The VCS gains consciousness. Humanity is doomed. But epileptics can safely play the game too, during their last hours alive.

     

    It is our only comfort.

  10. Posted · Edited by A Sprite

    Controls also suffer from a lack of thought - double tap to run, then hold the d-pad down or you lose the speed - it's like driving a used car, bought on the cheap. The kind whose engine completely stops on a red light, and needs to be started up again.

     

    Heh, sounds like your controls are suffering from use of a three button controller. All Genesis games after like 92-93 were designed for use the 6-button control pad. They even quit making the 3-button.

     

    Anyhow, to run all you have to do is hold down "C." Double-tapping is only needed for a 3-button controller.

     

    I just even double checked the booklet, which isn't something I like to do with my 32X games, because in crinkles the cardboard box. (WTF is up with Sega switching to cardboard? Cheap bastards!)

     

    Grrr... I had to open it twice now because I forgot to put the stupid registration card back in!

     

    Nope, using a 6 button.

     

    BUT

     

    Fear not, I have a theory as to what went wrong -

     

    post-12969-1183794724_thumb.png

     

    My talking heads don't look like your talking heads. Maybe someone got frustrated with double tapping in the original and rewrote the controller maps...?

  11. Posted · Edited by A Sprite

    Finally played it....it's not bad, for 32x. But it would be bad, almost anywhere else. Generic enemies can hide right in front of you on a bright and clear summer day - no attempt is made to hide the pop in....in fact, you can even see building far off into the distance, miles past your blind spot.

     

    Controls also suffer from a lack of thought - double tap to run, then hold the d-pad down or you lose the speed - it's like driving a used car, bought on the cheap. The kind whose engine completely stops on a red light, and needs to be started up again.

     

    Not that it didn't have it's charms.

     

    More 1st person shooters should offer other viewtypes. The overhead angle looks horrible, but eliminates pop-in, and gives off a sweet retro vibe. I loved sneaking up on enemies from behind. post-12969-1183766723_thumb.png

    Being able to shop for power-ups after each death adds a strategy feel.

     

    So in the end, I'm torn. As a game it nearly fails, as a postcard from what might have been, it's something that must be experienced...

  12. Posted

    From Wikipedia -

     

    The box of Big Rigs states that the player may "race trucks across the country, with cops chasing [them]." GameSpot considered this description of the game to be nothing more than "horrible, horrible lies" since there is no police presence in the game. Additionally, they pointed out, the computer-controlled opponent vehicles have no AI and never move from the starting position, making even the description of the gameplay as a "race" questionable.

     

    There technically are no obstacles for the player to negotiate in Big Rigs, as the truck may freely be driven on and off roads without any loss of traction, straight up 90° inclines, through structures (there is no collision detection whatsoever), and even out of the boundaries of the map. When the truck drives out of the boundaries, it enters an endless, grey void. Furthermore, as the truck approaches a bridge, the truck simply falls right through. When the player's truck is put into reverse, it has no peak velocity; as the reverse key is held, the truck will accelerate infinitely. However, the truck will halt instantly when the reverse key is released.

     

    Upon completion of the race, the player is presented with a large, on-screen trophy cup overlaid with the text "YOU'RE WINNER !" Due to a developer oversight, the game occasionally fails to distinguish between whether the player is starting or finishing the race when they pass through the starting checkpoint, and so this screen may appear to end the race before it even begins. In addition, one of the game's five maps causes the game to crash altogether when accessed.

  15. Posted

    You'd have to be blind not to see the innovation and possibilities with the Wii.

     

    I agree with the second half of that statement. I hope to agree with the first half soon, but what can I say? I've been burned before...

  16. Posted

    Good topic.

     

    Let's take it from the top.

     

    Atari 2600

     

    1. Defender: Yes, the broken flicker fest that slushed in lobotomized slow motion across the screen. Make all the Special Olympics jokes you want, it's the only version of the game that's fun. First, let's talk graphics. Defender works better in cities at night instead of mountains.

     

    It's the only time I've seen insanely bad graphics improve a game...imagination is key.

     

    On to gameplay

     

    The enemies are larger. The ship disappearing when you fire is an awesome defensive gameplay mechanic.

     

    It is the definitive version of Defender.

     

    It's also the sole reason I signed up for the forums here, strange as that seems now in retrospect.

     

    2. Berzerk. Wild west style shoot outs with lasers and suicidal robots. Evil Otto gave me nightmares as a child.

     

    3. Spider Fighter: Not as slow as Defender.

     

    4. Communist Mutants From Space: Better than the classics.

     

    5. Star Path Frogger: For the graphics whore in all of us.

     

    6. Pitfall 2: Just for the soundtrack.

     

    7. Yar's Revenge: the first boss to die right.

     

    8. Activision Fishing: I hate fishing. Hate. Hate. Hate. Hate.... That's how good this game is. It sets an impossible standard that the real thing can't hope to match.

     

    9. Empire Strikes Back: David and Goliath and Goliath and Goliath and Goliath and Goliath...

     

    10. I have twenty games I need to go play so as to answer this honestly...don't wait up. ;)

  17. Posted · Edited by A Sprite

    Just saw it for the first time today - my thoughts:

     

    1. You have my respect for championing an underdog. We need more critics who can get us excited about something in a good way.

     

    2. HOLY SHIT! That looks good.

     

    3. It looks downright hideous in still shots. Brown and blue are seldom appropriate outside a toilet, and neutral gray is the only color that clashes with every other color ever made - it doesn't even exist in nature, due to atmospheric tint.

     

    post-12969-1183650694_thumb.png

     

    4. Despite that, I can't wait to play. I thank you for the introduction.

  18. Posted

    Other than the Party Game genre, which games are dramatically improved by waving the magic wand?

     

    FPS, 3rd person shooters.

     

    While some on Wii have somewhat sluggish control, sources say a game like Metroid Prime (while categorically NOT an FPS; Metroid Prime, like all other Metroid games sans Hunters is an action/adventure game series) have really great controls.

     

    Light gun games

     

    Don't laugh. Having the Wiimote take the place of a light gun peripheral means that we'll get more light gun games simply because it is the included controller. Light gun games aren't developed in high numbers because peripherals don't sell well, and thus causes the number of potential consumers for those games to be far smaller than games that use the stock controller.

     

    RTS, adventure games, simulations.

     

    Why? Because Wiimote effectively mimics mouse controls far better than dual analog for such titles.

     

    And there are already a number of those types of games, usually relegated to PC only, that are now in development for Wii.

     

    I concede. Thank you for a well thought out response, as always.

  19. Posted · Edited by A Sprite

    Are you high? I don't know how I can illistrate to you in simplier terms that the market does not support new game franchises.

     

    What were the sales figures for Nintendogs, Brain Age, Lumines, Katamari Damacy, and Guitar Heroes?

  20. Posted

    Wii games are new and

    innovative and varietous and is why it's not going anyway but up.

     

    Which? Far Cry: Vengeance? Mortal Kombat: Armageddon? Resident Evil 4? Metal Slug Anthology? SSX?

     

    Mario 64?

     

    Other than the Party Game genre, which games are dramatically improved by waving the magic wand?

  23. Posted · Edited by A Sprite

    Since it's the best version of a popular game, why do you think that is?

     

    Appeals to nostalgia. More people played the 2600 version. Also, the Intellivision control scheme is notoriously difficult to recreate on modern systems. Atlantis was part of the Intellivision Rocks collection for PC - maybe the keyboard made the difference in the attention given the title?

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