Rhindle The Red

Okay, what else do you guys collect out there? I tried to think of all the stuff I could, but people collect a *lot* of different things, so it's hard to hit them all. If you don't see one listed that you *really* want included, make note of it and I can add it in before you vote.

We're talking video game consoles and computers here, people. Not hard drives, printers, add-ons, etc. And we aren't talking *different* machines, either. If you've got fourteen 2600s, that's fourteen right there. And don't go sneaky counting Geminis or Sears Video Arcades, either. (Okay, if you do, I won't tell anyone.) But *do* count the different stand-alones (even "Touch Me", if you've got one). I'll leave it up to you whether the "Plug and Play" systems count. For me, they do. So, where do you land on the spectrum?

I'll suggest Newkadia.com http://www.newkadia.com/?Atari_Force_Comic-Books=281 They have done a good job for me so far and have a 100% money back guarantee. (It's true!) Complete set "Best Copies" - $41.84 Complete set "Lowest Price" - $22.19 Shipping? 99 cents. Period.

Ow! Don't be dissin' the Bug, man! Forgot about that one. I've got it (as well as all the rest in case you hadn't guessed).

Ambush Bug creator Keith Giffen had done the "Hukka" back up stories and he brought him back to be mistreated in the "Ambush Bug Stocking Stuffer". http://dc.wikia.com/wiki/Ambush_Bug_Stocking_Stuffer_1 And, yes, it is original to the special.

Who-hoo! Here we are boys and girls with another Poll of the Week, promptly appearing on your front doorstep every few months. So, I've been re-organizing my comic book collection and I was drawn once again to one of the few titles I collected *before* I really collected comic books. I, like many, was introduced to Atari Force with the mini-comics packed into Atari 2600 games. But I also caught it on the newstand and it was re-discoveiring Atari Force and my quest to get all the issues that got me crawling through comic book store discount bins. That crawling led me to discover many a fine comic book series and the rest is history (and twenty-seven comic book long boxes). So, who's got Atari Force on hand?

That would be covered under "No and I never have." I always said I'd pop in if I thought of a good one. No bets on when the next one arrives...

This one's pretty clear. I've been playing a lot of Facebook games lately and it got me to linking about how many classic gamers might play them. There are all kinds of games on Facebook. Do you play? Why? Why not? What types of games do you play?

Yes, it can be something you've created in the past. ..Al Okie-de. Time to start digging through old computer files...

Now that some time has passed, which of the "big three" do you think "won" E3 this year? "Winning" is, of course, subjective. But I'd like to hear what people think and why. This isn't meant to be an opportunity for console warring and nonsense. I'd just like to see what people thought in a clear and civil manner. Don't spoil this little comeback for the Poll of the Week by being an ass.

Do these have to be all new? Can I enter a label I may have created some time ago? Even shown here?

As you can see, I *will* come back from time to time, but I don't know if I'll post another poll. Oh, it was all so long ago... I remember changing logos and copyright dates. Specifically, I seem to recall changing "Absolute" to "Skyworks"... I also did add "Activision" to some. Pretty much, if on-screen information has changed from the original ROM, I most likely did it. No need for embarrassment, I don't push that stuff too hard. "Trick Shooting" is just that, footage of Kenne Duncan. It's not really worth a lot of effort tracking down. In the 60s, Ed started moving into the more lacivious material that would define his later carreer. I'd suggest focusing on getting ahold of "The Venus Flytrap" aka "The Revenge of Dr. X". It's a pure Ed script shot in Japan that feels more "Ed-like" than his adult material. It was easier doing all that stuff when I was out of work. Nowadays, with my job, theater work and my various other projects, the Ed Site doesn't get the updates it deserves. I have a bunch of recent DVD releases to add, as well as many recently-surfaced magazine articles. And it's still available at the AtariAge store! Get yours today! (End of commercial.) I'm glad people like it. I always enjoyed "Mario Bros." on the 2600, but just couldn't stand that lousy artwork. I knew the old girl could do better. I feel the same but taking this for the reason to leave is just wrong! I think you could make a good poll out of that Nolan thread!! "Contributed", not "caused". It was one of those "straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back" situations. The PC version of Activision Anthology has Rampage on disc, though it still doesn't come up for selection in the game. I'm willing to bet the PC version uses the same ROM images that the PS2 and GBA versions did. Have you played that "Rampage" ROM? If it just says 'Midway', instead of 'Bally Midway', that's the one I worked on. But it still won't have the nifty 'Midway' logo. That was nixed out of hand.

Thanks for the kind words (almost) everyone. I'll pop in now and again and if I think of a poll (and still have the power to do so) I may just post it. Who knows? I believe it was only the original PS2 and GBA versions. I had been doing my hacks (RoMB, Spice Invaders, Donkey Claus), when Ken Love from Activison posted that he needed someone to change copyright notices in old 2600 games so they could be included in what became "Activision Anthology". Since it was purely graphical work (I never got into 2600 programming), I volunteered. Ken would send me a .bin, I'd make the alterations he wanted and then send it back. If it was good, we'd move on to the next one, if not, I'd make further adjustements. I actually worked on a number of games (including "Rampage") that got left off anyway, despite the changes. It wasn't a lot of work, but it was enough to get in the credits. Thomas Jentzsch (who did the programming changes to make PAL games work correctly in NTSC, I believe) and I were credited with "Additional 2600 Programming". For my work, I got exactly one copy of the PS2 game and Ken signed the shrinkwrap with a "thank you" for all my work, which meant I couldn't really open it and had to buy another copy to actually play. (Which I never did, anyway. I still do not have a PS2. I played the GBA version, though.) I still have the book of graph paper that I used to work out the lettering. On "Rampage", I had even managed to create the then-modern "Midway" logo. I thought it looked great and it's a pity no one got to play it. I have never taken the time to see if the later ones (which I am pretty sure do not credit me) actually contained any of the ROMs on which I worked.

It is with a somewhat heavy heart that I announce that I will no longer be running the Poll of the Week here on AtariAge. I have been at this for about five years (three or four of the them with pretty good regularity), but as must have been clear to anyone who visited regularly, it's not been much of a priority in recent months. I've enjoyed it and I hope you've all enjoyed the various topics I've raised, as well as the Annual "Shodown". I did try to start back up at a decent pace again at the beginning of the year, but I soon fell behind again and eventually it went stagnant. I won't deny that the recent very nasty Nolan Bushnell discussion somewhat disenheartened me and contributed to my decision to move on, not only from the Poll of the Week (which I had been contemplating officially withdrawing from for some time), but from AtariAge as a whole. I may peek in from time to time, but I'm fading more fully into the distance. (Look...there I am...on the horizon...) I got in while the Site was still the Atari 2600 Nexus and I've seen it grow into a wonderful resource. My posting of my 'Return of Mario Bros." hack prompted the creation of the hacks section and it's become a wonderful place for new takes on old classics, not to mention landed me the gig working on "Activision Anthology". I like to think I helped make AtariAge a nice place for fans of Atari to hang out. I leave with few regrets and many great memories. Hopefully, someone will pick up the mantle and get the Poll of the Week back to what it was when I started. I think it's a great way to get different topics going and you never know which one will spark a fascinating discussion. Thanks to everyone for their participation. It's been a good time. - Philip R. Frey aka "Rhindle The Red" AtariAge Poll of the Week Moderator (2005 - 2010)

Well, I certainly sort it with the video game CDs (along with the soundtracks to the Tomb Raider and Resident Evil movies and the like), but I don't think it qualifies as a soundtrack itself.

Sorting through my CDs, I recently reached my collection of video game soundtracks. There's lots of reasons to own soundtracks, of course: because you like the game and want some additional merchandise, because it reminds you of the fun you had playing the game, and even because you actually enjoy the music. (Yes, it's true!) My favorite is the soundtrack to Super Mario 64 (and not just because it usually costs a lot nowadays). But I really enjoy listening to quite a few of them. For my favorite, I'm torn between Koji Kondo (classic Nintendo composer) and (for more cinematic works) Jeremy Soule, especially when he's working on something to compliment John Williams (Star Wars or Harry Potter video games). Anyway, do you have any video game soundtracks? A lot? What do you enjoy about them? Favorites?

Please don't do that here.

So, recently there's been a big move towards "retro" games. Not only replicating older gaming styles (New Super Mario Bros., etc.) or homages to 80's games (No More Heroes), but also straight-up 8-bit gaming, blinking graphics and all (Megaman 9, 10, etc.). Not to mention a game like Retro Game Challenge which presents a compliation of 80's games that never existed. What do you think of this trend? Is it cool to see older styles revisited by the mainstream? (We all know that with homebrews, these types of games never really died.) Would you rather they left retro titles to re-releases and the homebrew scene?

Well, we have a winner and it's GALAGA! Due to unforseen circumstances, this last Shodown went on much longer than I anticipated. But I think people generally like them, so today's poll is to gauge opinions on the Shodowns in general and what you'd like to see in the future. In addition to the options above, please make any constructive comments below. Thanks.

Thanks to a violent cold/flu/whatever as well as a serious stomache issue, we come to the finals of the 2009 Shodown a few days into 2010. Well, if it's good enough for the NFL, it's good enough for me. Anyway, it's an all-shooter finish with Galaga facing off against Defender. Two very different examples of the genre. Which will emerge triumphant?

Well, it was a strong round for the shooters last time, leaving only Ms. Pac-Man still standing from another genre. THE FINAL FOUR Ms. Pac-Man vs. Galaga Defender vs. Star Wars

Yes, we're not dead yet. And I'm gonna try and fast-track this so we finish this up by the end of the year. There are three rounds left (including this one), so we won't have a full week for each, but we'll get 'er done. So, Round Four: The Domestic Dispute Pac-Man vs. Ms. Pac-Man Space. It seems to go on and on forever. But then you get to the end and a gorilla starts throwing barrels at you. Galaga vs. Donkey Kong Who's the baddest protector of the humans? Defender vs. Robotron: 2084 The War in Space of the Invaders from the Stars Star Wars vs. Space Invaders

I got Magic Knight Rayearth and Albert Odyssey: Legend of Eldean for the Sega Saturn for $3.99 each at a thrift store over the weekend. Not as impressive as it would have been a few years ago, but they are complete and in nice shape, so a solid find after months of nothing.