VGA 101: Running the Gauntlet to Get Gauntlet IV Running…

Posted on February 4, 2014 by geelw

Sometimes, the simplest things can take way too long but the payoff is well worth it. I was recently in the mood to dig up a classic and had Gauntlet on the brain. Not just ANY Gauntlet, mind you, but Gauntlet IV on the Sega Genesis. That version of the game is not only four players, but has a few game modes not in the original arcade hit including a story-based RPG mode with a bunch of element themed levels and an ending that’s a total corker. Imagine my surprise when I went to my bookshelf full of Genesis and Mega Drive games and… there was no copy of Gauntlet to be found.

Eeek. Just when my eyebrow was shooting up over my forehead, I recalled that I’d traded my cardboard box version of the game for a second manual-less copy of Shadowrun (which I still need a manual for) and something else I needed a cart of that I had a box and manual for. Oops. So, I now needed a replacement and thanks to a bit of quick hunting around, I found a plastic-boxed version in really nice shape for $16 shipped. NOW, I could get playing…

Or not, as I soon found out… Continue reading →

What’s In the Box? I’m Just Saiyan You’ll Not Need To Guess…

Posted on February 4, 2014 by geelw

Mystery sol-ved! Namco Bandai very kindly sent me a copy of Dragonball Z: Battle of Z to review, so that’s going to get done soon. It’s funny that this shows up because I still feel like punching a hole in a wall over those idiots who installed that crappier shower head earlier and left me with a wobbly pipe, so this is a little stress relief for me. Okay, off to see how this one plays. It was pretty fun to see in action last year at that press preview I went to. I’m not sure where to put that rather large Super Saiyan figure, as all my available space is stocked up with games, but I’ll figure something out soon enough…

Okay, back in a bit (again) – I’ve also been going through some bins of doom and then some here and dug up some interesting stuff I need to scan and maybe sock away on a hard drive for later use. It’s not spring yet, but I’m slowly cleaning. I must be feeling masochistic today or something. Eh, it’s a living…

If I Had A Hammer…

Posted on February 4, 2014 by geelw

I’d probably use it on the heads of a few people today and not feel bad about it. I’d forgotten that today was the day we were supposed to have the kitchen and bathroom fixtures inspected and possibly replaced, but it’s a good thing I was awake and poking around in the kitchen when the inspectors popped up around 9am. Had I been up and well caffeinated earlier, I’d have been out at the post office picking up a box that probably has a game or book in it I need to review.

Anyway, the guys show up and say they’ll be about ten minutes, one gives the kitchen a quick once over as I’m signing a sheet of paper that the other guy is holding that says the place a was inspected before he asks how to spell my last name as he types it out in a tablet. Next up, they both hit the bathroom and as I’m in my room doing a bit of early spring cleaning, I suddenly hear something bang-bang-banging from the bathroom followed by the sound of stuff falling behind the wall. Yikes… Continue reading →