[Bert has a new game]

Bert is my spirit animal 

[Starfield (Xbox One)]

Heads up: Microsoft has indicated that new AAA games from now on will be for Series X|S machines only

 

There will probably be smaller and indie games for a while but not their marquee titles like Starfield or Forza. 

 

The small white Xbox Series S will probably go on special for $250 or so this holiday season if you want to play it natively. 

[Dead MacBook and Lost Data]

Sorry about your lost work.
 

For next time: iCloud and Backblaze make backups easy. 

[Microsoft to acquire Nintendo]

They tried to do that 20 years ago. It's unlikely to happen again for a long time. 

[A black and white handheld with a crank?]

I'm interested in this because it's something different, from some people with an imaginative vision, and a good sense of design. You don't have to think about it too long before realizing that all video games are a waste of time. Being low-fidelity is not a problem so long as it's fun. 

[Episode IX Star Wars binge, part 4 (more KOTOR)]

Time on Taris is toooooo looooooong. It's probably the weakest aspect of the otherwise great game, in my opinion. That and the fact that Aspyr hasn't gotten around to updating the iPhone version to work on iPhone 11 Pro. 

 

I wish we could have some more episodes like this. SWTOR was supposed to be it, but the MMO structure kinda wrecks it. I'd love a KOTOR Maker which would allow us to design characters, environments, stories, and voice acting to do our own thing in this world. 

[Episode IX Star Wars binge part 7 - film rankings]

Easy online emulation of the Mac version of Star Wars Arcade, from 1989. Good times. 

 

https://jamesfriend.com.au/pce-js/system6/

[Episode IX Star Wars binge part 7 - film rankings]

The early DOS games are sublime, Dark Forces and TIE Fighter in particular. make sure you play X-Wing before you touch TIE Fighter, because it's hard to go back from the much more refined design. 
 

I also like Shadows of the Empire quite a lot for what it is. There's a train level early in Star Wars Uncharted, I mean Jedi Fallen Order that takes it to 3000. 
 

The Amiga port of the Star Wars Arcade game is quite nice. I suspect the Atari ST port is very similar if you swing that way. I liked the Mac version THIRTY YEARS AGO and only just now have my very own mini Star Wars Arcade home machine, 35 years later. 

[Episode IX Star Wars binge part 7 - film rankings]

Are you sick of Star Wars yet? Clone Wars, Rebels, and Resistance await! Since you ranked everything 6/10 or higher, I think you're officially a fan. 
 

I've only watched all of Rebels, which is very kiddie, but has an original trilogy feeling and art to match. Looks like a combo of Ralph McQuarrie paintings and a Kenner toy catalog. Consistently solid. 
 

Clone Wars is episodic, you can jump around a fair amount from arc to arc (I've yet to see all of the clone buddy stories; they're probably better than I'm thinking they would be). Some of it is very trippy. Much of it is very bland. 
 

Resistance is serialized but short. I've begun it but haven't followed through. It's ...fine. Very "Big Hero 6." Looks good, well acted, made for nine-year-olds. 

[The Battle for Naboo!]

I kinda sorta liked this game when it was new, especially how they snuck on developer commentary -- on a cartridge!

 

Its biggest problem is its lack of originality -- a bunch of Star Wars vehicular action games around this period had very similar play mechanics. 
 

on the n64,

Rogue Squadron

Battle for Naboo (same engine, I think)

 

on gamecube

Rogue Leader

Rebel Strike

Clone Wars

 

on xbox

Clone wars

Starfighter

Jedi Starfighter

 

It was ok at the time but nowadays it's for completists only. 

[Episode IX Star Wars binge, part 1]

I'm big on Star Wars. My family got me that poster, signed by Lucas, Carrie Fisher (RIP), Hamill, and Ford ...very cool.
 

I also recently treated myself to the 1Up mini arcade machine of the old Atari Star Wars games (the first game brilliant, the other two, less so). When you play Rebel Strike, remember they're available as bonuses to unlock and you can do it with cheats if you must. 
 

KOTOR is very newbie friendly and you can just bash through it for the story if you want. Stick with it! I've yet to complete the sequel, for  lack of time and attention. 

[Thinking about the Pre-Disney Star Wars Expanded Universe...]

What's wrong with Canon/Legends as is?

[I thought they are banned]

I think they're allowed if you don't suggest that they're "candy cigarettes," like they did when I was a kid. They had names like Pell Mell (instead of Pall Mall) back then, too. 

 

Those things are NOT tasty. 

[Atari vs Activision]

Good comparisons. Starmaster pisses on Star Raiders from a great height, it's so much more elegant and fun. 
 

When I was young and these were new, I would have generally preferred Atari for the arcade and culture licenses. 
 

Now that we live in the future with MAME and the real arcade games at our fingertips, I value the clean, original designs of Activision games much more. 
 

It is nice that we got both!

[My thoughts on Ewoks... I could appreciate them]

I think they could be "fixed" which some less whimsical music under them. That makes such a difference in cinematic mood. 

[My Arcade is done!]

[My thoughts on the 5200]

Enormous

Expensive

Unloved

Floppy Controllers

(I'm not a fan)

 

Good writeup though. ?

[Computer History BEFORE Microprocessors]

This stuff boggles my mind. 

 

Maybe you could build a CPU in Minecraft, which would make it "fun" instead of work?

[A styrofoam take-out container would’ve also been acceptable]

I think Amico looks like a plug-in foot bath.

[It’s still better than an Ataribox]

If nothing is better than the Intellivision, does "Atari VCS" win? Because it's literally nothing.

[Solar Installation Day]

Powerwall is the inverter, or is that Tesla's home battery? I looked into SolarCity a few years back, but the savings vs all the restrictions didn't seem worthwhile. I figured I'd wait until the home battery scene picked up or the cost went down.

[Solo: A Star Wars Story (that nobody asked for) - Spoiler-free review]

Or a Holiday Special.

Not without Bea Arthur.

[Solo: A Star Wars Story (that nobody asked for) - Spoiler-free review]

Good review. I mostly agree. This would have been a Very Fine Television Miniseries.

[It either would or wouldn’t have George Plimpton in it]

Maybe I already did...

Ha! Shades of how Doonesbury used a feather to represent Dan Quayle.

 

I think the RetroVGS/Chameleon would best be represented by an outline of a game cartridge. Dotted lines, like the dead grandparents in The Family Circus. If you went full maudlin schmaltz like them, that would be a good move as well.

 

The AtariBox/VCS should be represented by an unadorned block of wood. No wires, no lights.

[Goodbye Toys R Us]

All the TRUs near us have been gone for a long time now ... at least we have Target and private toy stores. I have fond memories of hunting Atari 2600, 7200, and Lynx stuff along with NES, SNES, Genesis ... and it's also where I bought my Sega Saturn. That was a long time ago, though.

 

I see that HASBRO and MATTEL are considering a merge, which is mind boggling.