Once again, here?s even more random stuff from the world of games which I haven?t had a chance to mention before due to being too busy/lazy?
- The Internet Archive recently unveiled a massive collection of video game movies. It?s mostly press videos, but there?s some behind the scenes stuff, speed runs, and even Machinima movies. Not only is it fun to revisit past favorites (watching the Virtua Racing vid bring back so many good memories, and those Genesis produced polygons still look genuinely impressive) but to also checking out games which were never meant to be (such as the all chick X-Men game, X-Women).
Perhaps the one most worth checking out is a promo vid for the Neverhood, an adventure game from the mid-nineties. A brainchild of Doug TenNapel, who?s mostly known for his character design work on the classic Genesis/SNES side scroller Earthworm Jim, everything about the world is made entirely in clay? 3.5 tons of it apparently.
The video features interviews with TenNapel, plus Steven Spielberg (this was Dreamwork?s first published game), as well as behind the scenes stuff, and a decent amount of footage from the game itself. It?s use of clay instead of polygons, especially at a time when everyone was starting to go 3D, was what got me wanting to play the game, despite my unfamiliarity with the point and click adventures. Since then, I?ve tired out titles like Grim Fandango, and have learned that I?m not very good at them, but I?d still love the chance to give the Neverhood a shot.
But despite critical acclaim, it was a flop (though the $55 price tag probably didn?t help). There were two more games produced that were set in the Neverhood universe, and both for the PSone: SkullMonkeys, which was a side scroller that I never got the chance to pick up (fuck, and now that I remember, Game Express had it for like $10 new or something) and the other was BoomBots, which I actually did play. It was an arena fighter, sorta like Power Stone, if I remember correctly. I also remember it not being so hot.
I saw TenNaple at ComicCon two years ago to support his new graphic novel at the time, Creature Tech (which is still on my pile of comics to finish) and mentioned that he was working on a Neverhood TV show that he hoped to get picked up. Till then, at least there?s the official website.
Also, I really want that Klaymen costume from the end of the video.
- Nintendo has officially stated that the upcoming Nintendo DS, which can play Game Boy Advance games, will not support original Game Boy or Game Boy Color titles. This is due to a lack of a Z80 processor, which is what runs GB/GBC titles, and is found in the GBA, but won?t be for the DS. And the funny thing here is when Nintendo was last in town, I asked if the DS would play those older games , and it totally threw her for a loop (which I totally love doing). I think she ended up saying (though not at all confidently) yes.
Well on one hand, this pretty dumb, especially since it can?t be that hard to emulate 15 year-old hardware. But then again, the DS is not a true Game Boy, and I would expect that support will be there for Game Boy Next. Plus, the SBA looks dumb enough playing those old carts, and it has to look just as bad, if not worse, on the DS (since the GBA cart slot of off center I think)>
- Now onto the GBA proper, the latest line of NES Classic Series game have been revealed, and it?s pretty disappointing. Us Americans are getting just four titles: Dr. Mario (which anyone can play as Dr. Wario in WarioWare, plus I never even liked that game), Metroid (which anyone can unlock in Metroid Zero Mission), Zelda 2 (which I might pick up), and Castlevania. The interesting thing here is the box, which is based on the original from almost 20 years ago, also features the original (and far superior) Konami logo, though it suffers from poor layout.
I know expecting Wrecking Crew was a bit much, but no Kid Ikaurs? Given how successful the first line was, you?d think Nintendo would be releasing their entire back catalogue of NES games (despite the questionable price, they still sold). Granted, Bomberman and Xevious didn?t do so well, but anyone could have guessed that. It?s still no reason why Kid Icarus, as well as other popular, non-Nintendo produced titles like Ghosts ?n Goblins, should be left in the dust.
Time to order from Play Asia again I guess?
- Speaking of, it?s just been revealed from their site that Sega?s producing a pair of compilation soundtracks to celebrate the Saturn?s 10th Anniversary. This could be potentially awesome. I sorta wish Insert Credit didn?t report this news, since it?ll simply call to attention that they still have copies of the Radiant Silvergun soundtrack, which once again, I should have picked up at Game Express when they still sold stuff like that years ago.
- Meanwhile, at the Insert Credit forums, one poster has suggested that on September 9th, the 5th anniversary of the American release of the Dreamcast (9/9/99), that everyone tag the DC logo wherever they can. This would sorta be like that guy who goes around the world spray-painting Space Invaders. Have to admit, I am somewhat interested?
- Back at the Gaming Age Forums, one guy recently posted picture from an old issue of EGM which featured pictures of a Super Famicom Prototype (see below).
I?ve always been a big fan of Nintendo?s hardware designs (at least Nintendo of Japan?s) and this model in particular just looks damn sexy. Hell, I almost bought a Super Famicom just to have one (which prompted me to actually buy a copy of Pop ?N Twin Bee). It?s a shame that the art of hardware design, with the exception is GameCube and the GBA, is so poor. I guess I?m used to the PS2, but the Xbox is still ugly as hell.
Alright, the PSP does look pretty awesome, but it?s too big. Reminds me of my Nomad, which I was too afraid to take outdoors.
- Staying on the Super Fami/Super NES tip, Lost Levels, a neat little site dedicated to games which never saw the light of release, has a great story about the NES version of Mother, or the original Earthbound as some calls it. But besides being an interesting read, it only makes me even angrier that I sold off my Super NES, which I?ve stated before had Earthbound as part of the library. I know the constant bitching is getting old, but heartache seems to only get worse and worse? I pray to God that Nintendo will eventually re-release the game here in the states (like Mother 1+2, which came out for the GBA in Japan).
- But one thing which we are getting is the Gradisu V DVD when one preorders the game. If I?m not mistaken, it includes super play vids, artwork, and interviews. It?s been suggested that one should preorder online and not deal with the flakiness of Gamestop/EB employees, and that?s good advice indeed. I seem to have nothing but bad luck with those goons. In fact, yesterday I picked up Astro Boy for the GBA once I head that Sega only released a few copies to retailers (this Sega just being it?s stupid self, as usual). So I went to a Gamestop and asked for the game, and the following conversation ensued?
Me:?Do you have Astro Boy for the GBA in??
Gamestop Clerk: ?Yes we do.?
Me: ?Good. I?ll take one.?
Gamestop Clerk: ?I dunno if you should do that. I heard it sucked?
Me: ?First off, you have it confused with the PS2 version, which does indeed suck. Second, do you want my money or what??
- silence -
Gamestop Clerk: ?Would you like to preorder Halo 2??
Me: ?NO.?
- One more thing: last night I had a dream in which I had to choose between having sex with some hot girl and listening to old Genesis tunes direct from the system (via the headphones and the headphone jack on a model 1 system). The details are hazy? I sorta recalling being a bit indecisive, but I don?t know why?. I love Genesis music and all, but the girl was, if I recall correctly, was pretty damn hot
