mattyg

My point guys is simply this : FMV gets a bad rap - partly deserved but its validity as a technique and as an important part of history should not be overlooked. We could debate for hours about what an FMV actually constitutes but the area is so grey we'll all end up in circles. I stick by my original statement - not all FMV games sucked - although most did! To continually hear them being berated by a generation who were neither there or are too ignorant to research prior to posting are what gets my back up. I hear the same things about certain consoles too - I spend a lot of time on forums correcting and attempting to inform viewers/readers of the pros of Jaguar , CD32 , 3DO and CDi (amongst others) who simply dismiss them as crap consoles and know nothing of the time before xbox and playstation. It's an ongoing battle

When defining what makes an FMV game I have categorised it in two ways - those that use it as primary gameplay and those that use it as an application in existing gameplay. FMV is not a just a genre on its own but a technique. In the backlash that followed FMV's fall from grace I believe that it became underutilised and actually still had a place in the 3D world. example in point is the game Space Hulk - on the Saturn and PS ports the genestealers are heavily pixellated in close combat - but look seamless and clear on the 3DO - why? On the 3DO the programmers decided that once close up the player only has a couple of options so rather than do it on the fly it switches to an interactive pre rendered sequence. Brilliant. FMV had its place - its frequent derision annoys me.

I actually like Corpse Killer too! - just don't tell anyone

FMV Games do not suck (completely) – there I said it! One of the most annoying things I have seen in this age of the internet is the same old view or Wikipedia entry being rehashed over and over again by people who are just not equipped with the knowledge or indeed the insight to satisfactorily state their point of view. It seems that someone born post or mid eighties, rather than ask an old timer (like myself) , prefers instead to perpetuate unfounded and unsubstantiated truths about gaming. One of those perpetuated untruths is that concerning FMV games. How often do we hear “oh, they sucked” or “there were no good FMV games” – well I tend to differ. One needs to look at it in historical context – there was a time where FMV was considered a “buzz” term and many believed it may have been the future of gaming. As frustrating as the Don Bluth games (Dragon’s Lair, Space Ace) were to play there is no denying their visual appeal and their ability to draw you into an arcade. Remember, DVD had not been invented yet and the fact that any kind of lifelike moving image could be interacted with in a gaming environment was pretty cool! A number of consoles at the time fell into the trap of concentrating on FMV capability , spurred on by the success on PC – It cannot be denied that very early on games such as Myst and 7th Guest were major reasons for an increase in PC purchases and helped establish it as a multimedia device – 200mmx anyone? Two of those consoles were the CD-i and the 3DO – it’s easy to say that they lacked in 3d capabilities and therefore were doomed but both machines were originally developed at a time when 3d was only capable on very high end business and arcade machines. Dissing these machines because of their lack of 3d is like dissing someone in a horse and buggy for not having a v12 engine fitted – it’s simply ludicrous and smacks of ignorance. The pictures were grainy because that was the resolution of the time , not because the hardware or software was inferior. Saying there were no decent FMV games or applications also smacks of ignorance. One of the amazing features of the 3DO was its ability to stream video during game play - an effect that was put to great use in Shockwave and in Wing Commander 3 when your commanding officers are giving you constant updates on the vid screens. In Killing Time it was used to create atmospheric ghosts that you conversed with and in the game show titles Zhadnost and Twisted it gave us hosts and contestants with personality’s years before Buzz hit PS2. Whilst titles such as Nova storm, Microcosm and Sewer Shark gave us an on rails visual experience thought impossible only a short time before – sure they sucked but damn they looked good! As for pure FMV games it is hard to go past Cd-i’s Burn Cycle and the 3DO’s Snow Job and Psychic Detective – well acted , well scripted and most importantly replayable. So when someone says “FMV sucked” remind them that it didn’t - the world was just different then.

I will have an additional pic up shortly showing my latest boxed purchases that includes the following CIB's another Lynx II (different artwork) Lynx I Magnavox odessey 4000 Magnavox odessey 2 pong clone made by Sheen Australia Mega Drive I SNES - plain core packaging Atari Flashback I Wonderswan Wonderswan colour and Neo Geo pocket! Remember guys that this is just my CIB stuff ( i even have doubles on some of it) and I have much more loose stuff! I have even started respraying some of my poor condition/faded loose stuff (in a professional automotive spraybooth) and have been very impressed with the results - same technique that is used on plastic bumper/fenders! stay tuned!

I know that this is one hell of a bump but just wanted to add that I too have a rare white Lynx II I have been experimenting on quite a few consoles including Lynx II's with automotive coatings. After much destruction - melting due to bonding agents and solvents being too strong and also with baking oven temps - my accomplice and I have succeeded! The finish is superb , tough but glossy and has bonded to the shells really well. White was our first experiment and other colours (and pics) will follow soon. I have picked up a number of Lynxes over the years where the outer shell near the battery compartment has become discoloured due to battery leakages but the internals were salvageable and working fine - these will become part of my new coloured line of refurbed consoles! I have also found the process works really well with sun faded playstations and am also attempting it with a megadrive/genesis! All internals including the screen are properly cleaned with isoprope and compressed air and then reassembled - if anyone is interested they will be for sale - but postage from oz isn't that cheap (about $30 US ) and the process is expensive. The units themselves though do look and feel great - so PM me and I'll see what I can do!

The chrome/silver spectravision boxes for the coleco !

Agreed - collection purists don't even bother chasing the handful of long box vivid titles - cd jewel cases were pretty much the accepted norm for the adult titles.

ditto on Pac Man - just hearing the sound of dying in that game takes me back in time. who needs a de Lorean and a lightning strike with memories like that !

3DO had Burning Soldier Every SNK platform plus others had Metal Slug

I bought my model 2 Cd from a 2nd Hand Shop - the guy said - why do you want it? it's missing pieces and not working ! The box was pretty minty and I thought what the hell I might be able to salvage something. So when I opened it up at home there was Megadrive shoved in the box as well and no controllers! No problem got a drawer full of controllers so why didn't the CD work? Warped adapter plate! A quick fix with a pair of pliers and I was away! Total cost $20 AU Bargain!

Twisted , Battlesport and Return Fire on the 3DO ! Closely followed by Mario Kart (any version)

Lounge Room on my "32 Philips LCD Sanyo 3DO Amiga CD32 Sony Playstation Games Room on my "40 Sharp LCD Nintendo Wii Sega Dreamcast Sega Saturn Philips CDi

Many of those EA 3DO games were either designed or redesigned for the 3DO specifically - EVERY example in my opinion (I have tried most of the common games) is better on the 3DO - some things were simply lost in the porting. That goes for both Playstation and Saturn examples.

Well I don't believe that this is morally right but it is legal and a strategy that helped build capitalism. Something is only as valuable as what someone will pay - to a point. Ask yourself this - if you saw an incredibly rare game at a flea market for $5 that you knew a serious collector would pay $1500 for - do you buy it? , or do you tell the seller what it is worth ? do you keep it for yourself ? or do you onsell it at profit? What is more of a concern to me is the monopoly aspect - is the buyer being too aggressive? I bring this up as a result of something that happened to me 6 months ago - I was searching for a boxed VCS to add to my collection (it is no secret that I am attempting to collect a boxed example of every released console) - I located one in the UK on evilbay and won it at a reasonable price - then the seller contacted me and said that "he dropped it on the way to the post office" and would not sell it to me in that condition - ok fair enough I thought - then I won one from the US - and guess what happened - same story - different seller , different continent......mmmmm Both these sellers had disclosed email details on their accounts. I eventually got one out of Canada - this seller had a "silent" email. My suspicion is that there are dealers/collectors out there that are watching evilbay and contacting sellers , then offering them a higher price then what was on evilbay - getting them to then claim no sale due to faulty item. In both cases I offered to take both products as is as I was mainly after good packaging - both declined saying that the items had been disposed of.......mmmmmmmm. Same thing happened with an Odessey 2 just the other day mmmmmm. This is in direct contrevention of evilbay policy and maybe illegal as such - but unfortunately what our Odessey friend is doing is not. Moral of the story is DON'T PAY HIGH PRICES - it just encourages this crap.

Glad to see my countryman came through! - I alas have given up on a parcel from the UK sent back in June - it is I am afraid a lost $200 down the tube on a limited edition mega drive pack ah the wonders of ebay

3DO had Family Feud - not the console's finest moment - the fictitious Twisted , Zhadnost and even Station Invasion proved it could have been done well.

Well put and I'm sure not everyone will agree but exactly the same could be said about the CDi , CD32 and the 3DO

You have a dud - pity because the FZ-1 is one of the most reliable cd based consoles I have ever come across - I had 5 and none of them gave any trouble - replacement drives for the Panasonic are tough to get - Cicon carry lasers for the Goldstar & Sanyo models and thats about it. Here in Australia the average 3DO costs around $100 so ordering parts and fitting them is feasible and relatively economical - in the UK , Japan and US where they had official release they are cheaper and easier to come by - just buy a new one - sorry to hear your issues.

Although I in no way endorse this company - the Gametraders store site here in Australia has a tv skin continually playing a loop of retro commercials from OZ and around the world starting from the 2600. There is about 45min of pure gold! My link

Andrew is right - 4 months by sea is not unheard of - problem with paypal/ebay they only allow 45 days to make claims. I won 3 seperate items on evilbay back in June from the UK. In each case the seller had woefully underquoted and after threats and heated exchanges they sent the items....seamail. 2 of the items arrived just 2 weeks ago....the 3rd who knows. I can't make a claim and the seller swears he sent it. Airmail is 4-10 days to the US. I am a collector at the butt end of the earth and I sympathise. Hang in there it may well turn up when you least expect!

Surprise Surprise the much maligned and seldom understood 3DO is still my fave Have grown to love the Jag Take my Lynx everywhere and always loved the Dreamcast appreciate the CD-i for what it is and have nothing but fond memories of the 2600 and the MegaDrive (Genesis) good enough? ......oh and I consider the Vectrex a true work of art!

I don't hate any system - I just hate Sony in general. They screwed the market forever when they released the Playstation at a massive loss - it set the scene for every other manufactyrer to follow - basically if you weren't cashed up it didn't matter how good your machine was because not everyone can sell at a loss to keep the price down. They killed Sega , M2 , nearly killed Nintendo , Jag and now they're killing themselves - I hope they implode. All PS3 has done is give a lot of rich people a Blu-Ray player - as if the customers who could afford Bravia TVs and get their PS3s for free would buy games - just a way to bump up unit figures to attract third parties and win the Blu-Ray HD war. Thanks for nothing Sony