Do You Have Any Unpopular Gaming Opinions?

[Gunstar Green]

Alien Storm > Golden Axe

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I really love the grotesque creature design. It's got a Ghostbusters vibe and I have a lot more fun with it.

[IrishNinja]

Alien Storm > Golden Axe

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels this way. I really love the grotesque creature design. It's got a Ghostbusters vibe and I have a lot more fun with it.

right?! never got to play the arcade one, but i hear it opens with alien busters written on the van or something! wish we'dve gotten a sequel.

[ExedExes]

Alien Storm > Golden Axe

Wait till you find out the same Sega development team made Alien Storm and Golden Axe. Mind blown yet?

(they were also responsible for Shinobi and Altered Beast)

[Tanooki]

Alien Storm > Golden Axe
Genesis > SNES

also i was gonna say Stunt Racer FX plays like booty buttcheeks but that's probably not unpopular

I've never seen or heard of that, but now that I've read up a bit I'd have to agree with Alien Storm, now I need to buy it - thanks.

Don't agree on SNES being inferior, but I would agree that if you're buying games NOW, yes Genesis is better, you don't get screwed especially if you are just a cart only buyer.

And yeah it's commonly known Stunt Race FX is lagged enough it kills the fun unless you can adapt to nearly a seconds worth of lag. It's why there have been a few years now people have thrown crystals into the carts to overclock the game so it runs smoothly which I've seen on youtube and it plays smoothly and as such is so much more fun. It clips along overclocked smooth like Virtua Racing on Genesis.


Here's an unpopular one, buying Nintendo and SNES games sucks, if you didn't get on board a few years back or earlier you'll likely not get the satisfaction out of any of the good games against the price now. Buy Gameboy and Genesis, lots of fun to discover without the pounding.

[ExedExes]

I've been finding good local deals on NES and SNES stuff this past month, haven't paid more than $20 on a single cartridge lately. 8 games I know I got for both systems, around $65-$75 total, not bad. I also found the Genesis 6-Pak for $3, which has games that are far more than that individually.

A couple of SNES games I remember buying at good prices -- Zombies Ate My Neighbors in the Kay-Bee bargain bin CIB in 1995 -- $13. Price today, $50 and up. Got Legend of The Mystical Ninja cart only for around $7 in 2007 off of eBay. Price today, $20 and up.

While I would agree that the name Nintendo means expensive and portables or Genesis might be better and cheaper, if you know where to look (locally, not online!) it's usually not too bad.

[the7k]

No, gaming journalism is really more gaming enthusiast media. It's a more refined version (sometimes) of the fan magazines that existed back in the day. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with having that, we just have to realize what it is and what it isn't.

The problem with calling it an enthusiast media is that lacks a fundamental element to be considered that: enthusiasm. In much the same way that many games these days would really rather not be games, I get the impression that a majority of people writing about video games would rather not be playing. (The minority I don't get that impression from is only because they have flat-out stated in the past along the lines of "Oh, it's just another video game. Yawn.")

Here's an unpopular one, buying Nintendo and SNES games sucks, if you didn't get on board a few years back or earlier you'll likely not get the satisfaction out of any of the good games against the price now. Buy Gameboy and Genesis, lots of fun to discover without the pounding.

Yeah, the prices are quickly creeping into Saturn territory. I've decided to hang on to my TMNT4, even though I don't really care THAT much for it, just because I'd hate to get the craving later on only to have to spent whatever god awful amount it'll go for then.

I have ZAMN somewhere but can't find it, and seeing it playing on the TV at the local retro game store made me wanna play it right up until I saw the price tag.

[BoringSupreez]

No, gaming journalism is really more gaming enthusiast media. It's a more refined version (sometimes) of the fan magazines that existed back in the day. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with having that, we just have to realize what it is and what it isn't.

The problem with calling it an enthusiast media is that lacks a fundamental element to be considered that: enthusiasm. In much the same way that many games these days would really rather not be games, I get the impression that a majority of people writing about video games would rather not be playing. (The minority I don't get that impression from is only because they have flat-out stated in the past along the lines of "Oh, it's just another video game. Yawn.")

I constantly get the vibe that most gaming journalists are people who wish they were real journalists, but weren't good enough to hack it. Hence the lack of enthusiasm.

If the gaming community as a whole is Bikini Bottom, the journalists are Squidward. Self-righteous and mad that they're stuck with us bottom feeders, wishing that their work had any artistic merit.

There are some exceptions, such as Jeff Gerstmann and Ben Croshaw, but they are the exceptions among the "professional" game journalists. Most of the genuine enthusiasts are in the Youtube and Twitch communities, and are unaffiliated with any websites or brands.

[marlowe221]

Here's my unpopular opinion for the day:

I already do emulation for the crazy expensive games that are not available on the VC or something but... Emulation is looking more and more attractive to me as a retro solution as time goes on and real hardware less and less so.

I have a few reasons for this.

1. Controller adapters that allow me to use genuine controllers on my PC for whatever system I'm emulating.

2. Space in my house is limited and is about to get more limited - we are going to move to a smaller house soon (long story) AND we are having our first child roughly a month from now.

3. I have a decently powerful PC.

4. Cost.

That said, there are a couple systems I don't think I could ever part with for nostalgic reasons. One is my Atari 2600, which was my first console and is really cheap to collect for anyway. The other is my SNES - again I grew up with it and I am its original owner, though I could stand to pare down my collection of carts. Also, I would keep my budding GB/GBC/GBA collection since it will fit in a single drawer even when it is 5 times the size it is now.

I have picked up a NES and SMS in the past year and really haven't played them very much. Plus, all the games I want for them are on the expensive side.

Honestly, and here's where I am going to go REALLY unpopular, I think... the NES and SMS are better experiences emulated than they are on original hardware these days. As someone who isn't interested in collecting for those systems and just wants to play some of the games, emulation offers better saving systems and the ability to use controllers that don't suck/don't have the potential to permanently scar your hands.

I really ought to sell those two.

[Tanooki]

I also found the Genesis 6-Pak for $3, which has games that are far more than that individually.

While I would agree that the name Nintendo means expensive and portables or Genesis might be better and cheaper, if you know where to look (locally, not online!) it's usually not too bad.

In theory I agree, but remember online is a crap shoot of sheer luck with NES/SNES stuff but local, pricing is always local and so is variety too. Some areas are light others are heavy, both in amount and prices. Here is not a big gaming area so it's basically you're stuck with people being forced to match half price books using amazon and highest ebay bins or they get poached of supply and left with junk inventory no one wants sadly.

And you're dead on right about the 6pak, it's amazing, and I too paid that much for it as well at half price too. It has such a great variety of titles on it.

Yeah, the prices are quickly creeping into Saturn territory. I've decided to hang on to my TMNT4, even though I don't really care THAT much for it, just because I'd hate to get the craving later on only to have to spent whatever god awful amount it'll go for then.

I have ZAMN somewhere but can't find it, and seeing it playing on the TV at the local retro game store made me wanna play it right up until I saw the price tag.

Same here, love that game, but Earthbound and a couple others I am fairly indifferent to I keep because the price is crap and I don't dislike it enough to make the money more attractive. I already skimmed those off when I bought my PinBot table last April. ZAMN I got back before black friday week at half price books. they got one in for $40, had them hold it as I knew I could use a 50% off coupon I had so it cost me $20. That and finding MMX with the manual for $30 were the only SNES games I picked up this other than Hyperzone for $5.


Marlowe -- Fairly well agree with a lot of that. And yes most TVs don't handle either of those 8bit systems too nicely anymore so emulated via Retron5 or using a USB jack+real controller and an emulator will make it a far better experience. I think the Genesis/TG16 is pushing it and SNES is about the bottom of the ladder for stuff that strongly holds up well still due to the 'indie/retro' style people gush over today and what often seems to pop up on touch devices too. Perhaps if you like real hardware everdrives would be a good compromise over emulation -- buy once, don't eat the $100-300+ carts.

[samsonlonghair]

The question, then, is who among us has the time, the equipment, the editing skills, and The Voice. And I don't mean who among us as in a singular person. I mean which people among us.

This guy.

I have been told I have a good voice. I don't think it's a stereotypical "radio voice" but...

You can hear my voice on my YouTube channel that is the same as my screen name here. I would love to do a podcast (I daydream about a career in radio)!

I assure you a career in radio is not all it's cracked up to be. The pay is terrible, but the fringe benefits are nice.

We have flirted with the idea of doing the podcast again. Some things needed to be in order for us to do so, and not sure things are or were on the same page. A big one was an editor/producer. Apple did a great job, but whwn she was unable to continue helping due to life events, it was an added time sink.

So here's what's up:
I work in radio - as in real world, old school, FM radio. I record and edit audio every single day. I love the idea of a retro-gaming podcast. I am willing to produce, edit, voice, mixdown, et cetera. I want you guys and gals on the podcast too.

I wouldn't mind being an occasional participant. I have access to a very nice microphone when I need one. But the hardest parts are 1) editing the resulting file or conversation into a coherent podcast, with relatively uniform volume levels, and 2) drawing up, if not a script, at least an appropriate outline of topics for discussion. It does mean there would need to be a show runner of sorts who would keep an eye on things. That person doesn't even have to be a participant, if they don't want to be.

I need to warn you folks that I have very strong opinions about producing quality audio. entertainment and production values are key. Audio needs to be clear. Shows need pre-produced intros. Bits need to be planned. Showprep needs to get done. Time limits are iron-clad.

I used to work in audio engineering, and I have some really nice equipment and software. Maybe I could help. But I have no idea what the old podcast here was about. Did you guys just talk about old games?

I'd like to think of this as a whole new podcast, not a continuation of the old one. Frankly, I find the old podcast kind of dry.

Cronozilla and I have flirted with the idea of a podcast and may put up a trial or something. I am going to try my bestest to set time aside. Hell, who is to say there has to be just one podcast on the site?

Good point, Bogus. If you can't set aside time every week, maybe you could contribute on a monthly basis? Just spitballing here.

oh god you'll go back and listen to it and hear my awful attempts at making the things listenable while I was "producer".

Don't sweat it too much. Everyone hates hearing / seeing their old work. I feel the same way when I listen to old bits I recorded years ago. Maybe you have a unique voice to bring to the table.
If you folks want to make a killer awesome podcast with me, hit me up next week. We can start a dedicated thread to the idea.

For now I'm off. I have to drive five hours to DJ a New Years Eve party. Peace.