pacman000

I'd say #6 is the reason behind #5 & #2, maybe even #3. And #1 is probably the reason behind #6. As such, we can blame the Jaguar's failure on #1. Jack Tramiel's management style was too old-fashioned, & his sons inherited his style.

Well... perhaps I've built it up in my mind a bit, since I can't play it myself. First, it sounds like some sort of point-n-click adventure, where you play as Crash trying to find gems. Is that right? Second, what did it look like? Did it use prerendered CGI, or painted back grounds or what? Third, there was a contest. Who won it?

When Crash Bandicoot was released in 1996, Sony ran a contest using this online game: https://web.archive.org/web/19961222223310/http://www.sepc.sony.com:80/SCEA/arena/crash/pursuit/ Does anyone remember this? I just found out about it a few years ago while exploring the Wayback Machine, & I’ve not been able to find anything about it.

Played EvoCreo, a Pokemon clone for mobile devices. Was ok, but if you stock up on healing items you can win most battles easily, & healing items aren’t expensive either. And if you don’t stock up on healing items, it’s easy to tell who’ll win. Are you dealing more damage than your opponent? Congratulations! Finishing the fight is merely a formality. These two factors rob the game of suspense, cheapening the experience. And I’m now afraid that’d happen with any turn-based battle system; it’s been awhile since I’ve played another RPG.

Poor steering. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bike that oversteers, like in Crash 3’s racing levels, or a dragon that understeers, like in Lair or Dragon Rage. Poor steering ruins otherwise fun levels or games.

A series of two games: Snake, Rattle, & Roll (NES) Sneaky Snakes (GB) And of only one released game: Bound High (VB, canceled) Chalvo 55 (GB)

I’ve enjoyed Jurassic Park for the Game Boy. It’s a nice little action/adventure game. Exploring the park, dodging dinos, & finding what I need to get outta there is fun. The graphics aren’t too bad either.

CPM resources: https://curlie.org/en/Computers/Software/Operating_Systems/CPM

Marketing. When I see a game, movie, cd, or book in the store its package entices me to pick it up & try it. The question: is that better than other ways of communicating a good's value to potential customers?

Thank you; I stated that poorly & corrected/clarified my statement here.

Used to happen with books too. That's why books have that "don't buy if missing cover" notice. I get that, but part of me wishes I could play games without installing anything at all, right from the disk like a PS1, PS2, or shareware collection. I agree,

What's the point if it's just a box? I still have to go home & wait hours for it to download & install. Digital downloads are anything but convenient. If I understand things correctly, destroying unsold merchandise allows you to write it off. Giving the merchandise away or donating it would require you to report it to the state & IRS & pay taxes. Besides that, it further reduces the value of goods they're selling for, at best, 20% over their cost. I doubt a cool experience would help much; if cool experiences were all stores needed, Fry's wouldn't've died of a thousand cuts. The novelty wears off too quickly. You can try to compete based on service, but most folks will just use you for information, then buy the cheaper option online, or at Walmart/Target. That's why most smaller chains & local stores have closed up shop; knowledge about what they sold wasn't valuable enough for the end consumer to pay a higher price.

There was an early game system which could only display letters & playing card symbols, & whose controller only had one or two buttons: the Unisonic Champion 2711. Meant to compete against new, cart-based systems from Atari, Fairchild, etc. I’d say this sounds worse than everything, even the Studio II.

Wood grain VCS, Model 2600A I’d like a 2600 Jr as backup, & a 7800, but I don’t have room right now.

I thought buying The Federated Group was Jack Tramiel’s mistake. On the topic at hand... Did Atari do any tests to make sure Flare could do what they said they could? I know when developing the ST the Tramiels & a few ex-Commodore engineers tested multiple processors to make sure their performance matched what was on paper. (If what I read & remember is right.)

Didn't Highlander use 3D polygonal characters on prerendered backgrounds?

Seems you already have a 2600. What games (besides Pitfall!) do you have & enjoy?

Androbot. Teddy Rupskin. Secret Quest. Save Marry. A weird robot cat thing that followed you around. An RC dog. Some sort of arcade table which was too big to get out of the workshop they built it in. (I think.)

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