The networks do not pay TV guide for the listings. BTW TV Guide is one of the highest circulation publications in the country. Only Readers Digest and Modern Maturity have more readers.
You know, I do agree with you...but there are soooo many good DC games out there anyway.
Just a sampling...
Soul Calibur (Possibly the best launch game for any system EVER)
Crazy Taxi
Phantasy Star Online
Jet Grind Radio
NFL2k
Tony Hawk 1/2
Shenmue
Skies of Arcadia / Grandia 2
Test Drive LeMans
MSR
And lets not forget the strangest game ever: SEAMAN!
If you want to stay in business for more than a month or two, I would suggest you focus your inventory on the newer systems as this is where 95% of the market is right now. PS2, DC, N64 are where its at. Or at least where the money is at right now. If you deal with systems like this you have the advantage of high demand and relatively low prices for inventory. Before everyone starts screaming at me, let me explain...
If you are a brick and mortar operation that buys stuff from folks who walk in, then you know that you'll be paying them probably 20% of what its worth (Don't agree with me? Try selling anything to funcoland or a used CD store). Plus there will be plenty of kids showing up with a pile of newer RPGs that they beat in a week who just want anything they can get for them. These are the same kids who want to buy the newer stuff, not the 5200 carts.
Not that their isn't a market for the older stuff. Its just that you need to realize that the vintage games will be a small percentage of your business. In reality, if you want to move rarer items (original Tengen Tetris for NES for example) you will probably have to sell on eBay to get the price you want. That is the reality of the Niche business.
Basically what I'm saying is that the bulk of your inventory (and $$$) will be tied up with the newer stuff. So don't worry about combing conventions for copies of Yar's Revenge with the missprinted label (no, I don't know if this exists)
CSI was one of the highest rated new series this year on its original night, Friday. It also premiered on 10/16/00, well before the premier of the second survivor series (which rocks, BTW). Survivor does huge numbers with the coveted demographic of adults 18-49 (These are the people with money to buy things). Anyway, CBS new that they had a hit with CSI and decided to move it to thursdays to capitalize on survivor and to get it out of the Friday evening television graveyard. CSI has more of a synergy with survivor than anything else on the CBS lineup. I can't even remember what it replaced (Diagnosis Murder?).
Even though it is "America's most watched network", CBS has traditionally gotten its ass kicked in the 18-49 demo. So what they did makes sense. I'm a media planner. This is what I do for a living.
Shameless plug: check out Mighty Big TV for funny ass recaps of shows like CSI and Survivor
Sorry if my argument is a bit muddled. I'm really hungover right now.
Phoenix was interesting, but very, very repetitive. Sections from early on in the book are repeated almost verbatium later on. But it does give a nice history of the 70's-80's gaming revolution. Mostly hardware focused. Little attention is given to software or full sized arcade games.
I literally just started reading "Revolutionaries" this morning on the train to work. They writing style is kinda dry, but the first ten pages (short train ride) were interesting anyway.
You want reliable, no BS gaming journalism? Check out IGN. Those guys don't really pull any punches and have no problem letting people know if something sucks or not. Especially helpful around this time of year when all of the marketing driven games are coming out.
Also, you can get demos for many consoles with the purchase of a gaming magazine (not Nintendo for obvious reasons). Sure it requires a $7 purchase, but that's a small price to pay if it saves you a couple of bad $50 purchases
Re:I foresee a Slashdot ethics clash.
on
The PS2 Experience
·
· Score: 2
WTF are you talking about? Q3 and UT are both excellent games, on the PC. Console wise they are an totally different story. Q3 on the Dreamcast has multiplayer via internet. UT on PS2
doesn't. Even if it did it would not be albe to download and intstall any bot packs or patches. Evan if it had the "upcoming" hard drive/broadband expansion thingie. Why? Beacause its a launch title designed for a console.
To totally change gears; So what if Loki is porting UT to Linux? UT is an awsome game (I'll admit bias here, I think UT is superior to Q3). Would you leave the board if UT became a topic. Probably not.
Hey, I hope it didn't sound like I was dissing the Dreamcast. I've got one and I love it. The quality games that are out (Taxi, NFL, Soul Calibur, DOA2 Tony Hawk, Gt,...) are awesome. However the games that suck, well they really suck. I'm just excited to get another system and access to more games.
Oh yea, I've got an n64, Saturn and PSX too so I'm not biased there either
It's been said before but you should look for:
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Gran Turismo 2000
Dynasty Warriors 2 (launch title)
SSX (Launch)
Madden (Launch)
Regarding the SNES initial games, what about f-zero. f-zero was one of the first titles to use much hyped "z-function" or whatever the hell they called it. Basically it let the system rotate the background and foreground based on what direction the car was facing. Whatever, it was really cool back in the day. Super Starwars was pretty badass too.
This is purely manufactured PR put on by Sony in order to whip the public into a frenzy over its latest and greatest box. Its a perfect announcement because it a) rallies the people who might be interested to go out and try to preorder a machine asap (like they have a chance in hell) and b) provides great free advertising.
I think Sega did this last year with the Dreamcast, too. Can anyone confirm that?
Has anyone noticed any advertising for this machine yet aside from the endless hype on any number of web sites (including this one)? Right, you haven't. Cause their isn't any. Kinda strange for a major, major product launch that is going to happen in a month.
</hat>
As for "killer apps" for the PS2, launch games usually suck. Hard. Look at the Dreamcast launch. Out of 18 games there were maybe 4 good ones (NFL2k, Soul Calibur, Sonic, and....). Sure there will be 26 launch titles, including madden, but I'd be really surprised if more than 6-7 of them were REALLY good. But MGS2 and GT2000 will make the system worth owning.
Thank god I ordered mine the day that ebworld.com preorders went up.
Damn if that isn't the best idea I've heard around here in a long time. We all have all of these karma points just sitting around and looking pretty but you can't play with them. I would love to be able to bet my few karma points on how many references Katz would make to Episode One or Blair Witch.
Somebody get this done!
Re:Where does one buy pinball games?
on
Is Pinball Dying?
·
· Score: 2
You can get games from a couple of different places:
1) eBay - Look in the "collectables: Coin operated" category. There's tons of stuff in there. You might have to wait a while to find what you're looking for in good condition and chances are if you are looking for it so is someone else (hey, its eBay). Also you will most likely have to deal with shipping, which is a major pain in the ass unless you have a decent sized truck and strong friends.
2) Local dealers - Belive it or not there are shops that sell old games. There's at least half dozen where I am (Chicago) and I'm sure there would be at least one in any semi major metro area. You're gonna pay through the nose if you go to one of these guys though. The one near me wanted $1200 for a Street Fighter II machine (Approximate value = $300-$400). But these guys will service the machine if it funks up on you.
3) Usenet - try rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (or something close to that. Can't remember). Look for FS (insert your area here). Or ignore that last sentence if you don't mind dealing with shipping. Good deals to be had here
4) Other Collectors - After one or two posts on Usenet looking for an old Gauntlet machine I had the email addresses of two guys in my area that could hook me up with pretty much whatever I wanted. Not too bad. Plus these guys usually know how to service them and will charge you a nominal fee to do so. When the monitor on my Gauntlet (purchased on eBay) went south on me I called up one of these guys and he set me up with a new monitor and did the install for $100 (the local guy wanted $500).
Hope this helps anyone looking to get into the hobby.
How the heck did you crash Hydro Thunder? The only explanation would that the machine had been recently moved and the connections on the inside of the boards got loose. Happens alot. All you gotta do is open up the back and double check all of the connections. Takes 5 minutes and my little brother could do it.
While some newer arcade games are more mechanically complex (Namco's Alpine Racer and Sega's Top Skater)these are still relatively simple when compared to a pinball machine. Have you ever looked under a pinball machine's playfield? Woah, lots going on under there. More than a couple of pressure sensors and a lever that's for sure. Sure the newer arcade games are mechanically and developmentally complex, that's why it costs $1 to play them.
Unfortunately you are correct about your second point. Kids these days, sheesh! Sure they don't play foosball or air hockey (Skee ball is a quater sucker designed to take your $10 roll of quarters and turn it into a chinsy prize), but put either of those machines in a bar and you've got yourself a game that will be occupied 90% of the time. That's also why you don't see many Golden Tee games in arcades. Pinball's ideal place is in a bar. Unfortunately the aforementioned golden tee has pretty much become the universal bar game.
Think about it for a second. Pinball machines are big, heavy, expensive and insanely complicated. Not just electronically complicated (which they are) but mechanically complicated. All of those ramps, balls and bumpers are going to break or get stuck from time to time. Now think about this: You are an arcade operator. Your goal is to maximize your earnings. To do this your machines must be up 100% of the time. Pinball machines are never up 100% of the time, they can't be. So the dead machine is taking up valuable floor space where a much more lucrative Tekken 3 machine could be (Fighting games also get two people to pay to play at the same time) Also operators generally don't have the expertise to fix them when they break. So they have to pay someone to come in and fix it. Walk into pretty much any arcade these days and you will find four types of games: Fighting, gun type games (Time Crisis), racing games and the occasional classic (Galaga or Centipede). Maybe, maybe you'll find a neglected pin or two but that's about it.
I also remember reading somewhere that Williams/Midway recently said that they would be ceasing pinball production entirely. They tried to simplify the operators experience with their Pinball 2000 cabinet (one generic cabinet with easily swappable playfields and ROMS) but they only produced two of those (Attack from Mars and Episode 1). It really is sad. I guess I better snap up a Twilight Zone and ST:TNG machine before they all end up in other people's hands.
Slashdot Mirror
Except for getting buggered and/or shived, but its nothing more than you'll find in your average state school anyway.<P>
I'm just sayin'
And note that the Half-life stat includes CS Pete
The networks do not pay TV guide for the listings. BTW TV Guide is one of the highest circulation publications in the country. Only Readers Digest and Modern Maturity have more readers.
Finally being a media planner pays off!
Pete
I'm not sure what this has to do with zork but I dig on the links man.
to many hbudwiesers...
pete
You know, I do agree with you...but there are soooo many good DC games out there anyway.
Just a sampling...
Soul Calibur (Possibly the best launch game for any system EVER)
Crazy Taxi
Phantasy Star Online
Jet Grind Radio
NFL2k
Tony Hawk 1/2
Shenmue
Skies of Arcadia / Grandia 2
Test Drive LeMans
MSR
And lets not forget the strangest game ever: SEAMAN!
Pete
If you want to stay in business for more than a month or two, I would suggest you focus your inventory on the newer systems as this is where 95% of the market is right now. PS2, DC, N64 are where its at. Or at least where the money is at right now. If you deal with systems like this you have the advantage of high demand and relatively low prices for inventory. Before everyone starts screaming at me, let me explain...
If you are a brick and mortar operation that buys stuff from folks who walk in, then you know that you'll be paying them probably 20% of what its worth (Don't agree with me? Try selling anything to funcoland or a used CD store). Plus there will be plenty of kids showing up with a pile of newer RPGs that they beat in a week who just want anything they can get for them. These are the same kids who want to buy the newer stuff, not the 5200 carts.
Not that their isn't a market for the older stuff. Its just that you need to realize that the vintage games will be a small percentage of your business. In reality, if you want to move rarer items (original Tengen Tetris for NES for example) you will probably have to sell on eBay to get the price you want. That is the reality of the Niche business.
Basically what I'm saying is that the bulk of your inventory (and $$$) will be tied up with the newer stuff. So don't worry about combing conventions for copies of Yar's Revenge with the missprinted label (no, I don't know if this exists)
For what its worth.
Pete
Even though it is "America's most watched network", CBS has traditionally gotten its ass kicked in the 18-49 demo. So what they did makes sense. I'm a media planner. This is what I do for a living.
Shameless plug: check out Mighty Big TV for funny ass recaps of shows like CSI and Survivor
Sorry if my argument is a bit muddled. I'm really hungover right now.
Pete
Phoenix was interesting, but very, very repetitive. Sections from early on in the book are repeated almost verbatium later on. But it does give a nice history of the 70's-80's gaming revolution. Mostly hardware focused. Little attention is given to software or full sized arcade games.
I literally just started reading "Revolutionaries" this morning on the train to work. They writing style is kinda dry, but the first ten pages (short train ride) were interesting anyway.
Pete
What we really need is a Katz madlibs. Now that would be fun.
not normally one to comment on moderation, but whoever moderated this as "informative" is on crack.
"especially before the repeats on the West Coast are fully over."
That's all I gotta say. If you don't know why I quoted the above text you don't belong on this board.
Pete
stupid no previewing. That should be IGN. Sorry bout that.
Also, you can get demos for many consoles with the purchase of a gaming magazine (not Nintendo for obvious reasons). Sure it requires a $7 purchase, but that's a small price to pay if it saves you a couple of bad $50 purchases
No mod points here, but that was fucking funny.
Pete
WTF are you talking about? Q3 and UT are both excellent games, on the PC. Console wise they are an totally different story. Q3 on the Dreamcast has multiplayer via internet. UT on PS2
doesn't. Even if it did it would not be albe to download and intstall any bot packs or patches. Evan if it had the "upcoming" hard drive/broadband expansion thingie. Why? Beacause its a launch title designed for a console.
To totally change gears; So what if Loki is porting UT to Linux? UT is an awsome game (I'll admit bias here, I think UT is superior to Q3). Would you leave the board if UT became a topic. Probably not.
Sorry if I have strong opinions, but hey...
Pete
Madden NFL 2001 =/ NFL2k1.
2k1 is a DC exclusive.
Just wanted to clarify.
Pete
Hey, I hope it didn't sound like I was dissing the Dreamcast. I've got one and I love it. The quality games that are out (Taxi, NFL, Soul Calibur, DOA2 Tony Hawk, Gt, ...) are awesome. However the games that suck, well they really suck. I'm just excited to get another system and access to more games.
Oh yea, I've got an n64, Saturn and PSX too so I'm not biased there either
Pete
Some quick Math here
Playstation 1: $100 Playstation 2: $300
Xtra Controller: $20 Xtra Controller:$35
Memory Card: $20 Memory Card: $35
28 Games @$30: $840 12 games@$50: $600
Total: $980 Total: $970
Reasonable PC*: $800
4 games @$50: $200
Total: $1000
If I just wanted to play games I know which one I wouldn't be picking. Open your mind. Consoles are good for more than you think.
*(This is really low for a game PC)
It's been said before but you should look for:
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Gran Turismo 2000
Dynasty Warriors 2 (launch title)
SSX (Launch)
Madden (Launch)
Regarding the SNES initial games, what about f-zero. f-zero was one of the first titles to use much hyped "z-function" or whatever the hell they called it. Basically it let the system rotate the background and foreground based on what direction the car was facing. Whatever, it was really cool back in the day. Super Starwars was pretty badass too.
Pete
This is purely manufactured PR put on by Sony in order to whip the public into a frenzy over its latest and greatest box. Its a perfect announcement because it a) rallies the people who might be interested to go out and try to preorder a machine asap (like they have a chance in hell) and b) provides great free advertising.
I think Sega did this last year with the Dreamcast, too. Can anyone confirm that?
Has anyone noticed any advertising for this machine yet aside from the endless hype on any number of web sites (including this one)? Right, you haven't. Cause their isn't any. Kinda strange for a major, major product launch that is going to happen in a month.
</hat>
As for "killer apps" for the PS2, launch games usually suck. Hard. Look at the Dreamcast launch. Out of 18 games there were maybe 4 good ones (NFL2k, Soul Calibur, Sonic, and
Thank god I ordered mine the day that ebworld.com preorders went up.
Pete
Damn if that isn't the best idea I've heard around here in a long time. We all have all of these karma points just sitting around and looking pretty but you can't play with them. I would love to be able to bet my few karma points on how many references Katz would make to Episode One or Blair Witch.
Somebody get this done!
You can get games from a couple of different places:
1) eBay - Look in the "collectables: Coin operated" category. There's tons of stuff in there. You might have to wait a while to find what you're looking for in good condition and chances are if you are looking for it so is someone else (hey, its eBay). Also you will most likely have to deal with shipping, which is a major pain in the ass unless you have a decent sized truck and strong friends.
2) Local dealers - Belive it or not there are shops that sell old games. There's at least half dozen where I am (Chicago) and I'm sure there would be at least one in any semi major metro area. You're gonna pay through the nose if you go to one of these guys though. The one near me wanted $1200 for a Street Fighter II machine (Approximate value = $300-$400). But these guys will service the machine if it funks up on you.
3) Usenet - try rec.games.video.arcade.collecting (or something close to that. Can't remember). Look for FS (insert your area here). Or ignore that last sentence if you don't mind dealing with shipping. Good deals to be had here
4) Other Collectors - After one or two posts on Usenet looking for an old Gauntlet machine I had the email addresses of two guys in my area that could hook me up with pretty much whatever I wanted. Not too bad. Plus these guys usually know how to service them and will charge you a nominal fee to do so. When the monitor on my Gauntlet (purchased on eBay) went south on me I called up one of these guys and he set me up with a new monitor and did the install for $100 (the local guy wanted $500).
Hope this helps anyone looking to get into the hobby.
Pete
How the heck did you crash Hydro Thunder? The only explanation would that the machine had been recently moved and the connections on the inside of the boards got loose. Happens alot. All you gotta do is open up the back and double check all of the connections. Takes 5 minutes and my little brother could do it.
While some newer arcade games are more mechanically complex (Namco's Alpine Racer and Sega's Top Skater)these are still relatively simple when compared to a pinball machine. Have you ever looked under a pinball machine's playfield? Woah, lots going on under there. More than a couple of pressure sensors and a lever that's for sure. Sure the newer arcade games are mechanically and developmentally complex, that's why it costs $1 to play them.
Unfortunately you are correct about your second point. Kids these days, sheesh! Sure they don't play foosball or air hockey (Skee ball is a quater sucker designed to take your $10 roll of quarters and turn it into a chinsy prize), but put either of those machines in a bar and you've got yourself a game that will be occupied 90% of the time. That's also why you don't see many Golden Tee games in arcades. Pinball's ideal place is in a bar. Unfortunately the aforementioned golden tee has pretty much become the universal bar game.
Pete
I also remember reading somewhere that Williams/Midway recently said that they would be ceasing pinball production entirely. They tried to simplify the operators experience with their Pinball 2000 cabinet (one generic cabinet with easily swappable playfields and ROMS) but they only produced two of those (Attack from Mars and Episode 1). It really is sad. I guess I better snap up a Twilight Zone and ST:TNG machine before they all end up in other people's hands.
Pete