Is The PS2 Retro?

 And look at why that generation needs collectors

and bootleggers to survive as playable media.

 

 

 

 

     I think beyond FF& many of my favorite gaming memories came from the PS2. I KNOW sounds strange right, I mean what about the Super Nintendo? The N64? Or even the Game Cube and original X Box?  

    Well when I was young, like every 80's kid I started with a yard sale Atari, playing games like the horrific Pac Man port, the classic Asteroids, River Raid, Pit Fall, and to any to count. The simple graphic, joystick and ONE button, it could still hold my young attention long enough for my single mother to get a break. 

     Then in 1987 I believe, I had what I still remember as the best Christmas ever. I got the Nintendo Power Set, the box was huge to my young mind. It came with the gimmicky Power Pad, a grey Zapper (this was before Nintendo got their sushi in a wad and started producing bright orange guns) the system and hook ups of course, and most importantly, the multicart featuring Super Mario Bros., Duck Hunt, and Wold Class Track Meet. I officially became a NES junky. My humble colection grew, slowly of course as we were never rich. I never could afford a power glove which in retrospect was probably a good thing. But games like Pro Wrestling with its cheating GREEN Amazonian wrestler, C Pro Am, Kung Fu, Mike Tysons Punch out, the list goes on, and on. Of course trips to the local video store where heaven. After staring and looking at the blurbs on the back for 30 or 40 minutes mom would be honking, threatening to leave me, so I would quickly grab a game. Most of the time it being the first game I even looked at.

     But within a few years a system called the Genesis, and especially its second pack in game Sonic the Hedgehog where changing the landscape. I remember calling almost daily to my fathers house and reminding them "I WANT A SEGA GENESIS! PLEEEEEASE!" 

     After months of begging the big game came and of course there it was. My coool, black, 16 bit power house. Blast processing was now in my hands ;)

     As I said before we where NOT a rich family and having one system engendered a lot of bias in the 16 bit era. Although now I must admit I enjoy playing SNES games more than I do the Genesis . Especialy do to the SNES having a decent library of JRPG's while the Genesis has barely a handful. I held onto my Genesis threw the 32x,, never buying one even when they where almost giving them away at toy stores. I rented but never owned a a Sega Cd and besides a few gems such as Snatcher, and some VERY expensive shooters, I found the system very unimpressive and the graphics uglier than Mitch McConnell.  

     When the Saturn, and Playstation where finally released, I jumped ship. Tomb Raider looked amazing for the time, and looking at Saturn's launch titles, and games at the Video Store I could see the Playstation was certainly the better of the two systems. Little did I know that thsi wascaused by Sega developing a machine which took rocket scientists to program properly for. In Japan however they recieved many add ons which helped the Saturn greatly in both its graphics and general use as an entertainment machine and not just a gaming machine. 

     The Dreamcast was just that a dream. Although I had lost a lot of faith in Sega as a brand after lack luster hardware and horrible marketing and game support, the Dreamcast was ahead of its time. The graphics where amazing for its day and many still hold up when played right now. Everyone knows about the controlsers and the little hand held which popped into it acting as a memory card. Some peole hate the controllers some love them, I'm in between, it works and thats what matters. My EX had one, and I played it every chance I could. 

     The dreamcast had two major flaws, one for the company, and one for the consumer. The PS2 was fast approaching and it was announced it would have a DVD player built in. NOT GOOD NEWS FOR THE DREAMCAST! And let us remember the context of the Dreamcasts release. At teh time, many home computers did not ome with a cd burner, and external cd burners could be expensive. So Sega chose to not add a protection against playing burnt games made from cd images found online or saved using special equipment. 

     The result, the PS2 hit like an atom bomb. Selling millions of units, and between the lack of game sales, and the PS2 taking over the market. Sega finally threw in the towel and started doing what they do best. Producing kick ass games again. 

     The console generation of the PS2, Gamecube, and the OG X Box, was a gamers dream. The PS2 was the only system I purchased opening weekend and for my first game I chose an adventure/town building game called Dark Cloud. It blew my mind. The graphics where amazing, smooth, and a glimpse at what was to come withe the following generations. 

     I didn't get a Game Cube or and original X Box til much later after their replacements had been on the market at least a year. I find playing that strategy let me buy systems cheap, games even cheaper, and most importantly I knew the games to buy and the absolute shit in the shape of round disks to avoid. Since that generations systems where visually appealing, and he game play stellar, many of them hold up very well and are extremely fun even today. 

      However lately I have been seeing a disturbing phenomenon taking hold in some games known as "Disk Rot" games that look fine, either few superficial scratches or no scratches at all, and the games began not to play. First it was a PS1 game...... Crono Cross :( Then it was the Thrown of Bhall Expansion disk for my Baldurs Gate 2 PC game. Perfectly good disks, which would either not play entirely,  or start, but glitch out shortly into the game. These games are only a few years older than most PS2 era  games and soon the plastic in them will start to break down as well.

What This Means To Collectors

 

     We all want to play our games on the original system. But what happens when you own the game, but can't play it. This is where things get complicated. As far as collecting goes a person is going to have to test any disk based game he buys that is ten years or older just to be  safe. Beyond that a collect doesn't have much of a choice.

     Even then some day, these games will become unplayable. But legally we all have the right to make a back up copy of any media, games, music, movies, anything you own. The problem then is how would one play this back up? Sure if you have a computer with enough power you could run an emulator. They even make adapters so that one can use the original controllers to play the games on their computer. Personally I enjoy emulation , and advocate it whenever I can. 

     Of course you could always mod your PS2, not an easy proposition but one that would ensureyou could make a copy of any of your games and play them on their original system. Personally, I am not tech savvy enough to mod a Hot Wheels Car, and depending on the model moding could be damn near impossible.  

     Instead the game companies have given us a third choice, on which of course makes them money. Buy the game again! This time not as a disk, but as data saved on any of the systems in the post PS2 generation. You already own the game. Why pay again? Shouldn't you be able to send proof that you own this game, andyou wish to have your LEGALLY FINE back up copy? 

    Its just a pipe dream, money is the name of the game, and it doesn't matter if your favorite childhood game sudely goes to hell, Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, would all love to see emulation stamped out. But beyond people just pirating games, many of us download games we either have or had, or even games which where never released here and had to be translated by loyal fans such as  Mother 3, A dedicated group of fans from the Mother/Earth Bound series have worked extremely hard to do a translation that is MASTERFUL. Please click the link and download the patch for the rom, the site DOES NOT host the rom and you will have to find it on another site such as www.coolroms.com (This link will take you directly to the Mother 3 download page)

     There are plenty of ways to play older games, but until the bigger companies realize that backwards compatibility, customer appreciation in the form of GIVING players games they already own, but have been the victim of time not mistreatment. Sure it would take some system for them to see and be assured that the games are truly unplayable and I have no clue how that could work.

     And what of the value , and the fun of collecting for everyone who buys these games expecting to some day give their collection to their own kids or grand kids. Its a fun time to collect these games I admit. They are cheap, there are tons of awesome games, and while many wouldn't consider that era as retro or nostalgic, they must have forgotten that the PS2 itself is pushing 15 years old, andhas had two consoles and two hand helds from Sony to come out since its release. 

     YES, THE PS2 IS RETRO!...... My only hope is someone finds a way to build a machine something like the Retron 5, only with the ability to play burnt PS1, PS2, X Box, and even those cute lil Gamecube games. It may be years away as patent laws hold such things back for so many years, but eventually they will come. Sure a lot of people will just download every game they can, but others, like me, we want the games that made us happy years ago, games we had and never beat, or games we beat but never mastered. NO INDUSTRY can stop piracy......... its just part of our modern day tech life.

     But this goes beyond piracy, this is about being able to play a game you OWN. 

     I know this tirade never really had a conclusion....... but thats because the future isn't written yet. Its obvious the gaming industry is on the cutting edge of graphics, but they are as dul as a butter knife when it comes to the way people ACTUALLY play, collect, and feel about their games.  If they won't listen.......... the fans wil always find a way. If you don't trust me PLEASE check that site dedicated to Mother 2............. its a JRPG , the 3rd in the series , in which only number 2 was released in North America and then as Earth Bound. A flop on release, but now considered one of the greatest RPGs on the SNES. The third, released in Japan as Mother 3 on the Gameboy Advance was never translated for the North American audience by Nintendo even though a large campaign was raised to convince them it was wanted by the fans. After Nintendo basically told them to buzz off. The group decided if they won't do it , we will. They posted an OPEN LETTER to Nintendo stating at any time, if Nintendosaid they wouldrelease Mother 3 In America they would stop. Nintendo never did, and after a couple years of hard work, the patch was done. One of the greatest RPG's on the Gameboy Advance was only available here because WE...... AS GAMERS UNITED and did it. 

     If we wanted i guarantee we could build a machine that could play these games the companies have seamed to call  obsolete except as data to make you pay for online. FUCK THAT..... If I pay my money, I want a physical copy! And I want to play that physical copy twenty years from now if I still have working hardware. 

     In conclusion, YES I do consider the early 00 generation of games as retro, they are no longer supported by their companies, and they harken back to a time when gaming was just starting to get to that level where they could make things look almost real, and graphics that would astound.  Some games are starting to get rare quickly, and unlike the older games which have been polluted by shows making idiots thing their copy of Super Mario is worth big bucks, PS1 and PS2 era games can be found at yard sales, and flea markets at great prices and in large quantities. 

     If you want to grow a large collection of great games quickly go dig out your Slim Model PS2, pop the top and play some Dragon Quest 8.  :) 

 

 

 

Everyone have a wonderful day, hope you enjoyed my lil rant, and i Hope it made you both think, and inform you on some of the ins and outs, and options we could develope if we stuck together as a group.  I enjoy comments, and trolls, spread the word and help me make this page even bigger. If your a write and would like to write for Just Another, please send me a message on fb, Michael_wallen2002@yahoo.com, look me up and well talk about starting a new article. 

Till next time, stay groovy :)

Wolfenstein (PS3) 2009......... First modern FPS I have ever beaten. Going forward....

   




     I was looking on my Facebook feed this week and I came across one of the countless "Lists" that appear through out my day. Most are crap.... Top Celebrities Who Used to Be Skinny, and shit like that. But I do subscribe to one FANTASTIC newsletter devoted to one of those genres that fed into gaming early on and still does to this day. All I need to say is one word, Lovecraftian, and you know what I am talking about.Lovecraft eZine covers everything Lovecraftian, and publishes an EXCELLENT eZine    

 
     H.P. Lovecraft, the father of weird fiction. Sure there where those before him but he took it to the next level, and created a mythos that some people are convinced to this day the reality of. The Lovecraft eZine covers everything Lovecreft from the historical, to the comical, even video games. So when I saw the list of Lovecreft inspired games I had to check it out.
  

      I had just beaten a very Lovecreft heavy game in Wolfenstein 2009, on the PS3. A game I heard reviewed as being really solid, but a little too linear and simple. I hadn't owned what I would consider a modern console since the 00's when the PS2 launched. And the last FPS I could remember beating before that was Quake 2 on the PC. All of my FPS experience had been with the PC since the days of the original Wolfenstein, Doom, Half Life, Half Life 2, the staples of any 90's and 00 PC gamer. But even then I rarely finished the entire game. The last FPS I could legitimately remember beating was probably Quake 2. So having recently purchased a PS3 80gig for 100 dollars, I wanted something that looked new but felt old. Old in that GOOD way. That way which told a solid, simple story, with great twists, surprises, without confusion. Progressive game play mechanics with a learning curve that never feels like your being punished for playing the game. I wanted a few other genres but that's another post entirely. In the first major investment of games from a local reseller I picked up a game I never knew existed, but for $14.95 was certainly worth the gamble. I also purchased Dead Island, knowing it to be the exact opposite of what I needed to ease me into modern FPS games.
     Wolfenstein was the $15.00 gem I had hoped for, when I truly didn't expect it. After a particularly boring and thankfully easy week of fatherly duties, I really started to get into the game and see myself making progress. There is something about killing Nazi's, especially magic wielding, dimension splitting, mutated, undead Nazi's that is just so unique, it would almost venture to be an entire sub-genre all to itself. Your B.J. Blaskowitz out to kick some more SS ass and stop the 3rd Reich from building their Wonder Weapon...... Along the way you will be given an amulet which lets you draw upon the same powers that the Nazi's are using relics and science to weaponize. In the "Black Sun Realm" time can slow to a crawl, you can erect magical barriers, shoot threw enemy barriers, and a host of other abilities as you explore the games hundreds of hidden secrets. But B.J. can't kill Nazi's with some pussy old magic, nope he needs guns, and a wide variety. Each with its own power ups which can be purchased using the gold you find while exploring the games big, but not overwhelming levels.
      You can shoot with your standard sub, and heavy machine guns. Each with a wonderful sound and controls. The controls really felt spot on in this game. Which in hindsight is probably one of the main reasons I was able to sink my teeth in. Coming from a PC FPS background I was always , and still am of the opinion that the perfect way to control a FPS is with a keyboard and mouse.  Wolfensteins controls can best be described as forgiving. Which for someone who admittedly sucks at console FPS's I was very thankful for. Each of the weapons when fully  powered up seams more than a match for the situations it was designed for. In close quarters, use the flamethrower and hold your noes. Long distance stealth more your style? Use the bolt action to zero in on your targets and pop their head like a melon. The "veil" powered weapons pack the most punch, them being the weaponized version of the magic that powers your amulet. They can vaporize almost all of the typical enemies in a matter of seconds.

     Even with all that firepower you have to be cautious. The Nazi's are behind every corner, and will both actively seek cover and try to flank you, or get to a machine gun nest and wait for you to pop your head up to mow you down. I have only played on easy and normal modes, but i can imagine the higher difficulties being a meat grinder. While the plot is fairly linear, there are several side quests which offer more opportunities for gold, intel, and Tomes to learn new powers, and  bits of interconnected subplot.

    

     As I said the game is very Lovecraftian and plays heavily on the themes of other dimensions and the creatures who dwell there in. One of the games only real fall backs being that you didn't see more of the natives of the Black Sun Dimension. But the game makes up for this by making each creature that comes threw seam like an event. They are almost always boss or sub-bosses, and each one will have a particular strategy which must be executed to defeat it.
     The game does have a few flaws, such as the intel and gold sometimes being hid in exceedingly hard to find locations, I have played the first level threw several times and have never found all of either the gold or intel. There always seams to be one or two pieces that you just can not find. And since some really cool features are unlocked if you find them all, this can be really tiresome. And you simply have to search for the gold no matter what because that's how you purchase the firepower necessary to defeat the growing list of veil enhanced Nazi's.
     Its short , which was perfect for me, and gave me that confidence boost I needed to bite into games like Dead Island. But I can see how many modern FPS fans may think its both to short and to linear. I have a hard time jumping into a game when I am bombarded from the title screen with merchants, trainers, npc's and no clear idea of who or what to do to actually experience the next part of the story. Pacing was perfect for a game of its length.
     The games biggest flaw is the multiplayer. When I was able to find a game, which was rarely, the servers where always buggy, and the game was just not interesting. That's to be expected I guess with a only moderately selling 5 year old game. But I can remember the free multiplayer demo of Return to Castle Wolfenstein on PC having active serves years after its release on Gamespy. The demo alone could entertain for months. So that was a disappointment hopefully fixed in the new Wolfenstein , entitled New World Order. I plan on picking it up as soon as possible and hopefully it will retain the feel , and only add to its older brother. The 2009 title feels almost like an introduction, like disc one of a JRPG........ a lot happens, and you feel like you've accomplished something, however the trials you've faced so far are only a lead up to a completely different story. And if its used correctly, it may very well be. New World Order takes place in an alternate 1950's timeline where the Nazi's won the war. Hopefully our hero B.J. has escaped and is still keeping up the fight.
     No doubt some of my warmth for Wolfenstein is nostalgia. It's one of the few franchises that hasn't been raped, and impaled on its own source code. Id has done it for years and has shown they can still do it. It would be great to see them expand on the mythos, add some blatant Lovecraft into the mix. SS Deep Ones. :) The graphics still look great for a 5 year old game, and the color palette while subdued in parts, fit the feel and look of the game. It'll be a game I remember simply for beating and proving to myself I could still pick up a controller and get into a new game.
     Retro gaming is my passion and I love it. But this is that magical time, when the new hardware is out, but most games still come cross platform and compatible with the last generation. Prices are lower because everyone is switching to the new console but for now the PS3 still has enough juice to hold its own graphically and release some amazing titles like Last of Us. For those of us on a budget, the obvious choice right now, if you haven't moved up to a PS3, is to purchase one. With its healthy catalog of games, and new releases still happening, its a no brainer. And unlike the leap from the relatively weak PS2, to the powerhouse that is a PS3, there is really very little difference between the PS3 and PS4 ports. Conceivably they could continue to make PS3 ports of most games for the next few years.
     And why not? Sure you want people to buy your new console, but there are some people such as me that just can't afford the investment. So no matter if you quit supporting your old console, they still wouldn't upgrade till the price drops dramatically. So give us a bone, release everything you can easily port and sell the disk which cost you pennies to make for $50.00 a pop.
      My final verdict, I give the game a 7.5. Better than a lot I have tried, and with a lot of idea that can be built upon. Worth the price for certain.

     But what about Lovecraft? Sure New World Order is out, but its still new and fairly expensive. But there are other games to satisfy your Cthulhu craving. Try out the guys over at the Lovecraft eZine for a list which includes links to a bunch of classic, and indie games which can be had for FREE! I have also found what CLAIMS to be a Cthulhu Mythos MMO on PC called Monia which can be downloaded HERE. I don't know if its any good and would love to hear form anyone who has tried it. And for those of you who still have yoru old XBox, or a love for PC FP games, give Cthulhu Dark Corners of the Earth a try. Its one of the great hidden gems of the early 00's.
     Does anyone have a suggestion for a good Lovecraft game? A memory of playing or experiences with Lovecraft's works? Comment and share. I am back, and plan on posting on a much more frequent basis and may eventually even post videos, and podcasts on an irregular basis if I can find others interested in talking games, or all things retro and nerdy. Feel free to visit my more seriously toned, personal blog which features my fiction, poetry, photography, and plain ole blog posts at www.theconcreteyear.blogspot.com .  Some posts NSFW!

WOW ...................... It's been awhile. AND I AM SORRY!

     Its been  a crazy year to say the least. Lost of tragedy in the family , lots of drama , which as we all know is never far behind tragedy. Almost got out of collecting Retro Games for many reasons. Not least of which being the price gauging by the Mitch McConnell of the video game world.......................the dread re-sellers!

Forced Re-seller Buy

Part 1

     It was actually a forced buy from a reseller which made me decide to start writing on here again.

The Game : Dragon Quest VIII for the PS2, sold around half a million copies not making it super rare but as with all RPG's people tend to hoard driving up prices.

The Situation: I have no car currently, making game chasing very very hard to do and something I get to do much much less often now days. So when I get the chance I have to take it.

The Setting: Perry County Ky, also known as the the home of the Mother Goose..................yes ................. a Goose shaped structure downtown in the county seat of hazard. ALSO a town booming with every chain store you could possibly shake a stick at. Home to two stores which sell used games and collectables Monkey Punch, and Tech East. Not variety.

The Desperation............ I have been wanting to play DQV111 for years but never could find a copy, and since I don't order online this posed a long standing problem. I had even checked Page 3 in Pikeville but to no avail. Finally I find it..................... photocopied cover, wrong case, no FF demo disk and it was 20 DOLLAR! After the anger subsided I paid it.
   
     Why did I pay it you ask? I wanted to play the game. Pure and simple.  YES I collett but whats the fun of collecting unless you can enojoy your collection from time to time. Am I happy I paid it NO! They are a rip off artist at that Store and I would much rather go to T.E. were you can negotiate and the atmosphere is much more welcoming.


     Kepp reading for Part 2, where I go into the game itself. WHY I thought just playing it was worth that much, and any other thoughts I can come up with. Thanks for reading, I WILL update more often in the future.


GAME ON FUCKERS!
 mWALn

Did I sell out? To play a masterpiece?

      Want to watch an EXCELLENT video review on DW VIII?? Head on over right now to check out Roo's 16 Bit Gems Show where he does a spectacular, in depth , knowledgeable but ENTERTAINING overview of the game. Not any major spoilers, just enough of a tease to make a gy like me pay 20 bucks bor basically a disk only copy. (I don't order online so by the time I had searched all over for a good copy it was worth buying a playable copy, and upgrading later) ANYWAY, check out Roo's reviews at either his Youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCSgVN3ynSQ. Or over at Retrowaretv, a wonderful site with tons of new and archived shows, full of information, reviews, and one of the best ongoing series on Retro Gaming right now. The Video Game Years, featuring all of their talent to talk about and show some of the older, sometimes forgotten systems and games as well as talking about the majoyr historical moments in gaming. Roo's DQ8 Review there is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCSgVN3ynSQ . After seeing those I thing the question of why would I spend that much to JUST PLAY a game and not have a collectable grade copy. But theres much more to come.
     Resellers lacking in moral , human, and even amoeba like decency should be exposed the good old fashioned way. Threw freedom of speech, investigation, and honest. Comparison not only of prices, but of atmosphere, of customer service, selection, and QUALITY of selection. No dear readers........................this is an ongoing piece. At worst, I get banned from a couple stores, at best I show them a lil change, a lil extra effort and ability to work with people, can go a long way. Or, as I suspect, nothing will change. Ohh sure we'll be more educated. T.E. will still be great and work with people and show that respect, but they will never expand to their full potentional. Monkey Skat on the other hand will continue to overprice things they know any parent will pay  to just shut their spoiled brat up.
     I can see that, as a former manager at a store, that's where you make your money selling retail to people like that. However collectors, people doing it because they weren't looking to make a buck, they where looking to make a set. Those we gave as good a deal as we could too. Times sure have changed. And in this next few parts I hope to show.............................and dread to show that all at the same time.