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.

Collecting in General, and The Playstation 1 Revisited

     WOW , it's been awhile since I've done much with this blog. Much of that has to do with me being lazy, hey I may be the only honest blogger on the web. Another reason being that I've been a little torn about my retro gaming, and retro gaming in general. Not the nostalgia, or fun of playing and collecting classic games but more with WHAT to collect. With so many systems, and very little money to spare I had to sell part of my collection and downsize what I can realistically collect.
     So I had lots of hard choices to make. And I made them. So out went the NES and SNES stuff, although I do still plan on picking up games in the wild for those systems when I find them, weather they are games I want or games I can use for trading fodder I just can't afford to collect for them anymore. The last two years have seen the market for games on those two systems SKYROCKET in value, maybe I shouldn't say value, more like price. Games like Chrono Trigger ARE NOT RARE but are priced like they are, and it seams like many games are like that overpriced to the point where they cost more NOW than when they where new, and don't get me started on the prices of games that are rarer like Earth Bound.  When you go to a game store and see prices like $11.00 for Dragon Warrior 1 on NES you know things have gotten out of hand. If it weren't for emulation a lot of us wold never get to play a lot of these games. But that is a whole other post entirely.
     NOW before all the Nintendo fanboys start running away calling me a traitor, I still collect games that I really want such as RPG's for any system, and I still collect for one Nintendo system that most people overlook, that being the Gamecube. Actually that leads me into my next topic of what I actually am currently collecting for. Those being the last generation of systems namely the PS2 and Gamecube. I hope to have a regular Xbox some day , but until I come across one in the wild for uber cheap........it can wait.
     You may be asking yourself "Why?" And the answers are plentiful and easy to come by. Just like games for those systems. Also right now the games are relatively cheap ranging from a couple bucks to about 8 dollars at the most in the wild. There where a plethora of games for just the PS2 well over 3000 counting Japanese only games. The unit itself sold over 150 MILLION, making it the best selling unit of all time , which only just quit being produced in January of this year. That's right folk, they where still poppin these babies out till 2013. And the reason is obvious, it was a solid system, with (for its day) fairly powerful hardware capable of some amazing things in the hands of the right programer. Now do I ever even HOPE to have all the games for the PS2.........no. I would have to either mod or buy a Japanese PS2 to even play the imports and learning to read Japanese is not high on my list of things to do. Would I someday shoot for a complete US only set. Maybe. But for the time being I see it as a solid invest in both fun and future value. As long as the disc rot doesn't eat threw my collection it should last for quite awhile.
     The Gamecube has always been kinda the underdog for me, and honestly the system I know the least about, beyond a few classics and hidden gems I would love to find. Tales of Symphonia looks fantastic and if I had a video card capable of running Dolphin I would have probably already emulated and played it. Its no secret I loves me some JRPG's which I don't think the system was heavy on, but I hear the few that are there are pretty good. Gamecube games are cheap as the PS2 and just as common. Even some of the more uncommon (as far as collectors are concerned) seam to be fairly easy to find around here. I picked up my copy of The Legend of Zelda  : Wind Waker, for 8 bucks at a local pawn shop, which is also the highest place I have seen to buy games around here. What I like best about the Gamecube hands down, no pun intended, is the controller. I have never felt a controller that felt as RIGHT as the GC controller. The analog stick is so perfect it gives perfection a new meaning. Shoulder buttons always threw me off and on other controller have they ever felt really natural too me, till the GC controller.
     OF COURSE, I can't completely give up on collecting for the 16 bit era, so I have switched gears to the more affordable, but still epic Genesis/Megadrive. I came across a Genesis model 3, which while not be the greatest when it comes to some things, ISN'T REGION LOCKED! So Mega Drive exclusives are at least within my ability to play. So far the BOOM which has skyrocketed even some not so rare games on the SNES and NES hasn't been as devastating to the Genesis. The prices are going up, but are not in any way climbing at the exponential rate of SNES games. One crappy thing I have found however, unlike many NES and SNES games that miraculously the back up battery still works in, I have yet to find a SINGLE WORKING BATTERY BACKED UP CART , that still saves for the Genesis. Nothing sucks worse than owning games that you have no hope of ever beating till you pay someone to replace he battery. (I would prefer paying just for the insurance that they won't fuck my game up and if they do they will replace or pay me for it) Looks like I will be making a trip to a local game shop to get my Phantasy Star 4 juiced back up. 
     Something i have been dong lately is playing a lot of PSONE games on my computer ...........I'll let you guess how, but it really made me take a second look at a system I thought I knew well. I owned a PSONE in the 90's, a Christmas gift in the year of its release, back then it was mind blowing. What really surprises me now, is how poorly the games I loved have aged (Final Fantasy's being the exception for story alone if nothing else) What I have been playing are a lot of the games I missed back then for one reason or another. I was never a shooter fan and was late to the rpg craze with my love for the genre being cemented with FF7 and FF9. I had no concept of strategy games until much much later, and besides Tetris, or I.Q. I was never a puzzle game fan. Now though with the help of a little *ahem* searching online, I have began to play tons games that I missed that have aged a thousand percent better than games like the original Tomb Raider, or ANY 3D fighter on the system.
     A major time sink for me has been Ark The Lad. I love me some strategy rpg action, and thankfully they went for sprites instead of polygons and it ages much better for it. The game, at least the first one in the trilogy , isn't without its flaws. I am only about 1/3 of the way into the game, but so far the only major complaint I have is the lack of an item that works like an Escape Rope in Pokemon. You go 15 levels deep into a dungeon, and instead of going back and hitting the stairs up and coming out on top, or at the very least the levels still being cleared of monsters, you have to fight your way back threw all 15 levels to the safety of a save game screen. The dungeon in question......is 30 LEVELS DEEP! Yes its full of treasure, but without any potions that restore MP which are used for all magic and special abilities, AND no way to save and come back to the dungeon later, it makes tackling these dungeons a very time consuming and nerve wracking experience. Imagine making it 25 levels deep, you have used up almost all of your resources (at least the useful ones) you are hit with the sudden realization that you have 5 levels left to reach the bottom, which can only get harder. OR you can back out and start working your way back out and hope and pray you can avoid as many enemies as possible and make it back out now only to have to try and do it all over again and spend another 3 or 4 hours to have the same problem again.
     I haven't even attempted part 2 or 3 yet, but I plan on taking them in order. Its a simple to grasp, but still surprisingly challenging game and a real surprise for me since I completely missed it back in the day. Another really great strategy/rpg that uses sprites and aged very well despite its VEEERY JAPANESE storyline is Saiyuki - Journey West. Its too much to try and explain but look it up, if you like the genre, and the 90's, you won't be let down.
     But I missed A LOT back then. While I played my PSONE quite a bit, even taking it to the Comic/Gaming shop I worked at to kill time. (Not much call for the new Planescapes box set in rural Eastern Ky) I remember Square releasing Einhander back then , and even being by my favorite company I passed it up because I wasn't into shooters. Now I am having to play older shooters just to not be stuck playing bullet hell games. (Which while they may look pretty, I suck at, so therefore I don't enjoy) So Einhander has been on steady rotation along with Raycrisis, R-Type Delta and several others........the one thing that I still have a problem with when it comes too shooters is that they are soooooo hard to remember the name of as far as distinguishing themselves enough to not get confused with another similar shooter.
     There are so many great games on the PSONE that it would be useless to try and name them all, we all remember and love Castlevania - Symphony of the Night (epic voice acting and all) Silent Hill, Resident Evil 1+2, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Parasite Eve, the Oddworld Games, Mega Man Legends series, Harvest Moon - Back To Nature, Dragon Warrior 7, Beyond the Beyond, Metal Slug X, the Persona series..............it could just go on and on. Anyone wishing to play these, I suggest you either dig out your psone, and start trying to track them all down..........good luck, OR try one of my favorite sites of all time www.coolrom.com. Everything you need (except maybe the bios for the PS1, you'll have to track that down on another site its no problem to find on google) is on coolrom, and yes THEY HAVE WORKING DS ROMS AND EMULATORS AS WELL!
     What do you want to hear about? What would you like reviewed or just to talk about. This blog is not just for me, its for anyone who wants to talk about old school games and wax nostalgia on all things cool and retro. Anyone who would like to write for Not Just Another is welcome to message me and I would be more than happy to not only have you as a commenter but as a writer for the blog as well. I hope you have enjoyed listening to me blather on check back in , hopefully updates will be more often and substantial.

Was Cleaning Some Games When

     I was cleaning some games tonight, and like many games we all find there where stickers of the local video rental shop which serviced this area from the 80 - early 00's, when competition became to much and it went under. At which time it sold off all of its movies, and video games. So In this area there are tons of these games. But I just gotto thinking about the good old days again and the next thing I know pen to paper and a lil poem was written. Nothing much and I hope to start updating a lot more often i even have a camera now so i may be able to start posting some stuff. ANYWAY without further ado Video Solution........the poem.

Video Solution

Do you remember the smell, of cigarettes, coffee, and porn

of cardboard boxe, pictured with a million worlds

wonders, and monsters

who would haunt my dreams for years to come

or try vainly to remember those names

with friends and laugh 

but best of all

(far to young for porn)

where the games 

and how they'd tell my age

first came the grey toaster

oh how they blew my mind

Castlevania scared me half to death

MegaMan made me wanna cry

to pick a game before you can read

was almost going in blind

Next I didn't have a Super

But the 90's were so fine

I had blast processing bitches

no mode 7 for me oh no 

To Jam and Earl on Funatronic oh how it changed my world

the years rolled by I tried Sega Cd , just once or twice no more

And how did they fix just so damn much 

in this ittty bitty store

The 3DO, SNES, and even N64

I remember the big box Playstation games 

Not for me on opening day

I had to wait a year or two 

but always on christmas day

I'd wanna go to the video store

to check some of the new games

but it burned bad 

i bet it smelled bad

wow those where the days 

the good lookin ladies

who never charged me a late fee 

free movie posters and all 

we're missing something these days

online gamings not the same thing

the games 

just aren't as fun

WOW SORRY GUYS

Been neglecting the ole blog, things happen ya know how life is. Final Fantasy 7 has finally started to make more progress I am finally to Cosmo Canyon. I will update soon, I have a few different posts written i just need to type them up. I am a weird guy, I do most of my writing the old fashioned way with a pencil and paper, then type and edit it at the same time. So it takes a little longer. I also plan on making videos soon as I figure out my camera :) hope everything works out soon . Later guys.

Looking For Others to Write and Post for the Blog

Looking for a core group of 3 or four people to write articles, post video's , just whatever interests them about gaming and retro gaming. Please comment or hit me up . Lets make this grow .

Emulation : A Little Story and My Personal View

     I'll go ahead and say it. I love emulation. Its a guilty, well not SO guilty, pleasure. All of the games I loved and had as a kid, plus thousands that I never got the chance to play. Like most kids in teh 80's and 90's I only had one system at a time. I could only afford games for one and to play games on other systems was a fun distraction.
     My progression as a video gamer was the original NES in late 87. Then in the early 90's I got a Sega Genesis model 1. This was way back when it still had "High Definition Graphics", printed in bold white letters on the top of the bad ass looking black system. Of course now its common knowlede the Model 1 was NOT Hi Def, but at the time it sounded good. Finally around the start of my Junior year I think I received my PSone, and shortly after what would easily be in my top 5 games of all time, Final Fantasy 7. . This started a life long love with JRPG'S that still rages to this day. Between Final Fantasy 7 and 9 (fuck a bunch of 8) my future was set as most of the games that I purchased where JRPG'S. Of course as an American waiting on RPG's you got to hear how completely mind blowing it was from the Japanese audience months, sometimes years before the games would be localized and ported over to an English speaking fan base. That's if they where brought over at all, many a fine game has been denied us by Nintendo of America and their sometimes completely, MINDNUMBINGLY, idiotic decisions on what games to release here in the states. This alone could drive anyone to emulation but that's only a portion of it. Many games have had WONDERFUL fan translations done that take the place of Nintendo's localization team. Baphumet Lagoon for the SNES comes to mind right away. The only way any English speaking fan can play Mother 1 and 3 or threw translated roms available freely on the web. But there is more to why I love emulation, and why RPG'S FORCED me in a small way to love it.
       Fast forward to about a year ago. I have been picking up games and systems, here and there for awhile but had just decided to really try and expand my collection. WOW did i ever pick a shitty time to start formally collecting, and after about 6 months I had to completely change how and what I collected. But that is another story. It all ties in though to why I love emulation. Since the explosion in price of any game worth having its impossible to find a good deal on ebay. I refuse to pay retail markup for retro stuff personally. This is based on the 50/50. I am 50% poor, and 50% cheap. I have to be the second as a consequence of the first. I also enjoy the hunt. Finding even 1 game for a great deal makes my day. Sure if I were rich money would be no object, and i would own a $3500.00 sealed copy of Earthbound. But like most normal people I can not even afford the $180 buy it now prices for an Earthbound cart on ebay. I mention this game specifically, because it is a holy grail for me to find in the wild. YES i have played it on an emulator, I have not beaten it however. It is a great game and one that had I owned a SNES back in the day I would have surely at least heard of and rented. I just don't see paying these inflated prices , which are even more inflated for RPGS. SO that is yet another reason I use an emulator. Because there are games which more than likely will never own, and that I really want to play.
     If you are about to mention the wii or xbox virtual console, I do not, and will not own a current gen system. I have a paper in progress explaining my love for the old school and my feeling that the new systems have forgotten where they come from, who they where made for, and why they where fun to begin with. I have no real desire to play any current gen games. I do want to buy another PS2 and get some of the really great RPGS I missed out on the last few years of its life cycle. But new systems are just not my thing.
     I want to mention one other aspect of emulation that many people glass over that I think is really good for the person reviewing games and/or doing any real academic work involving classic video game architecture or programing, that is the massive number of tools that come with many modern emulators. Just the simple function of "save states" is such a time saving device for a video game reviewer, or competitor. Say I am recording footage for a video about MadeUPGame1. I want to show how the pattern of the boss on level two makes him really easy if you execute your jumps perfect from the first jump. I can save my game with the emulators save state function just as I come to the bosses lair. If I miss a jump, I can instantly reload the save instead of having to play the first level over to make it to the level two boss. Just that is such a time saver. Sure if you are using it to beat bosses, its technically cheating. I usually use save states to be able to actually stop playing the game, not to cheat on a battle. Its just hand to be able to stop at any time and not have to worry about finding a damn save point. It may just be me but sometimes its just too fuckin long between save points in many RPGS and you never know when you enter an area if you are going to be locked into 30 minutes of games play with no save point in between. I HATE THAT, sure saving around every corner can make an extremely challenging game much much more strategic and the odds can deffinatly be stacked in the players favor. ANY of the Baldur's Gate Series can be made much easier by slowing the pace down with constant pausing and saving after each and every battle or room progressed in a dungeon.
      My point is emulation is not some devil that a small minority of militant gamers would have you believe. With a few goodies from www.retrousb.com you could be playing emulated games WITH your real console controllers in no time. So that takes away the old "can't play on a keyboard" excuse.
     So thats it I like it if you don't feel free to comment. ANYBODY please comment. lol Give me some feedback.