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Algus

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  1. Algus
    So I decided to purchase a modded Atari 7800 from Best Electronics and I thought I'd do an unboxing of the package. I'd never dealt with Best before (though I'd heard good things from other members here at Atari Age) so I was unsure of what I was getting myself into. Part of the reason I want to do this unboxing is to show exactly what I received from Best and maybe it will help other posters decide as to whether or not they want to deal with this company.
     
    So what exactly did I order?
     
    1. Atari 7800 w/composite mod and OS mod
    - The composite mod adds composite audio and video in place of the original R/F a/v solution
    - The OS mod includes a BIOS skip so that 7800 games boot right away, adds 7800 Asteroids as a default game if the unit is powered on without a cartridge inserted and includes some PAL compatibility
    2. 5 game "Dented Can" Special
    - This set of games includes Ms. Pac-Man, Ballblazer, Joust, Galaga, and Robotron. The games are still factory sealed but were damaged in their original shipping so all of the outer boxes have dents and crushes. As such I got them at a nice discount ($7/ea or $35 total)
     
    This entire package set me back just under $200 (console, games, and shipping). I believe it was worth the money but I will let some of the pics do the talking.
     


     
    So without having actually opened anything, I can already tell you that the way it was shipped to me was awesome. A couple sturdy layers of cardboard, liberally taped in Atari branded packing tape. Now every USPS sorter from California to Arizona that handled this knows that something awesome was coming to me. I don't know how much time Best spends on packing but I can definitely say the box is cool, as far as shipping boxes go.
     
     


     
    After pulling out the trust box cutter, I opened the thing up on three sides (now it has a lid!) and here's what I found inside. A healthy layer of biodegreadeable packing peanuts with some flyers and adverts on top. These flyers look ancient! I don't know what kind of computer/printer setup Best has but if I had to guess from these flyers, they're still using Atari STs over there. Included are some brochures with game lists, some news articles, and copies of awards Best has won.
     
     


     
    One of the brochures is a listing of Atari 2600 games that Best carries. Its a nice list that's easy to read and comes separately from the listings for 5200, 7800, and Jaguar games. There wasn't a Lynx listing though. To be honest, I haven't gone through most of this stuff yet (just thumbed it really) so I'll have to sit down later and take a closer look at it.
     
     


     
    So when you order, you get your choice between a pair of PB Sticks or Pro Sticks. I went with the Pro Sticks as they include a grip that I thought would be nice to have. Two fire buttons on the left and right and one on the top of the stick. I believe these sticks have been resealed as there is only the controller inside as well as a part of the box that can be folded open to display on a rack. Both sticks were in great shape though.
     
     


     
    So I got six games. The five games I mentioned from the "Dented Can" special plus a copy of Jinks. I've not played that one but I'm told by the 7800 forum that it stinks. We'll have to see about that. The Jinks box is in noticeably better shape than the discount games.
     


     
    You can see here that Ballblazer got it pretty rough. The box is smashed shut at the bottom. Fortunately the top part where the game is remains in good shape.
     


     
    The PSU is brand new and boxed as you can see here. Best was apparently a licensed Atari repair business at one point and a huge part of their stock are replacement parts like this. Its actually nice to know there's a place to go to get Atari branded PSUs as I need to pick up another for my 2600.
     


     
    I've got the PSU unboxed here. It was tightly wrapped in bubble wrap which is off to the side now. Black on black is not ideal (I guess I should have taken a better pic) but I can say the PSU looks brand new. It's in great shape. Dunno if this is a repack or not but I'm very happy with it.
     


     
    Included is the original 7800 instruction manual and Atari 90-day warranty card. Best continues to honor the original factory warranty which is pretty cool because I think if I wrote to the address printed on the card, I wouldn't get a response.
     


     
    And here is the main event. The console is unboxed unfortunately, but completely refurbished and restored (not to mention the mods I mentioned above) and has been resealed in plastic to help protect it. I don't know what Best's setup is like - if the machines sit sealed like this at their warehouse or if it was sealed before being sent to me - but I definitely like how the package arrived. Now, let's open this thing up.
     
     


     
    The console itself is flawless. No marks of any kind on the front or pack. A little wear around the bottom label with the serial number and the warranty void stickers on the back look a bit rough. You can tell the console is old but other than that it is flawless, in perfect shape. Everything works and feels right. I'm pretty sure I am in love already.
     
     


     
    Here you can see the composite mod replacing the original R/F a/v outlet. The cable is long which is fantastic as the short cord on the pro-stick means I want the console next to me while I'm playing.
     


     
    I really can't get over how well this was boxed. I had to scoop most of the peanuts out and into a trash bag so as not to make a mess pulling everything. Here you can see a pair of pads at the bottom of the box. The 7800 was resting on these for extra cushion during shipping. Very well done. It was also tightly wrapped in bubble wrap (which I did not take pictures of) that was actually a little difficult to remove. I'll take difficult to remove bubble wrap over broken console any day though!
     
     


    So with everything unboxed, I decided to repurpose the shipping container into a storage bin. Since I only cut it open on three sides, the top pops open like a chest now. I'm sure it'll wear out after awhile but for now it makes a good container. I opened all the games and took out the cartridges and manuals. The manuals I'll keep inside the shipping box but outside the game boxes so I don't have to smash those anymore just to flip through the manuals. The actual cartridges are all sitting with my 7800 now.
     
    Now that I've unpacked everything, LET'S PLAY SOME DAMN GAMES
     


     
    When I originally asked about Best Electronics, @Trebor mentioned that Best's composite mod was a little dull. Unfortunately, I find this to be the case. I broke in the 7800 with a game (well ten games) of Joy Ride by our very own Cybearg. Playing on my Harmony of course. For those who haven't checked it out, Joy Ride is an awesome game where you're driving a motorcycle down the oncoming lane in heavy traffic. You have to avoid crashing into the other cars. Each lane has different colored cars at different speeds. The bottom lane is GREEN but as you can see in the pic, it looks blue on the 7800. I found this to be the case on the Harmony cart bios as well where everything had a blueish hue instead of green. Some other games I played didn't seem to have this issue
     
     


     
    2600 Asteroids looked ok for instance, though it was definitely darker. And yes I should have taken a shot when more stuff was on the screen hahaha. I also played A-VCS-Tec Challenge, another favorite homebrew of mine. It looks and sounds just as awesome on the 7800 as it does on the 2600.
     
     


     
    First actual 7800 game I played was Ms. Pac-Man (right after Joy Ride actually). I'll be honest, I haven't played this one much. I've played the heck out Pac-Man but I never really owned a version of Ms. Pac-Man. It is shocking how much better the game becomes when there are multiple mazes. Needless to say I had a great time. I know the pic is bad from afternoon sun but unfortunately the image quality was a little dull and blurry. It was an upgrade over my 2600's RF for sure but it was not as sharp as I was hoping from a composite mod.
     
    I did have one problem playing Ms. Pac-Man though THE PRO-STICK CONTROLLERS ARE TERRIBLE!. I don't really like the 2600 controller because I'm afraid it'll come apart in my hand when I'm yanking on the stick. The pro-stick feels almost identical to that, except the grip makes me feel like I'll have an easier time of tearing it apart. The controller creaks in my hands and the top-mounted fire button is not nearly as useful as I thought it would be. Holding the base is still annoying. After a bit of gameplay, buying Euro 7800 controllers shot to the top of my list. I love the system so far but these controllers blow.
     
    Anyway, soapbox done.
     
     


     
    So one of the awesome things about the OS mod that I got is that if a cart isn't inserted in my 7800 when it is powered on, Asteroids starts. Asteroids is pretty much my all-time favorite 2600 game so I thought this was a great deal (plus it means I have 7 games instead of 6). It looks incredible. There's no doubt this would have been a system seller for me if I'd been old enough in the Atari Age. I still need to play it some more but I didn't like the handling quite as much when I got into it. I found myself going back to 2600 Asteroids (which I played after this as you can see above). Still, I'm very excited that this was included with my system.
     
     


     
    Ok, it's time for one last game. Surprisingly, Vault Assault is the only homebrew I own (notwithstanding the stuff on my Harmony cart). It is a good game but relies on twitch gameplay and sessions are short (to the tune of 3-4 minutes). I'd rather have it on Lynx than a console to be honest. I'm going to give it a spin however.
     
     


     
    ...and the results are not good unfortunately. If you look in the bottom right of the screen, you'll see an enemy ship. That ship isn't supposed to be there, it is supposed to be directly under the base. Now it can still shoot at me and hit me and I can still shoot at it by navigating down and firing but the graphics mess up whenever I do it. It doesn't break the game but it is awkward (the other enemy ships are fine). So Vault Assault is still playable on the 7800 but it definitely doesn't seem to be fully compatible. This isn't a huge dealbreaker as to be honest this one doesn't get a lot of play time even though I like it. Still, I hope I don't find to many other homebrews that don't work right. I've got an order for Dungeon and Toyshop Trouble and I'd like to play both of those since I bought the 7800 to replace my 2600.
     
    FINAL THOUGHTS
     
    The entire process from ordering the unit to receiving it took approximately six days. When I initially emailed Best, they replied to my sales query by confirming some of my order requests. Once we had settled on all the merchandise I was going to order, I paid via PayPal and it took Best about a day to accept payment, pack, and ship the 7800. Fortunately I live close (they are based out of San Jose, CA and I am in Phoenix, AZ) so shipping time was super short. Best was easy to work with and provided good service though buying from them was definitely a new experience (or should I say OLD experience?) as I am so used to modern conveniences like shopping carts, automated orders, etc.
     
    The price I paid for all my goodies was a bit high ($194.97 - the Harmony Cart and 2600 games I already owned) but I think the price was right given the excellent shipping, quality service, and condition of the hardware. I'd definitely recommend them in the future and will be turning to Best to round out my collection of 7800 accessories and probably to buy more games from them.
     
    If you're hesitant to order from Best because of the amateur (or should I say antiquated?) look of their website or their older ways of doing things, I can definitely say it is totally worth the trouble to email them your sales inquiry and talk it out. This is a great company to do business with.
  2. Algus
    I recently decided to buy a laptop to compliment my Nexus 7. These days I do most of my computing from my tablet since it pretty much has all the functionality of a regular computer. I do have a bluetooth keyboard for my tablet but sometimes typing gets old on it and I missed having a larger screen for browsing the web. I also missed non-mobile webpages.
     
    After looking at what was available, I decided to take a shot on the Google Chromebook. If you don't keep up with Google, the Chromebook is a laptop computer that runs Google's own operating system called Chrome OS. Basically it is just the Google Chrome web browser. This has some nice advantages like super fast boot times and long-lasting battery. The drawback is that it pretty much needs to be connected to the internet to work. There are some offline apps (they all run in the web browser) but there isn't a lot of good software available yet.
     
    All I really needed was something I could do a bit of writing on (there is offline access to Google's office suite complete with automatic syncing back to Google Drive, the online storage service that Google is pushing) and browse the internet with, so the Chromebook seemed like a fit for me. I'm going to share my unboxing of the Chrome, followed by my opinion on it after having used it for a couple of weeks.
     


     
    My Nexus 7 set up with my bluetooth keyboard/stand combo. It actually looks like a laptop. This worked pretty well but my hands would occassionally brush against the back button on the screen which was frustrating. Its also nice to have a larger screen when writing so you can see more of the text. I was getting by but I didn't really feel like it was ideal.
     
     


     
    One of the perks of the Chromebook is its super-cheap price (there is a high end Chromebook, the Pixel...but that's another story). The Samsung model I settled on retails for $250 USD. I ended up getting a logitech wireless mouse and a laptop sleeve along with my computer. This brought the total price to $350 USD. The Chromebook is carried by Best Buy in the United States so I was able to see a floor model before I took the plunge which helped sell me.
     


     
    Here's the box for the Chromebook in all of its glory. It is actually pretty huge given the size of the laptop (11'' screen). The next photo shows the insides but as for the outside? Colorful artwork and surprisingly sturdy. The box is heavier than you'd think and would actually make for a decent storage box. I've still got it and haven't tossed it yet though I probably will eventually since space is at a premium in my house with all the video game boxes I keep.
     


     
    Inside the box we have the computer to the left. Here it is covered by shipping foam and the manuals. To the right in the cardboard box is the power supply. The box is spacious but packed well. The computer is held firmly in the center of the box and I suspect this thing could take quite a bit of punishment in shipping. I wouldn't care to toss a pallet of them but I'm glad Samsung didn't go cheap on the packaging.
     
     


     
    After pulling the computer out, here's what it looks like from above. The simple grey color scheme isn't going to dazzle anyone though I find the Chrome logo to be stylish and distinctive. For the person with to many computers, it is easy to spot. Good call on their part since Google is marketing this as a secondary computer
     


     
    Here's what the computer looks like opened up. Foam is still on the screen. The keyboard is spacious and certainly has an aesthetic reminiscient of the Macbook. Most laptop keyboards seem to be headed in that direction though, with large square keys that are slightly spaced apart. Personally I think it looks good and I enjoy the feel of the keys on my fingers. I always had issues with the lettering rubbing off on the older style keyboards but so far that hasn't been an issue for me on my Chromebook's keyboard.
     
     


     
    One last shot, the power supply inside the box. I was pleased to see that it was relatively lightweight as the laptop my Chromebook is replacing had a monster PSU and I had to buy a separate travel power supply to go with it.
     
    I know I didn't include any side shots to show off the available ports but the computer includes an HDMI out jack, two USB ports (one for one of the smaller size USB cables...sorry for noobing it up and not knowing the technical terms here), and a SIM card slot on the back. There is a more expensive version available at $330 that uses this port to get 3G data from Verizon. On the left hand side are a headphone jack and an SD card slot.
     
    My Thoughts
    So after two weeks of using my Chromebook, I can definitely say that I am still in love with it. It only weights 2 1/2 lbs and is super easy to carry around. It isn't quite as portable as my tablet or phone but it is pretty easy to carry.
    For the technically inclined, the underlying operating system is built on Linux (Gentoo, I've read) but the only thing it is really there for is to power the Chrome web browser. Unfortunately this means the computer is pretty limited in some ways. There is a file manager but it is really awkward to use and basically works like an online manager. While you CAN access things like how much storage you have (chrome://quota-internals), a lot of this stuff isn't in plain sight and you'll have to hit the internet to find out how to access some of it. Obviously, with it being just the Chrome web browser, you won't be loading all your favorite applications either.
     
    But, as it turns out, there is actually quite a bit that you can do within a web browser. As I mentioned previously, Google offers its full office suite and I find that it actually runs surprisingly well on the Chromebook...better than I recall it working when I used to use it in college for collaborative projects. So one of the things you can do is get extensions (just like with Chrome on Windows, Apple, or some other OS) and some of these extensions do work offline. The Google Docs programs are bundled as an example of this. Unfortunately the Google Chrome App Store is pretty uninspiring. There's a lot of junk on there and some of the "apps" are no more than web links (ie facebook). Though when you do grab these extensions, they add them to your program launcher if you like pretending facebook is a program. You can also mess with the Windows to make it look like it is a separate program instead of a web page in a browser if you are so inclined.
     
    If you can get around the limitation of the computer being "just a web browser" though, the whole package works pretty well. It is lightweight, low cost, has a monster battery, makes no noise (for tech folks: it uses an ARM processor), and generates almost no heat. In other words, at last they've finally made a LAPtop that can go into your lap without frying your legs and overheating the computer. About time says I.
     
    The laptop only has a 16GB SSD so you can't really store a lot of stuff on the computer. I did download a few CDs in case I only have my laptop for some reason and can't connect to the web. One of the other offline "apps" is a general purpose media player so if you really need some content on the go, you actually are covered. 16GB isn't much, especially if you like HD video, but as I mentioned previously there is an SD card slot if you really need extra movies, music, and photos. I personally find the 16GB to be more than enough for storing articles and documents offline that I might want to read when I don't have a connection. Google also includes a two year sub to Drive for free which gives you 100 GB of "cloud" storage. Between the cloud storage and the remote desktop app (which lets you sync with a "real" computer) you can actually do quite a lot from the Chromebook...as long as you're connected to the web.
     
    The nice thing about the SSD is that it has lightning fast boot times. I timed the initial boot at only 28 seconds and normally the desktop is ready to go in the time it takes me to blink. Shutdown and sleep are super fast too. To be honest, I'm not even sure how much the computer distinguishes between the two. Waking from shutdown takes maybe one or two seconds more as I have to log back on. The computer automatically boots if I open the lid regardless though, which is great.
     
    Now I can say that it isn't all good. Unfortunately, $250 does NOT get you a good screen. The display on the laptop is absolutely terrible. The resolution is spacious at 1366x768 but the colors are washed out and the matte screen seems to suffer from perpetual glare. Unless you're staring right at it, it gets blurry or dim. Viewing angle is basically non-existent on this computer.
     
    If web browsing and light word processing are all that you do, the Chromebook is definitely worth considering given its excellent price and portability. It does have some pretty serious limitations though. A lot of my music is on Amazon MP3 but for some of my CDs, I have to borrow a friend's computer. The screen resolution on the computer is good for work and word processing but not so good for consuming HD media. While there is quite a bit you can do in a web browser there are also some things that I don't do day to day but would like the option of being able to do, such has having some sort of photo editor. I think my Chromebook was a solid choice and it will be my machine of choice for lounging on my couch and surfing the web but I am probably going to pick up a larger laptop (one that can handle HD media). I'm all for new technology but I'm just not comfortable with only having my data on the Cloud.
  3. Algus
    Kicking this whole blog thing off because it is a quiet night and I fighting writing to be soothing. Anywho, I doubt I will update this on anything approaching a regular basis but I thought it might be fun to set up in case I want to use it now and then.
     
    So I bit the bullet earlier and finally put in a paid subscription to Atari Age. Even though I'm not as active on the forums as others are, I really do like the website and figure it is worth my money. Plus with the ridiculousness that is eBay, I think the money is worthwhile to help build my reputation for doing private trades on the marketplace. Next up will be pawing through some of the homebrews whenever the AA store comes back up. I know there are at least a couple that I would like to have!
     
    So I've been expanding my NES library a lot lately, including having picked up fifteen new titles over the course of the past couple of weeks. Not bad since I only owned about 30 games beforehand. In the course of browsing games to pick up, I finally found a copy of Streets of Rage 3 for under $40, which I gladly snapped up. I'm a huge fan of the franchise but I couldn't bring myself to pay what SoR3 had been going for. I probably should have just bought it for my Wii, but I enjoy owning the physical media...being able to look at the artwork on the box, holding the cart in my hand, etc. I haven't played the game yet so I'm very excited and have spent the last couple of times doing multiple playthroughs of SoR2 to get myself psyched up. I've heard that the third game is a bit of a disappointment compared to the first two but I'm a pretty big fan of Beat 'Em Ups so even if it at worst "more of the same" I think it will have been worth the money.
     
    It is also probably the most expensive game I've bought on the used market. I've got several valuable games, especially PS1 RPGs, but most of those were purchased new. It's certainly now the most valuable game in my Genesis collection.
     
    Last note: I'm pondering buying another system. I have several on my list: intellivision, Master System, Atari 8-bit, and the 5200/7800. I'm also somewhat interested in a colecovision though I feel more like I'll only pick a coleco up if I see a deal on one. One day I need to focus on actually getting games for my old systems instead of just buying a lot of hardware but I'm fascinated by all the different gaming machines that are out there...almost moreso than the libraries that make those machines worth owning.
  4. Algus

    Streets of Rage 3

    By Algus,

    I received Streets of Rage 3 last night and, disconcertingly, it initially didn't work with my Genesis setup. After power on and the Bios screen, the game would hang on black for a few moments before the screen turned bright red and hung. I gave the cartridge a thorough cleaning and disassembled my setup, wiped for dust and put it back together.
     
    After making sure everything was positioned firmly, I tried running the game again and it worked! Some googling had suggested that the problem might be incompatability with the 32X, which was a bit unnerving, but that didn't seem to be the case. I was going to test the game without the 32X but then I realized I don't actually have a Genesis 1 A/V cable! I did have an R/F box at one time but I ended up giving that away to a friend when I gave him a spare Genesis I had. So at least it was an opportunity to go grab the cable off of eBay so that I'll have one in the future.
     
    I was sure that I wouldn't have any actual problems with the game itself but I was very disappointed to discover that most of the online reviews who say that SoR3 isn't very good are right. The tacked on story scenes do little to endear me to the game and the overall gameplay is considerably inferior to the previous two games. Excessive swarms of enemies (all of which enjoy wandering off screen) plus some of the other gameplay refinements such as (extremely small) durability bars on the weapons make the game a bit more of a chore to play. And the bosses, rather than simply being difficult, are mostly just annoying.
     
    Still, visually the game is decent but the music is just ok. I think it will be fun to play through with some friends but overall I am disappointed with it. Still, at least I have it for the collection and it is my first genuinely rare Genesis game, so that is kind of cool.
  5. Algus

    Nintendo 64

    By Algus,

    I took apart and cleaned one of my old Nintendo 64 controllers (my first one to be exact) today and then hooked the N64 back up. I had to use the A/V slot on my system selector that I was reserving for plug-and-play units like my Pac-Man Arcade Stick but ahh heck, its the N64. I dunno why I ever had this great system unhooked.
     
    I've been playing a bit of Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon and thinking that I really need to look into whether there are any other good 3D adventure games on the N64 with a bit of free roaming. I have both the Zeldas and Castlevania (which sucks) is kind of the same idea, but I really want more games like OoT and Goemon. I might try to hunt down Quest 64. I never owned it as a kid but I rented it a few times and thought it was ok (though underwhelming).
     
    At any rate, the N64 should keep me busy until my Colecovision arrives. ...I hope.
  6. Algus
    One of the things I've noticed over the past several months of buying NES games is that a lot of them are so dirty as to be completely non-functional. I don't know if it is true or not but I just imagine people hawking off their "broken" NES games and feeling real clever that they just got rid of junk.
     
    I ordered a pretty sizable lot of games off of eBay (10) and picked up a further 6 carts at a local used stuff store. Out of the 16 games I got, 9 of them didn't work. After some pretty heavy cleaning, I've gotten six of them working good as new and was able to get the other two "kind of working' with the Game Genie. Those two probably just need further cleaning to work glitch and genie free. The only one I'm worried about is my copy of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Arcade Game. The label is really scuffed up and while the casing itself looks ok, I'm worried there might be damage to the contacts or the internal components. Although it was also the dirtiest game I've had so far.
     
    At first I was tying a bit of water and q-tips and had a lot of luck picking grime up off with those. After some googling on the internet though windex was suggested to me and I've had even better luck with that getting some of these grimey games to work. I've already hit all three of my nonworking games but after I let them dry, I'll have to give it another go and hopefully everything will work.
     
    The real shame is that one of the games I can't get working is Punch Out. I just won't be a respectable NES collector until I have a functional copy of this great game
  7. Algus

    Nintendo Entertainment System

    By Algus,

    My NES has long been the cornerstone of my collection. Like most current NES players, I went through a period of dormancy. Though in my case it was due to my NES being inoperable as opposed to my simply not having one. I did fix it several years ago with a new 72 pin connector though and it has been happily running for me ever since.
     
    Over the past year or so, I've really begun to bulk up my collection. I'm still under 50 games but I've managed to snag the cables and controllers I want to really have it running well. Centered under my TV, my NES remains the pride I've my collection. I've had it since I was 5, meaning that it is at least 21 years old this year (dunno when it was manufactured of course). It isn't my OLDEST system (honors go to my two 2600s and Colecovision) but I've had it almost my entire life so I am particularly attached to it. Its a pity I don't still have the original packaging and documentation for it, but when my parents bought it for me I doubt they were thinking I'd still have it when I was an adult lol.
     
    I had something of an epiphany a few nights ago, when I realized that my interest in newer games was really beginning to wane. I still like 360, PS3, etc. and will buy games for those systems and their successors but at $60 a pop, I think I'd rather get an armful of older games than one new one. So I think now I'm shooting for the 100-game milestone by Christmas and waiting until the upcoming new stuff I want can be had cheaply.
     
    First on my list? The rest of the so-called "Black Box" NES games, the original launch titles, and the complete run of Hudson Soft titles. I'm already off to a good start with all three Adventure Island titles.
  8. Algus
    (Note: This exists as a blog post for now so that the initial HSC topic won't be cluttered. It may be reposted in a revised format in the forums at a later date)
     
    Welcome to the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive High Score Club!
     
    The goal of the club is to play Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games, try to beat the scores of the other players, and have a good time.
     
    Our rules are largely the same as the Atari 2600 HSC rules, with a few variations.
     
    Scoring
    If/Until sufficient interest is built in the club to merit a scoring tier similar to the 2600 HSC's scoring mechanic, the following system will be used
     
    First Place: +4 Points
    Second Place: +3 Points
    Third Place: +2 Points
    Participation: +1 Point
     
    I will post season-long leaderboards in each topic. A comprehensive list of round leaderboards will be posted in a future entry on this blog (most likely)
     
    Challenges
    When familiarity with the game permits, I may issue a challenge, Successfully completing the challenge will award +1 point. My goal is to develop challenges that only one player will successfully clear (an alternate "high score" objective such as who can stock the most extra lives) though in the case of ties, multiple players may be awarded the bonus point.
     
    Rounds
    Rounds begin on Monday and last for about two weeks, closing on the second Sunday after the round was posted. Since this is a bit abstract, I will post the dates in each thread. The reason for this schedule is merely of convenience for me. I do not work Sunday nights and will always have Sunday night/Monday morning off to post updates. This schedule is of course subject to change based on my own schedule
     
    Season 1 will consist of 5 rounds (5 games over roughly ten weeks). It will be a short season for a couple of reasons:
     
    1. I'm not sure if I'll have the time to administrate this thing as long term as some of the other HSCs
    2. If there is a lack of interest then hopefully the participants we do get will have some kind of resolution
     
    If the first season is successful, we will definitely start playing longer seasons!
     
    PLEASE DON'T CHEAT
    The HSC operates on an honor system and is ultimately for fun. When posting your scores remember the following:
     
    1. Screenshots are recommended and requested but not required
    2. Gameplay video is encouraged, particularly after a round has ended
    3. Please don't exploit known bugs. If you unintentionally exploit a bug, it is requested that you remove your score from consideration for the season ranking
    4. If using an emulator, please do not manipulate the game with speed control features (turbo/slow) or save states
    5. No game genies or other such hacking devices (and no cheat codes built into the game!)
     
    In the unfortunate event that there is a disagreement over a posted score, I will make the final determination on scoring. The best way to prove a great score is with a screenshot or gameplay video.
     
    Games
    Initially, I will choose all of the games (in fact, they've already been selected) My goal was to select games that were popular enough that most people probably have them so that as many people as possible can participate. If sufficient interest is maintained after the first season, I very much want to open it up to suggestions. If there is a game you'd like to see played, you can always PM me. I will use the same system that Ze_ro used to use when he managed the 2600 HSC. (see previously linked thread)
     
    When there are multiple settings, stage select, etc. I will post specific rules related to those things (such as tackling the levels in a certain order) in order to "level" the playing field for everyone.
     
    Emulators/Ports
    In the hope of building interest in the oft-suggested but rarely long lasting Genesis High Score Club, I plan to be more liberal than other HSCs in what platform you choose to play the games on. In general the original hardware is encouraged whenever feasible, followed by emulation via computer (PC, Mac, Android and so forth). I will also accept scores from players using the Virtual Console, any of the many dedicated clones, or any of the various collections and ports. As long as you aren't playing a remastered or updated version of the game.
     
    Note that this rule is subject to change. I will not retroactively void any scores but if (when?) it is decided to adopt a rule more in-line with other HSCs, I will announce it either on this blog or in an HSC thread.
     
    Now for some potential FAQs...
     
    Q: I want to play but I don't have that game!
    A: Emulators are perfectly acceptable to use! Feel free to play your virtual console titles, Xbox 360 downloads, or however else you have the game! Many players choose to emulate on their computer (I personally use my Android tablet) as it makes it easier to get screenshots this way. Feel free to ask in the topics for emulator recommendations if you're not sure what to download. Note that for legal reasons we cannot provide the ROM images of the games we play to you. You will have to google any genesis roms or other cool roms for yourself.
     
    Q: When/how do I join?
    A: Any time you want. Just post a score and you're in. Just watch gameplay videos and comment and you're in! The Genesis HSC is for everyone.
     
    Q: I can't play every week!
    A: No problem! Play only when you want to or have time! While it would be great if everyone could get on board every week, many players prefer to only play on real hardware with games they actually own. If you don't wish to participate because you don't own a game that we're playing in a round, you'll be missed but your spot will be waiting for you when you decide to come back.
     
    Q: I want to play but I'm not very good at X
    A: Don't feel bad, I'm dreadful at most games from this era too. I play for fun and to compete against other players, some of who are terrific gamers. The HSC is about enjoying games first and foremost and hopefully about providing a nice competition for our members who really want to battle it out at the top.
     
    Q: You guys are already X weeks into the season, I'll never catch up!
    A: Just because you can't compete in the season-long leaderboard doesn't mean you still can't win it! Come in and show the regulars who's boss by totally trashing them in a game.
     
    If you've read this whole thing, thanks for your interest in the Genesis/Mega Drive HSC. Hopefully we can all look forward to some great gaming!
  9. Algus
    Final Leaderboard Round #1
    classicgamer_27330......221,650
    NIKON............................149,130
    darthkur.........................125,220
    Gamer__X.....................117,790
    Algus..............................62,900
    jblenkle.............................41,000
    roadrunner......................22,700
     
    Challenge Leaderboard (Final) Round #1
    classicgamer_27330.............18
     
    Season Standings as of Round#1
    classicgamer_27330...............5
    NIKON.....................................3
    darthkur..................................2
    Gamer__X..............................1
    Algus......................................1
    jblenkle.....................................1
    roadrunner.............................1
     
    Total Participants: 7
    Scores Submitted: 13
    Total Score: 989,540
    Most Submissions: jblenkle (6)
     
    Most First Place Wins: classicgamer_27330 (1)
  10. Algus
    Game Played: Altered Beast
     
    Final Leaderboard Round #2
    NIKON................................338,600
    ahuffman............................223,400
    jblenkle...............................222,500
    Algus...................................131,900
    darthkur................................122,500
    classicgamer_27330...........112,000
    roadrunner..........................27,800
     
    Season Standings as of Round#2
    NIKON..........................................7
    classicgamer_27330..................6
    darthkur.......................................3
    ahuffman......................................3
    jblenkle..........................................3
    Algus..............................................2
    roadrunner...................................2
    Gamer__X......................................1
     
    Round #2 Participants: 7
    Total Participants: 8
    Total Score: 1,930,800
    Most Submissions: jblenkle (4)
     
    Most First Place Wins: (t) classicgamer_27330 (1), NIKON (1)
     
    Congratulations to NIKON for taking the lead after a strong performance on Altered Beast. classicgamer_27330 remains in solid command of second despite a participation finish due to excellent performance in round#1.
     
    Thanks to everyone who participated!
  11. Algus
    Game Played: OutRun
    Difficulty: Pro
     
    Final Leaderboard Round#3
    NIKON.......................................5,412,000
    jblenkle......................................3,814,500
    Algus..........................................3,096,500
    classicgamer_27330...................2,450,120
    roadrunner.................................1,736,200
    Champions_2002........................1,241,000
     
    Season Standings as of Round #3
    NIKON..........................................11
    classicgamer_27330..................7
    jblenkle..........................................6
    Algus..............................................4
    darthkur.......................................3
    ahuffman......................................3
    roadrunner...................................3
    Gamer__X......................................1
    Champions_2002........................1
     
    Round #3 Participants: 6
    Total Participants: 9
    Scores Submitted: 11
    Total Score: 61,766,680
    Most submissions, Round #3: jblenkle (3)
     
    Most First Place Wins: NIKON (2)
     
    jblenkle challenges classicgamer_27330 for second after a good finish on OutRun. Meanwhile, NIKON cements his lead on the #1 spot.
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