the Broken Arrows (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thebrokenarrows) wrote2015-04-09 05:26 pm
thebrokenarrows) wrote2015-04-09 05:26 pm
Entry tags:
040915
SO LOL Today held an unexpected surprise. Went into save point and they fixed my gameboy's speaker properly this time. Still rattles but apparently that's unavoidable, the new [NDS] speakers they use to replace the broken GBC ones are just smaller and so they'll rattle when replaced. But eh. It doesn't scream anymore and sounds just fine :D.
BUT THEN... while we were waiting the guy walks out with a box and goes, "So what if I made you a deal." He had this clone console that plays NES and SNES games, but part of one of the flaps was broken and because of that cosmetic issue he hadn't been able to sell it. So he offered it to us really cheap. Immediately I was like fuck lolol. They know when they got me. I'd been toying with the idea of eventually delving into the original nintendo and super nintendo for like a month, and while I'd rather have the real actual consoles [and I still will eventually], this was a good way to start building up my collection and finally experience ~the originals!~. Wasn't planning on doing this NOW but I mean, the opportunity presented itself. And the guy who owns the shop is super nice and helpful and I feel like I can trust him - I asked him an open ended question, "Where do i start with games?" and he helped me out within my budget and told me which games were actually worth buying HAHA. Good guy. Love save point, what a good little shop.
SOOOO haha. I picked up original mario bros for NES and the first Starfox for SNES. Really wanted Tetris Attack but that can wait, and plus the Starfox cartridge is IMMACULATE holy shit. Beautiful and looks brand new, not faded or scratched. Unlike my busted ass Mario one lmfao.
The conversation in save point is always really great. The guy took Mario apart and cleaned it out for me just to make sure it would work properly, and I saw that the actual game itself was TINY compared to the whole cartridge. 90% of the cartridge is just empty. I asked him why the hell that was and he said it was actually because of the Atari crash that just about killed video games back in the 80s. In Japan with Famicom, the system was a top-loader, but in the West there were concerns that a game system that looked like a video game system like Atari would not sell because of the fear instilled in the economy there by the video game crash. So they made these huge ass cartridges to look reminiscent of VHS tapes! And that's why you have the "VCR loading" NES systems! And also why the name is Nintendo Entertainment System, because for a while 'video game' was kind of a taboo phrase in the industry for a while, due to the crash. So that was mega interesting and god I love learning about the history of video games.
And something else that also happened in save point, I mentioned out loud that I'd never really played anything older than N64 myself, and immediately customers hanging around started giving me the stink eye LOL!!! And being like "whoa, really?? You've NEVER??" And then I remembered: oh, right. Gamer culture... And started getting that "lol it's a fake gamer girl" vibe. Because I literally forget I'm seen as female until it becomes obvious. And the guy behind the counter stood up for me too hahaha, like "Well, everyone has to start somewhere, and she's got a Game Boy Color in her pocket right now!" [Which I did in fact, not that that's much older than N64?] I mean... I'm ONLY 23 Y'ALL LOL. Sorry that my parents rather than buying me a busted ass old used NES or SNES, got me a brand new N64 instead when I was eight years old!! And before that any gaming I did was either on computer or eventually on game boy color!! And honestly before the age of 7-8 I was too young to really enjoy them anyway. :V I'm not even that young for heaven's sakes. And it sure as fuck ain't got anything to do with my genitals since I've been playing the games that were current at the time literally since I first got any of them handed to me. Ahh, the glorious trashy misogyny of nerd culture. I'm not a girl but for heaven's sake, if people are gonna mistake me for one then I'm gonna be a good one.
AND also, I mentioned while the guy [I really should learn his name, there's a revolving crew of people who work there but I'm pretty sure he owns the place and is also the best one to talk to] was cleaning out my Mario game that I really wish they'd go back to cartridges, and I was surprised when he said that he really believes that it'll happen. He says cartridges are not only nostalgic but just fare better in general, they're tough and age better and now technology is getting to where size isn't a problem anymore and while there is a limit on DISC size, there seems to be virtually no limit to how much data you can put on an SD card, every year it fucktuples in size bascally lol. So now that I've heard that really logical explanation I have hope for a return to cartridge based gaming! It's just better in every way, more aesthetically pleasing and just more enjoyable imo!
So finally we went home and it took me a while to get the system working because apparently you have to like MASH the cartridges in really hard?? I'm not thrilled by this, esp because trying to pull them out feels like the damn things are gonna break lol. But they're tough. Cartridges were so successful in part because they were tough and hard to break! BUT I got them working and first I played Starfox. And omg. This game really tests the limits of the SNES, I can tell even though i'm playing a clone console, it really lags sometimes just because it's so graphically complex for its day! Really pretty and great music, SO HARD though haha. The controls don't come naturally to me at all. But I'll play more.
And THEN I played Mario... April 9th, 2015: Oliver plays Super Mario Bros for the NES for the first time in his nearly two dozen years of life. And. Omg. Suddenly understood... everything about video games as an industry so much better haha. I totally get why this game BLEW UP when it came out, why it almost singlehandedly redeemed video games as an industry and saved the art from dying out completely in the 80s, why this HUGE culture grew out of this game and why it became such a big deal back then. Playing just the first 3 levels I totally get it now and it's amazing. It's like if you're a guitar person and you get the chance to play with - idk, some legendary guitar maker's original pieces that brought them to fame in the first place, you get your hands on it and you're like WOW. So this is what the fuss was all about. Yeah, that's how Super Mario Bros feels. The flow, the design - it's challenging in JUST the right way, you can fuck up sooo many different ways and you WILL, but it's not too hard, just hard enough. You know exactly when enemies are gonna pop out, and yet it doesn't feel predictable or boring, just makes sense. Everything makes so much sense and yet it's SO simple. Like. Wow. This is where it all started, this is what every game for years to come would strive to be when you boil it down.
I'm in awe, like wow. Nintendo knew they had a gem and just like Tetris, they included it with every copy of the console. [They should do that now, fuckers!! Have a great new property title ready to go at launch and include it with the system!!] They know EXACTLY what they're doing and always have, haha. I'm such a huge fanboy man, like what a great and unique company with a rich history. Good job on that existence y'all.
Now I'm gonna take a shower and maybe play some more, idk. We'll see what I do with the last few hours before I head to work. It's been a pretty good day even though I spent a little more money than intended. [This happens literally every time I go to save point don't act surprised :U]
BUT THEN... while we were waiting the guy walks out with a box and goes, "So what if I made you a deal." He had this clone console that plays NES and SNES games, but part of one of the flaps was broken and because of that cosmetic issue he hadn't been able to sell it. So he offered it to us really cheap. Immediately I was like fuck lolol. They know when they got me. I'd been toying with the idea of eventually delving into the original nintendo and super nintendo for like a month, and while I'd rather have the real actual consoles [and I still will eventually], this was a good way to start building up my collection and finally experience ~the originals!~. Wasn't planning on doing this NOW but I mean, the opportunity presented itself. And the guy who owns the shop is super nice and helpful and I feel like I can trust him - I asked him an open ended question, "Where do i start with games?" and he helped me out within my budget and told me which games were actually worth buying HAHA. Good guy. Love save point, what a good little shop.
SOOOO haha. I picked up original mario bros for NES and the first Starfox for SNES. Really wanted Tetris Attack but that can wait, and plus the Starfox cartridge is IMMACULATE holy shit. Beautiful and looks brand new, not faded or scratched. Unlike my busted ass Mario one lmfao.
The conversation in save point is always really great. The guy took Mario apart and cleaned it out for me just to make sure it would work properly, and I saw that the actual game itself was TINY compared to the whole cartridge. 90% of the cartridge is just empty. I asked him why the hell that was and he said it was actually because of the Atari crash that just about killed video games back in the 80s. In Japan with Famicom, the system was a top-loader, but in the West there were concerns that a game system that looked like a video game system like Atari would not sell because of the fear instilled in the economy there by the video game crash. So they made these huge ass cartridges to look reminiscent of VHS tapes! And that's why you have the "VCR loading" NES systems! And also why the name is Nintendo Entertainment System, because for a while 'video game' was kind of a taboo phrase in the industry for a while, due to the crash. So that was mega interesting and god I love learning about the history of video games.
And something else that also happened in save point, I mentioned out loud that I'd never really played anything older than N64 myself, and immediately customers hanging around started giving me the stink eye LOL!!! And being like "whoa, really?? You've NEVER??" And then I remembered: oh, right. Gamer culture... And started getting that "lol it's a fake gamer girl" vibe. Because I literally forget I'm seen as female until it becomes obvious. And the guy behind the counter stood up for me too hahaha, like "Well, everyone has to start somewhere, and she's got a Game Boy Color in her pocket right now!" [Which I did in fact, not that that's much older than N64?] I mean... I'm ONLY 23 Y'ALL LOL. Sorry that my parents rather than buying me a busted ass old used NES or SNES, got me a brand new N64 instead when I was eight years old!! And before that any gaming I did was either on computer or eventually on game boy color!! And honestly before the age of 7-8 I was too young to really enjoy them anyway. :V I'm not even that young for heaven's sakes. And it sure as fuck ain't got anything to do with my genitals since I've been playing the games that were current at the time literally since I first got any of them handed to me. Ahh, the glorious trashy misogyny of nerd culture. I'm not a girl but for heaven's sake, if people are gonna mistake me for one then I'm gonna be a good one.
AND also, I mentioned while the guy [I really should learn his name, there's a revolving crew of people who work there but I'm pretty sure he owns the place and is also the best one to talk to] was cleaning out my Mario game that I really wish they'd go back to cartridges, and I was surprised when he said that he really believes that it'll happen. He says cartridges are not only nostalgic but just fare better in general, they're tough and age better and now technology is getting to where size isn't a problem anymore and while there is a limit on DISC size, there seems to be virtually no limit to how much data you can put on an SD card, every year it fucktuples in size bascally lol. So now that I've heard that really logical explanation I have hope for a return to cartridge based gaming! It's just better in every way, more aesthetically pleasing and just more enjoyable imo!
So finally we went home and it took me a while to get the system working because apparently you have to like MASH the cartridges in really hard?? I'm not thrilled by this, esp because trying to pull them out feels like the damn things are gonna break lol. But they're tough. Cartridges were so successful in part because they were tough and hard to break! BUT I got them working and first I played Starfox. And omg. This game really tests the limits of the SNES, I can tell even though i'm playing a clone console, it really lags sometimes just because it's so graphically complex for its day! Really pretty and great music, SO HARD though haha. The controls don't come naturally to me at all. But I'll play more.
And THEN I played Mario... April 9th, 2015: Oliver plays Super Mario Bros for the NES for the first time in his nearly two dozen years of life. And. Omg. Suddenly understood... everything about video games as an industry so much better haha. I totally get why this game BLEW UP when it came out, why it almost singlehandedly redeemed video games as an industry and saved the art from dying out completely in the 80s, why this HUGE culture grew out of this game and why it became such a big deal back then. Playing just the first 3 levels I totally get it now and it's amazing. It's like if you're a guitar person and you get the chance to play with - idk, some legendary guitar maker's original pieces that brought them to fame in the first place, you get your hands on it and you're like WOW. So this is what the fuss was all about. Yeah, that's how Super Mario Bros feels. The flow, the design - it's challenging in JUST the right way, you can fuck up sooo many different ways and you WILL, but it's not too hard, just hard enough. You know exactly when enemies are gonna pop out, and yet it doesn't feel predictable or boring, just makes sense. Everything makes so much sense and yet it's SO simple. Like. Wow. This is where it all started, this is what every game for years to come would strive to be when you boil it down.
I'm in awe, like wow. Nintendo knew they had a gem and just like Tetris, they included it with every copy of the console. [They should do that now, fuckers!! Have a great new property title ready to go at launch and include it with the system!!] They know EXACTLY what they're doing and always have, haha. I'm such a huge fanboy man, like what a great and unique company with a rich history. Good job on that existence y'all.
Now I'm gonna take a shower and maybe play some more, idk. We'll see what I do with the last few hours before I head to work. It's been a pretty good day even though I spent a little more money than intended. [This happens literally every time I go to save point don't act surprised :U]