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Okay, I presently have no hope.

@BLUEVOODU just got an email today and it looks like a "New" estimated delivery date:
Friday, May 29, 2020 - Wednesday, June 3, 2020

@targetrasp looks like we are getting our orders earlier than anticipated!!!

I think you might know how I feel about new hardware. I am forever stuck in retro gaming. Unless it is that one game that grabs me. It was Cuphead that motivated me to get the Xbox one. And it has been a couple of years since, I think, I have turned it on. I am totally excited about the Turbo Grafx 16 mini.

Happy Birthday!!!!

@BLUEVOODU Looking back in retrospect, I do not think we should have ever shut down. We are all adults, and I know that there are many who will not follow anything you put out there. We know what must be done, mask, gloves, distance. Really, there is a large part of our society that never shut down, grocery stores, hardware stores, dog groomers, many factories, etc. The factory where I work has had a partial layoff, but still we are open. I think the shut down has done irreparable damage. And I am not just talking about our economy. But also how we handle any pandemic from now on will be with authoritarianism. That is not good. I do not consider my loss of freedom and liberty a fair trade for my safety. The struggle right now is not necessarily "if, or when" we open, but the Government's relinquishing their new found power. And the virus is very real for those who have it. I know of one situation that the individual are in 34 days and still recovering. But there are no experts on this thing. And now the feeling is this thing is going to be with us for 2 years at the very least?
In light of the fact that we are taking precautions with the mask, gloves, etc, it is still spreading. I think what we do right now, whether it be, open up, or not, will not change the spread of this virus. It is here and that is not going to change. I am 65 years old with medical issues that is a target for this virus that means death. My Wife is 70 and with the same issues. I have had to continue to work and stand in lines through all this. I really at this point don't know how I should feel about this. I have ordered washable masks with a pocket for filters. I will be wearing them for a very long time.
I do also feel that people working and dealing with this is a lot better than being in a soup line and still dealing with this.

What!!? Delayed?? My preorder will be released on June 5th!!!! What is with these people?

@BLUEVOODU the newest present generation system that I own is an XBOX one. It has so much dust on it I could plant a garden. If they would release this for the xbox1 it could revive some interest in modern gaming.(that looks like it might be a long wait) What could easily kill it  is waiting two days for updates to download. The game does look very interesting. @Mai Valentine is the battle system sort-of turn based? What did they do with that part of the game? I know changes were made.

@BLUEVOODU @targetrasp
Okay this is getting me in the mood for a rant!! I am seeing all these Turbo Grafx 16 minis up on ebay. Price gouging from Japan and US. Why are they releasing MY mini over seas but I have to wait?!

One example,

If this does happen in December, this goes in my living room beside my NES.

@BLUEVOODU for me it is an addiction. Looking for that golden ticket. And besides I love chocolate. And I have a funny feeling about this thing that it is a shot in the dark. It may or may not happen. If it does, I have one. I hope our current situation doesn't effect the launch. 

I had to really think about this. This type of gaming is totally dependent on the quality of your internet connection. Which is based on location in many cases. Where I live, the city is the best you can get. Outside our city limits it gets hairy to none. Many in our rural areas can't even get a cell phone signal.
I think this is the push of the industry and I think it appeals to younger gamers. I do not think that it is practical unless 5G is the magic wand. As time progresses and the support grows for 5G it is supposed to revolutionize everything.
I personally have no plans of my own to ever take advantage of anything where I can't hold it in my hands. Just the type of gamer that I am, stuck in retro gaming.
I really don't see much how cloud gaming would effect consoles. You are maybe talking about a brand name offering games that will no longer be cross-platform. Maybe specific licensing. When I think about the consoles it brings back memories of VHS and Beta Max. Every manufacturer offered their VHS player.

it matches the IQ of using bags on your hands. 

@BLUEVOODU that DS is a Japanese DS. Only play Zoo Keeper on it. I don't know why. Just do. I need to put FF in there occasionally being that it is a FF special Edition. 

@BLUEVOODU my wife and I are into Zoo Keeper. She is a non-gamer, so yeah, if she gets interested in a game, I am onboard. It is an addicting game, totally unpredictable every time you play. 

@BLUEVOODU yes you are right it is USB connector. Below is my DS comparing both screens. This is the regular DS NOT THE LARGE SCREEN. Seems to be the same size. The photo does not do the screen justice. It has a bright sharp screen with rich vibrant colors. And it does not bother me other than the fact that it is shaped like an arcade cabinet. I am use to portables, my gaming platform of choice.



I am working on a full review for my blog. Not going to be complete until I get an HDMI connector. Should have been in the package in my opinion.

@BLUEVOODU there is a learning curve. In the Neo fighting games it is very important to know up down left right. The directional pad is, to me, the achilles heel. I don't fully understand why but the micro switches on the original gave you a sense of direction. The NGCD pad has a tighter feel, where as the mini pad is so very loose and floaty. But once your thumb learns the directions, (eye to hand coordination) it is a joy to play. I just could not play any of the fighting games on the console itself. The mini stick is such an awkward struggle. Honestly a stick is meant to be played with the ball in the palm of your hand, not between two fingers. The controller should have been a pack in. That would have made the system very user friendly. Button configuration on the mini pad is also something to get used to if you are used to the NGCD pad. But if you are used to SNK collections on various consoles over the years, it shouldn't be a problem.

The NGCD pad is on the bottom. At least the colors are right. Right at this moment mini is $49 on Amazon. Good buy for the games in this collection.


Edit:The games seem to be AES console roms, not the arcade counterpart. The reason I come to that conclusion is that you can go into a menu to choose different configurations like easy, normal, hard, etc.

Game Pad has arrived!! Makes all the difference in the world! 

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday!!

I am presently working Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. And it is confusing trying to figure out what day it is. Today was my last day this week due to the Holiday. Long weekend. In my spare time been hitting the yard pretty hard. I am working harder at home than I do at work, sore muscles. I did not know I had any in that area of my body. 

I know that it has been determined that some are essential and some are not, but I am beginning to think that we are all essential.

Watched Monk some years ago. Very good show. I even purchased a couple of seasons that I found on ebay real cheap. They are still sealed. Going to need to break those seals soon.

even though I am still working, I am watching Deep Space Nine. I never watched all of the episodes and I think I stopped watching it at some point during the original broadcast. So .........Dax and Worf married? I really never knew that, seems out of character for her.

@retro junkie are you still rocking out the GameCube?

Ever play Ikaruga for the GameCube?

I personally grabbed it from the shelf when it was released. Very good game and I highly recommend it. 

Gamestop employee going to work.

BUMP!!! 

Reviving this topic just briefly. I was disappointed that my Turbo mini is delayed until December 31st. So I spotted an SNK Neo Geo mini International Edition for $59. Got it this week. Spent a little time with it yesterday.

My personal first impression? This is a "we are celebrating forty years" type of trophy thingy. Come "celebrate with us" sort-of memory, nostalgic piece. I understand. Not exactly a serious gaming console.

You can play it "as is" out of the box, but it is awkward and difficult. I already have plans to order a game pad controller. I think that will make it more "user friendly" and accessible. The speakers are "tiny" when it comes to audio quality. But what can you expect? This is not meant to be an actual arcade cabinet, only a small representation of the Neo Geo influence in the Arcade, a look back. I understand, no other mini has built in speakers. I will let this go. A good set of over the ear headphones does wonders. I will also order an HDMI cable so as to hook this up to my TV. I get it, that the concept, in design, has emphasis toward the fact "this is Neo Geo at the arcade." But it would have been nice if they had included, in the box, a simple HDMI cable, especially since it needs the HDMI mini cable end. What's with that? If I was rating this, that would have been a big mark against it. It is not that the built in screen is not adequate. I have no problem, I love my 3DS. Love portable gaming.

The one thing that I wanted out of this is Neo Geo games, specifically, Blazing Star. Finally obtaining something from NEO GEO that was "affordable" and it be from them. I guess I was thinking a "Neo Geo console!" I got one! (Hallelujah chorus in the background) But if you want it as a gaming console, you can make it work. And that is sad in a way. If they wanted to "me too" jump on the bandwagon, it would have been better if this had been an AES mini. That would have been reasonable and user friendly for the casual gamers. It would also have been less disappointing, is that the word I am looking for? It is not that I AM disappointed, maybe, not what I was expecting? Confused? Confused, or frustrated, in my expectations of the desire to play this collection of games and finding the mini's design being somewhat of a hinderance.

I don't mean for this to be negative at all. I love the Neo Geo mini. Some games I have never found in a collection for any console. Seeing the potential and accepting the inevitable.

Since I did not get my coveted Turbo mini this month, decided to jump on a SNK Neo Geo mini. Got it this week.

The factory that I am working at is considered "essential." So I am still traveling back and forth to work. I am in Kentucky and the Governor has ordered lockdown to everything non-essential. Store shelves are starting to look better, fuller than the last two weeks.

If we are all confined to our house, we might just need that one game. No wait! I can get the digital download!   

I think they are in a critical point and the coronavirus might just be the straw that brings the house down. Gamestop can't afford to close its doors. They might not reopen, not enough cash on hand could be a critical issue.

Wait a minute, it looks as if they have given up and closed.

https://gamerant.com/gamestop-closes-all-us-stores-coronavirus/?utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=GR-FB-P&utm_campaign=GR-FB-P&fbclid=IwAR0vNHLGtXBZK6pCYCZbAGEncvwcMgWQNHlpT7iiDwB8JyF53lVZM9_Pe8s

I guess, how it has effected us?
The inconvenience of the madness where people are in a panic and it seems it is not letting up. (You would think that their storage area would get full, or their money would run out.)
Since the panic buying has started, I have not seen a loaf of bread, bag of potatoes, raw chicken, spaghetti sauce, pasta noodles of any kind, etc. This can go for a lot of things that were just common items when shopping. And yet two aisles that are left untouched in the stores around here are the candy and chip aisle.  Walmart is starting a Senior day for each Tuesday where we get to shop one hour before the store opens. So maybe I will be able to get some of the missing items.

Before this crisis, I never mentally grasp the concept that I am a "Senior Citizen." The thought never occurred to me. I have always been aggressive, go getter, bull in the china shop sort-of person. Now I am trying to adjust to the idea that I am a "high risk" category because I am 65 years old and have hypertension, plus a few other things. I am not used to being cautious. I am wearing gloves to use the AT machine, to get gas, and now including going to the grocery. I am trying to adjust to thinking through what might be a possibility for "contact." I think the possibility is beyond our personal control and can be mind boggling if you spend too much time on the subject. I do have a piece of tape on my floor in my office, or lab, at my desk. It marks six feet from my chair, the safe space, supposedly. We was told today that we will not shut down unless we are forced.

When it comes to meals, especially when you have been on a strict diet, choosing some alternative food can be challenging. This is due to not finding your normal food choices. I have picked up some things just to have on hand that I would not normally purchase due to the salt content, corn beef hash in a can, for example.

Our area has had its first confirmed case this week. I still do not think this is going to be over with in just a couple of weeks. I think, locally, it will explode, peek, then calm down. A possibility is, it could dispensate after warm weather kicks in. But the effects to our economy could last all Summer.