I've got a Totally Unoriginal Gaming Show on Youtube now

[JamesC]

Cool review.
I really like this version of R-Type and remember it being a real show-off games for Master System owners in its time.

I’d quite like to try the MSX version out of curiosity.

[HdE]

I’d quite like to try the MSX version out of curiosity.

The MSX is one of those systems I currently don't have access to, but REALLY wish I could do some stuff for. There's an amazing library of games for the system. I gather finding a working one in decent condition is quite a task, though.

Maybe if I can hit those PewDiePie numbers one day...

[GrudgeJohnDeed]

Nice one, good review! Got a new appreciation of R-Type now after having played through the third. This one definitely beats the Game Boy version for the crown of best 8-bit port I think!

Man, I love the Master System, such great hardware, more powerful than a NES in its palette abilities. Got under-utilised and I don't think we ever truly saw the best of it, mainly down to Nintendo's ultimately illegal licencing requirements.

Also, my friend bought a MS copy of R-type a few weeks ago and I've been looking forward to going round to his house and playing it, now even more!

[HdE]

Nice one, good review! Got a new appreciation of R-Type now after having played through the third. This one definitely beats the Game Boy version for the crown of best 8-bit port I think!

Glad you enjoyed it, Grudge!

I could very easily go on a rampage of reviewing nothing BUT different versions of that game. But I think that would prove a bit boring for viewers.

I'm quietly a bit surprised that I haven't had comments on that video asking why I hate the Master System, or something. Apparently, even referring (accurately) to the PC Engine as an 8 bit console in a recent review was enough to severly upset somebody, so it seems like commenting on console hardware itself is a bit of a risky undertaking.

Lovely little console, though - even if, like everything else of its era, it wasn't without a few technical drawbacks. I really went down the rabbit hole learning about some of the console's idiosyncracies during the research for this video. It might even lead to a separate feature somewhere down the line, if time permits.

Hope you enjoy this version of R-Type when you get to mash buttons on it. Just remember, that's a chunk of my childhood you'll be playing!

[GrudgeJohnDeed]

Yeah its a minefield isn't it, there's the 16-bit generation of which I'd say the TG-16 is an early member of, and then whether the hardware itself warrants the term 16-bit. Which is messy with the TG-16, and even the SNES and Mega Drive too as all of them contain 8-bit and even 32-bit aspects as well as the requisite 16-bit ones. Then later we get the Jag adding up components to make wonky claims of 64-bit hah!

One gripe I do have as an occasional pixel artist and classic games fan, I don't like it when people use '8-bit' as a blanket term for anything remotely pixelly! But I won't be attacking any Youtubers over it

Would love to see technical vid on the MS hardware itself, I've been down that rabbit hole myself making pixel art that would run on real hardware (although I often threw the sprite limit out the window).

[HdE]

Yeah its a minefield isn't it, there's the 16-bit generation of which I'd say the TG-16 is an early member of, and then whether the hardware itself warrants the term 16-bit.

This is the exact point that caused the trouble I mentioned earlier. Those sneaky marketing types were all about passing off the PC Engine as a 16 bit system in the States. It took me an AGE to get to the bottom of what the deal was there.

That console is a WEIRD bit of kit. Two 8 bit processors tied to 16 bit graphics handling. Kind of interesting, seeing how it gave it the edge in performance over the other hardware you could get at the time. But I'm reliably informed that doubling up on 8 bit processors doesn't equate to 16 bit horsepower.  I tried looking into it a bit further but... eh. I had comics to letter and my head was already starting to spin.

It really is fascinating to see how some of those older machines worked, though. A point of particular interest for me is how we have a growing market for single board computers which are now being used quite commonly to emulate console technology. Looking at how similar so many of those SBCs are, and how unique the internals of certain consoles were, it's amazing to me that people can make the one behave like the other!

[HdE]

Alright... who wants another one?

This one releases into the wild a good bit later than I'd intended. I've had LOTS of comics work on these last few weeks, plus a hundred and one technical issues in the recording of the commentary turned it into a bit of a beast to get finished.

It's also something of a labour of love. This time, I look at the PS3 version of HOMEFRONT - a first person shooter that's seldom mentioned in an especially positive light. However, it's premise is really quite interesting. And unsettling. So I give the game a thorough dissection to see if that makes it worthwhile.

By the way, folks: VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED. This one contains some imagery that viewers may find distressing, as well as some in-game strong language. As a result, it's age restricted.



Direct link to review:
 https://youtu.be/O5RQPr4gdSo

[HdE]

Latest review is up now - and it might be the last one for a bit, as I have a mix of real life and comics stuff that I need to concentrate on for a bit. Got a few too many balls in the air right now.

And, speaking of balls... well... pinball...



Here's a direct link:
https://youtu.be/hXZ2d3e6oP0

[Dandontdare]

I miss pinball, the real thing I mean, computer simulations are never quite right. I used to be an absolute whizz at Pinbot back in the 80s, but my list of Manchester pubs that still have a machine is now down to just one.

[HdE]

I miss pinball, the real thing I mean, computer simulations are never quite right. I used to be an absolute whizz at Pinbot back in the 80s, but my list of Manchester pubs that still have a machine is now down to just one.

I do have a real fondness for good quality pinball machines. I don't think anything beats the real thing.

Funny that you mention Pinbot. I was actually given copies of both that and High Speed for the NES to review right back when I started the show. I've heard good things about both of them. Sadly, I've never been able to play either of them, as they simply don't work in the NES clone console I use to capture footage. In the case of High Speed, I think the cartridge has simply upped and died.

I also have Video Pinball for the Atari 2600, which is entertainingly dreadful. At least, it's entertainingly dreadful if you're considering writing a review of it. Otherwise, it's just dreadful.

I think a lot comes down to the development with these kinds of games. Some publishers seem to think 'Ah! Pinball! People love that! We'll wang out a quick pinball sim and rely on getting easy money for it!' while others are more committed to doing a decent job.

I particularly remember Pinball Dreams and Pinball Fantasies on the Commodore Amiga being absolutely fantastic.

[Pyroxian]

I particularly remember Pinball Dreams and Pinball Fantasies on the Commodore Amiga being absolutely fantastic.

Yes, they were great. The Pro-pinball series was very good as well.

[GrudgeJohnDeed]

Thought this would be a good place to link the R-Type Final 2 Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/granzella/r-type-final-2-aiming-for-a-brand-new-the-best-shmup-ever

I backed it straight away, I'm not an R-type superfan precisely, but I'm getting more into shmups and I'd love to see more old developers coming out of the woodwork like this.

[HdE]

Thought this would be a good place to link the R-Type Final 2 Kickstarter!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/granzella/r-type-final-2-aiming-for-a-brand-new-the-best-shmup-ever

I backed it straight away, I'm not an R-type superfan precisely, but I'm getting more into shmups and I'd love to see more old developers coming out of the woodwork like this.

I do loves me some R-Type! Really hoping that'll somehow find its way to the West.

[GrudgeJohnDeed]

Back the kickstarter and you'll get it mate!

[HdE]

Back the kickstarter and you'll get it mate!

Checking it over, I REALLY want to. Tempted to spring for the physical edition, but maaaan... almost £50 is a lot to find on short notice.

I'll chew it over for a bit.