eric_ruck

Can anyone point me to online instructions for Dark Arms for the Neo Geo Pocket Color? Something's wierd, I figured out how to build and evolve weapons, but when I "initialize" them they seem to disappear and I can't equip them. Am I doing something wrong? Or perhaps someone can give me the lowdown here? Thanks, Eric

Heck yeah there's some trading going on. I'm not sure what I'll have with me, but definitely some Vectrex stuff. Eric

I don't think picking up the critters do anything. Nothing in the instructions and I messed with them a bit while playing. You can dump 'em in the water, it's kinda funny. Or maybe it's just me. By the way, I have an extra Baldies instructions that might be available for trade is someone doesn't claim it at Philly Classic this weekend. Basically I had a defective copy, so now I still have all the stuff that came with the bad CD, after I got a new copy. Eric

Half a box of Berry Blast Cheerios? Sorry, couldn't help myself. If I ever came across one of those things at a yard sale for a buck or two I'd probably pick it up as a curiosity, but I'm not sure it's even worth paying shipping.

I don't agree with many points in the article. Whether or not the N-Gage makes it out, eventually cell phones will be kinda like the early releases of GBA games, dusting off all sorts of old stuff for the benefit of the teeming millions. And puzzle games aren't going anywhere. One of the few sub-genres of web development that's seeing any growth is developing simple little online puzzle games, usually as part of an advertising effort. And consider the popularity of Neapets, incipid as that site is. Eric

Baldies crashed on me after several hours of play and me not writing down level passwords, so the game kinda pissed me off. Before it crashed I rather liked it, although the designers could of done a bit more game balancing -- it can get really, really slow while you're waiting for your population to build up and start creating houses and inventions. That said, if I remember correctly, you have to send the Baldies to the houses when you want them there, and then assign them to the room to do whatever it is you want them to be doing, whether making more baldies, inventing, building the house or whatever. I was pretty successful by moving around land masses to cut my population off from the computers, then had all my baldies making more baldies and building houses. Then I sort of let them do their thing while wreaking minor havoc on the computer baldies so they would build slower than mine. Then I'd get them started on weapons, and slowly switch to full military before reconnecting land masses so my people go overrun the bad guys. But it has been awhile since I've played. I know there are a bunch of games in this genre, and the only ones I've played are Populous and Baldies. While Populous moves a lot faster, I really like all the options in Baldies. Eric

I would add Missle Command/Asteroids to this list as well...although it's very pricey. It's probably my favorite Lynx game, I don't understand why other people don't like this more. Also, I would second Dracula and Warbirds. And while I really like Lemmings, for the price I wouldn't consider it a must-have. I also tend to agree with most people's avoid list. And as per a recent topic, Kung Food isn't horrible and worth it if you can pick it up cheap. Hell, I'd buy almost any Lynx game for a few dollars. Eric

I don't know why some many people list Zendocon as hard either, it's one of the few games I've finished. I also got to the point in Rampage where all the headlines repeat (or something like that, if I remember correctly). I managed to finish Chips Challenge as well, years ago. I think those are the only games I've finished. Most frustrating Lynx game for me? I dunno, probably APB. Sorry, I don't live near Chicago but I'm sure you'll find some people who do around here. Eric

Yeah, it looks like a lot of those games got released. Some of those look like serious vapor ware to start with. And who wants to play Solitaire on a tiny Lynx screen? Eric

I actually have an extra, clean, no pen marks, don't remember how many shares (I'd have to go check). I was planning on taking it to Philly for trade bait. Basically my wife got me the "Jack Tramiel" version from scriptophily so I don't need the "ordinary" one I've had for awhile any longer. PM me if you're interested, I'm sure we can figure out a fair price or a good trade. Thanks, Eric

O'Shea's still has them, at least according to their website. Eric

I have a loose assembler editor cart and a macro assembler called (I think) ATMACRO or something like that -- managed to forget between here and the walk downstairs, with box and instructions, although the instructions say "Commodore 64" (but the disk label says Atari). Originally I thought I'd do something with these, but there are so many classic systems and so little time and besides, I noodled around with programming games back when these systems were new. (Anyone ever see "5 Miles To The Outhouse? That would be my crowning 8-bit achievement.) I think I also have a C compiler with box and docs somewhere (I'd have to look) as well as Atari Microsoft Basic. PM me with interest, since there's a good chance I'll miss replies to this thread. Eric

I'm sporadically working on my first game (for the Atari Lynx) but I think there are people here who "do" non-Atari classic systems, for instance Colecovision and Vectrex. Eric

Personally I go forthe sporty carbon fiber look. Actually, yiu can get faceplates for many models of cars, how about woodgrain faceplates for modern consoles? If anyone wants to do it I'd want either very dark oak or natural cherry for my xbox (depending on whether it's upstairs or down). Eric

Will try, maybe this weekend if I can find the time. If you don't hear from me in a few days send a pm or e-mail, means I probably forgot. Eric

Isn't their stock room literally a cave? Eric

Sorry, nothing there really piques my interest. I should probably plug it in and see if it works. Actually, don't you need a composite monitor for those things? I'll have to see if I can scare one up. Or can you hook it to a TV? Eric

Definitely the Lynx. I'd have to put the 2600 ahead of the 7800 because of how clever that thing was and how long it's reign lasted. Sorry, but in my opinion the rest mill around the bottom, at least as game systems go. Eric

I thought the Maria documentation was pretty well available. Hasn't someone scanned the devkit yet? It is rather difficult to program. Eric

Quick question, all I need is a Sega Saturn internal memory battery, as my Saturn has gone all stupid. No problem with the price, just wanna know: 1) Do these have an expiration date, that hasn't passed, or are they reasonably fresh? (No offense, gotta ask.) 2) Can you lower the $2.25 first item shipping since you could just tape it to a piece of scrap paper and drop it in the regular mail for $0.37 Thanks, Eric PS: Might be a good idea to PM me if I forget to revisit this topic.

I have an XEP80 although I don't know if it actually works. Don't need the Jag, though, getting rid of one myself. Any other good trades? Eric

Oh man, can I reminisc? If I remember correctly SpectraVideo advertised their new system that wasn't out yet (308?) in the computer magazines of the time (Creative Computing et al) heavily. Nice keyboard, built in joysticks, all sorts of capabilities. I was so excited about it, I was sure it was going to be a hit when it came out. I don't think it ever came out in the U.S. did it? Eric

I think you have to take a step back and look at this from the perspective of someone who just wants to play games. I mean, my Vectrex, for instance, is in my office because I actually enjoy playing a quick Veccy game now and then. Ditto Lynx and 7800, the systems I come back to time and again. There are a few Jaguar games that I like, but while I will gush glowing about the Lynx and 7800, I won't do the same for the Jag. Technology, year and bits aside, most of the games are at best mediocre to play. You can count me in the number of poeple who don't care for some of the sacred Jaguar cows, such as AvP, Atari Karts and WTR. These games may have been ambitious and groundbreaking (well, AvP anyway) but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy playing them. The only reason my Jag stays hooked up is for Defender 2000 and sometimes Breakout 2000. I'm sort of experiencing the same disappointment with Saturn, which I just started to collect. I mean, the games are ok I guess, and absolutely groundbreaking for the time, but as a collector today who did not own a Saturn back when (I did have a Jag, still have it) I'm a little disappointed. But I'm still going to hunt myself down a copy of Darius Gaiden. Getting back to subject, midwest_cdn, I feel your pain. I perhaps have a softer spot for Jag since I had one back then, with games that were good and playable for the time (Doom and Tempest, maybe a few others). I'd lay out for Defender 2k if you like Defender, and Hyperforce if you like 2D shooting platformers. Eric

This is probably the wrong place to post this, but I have an extra available, for my cost plus shipping ($35 plus $6-ish USPS Priority insured). Anyone interested? Still sealed, from Walmart. No receipt, sorry, don't know where it got off to. Eric

I'll second that vote for Textpad. It only reminds you to register something like every third save or so, and it's only about $26 to register. If that's still to rich for your blood you might try Arachnophilia or Jext. They're free and they're good, but they're based on Java so you're going to need a relatively fast, modern computer and a recent JVM. Eric