Grackler

@RootsGenoa I’ve genuinely struggled! I imagine GS stands for game show, it could mean gamescom (Cologne Games Show?) but that doesn’t seem right.
I can’t find reference to it is “CGS 2024”; nowhere can I find what that actually means!

@Damo what is CGS2024 exactly, I did a little phone google but got a clinical conference 😅

Actually seems like something we would have got as kids at that price, no idea if the kids of today will be into it though!

Interesting. I enjoy OpenTTD but I prefer it with the old graphics and music (got the files off the CD), and many added mechanics don’t gel with me. A re-release closer the original would be nice (but I guess pointless as I can do it on OpenTTD with a bit of work?)

Where is/are the disc drive(s) for those Saturn/Dreamcast games? This looks and sounds sketchier all the time! They only have a vague simple CAD render but they’ll have a batch load by next year? What about a sample from the supplier (I serious doubt they have one lined up at all)? Or at least a 3D print fit? And couldn’t they find someone to proof-read that statement?

I’m not savvy enough to say either way of it’s real or not; I could believe they could make a board that could do Master System/Mega Drive as shown in those rough videos. But looking into it more it’s going to go as far as Dreamcast!? That seems far-fetched, developing a core themselves, and the FPGA would have to be quite large?
If it’s real great, I’d wait for it to exist before caring!

@PZT Our house had as many copies of Croc as it did Banjo, but I know which one I'd rather replay!
Big fan of Argonaut and hope this does ok, but I really didn't rate it at the time, middling at best. In hindsight it was technically really impressive for the PlayStation, but I didn't appreicate that at the time. Analogue control could help a lot as well? I recall playing it on a pre-Dual Shock pad and it been clunky.

Mario 64, Banjo, Ape Escape, Rocket (Robot on Wheels), and perhaps Glover are my personal picks of that era of 3D platformers.

Can’t think of a clever Red Dwarf gag so I’ll just say: This is very cool, looking forward to it! (Wish they’d held off on the Evercade cart until this was done!)

GAME haven’t shipped my Tomb Raider cart. The crappy new website hasn’t got my order on, I contacted customer services and they won’t get back to me. Can’t even get a refund.

They also stiffed me on the GAME Elite refund, despite saying they would refund the half a year I had left they gave me a token £1. Basically impossible to talk to. Such a turn around from a few years ago. Hate what that greedy bugger Mike Ashley has done to the last UK game retailers.

As a kid (with the controller and console and games in a carrier bag hanging off my bike handle bars) this might have helped; but these days it’s just the age and normal use. Haven’t got round to replacing my more worn ones yet.
Fascinating mechanism in them! Is interesting to see how stick design started and has evolved.

@FurdTurgidson @robe it does allow programming in Sinclair BASIC! There’s more details on the website, and a quite in-depth article in the latest Retro Gamer. Sounds like it has a wrapper to launch games and such, but you can switch into the classic OS and play with basic etc.

@robe me too! I want to play with the machine as much as the games, play with Sinclair BASIC a bit.

@robe I was wondering this! And the rewind/save states etc; does it have some simple wrapper OS for that? Is that where games launch from? It’s a bit unclear how it works at the moment.

@LowDefAl good point, hadn’t thought of shipping!

It’s rough as they keep having delays; but given previous issues with Evercade’s I’d rather they quality checked properly. I hope the cost of these issues is on the Chinese manufacturers and not all a hit to Blaze!
I’m surprised the TATE grips are affected? They are dumb chunks of plastic, but they have the device slotted in, so I’m guessing it’s a tolerancing/fit issue?

I love gaming magazines, bemoan their disappearance, and should be the market for this, but £15 is a high asking price.
Retro Gamer is 1/3 of that, and their “special” issues on series (like Zelda, Mario etc) are usually £9.99.
I’m guessing it’s ad free? But they are getting to the point where it’s better to market as a book in my mind.

Not sure I’d travel to Paris for this, but it looks cool!

@ryancraddock the NLCode links don’t go to something that works, that codes page has been “coming soon” for a while now.

@RetroGames a nice sensible reply! While they occasionally overstep, Nintendo aren’t as draconian at IP protection as people make out, it usually is a case of money changing hands gets them to rev up the lawyers.

Not saying they aren’t sometimes overbearing with fan works, but I would say international IP law and the importance of their (child friendly) character’s to them is more to blame than a hatred of fans.

I wish I'd known this was on! maybe next year.

My only concern is I preordered with GAME, and I'm worried Mike Ashley will run it into the ground before Tomb Raider gets shipped!

Tons of Switch Online games have issues from the emulation. Even if you use the N64 controller (as although it copies the layout it doesn’t have the same kind of components as the original). F-Zero X is crazy twitchy! But it isn’t alone, the quick and simple Xbox port of Goldeneye was pretty ropey too.

I think it’s why there isn’t an N64 mini. N64 is just tough to do justice to via emulator, ideally you want people to spend serious time on a port to sand off the issue that occur with straight emulation (I’m thinking of 4Js effort on Perfect Dark for Xbox/Rare Replay or Nightdive’s Doom 64 and Turok. Nintendo’s Mario 64 in All-stars isn’t too bad either).

It’s just a strange machine internally with the complex but bespoke functions and that unique tri-point filtering, controller-wise with (essentially) 6 button front and a stick unlike any modern one, and comes from the worse era for the move from CRT to pixel based screens for the graphics too (nasty gaps in polygons, those textures that are tough to filter how the were etc) . Along with emulator lag that inevitably happens, games just end up feeling rough unless someone spends time (and cash) on it.

Interesting! I have a soft spot for these from the GC era, but was put of the Switch release as it was so bare bones (didn't look all that great an HD update, the English voice cast was binned off...).
I can see fans modding the Steam ones to be more what people want, so I'll keep an eye on them!

I’m not too fussed about the look for Joanna. I do think the game looks so different from Perfect Dark it’s not worth using the name. Different music, vibe, plot, universe, gameplay style. No multiplayer. It’s first person and has some shooting, but it’s as close to Doom or Deus Ex as Perfect Dark!

@merman awesome, thought it was gone, thank you!

A note to @TimeExtension or @merman (hoping one of thise works), the link to Bob Pape's book PDF is a 403 forbidden for me, I think it might be a dead link, sadly.

Late to this, but for people who might like Knightmare, I found the "Knightmare Live!" comedy stage show to be excellent! Seen it at the Fringe a decade or so ago, and a pre-Covid in Manchester, I think they still tour. It's not a reboot as such (it's kid friendly but clearly made for the adult audience that enjoyed it in the past), but the actors in it are fantastic.

This is a great article. The internet, at least the English language internet, is very US-centric these days, and it seems to have gotten much more so as stand-alone websites and chat groups have fallen away to be replaced by big centralised video platforms and social media as the main ways to discuss these things (my guess is it's the nature of search algorithms and the size/tech-dominance of the USA over time).

I know in the UK we have our own history with gaming that you covered well here (and is well documented in places if you know where to look!), but I'd love to hear more about how gaming "grew up" in various places around the globe and how it all links together!

I’ve only played the SNES and first N64 one, so can’t add much except that Mystical Ninja starring Goemon is a fantastic 3D adventure to this day!

I didn’t realise the potential of it, MGS2 is a great example that I never appreciated at the time (I just accepted some games look amazing and some looked janky on any machine)!

But like MVG said about needing to build for the hardware, that cuts both ways back then. Halo or Metroid Prime would not work well on a PS2 as they were heavily tied to their consoles strengths. It soemthing that not as evident in modern, PC-like hardware.

Like this again! Not my cup of tea but glad they aren’t leaving old consoles behind with this new hardware. Could be a boon for pubs/cafes too…

What a cool call-back and event!

@Poodlestargenerica I don’t think mentioning the word legal once is an “obsession”; I’m fine with people playing how they want, I emulate fine and have no issue, I never said I did. I like that it is but that’s a personal thing.

I think saying someone who enjoys the Evercade doesn’t really enjoy or appreciate games is hugely presumptive of you and frankly a bit rude (typical for online discourse sadly).

But since you’ve blocked me (such maturity!) guess I'll have to leave it there.

Great way to keep it alive without the cost.

@Poodlestargenerica Ah ok, I kinda get your first point, but you don't actually get a random selection of things each month. You do get to buy what you want or not, just from a smaller library. So...not much like that really.

And I hugely, hugely disagree on your second point:
I own an Evercade and I enjoy playing the games on it that I have chosen to buy. I don't like been told what I do and don't enjoy by other people tbh.

I like that it supports indie devs, is legal and very cheap, and the extra small size of the EXP means it's ideal for waiting rooms etc. I get I could use a phone or whatever, but I much prefer doing it legally on a dedicated device that supports jobs when the option is there.

@Poodlestargenerica
I don’t really understand how the Evercade is that at all?
It has no subscription element. The games are one-time purchase physical games. And “for people who don’t really like video games” is a super weird comment, it only plays classic video games? Even if you don’t like the games on there, they have a wealth of famously successful games from the past (Capcom games, Duke Nukem, Tomb Raider, Oliver Twins…)

I’m glad they are doing so well, I love the Evercade and hope it grows and grows going forward. The key for me is the games: good retro and interesting indie titles. One day they could do with a machine update, but no rush.
Only complaint would be they need to tighten up on quality. Too many bugs and hardware issues, the low cost is excellent but some work on tightening quality control would work wonders for their reputation.

Edge is iconic, but I wouldn’t say it’s the best! Nice to see mags like PC Zone and GameMaster (which I assumed would be beneath The Grauniad’s radar) get mentioned.
My personal favourite is the successor to Super Play that didn’t make that list: N64 Magazine. I loved all its lives (Super Play/NGC/NGamer) but N64 Magazine just felt like the absolute peak of that team for me. Would be a clear Number 1 in my list! (My username is from that mag!)

As with the R announcement, I’m hoping it’s not a “left behind” leap to new tech. Much as I would like Evercade to get that point in next few years, doing it too soon could annoy recent VS/EXP buyers.

It does seem like later gens are a likely way to go, but there are a few issues I forsee. The power needed would reduce the profit margins on hardware, N64 in-particular is very hard to emulate well, and licences from then are harder to secure.

Also they really do announce a lot of hardware. I wonder if they make far more from the hardware than software currently? Could be a requirement to get cash flow?

I’m excited by Giga Carts. It’s great branding (larger carts costing more is lost on consumers on Switch for example, so we get rubbish download only carts). But mostly it exciting to open up PS1/Saturn/PC (maybe even MegaCD?) titles that shipped on discs to collections. There’s plenty of games that wouldn’t need analog sticks on those devices. I saw the Tomb Raider leak. Given they’ve worked with Capcom before, my dream would be OG Resi titles!

@Chocoburger is that true, never made a profit? I hope that it kinda did but they always reinvest it into the platform rather than selling at a loss. I thought they made some per cart; I seem to recall them putting the profits from the Oliver Twins Collection into the National Videogame Museum, and while it wasn’t a huge sum, it was something (£25k ish I think?). I’d be nervous about the longevity of Evercade if they are burning through debt to finance it…but it seems unlikely? They’ve stayed private so haven’t had to look for investors, and Evercade’s been going and growing for a while. Plus they were pretty success for many years before Evercade.

I’m glad it’s just a refresh this year. Invalidating consoles too quick would put me off. Plenty they can do with the currently power/controller, plus lowering the price is impressive given the economy right now! Also gives them time to really hit the ground running if they do release an “Evercade 2” with analog stick/s and presumably more grunt for retro 3D gaming.

I have to go! I drive past all the time taking parents to the General Hospital but never stopped off. I didn't realise it has so much console/arcade gaming stuff in there (the name made me think it was more retro UK computers).

Felt like this was gonna happen to Codemasters, ordered it recently for Sensible Soccer and Cannon Fodder.

I strongly suspect the hand of EA in this. Wish these big multinationals would stop buying fantastic, successful UK developers and rapidly running them into the floor. Really hope Codemaster can keep some of their identity (but I suspect it’ll become a “licenced game on UE5” satellite of EA Sports in a few years )

Good to hear Glover is ok. I was concerned about the lack of analogue control and some of the visual in pre-launch trailers looked a bit rough!
I have it on N64, but it was never finishable, once you finished World 3 my cart would delete the game save! So Evercade is a chance to play through without cheats (also I genuinely like Glover, no Mario or Banjo but a clever and inventive game with some great music!)

Well deserved. Still a pretty great game to this day. But more importantly, I don’t think any game will be better in the context of it’s release time-period anytime soon, as the medium has matured so much to be that standout is difficult (to stand out that much in 1998, with what else was releasing that year, was a testimony to how incredible it was at the time. It just felt like the greatest game ever on launch.).
Ocarina is, to my mind, the “Citizen Kane” of video games. Not that it hasn’t been bettered or got their first, but it was so polished and inventive in its time that it is a milestone in the history of the medium.

It could just be 2 new hardware announcements, it’s not super clear. Or 2 hardwares in 2 colours. 4 seems a lot!
I’d guess, a controller with analog and an update to the VS?

I did, but never unlocked it myself. A mate who was far, far better than me at Lylat Wars and score chased it over and over unlocked it back in high school and again on Wii VC years later; think we all read about it in a magazine (N64 Magazine probably?). I might dig it out some copies and see if I can find the issue, edit the comment!

I got into them after SuperPlay, it was issue 21 of N64 Magazine and was a avid reader until the demise of NintendoGamer many generations later. Read others (NOM, GamesMaster etc), but truly loved that magazine. Gaming hasn't felt the same without it (although I will say the Hookshot sites hew much closer than most to that ethos!)

I had no idea the Director of Mystical Ninja founded Good Feel! Great to see he’s got back in the directing chair (maybe he could persuade Nintendo to get Mystical Ninja on the Switch online service!)