I'm Back in the Game

[DanR]

After owning multiple Genesis 1 and Sega CD 1 combos, a Genesis 3, a CDX, and a couple of X'Eyes, I have finally gotten back into the Genesis game and in the grandest way possible: A LaserActive with the PAC-S10, which plays Genesis, Mega Drive, Sega CD, Mega CD, and Mega LD games. As you can tell, I am pretty fired up. It's been too long, and I have wanted a LaserActive for quite a while.

Hey, Melf... still looking for reviewers? ;)

[Joe Redifer]

Sweet! Plus you can watch Alec Baldwin movies on it! You can't do that on a regular Sega CD, which is why it failed. No Alec Baldwin = No Success.

[David J.]

Be sure to buy the LD version of Road Avenger!

[Melf]

Damn Yoshi, you came back in style!

If you can contribute 2-3 reviews and articles a month, I'd be glad to have you on board. If not, contributor submissions are still as welcome as always. :)

[Russman]

Always glad to see people get the actual system and games, and not settle for the emulation shit.

[Genesis Knight]

How much did that Laseractive set you back?

[Elusive]

Always glad to see people get the actual system and games, and not settle for the emulation shit.

I dunno - I'm of the opinion emulation is a good thing, as it keeps Mega Drive games out of the crazy price ranges 'enjoyed' by selected Saturn titles.

My reasoning is that there's still no install-and-play-without-offering-fresh-virgin-blood-to-Lucifer Saturn emulator in the same way you can run a Mega Drive emulator from one standalone .exe; besides, ROMs can be copied and distributed an infinite number of times, destroying any rarity the title has, and meaning everyone can have a slice of the pie.
Put simply, you can download one exe and a ROM to experience a Mega Drive game - therefore, you can't really justify charging prices into three or even four figures for a physical copy of said game. Until you can do this to run Saturn games, Saturn prices for the scarcer (and sadly, the better) Saturn titles will remain beyond all but the most fanatical of collectors' reach.

Anyway, congrats on bagging the ultimate 16-bit machine Yoshi. I've no idea how you intend to play Mega LD games though, without having a wallet the size of Brazil :)

[Joe Redifer]

Yeah. Tell that to the Neo Geo community.

[j_factor]

Emulation doesn't keep game prices at bay at all... look at SNES prices.

[Melf]

True. I've yet to see emulation actually drive down the price of games.

Personally, I consider it an invaluable tool for research and screen-grabbing for reviews and articles, and I've made great use of it for trying out imports that I never would otherwise have gotten to play and purchase or ever see at all. For example, right now I'm playing through Tiger Hunter Hero Novel. Where on Earth would I have been able to snag a copy of that?

[Joe Redifer]

Emulation is great for screen grabs. I don't trust it much for accurate audio, though.

[Russman]

Emulation definitely has it's positive side. Screenshots are invaluable. As far as strictly gaming is concerned, to me, it says something about the character of a person who will actually go through the trouble of finding a console and purchasing used games.

It's alien to me to see people call themselves fans of 'system x' and then not own 1 single item from system x. I just like someone that little extra who actually owns and plays on real hardware, cuz I can relate, and cuz I know the feeling.

[DanR]

If you can contribute 2-3 reviews and articles a month, I'd be glad to have you on board. If not, contributor submissions are still as welcome as always. :)2-3 review and articles a month should be no problem, once I start getting some games again. I'll keep in touch.

[DanR]

How much did that Laseractive set you back?Would you believe it was part of a $150 lot that also included a Saturn, an N64, various controllers, and a few games?

[Genesis Knight]

Lucky devil.

[David J.]

I've been seeing Laseractives catch low prices lately. I used to really want one, but now I could care less.

[highlandcattle]

That's probably why it's such a good price. People don't like big packets :). A trift store nearby had a lot of laserdiscs movies lying around but oneday the store was closed down. I should've bought them when I had the chance those laserdiscs sure look cool

[Elusive]

Yeah. Tell that to the Neo Geo community.

hmm? I don't follow you.


Emulation definitely has it's positive side. Screenshots are invaluable. As far as strictly gaming is concerned, to me, it says something about the character of a person who will actually go through the trouble of finding a console and purchasing used games.

It's alien to me to see people call themselves fans of 'system x' and then not own 1 single item from system x. I just like someone that little extra who actually owns and plays on real hardware, cuz I can relate, and cuz I know the feeling.

Myself, I'd rather someone be introduced to discontinued games via emulation, meaning any number and range of games can be played. If I were to introduce someone to the Mega Drive, for instance, I'd hand them a USB stick with Fusion on it, along with Sonic the Hedgehog, Gunstar Heroes, all the acknowledged greats. Tracking down a working Mega Drive and cartirdges would set them back too much money and effort to simply say 'here, give this a try'.

An apt analogy would be that I can appreciate a JPEG of the Mona Lisa perfectly well without owning the physical painting.

[/derail]

[oneupthextraman]

I emulate, and I own a Genesis, and 32X. I just like the game running on pure hardware, and the controller in my hand. Nothing like it, but some games I will jsut never find. (Gunstar Heroes, Pirates (R) GOLD!, and the like).

[Joe Redifer]

My friend found Pirates Gold in a thrift shop complete for about $3.