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Retro games offer an alluring respite
Chicago Tribune ^ | 12/7/04 | Eric Gwinn

Posted on 12/11/2004 4:53:11 PM PST by qam1

Today's video games are so deep, complex and involving that you don't play them, you live them. For people who already have a life, that's a problem.

Games now can take 24 hours or more to complete, because gamemakers want to make sure you feel you're getting your 50 bucks' worth from playing a game that cost $10 million or more to make. What happened to the Zen-like simplicity of "Pong," the uncomplicated mad dash of "Pac-Man"?

Actually, they're coming back.

Atari recently released the Flashback, a slim TV-top box stuffed with 20 games from the 1980s. Gamemakers Midway and Nintendo now offer Vol. 2 of their respective retro game compilations. "Xbox Live Arcade" brings in an Internet component so retro gamers with broadband-enabled Xboxes can compete against one another.

The differences between retro games and today's games are simple.

"Older games are reaction-based," notes Adam Sessler, co-host of a cable TV video game review show, "X-Play." To play, all you have to do is destroy the aliens or escape the monsters or jump at the right time, and you don't have to be inside anybody's head.

"There is no learning curve, no intimidation," says Michael Wolf, Xbox public relations manager, "just the opportunity to pick up and play with anyone at any skill level."

This year's hit story-driven titles "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and "Ratchet and Clank: Up Your Arsenal" include old-school-style mini-games that are heavy on action and light on plot, a nod to the popularity of this kind of simpler entertainment and a break from the intensity of the main game's mission.

There's clearly an audience -- these games have become staples of the Internet. Sites such as Yahoo!, AOL and MSN draw hundreds of thousands of gamers,

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: atari2600; genx; videogames
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1 posted on 12/11/2004 4:53:12 PM PST by qam1
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To: qam1; ItsOurTimeNow; PresbyRev; tortoise; Fraulein; StoneColdGOP; Clemenza; malakhi; m18436572; ...
Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.  

2 posted on 12/11/2004 4:54:58 PM PST by qam1 (Anyone who was born in New Jersey should not be allowed to drive at night or on hills.)
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To: qam1
I'd love to have a Missile Command console in my apt.

Spent MANY, MANY quarters in that sucker.

3 posted on 12/11/2004 4:58:33 PM PST by Benrand
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To: qam1
Sega ruled,SNES rules,NINTENDO ruled...and having the emulators for all 3 make it that much better

love X-box and PS2 but old school rules baby!!!

4 posted on 12/11/2004 5:02:14 PM PST by MetalHeadConservative35 (RIP Dimebag Darrell Of Pantera/Damageplan...Were gonna F-ing Miss you)
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To: qam1

Spent many quarters on Tempest!


5 posted on 12/11/2004 5:14:04 PM PST by rdb3 (Can I join the Pajamahadeen even if I sleep in the nude?)
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To: qam1

This is cool.

I saw a review of that Flashback thing just the other day. Made me smile.

I used to play Gallaga a lot. When I was in college, I used to collect empty cans for the refund money and that was my "fun" money.

So I only played a couple of games so that I got good and could make a quarter last a LONG time.

My daughter was impressed when i found a Gallaga machine this summer, and even 20 years later, old Mom can keep it going for 15 minutes! LOL!

She was NOT impressed with the graphics, though, and told me so!

:-)


6 posted on 12/11/2004 5:16:57 PM PST by tiamat (Solis Invicti)
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To: rdb3; Ernest_at_the_Beach
Spent many quarters on Tempest!

So did I!! I now have Tempest on both my PS2 and PC. My faves though were Final Fantasy X, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Majoras Mask, Banjo Kazooie, and FarCry.

Am waiting for GT4 and just got Fable. LOL

My very first game was "Adventure" on an IBM 360 Mainframe. My first console (which I still have) is the original Atari Pong game.

7 posted on 12/11/2004 5:20:13 PM PST by RadioAstronomer
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To: Benrand
I'd love to have a Missile Command console in my apt.

Is available for your PC now. Even lookes like the old arcade console. :-)

8 posted on 12/11/2004 5:21:17 PM PST by RadioAstronomer
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To: RadioAstronomer
Is available for your PC now. Even lookes like the old arcade console. :-)

There's nothing like spinning that big ole ball, though.

9 posted on 12/11/2004 5:25:27 PM PST by eddie willers
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To: eddie willers
There's nothing like spinning that big ole ball, though.

Hmmm.... I could design a USB gaming console that had all the goodies, such as a ball and spinning wheel, for a PC to run those old games. Bet they would sell too!

10 posted on 12/11/2004 5:29:12 PM PST by RadioAstronomer
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To: qam1
We just bought 4 of the Retro Game Units, Plug and Play. They are so much fun. Only $18 a piece
11 posted on 12/11/2004 5:36:01 PM PST by cmsgop
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To: MetalHeadConservative35

Go Atari 2600,

Super Mario Bros. 3 was possibly the best game ever, But overall the Atari 2600 with games like Adventure, Atlantis, Haunted House, Pitfall, Turmoil, Worm War I, Yar's Revenge, etc. make it a more fun system.


12 posted on 12/11/2004 5:37:01 PM PST by qam1 (Anyone who was born in New Jersey should not be allowed to drive at night or on hills.)
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To: qam1

LOL! The Sailor and I were just playing the PS2 Atari games earlier today. Boy have I missed playing Centipede! I also remember why I hate the game Dig Dug. UGH!! LOL!


13 posted on 12/11/2004 5:46:03 PM PST by MoJo2001 (Operation Valentine's Day ---Begins January 1st - January 21st..www.proudpatriots.com)
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To: rdb3

Oh, man. I remember that one.

I could've put a small country through college with all those quarters.


14 posted on 12/11/2004 5:48:51 PM PST by Skooz (The "holiday" has a name.)
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To: RadioAstronomer; eddie willers

they sell full size controllers ala the old arcades for PC's. Actually with a bit of searching, you can find everything you need, and put something like 4300 old video games and arcade games in one machine.

I've seen these machines, they are awe inspiring. Gattaga to Area 51 (with guns), to original Mortal Combat, to Gauntlet, all at your finger tips.

There are DIY project sites that explain the entire process, as well as guys who build and sell them.


15 posted on 12/11/2004 5:54:40 PM PST by JerseyHighlander
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To: JerseyHighlander; RadioAstronomer
Has anyone put out "Joust"?

Does anyone remember "Joust"?

16 posted on 12/11/2004 5:59:39 PM PST by eddie willers
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To: eddie willers

Joust was great. We had Intellivision. Anyone remember that. Really enjoyed those games...Astrosmash!


17 posted on 12/11/2004 6:05:40 PM PST by Sertorius (A hayseed with no greek and dam^ proud of it)
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To: eddie willers

Joust was rereleased on the Nintendo (the base system) in the late 80s/early 90s.

And, yeah, there's not much better than dueling ostriches. ;)


18 posted on 12/11/2004 6:06:36 PM PST by Renderofveils (8th Engineer Bn, 1 Cav. "Cannibals!")
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To: eddie willers

Joust, sure, just google it. Find a rom, there are java programs of it too.

http://www.klov.com/J/Joust.html


19 posted on 12/11/2004 6:07:25 PM PST by JerseyHighlander
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To: Benrand

What state are you living in? I got three broken stand up missile command games that im cannabalising and turning into one working missile command game and after I am done I will be selling it.It probably wont be done before febuary at the earliest I only get a couple of hours aweek spare time to work on these things but after im done i can let you know if you arent to far away i can sell it to you. I live in indiana


20 posted on 12/11/2004 6:09:18 PM PST by freepatriot32 (http://chonlalonde.blogspot.com)
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