Brian R.

Some 5200 games I'd recommend - as in I still have fun playing them - Pengo Space Invaders - different but good River Raid - if you like it on the 2600 you'll like it on the 5200, as also goes for other Activision titles like Pitfall and Kaboom. Berzerk - "Chicken, fight like a robot!" What more is there to SAY.

With all the talk about the Playstation controller adaptor for the 5200, it got me wondering - has anyone figured out a way to use the Jaguar controller on the 5200? It seems like a natural fit. Everything you need is there, like the start and pause buttons and the keypad. Plus, it's ATARI. I've never had a PSX myself and don't plan on it. Part of the reason is I never really liked the PSX controllers. But I do like the Jag controller, especially the ProController. To be able to use my Jag Pro on my 5200 would be sweet. For now I get by with my Wico.

All of my systems are hooked up to my 31-inch Panasonic in my living room. Jag/Jag CD is sitting on top of my entertainment center. Dreamcast is on a shelf next to the TV, in a separate area behind a glass door. The 7800 is on the bottom shelf below the Dreamcast. My 2600 and 5200 are side by side on the coffee table, wires running the short distance to the TV. The Lynx is in a carrying case on a bookcase next to the entertainment center.

Just buy the Euro version of Shenmue II for your Dreamcast. I did and loved it. I got it from National Console Support for $50, which is what the XBox version is going to cost. I got Shenmue I for $15, new...

Many of the 7800 games only require one fire button. For those a 2600 controller will do just fine. Another option, besides the 7800 sticks that were sold here in the US - which I find painful to use - is the 7800 joypads that were sold in Europe. Yes, I said PADS. They are very similar to the Nintendo NES pads, but much cooler, of course. They are black with two red fire buttons and a gray directional pad. The neat part about the pad is there's a little thumb stick you can screw into the center of the D-pad. I found a pair on eBay myself and like them.

I think the Videomatic is the best way to go, if you can still find them. Nice black painted wood boxes with black plastic trays. I have three of these units - one that holds 24 carts and two that hold 12 carts each. Mine are all full. Most of the Jag carts sit just fine and are easily removed. Only a couple that are a little thicker in the front are snug, but they go in and out OK too.

I think the Videomatic is the best way to go, if you can still find them. Nice black painted wood boxes with black plastic trays. I have three of these units - one that holds 24 carts and two that hold 12 carts each. Mine are all full. Most of the Jag carts sit just fine and are easily removed. Only a couple that are a little thicker in the front are snug, but they go in and out OK too.

Before I received my copy of Euro Shenmue II I had read that I would see a screen giving me the choice of the 50/60hz mode. I never saw that screen. Apparently it does it automatically. As a reminder, I'm using Utopia burned with Nero. Euro Shenmue II is the only import I have.

From what I actually own: The Good Atari 2600 Atari Jaguar pro controller Sega Dreamcast The Bad Atari 5200 Atari 7800 So-So Atari 7800 joypad controllers. Shame they were only released in Europe. From what I've seen in the stores: Gamecube - Yuck! Tiny, cheapo feeling plastic, like a cheap toy. XBox - I like it! PS/PS2 - I have NEVER liked Playstation controllers. Too many buttons, too confusing, too hard to use. Part of the reasons why I've never had and probably never will own a Playstation of any kind. Hey, I grew up with the 2600 - one stick and one fire button. Can you blame me for getting confused?

I was strictly an Atari gamer for a long time, except for a Sega GameGear and a Genesis. I have every Atari game console the company made, plus an 800XL. Until recently the Jaguar was my most "modern" gaming console. I would suggest picking up a Sega Dreamcast. It's a great system with some incredible games. You can get it for about the same price as the PSOne, $50, and it's a far superior system. Plus, you can still find games for cheap. It's library may not be as massively huge, but I doubt there are as many stinkers as there are in the PS library.

I picked up a new copy of Shenmue for $15 at an FYE store. Getting such a deal on a four-disc game caused me to not even flinch when I had to pay $50 to get Shenmue II from an importer. Best deal I've done is $7.99 for a new copy of Jet Grind Radio at a Circuit City. I've only bought two used DC games - Hydro Thunder and Silent Scope, both $9.99 each at a grocery story clearing out is rental stock. They were both pretty scuffed up, but they work.

GREAT NEWS! Not only did I get past the second guy, I got past that third one, the girl, who was a breeze to defeat. And I've gotten a lot farther. I made my way all the way through the Yellow Head building, up to the roof, defeated that giant Yellow Head leader - I know the initials are DN, but I can't remember his name right now. And in defeating DN I did a LOT of dodging. Dodge, get a few punches or kicks in, dodge again, repeat. Also found dodging broke his grip when he grabbed me. I was really surprised I got through the QTEs on the firs attempt. So, I've finished the third disc and am now at the start of the fourth. Yeah!

Just wondering, but you do know that you don't need the batteries to store game data, right? I have three VMUs, two in use, and the batteries in those ran out very fast. I never used any of its standalone features, just as a memory unit in the controller. Once the batteries died I just pitched them and never bothered replacing them.

The only import game I have for Dreamcast is Shenmue II. I downloaded and burned the Utopia program and it works fine. What is funny is I burned Utopia in both the Nero and CDClone formats, and the Nero one works faster. Any idea why that would be?

Gaztee, I'm still on the second guy. I know one of the two times I've beaten him was when I got him out of the ring. Didn't do it intentionally, it just happened. I'll try to focus on that next time I try. These have been the toughest fights I've seen anywhere in Shenmue or Shenmue II so far. Happy to hear the third one won't be as tough. Wish me luck. Thanks, Brian

Yeah, I've seen those walkthroughs. I never go to them unless I really have to... I don't want to spoil what is to come. It seems with these three you've just got to beat them like in a fighting game. What's pissing me off about this second guy is every time I seem to get close to beating him he just grabs me and throws me out of the ring. I've beaten him twice, just not in the same match. I'll just have to keep at it...

No one's offered any comments yet, but I can say I have defeated that first fighter, Rod Stunt. Yup, afroman went down! Now I'm on the second guy. I've beaten him a couple times, just not in the same match. I feel more confident I can get through this. I really didn't like the idea of getting stuck.

I'm hoping I can get by this myself after some effort, but I've already tried several times and keep getting my @ss kicked. I'm at the part on Disc 3 where I have to defeat the three fighters the scout directed me to. I'm at the first one, Rod Stunt, the guy with the huge freakin' afro. I just can't seem to beat this guy. Any suggestions on how to beat him? I liked the first Shenmue so much I bought this from an importer. I'd hate to get stuck and walk away from it. I really got into the game. This is the first time I have a feeling I may get stuck.

Too many bad games, both by sheer number and also by a percentage of the total games released. Some games are so bad (Checkered Flag, Supercross 3D) they are nearly unplayable and I don't understand how they could have been green flagged for release. Also, some of the games lack a certain degree of polish. I tend to think of Zool 2. With a few touch ups - like music changing or restarting when screens change, and bad guys not reappearing after you've destroyed them, it could have been a really good game, rather than being an OK game.

A few people already mentioned Shenmue, but I'll put in a vote for Shenmue 2 for a couple reasons... First, you're really left hanging at the end of the first installment, so it's good to continue the story. Right now I'm on the third disc of Shenmue 2. Second, everything about it is amazing and improved over the first game, which I didn't think would be possible. It's good enough to make it well worth going through the hassle of buying the European version from an importer (I got it from National Console Support, on a refer from EB online) and downloading and burning the needed boot disc, like Utopia, which I got - and if I can do it, anyone can. I gotta say the Euro packaging is cool in itself. It's also fun to basically tell Microsoft to go fly a kite, since I won't need the XBox to play this game.

Makes you wonder why they couldn't just have labeled it "3/4" like on the 2600 instead of "L/H," which I guess means low and high. ... making something simple complicated...

I think what it was is that AtariHQ was one of the first Atari sites I found on the 'net, and I was (and am still) very loyal to it. I guess I didn't want to bother with multiple sites, and especially having to remember passwords and such. But now that I frequent a few other message boards that are in this format, I've gotten used to them and like them. And as I said, I've also been really active on my DC lately, so the modern forum will interest me, too.

I'm sure a light gun with a rifle scope like the arcade would cost huge money... maybe as much as the system itself. I guess it just wasn't practical or cost efficient. And who would spend that much money for a light gun that could be used with only one game? I have Silent Scope and think it works well with the controller. Incorporating the zoom function on-screen was a good idea. The only problem I have with this and other light gun games like this is I don't think the game itself is changed any to compensate for the fact you're not using a gun and therefore can't respond as quickly. It makes it difficult to advance very far into the game, especially when the continues are limited. And that's another gripe.. what's with continues being limited in a home game? In an arcade you could plunk in quarter after quarter if you want and keep going. At home you should have infinite continues, IMO. Like with HOTD2, the max is 9. I get just past the magician in the HQ, but by then I have no more continues and just a few lives left. I guess that's what Gameshark is for... If I could just find it cheap.

Just signed up here and wanted to say hello. Since I am a JI2 regular I thought I'd do it here. I'm sure some of you know me from JI2. I've become more creative with usernames since I had first started using JI2, but I figure since most people in these quarters know me by "Brian R.", I'd stick with it. Been crazy over at JI2 lately. Trolls won't stop me from visiting, but this will be a nice change of pace, especially until Atari Gaming HQ cleans house with some much needed IP bans. I've been wanting to sign up too to take part in the modern gaming forum, since my Dreamcast interest has spiked recently with me getting Shenmue and Shenmue II. Looking forward to being a part of this place. Have fun everyone!