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The Night Phantom

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Posts posted by The Night Phantom

  3. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Ze_ro:

    Oh, I would like to point out that a simple, effective way of rating games that is being used at
    seems to work quite well. At the page for each game, there's a drop down box that lets you choose how much you like the game, and then shows an average out of 100 for the game.

     

    I think this might work a little better than writing entire reviews.

     

    It might work better from a procedural point of view, but a ratings-only system leaves a lot to be desired for the visitor trying to get an idea as to whether he will like the game. After all, everyone brings different biases to a game, and a well-written review should reveal the reviewer's criteria. For example, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial is a game that I would expect to receive quite a few low ratings as well as at least a few more charitable ones, even high ratings. Not only would an averaged score be misleading (it might suggest no one enjoys the game, which is simply not true), but it would say nothing about what led to the ratings it got. For an instance, both positive and negative reviews might reveal to the reader that a good knowledge of the manual is essential, which may or may not be turn-off to the reader.

     

    Don't get me wrong: I think a rating can be useful, but without commentary I find it useless.

  7. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by liveinabin:

    So with this 'new' version of the film getting released, does this mean that the only DVD we're ever going to be able to buy of it is the 'special edition' - dammit! I'm sick of this - I just want Star Wars back - as is!!!

     

    Agreed regarding Star Wars. As for E.T. DVDs, recently DVDFile.com conducted an interview

    with Steven Spielberg's publicist, Martin Levy. Here's what DVDFile had to say:

    quote
    But unlike George Lucas' tinkering with the Star Wars films, according to Levy the original 1982 theatrical version of E.T. was never meant to be "replaced," and the original cut will continue to be made available, including any DVD release(s) of the film. "It was always everybody's intention to have the original version (of E.T.) remain available," Levy revealed, though both versions may not all be packaged on one DVD. "A decision hasn't been made yet on whether the original version will be included (on one DVD) or as a separate release," he continued, though remained firm on the Spielberg's camp commitment to preserving cinematic history. "There will be a release of the original version of E.T. on DVD."

     

    A recent press release also indicated the intent to release both the "special" and original editions in 2002. I hope the true original cut is released—some later home video editions apparently cut out a line about a "terrorist" costume because of changing sensitivities.

     

    So, now the real question is: Will the original E.T. video game see a 20th anniversary release?

  9. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by moycon:

    You can hear the sounds of Yars Revenge in the movie Airplane 2 when their all in the control room I think trying to land the shuttle.

     

    And of course, you can both hear and see Atari Basketball among the monitors in the original Airplane!

     

    Another Leslie Nielsen comedy with an Atari 2600 game in the mix is The Creature Wasn't Nice (a.k.a. Naked Space, a.k.a. Spaceship), which has Nielsen playing an upside-down Space Invaders.

  10. Posted

    I also use three-ring binders. Avery's Quick-Load sheet protectors are convenient in that the front can be peeled back to easily remove and re-place the manual. To keep the manuals from warping, I use Silver Age comic backing boards inside the protectors—they're slightly smaller than the protectors but are adequate to the task. (However, you do need to grip the manuals firmly as you turn the “pages” of the binder, lest the sheet protectors' contents slide into the rings.)

  11. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Junie:

    My PCB station runs 24 hrs a day, that's why I thought it would be back on.

     

    I'm not sure what's going on about everyone saying the show has been on, I still have 1 hour and 35 minutes until it comes on.

     

    I do think it is funny though about Indiana. Where I live in the southern half of Indiana we do not have any daylight saving time or what not. The time here never changes, only change I ever see is the TV shows come on eariler or later on cable

     

    [material deleted]

     

    I always think that is odd, we are backwards in Indiana I guess

     

    PBS (not PCB—obviously you've got cartridge tech on the brain!) differs from the commercial networks in that affiliates have to purchase the rights to individual series. As a result, schedules often vary quite a bit from station to station.

     

    All of Indiana is in the Eastern time zone, except for a few counties in the northwest and southwest corners that fall in the Central zone. Those Central zone counties observe Daylight Saving Time, and so do a few in the Eastern zone (clustered around Cincinnati, Ohio and Louisville, Kentucky), but the remainder of the state uses Eastern Standard all year round.

     

    I have spent many years in areas that observe DST and many years somewhere that doesn't. In my opinion, “backwards” is having to go around changing the time on clocks, watches, computers, cars, microwave ovens, etc. twice a year to satisfy the desire to pretend the sun is rising and setting an hour earlier or later.

     

    In any case, the point is: anyone wishing to catch Antiques Roadshow will just have to follow his local PBS station's schedule.

  13. Posted

    BEST: I'd have to add my voice to the Supercharger Frogger chorus. If we restrict our choices to just cartridges, it gets tougher. Perhaps Jr. Pac-Man deserves the nod; despite some differences (notably the scrolling direction), it captures the frenetic feel of the arcade original quite faithfully. (Too bad I'm so lousy at both versions!) Another frenetic choice worth mentioning is Millipede, which keeps me too busy to notice its slightly lower resolution. Special mention is owed to Space Invaders: this cart actually improved on the arcade original, with its fun, (quasi-)colorful graphics and numerous gameplay variations.

     

    WORST: While the disappointment of VCS Pac-Man was enormous (especially since I paid for it with my own money when it was new—$40 was a lot in kid money!), it doesn't hold a candle to Amidar in gutting the personality of a fun, cute arcade game.

  14. Posted

    To tie up some loose ends...

     

    The Brazilian page about Halloween%20alias%20Friday%2013%20doesn't%20have%20anything%20to%20do%20with%20Sega,%20really.%20%20It's%20part%20of%20a%20collection of pages describing various horror-themed video games, and Sega systems are among the platforms covered. Halloween originated from Wizard Video. So, I suspect Moycon won't find anything new about Sega from the Brazilian site, though the search apparently reaped some sort of entertainment value. This topic does bring up one question I've been wondering about: was there any VCS distribution in Portugal? Information and links are welcome.

  15. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Pitfall Harry:

    You missed Panama Joe, with only one 'n', Mr. Proofreader Guy.

     

    Ben

     

     

     

    The misspelling of “Elliott” leapt out at me since I've seen the name many times, having consulted the E.T. manual, read the E.T. novelization, collected the E.T. bubblegum cards, etc.; the same is not true of Montezuma's Revenge, which is something I in fact try to avoid. But since we're on the subject, the Private Eye character is more properly Pierre Touché (not “Touche'”), according to the AtariAge box scan.

     

    And I am more properly Mr. Proofreader Guy Sir!!

  21. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by Junie:

    I personally don't like the SuperCharger style. No it isn't because I am in the process of creating PCB's, it is simply because they are nothing more than cassettes.

     

    Although the original releases for Supercharger came on cassettes, the Supercharger isn't married to the audiocassette format; it just needs an audio signal. You could use a CD, a computer, an MP3 player, etc. to feed the audio signal to a Supercharger.

     

    That said, actual cartridges are also nice.

  22. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by cvga:

    Beamrider would be an excellent game to update! It's fast, furious, and great fun.

     

    I agree, and I'm surprised no one else has mentioned Beamrider. That's a game that lends itself well to a latest-generation visual and sound effects update without having to compromise the basic look-and-feel or gameplay of the original.

  23. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by twit:

    You can't really "download" a webpage to store on your hard drive without special software.

     

    Actually, many Web browsers have a “save” feature allowing you to store a Web page—often complete with graphics. Also, Mac OS X users have a nifty feature in the standard Print dialog box allowing them to “print” (i.e., save) to a PDF file instead actually printing the page on paper.

  25. Posted

    quote:
    Originally posted by atarigamer:

    So the phone and all the other stuff you have to get (in the game).

     

    Isn't some of the stuff in the holes? Or is that just something I don't need.

     

    The three items you use to assemble the “phone” are in the wells. (If you retrieve a part and it gets stolen by the federal agent, it'll reappear in a well.) You can save time figuring out which wells contain the parts by pressing the joystick button when the power zone indicator is a question mark: if one of the wells on screen contains a phone part, the well will emanate a golden flash.

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