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Atari 5200 Guy

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Posts posted by Atari 5200 Guy

  2. NSG'S Holiday Retro Gamer Gift Guide 2016

    in YouTube Community

    Posted

    Was Nov 8, now the 27th.

     

    I have the Sega Portable by AtGames. The screen is small, but very clear. I think it would work fine for 2600 games.

    I have to admit...it was clean and clear.  I guess I'd have to see it in action in person.  To play 2600 games on the go would be nice.  It would be even nicer if the hardware would allow the use of SD cards so more games could be played ;)  I know...but I can dream, right?

  6. Nintendo Announces the Mini-NES, w/ 30 Classic Games

    in Nintendo

    Posted

    Well...we (my wife and I) made it.  Our store got six...I was second.  The sixth guy was going on about how other areas were doing after talking to others (family or friends...not sure) on his cell.  It was mentioned that a Wal-Mart in Florida accidentally sold their units on the 10th at midnight.  Opps.  And before we went into our Wal-Mart we stopped by GameStop after hours to see if they had any ads for the system.  All they had was a note, taped to the door, showing what they got (6 units, 1 controller) and that it was first come, first serve, no exceptions.  

     

    I was actually expecting a mob to come storming in after the six units sold off to try to get them one way or another.  This was the very first time I ever experienced waiting for a console to be released.  Granted it is an emulator of sorts it's the fact that it came from Nintendo and is, to some degree, a unique piece of hardware.  The transactions went very smooth and in the order we all arrived.  It only took five minutes after we got there for six of us to wait.  Anyone else was told they were sold out.  

     

    The one thing that bugged me, and actually upset my wife so much that it brought her to tears, was we were told by the night manager selling the units in the electronics department that we could not take pictures.  The statement was made because my wife, being the first time we ever did anything like this, wanted a picture of the item being handed to me after purchase.  It seemed like a harmless act but we were later told when we asked about it that Wal-Mart has an indoor policy stating that no pictures are allowed to be taken while in the store by anyone.  I use to work there and I've never heard of such a thing.  Then again we were not always told everything either.  I'm not sure how to take that one but at least we got one.

     

    As promised, and as soon as the wife makes up her mind when I can have it (later or wait until Christmas), I will do a review of it on my blog here at Atari.IO.  We did manage to sneak in a couple of pics so as soon as I pull those off the wife's phone I will share them here.  I really think this thing was a bigger success than Nintendo thought it to be.  There were already cars parked in the GameStop parking lot when we left.

  8. NSG'S Holiday Retro Gamer Gift Guide 2016

    in YouTube Community

    Posted

    I'm not sure...but you can bet it will be sometime this month. 

     If it's anything like the Sega portable that had more Master System games than anything, that screen was really small and hard to see because of it.  For that reason I would go with the NES Classic.  I like the idea of having Atari games on the go but the screen needs to be of a decent size and I know there are larger screens out there that don't cost an arm and a leg.

  9. Your Rarest 2600 Game

    in Atari 2600

    Posted

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

    That's an understatement.  I honestly believe the price spikes for these "old" games, regardless of system, is ridiculous.  $40 for a single game (pointing to the likes of Zelda and others) is crazy.  It use to be that the used game stores couldn't sell those old games fast enough at $2 to $5 per title depending on them.  At one point I remember Game X Change not taking in any of the Super Mario Bros and Zelda games because they had too many.  It's amazing how time has changed the value of these old games.  I don't get it...the games themselves did not change.  I don't think they got an update that I'm aware of since I last played them.  It's a crazy world for sure.

  15. Played Some Genesis Tonight and More Memories

    in Sega

    Posted

    that's a great story and scheme between her and the owner of the store.

     

    I'm sure the Granny-approval sealed the deal, if you were playing Firefly for 2600 thered be no tears of joy :P

    Thanks.  I'm not sure if Granny was involved or not.  But her and my mother were very good at being secretive.  Firefly?  Naa ... I went outside to catch those :P

  16. Played Some Genesis Tonight and More Memories

    in Sega

    Posted

    She spoiled me for sure.  But she was more than a Mom...she was my best friend in the world.  We did a lot together and I don't know how many times Mom would say I wasn't going to school that day.  Instead we would go somewhere.  It took me a long time to understand why she did things like that but came to the conclusion she didn't want to be by herself.  She had asthma really bad.  She had more bad days than good ones.  So if she wasn't feeling comfortable being by herself she would not send me off to school.  Instead we would pile up in the car and just go shopping.  Out of town of course.  And I believe the trip in my story above was one of those days.

     

    One of the trips I do remember us taking was right before I got my driver's license.  She was trying to tell me not to get tickets and to watch my speed.  I wasn't driving of course.  It wasn't five minutes after she said that when she got pulled over.  She got a ticket for doing 65 in a 55.  Great example, eh?

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    Played Some Genesis Tonight and More Memories

    in Sega

    Posted

    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.

  19. What Are The 5 Best & 5 Worst 7800 Games? (Not Including Homebrews)

    in Atari 7800

    Posted

    Wow.  Some of the games being mentioned I have never seen.  I'd enjoy getting to at least try Alien Brigade.  I especially like the artwork on the label.  Top notch stuff.  I had Impossible Mission on the NES and never knew it made it to the 7800 until way late.  It's interesting to see how others rank the games.  Hat Trick, while not good, I didn't think was that bad either.  Never played Karateka but it looks like I'm not missing anything.

  20. What Are The 5 Best & 5 Worst 7800 Games? (Not Including Homebrews)

    in Atari 7800

    Posted

    Well...off the top of my head and from what I've actually played on real hardware...

     

    Best 5

    1. Asteroids
    2. Galaga
    3. Dark Chambers
    4. Robotron: 2084
    5. Food Fight

    Worst 

    1. Meltdown
    2. One-on-One
    3. Sentinel

    I don't have enough to give a worst five.  I did get to try Meltdown and Sentinel, both being light guns.  Meltdown I felt could have been done better visually and Sentinel was actually a good game.  What hurt both of these games the most is that XE light gun.  It's not 100% accurate and never has been.  It can make for some frustrating game play.  As for One-On-One Basketball...the 7800 version seems sluggish to me and not much improved visually from the 8-bit version.  

     

    As for what I picked as the best on the 7800; I will admit that the 7800 has the best port of Ms. Pac-Man out of any console, period.  It's quick, it's fast, everything is there that's in the arcade.  But it is also a very dominate game and for that reason I choose something else.  Asteroids was my go-to game on the 7800.  I really liked the sounds and visuals of this game.  And I don't know how hard a friend and I laughed playing this game on 2-player co-op mode and just flying haphazardly around the screen.  I believe the 7800 received a more faithful port of Galaga as well as being the only Atari console to get it.  Dark Chambers is as close as one will get to Gauntlet on the 7800.  The game is very fun and I've spent a good amount of time on this game recently trying to make through all rooms which I finally succeeded at.  Robotron: 2084 showcases what the hardware is really capable of.  With everything that is happening on the screen the system doesn't even break a sweat.  Last, but not least, Food Fight.  No other console that I know of got this odd but fun game.  I spent hours on this game during the Christmas vacation I got my 7800 on.  If it wasn't Asteroids it was Food Fight.  

     

    The 7800 has other good games as well like Xevious, Mario Bros., Choplifter, and Ballblazer easily come to mind.  And, as I've mentioned, I only picked Sentinel because of the horrible XE Light Gun.  I own three or four of those and not a one of them hit exactly where I'm aiming.  Again, I don't have enough to make a 5 worst list but hopefully what I've suggested can go with others who do have a 5 worst list.  

  21. MaximumRD's YouTube Videos

    in YouTube Community

    Posted

    Good to see you are still alive and well, Max.  Glad to have you back.  While it wasn't a "dumpster" for electronic recycling in a place I lived over a decade ago I took the trash out to the apartment's dumpster and found a complete computer system in there.  It wasn't dirty, it didn't smell, so I grabbed it up thinking if it did work I could return it, right?  It fired right up, I didn't have to do anything.  It almost looked like it had never been used and Windows had not finished installing.  By now that computer would have been about 10 years old, then it might have been about a year old if that.  It was an e-Machine with AMD processor.  Really nice.  I just can't believe someone threw it out.  I ended up using it until I moved out of state in 2009.  Some of the things people throw out is amazing.  I don't normally dumpster dive but seeing that computer and been needing a new one ... yea ... I dove for it. ;)

  24. Squad Challenge - Super Breakout (Atari 2600)

    in High Score Squad

    Posted

    Such a crappy screen on my 2600. This just started, any ideas how to fix this?

     

    If other mentioned attempts don't work, you might have to change a few caps.  Namely the one next to the AC power in jack and the one under the large cap (it should be wide and green).  I had to perform this on mine and my signal is pretty good now.  And similar cap with the same ratings will work as long as they are of the ceramic family.  I'm not sure if ones from the electrolytic family will work or not.  And I'm using RC to coax as well.  Another small trick to try, while the TV and 2600 are on rotate the console's coax inside the RCA to coax to see if it distorts or clears up.  These systems are very old and the cords fail from age easily.  It's only copper after all ;)  I also noticed that if I bunched up the excess wires from the system to the TV and banded them (RF separate from AC of course) sometimes this helps with the signal quality as well.  Hope those help. 

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