This is the kinda stuff that keeps me coming back to Time Extension. Not just some blog that regurgitates false easy information and stuff people recognize to get clicks, but actual research and deep dives into the hazy parts of gaming's past. Reminds me of why I enjoy watching Karl Jobst's videos, just with fewer people cheating at games
@KainXavier I definitely understand the caution, given that Atari hasn't been managed by the best people really since the sale to the Tramiels, let alone anyone else. I am optimistic, though. All the stuff you say, plus some of their new merch is seriously cool looking; I just bought a Tempest poster from their flash sale a week or two ago, complete with the 2600 Tempest prototype in the design, which is a surprisingly deep reference for a company like Atari to be making. I have zero place to put any of their arcade cabinets but I keep getting emails for them and I am so tempted. (I'm also on the younger side, since you mentioned it; I postdate the PS1, but not the Xbox, so it's only through 2000s YouTube and the retrogaming community I learned about and got into Atari in the first place.)
I actually really like the idea of a modern Atari box with compatibility for the 7800 (which I've never owned and always wanted to), old controllers, and the ability to play carts, and hearing it uses Stella means I have no doubts basically every game will eventually be playable on it (and most already are, if you see Atari's compatibility list). I think nostalgia plays a big factor; you have to be much older to have grown up with Atari than Nintendo or the PS1, so people who grew up with those probably think this just looks kinda lame. I've always loved Atari and golden-age arcade stuffs (though I'm like half its age, so make of that what you will), so this will definitely be something I keep a watch out for.
Surprised to see the omission of some of these games' Xbox-exclusive features on this list! San Andreas let you rip CDs to the hard drive and listen to them as their own radio station, and THPS3 had an exclusive level. Not really a glaring issue, just one I find interesting because Xbox multiplats tended to be upgrades over the PS2 version. Feel that's worth a mention. (Also Project Gotham Racing 2 gave us Geometry Wars, which is basically half my interest in that game alone.)
I think Pitfall instead of Pitfall II is a missed opportunity. I've beaten both, and Pitfall II is not only a lot more fun to play (no time limit, no lives), it's got screens that scroll all over the place and a really great soundtrack that changes depending on game events. It's super ahead of its time and really impressive on the Atari. Pitfall is fun, but it's more a memorization game if you actually want to beat it, and I think after you do, you'll never really want to come back to it. I can also think of a ton of other racers I'd include on this list instead of Pole Position (Indy 500 comes to mind, as does Enduro if you still want the behind the car view). Otherwise pretty good list.
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Re: Flashback: Who Created The Arcade Classic Frogger?
This is the kinda stuff that keeps me coming back to Time Extension. Not just some blog that regurgitates false easy information and stuff people recognize to get clicks, but actual research and deep dives into the hazy parts of gaming's past. Reminds me of why I enjoy watching Karl Jobst's videos, just with fewer people cheating at games
Re: Where To Pre-Order The Atari 2600+
@KainXavier I definitely understand the caution, given that Atari hasn't been managed by the best people really since the sale to the Tramiels, let alone anyone else. I am optimistic, though. All the stuff you say, plus some of their new merch is seriously cool looking; I just bought a Tempest poster from their flash sale a week or two ago, complete with the 2600 Tempest prototype in the design, which is a surprisingly deep reference for a company like Atari to be making. I have zero place to put any of their arcade cabinets but I keep getting emails for them and I am so tempted. (I'm also on the younger side, since you mentioned it; I postdate the PS1, but not the Xbox, so it's only through 2000s YouTube and the retrogaming community I learned about and got into Atari in the first place.)
Re: Where To Pre-Order The Atari 2600+
I actually really like the idea of a modern Atari box with compatibility for the 7800 (which I've never owned and always wanted to), old controllers, and the ability to play carts, and hearing it uses Stella means I have no doubts basically every game will eventually be playable on it (and most already are, if you see Atari's compatibility list). I think nostalgia plays a big factor; you have to be much older to have grown up with Atari than Nintendo or the PS1, so people who grew up with those probably think this just looks kinda lame. I've always loved Atari and golden-age arcade stuffs (though I'm like half its age, so make of that what you will), so this will definitely be something I keep a watch out for.
Re: Best Original Xbox Games Of All Time
Surprised to see the omission of some of these games' Xbox-exclusive features on this list! San Andreas let you rip CDs to the hard drive and listen to them as their own radio station, and THPS3 had an exclusive level. Not really a glaring issue, just one I find interesting because Xbox multiplats tended to be upgrades over the PS2 version. Feel that's worth a mention. (Also Project Gotham Racing 2 gave us Geometry Wars, which is basically half my interest in that game alone.)
Re: Best Atari 2600 And 7800 Games Of All Time
I think Pitfall instead of Pitfall II is a missed opportunity. I've beaten both, and Pitfall II is not only a lot more fun to play (no time limit, no lives), it's got screens that scroll all over the place and a really great soundtrack that changes depending on game events. It's super ahead of its time and really impressive on the Atari. Pitfall is fun, but it's more a memorization game if you actually want to beat it, and I think after you do, you'll never really want to come back to it. I can also think of a ton of other racers I'd include on this list instead of Pole Position (Indy 500 comes to mind, as does Enduro if you still want the behind the car view). Otherwise pretty good list.