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Post by gliptitude on Jun 15, 2013 13:29:00 GMT -5
At the time it was quite a gamble and could have had a much different outcome. Thankfully, the cards all fell in Nintendo's favor. So I guess really I should be grateful that the US version of the machine had such a clumsy design. Also grateful though that they produced the revised design, (just wish it wasn't as rare $$$). The flip top comparison to the vcr, seems to have really helped enhance the notion of the NES as an entertainment system. Along with the oversized game paks, which did not resemble the old way of gaming. Also the RCA output was apparently part of the "entertainment" and "vcr" concept. I recall appreciating this a lot in recent years since most of my televisions have RCA video input on the front of the TV and because RCA jacks are commonly available and laying around my house. What I did not realize though is that this actually produced a better quality signal/image. The lines on the screen that you mention on the toploader corroborate this, (got my own now and can confirm this myself). A lot of people have modified their NES 101 consoles to have RCA outs, for a better image. xxxx Playing Now: Castelian (NES) Burai Fighter Deluxe (Game Boy) Zantis War of the Worlds 2011 Web Wars
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 15, 2013 15:25:25 GMT -5
I haven't researched this topic independently, but I suspect Nintendo's design alterations for the top-loader were linked to the Super Nintendo release. For one, it's not uncommon for a game company to release a variant of an older console after the newest one has hit shelves: the Atari 2600 Jr., Super Nintendo SNS-101, Sega Genesis 3, and PSone were released well after the initial production run. Also, the NES-101 "dog bone" controller, down to its angled buttons and rounded corners, resembles the SNES standard controller in design. I see the two consoles as companions, and because I'm an SNES collector, I feel an urge to seek out the NES-101 as I feel it would pair better with the SNES.
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Post by gamezone on Jun 15, 2013 16:13:24 GMT -5
I remember when the Top Loader NES was released for the low price of $49.95. My regular toaster NES was still working fine so, no sale. Big mistake, as years later I purchased a used NES-101 for $25.00 with no controller or power supply. Glad it worked.
I usually play on the original SNES as I like the eject button.
Taking a break from Plants vs. Zombies to play Zombies Ate My Neighbors for the Super Nintendo.
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 15, 2013 19:13:49 GMT -5
Zombies Ate My Neighbors is an excellent co-op game. Once in a while, I'll pull it out and try to get through the levels, but I've never been able to get further than a quarter of the way through. The game is easier when played with a friend, but there's still a lot of memorization involved. And in two-player mode, it's absolutely crucial to agree upon certain rules of etiquette. For instance, it's one thing to leave your friend stranded in a hedge maze with a chainsaw-wielding maniac on his heels, but it's another thing when it's happening to you!
I've been playing Borderlands 2 on the Xbox 360. I got a one-year subscription to Xbox Live for my birthday, so the online mode has been taking up a lot of my time.
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Post by VectorX on Jun 15, 2013 19:41:02 GMT -5
Anyone know how Zombies Ate My Neighbors was for the Genesis? I always wanted to play that.
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Post by gamezone on Jun 16, 2013 7:32:04 GMT -5
I have wanted to try the Genesis also. I have read the Sega cart is better then the SNES version in all areas, except sound. To echo Wyldephang, co-op is recommended on the Genesis version. I prefer Genesis for some versions of the same game and other times, I pick the SNES port. From my experience with past Genesis/SNES same game comparisons it is mostly a personal choice decision. It makes it easier when I only have one game for either system instead of both. Then there is no choosing which is better.
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 16, 2013 23:40:49 GMT -5
I've read that the Super Nintendo version is the better of the two, though I can't confirm that from my own experience. This article lauds the performance of the SNES cart in almost every category, while the Video Game Critic reports that some visuals are downgraded on the Genesis version. Ultimately, I'd be happy with either edition, but I'm happy to own the SNES cart and I don't feel a particularly strong urge to track down a Genesis copy.
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Post by gamezone on Jun 17, 2013 4:53:11 GMT -5
Thanks for the reviews, Wyldephang.
I noticed the first mentions the game on the Mega Drive. NSTC is often faster but usually the picture is better in PAL format. Might mean a faster game on the Genesis but even worse picture then described. That is a let down for the Genesis.
The Video Game Critic mentioned briefly what I had read, that the SNES used purple colors instead of red for the Zombie goo. Nintendo seemed to try to make kid friendly games at least until Mortal Kombat II.
I still like to find the Genesis version and see how they compare.
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 19, 2013 23:09:26 GMT -5
Today, I had one of my friends over to play some classic Super Nintendo games and munch on pizza. Lately, we've been trying to play through Donkey Kong Country 2, one of the hardest games in the series, but overall most rewarding in level and art variety. I must admit that each rail cart level gives me a miniature panic attack as I watch obstacles fly by at Mach speeds! By now, these stages must be cemented deeply in DKC folklore as the most frustrating levels in the series, and in DKC2, they're surely in abundance!
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Post by gamezone on Jun 23, 2013 0:03:52 GMT -5
I remember when the first Donkey Kong Country was released, the graphics were outstanding. I have not played DKC2 or DKC3 as much. Still quite amazing to think about, these games were done on a system that was supposed to be inferior to the Playstation. It would be worth a look to see how many SNES were sold because of these games.
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 23, 2013 0:52:31 GMT -5
I remember when the first Donkey Kong Country was released, the graphics were outstanding. I have not played DKC2 or DKC3 as much. Still quite amazing to think about, these games were done on a system that was supposed to be inferior to the Playstation. It would be worth a look to see how many SNES were sold because of these games. I don't have any raw figures, but the first game had a profound impact on Super Nintendo sales. It came at a crucial time, too, as Sega's aggressive advertising campaign had spearheaded the Genesis to the front of the market. In a way, Donkey Kong Country won the 16-bit war for Nintendo, and a lot of people point to the revolutionary graphics and art design to explain Rare's remarkable success. www.ign.com/articles/2009/03/20/genesis-vs-snes-by-the-numberswww.dkvine.com/features/dkchange.html
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Post by gamezone on Jun 23, 2013 1:11:53 GMT -5
Two great articles. Thanks Wyldephang.
Very cool to see single game sales. Mario Kart did not surprise me as a top seller. Starfox seemed a little low. It was highly regarded back in the day.
I've read the creator of Donkey Kong disliked the Donkey Kong Country series. Funny thing is when I play DKC it always makes me want to play the original.
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 24, 2013 3:45:13 GMT -5
Recently, I exhumed my brother's NES from a box of salvage in our garage. Having moved from one house to another four times since the mid-'90s, our old game systems and electronics often got misplaced or broken in the transition. In this case, our NES was found in a cardboard box separate from its power adaptor, RF cable, controller, and games. I took it upon myself to take the console apart and clean each individual component, trying to restore the console to its original working condition.
The most noticeable issue with our NES was its inability to read games on the first try. After plugging in a cartridge and powering on the system, we'd receive only a blinking screen for our efforts. I deduced that the culprit was indeed a worn-out 72-pin connector. So, I used a toothbrush and rubbing alcohol to clean the metal contacts, then used a needle to bend each individual pin in a way that would maximize game-to-console connectivity. I noticed that the locking mechanism for the game tray was not functioning, but as soon as I took out the tray and reset it, everything started to work again. Next, I turned my attention to the games, which had collected quite a bit of dust and grime over the years of neglect. Thankfully, most of the dirt was dislodged with rubbing alcohol, but I'll need to return to these cartridges with some sort of brass cleaner to really polish those pins and optimize performance. So far, my project has yielded a high success rate, and the more problematic games have been set aside to be cleaned further at a later date, possibly with the aforementioned brass cleaner.
We've recovered a little less than half of our complete NES game collection; among the standouts are Crystalis, Castlevania III, and Super Mario Bros. 3. My Mega Man games (1-6) are in my possession, and I'm hoping to find my copies of Dragon Warrior III and TMNT III in storage. My brother's Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros./Duck Hunt, and Double Dragon cartridges are bound to be mixed in with the rest of the games, so at this point, it's just a matter of making time to find them.
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Post by TrekMD on Jun 24, 2013 6:03:46 GMT -5
Sounds like you had a great find in your garage. Cool that you were able to restore the function of the system and the games!
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Post by wyldephang on Jun 25, 2013 1:02:55 GMT -5
Yes, it certainly was a pleasant surprise! I still hope to obtain my own NES console one day; now, at least, I'm confident that I can make some minor repairs if the need arises. Though the NES has been receiving a lot of attention this week, I neglected to mention that a number of other titles besides Borderlands 2 have been occupying my time. On Mondays, I visit my cousins, who live ten minutes south of my house. The youngest three have been molded by my careful hand to embrace the "classic" consoles, especially the Nintendo 64. Generally, we start with WWF WrestleMania 2000 and work our way into GoldenEye or Mario Party before we end the night with a Super Smash Bros. multiplayer marathon, which tends to get very chaotic and noisy. The "Captain Falcon match," as we deemed it, is the traditional method of closing out the night. But if one or two of my cousins stay awake into the late hours, we like to play a few levels of Little Big Planet on the PlayStation 3. At home, I've been enjoying The 7th Saga, an unheralded RPG for the Super Nintendo with a unique twist on the traditional party system: instead of forming a party of three or four characters, players can conceivably make their way through The 7th Saga without recruiting a single ally. This happens to be one of the games I remember renting as a child; therefore, it was one of the games I determined was necessary to own. Nostalgia seems to dictate a lot of my game choices.
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