Soon to be appearing at...

LONE STAR COMICS IN ARLINGTON

Back by popular demand (or because I've got some books leftover), I will be signing my book, Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984, at the Lone Star Comics in central Arlington from 1 to 3 p.m. on September 8. Hope to see you there!

Lone Star Comics

504 East Abram Street

Arlington, TX

817-265-0491

Now reading...

Video Game Collector #8

Anyone who calls him or herself a classic gamer (or a video game fan in general) and hasn’t checked out Video Game Collector magazine needs to get with the proverbial program. Issue #8 is fresh on the stands, and inside you’ll find the following features: a MegaMan series retrospective; a piece on video game toys (action figures, Mario collectibles, etc.), an interview with Rob “Demon Attack” Fulop; an Atari 5200/7800 photo checklist; reviews of God of War II (PS2), Dead Rising (Xbox 360), Tank Command (Atari 7800), and other games; an article about collecting promotional items; and more.

The highlight of issue #8 is Jim Leonard’s “Pushing Consoles—Harder!”, which is about games, such as Freeway for the Atari 2600 (lots of onscreen items, no flickering) and Donkey Kong Country for the Super NES (amazing, pre-rendered graphics), that squeeze about as much out of their respective consoles as possible. The lowlight is a humor piece/advice column called “Ask a 16-bit Boss,” which tried hard, but failed to tickle my funny bone.

A big selling point of VGC is its price guide, which offers prices for Cartridge-Only and Complete-in-Box games for every popular system, old and new. Obscure consoles, such as the RCA Studio II and the Fairchild Channel F, aren’t included, but the checklist/price guide is very useful for gamers looking to add to (or sell) their more mainstream collections.

Published by Shawn Paul Jones and edited by Chris Cavanaugh (of All Game Guide and Classic Gamer Magazine fame), Video Game Collector is a slick, full color publication that deserves attention and strong sales. For ordering information, click on the following link: http://www.vgcollector.com/

Recently published in...

...the October 2007 issue of Toy Shop magazine, in which I wax eloquent (or at least type some words) about how to "Recapture Your Youth with Classic Video Games."

Recently published in...

Comics Buyer's Guide #1634

Where I review the following:

Drawing from Life
Archie #575
Invincible #42
Black Canary #1
Green Arrow: Year One #1
Marvel Spotlight: Spider-Man
Friday the 13th: Pamela's Tale #1
Marvel Adventures Iron Man #1
Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Cut! #1
Sidekickin' Hero
Red Eye, Black Eye
Amazing Spider-Man 539-540
Avengers Classic #1

To order this magazine, click on the following link:

http://cbgxtra.com/

Now contemplating...

THE FIVE GREATEST GAME SYSTEMS OF ALL TIME!

This unabashedly biased listing of The Five Greatest Game Systems of All Time doesn’t take into account when each system was released or how good each system was (or is) relative to its era. Listed in order of sheer greatness, it represents the systems I would have in my collection today if the fates (or my lovely wife) decreed that a lowly five systems was my max. (Luckily, the understanding Mrs. Obsessive Gamer is co-owner of almost 40 systems).

1. PlayStation2

Yes, a relatively modern system is numero uno on my list, and for that I make no apologies. While most PlayStation2 fans praise it for its Metal Gear Solids, its Final Fantasys, its Gran Turismos, and its Grand Theft Autos (great games all), I love the PS2 primarily for two reasons: the Maximo series and the system’s backward compatibility with the PS1. Unencumbered by vague objectives, nonlinear gameplay, overly complicated controls, or forced camera angles, Maximo: Ghosts to Glory (along with its sequel, Army of Zin) is one of the most purely enjoyable action games released in the last 10 years. Here’s hoping for a third title in the series, and here’s hoping it maintains the basics (cool weapons, intense battles, straightforward gameplay) of the first two games.

The PS2’s ability to play PS1 games is unfairly overlooked by many gamers, deriving them the pleasure to relive (or enjoy for the first time) such awesomely entertaining games as Crash Bandicoot (classic platforming), Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (proof that the series belongs in 2D), and Street Fighter Alpha 3 (perhaps the best game in the franchise). Better yet, the PS1 library is the place to go for the classics, giving gamers (via a variety of arcade compilations) perfect ports of such treasures as Gaplus (the sequel to Galaga), Scramble, Time Pilot (works beautifully with the dual analog sticks), and Super Pac-Man. The PS1 has a number of other discs of interest to retrophiles, including Q*Bert (an excellent expansion of the original game), The Buster Bros. Collection, Bubble Bobble Featuring Rainbow Islands, Taito Legends, and many more.

2. ColecoVision

My nostalgic pick as the pinnacle of gaming greatness, the ColecoVision is known for its stunning (if sometimes incomplete) arcade ports of such high profile games as Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Turbo (love the steering wheel), and Zaxxon. Back in 1982, gamers nationwide gaped in awe at the joystick-dropping beauty of the commercials showing Donkey Kong in action. For the first time in console history, a home game could look almost identical to its graphically sophisticated arcade counterpart. And, despite lukewarm critical reaction to the controllers (I happened to think they were very good, if a bit fragile), most of the games played about as good as they looked. And they are still nice looking and fun to play.

Where the ColecoVision truly shines is in its awesome library of second-tier (but first rate) arcade titles, many of which have yet to appear on any other console. Lady Bug is a truly manly maze game; Frenzy is a more-than-worthy sequel to Berserk; Mouse Trap makes excellent use of the controller keypad; and the underrated Pepper II (love the catchy Alfred Hitchcock theme) is one of the most entertaining and rewarding games ever created. The system also has a number of excellent third party games, including Miner 2049’er (the only version to have 11 levels), Oil’s Well, and Jumpman Jr. The ColecoVision did have its share of disappointments (Why were so many arcade ports missing a level?), but it’s a marvelous gaming machine, especially for those of us who remember those wonderful TV commercials: “Your vision is our vision: ColecoVision.”

3. Nintendo Entertainment System

Affectionately dubbed the NES, this magnificent device change the scope of home gaming forever when it introduced Super Mario Bros. on a world of unsuspecting gamers. The expansive, smoothly scrolling, freely moving, multi-world quest was filled with secrets, both underground and in the sky, both within and without. Gamers bowed in awe of its unprecedented level of platforming pleasure. Amazingly, Nintendo followed up with a host of equally trailblazing (ok, not quite equally, but pretty darned trailblazing) titles such as Metroid (Samus is a what?) and The Legend of Zelda (Playing the flute where does what?). Also, who can forget Super Mario Bros. 3, which is a constant on various “best games of all time” lists?

In terms of hardcore action, the NES is, to this day, without peer. Real “gamer’s games” such as Contra (the best platform shooter of all time), Ninja Gaiden (the first truly cinematic game), Bionic Commando, Gun.Smoke, Ghosts and Goblins (frighteningly difficult), Castlevania (sheer gaming bliss), and Batman (one of the greatest super-hero titles ever) make the system a must-own for anyone serious about the entertainment value found in maneuvering images around on a television screen. As a bonus, the NES has a variety of quality old school titles, including Xevious, 1942, BurgerTime, Joust, Bump ‘n’ Jump, Donkey Kong 3, and Mario Bros. There are some missed opportunities (Where’s the main mission two-player mode in Double Dragon; Where is fourth level in Donkey Kong?), but these are petty gripes considering the overall brilliance of the system.

4. Atari 2600

This no-brainer is one of my favorite game systems for many reasons. Chief among these is its huge library of fun, fast-paced games that are easy to pick-up-and-play. It has excellent shooters that are simple to learn but hard to master, such as: Space Invaders, which doesn’t try to be a perfect port, but is infused with stellar gameplay mechanics and options galore; Phoenix, a nice rendition of the great arcade game; Asteroids, a creatively designed raster take on the vector graphics classic; Demon Attack, a dazzling third party title from Imagic (who, along with Activision, helped revitalize the system); and Yars’ Revenge, an original creation that remains a distinct pleasure.

In addition to great shooters, the system has a number of excellent maze games (Jr. Pac- Man is unbelievably good), some truly unique cartridges (Tax Avoiders, anyone?), and, believe it or not, some very fine arcade translations (and arcade copycats), including Dodge ‘Em, Solar Fox, Frogger, and Super Breakout, the latter of which is one of the most faithful ports of all time thanks to Atari’s brilliant paddle controllers. The paddles also allow for such killer games as Warlords and Kaboom!. True, the 2600 has a plethora of clunkers, but even these games are fun to collect. After all, what Atari enthusiast in his or her right mind would turn down a copy of Chase the Chuckwagon, despite its wretched gameplay?

5. Super NES

A significant upgrade over the NES in terms of graphics and sounds, the 16-bit Super Nintendo offers a host of NES sequels, many of which are equal to or better than their classic counterparts. These include such classics in their own right as Super Mario World, Super Castlevania, Super Metroid, Super Contra: The Alien Wars, Super Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (which is also “super,” even though the word is not in the title). Other significant games for the system include the action-heavy Star Wars trilogy and the revolutionary (in terms of graphics) Donkey Kong Country trilogy, which gave a last gasp of life to the system near its regrettable (if inevitable) demise.

In terms of retrogaming, the Super NES has a pair of super (sorry, couldn’t resist) interesting titles that are a bit hard to find, but that offer unlimited replay value. Mr. Do!, which has a two-player battle mode in addition to the standard arcade version, and Q*bert 3, which has colorful graphics and a variety of playfield configurations, are hugely entertaining, especially for those of us who enjoy getting back to the basics now and again. Also noteworthy is Space Invaders, which benefits from a two-player split screen mode, and Ms. Pac-Man (also available on the Genesis), which enjoys 36 levels of play and a variety of quirky options. Despite its greatness, the SNES does have a number of flaws, including excessive slowdown in certain early titles, a crummy port of Final Fight, and the lack of a paddle controller packaged in with the otherwise fine Arkanoid: Doh it Again.

There you have it, readers: The Fab Five. It pained me to place the 2600 so far down the list, and there’re many killer systems (such as the Xbox and the Game Boy Advance SP) that I couldn’t include due to the list’s restrictive nature, but I stand by my choices.

What are your Five Greatest Game Systems of All Time?

Classic Gaming Expo 2007

Signing a book for Bill "The Game Doctor" Kunkel

This past weekend, while many of my fellow comic book junkies and journalists were braving the hordes of the always awesome Comic-Con International: San Diego (a convention I attended last year), I was in Las Vegas at a much smaller gathering of video game gurus and joystick jockeys. Held at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, Classic Gaming Expo 2007 was a two-day celebration of all things Atari 2600, Intellivision, ColecoVision, and other video game consoles of the past. In addition, the event paid healthy respect to arcade games of yore, as evidenced by a long row of coin-op classics at the back of the convention hall set up on free play.

Perhaps the most important aspect of CGE is its recognition of classic game programmers, such as the intelligent and charming Jay Smith, designer of the Microvision, which was the first programmable handheld game system, and of the Vectrex, which remains the only programmable vector graphics console. According to Mr. Smith, the bulky Microvision was larger than it had to be, thanks to Milton Bradley wanting consumers to think they were getting good value for their dollar. In addition, Milton Bradley was strangely opposed to licensing such arcade titles as Space Invaders, a policy Smith found absurd. On the Vectrex front, Smith talked about the embarrassment of the “dust” levels in the original Mine Storm, what would have been a color Vectrex unit (had the video game market not collapsed in 1983/84), and much more.

I didn’t get a chance to attend the Activision or Intellivision panels, but I did manage to catch the legendary Bill Kunkel talking about the demise of Tips & Tricks magazine, and about the decline and fall of print video game journalism in general (thanks in part to free and easy access to online information, such as it is). For me, the highlight of the entire convention was when Mr. Kunkel purchased a copy of my book, Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984, and had me sign it for him. For those who don’t know, Bill “The Game Doctor” Kunkel was the executive editor of Electronic Games magazine, the groundbreaking publication from the early ’80s that paved the way for video game journalism. As a teenager, I read EG religiously, and it was a true honor to speak to and sign a book for Mr. Kunkel.

Other highlights of the show included chatting with Chris Cavanaugh (my former editor at The All Game Guide), meeting Leonard Herman (author of the indispensable Phoenix: The Fall and Rise of Videogames), attending the auction (which was funny and surprisingly dramatic, thanks to some boldly battlin’ bidders), and playing such arcade classics as Star Castle, Super Breakout, and Gorf. Console ports can be great, but there’s nothing like the real deal.

A feature on CGE can’t be complete without making mention of the guys at Digital Press: Joe Santulli, John Hardie, and Sean Kelly, each of whom has a devotion to classic gaming that is fun and infectious. These guys (along with a number of volunteers) bust their butts to organize the Classic Gaming Expo each year, with apparently little to no regard for financial gain (their expenditures must surely outweigh their costs). The DP dudes simply enjoy putting on the show, meeting fellow gaming enthusiasts, and having a beer or two along the way. To visit their site, click on the following link: Digital Press.

All in all, CGE 2007 was a blast. Can’t wait to go again next year.

Riviera Hotel and Casino: Site of CGE 2007

Recreation of typical 1980s living room

Atari2600.com, one of many vendors selling vintage video games

Intellivision booth

The always popular swap meet

Twin Galaxies' Walter Day checks out the latest must-have video game book

Star Castle, one of my favorite arcade games, set up on free play

John Hardie auctions off Meteorites, a rare Atari 5200 game

Making plans to attend...

Classic Gaming Expo 2007!

I turn 40 August 7, which my body seems to understand, but my mind doesn’t. Playing basketball, reading, listening to rock ‘n’ roll music, and killing alien invaders are things I still enjoy, but I am now sore the day after a game of full court hoops, I oftentimes fall asleep midway through the first chapter of a book, hair metal is more of a nostalgic pleasure than an actual musical preference, and my reflexes aren’t quite what they used to be when it comes to saving planet Earth from annihilation.

The above admissions would be depressing, but for a couple of things: my favorite activity these days is spending time with my kids, whether it’s swimming, bowling, watching movies, going to the park, or playing with the untold number of kitties that occupy our yard. Another aspect of my life that staves off old age angst is my ever-loving, ever-amazing wife, who got me a simply awesome gift for my 40^th: a trip to the Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas! I haven’t been to CGE since 2003, so a voyage to the Valhalla of video games is long overdue.

At CGE, the convention floor is lined with vintage arcade video games set up on free play, meaning once you pay your admission at the door, you can play Tron, Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, or any number of other classics as many times as you’d like. In addition, there are dealers set up selling rare and unusual items, such as vintage ColecoVision games still in the box, copies of Electronic Games magazine, Atari 2600 prototypes, and much more. Common items abound as well, meaning gamers of any budget can find something to purchase and enjoy.

Other attractions include: a swap meet, an auction, panel discussions, video game tournaments, and appearances by such celebrities as David “Pitfall!” Crane, Steve “MegaMania” Cartwright, and Al “I designed the Atari 2600” Alcorn (to cite three examples of guests who will be at this year’s convention). Amazingly enough, there are still companies and individuals producing games for the older systems, and CGE is the place to introduce these types of games. New cartridges making their debut at CGE 2007 include Rent Wars, N.E.R.D.S., and The Last Ninja for the Atari 2600, Pitcher’s Duel for the Vectrex, and a number of other titles.

I hope to make my mark (in some small way) at CGE this year by toting along copies of my new book, Classic Home Video Games, 1972-1984. Hopefully, I can sell a few books, make some new friends, and hand out a few business cards. Regardless of what happens, I’m sure I’ll have a great time, so much so that I may forget to act my age.

The 2007 edition of the Classic Gaming Expo takes place at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas , Nevada, July 28-29. For more information, click on the following link: http://cgexpo.com/index.htm.