Messages

I am seeing a lot of talk of GameStop heading down the "spiraling path of death." Locally, if GameStop closed, I don't think it would be much of an impact. When I think of shopping for games they do not even come to mind. As a retro gamer they stepped away from me many years ago. There are other local game stores, some are "mom & pop." Gamexchange is a chain of local gaming stores that has been my goto when it comes to local purchase of games. They carry anything from Atari 2600 through modern games and consoles. Their main focus are games. In the last twenty years I can count on one hand how many times that I have been in a GameStop. Recently have been a couple of those times and then I thought I was walking into a Hot Topic store. If they quickly return to being a gaming store they might survive. But if they stay on the path that they are going, they are nothing but a shadow that will fade into the sunset and become one of those memories in gaming history. In the early days them and Babbages were THE "game stores."

Below are games I grabbed up at my local Gamexchange this weekend. That's my point.

I hope they add Gate of Thunder before the release date.

@BLUEVOODU wow! That is too serious about your game. If I enjoy a game and left wanting more, I would jump on another game with the same offer of gameplay. Wouldn't think it would be exactly the same. I know the appearance seems similar but hopefully there would be some story which would be totally different. I would pick it up for my Xbox one if it was available for it, which I know it is not.

@BLUEVOODU get ready for more games!!!! @targetrasp great additions to the mini!! @CreepinDeth this is getting better!!
Here's the list of new additions coming to the TurboGrafx-16 mini (and PC Engine mini for Japan):

Seirei Senshi Spriggan (PC Engine)
Spriggan Mark 2 (PC Engine)
Dragon Spirit (PC Engine)
Galaga '88 (PC Engine)
The Genji and the Heike Clans (PC Engine)
The Legend of Valkyrie (PC Engine)
Splatterhouse (TurboGrafx-16)
Konami also confirmed today that developer M2 is responsible for emulating "all 57 included titles for the retro console, ensuring that every game is playable at the highest quality."

@BLUEVOODU interesting little read. I have used Linux  for a good 20 years, I am thinking. Some of the early part of that was a dual boot with Windows. And I never had any type of crisis. Never had to learn this about log. My Linux distros always ran smooth. That is what sold me on Linux, got spoilt. At the moment I haven't booted up my Linux rig since I have been using my Apple laptop and Mini. I was thinking the early part of this week that I needed to start it up. The distro I settled with there at first was SUsE Linux while it was still a German based distro. Used that Linux for a long time. Built a rig on the side to experiment with different distros. There were many back then that I liked but unfortunately they were short lived and lacked support.

[GameCube: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]

This is one of my blogs for this month, but I felt it should be posted here too. This is a very important subject with serious retro gamers.



The real dilemma is that the composite input of HDTVs is slowly disappearing from newer models. The composite analogue tech is archaic in the modern electronic age. Only if you have an old VCR, or DVD recorder, or an old retro gaming system do you find yourself in the dilemma. (Did I leave anything out?) Really it is when you find yourself with something like the PS2 and backward, those are the gaming generations that are totally effected. And I feel that we are approaching a point when there will not be any composite type inputs to accommodate. The niche market may not be big enough for some company to invest in the tech needed to do it right and with quality. And do it at a modest price point that makes it affordable for the budget gamer. What we see is cheap China adapters.

We all must grasp the truth that the old consoles are in analogue 480 aspect ratio with a need for scan lines to hide the ugliness. No matter what you do, it does not change that inconvenient reality. Pixels and jaggies are the nature of the beast. And when you take that and try to convert it to digital 720p or 1080p HDMI, somebody help me 4K, it does not go well when it comes to expectations. One has to change their perspective and game on. Let's face it, the old CRTs are gone. It has been years in my own area since I have seen them in my local Goodwill, and then they were $2 and $3. They have become museum artifacts.

Alternatives is the quest of every retro gamer, finding that one unique golden ticket. For the budget gamer, I have found three main routes, the console specific adapter, the very cheap universal adapter, and the clone console with HDMI. Presently, limited on the quality, on shaky ground, the clone console route is marketed mainly toward the Genesis, SNES, and NES. If you are looking for answers concerning your Turbo GrafX 16, N64, Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, Xbox, GameCube, or PS2, things get a little scary. There are some console specific adapters out there floating around, except for the TG16, but for how long is the question. And for the Neo Geo AES and CD consoles, I see nothing but the small cheap universal adapter as any kind of alternative and that is sad. Thankfully the PS1 has the PS3 for that HDMI experience.

For me, the cheap universal adapters get the job done but they are marred by the attempt to reduce the jaggies with some sort-of, anti-aliasing blurring fuzzy effect. (You feel as if your vision is impaired.) The clone consoles are hindered by their inability to perfectly replicate the hardware that they are trying to represent. So, you have sound and colors along with compatibility issues to complicate matters as that analogue signal is converted to a digital HDMI 720p or 1080p. There are various associated outcomes connected to a clone's respective manufacturer. The console specific adapters, in converting the analogue signal to digital, can have an effect on the tint of the colors, brightness, darkness, bleeding reds, even a muting of colors. And the adapters themselves can be very hard to get. I have waited for an adapter that will work on the N64, GameCube, and SNES, for over a month before finally showing up at my door this week. The advantage of this type of adapter is, you get to use the original hardware.

I have the Hyperkin HDMI adapter for the GameCube, N64, and SNES. It has a seven-foot cable and it includes a USB power cord. You can use a standard power brick or a USB input on your TV. It has a switch on the adapter for 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio. The GameCube comes out on top as the one that gets the most benefit of using this adapter. Looks awesome on screen. The other two, jaggies are very noticeable, but who cares, I have a reasonably priced alternative for my N64 to HDMI hookup. This works for me. And my N64 will probably be the one console that will get the most use out of this adapter. All three consoles played without issue for me. I detected no latency, colors were acceptable, gameplay spot on. I have mainly been looking for a way to play N64 games on my HDTV without using composite connecters, would rather have the choice of HDMI. This serves well and resolves that problem, for me. Without some expensive console mod, I am delighted. Using the original hardware is very satisfying. Hyperkin is getting ready to launch an N64 clone in the near future. I had concerns especially since it had compatibility issues that were displeasing to me. Now? If I do pick up the N64 clone, it will be to review and test its worth and not for serious gaming. If this thing holds up it will deserve a good thumbs up with a $30 USD well spent.

GameCube: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles


N64: Beetle Adventure Racing



SNES: STAR FOX and STREET FIGHTER 2 Alpha Zero

@AngelBob I have been playing this off and on all week. And I finally realized why I did not play it very much when I first purchased this. The Animal Crossing on the DS was from the perspective of a citizen. New Leaf is from being the Mayor. I would rather just be the citizen. But this past week I have been avoiding my responsibilities of Mayor and it has been more enjoyable for me. I have been basically just building funds and trying to appease the neighbors. I need to expand my living quarters. It is just basic right now. I enjoy the sim side of it from that aspect.

Happy Birthday!!!

A very Happy Birthday!!!!!

@AngelBob we are talking about the 3DS right? New Leaf?

@BLUEVOODU it is really the only system that does not seem to be favored that much. There was a ton of good games for that console. And unless you have that big fat first edition PS3 you will need original hardware to play those games. PS1 games get all the attention, can play them on the PS3 or PS4.

I haven't booted Linux since I got my Mac mini and my Mac pro. I was thinking that I might need to look for some more up to date hardware with a HDMI out put for my next Linux machine. I have really enjoyed this HDMI on my mac mini. (spoiled now) 

4012-9398-9142

Which game are you talking about hooking up? I have both. New leaf I have not played that much. Wild world, I played to death back in its glory days.

Okay I'm on board. Just made my preorder. The first mini for me and it took the Turbografx 16 to do it!


edit: I hope someone comes up with some sort of way to add my other games onto the console. We need a hack!!

@BLUEVOODU preorder for the PC Engine Mini on Amazon Japan is going on. Why are we being left out?

$107.11

I have signed up for the email alert.

@AngelBob for years, we as a family, including my Wife, blew each other up with bomberman. It was part of our family time. My Daughter now is in her thirties and those are some of those childhood memories. 

@BLUEVOODU I think Psychosis was an odd random pick. Good game but I would have liked to have seen W-Ring too. And I sort-of thought Gate of Thunder would have been a no brainer, love the sound track of that game.
I'm missing,
Vigiante
Samurai-Ghost
Galaga
Raiden
Sidearms
Legendary Axe
Street Fighter 2
Ciber Core
Maerchen Maze
and a few other shmups would have been nice. But I think I see what they are doing. (Thinking positive here.) They probably felt they have one shot at this. So in order to keep cost down there would only be one internal hardware board, with limited space for games, that could be used in multiple outer shells. And they straddled the fence to please fans everywhere. Not sure why Chew-Man-Fu is there, but maybe they were trying to get a balance of genre rather than have the list full of shmups, which is what the console was known for. Maybe that game had its fans,.......hmmm yeah right.

@AngelBob For your SNES gaming you need a Hyperkin SuperRetron HD, Gamerz Tek 16-bit HD, or a Retro-bit Super Retro Trio HD. Either one of these would allow you to use the original SNES game pad. That is unless you are experiencing some sort of latency issues between the TV and the console, incompatibility maybe?

For multiplayer gaming with your children, I would suggest the Nintendo DSi "Bomberman." It is always fun to blow someone up. Get that competitive spirit pumping. Also Animal Crossing, my daughter an I have enjoyed that for years. Mario Kart racing is another one of those competitive games.

I like dedicated gaming systems for gaming. I recommend DSi or 3DS. On the 3DS the monster Hunter game could be a winner.

Final list of games? A little puzzled by their list and why it was done like this? 50 games but it is not really 50 games. There is a mixture of US and Japanese titles which results in duplicates. I so wanted Legendary Axe and Gate of Thunder. But there are some solid titles there.

https://www.amazon.co.jp/b/ref=s9_acss_bw_cg_pdlcore_md2_w?ie=UTF8&language=en_US&node=6974564051&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-6&pf_rd_r=AY9B57MBT8GT726GNGGG&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=fd46107f-cf4a-4ddc-afa0-f1ff4a29245c&pf_rd_i=6974564051

Not sure I like what they did here but at the same time I am excited about this even though I am disappointed in some missing titles.

TurboGrafx-16 mini pre-orders go live on Amazon Prime Day!!!

If anybody is going to be the 80yr old man it will be me.  And did someone say classic, hummm and retro?

LOL... there was one that had Dragon Poop?  Is that right, @retro junkie ?
[/quote]

You know, I can't remember. I am going to need to begin playing these things all over again. @BLUEVOODU

@retro junkie
@BLUEVOODU

awesome

Okay, finally found it. Never thought of looking there. I was expecting something in a menu or down the page.


Also how do you do that email alert thing when you respond to something?

Under profile there are only five things,

Profile
Summary
Account Settings
Forum Profile
Mentions

There is nothing under any of those items that concerning Look & Layout, or changing the theme.

I do not see any option for a "Look & Layout."

When you talk about themes, where do you change those things? I don't see any place to do this.

The Game Genie works with this console. Yes the Game Genie is the best option if reproduction games are used on this system. Makes a great combo with the console and increases the game library options when it comes to those hard to get games, collector prices, or rare. When there is no other way to have a copy but to purchase a reproduction game.  And then there are those games that are homebrew, independent developer. Of course all that can be avoided if you are satisfied with just an Ever Drive for the Genesis. The Ever Drive will work with no problems. All you would need is just a copy of Virtua Racing to go with the Ever Drive and you're all set.

I think it is a good alternative for that budget gamer that is trying to get into a little retro gaming. Easy hookup to that flatscreen. The power cord can be plugged into the TV USB port, how convenient is that?  it is a nice little pickup for the kids combined with Super Mario All Stars, the  Donkey Kong games, Yoshi's Island, and Super Mario World.  Some of these games are not that hard to find at a good price. Especially when it can play Super Famicom too, cheaper prices on same titles that I have listed. Street Fighter 2 is an easy cheap pick up most of the time. 

Haven't gone into depth gaming on this one to really give an honest review. Give me some time.  That is why I listed it as a first impression. Just throwing games at it, I haven't found anything that seems to show a problem. With the lack of scanlines, for those nostalgic gamers that are purest, clone gaming might not be for everyone.