Enter, The Dragon (Again): Shadowrun Is Coming Back!

Posted on April 5, 2012 by geelw

Yikes. Just when I get to griping about underfunded indie games that NEED more notice, along comes this news, which I gather will make people forget all about that last post. I guess I need to pay more attention to Kickstarter, huh? Anyway, a bunch of ancient mariners behind the original game (you HAVE to love the name they chose for their studio: Harebrained Schemes, LLC) are getting together and bringing the FASA classic Shadowrun back with an all-new title called Shadowrun Returns.

Of course, the project is already doing SUPER well as it zooms toward its funding goal of $400,000. Amusingly enough, I kind of wish they were doing an English translation of the Japanese Sega Mega-CD version, as that’s one of those completely unique versions of the game that was only released on one platform and a pretty hard game to track down even if you happen to own the proper equipment to run it on.

Oh, don’t worry, I’m not complaining at all or anything. Er… other than wishing the economy was a hell of a lot BETTER for the games industry so that all of these projects could appear as physical product at a fair price point so MORE people would be able to buy and play them…

Another Day, Another GOG.com Commercial (And Now I Want Cake)…

Posted on March 26, 2012 by geelw

Tomorrow is the big day for the even more revamped GOG.com to launch and someone’s been busy pumping out some amusing ads that seem to be poking fun at other game download services. Nothing like a little friendly competition, but I’m betting the DRM-free aspect of GOG is guaranteed to win over certain folks who aren’t fans of it on other sites…

GOG.com Wants YOU To Get “Steamed” About DRM And Regional Game Prices…

Posted on March 25, 2012 by geelw

If you still don’t have a GOG.com account… GET ONE. This DRM-free game download service has been around for a few years offering up some of the best classic PC games along with modern content (CD Projekt Red Studios’ The Witcher II: Assassins of Kings being) and now it looks as if the company will be taking on Valve’s Steam service (as well as other popular download services) shortly. That is, if I’m reading the not so hidden messages in these amusing advertisements correctly. Tuesday is the big announcement, so check back here for an update or simply boogie on over to the GOG.com page and see what’s what…

Digital Press Issue 72 Now Available!

Posted on March 12, 2012 by geelw

Probably the best fanzine about video games and gaming culture still in print today (and I’m not saying this because I happen to have a column in the current issue), this all-new issue of DP is packed with fun articles about portable systems through the ages from the likes of Rob O’Hara, Rob Faraldi, Rob Strangman (that’s a lotta Robs, but they’re all different dudes, trust me!), Sarah Szefer, Steve Jacobs, Ian Baranofsky and more! You can get DP sent to YOUR mailbox for a paltry ten bucks a year (four issues) by clicking on over HERE and signing up. Tell them I sent you and you’ll get no big deal discount at all, but the satisfaction of knowing I sent you somewhere and you actually listened to me. Er, wait… that’s what I get. YOU just get four awesome issues of DP, but that’s a fair enough trade-off, right?

Classic Gaming Expo 2K12 Update: Registration Is Open, Prices Are Awesome!

Posted on February 18, 2012 by geelw

And so it begins! CGE 2012 Registration kicks off with an excellent pricing whether you sign up for Early Bird, Advance or even at the door tickets. Additionally, the lovely and newly renovated Plaza Hotel is the venue and the special CGE rates are quite affordable at $65 per day for a Deluxe room. Of course, you’ll need to do something about transportation to and from Las Vegas (road trip!) as well as any sightseeing options. As for food, well you’d be surprised (or maybe not so surprised) to find way too many options in Vegas to make sure you’re not going to starve at any hour of the day.

Back with more CGE 2012 updates as they’re announced…

Retro Swag: Haunting Leather Jacket (Polterguy’s The Prize…)

Posted on February 2, 2012 by geelw

I guess you could technically call this airbrushed (and hopefully one of a kind) Haunting Starring Polterguy leather jacket a Sega collectible (sort of). Or perhaps it’s an Electronic Arts collectible, as they’re the ones who sent it my way along with a copy of the game. Anyway, I won this for entering art in a Diehard Game Fan contest back in 1993. The goal was to finish a Haunting-themed comic strip based on elements in the game with a final panel that showed some sort of scary monster. I actually entered on a whim, not even thinking I’d win (or make the deadline) with a creature that had mouths where its eyes were and eyes in his mouth (eek). Unfortunately, I didn’t make a color copy of the panel I painted nor did I get the issue the panel was in thanks to the issue it appeared in not showing up (and I was a loyal subscriber, too!). But I think I may have a crappy faded black and white copy buried in a bunch of old art around here. If I manage to dig it up, I’ll post it here.

The Art of Video Games Coming To The Smithsonian (And Maybe A Museum Near You)

Posted on January 24, 2012 by geelw

With video gaming inescapably in the mainstream even more these days, they’re finally being recognized for their artistic merit on a few key fronts. From March 16 to September 30, 2012, the Smithsonian American Art Museum will host The Art of Video Games which will be comprised of a large selection of game artwork and along with a number of playable games. In addition, a number of other game-related events such as as panel discussions, concerts featuring music from game soundtracks and more are in the works. In addition, the show plans to hit the road and head into other US cities after September (see that link above for more details). I do wish t was headed into NYC rather than Yonkers, though. Nothing against the town, mind you (it’s quite lovely up there, last time I checked), but the Big Apple NEEDS to see that killing off every single one of its video game arcades was a terrible idea…

A complete list of what’s in the exhibit can be found HERE. You can also sign up to get more info about the show or other Smithsonian event using that link above or by going HERE. Kids, now you can drag your parents in and get them hooked all in the name of education. Given some of the titles chosen, I can see a lot of folks coming away with a new found respect for the medium…

Capcom Digital Collection Coming To Xbox 360 (On a Retail Disc!)

Posted on January 14, 2012 by geelw

How’s this for Kismet-ic energy? Last month, I poked fun at Sega for releasing Sonic CD as a digital-only game, and now Capcom comes up and drops this cooler news in my lap. Eight of the company’s HD remakes formerly only available as digital-only Xbox Live Arcade exclusives are coming to retail on a game disc. Eight games for a mere $39.99 is a solid deal indeed, although in my humble indie opinion, this set would be even better (where applicable) if it had the arcade originals on the disc and a bit of history on the original games as bonuses. Of course, I tend to over-think any disc based release these days as something that should be filled to the brim with content just to please those of us who really don’t mind paying more for a physical product over straight digital-only content.

As to what’s on the disc, I’m posting the title cards and logos below:

and a nicely-sized screenshot gallery below the jump. It’s up to you to guess which screens go with which titles (although it’s not hard to figure out at all)…

Continue reading →

Dream Arcades’ “Kegerator” Makes Any Room An Instant Man-Cave!

Posted on January 11, 2012 by geelw

Dream Arcades just keeps coming up with too many ways for folks who can afford their awesome gear to drop even more of that disposable income. At $3,995, their Kegerator not only packs in a bunch of excellent arcade light gun and other classic titles, you also get THREE beer taps built into the unit, making this a quadruple threat that turns any room in the house into an instant party room! Just add some party-minded guests, some pub grub and a designated driver and you’re good to go.

While the Kegerator is currently out of my own price range, it would make any gamer giddy as a gift and yes, even if they’re a non-drinker, I’m sure someone will figure out a way to get some other beverage hooked into that trio of on board taps. I’d like to see Dream Arcades do something a lot closer to my own budget price range, though. Maybe a tabletop LCD screen kit that sits on top of a six-pack of whatever with a couple of straws coming out? Hey, I’m broke these days, but I’m still a gamer for life!

Collection Update: Nice, My Vectrex Still Works…

Posted on January 6, 2012 by geelw

This nostalgia trip I’ve been on lately has had me going through my old systems and handhelds to find that some are working (which is fantastic) and some aren’t (which isn’t). A few years of non-usage (or just plain normal aging) can really make a difference, as I’ve discovered thanks to now non-functioning Game Gear and Turbo Express units (both need capacitors replaced so the screens can show images and I have NO idea how to go about doing this), and a Lynx that’s funkier than it was last year when it comes to keeping a decent image on screen. HOWEVER (and hoo-ray!), my Vectrex works and works excellently. I just need some more games for it, having sold off what I had around five or so years back. I do wish time travel were a reality, as I’d live to zip back to when Macy’s and Gimbels were closing out their video games in the post-crash period and had stacks of Vectrex units and games going for a song (along with tons of Atari stuff). Ah, well… I’m out of space here anyway in terms of adding more boxes unless I get an Extreme Gaming Makeover at some point – my kingdom for a Vectrex multi-cart!