On the market, there's a product called Atari Flashback 4, which contains 75 classic Atari 2600 games that defined an early home gaming industry. Back in the 1970's Mr. Nolan Bushnell had formed the company Atari which was derived from a Japanese game of Go, as saying Atari was a polite way of saying you're gonna get knocked off the game board. Bushnell back then had developed the first coin up game Pong in 1972. The whole game itself was built into parts ranging from a black and white tv from Walgreens, etc. The whole back of it looked like an overgrown rats nest with all the wiring used to get the game running. Well back then, it was placed into a bar tavern and playable for about 25 cents per play. They got their first service call as the coin slot was jammed, and that was a technical problem that Mr. Bushnell could solve easily. In later years, his company created classic arcade games like Breakout, Asteroids, etc. It was the early years of videogaming technology, and back then anything beyond Pong was oh wooow! In the late 1970's, Bushnell had an idea of a VHS system that would allow consumers to play videogames at home, and the games would be placed onto a chip and housed into a cartridge. It was a perfect concept, but Mr. Bushnell lacked the funds to bring his idea to life. So he he had no choice, but to sell his Atari company to CBS for about $5 million and CBS came up with the VHS system or now known as the Atari, and created a few games for it. At first it was hard to get the consumers interested, but as they came up with more games, the system began to gain popularity, but soon lacked sales. That is until Taito was contacted and asked them for grant the rights to their game Space Invaders to be made for the Atari 2600. The game and the system flew out the door with extreme popularity. It was a huge breakthrough, even as simple as the system is, and being able to play arcade game ported games at home on the 2600 was great, even if the graphics were blocky.
Anyway, in later years, after the 2600 faded into history, it was now revived in a product called Atari Flashback 4. 75 original Atari 2600 games are programed onto a chip and housed into a miniature wooden cabinet replica of the Atari 2600. The Atari joysticks are now wireless and enable the gammer to control the game, select levels and access the game menu with ease. The console device also has a second set of buttons to power the unit. I loved playing those games and it brought about great childhood gaming memories for me. It was a simpler time with simple game concept and you knew what to do and had your gaming fun. It's a nostalgic thing, and many gamers will enjoy reliving the classic Atari 2600 games once again. Although the package says it has 75 games, it's a lot more than that, as with games like Street Racer, Star Ship, you get another game variation upon selecting another level. Amongst the games available to play, they've also included homebrew games like Haunted House 2, Adventure 2, as well as arcade hits like Space Invaders ( which features the arcade version as apposed to the original 2600 version), and Millipede.
The only downside is that there are games like Circus Atari, Blackjack, and Breakout that require the paddle ball controller to play the game with. An advanced version of the Flashback unit has those controllers brand new as well and the wireless joystick. So I had to order my paddle balls used on Ebay for about $15, and they worked, but were jittery in controlling. I managed to get inside the paddle ball controller and cleaned up the sensor and such, and it does work a little better and makes games like Circus Atari easier and more fun to play. Man did some of those game bring back memories as I had a blast playing those games, until my older sister came in and claimed that she got next game. Back then my Biological father, after he divorced my mom, was the only one who had the Atari, and hooked it up to the color tv in the living room, so gameplay was limited, as long as dad wasn't watching a movie or a game on tv. Playing these old Atari games are great and the product will make your a happy gamer. Although sometimes the game titles on the game menu screen are sometimes hard to read, unless you hook up your device to a flat screen tv.
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Friday, May 24, 2013
The video game crash of 1983-1984
videogames were and still are a strong icon in our nation's society. Millions of people had enjoyed countless hours and billions of dollars in quarters playing tons of classic arcade games. When the arcades started to come into the area, they had the latest and coolest arcade hits available at the time. Everyone lines up to get their hands on the top classic hits. I still have memories of a line going out the door to play Space Invaders 1978. But the life of an arcade game lasted only for about 6 months, and they were taken away and replaced with a newer game. The arcades had to keep up with the times and bring in newer games to make a profit. So it was the late 1970's that the Atari 2600 had began it's home video game introduction. Of course let's not forget Magnavox which predated everything. But the Atari did have a it's games programed onto a chip and placed into a cartrige, and well it was a breakthrough for it's time, and a chance to play the videogames at home for free. Although limited to nothing more than a few k's and a bleeps, buzzes, and a somekind of music, it passed off as a great home videogame system. But with the other home gaming consoles soon to come promising better graphics, more gameplay, and even speech, the competition was there. But the ultimatum was Colecovision, which out did all the other home gaming systems, as they had the best home versions of the arcade hits.
But in 1983, videogames began to go downhill, and companies had a hard time making a profit in the video game market. New games were very hard to think of, and at best, the games were hacked in an attempt to market a new game. Remember how popular Pac-Man was in 1980? I remember tons of hacks made to that game like Piranah, or adjusting the outlay of the maze or altering the Pac-man character or the ghosts. When the videogame crash was announed on the news, my dad even told me "That's it, no more videogames, ever, that's the end of it, you can't play videogames ever again." I can't tell you how heartbroken I felt after hearing this, as videogames were my life. But you have to admit that even with the Atari's last ditch effors for more games with better graphics like Activision, Imagic, coming up with a new hit game was impossible. But a point of note was that the Atari 2600 was the first system to have X-rated videogames made for it, but with the blocky graphics, who could tell? However varous news reports of women being offended strongly and outraged that such games and content would ever be made into a videogame were aired on the tv news as well.
Then sadly, the video arcades that ruled the malls had closed it's doors forever, leaving a big emptyness in our gaming hearts, as the arcades were a main reason to go to the mall. But surprisingly, arcade games showed up in indoor Flea Markets, Pizza places, and various fast food restaurants, and grocery and department stores. However, I wondered how I was going to survive if videogames were gone forever. I missed the classics so much and the classic gaming console I had Colecovision had seen better days and I had to get rid of it, as well as the games for it. But with the development of home computers back in the 1980's, maybe there was a little hope afterall, as videogames were being made for them as well, and the adaption of classic arcade hits for them wasn't so bad. So it was 1985 that the NES had made it's debute and saved the videogame industry, and the videogame market opened up to a whole new generation. As graphics got better, and the consoles performed faster action and intense gameplay, gamers would continue the next stage of home gaming. And even since the arcades had closed, there were a few of them still operating, but with not too much business, but with a few exceptions like Twin Galaxies, the classics just keep on going. These days the arcades have giant sized consoles featuring games of 3-d Racing, Hunting, or some kind of dancing or hip hop thing. I have to admit that with advanced technology like touch screen, game companies see the potental and revive their original games and give a major graphical update, which does make the game more fun. But I have to admit that videogames these days are getting too violent as it's now all shoot em up and blast em and killem in a 3-d virtual world. Gamers spend countless hours playing these games, and interacting with other gamers for competitions. This is fun, especially when I had the online gaming competition of Bejeweled. Who knows, from the moview Tron, the future of videogames may become like that, as you get into the game beyond the screen, and as real as it seems, nobody would really get hurt or die. In terms of people saying that you get no exercise with videogames, doesn't know about Nintendo's Wii and Wii U, as it gets the players more active with the controllers giving them a more interactive experience.
But in 1983, videogames began to go downhill, and companies had a hard time making a profit in the video game market. New games were very hard to think of, and at best, the games were hacked in an attempt to market a new game. Remember how popular Pac-Man was in 1980? I remember tons of hacks made to that game like Piranah, or adjusting the outlay of the maze or altering the Pac-man character or the ghosts. When the videogame crash was announed on the news, my dad even told me "That's it, no more videogames, ever, that's the end of it, you can't play videogames ever again." I can't tell you how heartbroken I felt after hearing this, as videogames were my life. But you have to admit that even with the Atari's last ditch effors for more games with better graphics like Activision, Imagic, coming up with a new hit game was impossible. But a point of note was that the Atari 2600 was the first system to have X-rated videogames made for it, but with the blocky graphics, who could tell? However varous news reports of women being offended strongly and outraged that such games and content would ever be made into a videogame were aired on the tv news as well.
Then sadly, the video arcades that ruled the malls had closed it's doors forever, leaving a big emptyness in our gaming hearts, as the arcades were a main reason to go to the mall. But surprisingly, arcade games showed up in indoor Flea Markets, Pizza places, and various fast food restaurants, and grocery and department stores. However, I wondered how I was going to survive if videogames were gone forever. I missed the classics so much and the classic gaming console I had Colecovision had seen better days and I had to get rid of it, as well as the games for it. But with the development of home computers back in the 1980's, maybe there was a little hope afterall, as videogames were being made for them as well, and the adaption of classic arcade hits for them wasn't so bad. So it was 1985 that the NES had made it's debute and saved the videogame industry, and the videogame market opened up to a whole new generation. As graphics got better, and the consoles performed faster action and intense gameplay, gamers would continue the next stage of home gaming. And even since the arcades had closed, there were a few of them still operating, but with not too much business, but with a few exceptions like Twin Galaxies, the classics just keep on going. These days the arcades have giant sized consoles featuring games of 3-d Racing, Hunting, or some kind of dancing or hip hop thing. I have to admit that with advanced technology like touch screen, game companies see the potental and revive their original games and give a major graphical update, which does make the game more fun. But I have to admit that videogames these days are getting too violent as it's now all shoot em up and blast em and killem in a 3-d virtual world. Gamers spend countless hours playing these games, and interacting with other gamers for competitions. This is fun, especially when I had the online gaming competition of Bejeweled. Who knows, from the moview Tron, the future of videogames may become like that, as you get into the game beyond the screen, and as real as it seems, nobody would really get hurt or die. In terms of people saying that you get no exercise with videogames, doesn't know about Nintendo's Wii and Wii U, as it gets the players more active with the controllers giving them a more interactive experience.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Hacked Arcade Games
Back just a little before the video game crash of 1983, creating a new hit arcade game was a big challenge, and video game companies were running out of ideas. Well, maybe not the major game companies, but other ameture programmers or just some game designers and creators looking for a fast way to make a buck, by creating the next arcade hit game. Since coming up with a new game was very hard, those other gaming companies decided to create a hack and alter the graphics, sounds etc of classic games to create a new one. For instance, Pac-man is known to be a game that's been hacked soo many times, and turned into games like Piranah, Popeye Pac-man, Caterpillar, etc. At first I thought that it was a new game, but it was just a hacked game.
Other games were mostly copied and had a few things changed, like Donkey Kong. A company known as Falcon had created clones of this classic game called Crazy Kong and Crazy Kong Part 2. Mostly the colors and sounds had been changed, but it's always the same game. I've seen Space Invaders type games that looked different or altered,. Like one version had the invaders individually come out of the ship and fly around in space, and you had to shoot them. You only got one life and it costed 50 cents per play. I think I saw this at a rest stop somewhere. It's just a way to keep the gaming industry running, but are those hacked games worth playing. Well, for the most part, these games are alot cheaper to purchse for store owners looking to make a buck, like grocery stores, or maybe an indoor flea market.
Overall it seems like a good attempt, but in the long range you don't get the value and good quality that makes the origianl more special.
Sometimes, the programmer might do something really stupid to make the game more challenging like speeding up the gameplay, adding a few things, or whatever they can come up with.
Other games were mostly copied and had a few things changed, like Donkey Kong. A company known as Falcon had created clones of this classic game called Crazy Kong and Crazy Kong Part 2. Mostly the colors and sounds had been changed, but it's always the same game. I've seen Space Invaders type games that looked different or altered,. Like one version had the invaders individually come out of the ship and fly around in space, and you had to shoot them. You only got one life and it costed 50 cents per play. I think I saw this at a rest stop somewhere. It's just a way to keep the gaming industry running, but are those hacked games worth playing. Well, for the most part, these games are alot cheaper to purchse for store owners looking to make a buck, like grocery stores, or maybe an indoor flea market.
Overall it seems like a good attempt, but in the long range you don't get the value and good quality that makes the origianl more special.
Sometimes, the programmer might do something really stupid to make the game more challenging like speeding up the gameplay, adding a few things, or whatever they can come up with.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Pac Match Party online game
I've gotten Pac-Man fever all over again upon discovering this highly addictive online puzzle game from Namco. All you have to do is flip the images of pac-man, the ghost monsters, treats to match 3 or more of the same kind. Upon matching 3 symbols of presents, you get a special ability to destroy rows and colums of ghost monsters and pacmen. Oh there are solid blocks that must be destroyed as well. Now as you are working on the level, pacman is gobbling up dots around the border outside of the play area. And thee's a slow moving ghost monster moving around the board as well. So each time you make a match, pacman moves ahead, but if the ghost catches up with pacman the game is over. The cool thing is that if you match ghosts nearby pac man symbols, pacman gobbles up the ghosts. It's a very addicvive and fun online game. Try it at Namco.com and look for the online game Pac Match party online game.
Taito Legends
I had gotten a pc cdrom game of Taito Legands from Amazon. It's a great way to relive my fondness of old arcade classics, thank goodness I got a game pad. It comes with 29 games and my all time favorites are Bubble Bobble, Rainbow Islands, Elevator Action, Jungle Hunt, Phoenix, Space Invaders, Space Invaders Part 2, Super Qix, and Zoo Keeper. I admit that I also enjoy The New Zealand Story, which all you have to do is controll a Kiwi bird, and scroll around othe level rescuing your kiwi bird friends that have been captured and imprisoned by a giant walrus. Very similar to Bubble Bobble, only you destroy the monsters with weapon items, and other things you collect for powerups, then you pick up the fruit items left behind for bonus points. I really enjoy this as it works well with Windows 7, and it's made by a company known as Xplosiv.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Game And Watch Gallery Game Lesson "Patience"
This is a fun game packet to play, but I've learned a very important lesson in those games. Yeah, you need to earn stars to unlock the games and cool features, but remember that you only get one star for every 200 points you score. However If you've already earned 3 stars, you get more stars when you score 800 points. The Max is 1,000 points and scoring ranges from 1-2 points for some basic things, and at the most 10-15 points as a bonus for finishing a level. And the level in most of the games like "Rainshower" end when you score 100 points 1 point at at time. So you need patience when playing the classic games as it could take 10-15 minutes or more to score hundreds of points.
The only thing helpful is the "SuperScoring Mode." If you manage to score 300 points in some games or 200 points in other games without missing once, your score will flash temporaily and scoring is doubled. It took me awhile, but I managed to get 150 stars and I have unlocked a new game in the gallery of "Boat Rescue" All it is is that the people are jumping off the boat and you controll a guy who pulls the boat to shore. Just make sure you catch the falling people in the boat and then safely get them to shore. The boat only holds up to 4 people, after that the boat is crowded and the next person you rescue in the boat falls out and is gobbled up by the shark. It's a fun game to play, and to make it more challenging, it's a two screen game and watch game. So in game A, you have one rescue boat for two sides, and game B, you have two boats, one on each end to rescue the falling people.
The only thing helpful is the "SuperScoring Mode." If you manage to score 300 points in some games or 200 points in other games without missing once, your score will flash temporaily and scoring is doubled. It took me awhile, but I managed to get 150 stars and I have unlocked a new game in the gallery of "Boat Rescue" All it is is that the people are jumping off the boat and you controll a guy who pulls the boat to shore. Just make sure you catch the falling people in the boat and then safely get them to shore. The boat only holds up to 4 people, after that the boat is crowded and the next person you rescue in the boat falls out and is gobbled up by the shark. It's a fun game to play, and to make it more challenging, it's a two screen game and watch game. So in game A, you have one rescue boat for two sides, and game B, you have two boats, one on each end to rescue the falling people.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Classic Arcade Games Venture
I remember this game well, as we had it for Colecovision. I also remember the arcade version, but didn't play it as it wasn't seen much in the arcades. Vaguely, I saw the game in the back row of arcade games at the old indoor flea market in Smithtown ny. The only problem with this machines was that the joystick controller couldn't go right. Then there was the arcade in one of the ferry boats in Port Jefferson Village, as afterwards it was placed into a nearby restaurant next to the ferry dock.
Overall, I must say that the home version for Colecovision was very easy for me to beat the game, as it was repetitive. But the arcade version was more challenging. One time, I did encounter the game again in a stationary store in Centereach N.Y. It was the simplicity of the game's concept that made it fun and memorable, but those deadly hallmonsters still haunt my memory to this day. If you spent more than 10 seconds in a room, a large hallmonster will materialzie and enter and make a strait beedive for you, and he was indestructable. I do miss playing this game, however I did have one other opportunity to play this game, but I had mixed feelings afterwards. Basically, it was from a multi-game cabinet called Gammer-Tek 2K that I saw in a basement video arcade called fun city. Although I was amazed at the ability to play it, the downside is that the game was emulated with Mame. I just found out in 2006 I think that a software company called "Mean Hamster" had purchased the legal rights to all the games made by Exidy. So since Venture was made by Exidy, I will soon be able to play this game again.
Other times I found re-makes of this game, like Venture 2 from My Yosemetie Sam.com. It's a graphic update to the game with more levels, rooms, and monsters to defeat. The plus side is that when the large hallmonster enters the room, you can shoot him down within a few arrow shots. But he reenters seconds later and many large hallmosters come at your really fast. You can still shoot him, but good luck in surviving. It was memorable, but just a stupid knockoff as I heard the Colecovision music of the get ready player one screen. And a really stupid retro remake I found once was called Venture into adventure. this is dumb and stupid version of the game. I'll just wait for the game to be released by Mean Hamster Software.
Overall, I must say that the home version for Colecovision was very easy for me to beat the game, as it was repetitive. But the arcade version was more challenging. One time, I did encounter the game again in a stationary store in Centereach N.Y. It was the simplicity of the game's concept that made it fun and memorable, but those deadly hallmonsters still haunt my memory to this day. If you spent more than 10 seconds in a room, a large hallmonster will materialzie and enter and make a strait beedive for you, and he was indestructable. I do miss playing this game, however I did have one other opportunity to play this game, but I had mixed feelings afterwards. Basically, it was from a multi-game cabinet called Gammer-Tek 2K that I saw in a basement video arcade called fun city. Although I was amazed at the ability to play it, the downside is that the game was emulated with Mame. I just found out in 2006 I think that a software company called "Mean Hamster" had purchased the legal rights to all the games made by Exidy. So since Venture was made by Exidy, I will soon be able to play this game again.
Other times I found re-makes of this game, like Venture 2 from My Yosemetie Sam.com. It's a graphic update to the game with more levels, rooms, and monsters to defeat. The plus side is that when the large hallmonster enters the room, you can shoot him down within a few arrow shots. But he reenters seconds later and many large hallmosters come at your really fast. You can still shoot him, but good luck in surviving. It was memorable, but just a stupid knockoff as I heard the Colecovision music of the get ready player one screen. And a really stupid retro remake I found once was called Venture into adventure. this is dumb and stupid version of the game. I'll just wait for the game to be released by Mean Hamster Software.
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