+atari2600land Posted July 16, 2020 Share Posted July 16, 2020 I also have a game.com site. I need to work on it some more, though. I think it was during playing Scrabble that I discovered if you don't press any button after a short while, it shuts down. Sometimes I need to think when I play that, so it was an unwelcome surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted July 16, 2020 Author Share Posted July 16, 2020 Yes, you mentioned your website already. The system software has an internal timer that shuts off the game.com after 3 minutes of inactivity. There's no way to override it. So regardless of which game you are playing, if you don't touch anything for 3 minutes then the system powers off completely. If you are sitting in the game.com boot firmware, there's an annoying little ditty that starts to play as you approach the time limit. If, however, you're playing a game, there's ZERO indication whatsoever. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
high voltage Posted July 17, 2020 Share Posted July 17, 2020 13 hours ago, atari2600land said: I also have a game.com site. I need to work on it some more, though. I think it was during playing Scrabble that I discovered if you don't press any button after a short while, it shuts down. Sometimes I need to think when I play that, so it was an unwelcome surprise. Good going so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Video Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 I,d forgotten about that stupid energy saver power thing. Sometimes you need to think on puzzles, so that was certainly a surprise bitd, and unwelcome. Of course the system has many larger problems that will likely keep some issues like this hidden from most people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 (edited) Unless the auto-off "feature" was controlled solely by the firmware and couldn't be touched by the game software -- and we simply don't know the answer to that yet -- there's really no excuse to why the developers didn't either disable it, or allow it to be toggled off. Hell, even an internal time counter with a "press a button soon or I'll turn off!!" message would have helped. Something! ANYTHING!! And its not like the game developers didn't know the system inside and out. They were all either internal Tiger employees, or outside contractors who were working directly with Tiger employees AND helping to write the official SDK! *takes a deep, calming breath* Or, to distill my point to its essence, and save y'all some frustrating reading: They just didn't care. Edited July 20, 2020 by DeathAdderSF 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted July 20, 2020 Author Share Posted July 20, 2020 15 hours ago, Video said: Of course the system has many larger problems Yes, like the fact that it even exists to begin with. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 The 1999 Tiger Electronics toy fair catalog recently landed on my doorstep with a big ol' thud, which would have been fine – if I didn't have to scan it. Sadly, duty calls. So I brought it inside, snipped its binding rings, carefully removed all of its game.com related pages, aaaaand... D'OH!! The pages were too wide to fit any of my scanners! Grrrr! Thanks, Tiger: you have screwed me again. But, whatever. After a bit of disgruntled scanner shopping, I found myself in possession of a brand new Plustek OpticSlim 1180 jumbo flatbed scanner (very expen$ive): perfect for the task of properly archiving the aforementioned catalog pages. And... HEY!! There's some interesting stuff here, y'all: namely info & pics for a slew of unreleased games. So have a look! The end of the game.com 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted September 25, 2022 Share Posted September 25, 2022 It takes a reaaaaaally long time to load. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted September 25, 2022 Author Share Posted September 25, 2022 4 hours ago, atari2600land said: It takes a reaaaaaally long time to load. Assuming you're referring to the 1999 toy fair catalog: It's a very high quality scan, weighing in at nearly 300 MB. So yes, depending on your internet connection speed it may take a while to load. Patience is a virtue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jgkspsx Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 Wowee. That’s a lot of stuff I never knew was in the works. MGS looks like bullshots, but SotN looks legit. Nascar seems like it would be unplayable. I wonder if everyone who was working on some of these that clearly were a ways into development just threw away their computers or something. It is a shame no protos have ever leaked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted October 9, 2022 Author Share Posted October 9, 2022 (edited) 9 hours ago, jgkspsx said: SotN looks legit. Sure does. BTW: Handheld Games actually jumped onto Usenet back in '98 to briefly talk up Holyfield Boxing. It, NBA Live '99, and Small Soldiers also had official screenshots shared via their website. I've archived all of that on this page, along with the verified list of vaporware that Tiger Electronics had officially announced as being in development at one time or another. 9 hours ago, jgkspsx said: I wonder if everyone who was working on some of these that clearly were a ways into development just threw away their computers or something. Out of shame for having worked on game.com software, you mean? I could see that. But somehow I think it was simply that Hasbro execs, after the acquisition of Tiger Electronics, simply pulled the plug on the game.com because it sucks. And because it wasn't making any money. Because it sucks. Edited October 9, 2022 by DeathAdderSF 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jgkspsx Posted October 9, 2022 Share Posted October 9, 2022 I wonder what the “RAM BLAST expansion” was. Another cart you plugged in? So Pocket Pro owners would have been screwed again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted October 9, 2022 Author Share Posted October 9, 2022 5 hours ago, jgkspsx said: I wonder what the “RAM BLAST expansion” was. My guess would be it was just fancy marketing gobbledegook for "internal SRAM battery." Considering the pocket pro was out already, I seriously doubt Tiger would greenlight a game it couldn't use. Then again this is the same company who rushed Jeopardy! to the market so fast, they didn't fix (or even notice?) that it won't play if there's a second cart in the system. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted October 9, 2022 Author Share Posted October 9, 2022 On 1/4/2020 at 12:20 PM, chicgamer said: Just curious—what do you use to store your Game.com carts? Wastebin. (Sorry, couldn't help it.) Actually about a week ago I accidentally stumbled upon someone selling 3D-printed "cart cozies" for game.com carts. So there's definitely a solution out there, but you'll have to do some digging as I didn't save the link. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+chicgamer Posted October 10, 2022 Share Posted October 10, 2022 5 hours ago, DeathAdderSF said: Wastebin. (Sorry, couldn't help it.) Actually about a week ago I accidentally stumbled upon someone selling 3D-printed "cart cozies" for game.com carts. So there's definitely a solution out there, but you'll have to do some digging as I didn't save the link. Wow, now that is a delayed response! Thanks for the info, though. I'll see what I can find. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted October 10, 2022 Author Share Posted October 10, 2022 (edited) High time I added some new interviews, isn't it? After all, I had two former Tiger employees on the horn back in June of 2020 [!]. Why not finally share our convos with the world? First up is Anthony Grimaud, who was the Regional European Sales Director at Tiger Electronics from 1995 - 2002. Then we have Marc Rosenberg, the Senior Vice President of Marketing at Tiger Electronics from 1987 - 1998, and Executive Vice President of Marketing from 1998 - 2003. Give 'em some applause! These gentlemen were kind enough to share their unique, firsthand insight into the ups and downs of the game.com, and of Tiger in general. The resulting interviews – which I've just finished properly transcribing and editing – are the most in-depth and extensive yet, to appear on this website! Anthony Grimaud interview Marc Rosenberg interview Edited October 10, 2022 by DeathAdderSF 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted October 22, 2022 Author Share Posted October 22, 2022 (edited) I should probably be packing a suitcase for my imminent trip to Japan – especially since I've been unable to visit for the past three years [!] – but what the hell: Let's make the game.com a priority. I'd be a Halloweenie if I missed the “opportunity” to announce the discovery of the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night prototype (or as I like to call it, “Simfauxny of the Naught”) in time for the upcoming holiday. So... BOO! I'm announcing it. Go to the unreleased games page, where you'll find a link to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Click that link, et voilà: Drac is back. I've also added the game's icon to the cartridge icons page. BTW: In case you're curious about the origins of this prototype, I invite you to read some of this website's recent updates: a few of which snuck in just now! *wink* Also, suffer through this video if you like... https://youtu.be/G9p2ceWSWYI Edited October 22, 2022 by DeathAdderSF 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 I knew someone out there had a game.com prototype. Now i want more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+jgkspsx Posted October 25, 2022 Share Posted October 25, 2022 Has the game been dumped yet? That seems like a really important one to preserve, and a good reason to make a game.comGD 😜 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 An article popped up about the Castlevania prototype... https://www.timeextension.com/news/2022/10/unseen-prototype-for-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night-on-game-com-is-unearthed That was pretty decent of them, I must say. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roots.genoa Posted October 28, 2022 Share Posted October 28, 2022 I published one too. I don't know if it's decent, but it's in French. 😅 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted October 28, 2022 Author Share Posted October 28, 2022 (edited) 45 minutes ago, roots.genoa said: I published one too. I don't know if it's decent, but it's in French. 😅 🙄 Où est le lien ? Edit: Found it. Thanks, I appreciate your sharing the announcement and kindly linking to my website. Also the use of the "This castle is different..." screenshot at the top is perfect. That's exactly why I picked that particular screenshot as one of the main ones to share. Edited October 28, 2022 by DeathAdderSF 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 So is there further plan for this like a possible release through the video game preservation society museum that did Sim City NES? I know someone may be mad enough to enjoy it on an emulator or whatever, or at least ballsy enough to do a full play through for youtube viewers. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+atari2600land Posted October 29, 2022 Share Posted October 29, 2022 I want to play it on an emulator. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeathAdderSF Posted November 1, 2022 Author Share Posted November 1, 2022 On 10/25/2022 at 2:51 PM, jgkspsx said: Has the game been dumped yet? 💩 Uh, duh. Didn't you peep the screenshots I posted? Also: ROM, plz? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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