wongojack

Excellent - thanks for the responses. I double checked gameplay on my 7800. I can get through the lvl 3 open door the first time I go through it. If I die and reset then every time I try to go through the door, the game sends me back to the title. I also got sent back by the faerie and the same thing happened. Perhaps a value gets stored in memory to record the door is open or something and the 7800 doesn't like it. I was able to beat the game on BB & AA during my first play session. The dragon was in the same place both times and I froze the demon and pounded on him. That prompted me to call the game too easy which I think it is. Reading this thread reveals that you may have had the same suspicion during development. Its an excellent game regardless but seems like a missed opportunity to add a harder game variation. Thanks for the inside info on the guide UPDATE - I tested RC4 (from this thread) on my 7800 with the Harmony cart and it worked fine. I'm going to contact Al and see if he will replace the cart I bought from AA as it might be defective somehow. It is also now giving me problems on a 2600.

I'll dig this thread up after a long break to note that I purchased this game from the AA store, but it does not seem to work correctly on the 7800. As soon as I get to the first door in the game (if open), I am returned to the title screen as I pass through the opening. The game works fine on an actual 2600. This long after development, I just mention a detail like this to record it for others to find. Unless . . . there is any appetite to somehow update this game either for the 2600 or <gasp> the 7800. The 7800 needs a game like this desperately, and I'd love to see an update. Regarding the 2600 version, It's too bad that there was not a harder difficulty variation. Simply making the chest be able to shock you for more damage would have created a situation where you might choose to destroy it more often which would shake things up quite a bit. I'm sure the math behind the scenes could also be made less advantageous for the player as well. Some other ideas for variations: Princess requires an Excaliber strike (to break her chains) Chest can be empty Excaliber only found after level 5 Holy Grail heals you but drains your magic Lightning cast can miss Some kind of ranking would be nice at the end based on time, life remaining, objects acquired - doesn't have to be complicated. "Thy rank is Lizard Fodder" or "Defender of the Realm" etc. Even a 1 through 9 would be something. One question I have to anyone who plays this: Can the demon be damaged by magic. In my version of the game it can, but this guide says it cannot: http://www.electricfrankfurter.com/2010/07/closer-look-9.html

Thanks to both of you. After I play a game for a while, I like to read what some others experiences are with it, and both of those reviews were very well done. I did find this page which is a player's guide to the game. Seems to be the one linked by David - just moved. http://www.electricfrankfurter.com/2010/07/closer-look-9.html Question - It says that the demon is not vulnerable to magic, but on the cart I have he always takes damage when I use magic on him. Can anyone confirm if the demon takes magic damage on their version of the game?

Neither link in this thread works anymore. I'd be interested in reading both articles if they are still available.

I held onto a retail boxed copy of Age of Empires online and now no new accounts can be created. If you already play this game and would like the bonus content "The Greeks" and other "Exclusive In-Game Store Content" please PM me. I can send you the code and/or mail you the DVD case with the maps, poster and card that has the download code. I'd like to get something for this. How bout $5 shipping included for the DVD or trade me something out of your commons . . . or just ask and I send you the code because someone should have access to this content. Note that you must already have this game as a download in your Games for Windows Marketplace client to play.

I've dabbled in the indie games from time to time, but lately took the time to look up reviews and really play A LOT of trials. The indie game scene on Xbox 360 has more titles than some retro consoles and many of the games are openly inspired by recognizable retro titles. While there are a lot of turds in there, that is true with any console. At least with this one, you can try every game and most cost only $1 (max $5). Its a bit of a time commitment, but I'd encourage everyone on this site to explore some of the top rated titles and appreciate the little niche that XBLIG carved out. Some particularly retro friendly titles to investigate would be Decimation X, Ghosts of Tarr-Minos, and the licensed titles Manic Miner 360 and Jet Set Willy 360. However, there are tons more in various genres - many have received positive mentions on this site. Seems like the best site I've found for organizing info about XBLIG is xboxindies.com Can anyone tell us what the XBLIG scene is like on XBone?

@DZ-Jay - How bout this: http://www.xboxindies.com/game/ghosts-of-tarr-minos

Great Updates!

Bumping this because I recently discovered GoTM and was thrilled to see such a lovingly re-created version of Tarmin. I also noticed another game of yours (with the help of xboxindies.com) called "Space Egypt" which is in the same Inty style. Looks like Tutankamen . . . I thought when I saw the game that people who love Minecraft clones probably just wouldn't get it - hence the low rating. But it really jumped out for me. I typically search for the keyword "retro" to find old-style games and browse xboxindies to fill in the blanks. If you make more games in this style, please let us know or use some keywords to identify it.

@S1500 - This is going to sound direct, but you need to check out pleasuredome.org.uk and clrmamepro. Your missing file problem will go away if you take the time to join that site and learn to use that tool.

Yes, I knew that. So tantalizingly like a 4 way joystick and yet not. I've just never been able to get the hang of the "thrust" "reverse" buttons, so I think of it as stick-less.

Cool anecdotes! I have probably played the Coleco version, but I don't remember it. I'll check it out. For me the difficulty in the arcade version is just too high to really get into the game, that combined with the lack of a joystick has always made the arcade version of the game difficult to love. I WANT to love the game, but it hates me and I give up. So the difficulty in the 5200 version is nice for me, although the extra men do rack up quickly . . .

I've been withholding judgment , but I have to say that the 5200 version of Defender has to be my favorite. I really like the difficulty options, it plays fast, and the original joystick is a nice fit. This weekend I used a number of different control options and this is one where I really think you lose something by going to digital. I'm not really a guy who gets high scores, but I was able to break my high score target over and over again, and I think I'm on my way to being able to "roll" the score on easy! I did end up using a PC stick for best results, but stuck to anaolg. Anyway, I really think this version of the game is impressive, and I'd much rather play it than one of the arcade ports that are around (Midway Arcade Treasures). The game needed a revision as the arcade version was just too hard when not being played in the quarter munching arcade frenzy of the early 80s. Not to mention the fact that playing it in MAME requires a very specific button layout for which you basically have to build a custom cabinet to achieve.

I've gotten ROMs that were "torrent zipped." I learned about it on a site called pleasuredome.uk I believe there was a 2 stage unzipping process required and the first involved 7z. Do an internet search for "torrent zipped."

I believe the game company is called Xonos. They made a Sequel (Decimation X3) and another game called "Score Rush." Decimation X is my favorite - incredibly impressive revision of a classic (Space Invaders).

Your first point about the networks is interesting, but I think it is the opposite of how you are thinking about it. Now they will have to check for a valid Gold gamertag / legit copy of the game whereas the DRM restriction and always online requirement made it so that the player's validity and ability to play was handled before they even started the game. Basic rule of technology is to champion your newest stuff, or else people will realize that they don't really want it and the old stuff is just fine

Whad'ya get?

I think its hard to imagine what the next generation of console gaming will be like, so I'm going to wait. While the press interactions for both companies were mishandled, the intention around trying to decrease the sale of used games is to attract more developers to innovate and make new things for the consoles. Right now the game reseller gets big money and that's unattractive to a studio that has to almost mortgage itself to make Arkham City or Red Dead. I think we will see some things come out that will make us want one of these consoles at some point AND will explain why the poorly explained requirements were suggested in the first place. However, until then I'm content to wait and play the huge library of unplayed games that I already own.

While the game seems to have a very loud group of fans who enjoy it, I don't really think its worth playing at all. It's basically "on rails" and offers almost nothing in the way of exploration or discovery. Even the "teamwork" aspect of the game falls short for me as it just ends up being an exercise in trying to avoid shooting your friends in the back. I say let your child play the game and she will be bored and never go back. You'll probably spend more time thinking about and preparing her for it than she will actually playing the game.

Steve eventually responded to me and even gave me a slight refund due to the delay. I think he's just a busy guy, but he will respond to you.

It's an Indie game, and its cheap. I'm not sure if the PC version was ever released, but mouse and keyboard would be a slight improvement here (if you are wondering which platform to choose). Commenting on early posts - I thought Wave was Sega

Barrel Bear I didn't play this game at all "back in the day" and the first time that I saw it in emulation, I was shocked at how much it just didn't look like a gorilla. However, once you play it, you figure out that its a pretty good version of DK for the 2600. If they just could have done something about the shocking moment of seeing DK for the first time, it wouldn't be such a big deal. Maybe if it was called something like "DK Archives" that would prepare players to expect something less than what they are used to.

I only play the Rockstar games because I am interested in games that get high reviews. I typically wait years to buy them or I just borrow them. Something about their games just doesn't resonate with me as it always seems that they emphasize the absolute clunkiest parts of the game. Last year, I decided to go through GTA III, San Andreas and GTA IV and play enough of them that I could say I'd experienced it. For each one, there was something in the main campaign that I felt was really a broken part of the game - stuff like a surprise "sniper" mission in GTA III; Bad targeting and NPC AI in SA; and just really not fun driving in GTA IV. I've played other games by them that are better, but it still always feels like they spend more time on the tetris mini-game then deciding what it would actually be fun to do in the main story. What's funny is if you read user reviews (in some places) of GTA IV it doesn't get reviewed as highly as critics. I think Rockstar has managed to get reviewers on their side somehow which really drives up their sales. I hear GTA V is an improvement, but I'm not racing to buy it. Its also hard to believe the game is so interesting that a twelth of all Xbox owners chose to pre-order. Did they think hanging out with Nico's cousin was really that much fun?

I go through phases of gaming where I play modern games for awhile and then something gets me back into classics. I wouldn't feel bad about buying a game and not playing it either - sometimes the purchase doesn't immediately change my "phase." Just keep doing what's fun.

The work wt808 has done on this is amazing. It really fits the saying "labor of love" However, before anyone sets themselves on fire - you should look into adapting a PC gamepad to your 5200. All it takes is 2 capacitors, some wire and some 15 pin connectors. There's lots of info on that type of adapter on this board. That should keep the flames at bay until you have a chance to order up something like the controller in this thread.