Stuff (new article on Retro Domination, podcasts, etc)

Posted Tuesday, 18th February 2014 under Soapbox rants
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Just a heads up – yes, I’m still alive but real life has been keeping me from blogging much lately (all good stuff, but the kind that keeps you busy). Plus I’ve been trying to make more time to play games rather than just write about them, which I’ve been doing by spending some spare time playing Popful Mail on the Sega CD, Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3 (Shutokou Battle 3) on the PS2, NES Remix on the WiiU and Bravely Default (well, only the demo so far) on the 3DS.

Anywho, a while back I put together some articles adapted from my travels in Japan for Retro Domination – part 1 went up last year and part 2 is now online. I got into a bit more detail into prices and stuff in those ones compared to what I wrote in my series, so I’m hoping others will find it useful.

I’d also like to plug three things I’ve been enjoying lately:

• Yakumo from Segagaga Domain has been working hard on his latest season of Retro Core and has recently started a new series with his trademark take on retro gaming called Battle of the Ports. Connoisseurs of HD quality will be pleased to know he’s recently started uploading 60fps versions, which look spectacular.
• Retro Domination is an awesome site for Australian retro gaming articles and tid bits (admittedly I’m a bit biased as I’ve been fortunate enough to know some of the guys from the site for a while now). Their podcast in particular is great fun and a regular feature on my playlist when commuting to/from work. You should listen to it too.
• I’ve started listening to VGMpire following their guest appearance on the relaunched Retronauts podcast. If you enjoy critical discussion of game music laced with Simpsons jokes, you’ll be in nerd heaven. Another one on my playlist for the daily commute.

So yeah, just a quick one for today (well, quick by my standards). I’m hoping to write a bit more as the year goes on, but I’m not prepared to make a schedule at this stage because a lot’s happening. Expect some musings on games at some stage, and I’ve also put together my to-do list for mods this year, but I don’t think a Modding March is going to happen in 2014. A “Modding May” may well be an option though, as I should be able to get the components together and have some of my commitments settle by then. Maybe 🙂

Driving home to the sounds of Outrun Online Arcade

Posted Wednesday, 14th September 2011 under Video game music
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The other day I hopped in the car to head home from work and had a conundrum – I’d finished catching up on the last round of Retronauts podcasts and wasn’t sure what to listen to on the way home. So before turning the key I took a quick look through my playlist, saw Outrun Online Arcade, and thought, “Why not?”.

Turns out it was a great choice. There’s more than a hint of spring in the air, so I wound down my windows to let some fresh air in and listened to the golden, joyous remixes and original tracks from Outrun Online Arcade (which is basically Outrun 2/2006 but in HD with online play [that nobody plays anymore :(]).

So, inspired by this, I went through my Saturn games over the weekend just passed to add some redbook audio from a few games to the playlist – Daytona USA, Sega Touring Car and Sonic R (with that Richard Jacques magic) made the cut, then to mix it up I added in a few others, including Asuka 120% Limited – Burning Fest. Limited, Virtua Fighter Kids and (don’t laugh!) Keio Yugekitai – Katsugeki Hen.

The latter definitely put a smile on my face on the way in to the office. It reminds me I should fire it up some time soon for another round, it’s such an amazing little gem of a title.

Actually, this whole rant suggests I should do a dedicated post (or perhaps a couple of dedicated posts) on the joys of redbook audio in the 16-bit and 32-bit eras. Stay tuned, I’m sure I’ll get around to it at some stage!

I need to buy 1UP Presents and SCROLL

Posted Monday, 6th June 2011 under Video game books and magazines
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I’ve been getting back into the habit of reading Jeremy Parish’s GameSpite blog of late, probably inspired by listening to old Retronauts podcasts (just finished number… 61? It was the Persona podcast). Anywho, apart from wanting to buy the complete set of GameSpite Quarterly to date (now up to Volume 8), he has recently plugged the new on-demand publication coming out of the 1UP stables, 1UP Presents. The page count is low, but given it’s on demand, I think the price isn’t too shabby (available here). The only bummer is that international postage is $13 or so. Since that covers up to 5 magazines in a single hit though, it just means I’ll wait for a few issues to come out to make the most of that postage cost.

However, what was also interesting is that fellow 1UP stalwart Ray Barnholt has started up another publication via HP’s same MagCloud on-demand print service titled SCROLL. The scope seems a little more retro-focused compared to 1up Presents, but it’s definitely a nice complement. Currently, issues 1 and 2 are available. I love publications on retro stuff (which is why I love Retrogamer), so it’s been added to my “to-get” list 🙂

The good news is that they’re both on MagCloud, so that $13 postage fee for up to five magazines? I’m already at three when you consider there’s one issue of 1UP Presents and two issues of SCROLL available. All I need are two more magazines and I’m sorted for an order 🙂