Looking for a VCR/DVD player - tips?

[samsonlonghair]

Some movies are more fun on VHS. Try watching Return of the Living Dead on VHS. Pure gold.

Who here, without the aid of a search engine, knows what VHS and VCR are acronyms for?

Easy!
VCR = Video Cassette Recorder
VHS = Video Home System

My pet peeve is when someone calls a VCR a "VHS Player".

[o.pwuaioc]

But that's like saying why play SMB3 on the NES when you can play it on the SNES. Same game, inferior graphics.

Not quite, though. I'd say you have a better case for vinyl v. CD than SMB3 on NES v. SNES. Perhaps ROM v. cart? VirtualConsole v. cart?

[AppleQueso]

But that's like saying why play SMB3 on the NES when you can play it on the SNES. Same game, inferior graphics.

Not quite, though. I'd say you have a better case for vinyl v. CD than SMB3 on NES v. SNES. Perhaps ROM v. cart? VirtualConsole v. cart?

Very true. SMB3 on SNES is simply different looking. Not really comparable to different video formats. I know people who don't care for the SNES version because of a few of the graphical changes made.

You could maybe make a case for arcade ports? Why play Street Fighter Alpha 2 on SNES when you could just play it on Saturn? That's kinda stretching it probably.

[o.pwuaioc]

You could maybe make a case for arcade ports? Why play Street Fighter Alpha 2 on SNES when you could just play it on Saturn? That's kinda stretching it probably.

That's the whole point of this thread.

[Ziggy]

My pet peeve is when someone calls a VCR a "VHS Player".

Perhaps if the player had no recording function, it could be called a VHS player.

But that's like saying why play SMB3 on the NES when you can play it on the SNES. Same game, inferior graphics.

Not quite, though. I'd say you have a better case for vinyl v. CD than SMB3 on NES v. SNES. Perhaps ROM v. cart? VirtualConsole v. cart?

Very true. SMB3 on SNES is simply different looking. Not really comparable to different video formats. I know people who don't care for the SNES version because of a few of the graphical changes made.

You could maybe make a case for arcade ports? Why play Street Fighter Alpha 2 on SNES when you could just play it on Saturn? That's kinda stretching it probably.

Leave it to Racketboy to always pull apart my off-the-wall analogies.

I used that as an example because SMB3 all around looks better on the SNES over the NES (people that prefer the NES version aside), just like DVDs look better than VHS tapes. A SNES can output S-Video or RGB, like a DVD player can (or component) while the NES and VCR can only output RF or composite. The VCR was referred to as an "inferior format" compared to the DVD player, and the NES can be considered an inferior format compared to the SNES.

The mentioned fact that people still play the NES version of SMB3 over the SNES version just validates the point I was trying to make.

[AppleQueso]

I get the rationale, but it's still not a particularly good analogy. I don't think you could really compare game consoles to video or music formats like that, for mostly obvious reasons I think.

Comparing NES SMB3 to the SNES one might be like comparing a black and white film to a colorized version. ...an extremely well done colorized version.

Let's face it, the only reason anyone will watch something on VHS is because for one reason or another they don't have access to a version of it on a higher quality format.

But it's just picking nits. I get your point, if you only have something on VHS, you'll want to be able to watch it.

[Ziggy]

All I really meant to say is that usually the kind of person that will enjoy retro gaming will also have no problem still using a VCR. Wasn't really trying to compare video game consoles to VCRs and DVD players directly, per se, apples and oranges. Just that one can watch a VHS tape while Blu Rays exist, one can play the Atari 5200 while the PS3 exists.

[Jmustang1968]

All I really meant to say is that usually the kind of person that will enjoy retro gaming will also have no problem still using a VCR. Wasn't really trying to compare video game consoles to VCRs and DVD players directly, per se, apples and oranges. Just that one can watch a VHS tape while Blu Rays exist, one can play the Atari 5200 while the PS3 exists.

But that isnt really true. A movie is basically the same on VHS or DVD/Blu Ray just different quality of a format, with no real sacrifice or drawback to the higher format. Retro games are often specific to their format and are unique entities/experiences. Many of the times they are remade on higher tech formats, they often contain some sacrifices or changes made from the original.

An exception would be some of the star wars fans who hate the Blu Ray release.

[Ziggy]

Well the Star Wars BD release is loads better then the DVD release, but let's not go down that path.

Yes, you can't really compare video games to movies. But all I mean to say is that a person who can enjoy old video games will usually also enjoy other old tech. Many of us here still use VCRs, quite a few of us like record players, and I know I'm not the only one to have a rotary phone hooked up. Et cetera, et cetera. These are all old tech, massively outdated by today's standard. Yet we still enjoy using them, just the same as we enjoy playing the NES.

[Jmustang1968]

Well the Star Wars BD release is loads better then the DVD release, but let's not go down that path.

Yes, you can't really compare video games to movies. But all I mean to say is that a person who can enjoy old video games will usually also enjoy other old tech. Many of us here still use VCRs, quite a few of us like record players, and I know I'm not the only one to have a rotary phone hooked up. Et cetera, et cetera. These are all old tech, massively outdated by today's standard. Yet we still enjoy using them, just the same as we enjoy playing the NES.

I understand where you were coming from. But many enjoy record players as they feel it produces the best audio quality. Many are retro gamers because they think those are the best games. I think you would be hard pressed to find someone who thinks vhs is the best format for video. A lot of old tech has some redeeming qualities that new tech had to sacrifice. But with VHS I am hard pressed to find a redeeming quality over new tech.

The argument of having a big collection of tapes or the now low cost is valid sure. Not trying to be a pain in the ass, just enjoying the discussion.