Reply to: Your Next Console...

[Churchill]

MSX (by Yamaha) were very popular in the USSR -- lots of games available to them, my most favourite is Vampire Killer and Metal Gear (original I think)

MSX, an early attempt at taking over the world by Bill Gates...

[OwlHoot]

There was a most peculiar snake game thing on the Jupiter Ace.

Written in Forth.

The same as everything else on the Jupiter Ace.

That sounds like the PC game where the snake would trundle along lines of a square grid and the player had to control it with the arrow keys, making abrupt turns to avoid obstacles, and the snake would get progressively longer until it became almost impossible to avoid tripping over itself. Simple idea, and great game (for a few minutes).

I used to have a soft spot for the first game Id Software released back in the late '80s, Commander Keen (parts 4 to 6 anyway), and it's a shame there don't seem to be any similar platform games available today (unless anyone knows otherwise?)

[AtW]

I had a Toshiba MSX. Great little home machine, but unfortunately I was the only person who bought one As a result they only released about five games.

MSX (by Yamaha) were very popular in the USSR -- lots of games available to them, my most favourite is Vampire Killer and Metal Gear (original I think)

[n5gooner]

Kings Quest, Space Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, Police Quest on IBM PC
or Trans AM on the 48k Spectrum (rubber keys!)

[WageSlave]

My friend had an Acorn Electron. He had one game; a stock market simulator. He was about 6/7 at the time.

While we were playing in his garden, his father would take showers and press his naked body against the bathroom window.

Strange family.

[Churchill]

Not to mention one of the most peculiar floppy disk drives since the Apple II

Floppy Disk Drives? Luxury...

[WageSlave]

I had a Toshiba MSX. Great little home machine, but unfortunately I was the only person who bought one As a result they only released about five games.

They made a great game for the Amiga 500 called 'Defenders of the Crown'. Absolutely great. They released it for the PC about 2 years ago and overwhelmed with nostalgia I purchased a copy. It was crap It was actually better (graphics, action) on the Amiga 15 years ago

[Churchill]

I had a C64 but I was always jealous of my mate next door who had a Spectrum. Processor envy I guess.

I used to love Chaos myself (Spectrum game).

At least you had hardware sprites and the SID chip...

[Lucifer Box]

I had a C64 but I was always jealous of my mate next door who had a Spectrum. Processor envy I guess.

I used to love Chaos myself (Spectrum game).

[WageSlave]

As long as you can run a Spectrum emulator or MAME on 'em, that's all I need. They really knew how to make games back in those days.

I don't suppose you remember a game called 'Law of the West'? I had on the C64. Classic stuff.

Oh, and Sam Fox's Strip Poker. I'd probably be arrested and shot for playing it today but back then it filled many happy hours.

[Lucifer Box]

Barry McGuigan Boxing on the Spectrum. The be all and end all of computer boxing games.

[WageSlave]

The advantage of a console is that you can buy boxing games. For some reason they are rare and crappy beasts on the PC. That said, I wouldn't fancy playing Football Manager 2005 on the Xbox.

And it's also lousy for porn, which is surely the biggest consideration.

[Lucifer Box]

I don't think "performance" per se is a valid benchmark. The main bonus is that the new consoles will introduce the masses to HD and that has got to be a good thing!

As long as you can run a Spectrum emulator or MAME on 'em, that's all I need. They really knew how to make games back in those days.

[Churchill]

Might sound stupid, but are any of these, or will they be, better than a tip-top PC, in terms of performance and latest game availability?

I don't think "performance" per se is a valid benchmark. The main bonus is that the new consoles will introduce the masses to HD and that has got to be a good thing!

[AtW]

Might sound stupid, but are any of these, or will they be, better than a tip-top PC, in terms of performance and latest game availability?

They certainly won't be better in terms of price of the games because the whole console concept is to give cheap hardware in exchange for overpriced software.

Much like renting a house...