tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89596087735179589562011-04-21T23:04:08.752-05:00All about video games from 16 bits back.Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.comBlogger561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-12604148924057115172009-03-30T22:20:00.002-05:002009-03-30T22:24:16.137-05:00

We've moved!Pacing the Cage is now available at a new Web address, http://ptcgaming.wordpress.com. There, you will find all of the archived blogs, as well as some updated information. You can even update your RSS feed to be quickly notified of future blog updates.Thanks for your continued support!

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-285914432340795732009-01-16T09:52:00.002-06:002009-01-16T09:58:10.100-06:00

Hello everyone,I've decided to take a break from updating Pacing the Cage for awhile in order to dedicate more of my time to work on some side projects, along with my everyday "9 to 5." I will be checking e-mails for feedback periodically but most likely not every day, so if you e-mail me don't be discouraged if I don't reply right away.I'm not sure when I'll start blogging on here again, but

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-69296010022937375572008-12-27T12:07:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.100-06:00

If you've never played (or even heard of) the original "Street Fighter," you're not missing much. And yeah, that's Ryu vs. Sagat, old-school style.Capcom's first foray into what would blossom into the explosion of a gaming genre back in 1987 was, well, clunky. That's the best way I can describe the original "Street Fighter." By saying it's "clunky."I mean, the controls are about as responsive as

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-87346892351808498722008-12-26T17:27:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.100-06:00

In his early glory, Solid Snake wasn't quite as appealing as he is in "Guns of the Patriots."First appearance: "Metal Gear" (MX2 computer/NES, 1987/1988)Sometimes it's hard working alone. But when you're in charge of completing a set of covert operations it can be cool (or so I'd like to believe). Well, at least Solid Snake makes it look cool.Long before PlayStation 3 owners were wowed with the

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-61220112292412960982008-12-22T17:56:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.100-06:00

What fighting games looked like before steroid testing.Platform: ArcadeReleased: 1990Developer: Atari GamesBackground: "Pit-Fighter" was, well, I don't know what exactly to call it - strange, risque, a cross between professional wrestling and a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie - I really don't know. Strangely, though, this pre-"Street Fighter II" 2D fighting game was actually revolutionary - it

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-92052978972030131352008-11-18T17:42:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.101-06:00

Hey, aren't you one of the Rough Riders?First appearance: "Sonic the Hedgehog" (Sega Genesis/Master System, 1991)For almost 20 years now, Dr. Robotnik has seen the fall of many of his machines at the hands (and feet) of one Sonic the Hedgehog. But despite his many feeble attempts to destroy Sega's blue mascot, the guy who turned cute little fuzzy animals into robots never seems to give

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-81084838380822408682008-11-17T18:05:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.101-06:00

Everything in "Metal Slug" is bigger and badder. And that's a really good thing.Platform: Neo GeoReleased: 1996Developer: Nazca CorporationBackground: "Metal Slug" is "Contra" on 'roids. That's about the best way I can put it. The guns are bigger, the explosions are bigger and the bosses are bigger in this game, which retained all its arcade glory on SNK's Neo Geo home console. Most of us

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-67947342550375581482008-11-13T17:36:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.101-06:00

Most people remember Sonic's maiden voyage on the 16-bit Sega Genesis (left). But the blue blur also staked his claim on the 8-bit Sega Master System and handheld Sega Game Gear (right). There are several differences between the two, but both are solid in their own right.The year 1991 could be labeled the "Year of Sonic." It was that we saw the debut of Sega's new "spokesperson" on not just one

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-79535648589173341532008-11-05T17:20:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.101-06:00

The cover for the Japanese Famicom Disk System version of "Kid Icarus."First appearance: "Kid Icarus" (Famicom Disk System/NES, 1986/87)For many of us gamers in the 1980s, "Kid Icarus" played second fiddle to "Metroid," which featured Nintendo's bounty-hunting heroine Samus Aran. But "KI" was actually similar to "Metroid" in gameplay, with the hero being an Icarus/Cupid hybrid named Pit (and I'll

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-6249191619935828362008-11-04T09:06:00.000-06:002009-01-16T09:50:41.101-06:00

Here at Pacing the Cage, our staff of one is reaching out to you, the gaming community, for ideas on some new things we can feature in this blog. While we try offer a well-rounded lesson on the history of video games of the past, chances are we're forgetting something. That's where you come in! Feel free to offer up any suggestions you might have on either 1) Ideas for new features or 2) Ways to

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-2698009009053845072008-10-31T17:38:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.101-06:00

Can't you just, like, throw water on her or something?Platform: Sega Genesis/Mega DriveReleased: 1990Developer: Sega of AmericaBackground: In honor of today being Halloween, I decided to review a game with a Halloween theme (I was going to offer a list of Halloween-themed games you could play tonight but ran out of time). There were a few other games I thought of reviewing, including "Doom" (too

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-36498964546853424022008-10-27T17:33:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.101-06:00

Do you have trouble figuring out what people are talking about when they mention First-Generation consoles, Second-Generation consoles, etc.? Well today, I'm going to give you a small (yet very useful) history of video game consoles lesson. Listed below is every video game console generation and some of the most popular consoles you might know of from that time. And if you have one or more of

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-79193867109808543262008-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.102-06:00

Say what you want about how this game looks, but you probably wouldn't have many video games to play at all had this not been created.Platform: ArcadeReleased: 1972Developer: Atari Inc.Background: Anyone who spends hours on end playing Wii Sports, Madden or NBA 2K can thank Allan Alcorn. Why, you ask? Because Alcorn developed "Pong" (even though Magnavox had earler developed a similar game and

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-54721936261212617352008-10-23T12:15:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.102-06:00

Check out this story and video about "Tennis For Two," a video game built 50 years ago. The lab where the original game was built is giving visitors a chance to play the rebuilt version of it.

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-40809554098709841542008-10-22T18:15:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.103-06:00

Not all games require you to suit up as a sword-wielding knight or machine gun-toting mercenary to fend off all enemies in your way. Sometimes, developers take the wacky (and sometimes strange) idea of making the hero, or playable character, at least, an animal. Sometimes these ideas work. Other times - and I'm giving the evil eye to you, Ecco the Dolphin - it doesn't. So here are 10 instances

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-54849447848970955852008-10-21T17:14:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.103-06:00

My money is on the little guy.Platform: ArcadeReleased: 1985Developer: KonamiBackground: Yes folks, there actually were fighting games before "Street Fighter II" came along (There had to be an original "Street Fighter," right?). Now truth be told, compared to SFII and "Mortal Kombat," they weren't that great. One of those early arcade fighters was "Yie Ar Kung-Fu," a Konami contribution to the

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-13033055310006403222008-10-17T17:07:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.103-06:00

Once you hear the music and take a look at the background, there's no doubt as to what game you're playing. The numeral "1" was added to the Famicom Mini version to clearly distinguish this was the first Zelda game in the series.There's a saying I heard several years ago that if you speak two languages you're bilingual, if you speak three you're trilingual and if you speak one you're American.

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-79472853319074112442008-10-14T17:16:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.103-06:00

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Pacing the Cage's first-ever "Retro Video Game Quiz!" Listed below are 10 questions derived from video games of yesteryear, from 16 bits and back. Answers to the questions are listed at the bottom of this post. Good luck, and provide some feedback on subjects you might want to see in the future!1) In the Nintendo Entertainment System version of "Pro

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-39759049241705522122008-10-13T17:48:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.103-06:00

Mega Man 9 returns retro gamers to the style they've always loved. (Screenshot from WiiWare World)It appears video game developers are starting to get it: Many gamers didn't have their first gaming experience via PlayStation, where many times graphics trumped gameplay and fun. That's why Capcom's release Mega Man 9 might seem quite out-of-place for gamers who never picked up an original NES

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-18186025278678117592008-10-07T12:30:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.103-06:00

You've got to love it when dragons and mutant birds collide. (Screenshot courtesy of Sinuate Media)I don't usually write about newer-generation games with enhanced graphics, but today I'm going to break tradition. So sit back for a minute while I introduce you to Freaky Creatures.What is Freaky Creatures you ask? Freaky Creatures is a cross-platform, massively multiplayer online game set to hit

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-15038585697695259142008-10-06T17:47:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.104-06:00

It's the Tecmo Bowl that fits in your pocket...So let's pretend you're sitting in an airport, waiting for a flight that, er, three hours late. The TV has some news program you're not even interested in on, and you've finished thumbing through the magazine you picked up in the terminal. So you turn to your beloved cell phone and one of the games that was preloaded on it (I know these days some

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-35918383807578655292008-09-29T17:57:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.104-06:00

Ever wanted to create to your own video game? Well now you can, thanks to the folks at YoYo Games! By logging on to http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker, you can download YoYo's Game Maker software and make your gaming dreams come true. And the best part... It's FREE! Well, unless you want to unlock some additional functions, then you have to pay to register. But the free version has everything you

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-87622131286468140972008-09-26T18:12:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.104-06:00

Not exactly the knights who say "Nee!"Note: This review was requested by my friend Kevin Johnson, an indie artist in the Greater New Orleans area. Kevin recently created his own Webcomic, "Strange City Heroes," which can be viewed by clicking here.Platform: Nintendo Entertainment SystemReleased: 1986Developer: CapcomBackground: Dust off the 'ol Game Genie, because if you're thinking about

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-39577311717460027962008-09-19T06:08:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.104-06:00

Platform: Nintendo Game Boy, Game Boy Color Released: 1993, 1998 (DX version)The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was one case of a game undergoing a dramatic face lift, and all for the better. Originally released in 1993 to rave reviews on the original monochrome Game Boy, its DX version was released for the Game Boy Color five years later. The DX version not only added full color to the entire

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-61129070115552315532008-09-18T06:13:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.104-06:00

Platform: Sega Genesis Released: 1992Sonic returned to the gaming scene in 1992 with this sequel, and a friend tagging along. Sonic 2 took a successful model and improved upon it, making the game graphically better and faster (if that was even possible). Sonic's second quest to take out Dr. Robotnik introduced us to Tails, his partner in crime (er) and ongoing character in the Sonic series.

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-5273222223802101052008-09-17T06:00:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.104-06:00

Platform: Super Nintendo Released: 1994Donkey Kong Country changed the way we looked at the primate's franchise. He was no longer a single-screened platformer, he wasn't involved with anything to do with Mario and he wasn't designed by his creator, Shigeru Miyamoto. But it still managed to sell more than 9 million copies, making it the third-biggest-selling SNES title ever behind only, well, that

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-71860207853423757572008-09-16T17:46:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:50:41.105-06:00

Platform: Sega Master System Released: 1987Remember back in the days when you'd spend a Saturday night at the local arcade feeding quarters into dozens of video game cabinets to flex your gaming muscles? I sure do, and one of those games I fed numerous quarters to was Out Run. Now Sega Master System owners were lucky - they didn't have to keep feeding quarters to get their Out Run fix. The idea

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-18603804001978795012008-09-15T06:00:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.738-06:00

Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System Released: 1990Raise your hand if you packed into a movie theater to catch the Fred Savage movie The Wizard just to see a glimpse of SMB3. Or do you remember chants of "Mario! Mario!" coming from your TV? It doesn't matter how you were introduced to its 8 bits of glory, because the game speaks for itself. Fantastic graphics, gameplay and sound make this, in

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-5116465132172151802008-09-14T06:00:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.739-06:00

Platform: Commodore Amiga (PC) Released: 1991Ah, Lemmings, those gullible, green-haired beings that jumped, dug and built their way into out homes in the early 1990s. Just about everyone has heard of Lemmings. The idea of the game was to get the required number of Lemmings (drones) to the door at the end of the stage. You helped make your way through the stage by jumping, digging, bashing or

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-47514963266218798822008-09-13T06:00:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.739-06:00

Platform: Atari 2600 Released: 1982Anyone who came within a hundred miles of an Atari 2600 in the early 1980s has heard of Pitfall! It's Activision's adventure featuring Pitfall Harry and his journey through the jungle. You ran either left or right (your choice) dodging snakes, scorpions, rolling barrels and crocodiles as you tried to find all the hidden treasures before the 20-minute timer ran

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-42469977979191762152008-09-08T17:02:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.739-06:00

Ah, Oregon Trail... where famine, learning and video games meet.I remember reading several years ago a magazine article that talked about how children who play video games were better off up top. Gamers were said to be better at problem solving and had better hand-eye coordination compared to those who didn't play video games. And while I hadn't seen any articles on the subject since the

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-29925163519289926982008-08-30T15:01:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.739-06:00

Soccer in the future may look something like this.Platform: Atari 7800 ProSystemReleased: 1984 (original)Developer: Lucasfilm GamesBackground: Ballblazer was the first video game developed by Lucasfilm, originally for Atari's 8-bit systems. It was a 1 or 2-player game in a 3D format. This was actually a futuristic "sports" game with simple rules: You took control of one of the rotofoils and

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-6058715492230573802008-08-29T17:12:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.739-06:00

Early Super Mario Bros. games may have had their little quirks, but we didn't dare ask for a way to fix them.Patches. Patches. More patches. Why does it seem almost every day we're hearing about some kind of glitch (sometimes even a fatal one) that one of the latest, greatest (?) consoles or one of their games is having. Example: Just this morning, I saw a story about how Ninja Gaiden II for the

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-44319970700297317762008-08-28T14:02:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.739-06:00

Hi everyone! I've finished renovating the site (for now), and I invite you to look around at the new Pacing the Cage! There might be some minor tweaks done in the future, but for now things will stay this way. I wanted to make this site easy to read and navigate while giving it a simpler look. Having spent the last few years working in the newspaper industry, I like the look of black copy on

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-42817504390746802112008-08-28T10:46:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.740-06:00

I'm in the process of tweaking the PtC blog, so if the page looks a little funny for the time being you'll know why. The idea is to create a simple, easy to read look. I'll fill everyone in on some of the new changes once they're done. Sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime.

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-160714540507721112008-08-27T17:20:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.740-06:00

The Donkey Kong series represents the best in never getting old.No matter how many sequels some video game companies come out with, many never get old (while some do, but that's another topic for another time). One of the best things about long-running series is being able to see new innovations that show up with each new release. Many famous series are among gaming's biggest sellers and have

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-82219646029898078162008-08-26T17:55:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.740-06:00

When talking about the worst video games of all time, this little nugget always seems to come to mind.You've got to give Howard Scott Warshaw credit. For one infamous game he designed, Warshaw has endured more criticism than for the great Atari 2600 titles he created, including Yars' Revenge and Raiders of the Lost Ark. It took four to five months for him to create Yars' Revenge. He only had

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-21652485763727440962008-08-20T17:56:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.740-06:00

This guy's face has been a center of controversy for more than 20 years.Believe it or not, fighting games did exist prior to Street Fighter II. In fact, the original Street Fighter, though beautiful to look at when it debuted, was mechanically terrible.One of the more popular early fighting games was Karate Champ, born at the arcade and later ported to the NES. Hand-to-hand combat was simple,

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-41458646563982116412008-08-18T17:01:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.740-06:00

The Konami Code, as shown by our friends at Wikipedia.It's as synonymous with 80s video gaming as Mario and Luigi. It's probably the biggest reason we love to play Contra so much. Yet, the "Konami Code" stretches far beyond 30 lives. Oh yes, the code goes far beyond the original NES. Much farther. In fact, the code is used in games on the NES, Super NES, Sony PlayStation and even mobile phones.

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-21061191548992109112008-08-14T17:18:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.740-06:00

Excitebike was, in a word, exciting. Even though the number of tracks was limited, the game was still tons of fun.Crank up the engine, hit the track and go back to 1985! Excitebike was one of the Nintendo Entertainment System's oldest original titles, and today the game is still enjoyed by many, myself included.There is no underlying story or character in Excitebike. You take control of an

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-33194076901054478802008-08-13T18:05:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.740-06:00

With the Summer Olympics in full swing, I decided to offer a list of video game characters from the past who'd make great Olympic athletes. I know some of your favorites will be left off the list, so as always, feel free to suggest some entries of your own.10. The Special Operations Soldier from Rush'n Attack: This guy would make a great distance runner, and I can imagine him stealing one of

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-86818889491529410112008-08-08T17:37:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.741-06:00

Madden 97 for the Nintendo Game Boy gave you most of the elements found in its large-console brothers, the key word being most.Since the new Madden is game will be soon released to the public, and because I've reviewed the other two football games I own for the Nintendo Game Boy, I figured I'd go ahead and take a look back at Madden 97. But instead of breaking the game down by graphics, sound,

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-44409617021187903162008-08-07T17:43:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.741-06:00

Even though Tecmo Bowl for the Nintendo Game Boy was small, it was still better than no Tecmo Bowl at all!Platform: Nintendo Game BoyReleased: 1991Developer: Tecmo, of course!Background: Duh, na, na, na, na, na, na... dum, dum...Duh, na, na, na, na, na, na... it's Tecmo Bowl! Yes, fans, it's that game we all wasted many a summer afternoons playing one another, hating your best buddy because he

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-71216355710441235952008-08-06T17:28:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.741-06:00

Games like World Class Track Meet did a great job of showing us how out of shape we were.Years ago, long before Grand Theft Auto ruled the world, I read that kids who play video games become more intelligent over time. Smarter, maybe. In shape, I don't think so. Years and years before Wii Fit, the folks at Nintendo attempted to chisel young gamers into shape with the introduction of the Power

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-69079248755531781752008-08-05T18:20:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.741-06:00

Screenshot snagged online. Long before "Eargate," Evander Holyfield was the man, and his game was 1,000 times better than the other guy who beat Tyson's video game.Platform: Sega Genesis/Mega DriveReleased: 1992Developer: ACME InteractiveBackground: Before Knockout Kings came around, this was my all-time favorite boxing video game. So, I guess you can say it's my favorite retro boxing game. In

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-24240277265635747872008-08-04T18:15:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.741-06:00

The culprits: XBOX360's "Ring of Fire" and the NES' blinking power lightWith the recent news of Microsoft's hardware failure in its XBOX360 console, I am reminded of one of the other infamous illuminations to come out of video game consoles: That dreaded blinking light on the "toaster" NES console. So, I decided to match the two lights head-to-head in a deathmatch, or at least lightmatch, to see

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-61132872234061632152008-07-28T18:42:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.741-06:00

It's that time again! Time for all Madden enthusiasts to come out of the woodwork in order to grab the 20-year anniversary installment of EA Sports' NFL franchise! OMG! I'm so excited! Oops, that was all just sarcasm on my part. Even though I have a recent version for my Nintendo DS, I usually wait until about six months after the game comes out and the excitement wears off. And still, despite

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-39922079182225701862008-07-24T18:15:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.741-06:00

Screenshot retrieved online. Hit the Ice stressed what many of us love about ice hockey.Platform: TurboGrafx-16Released: 1990Developer: Williams, TaitoBackground: It's Arch Rivals on ice! It's everything many of us love about hockey - beating your opponent into a bloody pulp and the dream of driving that goalie right through the net! The Video Hockey League features the most insane hockey game

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-13080329727035670352008-07-23T17:30:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.742-06:00

Whether or not you like a game is completely up to you. However, there have been some games that have come out that were universally bad, or just bad ideas for that matter. So today's Top 10 is a combination of 5 games I think you should steer clear of at all costs, and some you may want to try instead. As always, comments and suggestions are welcome.Don't play: The Adventures of Bayou Billy (NES

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-41817686202283810412008-07-22T12:19:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.742-06:00

Screenshots from Wikipedia. The original Legend of Zelda (top photo) utilized a top-down overhead perspective throughout the game except in secret passageways, while Zelda II: The Adventure of Link utilized side-scrolling screens for battles, towns and palaces.There have been about a bazillion posts online about Shigeru Miyamoto's masterpiece, The Legend of Zelda, and the numerous sequels that

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-43910299617105802482008-07-10T18:14:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.742-06:00

While these tasks are not completely impossible, they certainly had many of us wanting to throw our controllers and consoles through the TV. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.10. You mean I have to destroy this city again? Rampage is a classic, and everyone who was a gamer back in the 1980s played it at least once. The problem with the game is, while it does actually have an

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-20546593999560653622008-07-09T18:01:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:20.742-06:00

For those of us who have been playing video games for the past century or so, we've encountered some great weapons we've been able to use (See this list) and some really not-so-great ones (The yo-yo in Star Tropics for the NES. Really?). And here's a list of weapons I'd like to have if I ever have to put together an arsenal to take on and topple, well, pretty much anything. If you feel

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-91780492162473620542008-06-22T14:40:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:48.798-06:00

Screenshot from Wikipedia. To go old-school, click on the headline above to see an original commercial for the game. Looking at it today, it's pretty darn funny!System: Atari 2600Released: 1981Developer: Atari/Vatical EntertainmentBackground: "Yars' Revenge" was the best-selling original title for the Atari 2600 console. Though it was initially the port of another game, "Star Castle," it looked

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-70207909001664954282008-06-21T11:55:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:48.798-06:00

Screenshot taken from somewhere online. Seriously, there's like a thousand Web sites with screenshots of this game on it.System: Nintendo Entertainment SystemReleased: 1987Developer: NintendoBackground: Even though its big character draw was replaced with "Mr. Dream," "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!" remains one of the most popular games to ever grace the NES. The game is somewhat of an arcade port,

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-4868699963577136032008-06-20T18:00:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:48.798-06:00

Screenshots taken from Gamespot GameFAQsTo bring back a little nostalgia, I'll be spending some time reviewing some of my all-time favorite (and not-so-favorite) video games from before the fifth-generation consoles came out (the original Sony PlayStation/Nintendo 64). Those of you who grew up in the 80s and 90s should remember playing several of these. The first title in this series is "Bo

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8959608773517958956.post-76193042549369393732008-06-03T18:03:00.000-05:002009-01-16T09:51:48.798-06:00

There was a day when Spy Hunter was king - and not that ramped-up 3D version, either. (By the way, you're not supposed to shoot all the cars.) Photo found on Wikipedia.So let me see, hold 'R,' aim with the lower stick down here, cross my legs right over left, spin around and press 'A.'Sound familiar? Does it sound like the steps necessary to just shoot something in one of the million World War II

Chadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04507725094883710219noreply@blogger.com0