Starbuck66

...I told justin most of this story already. I guess he just has to read it again! Ha!
 
I work for a tire delivery warehouse here in Southern California, and for my job we drive box trucks very similar to what uhaul gives for their smaller size box trucks. We are required to have physicals done what seems like every 2 years. They check height, weight, vision, hearing, and do a drug test.
 
On July 21, I was asked to do a physical.
 
When the physical started, the doctor ask me if I knew my height and weight, I told him 5'8" but I have no clue as to my weight being that I haven't weighed myself since my last physical and I didn't remember what I was then. But I knew I had gained some weight. Doc said that's ok and he'll weigh me later.
 
So after my vision, and hearing test, I was finally asked to step on the scale. I take off my boots, empty my pockets, and step on the scale.
 
It read 244.
 
I literally hung my head in disbelief. Reality had set in. Six years ago I was at 185. 59 pounds gained. I could not believe it. It was a HUGE reality check.
 
THAT NIGHT, I joined a gym.
 
I started actually attending the gym the very next day, July 22, to start working out.
 
The first day was torture. But I knew I needed to keep going. I needed some sort of motivation or push or something.
 
July 23 is my birthday. That day, legs sore, I still went to the gym and rode a stationary bike for about 20 minutes. Kept it short because, my family had a gathering planned for me and also, like I said, I was sore.
 
That night, I was talking to my brother and I had already told him that I had started running again. He asked me if I would ever run a half marathon (He already has 20+ half marathons under his belt). I said , "Well, I don't know. I know that they can get pricey and honestly it's something I wouldn't want to pay for right now."
 
He then tells me, "What if I pay for it? For your birthday".
 
It then occurred to me. That is the push I needed.
 
My brother sent me a training schedule that he uses to prep for his runs. This is what it looks like.
 

 
One month later he messages me this pic:
 

 
I was officially registered to run the Riverside Mission Inn Half Marathon.
 
Today it hit me that my Half Marathon is 6 days away.
 
I've been running ever since, pretty much, the day of my physical. Last I weighed myself, I've lost 25 pounds. That was 2 weeks ago. I'm feeling better about myself. My clothes are fitting better. And It feels like I have more energy overall.
 
Saturday I go pick up my packet, with my bib number and info. Sunday is half marathon day. I'd be lying if I said I'm not a bit nervous. I am also a bit excited for my run. But one thing I know for sure, I'm 100% determined to finish it.

This list is out of my collection and what I've played on real hardware:
 
1. Food Fight - This game is unique to Atari, and really fun to play.
2. Ms. Pac Man - I can't fire up my 7800 without playing it.
3. Centipede - Very close to the arcade, and the two player modes add to the fun and excitement!
4. Dig Dug - I have a million ways to play this game, from the Famicom version to the Namco collections on just about every console, but the 7800 version is my favorite.
5. Joust - This is really a three way tie for me, because I feel like I could put Asteroids or Robotron here too. This is another game that I can play a million ways, but I find myself enjoying the 7800 version the most. Great controls, graphics, and even sound.
 
5 worst (1 is the worst of the worst, etc)
 
1. Impossible Mission - I can't tolerate a bugged game that is literally impossible to beat. It just sits on my shelf.
2. Tower Toppler - To quote Classic Game Room: "There are two types of people who play Tower Toppler: People who hate fun, and people who hate themselves."
3. Crack'ed - I hate games that should use a light gun but don't.
4. Karateka - The controls and pace are terrible.
5. Jinks - I never play this game, and if I did I would fire up Super Breakout instead.

This list is out of my collection and what I've played on real hardware:
 
1. Food Fight - This game is unique to Atari, and really fun to play.
2. Ms. Pac Man - I can't fire up my 7800 without playing it.
3. Centipede - Very close to the arcade, and the two player modes add to the fun and excitement!
4. Dig Dug - I have a million ways to play this game, from the Famicom version to the Namco collections on just about every console, but the 7800 version is my favorite.
5. Joust - This is really a three way tie for me, because I feel like I could put Asteroids or Robotron here too. This is another game that I can play a million ways, but I find myself enjoying the 7800 version the most. Great controls, graphics, and even sound.
 
5 worst (1 is the worst of the worst, etc)
 
1. Impossible Mission - I can't tolerate a bugged game that is literally impossible to beat. It just sits on my shelf.
2. Tower Toppler - To quote Classic Game Room: "There are two types of people who play Tower Toppler: People who hate fun, and people who hate themselves."
3. Crack'ed - I hate games that should use a light gun but don't.
4. Karateka - The controls and pace are terrible.
5. Jinks - I never play this game, and if I did I would fire up Super Breakout instead.

R4 is pretty rare if you ask me. Anything higher starts to get spendy.

I tried S.T.U.N Runner the other day, and at first I wasn't impressed or that into it, but once I got a few levels in I really enjoyed it! I'll definitely be playing it again at some point.

Rampart and S.T.U.N. Runner

If you liked Chips Challenge, you might want to try Crystal Mines.  The Lynx also has a good, original port of Rampage. I also remember enjoying Bill & Ted, but it has been years since I played it.

California Games is a must.

Thanks everyone for the warm wishes and comments!       

The only thing closest to what you described that I've seen was at Internet cafes, mostly overseas where I saw them. South Korea, Japan, Indonesia and of all places, United Arab Emerites. Late 90s mostly, but I saw one about 5 years ago in Panama. They also had a giant Dungeons and dragons type game room. They're usually in a mall or western type market place.

I've seen that in arcades, even.  There was an arcade in Mall of the Americas that had a bunch of 360s and PS3s set up for people to play games on, with the biggest TV in the room reserved for an Xbox 360 playing SFIV.
 
They didn't last as long as they should have - it was a nice arcade.

It's been a long while since I dragged out my Genesis, mainly due to a lack of games.  I have a few but only three of the games I have really spark my interest.  While I was playing, however, I tried to remember the games that made me want a Genesis in the first place.  My first hands-on experience with the console would happen in 1989.  
 
Mom and I were on our way home.  We had spent the day goofing off in Mt. Home, Arkansas which is a town that is roughly an hour to two hour drive east of my hometown.  Mom had to use the bathroom and stopped at a grocery store in a town called Flippin which is really a drive-thru area...or it use to be.  Next to the grocery store there was a rental store so I went in while Mom did what she had to do.  The time frame was about 6 maybe 7 pm and it was already dark out.
 
I entered the store to see if what NES games they had to rent.  The usual Super Mario Bros series was there along with titles that were not that great.  Then I seen the Genesis section and, wow, the games looked really cool.  I asked the guy at the counter about his rates.  There was no way Mom was going to want to come back in 3 days.  Then Mom enters the store and begins talking to the same guy who turns out to be the owner as well.  I showed Mom the games and told her about the new console from Sega.  Before I knew it Mom and that guy (I never knew his name) made a deal.  For $10 flat I could rent a console and two games for seven days.  If we were late when we returned it we had to pay full price for the system and games.  I turned to Mom with a worried look on my face.  Seriously...I didn't feel right having that kind of burden on something being rented.  I wasn't even sure if I would like this thing.  But...Mom winked at me so I just shrugged off my thoughts about it.
 
After that stop we continued home.  Well...I was going to my grandmother's as it was my weekend to spend there.  Granny always liked my games so I knew she wouldn't mind me hooking this up to her TV.  After Mom left Granny asked me what I had.  As best as I could I tried to explain to her it was a new game console.  
 
Up until the Genesis was actually released it seemed like the NES was the only console on the market.  That wasn't the case honestly but almost every ad seen was about or for the NES.  
 
So, with the machine hooked-up and ready to go I tried the first game I rented called Star Control.  I couldn't get the hang of it and thought I should have asked for the instruction manual.  It wasn't a bad game I just didn't take much time to learn it.  
 
Then in went the second game...Sonic The Hedgehog.  Immediately I was blown away by the intense speed the game was moving at.  Granny, on the other hand, was enjoying the music.  Being legally blind she enjoyed the sounds and music from some of the games I played around her, and Sonic became a quick favorite of hers.  For the remainder of the weekend Sonic was played.  Once I got home I switched off between the two and trying to enjoy Star Control.  
 
Then came the day to return it.  Mom and I made the trip back and what happened when we got back to the rental store was totally unexpected.  I go into the store to return the system and games while Mom waited in the car.  The same guy at the counter was waiting.  I laid the system and games on the counter.  He took them away and as I turned to walk out he said to wait a minute.  I was confused.  Did I miss something?  I was sure all the connections and controllers were in the case.  I didn't forget the games and there were no instruction manuals.  We had already paid and I don't think we were late.  I was actually a little bit scared at this point because I thought something was seriously wrong.  I walked back to the counter and waited.
 
The guy places a brand new, in box, never been opened, console and a new Sonic The Hedgehog game on the counter and says, "Here you go.  Enjoy."  Just like that.  I told him I didn't have any money and I am not walking out of the store with that thing as I didn't pay for it nor had a way to.  He placed a receipt on top of the items and said that it had already been paid for and that if we had any problems with it to return it that he did do returns for defective items.  A little worried I picked up the items and walked out the store.  I was ready to tell Mom what happened because I didn't want to get into any trouble, especially for stealing.  
 
I get in the car and had to place the items in the car first.  Mom owned a silver 2-door Datsun 280ZX.  It didn't have a back seat.  I get in and shut the door and look at her sort of wondering what just happened.  She seen what I came out with and asked about any game rentals.  Now I'm even more confused.  I have no clue what just happened and Mom was more worried about renting more games?  "But, Mom, I didn't pay for this stuff", I say.  She tells me Happy Birthday and to go back inside and get the game rentals that came with the purchase.  
 
Believe it or not this at-the-time 16 year old teen shed a few tears and gave Mom a big ol' hug and thank you.  I went back inside and that same guy was already handing out two tickets for the free rentals.  I picked out Phantasy Star III and I believe Phantasy Star II.  Not sure on the second game.  I couldn't believe what had just happened and, as much as it might sound like a made up story, I can assure you that it wasn't.  My mother was very loving but she was a master at sneaking things.  And, yes, I loved my Mother very much.  
 
Thanks to my Mother I was able to experience the Genesis and what it had.  Out Run, Space Harrier, Streets of Rage 2, Sonic 1, and Phantasy Star III became instant favorites.  Boogerman, Cyborg Justice, and Shadow Dancer were good games as well.  I can't remember exactly how many games I ended up with, and even with a Super NES picked up shortly after its release, I preferred the Genesis more.  F-Zero was a favorite on the SuperNES but Gradius III, as much as I had been enjoying the series, suffered from slow-down.  The Genesis games I had experienced up to that point didn't have that problem.  
 
The Genesis I have now is a replacement because I sold my 1989 unit off to get the next gen stuff.  And the games I have are good games but I have yet to get any of the games I had in the past.  I doubt that I will be able to as well because those games are now fetching almost 1989 face value.  Incredible.  I never located a copy of Star Control no matter how hard I tried.

When I had my wife's Colecovision modded by Yurkie over on the AtariAge forums, I had him do this mod to the controllers, and I agree, it really does help with responsiveness and overall control. Been happy with ours so far.

Atari 2600:
 
Montezuma's Revenge
HERO
Private Eye
Cosmic Commuter
Beamrider
River Raid II
Double Dragon
Rampage
Mr Do
Stellar Track
Tapper
 
 
Atari 7800:
Ninja Golf
Ikari Warriors
Commando
Double Dragon
Mario Bros
 
Colecovision:
Pitfall
Pitfall II
Cabbage Patch Kids
HERO
Spy Hunter
Galaxian
BC II
Roc N Rope
Tapper
Star Trek: SOS
Star Wars the Arcade Game
Time Pilot
Turbo
Tutenkham
 
Intellivision:
Dracula
Sub Hunt
Tron Solar Sailer
Tutankham
 
Atari 5200:
The Dreadnaught Factor
 
NES:
Uncharted Waters
 
SNES:
Yoshi’s Island
F-Zero

Atari 2600:
 
Montezuma's Revenge
HERO
Private Eye
Cosmic Commuter
Beamrider
River Raid II
Double Dragon
Rampage
Mr Do
Stellar Track
Tapper
 
 
Atari 7800:
Ninja Golf
Ikari Warriors
Commando
Double Dragon
Mario Bros
 
Colecovision:
Pitfall
Pitfall II
Cabbage Patch Kids
HERO
Spy Hunter
Galaxian
BC II
Roc N Rope
Tapper
Star Trek: SOS
Star Wars the Arcade Game
Time Pilot
Turbo
Tutenkham
 
Intellivision:
Dracula
Sub Hunt
Tron Solar Sailer
Tutankham
 
Atari 5200:
The Dreadnaught Factor
 
NES:
Uncharted Waters
 
SNES:
Yoshi’s Island
F-Zero

Atari 2600:
 
Montezuma's Revenge
HERO
Private Eye
Cosmic Commuter
Beamrider
River Raid II
Double Dragon
Rampage
Mr Do
Stellar Track
Tapper
 
 
Atari 7800:
Ninja Golf
Ikari Warriors
Commando
Double Dragon
Mario Bros
 
Colecovision:
Pitfall
Pitfall II
Cabbage Patch Kids
HERO
Spy Hunter
Galaxian
BC II
Roc N Rope
Tapper
Star Trek: SOS
Star Wars the Arcade Game
Time Pilot
Turbo
Tutenkham
 
Intellivision:
Dracula
Sub Hunt
Tron Solar Sailer
Tutankham
 
Atari 5200:
The Dreadnaught Factor
 
NES:
Uncharted Waters
 
SNES:
Yoshi’s Island
F-Zero

Atari 2600:
 
Montezuma's Revenge
HERO
Private Eye
Cosmic Commuter
Beamrider
River Raid II
Double Dragon
Rampage
Mr Do
Stellar Track
Tapper
 
 
Atari 7800:
Ninja Golf
Ikari Warriors
Commando
Double Dragon
Mario Bros
 
Colecovision:
Pitfall
Pitfall II
Cabbage Patch Kids
HERO
Spy Hunter
Galaxian
BC II
Roc N Rope
Tapper
Star Trek: SOS
Star Wars the Arcade Game
Time Pilot
Turbo
Tutenkham
 
Intellivision:
Dracula
Sub Hunt
Tron Solar Sailer
Tutankham
 
Atari 5200:
The Dreadnaught Factor
 
NES:
Uncharted Waters
 
SNES:
Yoshi’s Island
F-Zero

Atari 2600:
 
Montezuma's Revenge
HERO
Private Eye
Cosmic Commuter
Beamrider
River Raid II
Double Dragon
Rampage
Mr Do
Stellar Track
Tapper
 
 
Atari 7800:
Ninja Golf
Ikari Warriors
Commando
Double Dragon
Mario Bros
 
Colecovision:
Pitfall
Pitfall II
Cabbage Patch Kids
HERO
Spy Hunter
Galaxian
BC II
Roc N Rope
Tapper
Star Trek: SOS
Star Wars the Arcade Game
Time Pilot
Turbo
Tutenkham
 
Intellivision:
Dracula
Sub Hunt
Tron Solar Sailer
Tutankham
 
Atari 5200:
The Dreadnaught Factor
 
NES:
Uncharted Waters
 
SNES:
Yoshi’s Island
F-Zero

I have two of these that I picked up for 5 bucks a piece at a local retro shop a few years back. They are by far the best stick I've used. I use them on my 7800 as well as with my Colecovision paired with adapter cables I bought from Paul Nurminen a while back.
 
I also have some CX-40's (one in a white box that says Replacement Part CX-40, I'll have to post a pic sometime), my CX-24's that came with my 7800 that I despise, some Gemsticks, some Wico bat sticks, and an Epyx XJ500.
 
In order of preference:
 
TAC-2
Wico
Epyx (would rank above the Wico but the microswitch noise can irritate people)
CX-40
Gemstick
 
 
 
 
And if I have to the CX-24 for two button 7800 stuff.

Atari 2600:
 
Montezuma's Revenge
HERO
Private Eye
Cosmic Commuter
Beamrider
River Raid II
Double Dragon
Rampage
Mr Do
Stellar Track
Tapper
 
 
Atari 7800:
Ninja Golf
Ikari Warriors
Commando
Double Dragon
Mario Bros
 
Colecovision:
Pitfall
Pitfall II
Cabbage Patch Kids
HERO
Spy Hunter
Galaxian
BC II
Roc N Rope
Tapper
Star Trek: SOS
Star Wars the Arcade Game
Time Pilot
Turbo
Tutenkham
 
Intellivision:
Dracula
Sub Hunt
Tron Solar Sailer
Tutankham
 
Atari 5200:
The Dreadnaught Factor
 
NES:
Uncharted Waters
 
SNES:
Yoshi’s Island
F-Zero

Think the rarest stuff I have is a few 5's:
 
Strategy X
Roc N Rope
Frankenstein's Monster (in the mail from NSG!)
 
I have seen Gremlins and Ram It at one of my local game shops but they wanted 20 for Ram It and 25 for Gremlins. I've been willing to spend more money on Atari games now because I've got many of the commons making bargain purchasing more rare, so I might pick one or both of them up next time I'm up there.

A couple of ya know because I brought it up in a chat on tuesday. So recently I won $140 in a survivor football pool so I bought some games with my winnings. Got both ps4 Atari Flashback games, a physical copy of geometry wars 3 for ps4 and a few other nonsense items.
 
So a buddy of mine owns a retro game shop and we hold a Buy Sell Trade event every last Sunday of the month. We call it "Retro Respect". About 30 or so vendors all come down and we all hang out and have a great time and quite a few others drop by as well as its open to the public.
 
So anyways this guy that I talk to knows I like Atari stuff and he sold this to me for $25....
 

 
So happy to have this game in the collection!

The real Cooper Andrews follows us on Instagram. He seems like a great guy! You can follow him at smugorange
 

If you couldn't tell from my name, HUGE BSG fan, and I'm in the both camp.
 
To be honest, I wasn't pleased when I heard some of the characters were going to be gender swapped in the new one (especially Starbuck), but the pilot looked so good, I had to watch it. After seeing Starbuck punch out Colonel Tigh, I loved new Starbuck just as much as old Starbuck.
 
I still watch the old show from time to time. It's campy as hell at some points, and I still chuckle when I see the same reused space battle shots over and over, but it's definitely more family friendly than the new one which is a big plus for me.

That is too cool!
 
We'll be having more High Score Squad Challenges for the NES starting in 2017 once everybody's had a chance to get their hands on one of these!