hex65000

It's not just that, to me, it's the combination of the DLC + borderline formulaic in approach+ cost + them being pretty darn whiny about it that is turning me off. Today Amazon has three games by Square/Enix on sale... I think I won't buy any of them honestly. Remember when they could put out a turd and it was still regarded as pure silver if not gold? (The titles for the record are: FF13, Just Cause 2, and Supreme Commander 2) While the sale addresses the cost issue, I just looked at all three and went 'meh.' All are within my threshold for making modern game purchases. All of them are genres I have gotten into in some capacity or another. So I find myself now wondering in the face of this post, "So, why don't I care?" I like RPGs, but I'm not into spending a crazy amount of time to get over the tutorial hump. Not to mention all the other RPGs I haven't even started -- and a few I want to finish. (FF3[ds], Witch's Tale[ds], Eternal Sonata[360]) I like open world action games. Red Faction Guerrilla was a good time. I also enjoyed the Destroy All Humans series. (Not so much the GTAs -- the combat was always a turn-off) Just Cause looks pretty and fun, but I'm just not motivated to pick it up. I play Starcraft with friends pretty much every week, and the only reason I'm holding out on SC2 is justifying the cost of the game. I'm not super good at RTS titles, but they are fun at times. On a console I don't think they carry over well and I'd probably go for the PC version. Still, the game just isn't screaming buy me. Even at $20. The other issue might be the time required to play any of these titles. In my mind, I need to block out at least a couple of hours to sit down, go through the tutorial stage (in the case of FF13 a week or two ) and get a feel for and get into a game. I'm old and easily distracted by shiny things, this isn't conducive for this particular scenario. Perhaps that's why the less involved 'casual' games have appeal. You could say the same thing about a lot of the classic Atari titles as well. It wasn't that you could get to the end. the challenge was to have the skill to be really good at a game that never really ended. Hex. [ Just staring blankly at the same problem from the weekend... ]

Yeah, that's the issue I'm just now bumping into... A standard db-15 connector fits and feels like there's a good connection, but as soon as a backshell gets involved you can't make it mechanically fit. Option 1 is scavenge 5200 cables and hope for the best, but that's cost prohibitive. I have another idea, but I need to consult with an expert (IE: someone who knows more than me. ) I'm at the point now where I've got the hardware architecture worked out and am waiting on the first slice board to come back in the mail. I also need to finish the second slice of my design which is electrically simple, but mechanically it is a PITA. Fabbing isn't hard for me at this point. I've gotten pretty good at soldering small targets, and I picked up a hot air tool for the QFP and SOIC parts. @ Groovybee, Classics: I'd like to get this project out the door in my lifetime (been picking at it on & off for 2 yrs. ) Any interest in working together? Hex. [ If you didn't say 'wait. What?' then you were likely in on the gag for a while... ]

I might be able to help you out there... shoot me a PM in a few days and I'll update you. Hex. [ Doesn't want to test the sports games anyway... ]

I'm working on a project that involves the 5200 and I need to find a source for some 15 pin connectors that will plug into the joystick ports and a good mate for the joystick controller. What I bought from Digikey is close, but it's not an ideal match. I'm currently trying to see if I can modify a backshell so that I can get the female connector to fit properly into the console. I was initially planning on using Monoprice to buy pre-fabbed cables and chop them as needed, however I didn't see what I was looking for. So, if anyone knows of a good place where I can get better connectors (IE: a closer fit) let me know. Please note, cost is important. I can't afford to pay $10 per cable. There's already a bit of cost in the design as it stands. Hex. [ Is approaching the point where he will talk about this project more openly... ]

We are still here folks... Hex. [ Needs another couple of days... ]

It's a bump, with a lemon-lime twist today folks. Here's the deal: As many of you know, AA and GameGavel moderatrix(?) Chickybaby has been in the hospital for a while, and while I'm pretty strapped for cash myself, I want to give her at least a little help if possible. I also need to really move out my extras. In an effort to do both of these things, I've put some more items up on GameGavel all with reasonable starting bids. So as of today (07/23) until (08/19) half of the final value will go to Chickybaby for any auction or BIN that I'm running within that time frame. That is all. Hex. [ Besides this bit right here. When I'm done with this, THAT is all. ]

Amazon appears to be doing lightning deals on various 360/ps3 stuff today. Transformers: WFC is $43 (yes, I'm holding out, but it's a decent price really) I also snagged a copy of Singularity and Divinity 2 which wasn't on special really, but looks cool. Hex. [ Is just lazy, but surprised Ianoid hasn't bumped this yet... ah well. ]

You know, that was a great suggestion! I did a little poking and found that the 74hct4066/cd4066 will do exactly what I want. Not sure if that's what you were driving at, but thanks for the tip. Hex. [ gets to stack computers today... ]

Okay, so I'm setting up a little experiment at home and I got some 2n2222 transistors to essentially act as solid state switches. Not a problem right? Well... Here's just a little something goofy for you to chew on... I'm using a really common part to do this experiment and behold two different data sheets (in terms of pinout) based on the manufacturer. Mind you, the Fairchild datasheet says PN2222 v/s the 2N2222 from ON semiconductor. There is a cross reference table that points at the PN2222 part. Still, a classic WTF moment. The good news is that I can experimentally sort this out, but this is just silly and an important caveat when dealing with "mature generic parts". Which is what I thought I was dealing with and thought one MFGR's datasheet will be as good as any other MFGR. Nope. Lesson learned folks. Fairchild Semiconductor link ON Semiconductor link Hex. [ Just an interesting discovery, and I thought I'd share... ]

I actually want to say it was $50 or better from memory. I guess Al or CPUWiz would be the the best source though. Hex. [ Has encountered a 'snag'... dammit. ]

I'm more disturbed that I'm able to justify plunking down crazy money for Neo Geo AES carts v/s the TG16. The TG16 is on my endangered species list right now, too. It's just that the perceived value isn't there for me on the TG16. I was interested in a lot that got put up in the marketplace here and I thought,"Well, maybe $100, $120 tops is what he wanted for the lot." (I don't monitor prices of specific games too closely, so that was my internal ballpark range.) The seller had much better offers in hand -- by a lot. I was glad I didn't accidentally lowball him; just had to say 'pass' and apologize for not being able to up the ante. I'm kinda hoping that the demand will fall off a bit here and there. I don't expect "by the pound" prices to appear, but affordable, I can cope with. I think it's happening somewhat for the Neo Geo. Not that I'm complaining. The super popular titles like Metal Slug and KOF are reproduced on multiple platforms -- and the anthologies are super cheap in relation to the original carts. I'm not that much of a connoisseur to care about minor differences in the Neo Geo emulation v/s real hardware. It's the stuff that never made it to cross-platform land that I'm excited to see in semi-affordable ranges. Of course statements like this just piss off collectors who feel that their games are "an investment"... That's another rant for another day. Hex. [ Has sorted out _most_ of his Genesis collection... I don't know what I have, But I know there's no doubles. ]

Sorry to hear you're having logistical problems though. Just remember to wake us up when things are ready... Hex. [ ... is never ready. ]

I'm aware of some of that stuff already. The information that it's an R-C timing circuit is part of what I needed to know. I'm working under the assumption that the response of the pokey is linear. IE: so many kOhms of resistance knocks the digital output value up by one bit. I know that the pots in the joysticks are linear taper v/s a Log taper so I think I'm good to go. Hex. [ Has his own programming problems to deal with, the Atari's software quirks are not quite a concern... The hardware is though. ]

DLC only. That makes me sad. pass. Hex. [ Not much else to say. It looks good, just wake me if it ever makes it onto a CD... ]

I know I'm a little late to the party on this, but I'd also be interested in a number of those titles. Although, I would like to see a manual included. Boxes I can like without, but instruction books make the game 'complete enough' Hex. [ Actually threw down a bit on the AA store today. It's been a while baby. ]

Lather... Hex. [ has got the order all wrong... how depressing. ]

I have the Gamecube version and it's as good as any. The load times are still pretty brutal. I also tried ripping the PS2 version to a hard disc to use HDloader on it. The load times remained horrible. So while a little more exotic (relatively speaking), I'm gonna say stick with the cube version. You can play it on your Wii using component video for the best picture or just play it on the GCube and it'll still look just fine. Hex. [ Snagged an old monitor from the trash and it's S-video only. <doh!> ]

Not sure really. There are a few contenders though... Quake 2 (PC) : Used to play multiplayer like mad Unreal Tournament (PC) : ditto, I was actively competing when they had stats. I think my best was the top 500 or so in deathmatch. Magic: The Gathering by MicroProse(PC) : Just a long drink of solitaire... Kinda clunky, but I loved playing v/s the computer. Starcraft : We play as a group once a week and that excludes practice sessions this v/s the computer. Diablo 2 : Four words say it all -- "Kill things. Get stuff." Digital Devil Saga 1&2 : ~About 140 hours logged Final Fantasy 3 (DS) : ~50+ hours logged Sacred 2 (360) ~55+ hours logged You get the idea. Hex. [ Has realized his FPS skills have really dropped off. It makes me sad, because I was the assault guy... ]

A good point Mike, and to add to the credibility of what you're saying, I found selected items that were actually _more expensive_ than they were on EBay. Not a dollar or two but close to a $10 delta. I made a simple personal rule of only new items would be up for BIN v/s used. The logic is that if you are doing a google search for an item and want to buy it from a (possibly unknown) source, a used game or piece of equipment has more question marks associated with it than a new one. It feels more professional in my mind. As for pricing, I (think) that I priced the new items I have in the middle of the pack. Buyers may be turned off by the shipping and that paragraph is due for a revision to be more specific. Although I tend to think that the first sentence says it all. <shrug> Just my thoughts... Hex. [ Somewhat flaky lackey, and personal food taster... ]

Actually, at first glance they reminded me of Wobbuffet... Hex. [ Found the Pac-Man cartoon cringe-worthy. Not that the 80's one was anything too awesome either... just... just... no. ]

Me too. I think the trailers are sometimes even better than the games... Hex. [ Really liked the plunger-gun rounds the most. Those were awesome. ]

My order from Amazon for this game came in yesterday and I fired it up after picking at an unrelated project. The faceplate is cool looking. But it's more a collectors decoration than anything else. It went back in the oddly shaped cardboard box. I like my woodgrain faceplate the best right now. The game on easier levels feels possible, but man that's a lot of bullets. Then there's the 'suicide bullets' too. While I know that your familiar is supposed to collect those, I had a bad time of it and died. A lot. I did two playthroughs last night on the 360 version, mostly on difficulty level 1 (because I'm terrible at these bullet-hell shooters.) Lots of achievements for doing very little in some spots. There are some tough ones too, like clear the game without using a bomb. Not likely to do that in my lifetime. There is also a decision to make after you clear the game which impacts the ending. Overall, a pretty shooter, lots of bullets in funky patterns, and just a tad perverse -- I assume that's a Japan thing more than anything else. Hex. [ Spent a TON of cash on tools yesterday and is having a little buyer's remorse... ]

Was gonna throw down on two of the three remaining, but the immediate payment thing sucks. PayPal wants a credit card that it will not get or else the transaction never starts... If you are interested in making arrangements, shoot me a PM. Hex. [ I am out of date for a reason... ]

<--- Duh. Mistakes were made. Thanks CC! Hex. [ If you caught it... you'll know why that's there. ]

Well, the initial trailer didn't do a thing for me... now excuse me while I go forth and play instead... Hex. [ It's a damage control kind of day... ]