20c - Gaming the Way it Was

Update on GoW Competition

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:15:00 +0000

Okay, so I'm back from holiday.
Thought I'd give you an update on last months Gears of War competition and how it went.
Sam from Rotorua had an Xmas bonus in his mailbox a couple of weeks ago.
Congrats Sam!

It was quite hard picking the best winning entry, as each entry was really just a personal memory of someones favorite arcade game from the past. So a winner was randomly drawn from all submissions.

I'll post Sam's winning entry (as well as some other selected submissions) soon.
(As they're currently all on my other laptop).

Fake Xbox 360 and PS3

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:23:00 +0000

Why the heck would you drop $200 to $400 on a brand new console when you could get the same thing for a fraction of the price? Oh yeah, I neglected to mention that these alternate universe clones of the Xbox 360 and PS3 are crappy knock-offs from China - and that they only play 8-bit games.

These cheap-o fakes come courtesy of the shady sounding Rodisson Technologies Company, who only ask that you place a minimum wholesale order of 10,000 pieces if you want to get your hands on one of these 8-bit versions of popular modern-day gaming systems. Note that the Xbox 360 fake dons the “Happy 360″ moniker, presumably to help them avoid Microsoft’s lawyers - but I not sure that’s subtle enough. The PS3 clone goes by the name “Play Power 3,” which really isn’t much better.

Each 8-bit fake comes complete with old-school 9-pin joysticks and a light gun, which lead me to believe that the built-in games (all 512 of ‘em) are old Famicom or NES bootlegs. Caveat Emptor and all that.

Maybe you can finally play that game of Duck Hunt you’ve been dying to play on your 360 or PS3.

source: technabob

And while we're on fake Xbox 360's and the festive season - this poor kid's family are evil!

Xmas - Been and Gone

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 06:50:00 +0000

I hope everyone received some tasty gaming goodies in this time of commercial holiness.

While the boxing day sales are still well underway, I figured there would be no point listing all the great deals that are going on at the moment.

However, I will name a few off the top of my head at the moment which I think are worth mentioning.

Kmart has 20% off all games and accessories.
The Warehouse has 25% off Wii software titles.
Harvey Norman were advertising an Xbox 360 Arcade bundle with 3 games for $268.

The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 06:46:00 +0000

Shamelessly ripped from Shoryuken is the unboxing of the upcoming 'official' SF4 joystick.

Imagine playing SSF2T HD with that beauty!

Casebook - Support local game developers

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:21:00 +0000

Casebook, a local Dunedin-based game from developers 'Clocktower Games' was released a few weeks ago.
It's a episodic detective game which revolves around you solving puzzles, and gathering clues.
This is intertwined with full-motion video clips that progress the story.
Your can order the game from the following link.
Let's support local talent. And for $15, there's no excuse not to!

Street Fighter IV Screenshots

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Still just over a month away, but some screenshots to whet your appetite over at Atomic Gamer.

Gamestop Reveals Contents of SF4 Collectors Edition

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:42:00 +0000

GameStop recently revealed what we can expect when purchasing the Collector’s Edition box for Street Fighter 4, and its left a few of us with more questions than answers. Eager CE buyers can expect a copy of the 65 minute Street Fighter 4 Anime movie (on BluRay for ps3 owners!), and a comic-book styled game hint-book. You will also get a limited edition figure with your purchase; Ryu for the ps3 and Viper for the 360. A soundtrack CD is also listed. Lastly, you will recieve 5 downloadable costumes for the characters as a bonus.

Source: Shoryuken

Kmart PS3 Deal

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:39:00 +0000

At Kmart you can bag yourself a PS3 80GB, Resistance 2, and a PS3 wireless headset, all for $699.

And while we're at it - I happened to notice a cool Super Mario Kart slot car set for $39.95 in their toy section.
...erm...yeh!

Bond & Bond Xbox 360 Console Deals

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:08:00 +0000

Only a week to go till Xmas! Then it's over...thank god!

Gears of War Competition Update

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 01:38:00 +0000

Okay - so the recent GoW competition wrapped up about a week ago.
I'm currently in the process of collaborating all of the entries and picking a winner, so if you will bear with me a few more days, I'll have the results posted here shortly.

In the mean time - take a read at this rather interesting article.
Explains the whole deal with the upcoming Ghostbuster game, and the hoops they had to jump through during development of the title.

Angry Video Game Nerd and the CD-i

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:00:00 +0000

A rather amusing look by the Angry Video Game Nerd at the Philips CD-i console and the Nintendo franchise games that appeared on it.
Comes in three parts

Saints Row 2 for PS3 and Xbox 360 - $88.60

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:18:00 +0000

The Warehouse are offering Saints Row 2 for Xbox 360 and PS3 for $88.60. Which is the cheapest I've seen this title.

Playstation 3, Selected Game, and The Dark Knight Bundle

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:13:00 +0000

The Warehouse are offering an 80GB PS3, free game, and The Dark Knight on Blu-Ray for $739.

More PS3 Deals leading up to Xmas

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 03:12:00 +0000

This time it's Noel Leeming.
PS3 80Gb Console with Call of Duty 5 and one other selected game. $749.99

Transformers Box Set DVD

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:42:00 +0000

Mighty Ape have listed the COMPLETE Generation 1 Transformers Box Set for only $74.95!
AND Free delivery by the looks of things! That's 17 discs of freakin' 80's awesomeness!

Bond & Bond - Playstation 3 $699

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:30:00 +0000

Bond & Bond have a deal going at the moment whereby you can pick yourself up a 80gb PS3, and a selected game for $699. Which is just in time for Xmas no less!
This is quite similar to the recent Warehouse deal as well.

UPDATE: Turns out that the deal also includes one free Platnum title as well! That's an awesome deal!

Street Fighter IV Collectors Edition Pack

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:42:00 +0000

Capcom has detailed the release of a European and Australian Street Fighter IV Collectors Edition pack, to launch alongside the standalone game on February 20 next year.

The pack will be available for PS3 and 360, and will include the following contents, along with the game itself, all snugly housed in a classic Street Fighter scene outer case:
- Limited edition figurines of all time favourite character Ryu and the all new character Crimson Viper, positioned within the familiar settings of the 'crowded Chinese downtown'.
- A bonus disc containing a feature length HD quality anime movie, created specially for the launch of Street Fighter IV and a selection of the best game trailers to date.
- A mini strategy guide created in the style of a comic art book detailing the moves and biographies of four of the new characters to the series; Viper, Abel, El Fuerte and Rufus
- Exclusive downloadable game content

source: cvg

Playstation 3 - $699 with Free Game

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:07:00 +0000

Best deal on the PS3 I've seen for a while.

80GB console for $699 at The Warehouse, plus you get to pick one title from a selection of games for free!

Arcade Memories - Kiki Kai Kai

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:09:00 +0000

What has to be purely nostalgia reasons, I bring you my look into the Taito arcade game, Kiki Kai Kai.
KKK (oh, what a poor acronym that turned out to be) was a staple in my arcade diet. It was a regular in my local Fish 'n Chip shop, and would go away only to return many times through-out my childhood.
To start off with, to play this game at any adult age would have to be one of those "WTF!??" moments. Of course, no child would ever question the design or ideas used in the game. It just was and is.
Okay, to elaborate somewhat, let me explain to you, how I understand it, what the game is about.

In the beginning you are standing by what looks to be some sort of fireplace. Fanning your fireplace with a pair of nun-chucks. Or a fan. One of the two, I'm not quite sure.

Suddenly, a boat full of medieval Japanese guys appear in the black ether in front of you. They are promptly hoisted away by what looks to be tiny babies in white jumpsuits. I'm guessing this is against their will.

This is now where the game starts. It's a top-down shoot-em up in the same vain as Mercs (only not so pretty).
At your disposal you have your pair of nun-chucks (or a fan, whatever you want to call it) for close quarter combat. Or you have odd card-like projectiles for taking down enemies at a distance. Power-ups are scattered across the way which can improve the distance your projectiles go, or the size and strength. These power-ups can be obtained by successfully shooting a group of flying cherries (or roasted chestnuts, it's down to interpretation), or taking out the flames in the stationary lanterns which are placed through-out the landscape.

To say the enemies are odd would have to be an understatement.
Let me just list for you the baddies that you face in this game. Or at least what they would seem to be on the screen.
Your main foe is the ghost. A fairly easy enemy to overcome, until the later stages when they start shooting you. You also have hopping chickens, deadly flying watermelons which shoot from wooden wells, spinning umbrellas, yellow smiley faces, and heads on a stick which shoot out from their house. If you take too long and don't move forward quickly enough, skeleton's will rise up from the ground and come after you. Of course.
And that's just a select few of the oddities you will face!

At the end of each level you have a boss battle. Now, there's a trick to killing the first two bosses in this game. The first boss you simply hang to the right-hand side corner, firing as fast as you can while dodging the hot ashes he fires at you.
The second is even easier.
You just stand in the top-left hand corner and fire! He can't touch you! A good example of this is in the screenshot to the right.
It's funny to think that I found out about these little tricks from watching some other kid play this game in the Fish 'n Chip shop. God knows where he found them out. This was well before the internet could be found in most homes!
After those two boss battle's you're own your own! As I have yet to find any trick to kill them.
Once you destroy a boss, you rescue one of the guys from the boat featured in the intro sequence.

The game isn't without it's flaws however.
The main gripe is with the collision detection. It's really bad. Enemies can be almost another body length away from you yet will still register a hit. Thus losing a life.
Another really bad design flaw is in the special orbs that you can collect. Hidden about the landscape are magical orbs that, when activated (pressing both buttons simultaneously), will do one of two things. Either freeze enemies around you, or destroy all enemies on the screen. It depends on the colour of the orb. The problem with this however is that death in the game is quick and swift. You have no forwarning something is about to happen. You'd need super-human reaction time. And because finding orbs is very difficult and very rare, you don't want to go wasting your special magical orbs without proper provocation.
Which leads me onto my next gripe. Any precious orbs you collect are taken from you in death!
So you may have 3 orbs stashed away, but one stupid ghost touches you and they're all gone!

During the game over sequence you are presented with a 'number match' that displays a randomly generated number. The purpose of this, still to this day, confuses me. As it doesn't affect anything.

The difficulty level is extremely high. Even 20 years on I find it difficult to get past the 4th stage. In fact, I don't think I've ever beaten the 5th. And the only reason I get that far is because I remember the patterns of some enemies.

While my explanation of the background story may be somewhat 'interpretive', you have to remember that the arcade game didn't come with a backstory or instruction manual . Because of this I would recommend that the curious read the Wikipedia link on the game.
It is also interesting to point out that a sequel/remake was created for the SNES. However, it was no longer called 'Kiki Kai Kai', but 'Pocky & Rocky'. In this you could select from the original character, and what appears to be a raccoon.

Remakes of the original game were included in various Taito game compilations on the Playstation and PSP.
It was even released on NES back in the day!

So the legacy lives on in this slightly obscure, yet enjoyable top down scroller!

Warehouse Friends & Family Discount

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:24:00 +0000

No gaming deals on this one, and I only included it here because there is 20% off Transformers toys. Transformers are awesome!
This time however it looks as though they don't mind if you make it available for download.
Runs for the 3rd and 4th of December.

Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Initial Impressions

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:46:00 +0000

Okay, so SSF2THD (what a friggin' mouthful!) is out.

Well, kinda.

While Xbox 360 owners are plonking down their 1200 MS Points to download the 300-odd MB game, poor ol' PSN users have to wait a couple of weeks for the 'localised' version. This is only for those in the UK and Australasia mind you.
Retarded? Very.
Anyway, I downloaded this puppy during the weekend, ready for some old skool 'ha-do-ken' action!
SSF2THD has been in the making now for quite some time. And rightly so. The whole game has been re-done from the ground up, using artwork drawn by the guys at Udon Entertainment.
Udon are quite well known as the guys who do the popular Street Fighter comics (amongst other things).
However, if this new-age HD artwork isn't your cup of tea, the game offers players the choice to have the original game with the original sprites.
But that's not why we bought the game right?

Some of the joystick combinations have also been re-jiggered to allow more easy access to particular moves. For example, you can now actually perform Guile's super move. Somewhat.

Now, it may seem odd, but these new sprites can also hinder the experience somewhat.
Hear me out. While these new graphics are very, very well presented. And seeing your favorite character PROPERLY represented on screen, rather than a pixelated mass of sprites, is a sight to behold! The problem herein lies with the animation of those characters. Because the game mechanics are (essentially) the same, and only the graphics are re-done, the frames of animation are exactly the same as the original. Which in some cases are only 2-4 frames of animation. This can make for some odd-looking, highly detailed sprites. It's like watching a flipbook (albeit with fantastic artwork).

Players can compete with each other over Xbox Live (and the PSN...eventually).
If you're like me, and have no-one to play with, this is by far the best way to play.
Provided you can find someone with a decent ping. Which here in NZ can be quite difficult thanks to the pants way XBL finds players (some of us live OUTSIDE America Microsoft!).
But, man, once you get a good game going, it can bring some competitive emotions that you didn't have since playing SF2 in the arcades. Only you're slightly less sweaty by the end of it. But I put that down to the fact you can't see the person you're playing against. You don't need to worry about someone seeing your school boy ego get smashed.

The XBox controller is a pain-in-the-ass to use however (and I'd imagine the same could be said for the Dual Shock 3 for PS3). Serious players however will already have their 6-button joystick ready in the wings. And I wouldn't be surprised if we saw more of these on our regular gaming shelves very soon thanks to the upcoming release of Street Fighter IV.
However, some people can get VERY serious about their joystick choice!

Ignoring my pet peeve with the animation (or lack thereof), this game is definitely worth the small price to pay (which I think is about $20NZ-odd) for any SF2 fan!

Something you don't see every day

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:49:00 +0000

A Sega Dreamcast PC with Blu-ray!

Discount Day at Bond & Bond

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:28:00 +0000

I have a friends & family discount email for anyone who wants to get in touc h with me.
The deal is cost + 10% + GST.
While this is nothing on a Xbox 360 or PS3, you can pick up some good deals on games!
Only for tomorrow (27/11).

Arcade Fighter News Round-up

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:27:00 +0000

Games Radar reviews Street Fighter IV arcade version
IGN reviews SSF2T HD for 360 and PS3
No SSF2T HD for UK PSN users this week. No word on whether or not this affects our territory.
Games Radar have both the DC and MK stories available to view from Mortal Kombat vs. DC Superheroes. Spoiler Territory however!
Every Mortal Kombat Fatality Ever! Thus far at least...

Console Deals Before Xmas

noreply@blogger.com (20c) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 21:47:00 +0000

List of bargains to be had:

EB Games: Xbox 360 Pro Console with 3 Free Games (Lego Indiana Jones, Kung-Fu Panda, and Gears of War) - $448
EB Games: Playstation 3 with one free game (Resistance 2, Abba, LBP, or Motorstorm 2) - $748
Dick Smith Electronics: Various Xbox 360 console deals, including clearance system.
The Warehouse: Playstation 3 with one free game (Resistance 2, Abba, Singstar, LBP, or Motorstorm 2) - $775