RadarScope1
Member
Did you buy your FM from Solaris? That's fast shipping.
NES/Famicom Appreciation Thread
- Thread starter Teknoman
- Start date
Did you buy your FM from Solaris? That's fast shipping.
I have some treats for you guys. An 11-page Super Mario Bros. 3 Survival Guide from EGM #10 and #11 (May and June 1990). Plus some articles on NES related technology.
1.) The various MMC chips which I've always known about thanks to this article.
2.) The Power Glove which everyone knows about, but what I did not know was there was another, unreleased version called the Turbo Sport.
3.) The 4-player NES Satellite. A similar device, the NES Four Score, was released later.
SM3 Survival Guide will be up soon.
Here it is!
1.) The various MMC chips which I've always known about thanks to this article.
2.) The Power Glove which everyone knows about, but what I did not know was there was another, unreleased version called the Turbo Sport.
3.) The 4-player NES Satellite. A similar device, the NES Four Score, was released later.
SM3 Survival Guide will be up soon.
Here it is!
New page, repost:
*** Here's the voting link! Click through to vote! Remember you can only vote once. ***
Our completed list for February 2016 voting is:
*** Here's the voting link! Click through to vote! Remember you can only vote once. ***
Our completed list for February 2016 voting is:
1. Startropics (Nintendo)
2. Renegade (Technos)
3. Trog (Acclaim)
4. TMNT (Ultra/Konami)
5. Shatterhand (Jaleco)
*** Here's the voting link! Click through to vote! Remember you can only vote once. ***
StarTropics is an action-adventure video game released by Nintendo in 1990 for the NES. Unlike most of Nintendo's games, it was never released or intended to be released in Japan. It was released only in North America and Europe, although designed by Japanese designers living in the United States. It was produced, written and directed by Genyo Takeda of Nintendo Integrated Research & Development (who also developed the Punch-Out!! series).
Startropics Wikipedia entry
Startropics Wikipedia entry
2. Renegade (Technos)
Renegade is an immediate technological predecessor to Double Dragon, and Nekketsu Kōha Kunio-kun, and is the inaugural game in the Kunio-kun series (which includes Super Dodge Ball and River City Ransom). The NES version, developed in-house by Technos and released in 1987 by Taito in North America, is a strong departure from the original arcade game.
Renegade Wikipedia entry
Renegade Wikipedia entry
3. Trog (Acclaim)
Trog is an arcade game developed by Midway Games and released in 1990. In the game, players control dinosaurs and must collect eggs onscreen while being pursued by cavemen called "trog" (named after the word troglodyte). The NES version, due to its limitations, was scaled down drastically. The arcade version supports up to four players at a time, while the NES version only supports two (only Bloop and Spike are playable, Rex and Gwen were omitted). Much like many NES games at the time, the home versions box art was contracted out to a different company and did not use the arcade game's art.
Trog's Wikipedia entry
Trog's Wikipedia entry
4. TMNT (Ultra/Konami)
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles[2] is a side-scrolling platform game for the Nintendo Entertainment System released by Konami (under the Ultra Games imprint in the USA and the equivalent PALCOM brand in Europe/Australia) in 1989. Loosely based on the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, being released after the show's second season, it is notably one of the first video games based on the property alongside the arcade game (also developed by Konami). which was also released in 1989.
TMNT Wikipedia entry
TMNT Wikipedia entry
5. Shatterhand (Jaleco)
Shatterhand is a side-scrolling action game for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Natsume and published by Jaleco in North America in 1991 and in Europe in 1992. Shatterhand was originally released by Angel (Bandai) in Japan in 1991 as a licensed game for the Family Computer based on the live-action superhero series Super Rescue Solbrain (特救指令ソルブレイン Tokkyū Shirei Soruburein?).
Shatterhand Wikipedia entry
Shatterhand Wikipedia entry
Sounds like the last level really is a bitch though. Fine with me.
Cool, sounds nice, can't wait to play it. And yes, you are a lucky one.
elmalloc
Member
I did. Check this. I ordered on 1/3 (Sunday). I live in Ohio. Tuesday AM I had it in my hands. It got into Ohio on Monday. Similarly, Peagles sent me some Blinking Light Wins from New Zealand that got here in record time. In that case though, it landed in USA before it took off in NZ (went back in time, lol).
Someone in Cleveland shipping me something to Cleveland takes 3 days - no joke. It goes to PA first. There are reasons the USPS is going down the hole, what type of business practice is a city to city delivery taking 3 days priority mail! They could probably put the package in a cannon and get it to me faster (with a parachute and GPS coordinates). USPS needs to start using drones for deliver of packages under 1lb.
While retro gaming cables still hasn't shipped the item I ordered at the same time. I don't understand their delay, are they making the cables by hand? I could have ordered from Solaris, but they're only JP21. Sucks to essentially have all your equipment except cables, I am the impatient nerdy bastard (INB).
They were talking about (or might still be) closing the USPS office here in Buffalo (which is big), having mail sent from Buffalo go all the way to Rochester, then come back. It makes 0 sense to me.
elmalloc
Member
In a couple of the close up FM shots, I seem to notice ringing around the image - similar to what happens when you turn the sharpness up too high on your TV (e.g. it should be zero or whatever is the default that doesn't attempt to sharpen or soften the image via processing).
I noticed it in RGBLife's youtube video when comparing RGB modded mini SNES FM shots to the non-mini 1-chip SNES RGB renditions. The 1-chip revision 3 seemed to not have the very slight ringing that the mini 1-chip FM had, it might just be me noticing that in comparison shots though. Otherwise color and clarity detail seemed similar between the 1-chip revision 3 and mini RGB mod.
The hi-def NES I have exhibits no ringing, probably because it's digital to digital. I haven't plugged my FM yet, I'm pretty sure I'll be happy based on everyone's comments/reviews - but it is taking a high quality analog signal (RGB) and converting it to digital (HDMI) so I wonder if that conversion might cause what I'm seeing there in review comparison pictures.
I wonder if kevtris or anyone else could figure out how to do digital to digital on the SNES like they figured out with the NES (skipping FM). The hi-def NES is truly a beautiful thing.
Triple Dash
Neo Member
Using Christmas money I picked up Rescue Rangers 2, Adventure Island, and Double Dragon this week, hitting the 100th NES/Famicom game mark. In hindsight, I don't know if this means my days of collecting are winding down or are just beginning. lol
Am glad I got Rescue Rangers 2 out of the way as that's the last 8bit game I want with that kind of price tag, as all the rare Taito titles are significantly cheaper for the Famicom/LMAO Flintstones. Probably could have gotten the former for Famicom, but I thought it'd be weird playing a story heavy game based on a western cartoon in Japanese.
Am glad I got Rescue Rangers 2 out of the way as that's the last 8bit game I want with that kind of price tag, as all the rare Taito titles are significantly cheaper for the Famicom/LMAO Flintstones. Probably could have gotten the former for Famicom, but I thought it'd be weird playing a story heavy game based on a western cartoon in Japanese.
InfiniteNine
Rolling Girl
Decided on getting a Twin Famicom later in the month pending some things. 
Whats the best way to go about getting it RGB modded? I'd do it myself but I've never even touched a soldering iron.
Whats the best way to go about getting it RGB modded? I'd do it myself but I've never even touched a soldering iron.
ToastyFrog
Inexplicable Treasure Hate
In fact, I believe they do make their cables by hand. Most of the stuff they sell is way off the beaten path and doesn't exist in mass-manufactured form.
^That's actually correct. The reputable scart cable sellers will also make custom cables if you have specific requirements.
Unless it's something only Retro Gaming Cables UK has, order from Retro Console Accessories on ebay. Quicker and a little cheaper.
USPS is great sometimes and randomly awful at others. I had a small package (game controller) sit at a post office in a distant and nasty part of the city for no good reason before making its way to the nearby post office two weeks later. Happened again recently but only stayed there a couple of days that time. Then there's the weekend delivery guy, a grumpy old man who has the nasty habit of pretending to ring the buzzer and leaving missed delivery notes. I was watching my delivery status like a hawk the day I had a CMVS in the mail and saw "missed delivery" minutes later. I ran down and caught him before he drove off. He was leaving a package unattended on the sidewalk of a house for anyone to steal. In my case I live in a building so he refuses to even come in. I confronted him and he did a pathetic job of lying through his teeth.
Oh almost forgot about when I ordered a Duo-R from doujindance. My local office marked the package as undeliverable - bad address or something, on a Friday delivery attempt. I repeatedly try calling in advance for help and always get a busy signal -- I come to find on negative Yelp reviews that the local post office leaves the customer line off the hook to avoid answering it! Figured it'll be at the post office anyway, standard after one missed delivery. Saturday morning comes, I'm at the post office... it's still out, marked undeliverable, sitting on the same truck! Postal worker tells me to come back after 12 and the truck will return then, guaranteed. Well that was a lie. After returning and waiting 30+ minutes at the now unmanned pickup window with a few other angry people yelling, banging on the window, ringing the assistance buzzer nonstop... someone shows up to tell me the morning postal worker basically made shit up and I had to come back Monday morning. Took my info down and made a note for my package to be held -- I was skeptical but she came through and I got my stuff as promised. The box itself was flawlessly packaged and could not have been more clearly labeled. Why? I dunno, it's the US post office.
Unless it's something only Retro Gaming Cables UK has, order from Retro Console Accessories on ebay. Quicker and a little cheaper.
USPS is great sometimes and randomly awful at others. I had a small package (game controller) sit at a post office in a distant and nasty part of the city for no good reason before making its way to the nearby post office two weeks later. Happened again recently but only stayed there a couple of days that time. Then there's the weekend delivery guy, a grumpy old man who has the nasty habit of pretending to ring the buzzer and leaving missed delivery notes. I was watching my delivery status like a hawk the day I had a CMVS in the mail and saw "missed delivery" minutes later. I ran down and caught him before he drove off. He was leaving a package unattended on the sidewalk of a house for anyone to steal. In my case I live in a building so he refuses to even come in. I confronted him and he did a pathetic job of lying through his teeth.
Oh almost forgot about when I ordered a Duo-R from doujindance. My local office marked the package as undeliverable - bad address or something, on a Friday delivery attempt. I repeatedly try calling in advance for help and always get a busy signal -- I come to find on negative Yelp reviews that the local post office leaves the customer line off the hook to avoid answering it! Figured it'll be at the post office anyway, standard after one missed delivery. Saturday morning comes, I'm at the post office... it's still out, marked undeliverable, sitting on the same truck! Postal worker tells me to come back after 12 and the truck will return then, guaranteed. Well that was a lie. After returning and waiting 30+ minutes at the now unmanned pickup window with a few other angry people yelling, banging on the window, ringing the assistance buzzer nonstop... someone shows up to tell me the morning postal worker basically made shit up and I had to come back Monday morning. Took my info down and made a note for my package to be held -- I was skeptical but she came through and I got my stuff as promised. The box itself was flawlessly packaged and could not have been more clearly labeled. Why? I dunno, it's the US post office.
elmalloc
Member
I had no idea how much 16bit games were going for. I paid $110 for chrono trigger and $60 for Final fantasy 3, loose. Sigh.
Triple Dash
Neo Member
Learning how to import definitely helps, and it's even easier to do with 16bit systems as you'll only need a Game Genie at the most.
The SNES just doesn't interest me as much personally, compared to the NES the best/most memorable titles for the system is smaller, have more ports, and are generally in a higher price bracket (though I don't think they break the $300 mark like the NES). Once I'm done with the NES I'm probably going to start looking more into the Master System (Golden Axe Warrior) and the Genesis (MUSHA).
elmalloc
Member
I'm OK with buying the original cartridges, for sentimental value. It's something to see Final fantasy 2 sitting in the SNES and playing it on an original SNES controller in front of a TV.
I totally skipped the Genesis era (nintendo fanboy) - I'm sure I missed out on some good games. Now with a Framemeister, maybe I can take advantage and go back to that time.
I see retro gaming taking off now. It took us 15 minutes to get a battlefront game in over the christmas holidays (you have to sign up for 2 accounts) - and my cousin made a comment about how difficult it was to play a game nowadays. Then it reminded me of NES. Put the cartridge in, press start, play.
My nephew is 1.5, not sure when they'll let him play a game, he can't watch TV yet. But I will force ihm to play Mario 1 as his first game. He did play some yoshi's yarn on wii-u at christmas, He pressed a button and looked at the TV and threw an egg. I'm pretty sure he knew that the button press was causing an affect on the TV based on his action. It got me excited thinking of the games I can show him, lol.
I've been developing some Oculus Rift (simple) VR games on the side, and playing NES games with only 2 buttons helps me get into the mindset of coding simpler games with limited input and how they can still be fun. I actually feel like I could code an Adventures of Lolo game in VR and it would be fun. Imagine looking to your side and being frozen by Medusa looking right at you.
That's not nice!
I've seen kids his age navigating ipads and playing simple games with ease, so yeah, they know. Won't be until he's 4-6 that he discovers what he likes and it won't be SMB. One of my little cousins went through a big Sonic phase and none of that included the Genesis games us older gamers consider best. The Mario games they prefer are on Wii and Wii U --they enjoy but definitely care less for the ones on NES, SNES, etc. If they're still gaming in their teens, that's when they will really start looking back at the older stuff with real interest. Don't force it.
NOLA_Gaffer
Banned
Where do you guys like to go "Old TV" shopping? I'm thinking of picking up a 13"-19" tube set to play my NES and SNES on, plus an eventual modded Famicom in the future.
Thanks for all the Framemeister-comments from my answer above! Seems like it still should be my first purchase of the year
About kids playing old games, I just showed my five year old what games I played when I was his age recently, and he kinda dug it:
My tv is on the floor and its generally messy since we are still trying to renovate the apartment (and hasnt really started on the living room yet). I guess the only purchase before the framemeister, is a decent bench for my TV that can hold all the consoles
Edit: The terrible picture quality is down to my old phone, not the excellent rgb-mod from fellow Nes Appreciation thread member Baphomet!
About kids playing old games, I just showed my five year old what games I played when I was his age recently, and he kinda dug it:
My tv is on the floor and its generally messy since we are still trying to renovate the apartment (and hasnt really started on the living room yet). I guess the only purchase before the framemeister, is a decent bench for my TV that can hold all the consoles
Edit: The terrible picture quality is down to my old phone, not the excellent rgb-mod from fellow Nes Appreciation thread member Baphomet!
sixteen-bit
Member
GAF dads be like
Haha, to be fair, we mostly play on the Wii U together. His favorite is Lego City Undercover!
Chittagong
Gold Member
Thanks for all the Framemeister-comments from my answer above! Seems like it still should be my first purchase of the year
About kids playing old games, I just showed my five year old what games I played when I was his age recently, and he kinda dug it:
My tv is on the floor and its generally messy since we are still trying to renovate the apartment (and hasnt really started on the living room yet). I guess the only purchase before the framemeister, is a decent bench for my TV that can hold all the consoles
Edit: The terrible picture quality is down to my old phone, not the excellent rgb-mod from fellow Nes Appreciation thread member Baphomet!
I love the look of a Super Famicom running American carts. Did you do the hole yourself?
RadarScope1
Member
Totally agree with this. My nephews are both way into games and in recent years the oldest one has been getting into retro stuff. He bought a SNES and Dreamcast at yard sales. I've given Mega Man X and Super Metroid as gifts.
Its actually a 50/60hz modded Pal Super Nintendo, not a Super Famicom. I bought it from a friend here in Norway, and he supposedly bought it from the US, so that Super Nintendo have been around. So unfortunately not done it myself. The look of it is cool for sure though!
That is some amazing gifts!
RadarScope1
Member
I'm the cool uncle.
elmalloc
Member
Is AGDQ on now live? oh man they started again, awesome.
Ah I've been meaning to get a copy of that, preferably CIB because of those cool Namco boxes. But it is way more expensive on ebay than it has any right to be.
Not stupid expensive but more than it is worth IMO.
Ah I've been meaning to get a copy of that, preferably CIB because of those cool Namco boxes. But it is way more expensive on ebay than it has any right to be.
Not stupid expensive but more than it is worth IMO.
They're great, aren't they? I don't have that many, but they look really good. I want at least the weird Famicom Star Wars game to add to my collection.
Indeed they are. They look great together. I have about 20 I think but most of them are really cheap but still decent titles, because I got a bit obsessed about getting more of them once I bought my first one lol.
I need to pick up at least Metro Cross and the aforementioned Star Wars from the series, but I don't want to buy games I know I won't be playing. I'd buy Wagan Land if it weren't for the stupid word game puzzles.
sixteen-bit
Member
Metro Cross' music theme is so catchy
RadarScope1
Member
I am now through 19 episodes of Chrontendo. Crazy to think I've watched like 20+ hours of Famicom impression videos... lol. One cool thing is that I am now up to the very day of my introduction to the NES: July 10, 1987. That's my good childhood buddy's b-day and the NES was a gift that year. I'd never even heard of it before that. It's wild to think of all the software that was out there on the platform before I'd ever seen it -- especially considering much of the best was yet to come. Of course, I'm looking at four years of lifespan to this point, not just two (or one and a half more accurately).
Interestingly, Doki Doki Panic was released on that date. Been wanting to get that and now there's no doubt I have to.
Interestingly, Doki Doki Panic was released on that date. Been wanting to get that and now there's no doubt I have to.
Ive watched the whole series...twice. Dont want to count how many hours that is honestly.
RadarScope1
Member
Is it finished? I guess I've just assumed he's still working on it.
RadarScope1
Member
Fuck, so Dr. Sparkle is the JRR Martin of retro gaming? Dammit I want the whole thing!
IrishNinja
Member
I've been developing some Oculus Rift (simple) VR games on the side, and playing NES games with only 2 buttons helps me get into the mindset of coding simpler games with limited input and how they can still be fun. I actually feel like I could code an Adventures of Lolo game in VR and it would be fun. Imagine looking to your side and being frozen by Medusa looking right at you.
oh god, yes please
ah cool, kinda wanna play that now!
yeah, his work's through, and his turbo series is good too - as a sega fanboy though, the guy's commentary is terrible, haha
InfiniteNine
Rolling Girl
Realized I played Tower of Druaga before through the Namco Museum disk when I was like 7. lol I'm going to pick up a cart when I get my Famicom later in the month for old times sake.
Re-played Ikari 3: the Rescue. Holy shit is it as bad as I remember. I don't know why but almost every single game put out by SNK on the NES was terrible. The sole exceptions would be Chrysalis and Baseball All Stars (I think). Every other game is terrible. You can excuse how terrible the first Ikari game on the NES because SNK outsourced but the 2nd and 3rd games are just as bad.
The 3rd game has great graphics but it's a top down Beat 'em Up with horrible hit detection and it basically boils to just jump kicking everything and hope enemies get hit. The few times the game becomes a top down Shooter is when it starts to get at least decent but aside from that there's no redeeming qualities.
POW has the same concept as Ikari 3 but it's at least a little better. POW isn't very good either though.
The 3rd game has great graphics but it's a top down Beat 'em Up with horrible hit detection and it basically boils to just jump kicking everything and hope enemies get hit. The few times the game becomes a top down Shooter is when it starts to get at least decent but aside from that there's no redeeming qualities.
POW has the same concept as Ikari 3 but it's at least a little better. POW isn't very good either though.
davidwhangchoi
Member
if anyone could beat P.O.W. in the arcades, i would bow down in awe.
i don't how anyone can play ikari warriors without 360 rotational sticks. lot of the strategy required those joysticks, (beat ikari 1 in a quarter) couldn't for the life of me get used the nes version without it.
The thing is; a top down shooter can work on the NES. There's Super C that has 2 levels exactly like that and it plays fine. Then there's another game called Heavy Barrel (also an arcade port) and it plays absolutely fine. In fact, I'd say Heavy Barrel is very underrated and a must play if you like top down shooters. Then there's Gun Smoke which is along the same lines.
But Ikari Warriors, all three games on the NES are terrible.
davidwhangchoi
Member
agree with you 100% w/ gun smoke. it had the perfect scheme with B, A firing one direction respectively ala side arms/section Z
and simultaneously pressed, fired vertical.
i played ikari 1+2 on nes and felt 2 victory road was a bit reasonable to control as they adapted the sword so you don't have to manually swing it via rotation to deflect bullets.
IIRC the game allowed static angles (very foggy but i believe i was able to strafe staying vertical. but i can't be for sure)
Ikari 1 was very strategic. that needed diagonal strafing. or it was impossible to proceed without dying. (no ABBA bull-rush)
.
the area with:
-the stone heads that fire arrows horizontally,
-while enemies on the roof tops drop red grenades:
-assumed you're equipped with
F, L, bullets (B wasn't necessary)
the game in that area forced players out of a tank and go on foot using strafe angles w/ F,L as the enemies were nested @ top far corners as you advance in an S pattern counter clockwise.
layout of the stoneheads and enemies didn't allow players to shoot straight.
i tried to do this on nes and agree it wasn't a great port. got so mad i just said F' it, just plow through it mindlessly.
Heavy Barrel (data east coin-op) level design was a bit more forgiving than ikari. I
i never played the nes version but i believe you it's probably good enough to play
super C was great, still holds up today..
those top boards felt fast paced more like Mercs or Commando and agree no need for a 360 rotational stick =)
I never knew about the NES Satellite, and only vaguely remember reading about NES wireless (in this thread I think).
RadarScope1
Member
My ghetto retro setup. Better than collecting games and never playing them, I guess.
Also, Rygar is weird.
Also, Rygar is weird.