|
Post by Ex on Nov 10, 2018 17:19:48 GMT -5
We can just think of it as a loose "first era" of gaming, or just "early era". That works for me; games that released before the NES, or rather Famicom did. Well, that'd be anything before 1983 then (geez I forgot how old the Famicom is). So you guys want to do January as a month of gaming from say 1982 and back?
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Nov 10, 2018 18:32:53 GMT -5
That's my Kryptonite.
|
|
|
Post by bonesnapdeez on Nov 10, 2018 19:43:08 GMT -5
Second gen is way more similar to the NES than people think. ColecoVision predates the Famicom by less than one year. Like black label NES titles? You will like the ColecoVision. Atari 2600 is full of platformers, run and guns, shmups, adventure games, early horror titles, proto-RPGs. I can't imagine how someone could like R-Type and not also enjoy Super Cobra and Vanguard. Some folks seem to think the entire second gen is full of games like Combat and Space Invaders, which simply isn't true (those games rule anyway). Xeo, you like classic Konami, right? Several of their old arcade ports are on second gen systems -- surprisingly some of said ports were done by Konami themselves. There's even an exclusive 2600 game by the developer. So yeah, I like the idea of a pre-NES month. Oh, people always debate about how/when these games are "beaten" as many lack true endings. I try to get through at least one scenery loop. It gets more arbitrary if a game contains only one environment. Activision games are often like this, so I shoot for patch criteria: www.atariage.com/2600/archives/activision_patches.html
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Nov 10, 2018 19:51:59 GMT -5
Oh, people always debate about how/when these games are "beaten" as many lack true endings. I try to get through at least one scenery loop. It gets more arbitrary if a game contains only one environment. Activision games are often like this, so I shoot for patch criteria: www.atariage.com/2600/archives/activision_patches.htmlProbably one of the biggest pitfalls for me. "Single screen" games, I like a good beginning, middle, and end. But that's a bit different with a lot of these older games I think. Grew up on SMB1, was spoiled, and I have become "that guy" that doesn't really go much further back than the NES haha. I guess Pitfall is the only SMB1-ish example I can think of that I've played and liked. Heck, I don't even know how second gen emulation is! Probably works well though.
I have no idea where the Commodore 64 might fit in here but that's probably one of the oldest platforms where I've consumed a lot of music from, via podcasts and whatnot.
Definitely not knocking this idea though, I'm down for it. It would be way easier to jump in and out of these games than say PC Point & Click Adventures or something for me.
For some other "developer months", I was thinking maybe Taito and Data East could be good choices? I see them get name dropped a lot.
|
|
|
Post by toei on Nov 10, 2018 20:01:16 GMT -5
I was thinking either going through the first loop like bonesnapdeez said or posting High Scores, especially if a few of us end up playing the same game, which usually happens. We can get some friendly competition going on. The advantage there is you don't need to necessarily put in a ton of time with these games, and they don't stop you from playing other, longer games at the same time; you can just give it 20-30 minutes when you feel like it to at least experience them. Those I've played have often been addictive, and I'm sure bone will come through with the recommendations. It also doesn't preclude playing first-gen games, either; just anything released before July, 1983, when the Famicom came out in Japan. If we were really the most hardcore gamers ever, we could have an electro-mechanical month, but then we'd have to find the damn things (and possibly get them fixed) . Xeo - I think we were headed towards a Data East December. I'm down for it, anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Nov 10, 2018 20:07:20 GMT -5
High score battles could be awesome. Yeah, bone will need to curate a 2nd Gen month haha.
That sounds great for December. I studied up on Natsume over the last year or two so I was pretty prepared and knew what I wanted to check out, I was prepared to do my own "Natsume month" so it was cool it worked out with HRG and everyone here.
I'm a bit in the dark again after that so it'll be cool to see if you guys have some suggestions on other devs. I like the idea of us continuing to stay away a bit from the big dogs like Capcom, Konami, etc, but maybe down the road we could do a "Deep Cuts" theme around them for some underappreciated or obscure titles they did. Until then though I'm sure most of us have played most of their classics, compared to other companies. It's fun to highlight other studios and devs that got a little overshadowed.
|
|
|
Post by Sarge on Nov 10, 2018 22:37:59 GMT -5
Haha, Dwelling of Duels last month was Data East. This month, it's Shadow of the Ninja. Interesting coincidence, that.
|
|
|
Post by bonesnapdeez on Nov 10, 2018 23:48:04 GMT -5
Oh, people always debate about how/when these games are "beaten" as many lack true endings. I try to get through at least one scenery loop. It gets more arbitrary if a game contains only one environment. Activision games are often like this, so I shoot for patch criteria: www.atariage.com/2600/archives/activision_patches.htmlProbably one of the biggest pitfalls for me. I see what you did thurr. Do you like shmups? Super Cobra, Cosmic Avenger, Scramble, Vanguard (arcade + second gen systems) all scroll and have distinct levels. River Raid, developed for the 2600, is a fantastic scrolling shmup, though it's an endless scenery score-chaser. Phoenix and Gorf are Space Invaders style nonscrolling shooters, but with distinct levels and a final boss! Atari emulation is very good and easy to get running. Go for Stella. Note that many Atari games need to be reset before you can play (you may already know this). Many games also have "modes" selected with various switches (these were on the physical console itself) though this is much more commonly seen in early first-party titles. Commodore 64 emulation is solid too, and there are plenty of fun early carts, many of which are arcade ports. I own Pac-Man, Gorf, and Popeye for the C64 for instance. Best place to start is probably just with your favorite developers. Trace the roots of some of your later favorites. Like Sunsoft? Check out an early platformer of theirs, like Kangaroo. I'll save more second gen recommendations and rambles for later.
|
|
|
Post by Ex on Nov 11, 2018 2:27:46 GMT -5
I think we were headed towards a Data East December. Yes. December is "Data East December", with an option of just playing something winter or Christmas related, if for some reason one is adverse to Data East. Capcom, Konami, etc, but maybe down the road we could do a "Deep Cuts" theme around them That is an excellent idea, I'm all for it one month next year. Also, Xeogred, I'm in no way a huge fan of 1st and 2nd gen gaming. But that's part of why I agree with toei and bonesnapdeez to do a month based on those generations. I think it's good to push one's self out of one's comfort zone periodically, to explore platforms, libraries, and genres one normally would ignore. Who knows, some of us may develop an appreciation for an era of gaming we once thought was kinda bland. Surely there are some hidden gems! (Edit: And I see bonesnapdeez is already bringing the knowledge.)
|
|
|
Post by Xeogred on Nov 11, 2018 8:55:47 GMT -5
Yeah I looked up some of those titles Bone listed and they definitely look cool. Very easy to see how Super Cobra would be a blueprint for Gradius/Salamander.
|
|